Eternal Instants

We just celebrated my oldest daughter's birthday last weekend. In our family, birthdays are done with style. The birthdays do not last just for a day but can carry on for the entire weekend. You are the star of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The phone rings off the hook as distant family members call to wish you the best in their own creative song. It is truly a celebration of you.

Having just celebrated my oldest daughter's birthday brought back a slew of memories for me. Memories of the day she was born, the three months following as my husband took that much time off to spend with his first child, and her first birthday where happiness was mingled with the relief that we had made it through the first year alive. It also brought back the memory of when she was a baby and how she would never want to be put down. She was a snuggler from the moment she got up until she went to bed. Those days my husband and I survived the day by watching Judging Amy and baking batches of sugar cookies. The days were long and chilly since it was fall but the house was warm and smelled delicious.

Now I look at her at age 7 and am dazzled by who she is growing up to be. She really was a solemn little baby. Always had this skeptical look on her face like she was trying to tell us that she knew what was going on the minute she got here. I look at her now and see a vibrant, loving, and kind person. I also see the amazing adult she will be in her face.  I find joy in watching her find her passions in life, such as tape (give her a roll of tape and she is happy as can be), school, learning, art, and music.

All of these memories of who she was as a baby and the glimpses of who she will be as an adult mingled with who she is now remind me of what Max Lucado described as Eternal Instants. In his book, God Came Near, which I am thoroughly enjoying now, Lucado describes these instants as :

"An instant in time that had no time. A picture that froze in midframe, demanding to be savored. A minute that refused to die after sixty seconds. A moment that was lifted off the timeline and amplified into a forever so all the angels could witness its majesty."


Over the weekend, when my daughter was opening her presents and the joy was plastered all over her face over a roll of tape, that was an Eternal Instant for me. Those are the memories that are brought forth every birthday. Even every day when I stop moving around, stop trying to get my to-do list done, and really look at my daughter, I see those moments and the moments to come. I am truly blessed by this gift of my daughter and what she has brought to our life.

So, in honor of my oldest, here is the sugar cookie recipe that makes the day a little warmer and the house smell delicious. They do not last long so savor them while you can!

Rolled Sugar Cookies from The Complete Book of Baking by Pillsbury

1 cup sugar
1 cup butter, softened
3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

In a large bowl, combine sugar, butter, milk, vanilla, and egg; blend well. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt; mix well. Cover with plastic wrap; refrigerate 1 hour for easier handling.

Now, the traditional recipe calls for rolling out the dough and using cookie cutters. Then baking for 5 to 9 minutes at 400 degrees.

But we do it differently in our house and they are really yummy this way. Roll dough into 1 to 1-1/2 inch balls; then roll dough balls in turbinado sugar which is a natural cane sugar (also called Sugar in the Raw). You can find the sugar in grocery stores in the baking aisle. This sugar is a large grained sugar that does not melt easily and provides a great, crunchy coating to the cookies when finished. We have also rolled them in the colored sugar found in the baking aisle near the birthday candles.

Bake cookies for 9-10 minutes at 400 degrees until slightly brown on bottom and firm to touch. Enjoy!