Changing the World - One Person at a Time

Yesterday I wrote that my son's 16 year old friend got a car for her birthday and now I'd like to tell you a bit about her parents.

They did not grow up wanting - both were raised in very comfortable environments.  Both went to university and got degrees in the medical profession.  He works as a family physician and she is a stay at home mom.  They had three children.
Her cousin  was raised in a completely different environment had a baby at a young age but drugs and alcohol had already become  her life. Social services didn't want her to raise her child and were putting him into foster care.  So my sons friends mom and dad intervened and adopted the boy when he was around four and had already seen more than a four year old should.

 He gets to vacation to Hawaii, Disney World,  Palm Springs and they have a pool in their back yard, but his life is pretty regular too. He plays hockey,  gets his homework done, has friends for sleepovers and has to clean his room.

I wonder how his life would have been otherwise.

So many would say, big deal, they have the time and the funds but I am not sure I would have the courage to do what they did.
 I just love it when something good happens to someone.

Oh yeah,  he'll also get a car when he turns 16 .

My son secretly wishes they would adopt him too.

Maple, Pear Bread Pudding

Heat oven to 350 deg F

1 tbsp. Butter
4 Eggs
1 c. Milk
1/3 c. Whipping Cream
1/4 c. Maple Syrup
1/2 tsp. Cinnamon
*5 cups dense Bread (Dense -not slow to catch on but thick and heavy)
1 Pear, peeled and diced
1/4 c. Raisins

Butter 6 - 6 oz. ramekins. Set aside.
Fill kettle with water and bring to a boil.

In a medium bowl, combine the eggs, milk, whipping cream, maple syrup and cinnamon. Whisk.
Add the bread, pear and raisins to the mixture and stir until completely combined. Let the bread soak up most of the egg mixture. Go vacuum the living room while you wait.
Divide equally among the ramekins.
Place the dishes in a shallow baking dish large enough to hold all six.
Put in the oven. Pour boiling water into the baking dish to come about 1/3 way up the edge of the ramekins.
Bake for 35-45 minutes or until puffed and light golden.

Remove from oven. Let sit for 10 - 15 minutes and serve warm with additional maple syrup, a big blob of whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream or all of the above. This is good cold too.