Mary Writes a Song

Busy hanging clothes the other day, I was graced with Mary's presence, her face all a glow.

"Mommy, I wrote a song in my head and I need you to write it down." 

Mary's Best Song

Oh, Lord, I need you.
You take me up.
You clear my heart from sin,
You make me new again

Hopefully there will be another stanza soon!

Making Peace With Your Problematic Child, Part 1

When I brought my Peter home from the hospital all those years ago, I never dreamed he'd be so hard to raise, or that he'd bring out the worst in me. To me, he was a miracle: an angel baby born fourteen months after the 21-week gestational loss of our son Isaac.

I had been through the most difficult year and a half of my life, further complicated by preterm labor: dilating two inches at 30 weeks gestation, with nearly constant small-scale contractions. They gave me brethine--a preterm labor drug--but it wasn't very effective.

I was on bedrest for 8 weeks, after which my water broke at 37.5 weeks gestation. Labor was routine, but with lots of howling pain because the bedrest started before any Lamaze classes, and the epidural was given too late (story of my labor life, but with my last baby, I learned to breathe!).

I had no idea what I was doing, despite lying there on bedrest for weeks, reading pregnancy magazines. The nurse kept telling me to breathe but I just couldn't manage it.

Pushing lasted two hours, after which forceps were used to help deliver my baby. After it all, Peter was born in good condition, thankfully.

But it wasn't smooth sailing.

I developed preeclampsia shortly after he was born, landing me back in the hospital while he stayed at home with Daddy for five heartbreaking days (or was it four...I can't remember now.) While Daddy dealt with jaundice at home, and the associated daily pediatrician checks, I worked on my breast milk supply while begging God to heal me, and the jaundice.

I pumped breast milk but was told to "pump and dump" because of the magnesium sulfate drug preeclampsia patients are forced to take. One nurse thought the drug wouldn't hurt my baby, having recently been to a seminar where she learned that all drugs are okay--excreted so minutely into breast milk anyway--except for street drugs and cancer drugs.

The pediatrician, however, was adamant: pump and dump. So Peter was given formula in a bottle for the five days I was in the hospital, and once home, I pumped my milk for him until he learned to latch at three weeks old. It was rough going, but after five weeks old, he never took another bottle.

He was fussy from three weeks to five months old, like all my children. I had a rapid let-down reflex in one breast, as well as general over-supply problems. After five months old, they were champs at keeping up with the milk, but still, there were frequent clogged ducts no matter what I did.

Peter spit up copiously about three times after every feeding, for an entire year, and his tear ducts took a year to open, resulting in the green eye junk you see in these babies. Despite cleaning his eyes frequently, I dealt with some nosey comments, such as:  "I think your baby has conjunctivitis; shouldn't you take him to the doctor?"

He also was born with a hydrocele in his scrotum, which required surgery at two years old.

All this to say...parenting didn't come easy for me from the start. It was a delight and I was on cloud nine, don't get me wrong, but those were grueling times.

I wish I could say things settled down, but from an early age, Peter was high-strung and extremely active, walking at just under nine months old, and rarely stopping for a cuddle. He was smart and fun, but by 3.5 years old, he was the main source of stress in my life, and that remains true today.

He has trouble controlling his emotions, reaches a frustration threshold far sooner than most of us, talks incessantly and loudly, unless he's reading, and hyperfocuses something fierce. Once he becomes interested in something, he lives and breathes it, follows you around and talks and asks about it almost non-stop, unless he's reading.

In case you hadn't guessed....yes, it's a blessing this child likes to read.

He has trouble waiting his turn, and our most recent stress was caused by his brother's birthday. Every year when a birthday comes, Peter pressures the sibling into getting what he wants...not what they want. It's an incessant thing, and as a result, holidays and birthdays are extra stressful for everybody, despite discipline techniques employed faithfully. ADHD kids just have terrible control over their impulses, and act like they are perpetually three years old, when it comes to waiting for something. (My son has the hyperactive/impulsive type of ADHD, not the predominately inattentive type).

They also can't control their movement impulses, so hyperactivity is always an unwelcome visitor, no matter how much regular exercise you encourage.

