The Original Meatball

My almost-four-year-old dropped her meatball at dinner yesterday. Ever-vigilant for teachable moments, I seized this as the perfect opportunity to teach my children the classic song "On Top of Spaghetti." As the final strains of "and then my poor meatball rolled right out the door" reverberated off the kitchen walls, my daughter sighed. "Awww. That is so sad."

She paused for two-tenths of a second before she shifted into interrogation mode.

"Does her mom have any more meatballs? "
"Will she give her some?"
"If someone was walking along and saw the meatball, what kind of face would they have? "
"What would they say?"

(Here her two-year-old brother chimed in confidently: "They would pick it up and eat it ALL.")

"Why didn't she get out of her chair and get it?"
"What would her mom think when she saw the meatball on the ground?"
"Are there any other songs about food?"
"Can you sing them?"
"Now can you pick up my meatball?"

Half-way through the conversation, I grabbed a notepad and started writing. This would be a story worth re-telling. My brother stationed overseas, grandparents a few states away, even friends and family we see every week would get a chuckle out of this one. Almost-four-year-olds say some very entertaining things.

Then again, almost-four-year-olds are also almost-old-enough to notice when grown-ups are laughing over stories about them. Rather than embarrass my precious girl, why not put this little story about her in a blog?

And why not post some of the photos I snap here and there throughout the week? Surely that would be better than sending out a 25-picture KodakGallery.com slide show every six months or so. If family and friends actually want to see pictures of my children, they can visit our blog. And if they don't, my e-mails won't be pestering them anymore.

For a long time I've resisted the blogging trend because it's just so ... trendy. Trendy is near the top of my "Things I Never Want to Be" list. But "pride goeth before a fall," so here I am with a trendy blog with a trendy name. Melancholy introspection and cleverly forced insights are sure to follow if this blog is about me.

But life ain't about me, so neither is this blog. Meatball Minutes will be a family scrapbook, a place to stash the funny stories, the cute photos, the little details we might otherwise forget to share with far-off loved ones. It will be a place to delight in today's blessings and the One who gives them.

Every day [with its new reasons] will I bless you – affectionately and gratefully praise you; yes, I will praise your name for ever and ever.
Psalm 145:2, AMP

To family and friends far and near, welcome. Hope you enjoy the meatballs.