by Lillian Lake | | Building Community, Food
Based on recent information from the United Nations, since May 2020, global food prices have risen 18%, which is a six-year high and expected to keep climbing. Already stretched food budgets will feel increased pressures. In 2019, US households’ poorest spent...
by Lillian Lake | | Caregiving, Spiritual
2020 had a nearly palpable veil of continuous uncertainty. Compared to some years, we had it hard. Compared to others, we didn’t. The best thing to do, of course, is not to compare. “Comparison is the thief of joy,” proclaimed Theodore Roosevelt. Well, Roosevelt’s...
by Lillian Lake | | Caregiving, Food, Spiritual
The COVID pandemic put an intriguing veil over our recent Thanksgiving festivities. But no more than has been over the rest of the year. Our son and daughter and her girls were here. We were crazy busy baking, and in that regard, it was blessedly normal. The...
by Lillian Lake | | Spiritual
Advent is a season of anticipation and expectation leading up to the birth of Jesus. It is a time for Christians to take a journey through the story of Christmas and to offer prayers through the week focused on the sentiment of each Sunday’s message leading up...
by Lillian Lake | | Caregiving, Spiritual
For the last few weeks, I have seen the hashtags #christmasiscancelled and #christmasisnotcancelled. Of course, the Christmas spirit isn’t something that can be canceled or not canceled. Remember in The Grinch Who Stole Christmas when the Grinch puzzled over the fact...
by Lillian Lake | | Food, Spiritual
As I sit here reflecting on the eight nights of Hanukkah, I am amazed that this year the starting and ending dates eluded me. Hanukkah is nearly over as I write this! However, the world can always use more light, and as Hanukkah is a celebration of light, I felt...
by Lillian Lake | | Caregiving, Food, Spiritual
In A Charlie Brown Christmas, Charlie Brown asks Lucy what she wants for Christmas. She responds, “Real Estate.” As an adult, I understand this response as a sad commentary on Christmas commercialism. I am slowly feeling the spirit of Christmas. Looking back at...
by Lillian Lake | | Desserts, Food, Recipes
Cheesecake has withstood the test of time around the world, generation after generation. Perhaps you’ve heard of the New York Style Cheesecake. My mother swore that this version was the only “real” version of cheesecake. Serve it at room temperature...
by Lillian Lake | | Caregiving, Food, Spiritual
End of the year celebrations usually includes traditions. There are ancient traditions – Santa still comes down the chimney! Letting go of the old – no to having green bean casserole again. A time for new ones – replace the green bean casserole with a fruit...
by Lillian Lake | | Building Community, Caregiving, Food, Spiritual
My father died when I was a little girl, and for decades, because of what had become the American culture’s view of death, I was scared of the very word “death.” Spoken in hushed terms, I was sure death was a final ending only to be considered in solitude and silence....
