Goodbye, old friend

The end of 2009 brings to another end my well-worn friendship with one particular saucepan, namely a Wolfgang Puck 5-quart nonstick saucepan with a glass top.

To the saucepan: You have served me/us faithfully and tirelessly to the end! You represent a myriad of blessings in my life, and I shall never forget you!

(But, alas, your end has come as we suspect you may secretly be poisoning us as your "nonstick-ness" is shaving off into our food.)

Before the rest of you think I'm being absolutely ridiculous, let me explain:

The story begins in the summer of 2005, when I found myself suddenly in need of a new place to live. I spent considerable time in prayer over this decision, talked with many possible roommates, and searched the city for houses for rent. Would you believe that God led me to the house directly next door to the current one I was renting? That was the first blessing, and one of many during this time that comforted me with God's love and provision.

In addition to the all-important decisions of finding a roof to put over my head and a roommate (or two) with which to share it, there was another small matter that echoed throughout my prayers. "Lord, will you really provide all I need? What about the many additional expenditures that come with getting my own place? ....like pots and pans, for example? I don't currently own any....and I'd have to buy them in order to eat...really, can I do this? Is this move the best decision for me?" At 23 years old, these were big issues!...rooted in fear, doubt, lack of courage over promises, etc. And so, I prayed. Over all of it.

What does this have to do with the precious, treasured Wolfgang Puck 5-quart nonstick saucepan with a glass top? I found this little guy waiting in my new house for me! Before starting to cart my few belongings across the lawn on the night of the move, I was poking my nose around my beautiful, new kitchen and gasped when I opened a cupboard absolutely full of shiny pots and pans in every shape and size!!

I'm sure I cried, actually. I melted onto the tile floor and praised the Lord for so generously and graciously caring for my every need.

This pan is the only one still in my possession. I blessed friends and family with the others in the cupboard that night, but have been unable to part with this one until now.

Who could believe one little pan could bring so much joy? It did bring a lot of joy! A thousand meals have been cooked in that pan over the past four years - for girlfriends catching up, for neighbors stopping by, for missionaries seeking respite, for new friends and old friends, for family and "like-family", for friends who just had babies....the list continues. And of greatest joy, this pan even traveled with me into marriage, with which I have cooked at least 80% of my husband's dinners!

Now...am I being ridiculous? You could never convince me so. It's not the pan, per say, that I love, but all that it represents!

And so I say....goodbye, old friend. You represent a beautiful time of blessing and growth in my life, and I thank God for it.

A casual stroll through Macys the other night happened upon the finding of a new 5 (and a half!) quart saucepan just in our price range. We proudly brought it home and eagerly look forward to the thousands of meals it will serve many more wonderful friends and family around our table. (maybe the extra half quart we gained in this pan is a foreshadowing of future needs! ;)

$5 Magazine Alert!!

I know I need to update you on the final numbers of November's grocery budget....but this is TOO GOOD to pass up today!

Check out the $5 magazine subscriptions at Amazon! Good through today, December 1st.

I'm getting a few as Christmas gifts!