Famous Weinkauf Easter Ham

As you can see, both of our family hams were spectacular on Easter! Special thanks goes to Judi Weinkauf for the amazing recipes for Hot mustard and pineapple chutney. She also talked me through the ham process and as you can see the ham came out perfectly. Everyone who had some at my Sister-In-Laws house thought it was a sure winner. Just about everyone commented on the sauces at some point or another. Now I can cross off "Cook an Easter Ham" off my list of "To Do's" in life.

I also crossed another milestone in my life this past week. It came about when my Mother in Law came over and watched Sarah for me for a little while. When I came home she gave me many suggestions of what to do about our dandelion pastures in the front and rear of the house. At first I just listened to the comments and bit my tongue. After a while I started to choose a defensive position and I started to get frustrated. Then she offered to come over and actually do "lawn therapy" with her special concoction of products to get the yard in shape. That's when the "Ah-Ha" moment occurred. Just as I was about to get offended and interpret her help as a commentaty on my inability to care for my home a new thought hit me:

This blessed green thumb was offering me hundreds of dollars in free lawn care.

I would be a blithering prideful idiot to say no.

It then struck me that she missed having a yard of her own at her new house on the hill. Her last house had the lawn of royalty. She is a master at the domestic arts, with a doctorate in gardening. Caring for our lawn for us in her special way to help our family. It is her joy to contribute and make a emerald wonderland of our lawns.

Why on earth should I say no? My yard isn't a comment on my worth as a person, or of my abilities as a budding gardener. It's just not as important to me as caring for my daughter.

So this all taught me that I often choose to be offended when certain people comment on what I should do in my life. It reminded me of what my mother used to say to me as a child when we recounted stories of frustration with other kids. She would say, "She made you mad? No, you CHOSE to be mad at her. No one can make you feel anything. You choose that for yourself".

That is a critical distinction in life. The onus is on me, right where it should be.