Mushrooms

Frank and I love pizza. And when I say love, I mean we could eat it every day. I seriously have even prayed that pizza will be present in Heaven. It's just that good.

Lately we've been making our own pizza at home. It's healthier, cheaper, and sometimes just down right fun... most of the time. There's been one frustrating topping we just haven't been able to figure out: the mushroom.

Fresh mushrooms on pizza... yes please!

We love mushrooms too. Not as much as we love pizza, but enough so that we've taken the time to figure out the right kind of mushroom to get the right kind of taste on our handmade pizza pie. Here's our problem: canned mushrooms -  gross. Do you feel me on that one? Fresh mushrooms - Yum-O! But they take FOREVER to cut up thin enough to be worth putting on the pizza. If we don't put in the required sweat equity, they end up too chunky and they fall off your slice. Not to mention we never seem to go through a package of them fast enough before they spoil. What a dilemma. I mean seriously - how do we sleep at night?
Little did I know that my quest for mushroom perfection was also going to end up illustrating to me something that is so easily forgettable...

One night, not so long ago, as evening was nearing my dad asked what we were going to have for dinner. I told him about our plans for homemade pizza and shared the mushroom dilemma. When I got done talking about fresh or canned, whole or sliced, organic or "regular", my dad giggled and asked me "isn't it great we even get to decide what type of mushrooms fit well on our pizza?" Life lesson moment! What my dad meant was, some people have no choice what they eat. Some people have never tasted pizza. Some people survive on rice and beans. And some people might even eat a rotten mushroom because it's all they have.

Well that mushroom conversation really hit me. I went about my evening replaying the thought of how much I...have. Yes, it's true, we are currently basement dwellers at my parents' house. And yes, I'm sure some people would look at our paychecks and wonder how we manage. But you know what? We have more than enough. God has provided for our every need and even many of our desires. We are blessed. I must remind myself of this every time I am tempted to complain or let my mind wander to things I want.

A few days after this mushroom conversation my husband ran across an article about a family of 4 that lives on only a fraction of our income (the mom's blog, Blissful and Domestic is linked on my blog list on the right). This got me thinking even more. Am I being a good steward of all the blessings God has given me? Is there more I could do? The answer I received was a resounding yes. So here's my challenge to myself: simplify, plan, and save. Not only will this create a happier home environment, but it's just one more thing I can do to further build my relationship with God.

So thank you, mushroom. Not only are you tasty and versatile, but you just taught this momma one important lesson.