Use What You’ve Got
Use what you’ve got…that message has been coming to me again and again since the beginning of this year. Over and over again as I’ve gone out to buy something I thought I needed or wanted, or looked at something and wished I could buy it, I’ve heard that little voice reminding me…”Use what you’ve got.”
It happened again today as I sat down to write this post for Two Chums. This is not at all what I had planned to write about or what Jackie and I had discussed, but this message is so “loud” I can’t ignore it, so while it may mean very little, or nothing at all to some of you visiting us today, I have to believe there are at least a few of you who maybe need this encouragement.
Sunday was Easter and we were so blessed to have a houseful of family and friends joining us for our celebration of the resurrection….46 of us for at least some part of the day. Lots of family, friends and food….my favorite kind of celebration!
We feasted on Sunday…body, mind and spirit. And it came to me today how very fortunate we are to say that. My kitchen(pictured above) is small…very small, in fact. When we bought this home, 26 years ago, we knew right away it was the perfect house for us…perfect in every way except for the kitchen. We walked in and saw the living room and dining room and the back garden and said immediately to our real estate agent, and dear friend, Bill Podley, “This is it. This is our house.” “With all the cooking you do, don’t you want to see the kitchen before you decide that? ” he asked me. “No… I mean how bad can it be? And anyway, we can always remodel it ” was my reply.
As you can imagine, we love to have people in our home for just about any reason and invariably food is a part of our gatherings. So when we saw the kitchen, both Randy and I remarked that while it was surely less than perfect, it didn’t really matter because as soon as possible we would remodel and enlarge it. The house we were moving from was about half the size of this house but the kitchen in the old house was fully remodeled and actually quite spacious, so this kitchen really seemed inadequate by comparison. We thought within the first year or certainly 2 years we would begin our kitchen upgrade. But that isn’t how life unfolded. For one reason and another there seemed to be things that were bigger priorities to use our extra money on. So the years rolled by with a tiny crowded kitchen, but we went ahead and kept celebrating people and events and life in our home, believing always that soon we would be doing it with a really great kitchen.
How grateful I am that we didn’t wait for that “bigger, better kitchen” before we started celebrating family, friends…life. Over the years we have hosted a total of 5 weddings, countless birthday parties (many of a 100+ people), dozens of anniversary parties, many, many showers and every holiday that comes up. This Easter was no exception to that. And all that food came out of our very small and seemingly inadequate kitchen.
So today it hit me that I was very blessed. God had really been encouraging us all along to “use what you’ve got.” How much joy we would have missed if we had waited until we had the right kitchen to host our family and friends and to celebrate the great moments in all our lives…precious memories would have been lost on waiting for something bigger and better.
Growing up my family spent many Sundays at the home of my Aunt Mary and Uncle Bob. Aunt Mary was my grandfather’s youngest sister and she and Uncle Bob had a big, wonderful home where everyone was always welcomed. And believe me there were lots of us. My mother has 67 first cousins!
Aunt Mary and Uncle Bob were so generous and shared so graciously with all of us the blessings that they had been given. I know now, that in spite of all the work involved in hosting that many family gatherings, they were blessed to have their home filled with life and love. I have so many happy memories of days spent there surrounded by family and food and stories and games and singing and so much laughter. I determined long, long ago as a little girl that when I grew up I wanted a house like Aunt Mary’s where people would gather and enjoy themselves and celebrate life.
So when we moved into our home, despite the size and age of the kitchen, I thank God that He nudged us along to keep celebrating. I realize now that He has been teaching me all along, no matter what you have, large or small, whether you have plenty or just a little bit, you are richer and life is sweeter when you share whatever you have with others. Big new kitchen or not, our lives have been full of love, joy and so much abundant living!
