Dumas 4: Taco Miracle

Dumas 4

Before we are moms, we are women. Before we are women, we are girls. Before we are girls we are children. Few things have stayed constant in my life through all of these stages. My family, my faith and the desire to be a mother. I loved baby dolls as a child. I would enter a world where I was in control of those around me and they had to do what I told them. I foolishly thought that would happen when I became a mother. When I was a girl, I decided I would have 3 children. Two girls and a boy, just as my mother had. I foolishly thought that I got to decide these things when I became a mother. When I became a woman, I decided I would also have a wonderful career alongside these 3 perfect children. I foolishly thought I could do it all. As I lay here in bed recovering from a very simple surgery that had lasting effects on my ability to have more children, there is a photo in my direct line of sight. Its a black and white photo that I cherish. It is from a vacation we took before Emma was even 1 year old. We went to Colorado for a week in the summer to escape the heat of Texas, and the busyness of life. On our way home we stopped in Dumas, TX for a picture. There are not that many people who have the honor of having a last name like Dumas. It is often mispronounced, I'm sure my husband was teased terribly as a child, and I'm certain my daughters will hate it when they hit the 'tween years. But I married into this name. It came with the man I love so I like it. Just before you get to Dumas, Texas, there is a sign that reads "Dumas 4" indicating that you are just 4 miles from the thriving metropolis of Dumas, Texas (population 13,747, a quarter the size of the college I went to). I made my husband and my two daughters (and even my cousin Caitlin who came with us on this trip) get out and take a picture with this sign. At the last second, as the baby was crying and the toddler was whining, I just looked up and snapped one last photo of this sign. I eventually had a black and white made of it and I've always loved it but the "4" part of "Dumas 4" never meant much to me. I always planned that our family would be a family of 5 eventually. Today though, it reminds me that when I snapped that photo, on the side of the highway, in 100 degree heat, God knew I would need a sign. Dumas 4. It is, and always was, His plan for my life. I'm thankful for my sign. I needed a sign. I'd like to have that sign. I wonder what the fine is for stealing a sign that reads "Dumas 4." It might be worth it.

Monday, February 19, 2007

Taco Miracle

I started dinner at the usual time by browning a package of hamburger meat in the skillet for tacos. I added the spices and stirred the meat on the stove. Then it happened, the first of several mini miracles. Emma came into the kitchen and asked if she and daddy could grate cheese for me. Moments later, miracle number 2 occurred. Brooke came in and said, “Mommy, I want to help cook dinner.” I decided she was old enough to stir the meat in the skillet so I handed her the spatula, turned off the heat and let her stir and stir. I looked at my husband and said, “We are all eating tacos tonight.” He just looked at me in disbelief. We usually cook 2 meals. One for us and one for the girls. They won’t eat most of the meals we like to eat. Its either too spicy, too saucy, too “something.” So I usually make a meal for us and then heat up some nuggets or make sandwiches for them. I know I shouldn’t. I’ve read in all the Parenting magazines and books that they will eat when they are hungry and I should just expect them to try new things, blah blah blah. Easier said than done. At 6:00, when the family is hungry and tired, I just want them to eat dinner so they will go to bed with full tummies. But lately, I’ve been feeling brave. I decided I was ready to take on my picky eaters. So it was taco night and we were all eating tacos. Well, I couldn’t make them eat the tacos but we were all getting tacos on our plates. As we sat down to dinner, the final miracle of the evening occurred. They made up little tacos, then they ate the tacos. No crying, no complaining. It was beautiful. My husband and I just sat there in total disbelief. They ate and ate, then asked for 2nds! They ate tacos. They even put a little salsa on their tacos. It’s true!!! It was amazing.