Why a new blog?

Hello Everyone!  It's been a while since I had a blog, and probably never since I regularly maintained one, but life seems to be moving pretty quickly these days, and this may be the best way to share.

It seems that every time we turn around a huge change has happened without us even noticing it!  Of course we saved and saved for the house, and we did buy that and move in - we definitely saw that coming!  But other changes... some not as nice, were surprises.

On April 1, 2013, we lost my mom.  This was definitely the worst change.  My mom left a legacy that could rival any rockstar or world leader - or so it seemed when the church filled with former students, parents of students, and lines of people arrived at her memorial in Burleson.  There's a tree planted for her at Bransom Elementary, in case you ever drive by, and you'll find each faculty member with a story to tell about my mom's time in education.  We received tons of cards, emails, flowers.  Members of her sorority messaged me on Facebook, a former student stationed in Afghanistan sent me messages, her college roommate sent me pictures of her with my dad!  The memories, like the grieving, seem to go on and on.

As we recover from a weekend of sorting through her things, I see our new house filled with pieces of my childhood.  There are antiques we know the history of, and some we know were given to her, but we're not sure from where or when, and I struggle with re-purposing them.  After all, what else would a 19th century copper dry sink be used for other than storing Christmas decorations?!  I found I had no trouble thinking of selling her dining table, but expressed to my brother my struggle with selling the matching hutch.

"Of course," he said.  "It's not what it is, but what it stood for.  It's the Monolith.  It's this thing that's been important, in our lives, for all our lives."

And that's what it comes down to.  What things stood for.  So that brings me to half the purpose of this blog.  My goal is to do what my mom apparently started to do - create a family cookbook.  I want to combine the recipes she felt sustained our holidays with some she only told stories about, from grandparents and great-aunts, and even add in some of my own.  I'm surprised to find I'm a pretty good cook, and I married a darn good one, too!  Eventually, I'd like to make a publish-worthy book to distribute through the family and that's where all of you come in.

My mom used food to express her love for people.  She loved ALL of you.  If you have a favorite one or twenty of her meals, comment or email them to me.  I can't guarantee I'll include them all, but I can share them.  I also promise not to include or share them without trying to make them first.  Surely, I will regret this, when I'm hammering toasted coconuts open or pretending I know what divinity is supposed to look like before it boils.  But I will try, and I'll include any tips I may figure out along the way.

I can also promise this food will be good.  REALLY good.  If you knew my mom, you know this is fact.  I can't wait to see what you all want to see me cook!