I have a difficult time making recipes with watermelon because I feel like watermelon, in and of itself, is about as perfect as it can get. Just hand me a salt shaker and a knife and get out of my way!
But today’s recipe is a special exception. Why? Because it is basically watermelon that you can drink. No knife, no stickiness, sit back with a straw and drink the whole melon if the mood hits ya. I add just enough “extra” stuff to enhance the flavor, being careful not to detract from it. So next time you go to buy (or pick) a watermelon, buy (or pick) two instead. Eat one, drink the other. You can’t go wrong! If you wanna see how I do it, skip right on down to the first picture. If you wanna visit a spell, keep reading…
Yesterday was a day of significant change in my life. It was a day filled with joy and pride, mingled with a little uncertainty as I held my breath and watched a thread which had connected me to my son break. I knew it would come, and I’m thrilled for him but there is a lump in my heart as I adjust to the change as well.
I think all phases with our kids are like that. We expect them, we want them because we know they are a natural part of growing up for our babies, and yet they always seem to sneak up on us and we have to hold our breath and just let it happen. Kind of like diving into a pool when you know the water is a bit cold but you’ll have fun once you’re immersed and get that transitioning part over with.
Only I haven’t swam in a pool in fourteen years…but that is a story for another day. I mean, now that I’m an adult I know, logically, there are no sharks in pools so it’s not that (although I do still do a quick scan just to be on the safe side before my kids go swimming but I mean hey, shark week and all that). It’s not that I don’t enjoy going swimming it’s just that now I have transitioned to a place in my life where fully immersing myself in water is more of a sanctuary and retreat and I don’t feel the slightest bit compelled to do it in public.
Where was I? Oh yes, yesterday. My son. He is a licensed driver. Yesterday, he left the house on his own. Crazy. How did we go from this to this?
Just like that. He pulled out of the driveway.
He used his turn signal, waited for a clear gap in traffic, and very responsibly pulled out of the driveway. His first trip was to a gas station to fill up and grab a coke and a snack. He brought one of each back to his sister, too. 🙂 Man, he’s a great kid.
Last night, he drove himself to church and then went to the local Chick Fil A with his youth group. I found myself at 8:00, wanting to go to bed but unwilling to take my makeup off until he was home. At 8:22 I texted him : “I want to go to bed but I can’t take my makeup off in case something happens and you need me. Can you come home?”. He texted right back that he was planning on leaving at 8:30. He arrived exactly when he said he would and came in to give me a hug and tell me about his evening. Man, he’s a great kid.
Sidebar: Some people are thinking “You won’t care about the makeup soon enough. Makeup doesn’t matter, etc”. Umm, yeah. Y’all I usually have my face off by 8 every night. I’ll be leaving it on until midnight in the coming years. This isn’t a vanity thing, it’s a raising thing. I get that some people don’t get that. But those that do, totally do.
So today he will find places to drive. He will ask to run errands for me. I am sure I will send him to Kroger’s at some point, and I will finally get around to finding out if I can get him a Sam’s card so he can go there for me, too. Hey, I might as well take advantage of the help while it is being offered, right?
I’m not clinging too tightly. In fact, I’m not really clinging at all, except for the hug he has learned he is required to give before turning to that front door. I’m actively letting go, but it is a process I have to go through each and every time and I’m not sure if it is going to get any easier. He leaves and so does part of my heart. It is like part of my brain is a tracking device set on him the entire time he is away.
Seasoned moms know this. Moms of younger ones are reading and imagining in horror.
Yes, that sweet toddler who looks at you and smiles is someday going to walk out the door and in place of your hand in his, there will be car keys. And for a moment, your heart will feel a sharp and painful ache, until he or she looks back, and you see that same smile from all those years ago and you know that this is a moment they’ve waited for, and as much as you want to hold them to you, you also want to give them this moment. So much of parenting is a strange swirl of pride, love, hope, joy, and clinging. Okay, maybe just a little bit of clinging. 🙂
Don’t worry though, they cling to you a little bit, too.
And now for the watermelonade.
You’ll need: a blender full of cubed watermelon (black seeds removed), honey, and lime juice.
Local honey is a beautiful thing if you can get it and if you’re just dying to squeeze some fresh limes, don’t let my bottle of juice stop ya.
Now here are the instructions so don’t blink because you’ll miss it, k?
