A HEART OF FLESH

I will give you
a new heart

and put a
new spirit within you;

I will take the heart of stone
out of your flesh

and give you
a heart of flesh



-Ezekial 26:24

THE LOVE OF A FRIEND

"A blessed thing it is for any man or woman to have a friend, one human soul whom we can trust utterly, who knows the best and worst of us, and who loves us in spite of all our faults."

-Charles Kingsley

Tommorow is my birthday. I consider myself highly fortunate because God has been kind enough to extend my life thus far. It is no small wonder that my life is insulated with a small number of true companions. I have much to be thankful for.

The cards, letters, and flower delivery that my dear friends have sent me have done my heart good. I have the sweetest contingent of friends - all highly gifted and multi-faceted.

One gift came from my spiritual sister Bonnie. She sent me a photograph of her son and my close friend Logan who died of lymphoma a few years ago. The warmth of his smile in the picture made me feel like he was actually here.

Birthdays are best celebrated when you know and sense God's love. I experience a great deal of this marvelous phenomena this through the kindness and kinship of my friends.

Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
For if they fall, one will lift his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

A SUN-KISSED BREAKFAST TABLE

It is midnight in my little corner of the world and I have breakfast on the brain.
It is the one culinary indulgence that inspires me to sing and dance with no shame.
It is my confession feast; I readily tell all of my love and joy for a sun-kissed breakfast table.

After a long night of darkness, it is good to witness the shadows of the night disappear. Morning food is the celebration feast that honors this glorious light.

Here is my recipe for Raspberry Souffle Pancakes (inspired by Bette's Diner in Berkeley):

3 Egg Yolks (2 in the photo, but it is 3 egg yolks)
1/2 Cup Almond Milk
1/4 Cup All Purpose Flour
1.5 Tablespoons Melted Butter
1 teaspoon organic cane sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 egg whites
1-1/4 Cup Raspberries
Good quality organic maple syrup

Preheat your oven at 375 degrees. Beat the egg yolks in a large bowl, add the almond milk and continue to whip with a whisk. Take a rubber spatula and stir in flour to combine. Continue to stir in sugar, salt, and melted butter.

In a separate mixing bowl whip egg whites in a mixer on high speed until medium peaks form. Fold whipped whites into batter until combined. Gently fold in one cup of the raspberries.

Heat a 10 inch iron skillet and butter the bottom and sides. Pour batter into pan and then dot & top remaining berries on the wet pancake. Let it set for a couple of minutes on the stovetop (make sure it is not on high heat) and then transfer to the oven. Bake for 15 minutes. Check your pancake at the 13 minute mark.


Pancake should be baked all the way through, puffed and light brown. Shake the iron skillet to remove the pancake. It should slide right out. Dust pancake with powdered sugar and top with maple syrup. Breakfast is served!

God is in the midst of her,

she will not be moved;

God will help her when morning dawns.

Psalm 46:5

NOT BEYOND THE SEA

The LORD your God will make you abound
in all the work of your hand,
in the fruit of your body,
in the increase of your livestock,
and in the produce of your land for good.

For the LORD will again rejoice over you
for good as He rejoiced over your fathers,
if you obey the voice
of the LORD your God,
to keep His commandments and His statutes
which are written in this Book of the Law,
and if you turn to the LORD your God
with all your heart and with all your soul.

For this commandment
which I command you today
is not too mysterious for you,
nor is it far off.

It is not in heaven,
that you should say,
“Who will ascend into heaven
for us and bring it to us,
that we may hear it and do it?”

“Nor is it beyond the sea,
that you should say,
“Who will go over the sea
for us and bring it to us,
that we may hear it and do it?”

But the word is very near you,
in your mouth and in your heart,
that you may do it.

-Deuteronomy 30:9-14