Post #32 - Homemade Pancakes Anyone?!

You may not know this, but I make some of the best homemade pancakes ever!

No seriously, I do!

I absolutely HATE boxed pancake mix! The pancakes from a box always turn out rubbery and flavorless like little flexible frisbees. And they only taste good if they are COMPLETELY DRENCHED in syrup.

I just can't stand eating them any other way.

I grew up on boxed pancake mix and tolerated them. Basically, because I had to. But, when I realized how easy it was to make pancakes from scratch, I never looked back.

My homemade pancake recipe is nicely flavored with brown sugar and can be adapted for the occasion or for your taste. All you have to do is add vanilla extract or cinnamon or any other optional flavor that strikes your fancy.

The pancakes are not at all bland, but not too sweet. And are nicely complemented by a pat of butter (between each layer! Yum!) and Aunt Jemima syrup (Of course).

Sorry to all my maple syrup lovers, but I am NOT a fan.

This recipe is extremely simple and can easily be cut in half (which I usually do when cooking for just myself) or doubled.

The recipe begins by preparing the wet and dry ingredients.

In a medium sized bowl, add 1 cup of flour, 1 Tbsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, 2 Tbsp brown sugar, and 2 Tbsp granulated sugar.

In a separate small bowl, or I like to use a measuring cup, add 1 egg, 2 Tbsp vegetable oil, and 1 cup of milk. Mix these ingredients well, making sure the egg is fully incorporated into the mixture.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix to combine.

I like to do a quick mix with a whisk. Just whisk aggressively for about six (6) full stirs and then STOP. The mixture should be fairly smooth and resemble the pancake mix you are used to.

For the love of God, please DO NOT over mix this batter!

Now, set the batter aside and let it rest while you warm up your frying pan or griddle.

As your griddle warms up, the batter will bubble a little bit from the baking powder. This is normal and is what makes the pancakes come out soft and fluffy.

Depending on how large or small you like your pancakes, this recipe will make approximately 4 to 6.

I like to use a 1/4 cup measure to pour my batter. It makes about a medium sized pancake and comes out just the way I like it - not too thin and disky, but not too thick and bready. Perfect.

Before you start to scoop out your pancake batter, this would be the perfect time to mix in any additional ingredients, like blueberries, chocolate chips, or mashed bananas. I, personally, prefer blueberries. They give the batter a nice tanginess that perfectly complements the sweetness.... soooo goooood!

Slowly pour the pancake mix onto the griddle until it reaches your desired size. Cook it for about four (4) minutes on the first side, or until little bubbles cover the top. Flip and cook the second side for 2 to 3 minutes, or until lightly browned.

I like to stack 3 to 4 pancakes on my plate (of course, putting butter between each layer) and pouring enough syrup over them to flood the empty areas around the sides of the plate.

Can you tell I have a sweet tooth? 😁

I also like to enjoy my pancakes with fresh fruit sprinkled over them and an ice cold cup of milk or orange juice.

There's nothing better on a lazy Saturday morning than a plate full of syrupy pancakes to send me back off to sleep.

I'm telling you... ABSOLUTE BLISS!

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Post #31 - I Am Soooo Happy!!

Yes, I am going through some things and I know that I shared just the other day that all hell had broken loose in my life.... but, I can truly say that I am happy!

I'm happy because I have Jesus! 

Jesus is the light of the world. He brightens up every dark place. 

When I was going through my break up, God is what got me through. And now, as I am going through my trials, I choose to remember where my help comes from. 

Instead of being distracted by the things I am going through, I keep my focus on God. And every time the thoughts about my situation try to come to get me down, I rebuke them and give them to God.... again.

I don't allow myself to dwell too long in the memory of my mistakes. I dwelt there for far too long when I was trapped in darkness. I'm not going to let myself sink back into that dark place now that I've seen the light. 

I can be happy in the middle of mess because it's God who is comforting me. It's God who is guiding me. It's God who is holding me up. It's God who is encouraging me. 

I'm not happy because everything is going great in my life. 

I don't have to fake it or put on a show. 

I'm happy because God is my light and my salvation. God is my comforter and my friend. 

I am happy because I LITERALLY gave all my troubles to God and I LEAVE THEM WITH HIM. 

Yes, I sometimes start to worry about when God's promises will come to pass. And I even doubt that they will when the situation looks like it will never change and the promise will never happen. 

