Finding our way and old fashioned cornbread

This blog is dedicated to Renee and Katrina. As they experience life living separately, may they always know the storms will pass.


Old Fashioned Cornbread

3 Tablespoonfuls vegetable shortening or bacon drippings
2 cups self-rising cornmeal mix
1-2 Tablespoonfuls sugar (optional)
1 and 1/2 cups milk
1 egg

10 inch oven proof skillet or 8" or 9" square pan; Will also make 12 muffin

Heat oven to 425 degrees. Melt shortening or drippings in the pan in the oven; tilt to cover the bottom evenly. Mix all other ingredients in a bowl then pour into hot skillet or pan. Bake 20-25 minutes. Toothpick will be clean when inserted into the center when done.

Finding our way

The picture with this blog is a weather report that Hurricane Katia is gaining strength and heading toward land. The heavy winds and rain have potential to do a lot of damage to the coastal cities along Texas where she will first touch land. We are warned when some dangers are coming our way and we are given a chance to prepare. Some things we think we are prepared for but when the heavy rains come or the wind tosses about things that were solid, we seek to find the calm again. Most people who have never experienced such storms don't know that there is a short period when you are in the "eye of the storm" and things seem to be calm, but the storm is not done. It still has to run it's course.

Katrina is beginning her first year at college. Susan began her first last year and while no two families experience things the same, there are some things that, like all hurricanes, are predictable. You prepare for the time when you will wake up and the familiar face across the table is not there. You prepare yet when it happens, it feels much different than you expected. I remember the first time Susan got sick away from home. I was so tempted to drive the three hours to her but I knew we had made a "medicine chest" for her and she could take the cold medicine and manage her day without her mom. The problem was, could mom manage her day without being there to take care of her. The wind and rain from that storm was not so bad but when there was a storm of "who is my friend and how do I overcome being lonely" there was nothing in that chest to make that hurt better. How I longed to give her the right words and advice but I couldn't. She had to find her own path. When she came home for Christmas, it was as if she never left but then a short time later, she returned to her dorm and the struggles of being a college student. We passed through the eye of the storm only for it to continue until it ran it's course. It was funny that on the day she was to come home, it was raining but the rain stopped as soon as we were by her side, moving her back home.

Today we have so much to help us find our way. Many cars have GPS devices as do cell phones and most people have one in their car. It's supposed to make your travel less complicated but I have followed the direction of mine many times only to end up far away from my destination. It is a flawed instrument but most of the time, it does point you in the right direction. If you choose not to follow it, you usually end up resetting it and starting all over but there is a guidance system that is flawless. When we follow the directions of God, we will find that the path may be narrow with only a few people on the journey with us but it always brings us back to Him. We can feel lonely or lost but if we keep our eyes on the prize, life works out for us. We can play around with the initials GPS and come up with a cool slogan like God's Prize Suffices... okay so maybe that is not the coolest but like ASAP means "as soon as possible" when we change it to "always say a prayer" there is hope in the message instead of panic.

That's what it means to follow Christ. We have hope where others panic and we know that our path will lead us to success and our success will affect others. Whether we sink to the bottom or swim to the light depends largely on our choices. I am so thankful for God who sees the storms in our life and cares enough to reach down and draw us to Him.


Matthew 14:27 "Jesus spoke to them, saying "be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid".

Love,
Nana