Put all of this together (amounts are in recipe at bottom). Blend until smooth and completely liquified, and serve over crushed ice.
- 5-6 cups cubed watermelon, black seeds removed
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ¼ cup honey
- Pinch of salt (optional, but I wouldn't consider watermelon without it!)
- Place all ingredients into a blender and cover. Blend on high speed until completely liquified.
- Serve over crushed ice.
“I don’t think it’s cool for people to say, ‘You shouldn’t reference God because I don’t believe that, and I don’t want to hear it.’ Well, there’s a lot of stuff I don’t believe that I still gotta hear.”
~Steve Harvey
Yum 
Oh my gosh!! What an awesome story, I had tears running down my cheeks. It brought back memories for me when I had to ‘let go’. Bless you for being the awesome mother you are and raising a fine son. Now let me go back to the recipe!! Thanks for ALL you do!!
Thank you Michele!!
So I’m reading along … relating because my son will be 18 tomorrow … and I had to skip over the last part because I’m at work and can’t be seen all misty-eyed and sniffling at my desk. I promise to read the rest when I get home. I’ll make the watermelon drink, too!
Is watermelon something that keeps in the freezer?
YES! and it is AMAZING!
I’m with you about watermelon. It has to be God’s perfect food. On the other hand when I look at that picture and read the recipe I think I’m just going to have to try it. Looks so refreshing.
Don’t you worry about the small stuff, thanks for sharing your thoughts. It sure did bring back memories. I raised good kids too, Grace and prayers help when you have to wait for them to get home.
Sweetness should be your name. Mama though sounds better. God bless you!
My one-and-only-baby graduates next month. I tell him that when I look at him I still see his sweet baby face, only now it has hair on it. I know that it has to be done but it’s SO hard letting go. Maybe this is our ultimate test of trusting in our Heavenly Father and giving him the most precious thing(s) that we have.
I think you are right Becky!!
Christy, it’s been 30 years since I’ve been through that with our sons, but I remember it like yesterday. What would we do without the Lord to comfort us in these times of distress? It all works out, thanks to Him!
I was wondering why lemon juice wouldn’t be used instead of lime. Have you tried that? Maybe a little less tart? Sounds delicious anyway with this 95 degree weather we’re having in Florida already. Thanks for everything you do1
I have just always used lime, since they are pretty interchangeable you could certainly try it!! Let me know if you do!!
The only lime juice I have is Key Lime juice. I think (hope) that will be OK. My watermelon isn’t 100% sweet, but it’s really juicy, so I hope this is good.
The Key Lime juice will work just fine!!
I’m making Watermelonade and loving baby picture of Brady. I put 2 containers of watermelon in the freezer to use later this month then no more watermelon till next summer. This makes a great quick meal when you use the big serving cause it is so filling.
You do YOU, not anyone else. You are doing a fantastic job so just continue to do what you know is right for you and yours.
Thank you Lisa!
Yum, I’m going to have to wait for Aldi to get some affordable watermelons in and buy 2 now!
My oldest son’s first “real” job was a night job. He didn’t get home until 2:30 in the morning. I had 8 more at home to take care of in the morning, I’m NOT a night person, staying up was out of the question. How well does a mom sleep when her kids are out driving after a 10 hour work shift, at 2 A.M.!?!? …And the night he knocked on our bedroom door to tell us that he’d been in an accident on the way home and totaled his car??!? (He and his carpool friend were both completely uninjured, and he was able to limp the car home to die. Proof that God was on duty even after I went off, haha.) I adjusted eventually, but was SOOO happy when he was offered a DAY job, at his dad’s office!!! They even drive together!!! Oh The Mom Relief. : )
Oh my goodness, thank goodness God is always on duty!!
Oh the memories this “clinging” note brought. My daughter is 51 this year – older than most of you moms out there, lolololol. But, I too remember the “passage to adulthood…driving, going off to college, first apartment, first “real job”, and on and on. Each step brought that unbearable lump in my throat for a moment, and then it passed. But to this day I can look at her and see that young woman she was…and I think I am going to make her some watermelonaide just in gratitude. Thank you God for getting us both through those times… Thank you Christy for sharing. xoxoxo
That made my heart smile Linda!! I hope you and your daughter enjoy a big cool glass and reminisce over some precious memories soon!!