Play it Again, Sam?

If I were to articulate the sentiments on my heart this morning in one word, it would be “gratitude.” 
 
It has been a very busy week, and I’ve been so tired.  Two nights of not sleeping well didn’t help matters. 

Wednesday evening, we had been given a fruit-flavored powder product, along with a variety of other items, by some friends of ours.  It was supposed to be an energy booster and vitamin supplement.  We were looking over all of these donations at the supper table, and I decided to try one of them out.  I enjoyed it, not knowing that this product had as much caffeine as a cup of coffee (which I never drink). 
 
Anyway, this morning, I finally had a chance to sleep in, and it felt WONDERFUL!!  Just having a chance to “breathe,” catch up on rest, and have time to take care of things felt so good.  At Mass, gratitude for the blessings of the day filled my heart. 
 
After Mass, we were talking briefly about the details of our Sisters coming to the U.S.  I brought out Prairie Praise, the history of our community written by our Sister Patricia.  It was fitting, today, that I noticed her poem on the back page: Psalm of Thanksgiving.
 
After this discussion, I still had a little time before I was due at the reception desk, time enough to catch up on another small item that has been on my “to do list” for some time already. 
 
I had been looking through the Lazy Susan over at the convent a few weeks ago, and noticed a box of vanilla pudding.  It was opened, but we don’t remember what it had been used for (unless it was 'imitation eggnog' at Christmastime).  I noticed the “best used by” date was October of 2020, so I figured I’d might as well mix it up sometime so we could use it before it got too old.
 
Today, when I finally got around to doing so, I faced a little problem.  Since the package was opened, I didn’t know how much mix was still left (and thus, how much milk to add).  I guessed there was about 2/3 of a pack left, and went from there. 
 
Previously, we had received some packages of “dry milk mixture” from the food bank.  Lucky me; I inherited it.  It is quite different, and very sweet.  I thought this pudding situation was the perfect opportunity to use some of it up!  I found a plastic container and mixed about two cups of water and milk powder mix with the pudding and cocoa powder, stirring it vigorously for a couple of minutes.  I stuck it in the fridge, hoping to enjoy some with the other Sisters in a couple of hours at lunchtime.
 
At lunch, however, when I pulled it out, it was not set, but instead resembled a dietary supplement drink like Boost.  We decided to stick it in the freezer until later in the meal in hope that it would be more like a milkshake.  Actually, not much happened in that short of time, but Sr. Elaine and I both drank some anyway.  It was okay...I guess.  Sr. Rebecca, who does not care for milkshakes, declined my offer of a glass of it.
 
We had some laughs over the whole ordeal, but decided that this concoction would not be something I would try again. 
 
I asked Sr. Elaine (referring to an express she sometimes uses), “I bet you won’t say ‘play it again, Sam’ about this one, will you?”

In keeping with this morning's sentiments of gratitude, I am thankful that it was only a little over two cups, rather than two quarts, that we have to use up!

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