INSPIRASUNS

I mentioned in this little blog a few days ago that I was going to get back to making bread and doing some other therapeutic things with my hands. Well, I’m happy to report that I spent yesterday doing just that. I was kind of on a baking frenzy, and I guess it turned out ok. Made some cookies from scratch, and a cherry pie sits on the counter this morning, I did indeed make that loaf of crusty artisan bread, (from scratch and didn’t even kill the yeast), and I also put together the components for Natchitoches Meat Pies, (including the made from scratch pie dough). What the heck are those you may ask.

Well Natchitoches, (pronounced NAK-e-tish), is a small city in Louisiana that we were fortunate to visit several years ago. The movie Steel Magnolias was filmed there. Anyway, these wonderful meat pies, similar to empanadas only bigger, are a staple in Natchitoches. Many of the locals make them and sell them at various shops, or you can probably buy a dozen from a “woman who lives in a small trailer just down the street”.

As I made my way through the recipe yesterday I couldn’t help but think about the dear friends of ours that took us on the trip to this wonderful little city in the south. They lived there for many years and we were fortunate to make the trip, learning about the city and the culture, visiting landmarks and plantations, and meeting wonderful people they knew. We were treated like long-lost friends by people we had just met. The city, (I really do use that term loosely, it felt like a small town), was just comfortable. God was so present there, the people, everyone was a neighbor, whether you lived there or not.

I texted our friends as I cooked and made my way through the memories of our trip. I know I should have called but I was literally in the midst of a pretty detailed part of the process. Anyway, we did catch up via text and have made dinner plans when we are back up north next. It’s interesting that I decided to make these gems, I’m not sure why, maybe it was Father giving me a hint to reach out and check in on friends. I guess that could be a stretch, but is it really?

I enjoyed my time in the kitchen yesterday. I felt a sense of accomplishment, working with my hands, making some goodies, (oh, and sharing them with some neighbors across the street), and the bonus of walking through memories and catching up with some dear friends. It was a productive day, but it was also relaxing in a different way. Father showed me not to be afraid of some of those detailed recipes, I mean hey, people have been cooking with flour and yeast forever 🙂 . We all need days like yesterday. I encourage you, friends, to make some time to do different things, learn new skills, and relax a little. God has blessed us with many talents, I just think we need to tap into them more.

Have a great day my friends, I’m off to share some of those goodies with co-workers 🙂 .

Philippians 4:9
What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me-practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.