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LOVE YOUR INSIGHTS ROBIN AND JACKIE!…AND EASTER JOY WAS EVIDENT AND ABOUNDING IN YOUR HOME. LOVE LOVE LOVE THESE LITTLE TID BITS AND REMINDERS! WITH HUGS, PEEJ
Robin, I know it’s not where *I* have to prepare meals day in and day out, but I have always loved your kitchen…everything is relative, and it has always felt spacious and airy to me…and I KNOW a ton of love comes out of there. I remember a few years back when you *almost* got to do a remodel…while I was happy for you since you seemed to so want it, I was actually a little sad because I thought The Robin Kitchen of my memories would be gone…..
I think sometimes we have just exactly what we’re supposed to have…even when we don’t know it.
Love,
Bettye xoxo
Thank you Bettye….small and crowded I have loved my little kitchen and all the memories we share there. Wish you were here more to be in there with me 🙂
So basically this whole post was code for, “Yes, we’ll have the NYE party at Our house!” – right? 😉 I’m so glad, too, that you didn’t wait for your new, bigger, better kitchen to host all the wonderful gatherings I’ve been honored & blessed to have been invited to!!
We are working on that Allison…NYE I mean….and you and Matt and Henry are family to us and always welcome in our home:)
I love this message. What a great reminder of the importance or gratitude!
Thanks Anouska…as JAckie always says “Gratitude is riches”!
Enjoyed reading your post this morning, Robin! Great reminder and encouragement. Sometimes I put things off ‘until I get…’ I appreciate the reminder to use what I already have!! Thanks for allowing our family to be included in your family gatherings.:)
La Rosa you are part of “our family” and we love having you with us!
Anything in your home is the best!!! Like coming home. The love, warmth and charm is so enticing and soul nurturing!!! Love it! COMFORT!!! The food, delicious and a vision for the eyes. Love that you and Jackie share these posts with us all.
Janna you and Mitch are so much a part of all the love and warmth in the gatherings we have. It always seems better when you are there:)
Oh, dear, dear Robin – Such a lovely message. Gratitude for what we have should abide in our hearts every day! It’s the message at Easter, at Thanksgiving, at Christmas because it’s the foundation of Christianity.
I do love your home and I loved the pictures of your Easter bash. Some of those faces I see in the pictures are dear to my heart. And I’m looking forward to sharing my 75th birthday in your back garden.
Say, I’m so glad that you mentioned Bill Podley. He’s an excellent Realtor! I see that he just sold that huge mansion over in Pasadena. It sold so quickly too. He must be a terrific man. I’m glad to be reminded of him. If I ever have a housing need I’ll give him a call and tell him that I know you.
It’s no wonder why “ABUNDANT LIVING” is part of your tagline. It’s just as life should be. I hope I can live by that motto some decade down the road.
Your loyal supporter,
Dick Horner
from lil ole Burbank
My dear Dick…you are such a delight to both Jackie and me and we do so appreciate all your encouragement to us. Thank you, thank you!
Thank you so much for having my family of 5 to your Easter meal. We loved seeing you and Cisco and all the family. Emme was crazy for your chickens:) Even though your kitchen is small you cook and create amazing spreads of food. I’m in awe!!!
It wouldn’t be a completed holiday without you and Nick and the children! I was SO glad you came…. And remember, sweet little Emme can visit our chickens anytime. 🙂
I have never been able to believe the quantity and quality of food that you can produce in this little kitchen!!! You make it come alive with aromas and sounds as food just seems to magically appear! Thanks for the many times you have blessed me with incredible meals from this little food factory!
That was a lovely story. Home hosted events are always special. It creates so many wonderful memories. I enjoy reading and preparing some of your dishe. You gals do a fine job.
Oh, I loved this gals! Thank you. I have always been amazed Robin by both your warm hospitality and the abundance of soul filling food you create and share out of that blessed little kitchen of yours! Thank you for speaking truth. Love you both.
And tonight I made your tomato bisque and grilled cheese sandwiches (your way) -Johnny and all my kiddos loved it! Best I have made and perfect for a rainy day and movie night!