Recently, it was my 32nd wedding anniversary. I have a group that I meet with once every two weeks. I had missed the previous gathering due to a vacation and I asked my husband if he would be OK with me leaving him on the morning of our anniversary to participate in the group. He was so kind and said that he would be fine with me going. So, I did.
Just as we were beginning our meeting, I received a text message of a picture of our freezer and meat juice running on the floor. Recently, we have purchased a 1/2 beef and our neighbor had moved and gifted us with more meat. Needless to say, our freezer was as full as it could be. He had shut the door and waited for my return to tackle the mess and the subsequent actions to be taken.
Now, I want to address a couple of things that might have popped into your mind about my husband. I do not have to ask permission to do things from my husband. I asked out of respect for the day not out of some fear or obligation. Second, my husband doesn’t leave things for me to clean up. He is very industrious and has a great work ethic. On this day, he was angry that the freezer was left open and just didn’t have the strength to start on the task without me. That’s what marriage is. It is showing respect for each other’s feelings and knowing when we need to step in and assist. With that out of the way…
I got home and we went to work. I began with a bucket for cleaning and sent him for extra coolers to put food in. I pulled out things towards the front that were thawed or beginning to thaw. I had different coolers for items that were still fully frozen (mostly to the back of the freezer). Once that was divided up, my boys started the process of defrosting the freezer and cleaning up the rest of that mess.
I headed upstairs with the thawed food and began to make a game plan. My husband, right by my side, asked where he should start. He grabbed our electric skillet and began to brown the 6 lbs of ground beef that needed to be cooked. I took several packages of round steak and cubed it. I added it to my 14 qt pressure cooker with onion soup mix and beef broth to cook. I then prepped the pork loin in my 6 qt pressure cooker and started that. Next, I cut vegetables to make soup – carrots, celery and onions. My husband cut the onions. They always bother my eyes. We bagged the ground beef, round steak and pulled pork. Then, I used a soup bone and vegetables in the juices from the round steak and made vegetable beef soup. I started new with a full chicken in the other pressure cooker and made chicken soup starter.
By this time, we were able to turn the freezer back on and reload it with the frozen food and the newly prepared food. Then, a meal plan for the remaining thawed items such as halibut, lamb, and even steak for my 14 year old’s birthday party. 🙂
Our responses show our hearts. I didn’t yell or scream about the situation and neither did my husband. We analyzed the situation, made a game plan together and redeemed the situation. How do you respond when you have spilt meat juices? Crying over it does nothing to redeem the situation. Start with the question – what can we do with where we are right now? No blame, no condemnation just how to move forward. It’s the key to a content life and marriage. So, my meal plan changed dramatically this week but guaranteed, we are eating like kings!
Thank you for joining the journey!
Dana 🙂