Early Morning With Family

Few Americans today understand the importance of extended families. I don’t know why that is – the need to separate the way families do here. I cherish my Filipino roots. Our Titas and Titos are extensions of our parents, to be respected and honored.

Cousins are our siblings in every way. I am grateful for having grown up in a home overrun with family connections. And I understand Mary’s need to rush to her cousin Elizabeth when the angel told of the news that Elizabeth was with child. It wasn’t just a family obligation that caused Mary to risk the dangerous trip some 90 miles or so up into the hill country. No, she knew that Elizabeth’s baby, though conceived in the usual way, was a special gift from God. For Elizabeth to except a child was a miracle, since she was far beyond her child bearing years. Elizabeth was thought to be barren. Once again we see that God’s timing is everything. Had Elizabeth bore children before now, her pregnancy might not have drawn the attention it did. While unusual for a women to become pregnant after menopause, it wasn’t impossible. For a seemingly barren women beyond menopause to now be with child for the first time truly was a gift from God. Everyone recognized this. Mary knew, just as Elizabeth did, that the children they would bring into the world were special and together would play key roles in God’s plan. John was destined to become the forerunning of Christ.

While not mentioned in scripture, in all likelihood Joseph either arranged for Mary to join a caravan or he accompanied her from Nazareth in Galilee to a town in the hill country of Judea. The journey would have taken several days. Mary’s determination and sense of urgency to be with her cousin, Elizabeth demonstrates the depth of Mary’s faith. The journey would have been difficult, and dangerous. Yet Mary knew that God was with her. We know from scripture that Mary stayed with Elizabeth for nearly three months. Again, we can assume that the two women found great comfort in one another, both with child under miraculous circumstances.

Although scripture does not tell us so, we can assume that Jesus probably spent time with his cousin, John as they were growing up. Perhaps the families accompanied one another on pilgrimages to Jerusalem. When Mary and Joseph discovered Jesus was missing when he was twelve, they first assumed that He was with family – perhaps with John. It was only after searching among their relatives that they realized Jesus may still be in Jerusalem.

The bonds of family are great. They help to form us and to teach us valuables lessons. A love for family should never be restricted to immediate kin or to blood relatives for that matter. The more we are open to love, the more we are closer to God. In baptism the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us. This makes us all brothers and sisters in Christ. As it should be.

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Today is all about extended family. Family ties made me think about other cultrues, especially among Latin and Latino communities. That got me to thinking about a treat we like to get anytime we visit Little Mexico (an area of town not far from us with an almost exclusive Mexican population. Even the billboards and business signs are in Spanish). The Churros from the street vendors are some of the best, made while you wait. Warm and sweet – oh my! These waffles are just as good. Kiddo calls them our Morning Dessert. Enjoy and remember, you are special in the eyes of the Lord above.

Churro Waffles
Cinnamon Waffles
1 teaspoon Salt
4 teaspoons Baking Powder
2 tablespoons Sugar
2 cups Flour
2 Eggs
1-1/2 cups Milk
2-1/2 tablespoons Butter (1/3 cup melted)
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Pinch (3 shakes) Cinnamon

Heat waffle iron. Spray with non-stick spray.

In a large bowl, mix together salt, baking powder, sugar and flour. In another bowl lightly beat eggs, set aside. Measure milk a 2-cup glass measuring cup. Warm for 30 seconds. In a small bowl melt butter. Whisk into the warm milk. Then add milk to the eggs. Whisk in vanilla.

Pour warm milk mixture into the flour mixture. Fold in along with the kiss of cinnamon until blended. Set batter aside.

Churro Topping
1 cup Sugar
4 to 6 tablespoons Cinnamon
8 tablespoons Butter

In a pie tin or shallow bowl mix sugar and cinnamon together to sprinkle over the finished waffles. Melt butter, add to another pie tin and set aside.

Into the hot waffle iron ladle some batter, spreading out to coat the entire iron with batter. Once golden brown, remove waffle to a paper plate. Dip waffle in the melted butter on both sides, then immediately place in the pie tin to coat with sugar-cinnamon mixture. Serve at once.

Note: To serve family-style, place a wire rack inside a rimmed baking pan. Place in a warm oven. As each waffle is made and coated, hold in the oven while the next waffle is made, then serve with coffee, milk or juice and enjoy.

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Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim His name;
among the nations make known His deeds,
proclaim how exalted is His name.