A few random thoughts for a dreary Thursday morning  . . .

. . . It's cold and dreary outside but warm and bright inside. I'm pretty sure with my love of electric lighting and central heating I'd have had some bad winters as a pioneer!

 . . . I am reading a book I am enjoying more than I thought I would: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. The last book I read was Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn -- quite tantalizing -- so I was not holding too many high expectations for my next read. Although The Goldfinch did win a Pulitzer Prize for fiction, so of course it's wonderful! I also recently read and quite loved Rebecca Well's first book, Little Altars Everywhere. It's the back story to The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. These are quite diverse reads, so whatever your genre, if you're inclined to wait out winter with a good book, any of these would be a great place to start!

. . . We remembered Frosted Cauliflower a couple of nights ago. Tinker made it for us, all by herself. Here's a photo. You'll have to take my word for it that the shiny orb in front of her is Frosted Cauliflower. We got this recipe from my Aunt but really do it all by guess now:

• Clean and de-leaf a head of cauliflower. Place in a pie plate with a couple tablespoons water, cover tightly with plastic wrap and microwave on high for 7 minutes or until not-quite done.
• Salt and pepper it to taste.
• Cover it all over, lightly, with a layer of mayonnaise. 
• Cover the mayo with shredded cheddar cheese; pat it lightly to stick it down.
• Put it back in the microwave, uncovered, for 3-5 minutes until the cheese melts. 
• Cut into wedges and serve!

. . .  Baseball and softball season starts Saturday. My life is already a whirlwind of practices and snacks and dinner in the car, aka peanut butter sandwiches. I will enjoy it all a lot more when it warms up!

. . . Pepper is coming home this weekend. That means good eating and stimulating conversation; can't wait!

Have a wonderful Thursday!

The Path: Elusive but Omnipresent

Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence. 

Henry David Thoreau

I've had a calling on my life from an early age. In my twenties, I was able to put words to it, "Be an advocate for children." Since then, I've followed that calling in a variety of ways, some less gracefully than others. All of these ways of these paths have had their pratfalls and dead-ends but I keep on "faith-ing" my way forward.

Now, and quite unexpectedly, I'm on a path wide and bright  which I can follow for some time. If you had to hang a sign over the fork in the road which I crossed last August, that sign would read, "Special Ed."

I am home here in the world of Special Ed, and especially in the world of autism. I love the 5 beautiful boys and our one girl who fill my work days. I love the intricacies of working with these amazing kids. I love the intimacy of the small class and my team and teacher . . . they are an inspiration to me every day.

It's challenging work, don't misunderstand. Every day there is some new mystery -- usually in the form of undesirable behavior -- that we have to unravel.  It is very challenging and yet, it is all joy, too. That sparkling moment when the light bulb goes off and someone does something completely amazing, it's rapture, pure bliss.

My greatest joy in life has been being a mother. That last paragraph completely applies to parenthood too, right? And this, this world of autism and Special Ed, it is a very close second. 

I have said all this to say, simply, it's never too late. If we are faithful, God (or Life or "Thou", if you prefer) is faithful. If we keep following our path, "however narrow and crooked" and if we walk it with "love and reverence," it does lead where we want (and perhaps need) to go.

 Take courage, pilgrim, and take up your staff and walk.  Happy trails.