Challenge




		WRITE 2 THE HEART Stories that are aimed "Write 2 the Heart" December 19, 2001 Volume 1, Issue 49 Cheryl Speir, Editor, moderator@write2theheart.com -------------------------------------------------------- By subscription only! Welcome to your next issue of "WRITE 2 THE HEART" You are receiving this FREE newsletter because you requested a subscription or a friend generously forwarded their copy to you. ----------------------------------------------------- Rose shares a Christmas story of her challenge as single mom to give her three year old the desire of his heart. ------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- My Christmas Challenge By: Rose Wade-Schambach --------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- Congratulations are in order. To me. This year I have accepted the challenge of the near-impossible. (Okay, granted this feat does not equal the magnitude of the completion of the Sistine Chapel.) But this Christmas season this single Mom accomplished the biggest, bravest act she could imagine. I actually purchased a toy for my three year old that brazenly advertised the forbidden words on the box "some assembly required". Up til now, in my past Christmases as a single Mom, I have avoided these toys like the plague. But this year, my son Ethan wanted a tricycle and I was determined to make that happen. After plucking down $19.99 plus tax, I wrestled the enormous box labeled "Fisher Price Hot Wheels Tough Trike" into my trunk and shut the lid. I figured out of sight out of mind. What I didn't take into account was the fact that I had an eye witness to the crime...the three-year-old. My plan was to save the trike for Christmas morning and put off the inevitable task of assembly. But dawn came and so did Ethan to my bedside this morning to remind me of my folly. After tugging long and hard on my bathrobe to get me outside, I realized that I was doomed. The moment of truth had arrived. I offered to let Ethan's big brother Nathan assemble the trike when he returned home from high school. But Ethan wasn't buying into the "waiting game" and so I was going to have to fake it until I made it. I mustered up enough courage and gathered up two screwdrivers (one Phillips and one regular) and a hammer. If I have learned anything, it is that tools are everything. It is little wonder that I have seen grown men get misty-eyed at the tool department at Sears. Since I have been promoted to the position of newly appointed handy "person" of my household, I have graduated from using butter knives as screwdrivers and old barbell weights as hammers. Besides, with these tools I might actually convince Ethan that I knew what I was doing! After making a pot of strong coffee and donning my lucky overalls, Ethan and I began "the project". His eyes lit up like Times Square as I cut open the box and dumped out the contents to reveal what seemed like hundreds of brightly colored plastic pieces (okay, twelve) and those annoying little packets of screws and nuts. Not to mention those terrible stick on decals that resembled flames! For a few minutes I considered those stickers as an omen. Maybe I should pile the stuff back into the box and set a match to it all! After all, Ethan does appreciate a good fire. And one on the living room rug should especially thrill any three year old. The evil thoughts passed. And I was right, Ethan was impressed with my technical skills. He should, he is three! After a solid hour (and I should know because it took two whole episodes of Barney to complete the dreaded work) I had sweated profusely and uttered expletives that I hope I won't be hearing repeated. The mission was successful. I completed a task that probably chimps working for NASA could master in thirty minutes flat. But that is beside the point. I had passed Single Parenthood 101 with flying colors. (I am woman, hear me roar!!) Ironically, as I am typing these very words, Ethan has chosen this minute of basking in accomplishment to present me with a bright yellow plastic piece that I suppose got left out and shoved under the couch in the frenzy. I deflated. But I did what any normal Mom would do. I lied. I told him that we didn't need that piece after all. For a few seconds his little face clouded over with doubt. Then he happily skipped away keeping me as his hero and leaving me to my guilt. Thank God the trike works!!! And I am keeping the yellow plastic piece as both a trophy and a reminder this year. Rose Wade Schambach schwadeton @ yahoo.com (There is a space before and after the @ symbol to protect our writers from virus’ that are making their rounds. We encourage you to write the authors, just remember to remove the spaces.) -------------------------------------------------------- Rose is now married to John and by combining their children they now have 14! This year they are planning their biggest Christmas yet with a total 21...(if her sanity holds out). -------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------- FROM OUR READERS Christmas ornaments are a glimpse into our past. What a delightful reminder! Jill -------------------------------------------------------- Prayer Request For Those In Service To Our Country As you read over this list of names, take the time to pray for each one and their families. If you have a request to add, hit reply and send me their name. Trey, Chris Speir, Tim Speir, Emmett Summers, and Eloise asks for prayer for her family members in the Armed Forces and her extended family. --------------------------------------------------------- Cheryl's Corner I want to wish each of you a blessed Christmas. Thank you so much for your letters and friendship over this past year. You have made this new adventure of publishing a pleasure. As promised here is the recipe for Tim’s favorite: Monkey Bread 3 cans of refrigerator biscuits (separated and each cut into 1/4’s) Mix in small bowl: 1 cup sugar 3 T. cinnamon In separate bowl: 1 stick butter (or margarine) In a third bowl: 1 cup nuts (we love pecans) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bunt (tube) pan very well. Roll biscuit 1/4’s in melted butter and then in sugar mixture. Just throw each piece in bunt pan making a layer all around the tube. Sprinkle with some of your pecans. Repeat until all biscuits are used. Sprinkle rest of pecans on top. Place aluminum foil over the top and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake 15 more minutes. Just keep an eye on it; some ovens seem to cook faster than others. God Bless, Cheryl --------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 2001 Write 2 the Heart Nothing may be reproduced or published without the written permission of the individual author or copyright owner. ------------------------------------------------------------ All subscriptions sent to your email free of charge.