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Churros

Posted on November 14, 2023November 15, 2023 by Pam

I don’t often write about food but a churro, to me, is filled with happy memories, not cream. A churro is a type of fried dough from Spanish and Portuguese cuisine and is pastry dough piped into hot oil from a star tip piping bag. Afterwards there is a generous sprinkling of sweetness – sugar and cinnamon. I purchased a churro at Costco because the food court must be passed or they will not let you leave. Back to that in a minute.

For three days I have been looking at some Christmas crafts from 30 years ago. I climbed a ladder in the garage and found the missing brains from my Simpli-Safe system, the missing dish drainer, and Christmas labels. We are mid November and it is time. In one of the label/ribbon/fake holly boxes, together is a bag, I found two precious works of art. Nathan had made three paper-plate angels with glitter and Steph had made a Santa mobile. Paper does not keep well for 30 years and they need to go. I just could not toss, so both were laid out on a sofa so I could enjoy. I even sent the picture, below, to those wonderful adults who were my Christmas angels. I secretly (or not so secretly) hoped they would encourage me to repair and hang and keep. You see, being a mother was my entire dream. I say entire because no other dream rivaled this. A lot else happened if you know even part of my story. You pour your life out and then they are wonderful adults and mission accomplished.

So the reasons I purchased a churro is because it was $1.49 and I was hungry. The other reason is because it reminded me of trips to Disneyland when these two were little. If I can’t have every past art project, because paper decomposes, as a reminder, I can certainly eat a churro. What else can I do at this happy junction between life and death? I was reminded today of 2 Cor 4:16-5:10 by a pastor at Canyon Hills Community Church. My job today is to please God. Feeling old is of no use – it is already obvious. I can focus on the eternal where we all end up with God or without God. JL Packer has described Heaven as, “An unknown country with a well-known inhabitant”. I need to finish my course with joy and run – flat – out. Paul was a tentmaker and the image is perfect. Today I live in a body (my tent). I should try to take care of it but one day eternity will “swallow up” the old and deposit me into new things. I learned today that my friend Cheryl’s sis her made that passage on Friday. She was prepared. She is already terribly missed but be like Paula. Oh, and yes, I will treasure the time I can spend with children and grandchildren while I may. They are part of the good things God has provided for me as answers to prayer and they are also an anchor for this next little bit. In the meanwhile, I am wrapping presents while I live one day at a time, in the present moment, and getting ready to go. Thank you Pastor Edgar. Last thing, never eat a churro in a car with dark upholstery while you are driving.

"Thoughts from a genuinely evaluative mind."

Pam writes so that must make her a writer. Recently retired, she can now fill days with family, friends, missions, writing, creating, and showing up for whomever needs her. Pam loves the Lord and people. The Bible is God’s love letter to us (and who does not need more love) so she studies and writes some more.

Pam lives in the Pacific Northwest but was home-grown in Southern California. She attended San Jose Bible College and finished a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry at UCLA. She became a teacher, then a Research and Development Chemist, then she built two successful real estate businesses in two states. Pam also pursued study at Fuller Theological Seminary and just completed six months serving in missions abroad.

Pam has two amazing children, married to two precious in-laws, and five sweet grandchildren. Pam is a gifted connector and communicator and the Northwest has the perfect climate for staying inside and writing – or baking! She has been writing since a wee one and is currently converting many years of blogging, by topic, into ten books. The first is a collection from 2011 titled, Beautiful Enough. The second is a yearly day-timer titled, Weekly Planner - Lessons in Life, Glory, and Grace. Number three is in progress with the working title, Christmas Today.

Ten facts about Pam in no particular order:

  1. On the team that developed an insulation for the Alaskan oil pipeline.
  2. Loves looking at homes, decorating, and has flipped five homes.
  3. Likes being tall.
  4. Films have helped define her vocabulary.
  5. Comes from Colorado tenement farmers with history traced to Wales.
  6. Was lost but now is found.
  7. Baking makes her happy – as does eating sweets with coffee, of course.
  8. She thinks mission work is the most important work in the world.
  9. The church started in Rome so she is learning Italian.
  10. Pam is a work in progress!

“I will be your God throughout your lifetime - until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” Isaiah 46:4

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