When these kids want something, they go after it full force, even if they realize cognitively that they're driving you insane. They feel guilty, yes, but they have so little control over the impulse, that they can't stop fixating on the desired thing, whether it's a trip somewhere, a keen interest (animals, nature, etc.), a food item, or what have you.

They can be so relentless, hate can creep into your heart sometimes. Oh, not real hate, but a dislike so strong during their relentless onslaughts, that all you want to do is get in the car and drive far away, because there are no answers to this disorder and rarely a break. It isn't something that gets better, and medication helps in only minor ways.

The result is that the child grows to hate himself, and the whole family grows to hate what this child does to the collective peace. In fact, when the child is gone for some reason, the family dynamics are amazingly different. It's bittersweet to love a child so much, and yet barely be able to tolerate them so often.

It's not surprising that these kids grow up with a lot of negative interaction. Their self-esteem suffers because they're always in trouble, people are frequently angry at them, and for much of a typical day, they feel like failures.

There are good things, of course: they tend to be intelligent, fun, and imaginative, but they're so high maintenance that the positives get lost in the fray.

How do you survive your difficult child, keeping your own health intact, while assuring that they feel the full weight of your motherly love? Telling them how deeply they're loved isn't very convincing when 75% of the interaction is negative on a daily basis.

Statistically, these kids go to jail more frequently, take drugs more often, have problematic relationships, and end up depressed. Moreover, 65% of them have comorbid disorders, such as Bipolar Disorder, OCD, autism, generalized anxiety disorder, clinical depression, Tourette's Syndrome, oppositional defiance disorder, conduct disorder, and various processing disorders (learning disabilities).

Of these, my son has OCD, generalized anxiety disorder, Tourette's Syndrome (a tic disorder), and his dysgraphia--difficulty with handwriting, spelling, and organizing thoughts on paper--is a processing disorder.

He's one tough kid to raise, but I'm insanely in love with him.

Next time, we'll talk about how to counteract all the negativity, and how to forgive yourself for not being the parent you wanted to be.

It's not your fault, my friend. This is one fallen world.

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Are You a Follower?

Matthew 9:9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

 

Today bursted with activity. I wouldn't call it relaxing, but as with other Saturdays lately, I learned something important.

 

From the moment the cuddly four year old whispered good morning in my ear, and her silky cheek pressed against mine to say, "I love you, Mommy", my day exploded like a race horse.

 

There was our Children's Bible Study at 4PM, last minute lesson prep, Paul's birthday cake to prepare and frost, a very messy house to organize, along with the usual dusting, vacuuming, mopping, and wiping down.

 

I can't say as I was in the best of moods at first. Finding puzzle pieces and Legos all around the house makes me a fire-breathing dragon, especially when I'm cleaning on a deadline.

 

The children do help with Saturday clean-up, but the whole while they wish Saturdays could be relaxing. My husband chimes in about that too, since we also serve at AWANA on Sundays.

 

We barely had enough powdered sugar to make the frosting, and I learned too late that we were out of candles. So, yes, at times I definitely fought for joy today. Nothing was easy, from the children's birthday-related hyperactivity, to the red acrylic paint I scraped off the dining room floor.

 

What did I hear from the Holy Spirit, my Counselor and Comforter? Just this:

 

Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Giving up my time for others is hard; there's no argument there. It feels like a grueling sacrifice often. The children's ministry at church, the Bible study in our home, the serving at AWANA. All of it is sacrifice.

 

Something beautiful happens in the process, though. Always. And in spite of myself. 

 

When I'm in the middle of serving, and when I'm done, I feel a high that's hard to describe. It's as though my spirit's filled to overflowing and I can't stop smiling inside, even if I'm plum exhausted physically. Even if I'm cranky on the outside because I stepped on another Lego, I'm riding high on the inside. That deep down peace is what we're meant to feel, and it's available to every Believer.

 

Today the young boy who faithfully comes to every Children's Bible Study, and to AWANA with us, revealed the depth of his spiritual growth. Until recently we worried he would never "get it", but Wow! He's come far, and that can't even be typed without tears, it's so amazing.

 

I'll confess, at times we wondered if we'd made a mistake starting this study, since Landon is the only child who comes every single time. He's been fully committed, at first because he just liked coming down here and having ice cream and fellowship time. Our family structure--husband, wife, kids--isn't one he's ever experienced, so just being part of that was a positive for him, even if the Study itself didn't grow on him.