But God always reminds me that He is working it out. He sent me a message this week that encouraged me. He said that I don't have to worry. That it's already done! 

That means that no matter what it looks like, no matter what it feels like, my situation is ALREADY worked out. 

God is speaking to spirits, renewing minds, and healing hearts. God is making the situation better than it was before....

And it's all because He loves me. There's nothing that I did and no hurdles that I had to jump through. 

All it took is for me to turn my trials over to God and trust that He is going to work them out. 

And because the burdens no longer belong to me, I don't have to live a heavy and burdensome life. 

Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to me, all who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." He promises that His "yoke is easy to bear and His burden is light."

I've chosen to trust that those words are true and believe that once I give my burdens to God, He will handle them and take all the stress off of me. 

So, I don't have to carry the load of my mistakes or my heartaches. I don't have to condemn myself because of what I have done. And I don't have to live with the hurt of what someone else has done to me. 

I know that I can confess my sins and turn away from them. And God will forgive me and remember my sins no more. 

I don't have to dwell in it. I don't have to beat myself up. And I don't have to allow anyone else to beat me down and constantly remind me of my mistakes either. 

That's why I'm happy!!

Because I have taken responsibility for my actions. I have confessed my sins, given them to God and have turned away from them. 

Because I have given my pain to God and forgiven those who have hurt me.

Because every time the memories of my heartaches and mistakes try to come back to haunt me, I give them back to God and don't allow myself to dwell in them. 

I trust that God is working them all out for my good. 

So, if you like sulking and dwelling in your own self pity, keep doing what you're doing and keep living with hurt and disappointment. 

But if you want to be happy... let it all go! 

Give it to God. Trust that He is going to take care of it and take care of you.

And just BE HAPPY! 

I was focused on God and doing God's work when I realized my happiness. Even though all hell is breaking loose around me, I feel JOY in my heart! 

And I owe it all to Jesus. He is the light of MY world. 

He lights up my dark places!! 

Post #30 - What's Next?!?!

Today marks the 30th day of my 365 Days of Consistency Challenge! Yay!

One month down... only 11 more to go!

I don't know about you, but I'm having fun!

Challenging myself to write everyday requires me to tap into my creativity to come up with new topics. It also requires that I study to ensure truth and accuracy. And listen for God to tell me what He might want me to say.

For the first month, I shared some of my life's events and lessons. I shared some of my failures and mistakes. And I shared what I learned from them.

I have shared some encouraging and uplifting words for both of us. And I hope they have been helping you as mush as they are helping me.

Going forward, I will continue to update you on my life, telling you about my failures and successes. I will also continue to uplift you and encourage you to leave your comfort zone and pursue your dreams.

I will also be presenting some new content.

I will be filming and writing more for my blog and YouTube channel Experience: Life. I will be writing "How To" posts about my favorite things to do and some new hobbies I want to learn. I will also be sharing some articles and POSSIBLY some poems to show you what else I can do 😁... and offer a bit of variety.

If you have any suggestions as to what you would like to see and read, let me know in the comments section. I would love to hear your ideas and challenge myself to accomplish them (within reason... I don't mind having a little fun, but nothing TOO CRAZY y'all!).

I'm looking forward to our next 335 days together. I hope that you will click the link to follow me at the right of this post, and continue your amazing and overwhelming support!

I thank you! I love you! And I will see you tomorrow!!

-Erika!

Want to get caught up and read the other posts in this blog? Click HERE.

Post #29 - Get Over It

A lot of the time, we hold on to the things that hurt and disappoint us and let them affect our lives. We hold on to these things for many years and they begin to dictate how we live.

We also let them dictate how we feel.

Some of us isolate ourselves and struggle to love and trust again because of the hurt we've felt. But, we can't let someone else's actions ruin our lives.

If we want to move on and have full and happy lives after the hurt, we have to let it go.

We have to forgive - not for them but for us - and let it go.

How are we ever going to see good times and be truly happy if we are holding on to hurt from our past?

Holding on to it can ruin future relationships and put a strain on current ones.

We have to learn from the mistake, the disappointment, the hurt - whatever it is - and simply LET. IT. GO!

Get over it so that you can be free... and happy again!

Post #28 - Put Your Pride Aside

Some people are too prideful to say I'm sorry. 

