As a foodie, you may wonder what I consider the best meals of my life. You may expect a top 10 lists, but today I want to talk about some very special meals - the ones made every Sunday by my mother. For was long as I can remember my mother has prepared Sunday lunch for the family. When I was younger, it would be something quick since she had 5 children to get ready for Sunday school and church. It would either be hot dogs or sloppy joes. I would spend time in church trying to remember which Sunday it was (hot dog or sloppy joe Sunday) and anticipating those simple - but delicious meals. As we began to grow up and leave the house, mother began preparing more complicated meals. She started preparing things like roast and gravy with mashed potatoes or lasagna or stewed chicken with rice and potato salad. She also always had a dessert - cake, pie, banana pudding, Mississippi mud pie, etc. She did all of this while never being late for Sunday school and having it ready for the hungry family after church. A combination of crockpots and over timers have helped over the year. Now you may think that she could not possibly continue to do this every week, but at 76 years old she is still at it.
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| Mom's 76th Birthday Party at Middendorf's |
She is an amazing women and she does it because of her love for the family. She knows that by having lunch for us each Sunday, it will increase the chance that we attend church (since we don't have to worry about cooking ourselves). It will also increase the chances that we would stay close as a family. The brothers, sisters-in-laws, and nieces and nephews have spent time together that we probably would not have spent. Family members also know that they can bring their friends with them - especially if the friends go to church with us before lunch. Everyone is welcomed in Betty's house on Sunday and you can feel it. You know the sad part is that we won't truly appreciate the lunches until after they are gone.
As you know, I host exchange students and everyone of them will tell you that one of things they miss the most when they leave are the Sunday lunches at mom's. Here are some pictures from those Sunday lunches and I hope that you can get an idea of how special they are.
The best meals in life are the ones made with love. Thanks Mom for loving us enough to spend time each week making us a meal so that we can have great memories like these.