 

Now, 10 months later, he enjoys the Word of God. He actually reads ahead in his Jesus Storybook Bible and enjoys it!

 

I'm high-fiving the Holy Spirit for the work He's doing in this little boy's heart. 

 

Landon is a boy without a father in his life. A boy whose mother died when he was 18 months old. A boy who's being raised by a single grandmother who's plum tired out. A boy with special-needs issues that make him exhausting in some ways, especially for a grandmother who makes her living cleaning various businesses.

 

Yes, Landon has a tough road ahead with an aging support system. Without the Lord, the road will often seem dark and heavy to him. I can't say for sure how far his relationship with the Lord will go, but I can tell you that Jesus cares about the one sheep who wandered away from the other ninety-nine. He cares about every sheep, and even if we give up two years of Saturdays just for Landon's spiritual growth, it will be time well spent.

 

Because Jesus love you, Landon.

 

I'm learning that in serving, I'm fulfilling God's purpose for my life. I'm experiencing a fulfillment that can't match anything I might chase on this earth.

 

My problem is that while I'm preparing to serve--cleaning, getting everything ready--I feel deprived, as though I'm missing out on something else. Like weekend relaxing that other families enjoy.

 

I can serve with a happy heart, from start to finish, if I just get over that sense of entitlement.

 

Why are we entitled to spend our Saturdays the way we want? Or any day of the week, for that matter? We're bought and paid for, by a gracious God who wants to give us everything.

 

Our culture chases all kinds of material items and experiences, and it's so easy to get caught up in that. It's easy to think we deserve to spend our days amusing ourselves.

 

I'm sure a lot of you probably spend the weekends working on laundry and grocery shopping, so excuse me for making generalizations here, but there are many who seek frequent amusement--stemming from a sense of entitlement.

 

It's all folly when overdone, because what our souls truly crave comes from bending low and serving, like Jesus did. Jesus didn't take the disciples out for golf and baseball and beers. He was about his Father's business.

 

When we serve, we're also having fellowship with Jesus, making it all the more attractive. He's there by our side, giving us strength, grace, and joy. I feel Him there, and I feel the warm afterglow of faithful service.

 

The next Bible study comes two weeks from now, and I'm going to wake up with a different mindset. While I'm preparing, I'm going to remember how joyful it is to serve the Lord. How joyful it is to go after the one sheep. Any other mindset is just an illusion, put in my head by Satan.

 

The enemy wants self-serving Christians who are lord of their own lives. Christians who don't impact the world for Christ. Satan bombards Christians with many distractions, whether it be computer gaming, restaurants, golf, shopping, manicuring, pedicuring, or endless sports.

 

These may be amusing, but they are not fulfilling. Our souls don't crave amusement, but fulfillment. Burn out comes not from serving others, but from running our own lives. From being the pampered one, instead of the servant.

 

Jesus teaches: Do you want life? Come, Follow me.

 

Mark 8:34: “When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me

 

Revelation 14:1, 4: “Then I looked, and behold, a Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with Him … the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb.”

 

Philippians 3:7-10 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,        

Homeschool and Mother's Journal Nov 1

In my life this week…

Every week the Holy Spirit has something to reveal to me about my own heart, and usually, I'm not proud of the revelation. This morning as I was putting my contacts in, I heard a knock at the door...at 8:15 AM.

As soon as I heard it, I knew.

Dread and irritation flooded my heart. Still dressed in PJ's myself, I asked my oldest to throw on some sweats and answer the door. Sure enough, three of the four siblings across the street needed a ride to the elementary school. This time it was a flat tire.

We aren't morning people here and we hate rushing out the door. My kids dread these knocks as much as I do.

I made sure all four of my kids had clothes laid out, and I showered as quickly as I could, telling them to be dressed to shoes by the time I got out of the shower. Breakfast would have to wait, but bananas were on the counter, I added.

Forty minutes later we stopped in their driveway, and all three kids were waiting outside, ages 6, 7, and 10 (their teen gets a ride with a friend). This is a family that doesn't care a hoot about safety. As always, they offered me no booster seats; they don't use car seats of any kind.

