The PURSE-onality Challenge: A Lovely Invitation (+ My Apple Crisp Recipe)

It's Tuesdays Unwrapped over at Emily Freeman's blog Chatting With the Sky. The assignment?

"Anything that causes you to pause and celebrate the moment. Not what will be or what is to come, but what is real and true this day: the messy, the lovely, and the unexpected. Share a photo, a story, or anything that offers a glimpse into your own journey of discovering the gifts in the midst of the ordinary."

Daniel unexpectedly asked me out to lunch today.

He didn't actually ask, "Would you like to come out to lunch with me?"

What he said was: "I'm going to town after 6th period. Want to come along?"

So I started doing mental gymnastics:

Do I need anything in town?

How many stops is he making?

How can I shuffle the rest of my day to get everything done plus a trip to town?

I asked, “Where are you going?”

He revealed his scheme: “Well, I thought I’d drop you off at Panda Express so you can order. I’ll run into Target and get what I need. And then I’ll come back and meet you and have lunch with my wife!”

He so had me at "have lunch with my wife"!

I tossed my schedule out the window.

“You’re asking me out to lunch! How lovely.”

And it was...

...lovely to be invited.

...lovely to eat garlic eggplant tofu and fried rice and egg rolls together.

...lovely to drive too and from town together.

We've spent so many years in “efficiency mode”:

“Can you watch the kids while I exercise?”

“I’ll bathe them if you read to them.”

Since you’re heading to town, could you pick up a few things for me?”

It’s lovely to be...

...less scheduled.

...more spontaneous.

...less scripted.

We came home and enjoyed the last of my apple crisp. Yes, the one I almost ruined yesterday. (You didn't think that story was from years ago, long before I wised up and got perfect, did you?)

It was lovely, too (especially piping hot with French vanilla ice cream!)

Just in case you’d like you’d like to try it yourself (minus the mess!) here’s the recipe:

Betty Crocker’s Apple Crisp a la Cheri

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

4-5 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and sliced thinly

zest of 1 lemon (I grate it finely.)

juice of 1 lemon (I squeeze it over the apple slices as I’m slicing them.)

1 Tbs. flour

1 Tbs. sugar

¼ tsp. cinnamon

⅓ cup Craisins

Mix the above ingredients thoroughly. (I put them in a very large Tupperware, seal the lid on, and shake like crazy...shake the Tupperware, that is!)

Pour into greased pie plate or quiche dish.

⅓ cup margerine

⅔ cup brown sugar

½ cup flour

½ cup oatmeal (I prefer Old Fashioned)

¾ tsp. cinnamon

¾ tsp. nutmeg

Mash topping ingredients together with a pastry blender or forks or with your hands.

Before it goes in the oven...

Sprinkle topping evenly over apples. Bake at 375 for about 30 minutes. (Our oven runs hot, so I bake at 375 for 20 minutes, 350 for 5, and turned off for 5 -- turns out just perfect every time!)