Taking Stock.......

It's important to take stock every once in awhile. Mentally, you can take stock of your emotions and attempt to find out why you're acting irrational; physically, you can take stock to understand your need to sit on the couch and eat brownie batter instead of joining the P90X revolution; or you can literally take stock of the kitchen equipment you have and de-clutter your cupboards! I chose to do the latter.
Organizing the kitchen cabinets tends to be a twice-a-year event in my household, and as I was sifting through the miscellaneous kitchenware I began to contemplate what it means to have certain items. Here are a few thoughts......
I have one, solitary wine glass which means my friends and I don't partake of wine or else I would have a set of 6 or 8 wine glasses. It also means I'm not afraid to just have one wine glass because eventually that glass may serve its purpose by holding sparkling grape juice. It could also mean that the rest of the set of glasses are still in my ex's attic somewhere and all that made it to my house was the one I have.
I have a Jack LaLane Juicer. I've been having a love affair with the Jack LaLane Power Juicer Infomercial for close to about a year now. I have never ordered this juicer because it is mucho expensive. But I've often thought of all the wonderfully, healthy juice I would concoct with the power juicer in my possession. Low and behold, my grandmother had one just sitting in her storage unit!!! Being the wonderful grandmother she is, she gave it to me. My friends and I had a juice night! It was fun. It was messy. And it was a one time event. That is why I didn't order the juicer. I know myself wayyyy too well.
I own a Kitchen Aid 3.5 quart Ceramic Coated Cast Iron Dutch Oven. Having this item in your kitchen means you are a COOK. With this piece of equipment at the ready, I can whip up almost anything Paula-Deen-style. The college boys are always eager to try anything that comes out of this pot. It also means I have a wonderful Mother who found it on sale at Kohl's and gave it to me as a gift, as I would never spend that much on myself. Or would I????
I have a cobalt blue teapot that sits on my stove. I never use this teapot. But its looks good. And it's my favorite color. This means I am a woman who buys expensive accessories for her kitchen.......in the form of teapots..........and yes, I'm aware that's kind of sad.
I have a piece of round metal that comes in a funnel-cake kit and it has been sitting in my cupboard for a year. I made a funnel-cake when I had no groceries. It turned out really well. But what does this say about me? I am ambitious and have great ideas but I have to work really hard at finding the other pieces to complete the kit, although once found the finished product is usually pretty terrific.
Taking stock of my kitchen reminds me that I am blessed abundantly. Some things I've been given, some things I've bought. But it all has a purpose. I never toss kitchen stuff because I know I will always use it, just as I've never tossed out my faith. Life has brought me huge changes, monumental ups and downs. Too much stuff. I could have gone through my "cabinets" and cleared out all the excess that I thought I wouldn't need.....the items that were too painful to keep, the silverware that was tarnished, the mixers and juicers that I thought should work a certain way but didn't.
The great thing about God is, he specializes in polishing silver. The mixers and juicers work fine, I just have to learn how to operate them. The knives can be taken out of my back and put back in the drawer because I'm kind of like Wolverine......I heal.
I can take stock of my life and realize one thing. I am who I was created to be. I didn't arrive there miraculously at the age of 32. It was and still is a process, a journey, a recipe. If I follow the instructions it will come out just as it should.