remy’s buttermilk bacon pancakes & maple-peanut butter syrup

the story.

I come to you with a heavy heart, but a joyful spirit.

Romans 15:13, “May the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”, serves as a theme for this post.

It was a warm day in Savannah on Sunday, August 20th. My husband and I were sitting in church as our pastor was urging the congregation to rethink how we help others. To not turn away from people that need us, to put aside our selfishness and give up our precious time to serve those in need.

This is something we needed to hear.

We spend our days working and our nights by the television. Although we talk about getting involved when our church helps the community, we still make excuses. It’s too time consuming, right? We need our free time to relax, to be alone.

We may have never changed, that is, until we got a phone call during church that day.

“Maria, Remy fell in the pond behind his house and is unresponsive,” my husband choked through tears.

I froze. What? Our two-year-old nephew Remy, his four-year-old sister and their parents just visited us in Savannah. They literally just left on Friday. He was just with us!

We left church immediately, dizzy and horrified. Leaning against the brick exterior, we cried out to God, asking for healing. Begging for answers.

“We have to go there.” So we ran to our car and sped away towards North Carolina, not turning back for clothes, phone chargers or makeup {for me}. Nothing mattered. The 6-hour drive felt like days. Each time someone texted us, our hearts raced with anxiety.

The phone rang, “He is stable”. THANK YOU JESUS, we screamed.

During the drive, when we were at a loss for words to pray, we worshiped God in song.

Come to Me (Bethel Music)

I am the Lord your God
I go before you now
I stand beside you
I’m all around you
And though you feel I’m far away
I’m closer than your breath
I am with you
More than you know…

I am your anchor, in the wind and the waves
And I am your steadfast, so don’t be afraid
Though your heart and flesh may fail you
I’m your faithful strength
And I am with you
Wherever you go

Upon arrival, we went and picked up our four-year-old niece, who was safe with friends, while her parents were at the hospital with Remy. Since the hospital was far away, we stayed home with his sister, following her nightly routines, in an attempt to give her some normalcy.

After a sleepless night and no more news on Remy, we drove up to the hospital. The rest of our family was arriving from their various states all over the U.S.A. Throughout the week, more and more family began to flood the PICU waiting room. We spent precious time surrounding Remy’s bed, praying for healing.

“He is able to do above and beyond anything we can ever ask, think or imagine.”- Ephesians 3:20

One special day, about fifteen of our emotionally drained and physically exhausted family members squeezed into Remy’s hospital room to sing hymns and worship songs to God.

“It is Well” was a song that weighed heavy on our hearts. Knowing that even in the midst of the storm, God is faithful and steadfast. Through tears and sadness, we knew that His decision to heal or take Remy was in His perfect plan. We all truly trust Him.

As the week drew to an end, the doctors explained that Remy was soon going to be with Jesus. Instead of cursing God, my brother-in-law, Remy’s dad, spoke candidly to Him. He simply asked that Remy’s death not be in vain.

 

God listened. He quickly gave Remy’s parents many opportunities to bless others through this tribulation.

First, little known to us, only 3% of people who die are able to donate organs. Remy was part of that small percentage and gave life to two people who desperately needed those organs. Remy is a true HERO.

Next, while in the waiting room, a woman and her daughter entered, weeping. We found out that her two-year-old son was just hit by a car. Our whole family, including Remy’s parents, laid hands on her and prayed fervently. Instead of ignoring this woman’s pain to focus on their own, Remy’s parents interceded for this woman. Later we found out that this baby was going to be okay!

Lastly, at Remy’s funeral, five people, that we know of, asked Jesus to be their personal Lord and Savior. That is five more lives that Remy impacted.

So on a rainy Sunday evening, one week after his tragic fall into the pond, Remington Asher Whiteway got to sit on Jesus’ lap in Heaven. He lived a life filled with sheer love, unadulterated joy, incomparable cuteness, and overwhelming blessings from the Lord. What a perfect life it was.

Oh Remy, our precious nephew. With his ivory skin, chubby cheeks, soft curls and deep belly laugh, he gave so much joy to all who knew him. A family member, Julianna, said it better than I could, “Remy loved his parents so deeply, his sister so sweetly, and his family and friends so joyfully. He looked up to his sister so much, always following her around on adventures. His smile and bouts of laughter would make anyone light up”.

His parents are “such selfless, strong, loving, compassionate people, who even through this indescribable pain, are thankful for their sweet son, Remy, and for God’s faithfulness”.

Although we wish Remy could still be with us, we know that Jesus has a far greater plan than we do. It is the family’s prayer and HOPE that Remy’s life will continue to impact many people in the weeks, months and years to come.

My husband and I know that Remy changed our lives. Remember the pastor’s message on Sunday, August 20th? We do. We have decided to stop being so selfish with our time. We have decided to give back to families that are in need, much like the loving friends and family did for Remy’s parents and sister. It’s so easy to get lost in ourselves. In our schedules. Remy has changed our lives in more ways than WE even know. But one thing is for sure, our faith and hope are NOT shaken. We will live a life WORTHY of REMY.

 remembering remy.

Like his aunt, Remy loved to eat. As Julianna said, “food was priority for this sweet boy”. I am delighted that the word “delicious” had become part of his vocabulary, as I taught it to him when he visited.

While here in Savannah, my husband and I remember Remy closing his eyes, smiling, and waving his quesadilla in the air back and forth, as if to the rhythm of a song. Just celebrating every single bite.

Of all the organic, clean and healthy things his mommy made him, Remy had an unashamed obsession for bacon. Each and every morning, Remy and his sister would pluck a piece or two from the cooling rack.

When I asked what else he loved to eat, “Pancakes and peanut butter” was the answer.

Combining some of his favorite foods, I wanted to give our family and my readers a recipe in Remembrance of Remy. A meal to celebrate his contagiously joyful life. A dish that will remind us all that God is good and worthy to be praised.

We sing hallelujah, the Lamb has overcome death.

It is my plan to indulge in these buttermilk bacon pancakes with maple-peanut butter syrup each and every year on Remy’s birthday in August.

READY?

If you would like to see a glimpse of precious Remy, please click HERE.

ingredients

Maple-Peanut Butter Syrup

• 3 tablespoons peanut butter {I used crunchy organic peanut butter}
• 1 tablespoon butter, softened
• 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons organic 100% pure maple syrup

Pancakes

• 1 cup unbleached flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 3-4 pieces cooked organic bacon, chopped small (reserve some for garnish)

Extras

• stick of butter for cooking
• powdered sugar for sprinkling

(Makes 3-4 pancakes, double and triple recipe as needed)

directions

1. For the Maple-Peanut Butter Syrup: Blend all ingredients in a mixer until smooth. Set aside for serving. {Tip: Before serving, heat in microwave for 30 seconds to loosen it up}
2. For the Pancakes: Heat a flat pan to medium on the stove top.
3. Mix all pancake ingredients in a large bowl with a whisk, until smooth. Remember to reserve some chopped bacon pieces for garnish.
4. Melt a tablespoon of butter around in the hot pan until it coats the bottom. Add more as you cook.
5. For each pancake, pour slightly less than 1/4 cup batter into pan. Cook about 2 minutes or until top bubbles. Turn; cook other side until golden brown.
   
6. Serve pancakes with maple-peanut butter syrup. Garnish with reserved bacon pieces and powder sugar {Don’t forget a BIG glass of milk}.