Why not burn your gas stove for 8 hours?

With the exception of morning dance class and meeting Jenny for coffee lunch, I've hit the wall of failure many times today. I'm trying a new recipe of sausage gumbo in order to feed 16 people tonight at community group. I multiplied the recipe by 4 in hopes of having enough food. One problem: crockpot not big enough.

I came back to a total mess after the first 2 hours:
No problem! Grandpa and Grandma gave us an extra crockpot for our wedding 3.5 years ago that we haven't ever opened! Perfect time to use it!

Wait what?! It's not a crockpot in that box?? It's a gorgeous piece of pottery??? (So excited, but now how do I cook the gumbo?)But:

The joy only lasted for two seconds because some time in our three moves it must have broken. :( Of course, all this time I've thought it was a crockpot. I even wrote them a thank you card for the crockpot. So not only am I 1)out of luck for the gumbo 2) down a fabulous serving dish but 3)crazy in my grandparents' eyes.

In order to make dinner not a total failure, I transfer the gumbo spoon full by spoon full to le creuset. And turn the gas on for 8 hours straight.

So nervous about dinner.