Mothers Day Picnic

My husband once heard a woman say, “Ladies, stop telling me that your house is not clean enough for a visit, and you do not have any food or drinks to serve me so you will not invite me to your home.  I’d rather sit in the corner of a dirty home, eating crackers and drinking water, than never be invited to someone’s home.”

Over twenty-five years ago, Brian heard this woman speak on the radio.  Ever since that day, we’ve tried to model our lives after her statement and have never regretted a moment of doing so.  I cannot tell you how many girlfriends visited my home, when my kids were young, having to push the clean laundry over a bit, in order to sit down on the couch; in the end, they often grabbed the towels and started folding. Yet these friends continued to come to my home weekly for good conversation and whatever food was served for lunch, be it peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or leftover curry from the night before.  Having fun was never dictated by how clean my home was or how much money was in the bank.

Yesterday was no exception.  Brian and I live in a very cute, but small home. This year,  I desired to have all of the Rabourn family over to my home for Mother’s Day dinner.  Knowing that we live on a tight budget, I knew we couldn’t afford buying food for the entire family, but we could provide a nice back yard to picnic in.  Plan in mind, I text-ed the family, inviting them over for a family meal, and added on the bottom of my message, “What would you like to bring?”   I know our family did not mind lending a hand and making a dish to pass, getting together is more important than one person doing all the work.  I also understood that it is a Mother’s Day picnic, and no Rabourn man is willing to allow one of us girls to prepare all the food on a day that is meant to celebrate her.

Originally, I wanted to have grilled burgers or chicken, knowing that this main course was cost prohibitive I settled on Chicken BBQ (Sloppy Joes).  Mom Rabourn brought her famous pineapple upside down cake, Mike brought potato salad, Dan and Beth brought broccoli, Jim and Peg brought wonderful chocolate covered strawberries and a fruit and vegetable plate, and Ted and Rita brought beer and lemon aid.  

With the countertops covered with plates full of festive foods, beers or Margaritas in hand, and the perfect 70 degree sunny day, we were ready to relax and enjoy our picnic.  One of the best points of this Mother’s Day celebration was no television distractions, just the family sitting in a big circle telling stories and chatting.  A perfect way to celebrate.

Four and a half hours later, with jam packed bellies, family members start picking up the backyard, collecting their empty platters and bowls, in preparation for leaving.  Hugs given, and promises of the girls meeting on Thursday afternoon for coffee and lunch, cars drove away from what turned out to be a perfect Mother’s Day picnic.

Chicken BBQ

5 lbs chicken breasts place in a crock pot.  Add about 3 cups of water and let cook until the meat is falling apart.  

Drain excess liquid

Add: 1 chopped sweet pepper, 1 diced onion, 3 chopped cloves of garlic, 3 cups of ketchup, 1/2 mustard,1/3 soy sauce, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup honey, and a tablespoon of dried red peppers.  

Place in 375 oven for about an hour, stirring occasionally.

Serve on hamburger buns