Fortune Favors the Grateful

My Loves,

Did you know your prayers, candles, and Budda-bellies worked? Consider yourselves officially part of a miracle. Thank you.

In point of supernatural fact, this whole week has been full of small graces and kind wonders. Wednesday was full of bounty: from Izzes dropped by the manse, to people dropping everything to make a child's Christmas unforgettable. The devastation we see all around us, the mire of this world, is lightened by how we care for each other. You have cared for me.

And did I mention the Marvel of the Red Lentils? I made red lentil soup and the children had three helpings a piece? It was a phenomenon of the first order; I'm submitting to the Vatican.

(Smoked ham hocks simmered for an hour in water. Saute carrots, celery, onion, turmeric, pimenton [smoked paprika] in a little olive oil. Pour the ham broth in with the veggies, add two cups of red lentils. Take the meat off the hocks and add back into the soup. Season with salt and pepper. You could sub a holiday ham bone for the hocks.)

And now, to pass along the love, the Lower Lights Winner:

Single Pot Josh! You're the winner! Now all you need is hope against all reason that I'll go to the post office someday.

I hope your Thanksgiving was even more lucky than mine.