Something Laid a Big Green Egg in the Backyard

A Big Green Egg!

I swear we are the luckiest family with the most thoughtful, gracious friends. With Butters' upcoming separation from the Navy and a belated birthday gift, some of our closest friends pulled together and bought him a Big Green Egg. It was the mother of all gifts and we are blown away by their generosity.

Since last summer, just about every weekend we grilled or smoked some meaty goodies and shared our tasty meals in a potluck of sorts. Everyone brings something and we all enjoy one another's company. A few months ago we talked about saving up and buying a Big Green Egg. Matt and I had decided that, though it was a big investment, it would be worth it. Matt had sharpened his meat smoking skills and everyday we would have leftover meat to eat that was as good as the day it was made. We were already consistently using the grill, so why not upgrade to an Egg? Well with all of the traveling, job hunting and interviews Matt has had to go on, we put the thought of a big purchase on the back burner and focused on downsizing and saving our pennies. We didn't give the Egg another thought...

It wasn't until the day before Matt was to come home from a trip that his buddies texted me about having to "drop off a box." I really didn't think anything of it until they finally came to the door. There was something awkward about them and the conversation. I just expected to take the box and say goodbye. They explained to me what they had bought for Matt and I was totally speechless. I'd never seen men, especially manly Navy men, get all sentimental about one another! I've always known that Matt held them in high regard (dare I say it, they are his BFF's) but I'd never heard them vocalize their appreciation for Matt and how important Matt's friendship is to them. It was really nice to see and hear it.

Matt was taken aback by the whole thing and I still think he's in awe. I also think he feels a little undeserving of such a gift. But the fact of the matter is that his buddies really put some thought into what Matt would want and get use out of. And boy, have we put it to work!

It's still raining here, but that didn't deter Matt from stoking up the charcoal and putting some chicken and ribs in the Egg. We've had the thing burning since 11am and we're going to keep it going overnight. For lunch, we had some delicious grilled chicken legs with French bread from the oven. For dinner we had smoked ribs and roasted cauliflower topped with parmesan cheese. I added some carrots to the roasted cauliflower so that the kids would be more interested in eating it!

Sophie's Roasted Cauliflower & Carrots

Stoney observing our dinner

I have to admit, the food off the Egg was better tasting and more juicy than food we'd had off the grill. It was ridiculous good! 

We are truly blessed to have wonderful friends. Being a Navy family really exposes you to new friendships and also expands your family in ways that are always joyful and miserable at the same time. It's like your own biological family, only you don't have the same parents. We are a huge web of friends and though we always go our separate ways sometimes we return together again. When it's time for the Russell family to move on, I hope they return to us. Because for us, it's time to be permanent while they will continue to be transient. 

Best Friends Forever.

"Friendship... is not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything."
-Muhammad Ali-