A Waffle Kind of Night

Tonight we had waffles for supper.

Life changing statement, huh?

We had waffles for supper because the cook (that would be me) was wanting something quick and easy for supper. Having bounced back from a rough few days, cooking the usual meal of meat and potatoes held no appeal for me. Waffles seemed like a quick fix. Of course, I forgot how long you have to wait in between waffles.

The kids love those Belgium waffles. The problem is you can only do one at a time. That leaves a whole lot of thinking time while watching the steam rise.

When the first one was ready, I yelled, "First one's up!" A kid came running. That kid was done eating by the time I yelled, "Second one's ready!" As I was plating the third one, the second kid was bringing his plate to the sink while the third one sat down at the table with a book (like mother, like daughter). As she was finishing, my husband was on stand-by with his plate in hand. By the time he was finished, I was just unplugging the waffle maker and sitting down at the table. By now, an empty table.

Having pity on me, I suppose, my husband sat down with me to lend his moral support, I guess. I was a little uncomfortable, though, being stared at while I spread butter on my waffle, sprinkled it with chocolate chips, and poured thin, generic syrup over my now dessert-like concoction. After about two bites and much to his relief, I'm sure, I said, "You don't have to sit with me." He waited it out for about a minute and a half for good measure and then gracefully left the room.

I was alone. Just my waffle and me. I wondered if my parents were having company tonight. I thought about my grandma. I wondered if it might rain. Glancing through the want ads, I wondered if I would ever have I job that I loved again.

Darn those waffles. Had I made our typical supper, there would have been no time for thought in between the cooking, the eating, the what-happened-at-school-today conversations, and the clean-up.

God is good, though. Patience is a virtue and all that. My thinking time is over. The waffle iron is cool. Dishes are in the sink.Three kids are looking at the clock and looking at me. "Aren't we going to church?"

With a nod of my head, they head out the door. The oldest already has the keys in his hand. Guess he's planning on driving. The younger two are bickering about something. Life continues as usual.

December will come soon enough. I'll see my grandmothers again. The flash of lightning and low rumble of thunder confirms that it just might indeed rain. And I'm starting to get the feeling that this unemployed journey  I have found myself on is just another road to something else the Lord has in store. None of that can be a bad thing.

Guess those waffles were a good idea after all.