They know they feel remorse and they know that they want to apologize, but they would rather see a relationship be ruined and miss out on a blessing than offer a sincere apology. 

Pride is dangerous. It kills and destroys. 

Proverbs 16:18 says that "pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."

If we are not careful, we will allow pride to take all that we care about because we want to be right or save face. 

But, pride will always come back to hurt and haunt you. 

Many times, those who have lost loved ones and opportunities because of their pride, feel deep hurt and remorse. Some even8 die too prideful to make amends. 

I knew a man like that...

He had burned his bridges with his children to the point that they refused to have a relationship with him. The man would rarely speak of his children. But when he did, the pain he felt was evident in his eyes and in his voice. But he was still too prideful to make amends.

While he sat in his pride, he was missing out on his children's milestones and successes and watching his grandchildren grow. 

The man was so prideful that he died not having fixed his relationship with his children. And the children were so resentful that they refused to claim their father's belongings and signed them over to the state. 

How sad. 

Unfortunately, so many of us live in these prideful situations - alone and angry and too proud to admit that we were wrong or to fix what's been broken.

Jesus, in Mark 7:21-23, calls pride an evil thing that comeths out of man and defiles him.

Pride ruins the lives of the people who adopt it. It leaves them frustrated, confused, and unable to deal with the problems of life. Pride makes people blame others rather than take responsibility for themselves. And leaves them empty.

If you find yourself feeling this way. If you are struggling with pride, do all that you can to let it go. Humble yourself and apologize. Make it right. 

It may be uncomfortable for a moment, but your relationships will be mended and your life will be better and blessed. I assure you, you will be much happier. 

James 4:6 says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." When you humble yourself to do the right thing, God blesses your efforts and works out the situation you were dealing with. 

Trust God even in your prideful place. He will give you the grace and strength to act in humility and restore what was lost. To fix what was broken. 

Lay down your pride and pick up humility. Say what needs to be said. Do what needs to be done. And stop sabotaging what is good in your life. 

Stop sabotaging your blessings. 

Post #27 - It's Hell, But it's Gonna Work Out

You know how you know that things are about to get better?

ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE!! 

That's what my life has been like lately. I know I write like everything is copacetic.... BUT IT'S NOT! 

My life sucks right now! It is chaotic and in turmoil! 

But, I just accept it. I try not to complain and I try to stay positive. 

I know it's not going to be like this forever. I know that God is working things out in my favor. 

And I know why troubles come. 

I know that they are not meant to break me. So, I am intent on going THROUGH this trouble, rather than giving up in the middle of it. 

I'm going to see what's on the other side.

I'm going to fight it out. 

I'm going to keep being obedient and following God, even if I don't understand. I'm going to trust that God is going to do what He said, even if it takes a long time to come to pass. And I'm going to follow God where tells me to go, even if where I'm going takes me out of my comfort zone.

It's hard right now, but it won't always be. Good things are right around the corner for me.

This time, I have the authority over the difficulties! 

I'm staying in prayer. I'm continuing to read my bible. I'm staying in CONSTANT contact with God.

That's the safest place for me to be!

I can't let this difficulty overtake me. 

I'm staying strong. I'm staying positive. And I'm coming through this... ready to receive my blessings!

Post #26 - It's Been a Long Day

My mind has been so preoccupied today and I have been unable to concentrate. I did get some important projects done. But I have been completely unable to think of anything to talk about today. 

I've mulled it over all day. I prayed about it and sat in silence for a long time, trying to come up with something, but nothing came to me. 

Now here I am in the last hour before I'm supposed to post and my mind is still blank.

I tried writing something about delayed blessings, but it just wasn't coming out right. So, I moved on to something else. 

After a few attempts at writing something interesting, I decided to write this post telling you that I could not think of anything interesting to write about tonight. 

Exciting, isn't it??

What can I say? I'm not a robot! 

But, I did commit to this challenge to write something for 365 days straight... and here it is. 

I'm going to try not to do this often. I need to work on writing more than one post a day so that I don't have to struggle to get something posted. 

For today though, I present you with this masterpiece... my excuse for not coming up with something better and being a total disappointment.

But, in my defense, the day has been long and tiresome...

Hopefully tomorrow, both the day and the post will be better. 

See you then!! 

Want to read something more interesting today? You can read the other posts from this blog here!