​Fire up the griddle, warm up the syrup, mix up the batter, tomorrow, 28 February 2017, is Pancake Day, a.k.a. Shrove Tuesday, Fat Tuesday, or Mardi Gras. In the church liturgical calendar, tomorrow marks the end of the season of Epiphany, which began on Three Kings Day, or the 12th day of Christmas, which was on January 6 this year.Tradition states that after following the star to Bethlehem, the Three Wise Men found the baby Jesus on this day.
 
Shrove Tuesday, 47 days before Easter, is derived from “shrive” meaning confession of sins and absolution. It is the final day of partying, celebration and indulgence before the self-sacrifice of the 40-day Lenten Season (the six Sundays are not counted). Lent begins the following day on Ash Wednesday. The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:27 is credited with this example of personal self-denial, as part of his testimony of faith in Jesus Christ.
 
Originating in Europe during the Middle Ages, Shrove Tuesday was the final opportunity to cook with the eggs, fats, and milk that would be restricted during Lent. Preparing meals with these ingredients would keep them from going to waste. France designated the day "Fat Tuesday," or Mardi Gras, and England, and other countries, began the tradition of serving pancakes as the perfect way to clean out the refrigerator, so to speak, and thus the name … “Pancake Day.” 
 
Make them from scratch, make them from a box mix, but do make them (or have them out).
I plan to.
Enjoy!!

For more information, go to:
http://www.sharefaith.com/guide/Christian-Holidays/origins_of_shrove_tuesday.html
or to:
http://www.myolddutch.com/History/Pancake-Day.aspx 

This lovely, silver lamb pendant was a precious Christmas gift from my husband, Patrick. I began acquiring little lambs in 2004, my delightful collection a statement of the deepest and most important relationship in my life ...
Jesus Christ is my Shepherd, and I belong to Him, a lamb in His eternal fold. 

Enjoy the wonder of God's love for us, as expressed so eloquently by David in Psalm 23, the King James Version, which is how I memorized these verses as a child:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
 

George Washington, who was born on February 22, 1732, was inaugurated as our first president on April 30, 1789 at Federal Hall in New York City. With numerous witnesses assembled for the historic occasion, he stepped onto the outdoor balcony and requested an open Bible, upon which he placed his right hand and took the oath of office. At the conclusion, the church bells pealed, the artillery roared, and the applause thundered.

Our new President went inside and spoke with a gravity and solemnity that befitted the anointing of our nation.
He began, "It would be peculiarly improper to omit, in this first official act, my fervent supplication to that Almighty Being, who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States ... No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency ... We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right, which Heaven itself has ordained."    Peter Marshall and David Manuel, The Light and the Glory​ (Fleming H. Revell: Grand Rapids, MI, 1977), 349.