About a year ago, I made a personal commitment to improve my participation in my church and community. I wanted to look inside myself to see what was there spiritually and to consider the best ways to improve my Christian walk.

I figured that by doing that, I also would improve my relationships with my family and community.

Well, one year later, I'm pretty proud of what's been accomplished. I've got a better understanding of my church's organization, and I'm no longer going through the motions during worship services. Simply put, I've regained that passion for religion that prompted me to join my church 17 years ago.

When I sing, when I pray, when I listen to sermons and even when I participate in the offering collections, I feel that passion bubbling up from my toes and out of my forehead. It's like my own personal Powerball win.

Just as I suspected, that passion is reflected in my familial relationships. I'm enjoying being Jerry's mommy and Patrick's wife. Those two keep me on the ball, especially now that Jerry's beginning to understand the concept of little brother. The future arrival of Baby Buck is also generating a lot of excitement and curiosity around our household.

And then there are my community affiliations. Rather than being burned out, I'm getting more involved and I'm enjoying it. It's like knowing who I am spiritually has re-energized me and enabled me to give of myself fully and freely to those that I love.

Make no mistake about it, this is all about love. It would be very easy for me to sit at home and interact (or not) with my family after work each day, then go to church for my weekly dose of religion on Sundays.

However, I get my religion every day of the week with an extra helping on Sundays, and this helps me to do what I have-need-want to do.

That means I have the energy to greet Jerry with a smile and a kiss when he hops into my bed at 5:45 every morning, roll over and kiss my husband, get everybody dressed for work and day care, go to work with a decent attitude, pick up Jerry and interact with him when the workday is done, attend any community meetings I've committed to, come home and play-kiss-love my family some more, then fall into bed for prayers and sleep.

It's funny how happiness can spill over like that. My spiritual well-being and that of my family is everything to me, and I've noticed that one good thing in your life can make everything else seem equally wonderful.

I guess it all comes down to love, and if you've got it, you can share it without wondering how you're going to do something or where the extra time is going to come from.

Speaking of love, I don't want people to think I've forgotten another passion of mine -- food. Regardless of age differences among teacake lovers, it seemed we all had similar memories.

All of the recipes and samples I received included letters telling of secret ingredients, teacakes being cut out using Mason jar lids, and kids standing in the kitchen to eat them right out of the oven. It was a lot of fun sharing experiences like that with people I didn't know.

I enjoyed the recipe for "plain cookies" I received from Myrna Powers. Her recipe was special because it came from her high school home economics book which was copyrighted in 1946.

I also admired the sample and recipe I received from Kitty Rueseler. Kitty called her mother, who at 94 is still cooking in Augusta, Ga., to get her teacake recipe. The teacakes were good, but I'm also glad Kitty got her mother to write down the recipe so she can pass it on to others.

The sample I received from Pat Robins were the teacakes that tasted most like my Mom's. I thought it was hilarious when she apologized for only bringing me two teacakes -- it turns out Mr. Robins enjoyed them as much I did!

I've included the Robins family recipe for "Old Fashion" teacakes. I hope you all enjoy them as much as I did.

Teacakes (Don't you dare call them sugar cookies!)

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup shortening -- Crisco

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon each soda and baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt (omit if you substitute butter or margarine for shortening)

Enough all-purpose flour to make a stiff dough when added to the above.

Roll out and cut. Sprinkle with sugar if you want. Bake at 350 degrees until light brown on the bottom.

~Tamara Zellars Buck is a staff writer for the Southeast Missourian.