Super Brownies!

When I make my brownies, humility is not included in the recipe. They are the best brownies you've ever had. I offer my apologies to those who make good brownies, even those who make delicious ones. Mine are better.
My brownies have a layer of chocolate candy in them. They are so tasty that whenever I make a batch, strangely, the entire pan never makes it to the destination.
That was the case yesterday when I made a batch of brownies to serve the homeless ladies who were spending the night at our church. Claire and I wanted to offer our best, so we taste-tested them before we took them to church. Our friend Robyn wasn't satisfied that I had properly tested them, so when she cut them and put them on the serving tray, she too, had to try them out.
I don't have much experience dealing directly with homeless people. I've seen homeless folks, even talked to a few, but there's always been something separating me from them like my car or a serving line.
Yesterday I brought my brownies and my kids to church and it was a tie as to which made the ladies happier. Claire was ecstatic at having an audience and flailed around the room laughing and jumping on their beds. (I kept trying to get her to stop that, but something about a mattress just makes kids want to jump!) Paul toddled around the room hijacking food and chasing me.
Having the kids there was stressful. I was in charge of coordinating all the volunteers last night and had a hard time concentrating because of a constant worry that Paul would crawl down the stairs (two attempts) or that Claire would run away (lost count on that one.)
Having kids there was right. Kids are universal. No matter if you are rich or poor, everyone loves cute kids. And as luck would have it, my kids are cute. Claire and Paul offered a common topic of conversation that didn't involve any class divisions. They are also entertaining in their rambunctiousness. Several of the ladies labeled Claire and/or Paul as their "friend" and tried to keep them. One lady asked if Claire could spend the night.
So I'm glad I brought Claire and Paul, and I'm glad I brought brownies. I overheard one lady mentioning she was used to eating stale food. They all loved the brownies and asked if they were having them again for breakfast. I told them no, but found some baggies and gave each one of them an extra brownie in a bag. Some of them hid those under the table and I saw at least two ladies take their brownie bag to the bathroom, unwilling to part with it even for a minute.
I'm not claiming to have changed any lives, but I think I helped offer a little bit of happiness with my kids and my brownies. And if my momentary stress offers someone a distraction from their problems, it's worth it to me.

Susan

We have a friend named Susan. She is 55 years old and she's always teaching us life lessons.

Susan is mentally challenged. She was cared for her entire life by her father, a friend of ours, who passed away recently. We were casual friends with Susan before, but have stepped in to help out since her father passed away. The result has been a beautiful friendship between her and our entire family.

The first time I was amazed at Susan was about a year before her father passed away. She had just gotten home from the hospital after surgery. We had never been to her house before and were amazed at the artwork on display there. Her favorite activity is coloring and the walls on both floors of her home were covered with framed color by number marker posters. Her father was as proud of them as he would have been owning a Monet.

A couple of weeks after her father's funeral we discovered Susan was staying at a home near our house. One of our ministers was driving across town to make sure she made it to church every Sunday, so we took over that job. Her favorite outfit to wear to church included a T-shirt emblazened with the words "Still Undefeated." It was in reference to a football team, but we found it appropriate for her situation, too.

Eventually she had to be moved to a full-time nursing center because of health problems. We were initially horrified at the center because she was roomed with a severely mentally unstable lady who was convinced everyone was out to hurt her. Adam and I cringed when we visited Susan because of her roommate and couldn't stand to think about Susan staying with her. Susan didn't mind. She introduced the crazy lady as her friend and shared her birthday presents. She gave her birthday cake, brand new crayons and even a small piece of jewelry. She has a new roommate now, and we love her.

Recently we were at the nursing home and were startled by a lady screaming. This particular lady is usually screaming when we come. Claire was scared of her, and I must admit being unsettled myself. When we picked up Susan Sunday to go to church, she stopped in front of the lady's room and called her by name. "Bye Diana!" she said, and the lady responded in kind, calling Susan by name in her yell-speak. I was afraid to be around the lady and Susan calls her a friend.

At church, Susan is anxious to receive communion. She nearly runs down the aisle, and I have seen her clap her hands and point to her palm in anticipation. I enjoy communion myself, but I have never run down the aisle or demanded my communion come faster. Maybe I should.

Yesterday we took Susan to dinner at Whataburger (one of her favorites) and she thanked us as well as each employee when we left. "Thank you. It was very good!" she told them all. I always tell fast-food people thank you when I receive my food, but I have never gone back to compliment them on their hard work. They weren't used to it, either, and were obviously impressed.

Susan always gives Claire or Paul her artwork from church. She attends class with Claire because they are on about the same level. She might have the intelligence of a three year old, but her wisdom is ageless.

Games we play

Around the Boyette household, we have several games that we play daily. Here's a brief listing:

1. Boo! -- About a year ago, Claire got into a phase where she loved to shout "boo!" and "scare" people. Adam taught her to be polite when she does it, so she says, "Pardon me, boo!" We crack up every time. Adam says it's nice for her to say excuse me before she scares people half to death.

2. Whoo! -- Adam and his Uncle Gilbert have named each other animal names so they can feel tough and trash-talk using animal lingo. Adam is Spotted Owl and his uncle is the Horned Toad. (Don't ask, I don't know why those were chosen.) When Adam comes home from lunch everyday, he walks in as quietly as possible. Claire always hears the door creak, though. They tiptoe in a circle around the house until they find each other at which point, they yell "Whoo! Whoo! Whoo! With a little razzmatazz!" Apparently that's what spotted owls say.

3. Meowwwwww! -- We have several children's CDs, but Claire's favorite contains a song about the "Three Little Kittens." The cats lost their mittens and they cry and I hate that song. We listen to it daily. The lady who sings it makes the cats sound like they are dying. When we sing along we try to make the most pathetic cat sounds you've ever heard. "Meoooooooooooooowww!" The winner is the one who makes the most awful sound. I've shared this song with Adam's mom and she's in on the game as well. She answers her phone with an awful meow sound. Adam's father has begged us to stop, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen any time soon.

4. Ow! -- Claire's favorite panties are "monkey panties" featuring Curious George. Adam is also almost always wearing an animal logo somewhere on his clothing. Every morning when Adam is getting ready for work, either she or he will point to the other's clothing. "Is that monkey/horse/dog/elephant on your shirt/shorts/panties/pants/boxers nice?" The reply is always, "Yes, that one is, but you have to watch out for this other one because he's mean." At which point the questioner bravely sticks out his/her hand toward the "mean" one and shouts "Ow! That monkey/horse/dog/elephant bit me!"

5. Love Pat -- Since we first started dating, Adam cannot pass behind me without smacking my behind. I don't even notice it anymore. Claire does, though, and asked Daddy why he was giving Mama "pankings." (She has problems remember initial 's' sounds, which makes interesting words like skunk without the 's.') Adam taught her the difference between a spanking and a "love pat." So now she'll run up behind Adam, me, or other friends and smack their bottom followed by a declaration, "That was a love pat!" When it's too hard, the victim argues, "No, that was a spanking!" I've had to explain Claire's actions a few times to friends whose bottoms she's slapped. She also likes to "burp" people, modeling what we do to Paul.

I've been told children love routines, and around this house, silliness is definitely the routine.