They would rather I take all the kids at once and just fit them in anyway I can, because that's what they always do. I've seen this family of six crowd into a mid-sized car many times, though right now they have a van.

I'm a rule follower and a safety nut, so I take two trips in my van, loaded with my four kids and two of theirs, going back for their third child on the second trip. Only in the past couple months have I allowed my 11 year old to ride up front, and only when we have to accommodate another child is this done.

This morning, like other such mornings, I couldn't stop judging this family. Everything I don't like about them flooded my heart: they don't care about education, they don't care about books (they burned books I gave their 7-year-old daughter), they're smokers and pay more for cigarettes per week than a booster seat costs at Walmart. They buy toys for their kids sometimes and then don't have money for utilities.

You name it, they've done it, even borrowing money and regular milk and sugar and bandaids and whatever else they've needed, with nary a thank you. Once, after we quit giving them money, they asked me for $5, saying they would give me $10 in food stamps in trade. I was appalled.

Always, the requests come through their kids, often through handwritten notes.

I didn't want to take the 6 and 7 year olds without boosters, but neither did I want them to miss school, since truancy is common for them. My girls are both in boosters and we don't have any extras, and as much as I wanted to get them a couple boosters, my husband needs shoes and my son needs a birthday present, both of which will clean us out.

I took them to school anyway and thankfully all went well, but I judged the parents in my heart for two hours this morning, before I finally listened to the Holy Spirit.

He humbled me, reminding me that my neighbors need to be received in Christian love, because God desires mercy. God takes us where we're at, not looking at us in disgust, but focusing on who we will become in Him. He sees the transformed heart to come and loves that.

I think I want to be a missionary, but I haven't near the level of humility required to reflect Jesus' love adequately. How can I escort someone to the throne of grace, if I get bogged down by how much better I am than they are?

My neighbors live a different style of life, yes, but a more "educated" or refined style in which Anne of Green Gables and The Swiss Family Robinson are read aloud, is not more pleasing to the Lord. Professor Higgins is not better than Eliza Dolittle, just different.

Carseats and bicycle helmets are not next to godliness, any more than the 8 PM bedtime is.

We can get bogged down in so much judgement as we try to help people, and shame on us. Judgement cancels out any good deed we do, because God knows our hearts. If we give away a booster seat or a winter coat to make ourselves feel more holy--even if only subconsciously--for example, what good have we really done? God is grieved by our pride, by our impure motives.

Praise Him for his gracious forgiveness! He doesn't give up on us.

I had to apologize to my kids and to God, explaining that Mommy was wrong to judge their parents over carseats or anything else. The last thing I want is to raise haughty Christian kids who think they've arrived. It's hard enough for them to comprehend this on the average day: the Holy Spirit dwells in their hearts not because of their goodness, but because of his grace.

I think it's hard for us adults to grasp this, too?

In our homeschool this week…

During school hours the boys, ages 9 and 11, are reading Torches of Joy, Commodore Perry in the Land of the Shogun, and The Big Wave.







After read-aloud time, they've started reading for pleasure at night before bed; it keeps them out of trouble while they get drowsy. Right now, Encyclopedia Brown is all the rage, a series for 8 - 12 year olds they've just discovered. I'm a little surprised at them reading such easy books, but for the first time my Paul is reading copiously for pleasure without complaint, so I'm going to leave this alone and put few restraints (other than moral ones) on their bedtime reading.

I read a couple of these mysteries; they're short and somewhat brainy and the boys will be through most of them in a couple weeks anyway. Not classic literature, but not exactly twaddle either. Sonlight is providing plenty of heady, well-crafted books to devour in the daylight hours, thank goodness.

In science they're still focusing on the various organs and systems of the human body (Sonlight Science F).



I've written before about my girls, ages 4 and 6, using Sing, Spell, Read ,Write, the K-1 combo version.



What I haven't yet said is that the reading primers in this kit are very pleasing, compared to any I've seen. When Peter was in first grade I used Sonlight Beginning to Read, and the primers about drove me insane! They were dry and lifeless and we both hated them, but Sue Dickson, who wrote this program after teaching reading for over 2 decades, really put effort into that big stack of primers you see on the middle right (she put great skill and effort into every component of this program). My daughter enjoys them, as do I.  I'm so thankful to Sue for sharing her expertise and writing an outstanding reading program that has stood the test of time. It's expensive, but worth every penny. (No, not a commercial; I don't do commercials. Just a tip from a mom who's been tortured by bad reading primers.)

