I stood at the kitchen counter with the smell of maple syrup in the air and sausage sizzling in the pan. A stack of mini pancakes waited to become something more; comfort food, yes, but also memory food. It’s wild how a warm sandwich can stir something deep, something tender. I was making Copycat McGriddles and thinking about my kids. All five of them.

They’re all over the country now; scattered like confetti after a celebration you never wanted to end. One is still here at home, sixteen and quiet, navigating the strange terrain of high school and figuring out who she is in the world. Another is stationed in Oklahoma, completing Army AIT. One more is at Air Force training in Texas. Another teaches in Hawaii. And one now works in business in Georgia. They’ve gone in different directions, become their own people. Some are close to me; texting regularly, sharing little wins and funny videos. Others are more distant. I don’t always agree with their choices. I worry. I pray. I stay out of the way when needed and step in when asked.

But the love? It doesn’t change.

Unconditional love means I’m for them. Not for their achievements, or their timelines, or the image they present. But for them. It means I cheer from the sidelines even when I don’t fully understand the playbook. It means I welcome every text, every visit, every whispered “I’m tired,” or “I need you.” Even when they come years apart. Some days, I grieve the closeness we used to have; the season when they were all under one roof and I could count heads at the table. But I’m learning to hold that grief in one hand and joy in the other. Because this is what love grows into. It stretches. It adapts. It releases and welcomes. It holds on, even when everything else shifts.

I can’t control how connected we are, how often they call, or what paths they take. But I can keep showing up with prayer and I can keep making room for them to grow, to return, to become.

So today I’m asking:
How does unconditional love affect how you feel for someone?
Maybe it changes your expectations. Maybe it softens your heart. Maybe it invites you to love people as they are, not as you wish they would be.

And maybe it tastes a little like this…

Copycat McGriddle

What You Will Need:

What You Will Need To Do:

To Make the Pancakes:

1. In a large bowl, stir together 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons maple sugar, 1/2 tablespoon baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.
2. In another bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup whole milk plus 2 tablespoons, 6 tablespoons buttermilk, 1/2 egg, and 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract. While whisking, slowly drizzle in 2 tablespoons melted salted butter until well combined.
3. Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just combined, the batter should remain a little lumpy. Cover the bowl and let it rest at room temperature for 1 hour.
4. Heat a griddle or nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add a small pat of butter to grease the surface. Pour 1/4 cup of batter for each pancake. Cook until bubbles form on the surface, then flip and cook another 1–1½ minutes, until golden brown.

To Assemble:
Layer in this order: Pancake, egg, sausage patty, cheese, pancake. Wrap in foil if you want that fast-food feel or eat right off the plate with hot coffee & OJ.

Gracefully yours,

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