Casseroles, Cookies, and Counting Blessings

Today was not difficult.  Slow and steady....I can't escape the idea that it just takes me most of the day to get a meal on for 40.  I started with making a double batch of chocolate chip cookies.  SK has declared them to be the best in the world.  Isn't that funny?  How different can one recipe for those tasty tidbits be from one to the next?

I make them much larger than normal, and I use baking powder along with the usual lineup of ingredients, and they are pretty good.

We serve dinner at 6, and so I didn't start the dreaded tuna fish casserole until 4.  You may ask, "Since it is so dreaded, why do you make it?"

The answer is that we have had in the kitchen cupboard at the center (since December) a 2-pound sealed foil container of tuna fish.   In the freezer, we had a couple of large bags of peas, and I had four containers of mornay sauce....something I have never used.   It is a creamy white sauce with a hint of cheese....mostly parmesan.

I made up 6 cups of white sauce with minced onion, added it to the mornay sauce, tuna, peas and noodles, put it in oven-proof 9X13 pans and topped them off with a lot of crushed "sour cream and onion potato chips."

At 6:00, we had all of 4 people there....and I had 3 large pans baking in the ovens.

"Someone tipped them all off,"  I thought to myself.

As people came through the door and sniffed at the scents from the kitchen expectantly, most inquired, "What's for dinner?"  I waited with baited breath for the crestfallen face when I answered "Tuna with Pasta."  (That title is worlds better than "Tuna Casserole" but I should have taken it up several notches from that humble name to something like "Palate Pleasing Pasta with Parmesan and Potato Chips."  Or how about "Absolutely Awesome Albacore."  I'm telling you...the name means everything.

As usual, by fifteen minutes after, we had 15 and by 6:30 several more.  When class started at 7, we had a roomful.

As people dished up their plates, there was no sniveling.  They disappeared into the larger room with their plates, and there were no howls of displeasure.  Before long they came back....for seconds!!!  Then one cute young guy asked me for the recipe!!!!

Once again, my simple prayer of "Please let it taste good to them" was answered.

Institute class was excellent.  We had two young elders in there with a newly-baptized young man who had some good questions.  We had great conversations about several gospel topics.  I was impressed with the answers from the missionaries.  They show a great depth of study and thought.  I never cease to be amazed at these very young men and women.  I marvel at the insights they share, and at the youthful enthusiasm.

One elder talked about how much the gospel means to him....and said the kindest and most loving thing he could do for anyone is to give them that beautiful gift.  I love these young people, and this mission has given me more than ample opportunity to see the caliber of missionaries that are serving.

On another note, Monia...my Italian friend called!  I love that lady.  She has determined to return to her home in Italy (after being gone over 10 years or more).  She says that she needs to "build up her life and Denmark is not the place to do that."  She is going to come to see us before she leaves, and I would like very much to give her an Italian Book of Mormon with my testimony in it (and anyone else's who happens to speak and write Italian!).

The gospel is a strong anchor to me ....it gives my life meaning and depth.  It brings me great joy, and I am deeply grateful beyond words for it and for the atoning sacrifice of our Savior.  I am thankful that our children's homes are built around gospel principles, and that our grandchildren are being raised with that foundation.  I know that is where happiness lies.

How can I not share that with others?