My favorite read-alouds for my girls this week:



Goodreads Synopsis: In the month of the Maple Sugar Moon, the snow's too wet for angel making, icicles rain from Grandpa's porch roof, and something is stirring in the woods. It's sugarbush spring--time to tap the trees, prepare the bottles, then gather round the cook fire to eat chicken and dumplings, roast marshmallows, and tell stories while the cold sap heats through, thickens, and boils to make syrup.

Chall's timeless story and Daly's glowing paintings invite children to share in the pleasure of making maple syrup--a process that's the same today as it was two hundred years ago.

Jim Daly's paintings are exquisite in this book. Loved it for so many reasons. All four of my children were glued to it as I read.

These next two are by the same author, and beautifully espouse the biblical truth: It is more blessed to give than to receive. We so enjoyed both of these and yes, there were tears (nobody dies--don't worry).


Goodreads Synopsis: Escaping from the protective walls of wealth and privilege, a young girl discovers the harsh world outside, where some people don't have as much as others. When she realizes that she has the power to help them, the young girl finds a strength and peace she never knew before. Making the loveliest quilts in all the land, the young girl decides to give them away.




Goodreads Synopsis: When a generous quilt maker finally agrees to make a quilt for a greedy king but only under certain conditions, she causes him to undergo a change of heart.



Helpful homeschooling tips or advice to share…

A consistent daily schedule leads to steady progress, and over time, to mastery of subject matter. That said, don't forget to enjoy the gifts God provides in the form of seasons. On the first snow day, let them stop the book work and marvel at the snowflakes. Make that day special--make snowmen inside or out, read snow books, bake some comfort food, etc.

When the leaves are falling, rake them into piles and have fun. Start some leaf compost, read leaf books, press leaves into paint and make a masterpiece. Take a nature walk to enjoy the blanket of color all around. 

Homeschooling has to be a discipline, yes, but it's also about living a one-piece life--responding to the gifts and the work God provides on each day, and living fully in his presence. We don't want to just "get through" a day, but enjoy its gifts...savor it as a God-given opportunity to praise Him and acknowledge him, even in the mundane things. He's given us an abundant life...and we need to notice it!

My favorite thing this week was…

Watching the children enjoy fall.
















My kiddos favorite thing this week was…

Enjoying fall, and the Quiltmaker books shown above, and getting free candy. This is only our third year doing the Halloween thing, and the candy is amazing to them....all this for free?! We figured if we're going to minister to neighbors and have a children's Bible study, we have to get out there and mingle.

This is the second year my youngest's candy is disappearing faster than the other bags. Someone, besides Momma, is sneaking chocolate from her bucket. (I keep them up high.) I can't wait until this candy is gone, let me tell you. They want a piece after every meal, and they spend time mildly arguing over the trades they make...about whether a Snickers is worth a box of Nerds, for example.

My husband tried to protect our four year old as soon as the trading started: "The chocolates are the best, Beth. Don't let them take your chocolates."

Maybe he's been dipping into her candy? :)

Things I’m working on…

I'm working on expanding our dinner menus. We've eaten the same things for a while now, and it was time to mix things up.

I'm also praying for a humble heart that loves instead of judges.

I’m cooking…

chicken noodle soup

garlic cheddar chicken

taco soup

meat loaf

crockpot chicken enchiladas

potato soup

roasted chicken

We're baking apple crisp and chocolate-chip cookie bars, and maybe some homemade wheat bread for the potato soup night.

One of the reasons my husband loves me is that I make him a whole chicken about once a week. Chicken is a close third behind his love for God and me...and sometimes chicken is second. :).

I’m grateful for…

~ my husband

~ four children to share my days and dreams with

~ morning devotions in Matthew

~ the Holy Spirit, who never lies to me about my own heart

~ four seasons and beautiful leaves raining down today

~ a warm house with blankets to cuddle under

~ a little boy turning 10, and I'm not crying yet that I can't call him little anymore

~ grace for the long haul

~ homemade birthday cake

~ Beth's arthritic knees were so swollen this week (following a cold virus I guess, since this is auto-immune and gets worse with illnesses). I feared they would raise her methotrexate dose at next week's appointment, so I started praying in earnest for a miraculous, overnight change. I did definitely detect a decrease in her swelling today--praise God!

