I had a really hard week. Indescribably crazy. But, it’s amazing how much people are willing to help if you’re willing to ask. Prayer has a remarkable way of calming me down. And then, my friends and family really came through for me. Even though I was stressed, I never felt alone. My gratitude and love to all of you – you know who you are.

On Tuesday, I just needed chocolate. I bought two mini Reese’s cups and a Dove bar and made a lunch of them. (yeah, it was that kind of week by Tuesday). But, to my surprise, when I got home – these beauties were waiting in the mailbox for me. Sara! I had told her about my chocolate craving earlier and she surprised me with these delicious things. They’re like huge cookies, soft like cake, with gobs of smooth frosting in the middle. Seriously. If I ever become President, these must be served at the Inaugural Ball. I call them “Sara’s cake-cookies of chocolate happiness.” I’ll let her tell you how she made them!

This really simple spice rub livens up sweet potatoes for a great side dish. If you want them saucy, you could cook them a little in a fresh tomato sauce after they come out of the oven.

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Isn’t it? I’ve suddenly been reminded of that, as life and law school have caught up with me.

And really, when did this become exclusively a food blog? Come on, brain. You can churn out more stuff than pasta and potatoes. It’s time for some catharsis.

I realize that I’ve been coasting for a while – not slacking….law school doesn’t let you slack – but letting languish what used to be an active mind always talking to itself in art and poetry. Maybe my brain got so full of growing up, into law school and family, that the carefree poetry had to slow down for a while.

And, of course, I can’t do anything spontaneously. I’m not wired like that. So I carried my journal around with me for a couple of weeks, planning out my “first day back” entry in my mind. Two nights ago, I finally started writing again. It felt amazing, like a tap had been opened and a river of emotion and thought was flowing in ink all over the page. Will those entries end up here? Probably not in their entirety, but I suppose food will have to share the spotlight with prose.

The picture above is one of my favorites in all respects. I had gone for a walk after a light fall rain, capturing by camera all the multicolored thoughts-in-nature around me. At the bottom of a hill, this stone sat in the middle of the road. It seemed to me that he was contemplating the great journey ahead of him – the long climb, the many of his tiny steps it would take to get him there. But in the distance, there was hope – a brightness beyond…and alongside, the colorful support of fall trees.

Alhamdulillah. Things have a way of working out, even though it takes time and work. But such is life. Crazy, isn’t it?