Given by: Lori
at Momma Momma
Can I borrow $25.00?
A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old
son waiting for him at the door.
SON: Daddy, may I ask you a question?
DAD: Yeah sure, what it is? replied the man.
SON: Daddy, how much do you make an hour?
DAD: That’s none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing? the man
said angrily.
SON: I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?
DAD: If you must know, I make $50 an hour.
SON: Oh, the little boy replied, with his head down.
SON: Daddy, may I please borrow $25?
The father was furious, ‘If the only reason you asked that is so you can
borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march
yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being
so selfish. I don’t work hard everyday for such childish frivolities..’ The
little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.
The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boys’
questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?
After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down , and started to think:
Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $25.00 and he
really didn’t ask for money very often. The man went to the door of the
little boy’s room and opened the door. ‘Are you asleep, son?’ He asked.
‘No daddy, I’m awake,’ replied the boy.
‘I’ve been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier’ said the man.
‘It’s been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here’s the $25
you asked for.’
The little boy sat straight up, smiling. ‘Oh, thank you daddy!’ He yelled.
Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills.The man
saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again.
The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his
father.
‘Why do you want more money if you already have some?’ the father grumbled.
Because I didn’t have enough, but now I do,’ the little boy replied. ‘Daddy,
I have $50 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early
tomorrow.. I would like to have dinner with you.’
The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and he begged
for his forgiveness. It’s just a short reminder to all of you working so
hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having
spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our
hearts. Do remember to share that $50 worth of your time with someone you
love.
If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace
us in a matter of hours.
But the family & friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of
their lives.
Enjoy!…. The Perfect Holiday Cake
Red Velvet Cake
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk (or stir 1 tablespoon of vinegar or lemon juice into 1 cup of milk; let stand for 10 minutes)
2 tablespoons cocoa
One 1-ounce bottle (2 tablespoons) red food coloring
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 tablespoon cider vinegar or white vinegar
Preheat oven to 350. Grease two 9-inch cake pans generously, and line with waxed paper or kitchen parchment. Grease paper and flour the pans. Prepare three separate mixtures for batter. Combine the flour and salt in a medium bowl and use a fork to mix well. Stir vanilla into the buttermilk. Combine cocoa and red food coloring in a small bowl, mashing and stirring together to make a thick, smooth paste. In a large bowl, beat butter with a mixer at low speed for 1 minute, until creamy and soft. Add sugar, and then beat well for 3 to 4 minutes, stopping to scrape the bowl now and then. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each one, until the mixture is creamy, fluffy and smooth. Scrape cocoa-food coloring paste into batter and mix in. Add a third of flour mixture and then half the milk, beating at low speed, and mixing only enough to make flour or liquid disappear into batter. Mix in another third of the flour, the rest of the milk and then the last of the flour in the same way. In a small bowl, combine baking soda and vinegar and stir well. Use a wooden spoon or spatula to quickly mix this last mixture into the red batter, folding it in gently by hand. Scrape batter into the prepared pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, until layers spring back when touched lightly in the center and are just beginning to pull away from sides of pans. Cool cakes in pans on wire racks or folded kitchen towel for 15 minutes. Then turn them out on racks or on plates, remove the paper and turn top side up to cool completely.
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts
To make the icing, combine the milk and flour in a small or medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking or stirring often, until the mixture thickens almost to a paste, 2 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and scrape it into a small bowl to cool completely. Meanwhile, beat the butter with a mixer at high speed until light and fluffy. Add the sugar in thirds, beating well each time, until the mixture is creamy and fairly smooth. Add the cooled milk-and-flour mixture and beat for 1 to 2 minutes, scraping down the sides now and then, to combine everything well. Using a large spoon or your spatula, stir in the vanilla, coconut and pecans, mixing to combine everything well into a thick, fluffy, nubby icing. To complete the cake, place one layer, top side down on a cake stand or a serving plate, and spread icing on the top. Place the second layer, right side up, on top. Frost the sides and then the top of the cake. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or more to help the icing set. Makes 8 to 10 servings.
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To celebrate Sunday, I’ve been moved to begin a weekly Sunday post called “Sunday Piece of Cake.” In the post, guest writers will be invited to share funny stories about their kids, poems, parenting tips, and inspirational stories–the kind of pieces that will be the equivalent of a delicious Sunday “meal.”
And since a Sunday meal just isn’t complete without dessert, guest writers will be asked to supply a desert recipe along with their story–something sweet and delicious that’ll put the icing on the “Sunday Piece of Cake.”
If you wish to be a guest writer for “Sunday Piece of Cake,” email your story or poem and recipe to Sunday@chedemisboutique.com
December 7th, 2008 at 12:38 am
Loved this post!
This scenario has been one of my biggest fears since becoming a parent. Time with the ones that you love is so important and these days, that time is often cut short or even scheduled due to the need to be able to keep food on the table and the bills paid. I will be headed off into the working world in a few months and I am praying that I will find a position that will not rob me of enjoying my daughter’s childhood.
Red Velvet cake… yum!
December 7th, 2008 at 7:51 am
What a great story and reminder about taking time out for our loved ones. Thank you for the red velvet cake recipe. It looks delicious!
December 7th, 2008 at 9:53 am
What a nice treat to be sitting here on Sunday morning making breakfast for my son and his stepsister (as he calls his father’s girlfriend’s daughter) before we spend the day together decorating our tree and making Christmas gifts. I think I’m definitely going to start making this part of my Sunday morning ritual. And, I looooove Red Velvet cake. If only I could just grab a slice right off your blog!
December 7th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
So sad that this happens so much! I love Red Velvet Cake!!! Great post!
December 7th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Great story. Thanks for posting it.
December 8th, 2008 at 6:58 am
Great post and recipe. I’m drooling already!
December 8th, 2008 at 10:32 am
What a sweet story and timely reminder for me. Especially since I started blogging, I have to be extremely careful not to fall into the “oblogation” syndrome. I don’t know which I am most excited about, posting a post, or publishing comments. I think, the latter. It’s the rapport, I’m after, after all.
I am going to try the Red Velvet recipe. I’m not an experienced baker, I have a question: what is the purpose of the cider vinegar?
December 8th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
That was an amazing story!
December 8th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
that, my friend, was powerful! and then to throw some red velvet cake in….wow!
December 9th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
That is one heck of a delicious looking cake!
December 9th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
What a wonderful story - and a great reminder about what is important in our lives.
December 10th, 2008 at 3:20 am
aww that was such a cute story and it is a great reminder of what is important in life..im glad my little ones are able to show me everyday how important the little things are
yummy my favorite cake now if i could only bake worth anything
December 10th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
What a touching story! It has become all to common for parents to work all the time and not spend time with their children. Makes me thankful to be at home with my son.
Lori@Thrifty Thoughts
December 11th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Okay, that story is just great. We all need those thought-provoking stories that get us off our duffs and doing what we need to do. Going to hug my kids now.
December 12th, 2008 at 2:21 am
love red velvet! and what a wonderful story!!
December 13th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
i just love it! the story, that is. and red velvet cake is one of my most favorite foods ever. thanks for sharing both.
December 16th, 2008 at 2:51 am
I can’t wait to make the cake, after I stop crying!
December 17th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Oh this made me cry…
December 19th, 2008 at 1:19 am
There are no words. I’m completely speechless…
December 21st, 2008 at 10:04 pm
How did I miss this post last week?
These stories always want to make me cry because they are so true. They always inspire me to want to be a better parent too.
Thank you so much for sharing that!