~ my pretty red coat from Goodwill for $7

A quote to share...

James 4:6
But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

Colossians 3:12
And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

Thank you for reading, friend. How was your week?




 

Let's Talk Meatloaf

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The quest to expand my cooking horizons continues. Ya'll can come along for the ride, if only just for laughs at the novice cook.

On day one I made garlic cheddar chicken, on day two I made crockpot taco soup, and last night we had meatloaf.

My son Peter, who lives to eat though he's slim, loved the garlic cheddar chicken and said, "Can we have this more often?"

Peter and my husband, who also lives to eat though he's slim (how do they get away with that?), thought the taco soup was too fiery. Secretly, I loved the fire.

Already in my arsenal I had a wonderful upside-down meatloaf recipe that included oatmeal along with the usual suspects, baked on top of a tomato sauce/brown sugar base. After baking, I would flip it right side up to reveal the tangy, sweet topping, just like the pineapple upside-down cake phenomena. It was delicious and one of my favorite meals.

But alas, the oatmeal texture made my son Paul gag, literally. He's got a texture problem that really puts a damper on things, but I'm choosing to ignore it for now, hoping it goes away. He'll be ten this Sunday and it's time for him to brave uncharted culinary waters.

Anyway, for a couple years I stopped making meatloaf.

Enter a new recipe and a new generation of meatloaf lovers. All four kids looked at it doubtfully (meatloaf ain't the prettiest beast, after all), but in spite of themselves, they liked it. 

The thing is, this recipe calls for 2 pounds of meat and 4 eggs! I kept taking it out of the oven, expecting it to done, but still, it seemed too moist inside.

I enlisted my husband's help in deciding if the beast was actually done or not. He looked at it, tasted it, and commented, "I've tasted some dried out meatloaf in my time. Believe me, moisture in a meatloaf is a positive thing."

My own opinion is this: Extra moisture in a meatloaf is a positive thing when you're warming it for lunch the next day. Otherwise, cut some of those eggs, for heaven's sake! I did a search and found that overwhelmingly, the standard rule is 1 egg per pound of meat.

I will write this out with all the eggs, but you make your own decision as to cutting them. I'm going to make it again with three eggs, and then two eggs, and decide which combination works best.

Overall, a very tasty meatloaf with no offending textures to bother the kids.

Egg-Loaded Meatloaf (not the real title of course)

Ingredients

2 pounds ground meat (Combinations of meat give the best flavor. I prefer a lean loaf, so I use 93/7 ground turkey and/or beef)

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups bread crumbs (make your own breadcrumbs for a more homemade flavor)

1/4 of a large onion, or 2 T onion flakes

2-3 cloves garlic, or 1 T garlic powder, or 2 1/2 to 3 tsp. jarred garlic

1 T Worcestershire sauce

2 T steak sauce

1 cup ketchup (or 8 oz. tomato sauce for less sugar, salt, and a more homemade flavor)

1 tsp. salt (I suggest leaving this out because of the salt content in the steak sauce and Worcestershire)

1-2 tsp. black pepper

1-2 tsp. dry mustard

In a 9 x 15 baking dish, combine all ingredients to form a loaf. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 45 - 60 minutes, or until juices run clear. Top will be slightly crispy but the inside will be moist.

Should you already have a similar recipe and want something new, here is my recipe for Upside-Down Meatloaf, from Saving Dinner by Leanne Ely.

Upside-Down Meatloaf

Ingredients

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup ketchup

1 1/4 pounds extra-lean ground beef

1 3/4 cups oats

3/4 cups buttermilk (or 3/4 cup whole milk)

2 eggs

1 tsp. salt

1 onion, chopped

1/4 tsp. ginger

Procedure

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 5 x 9 inch loaf pan.

On the bottom of the pan, press brown sugar, then spread ketchup over the sugar.

Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine remaining ingredients. Make a loaf out of the mixture and place it carefully on top of the sugar/ketchup mixture in the loaf pan.

Bake for 45 minutes or until juices run clear. Turn meatloaf over onto a platter and serve.