Your Name Shall be Abraham

Dear Abraham (an open letter to my son),

I am writing you this blog post so that you can know about your namesake.

In my high school years I became quite intrigued with Abraham Lincoln.  After reading some of his speeches and learning about the difference he made in this country I was fascinated on how this man lived.  Though he was a great leader he had his down falls in family relationships but above all he wanted to make a difference and fix the wrongs that he saw.  Lincoln quickly became my favorite president and inspired me to think about how my life can make a difference in this world.

Years later as I was in college and into my graduate school years I became fascinated by a different Abraham, the one from the book of Genesis in the Bible.  I had to write a paper on Abraham’s sacrificial offering of his son.  It was during the research of this paper that I couldn’t stop thinking about how this man trusted God completely that he knew God would provide for him.

Shortly after this I read the book The Road Trip that Changed the World by Mark Sayers.  In the book he gives a clear picture on the bold step Abraham took by leaving his home in Ur and faithfully following God out into the unknown.  He writes this, “Abraham will be educated by God in a different mode of being.  God will enter into a covenantal mode with Abraham that will flow into his ancestors, and into all areas of life.  Abraham will learn to model covenantal relationship with God in contrast to the utilitarian approach of his neighbors to their gods.”

Your mom and I named you Abraham because we pray that you will be a man of God who lives in faith as you follow God through a covenantal relationship with Him.  That as we watch you grow up you will become a man defined by your faith in Christ.  We named you Abraham because we hope that you will look to make a difference in this world.  That you will see the problems around you and as Abraham Lincoln did step up and affect those problems in positive way.  We hope that you will be a man who follows your faith into the unknown.

Your middle name is Wellington because you are named after Wellington Avenue.  Wellington Ave. has been an important street in your mother and my relationship.  In college we would go on study dates at the Caribou right by the intersection of Wellington and Clark.  You were born at Illinois Masonic Hospital which is on Wellington Ave.  Lastly and most importantly we found our church family at the corner of Wellington and Damen. 

This corner has been a home to a church for decades.  It was formerly Galilee Baptist Church where multiple members of that congregation has influenced my life.  It then became New Life Community Church-West Lakeview.  It was there that your mother and I found our family and began our marriage.  It was there that we felt God calling us to stay and live on mission in Chicago.  It was there that we have met families that have become some of our dearest friends and it is there that you will grow up.

Lastly, your family name, Bacon.  Currently Bacon is popular, when I was younger it was not as popular.  We live in a time where there is Bacon of the month clubs, bacon festivals, bacon wrapped everything, and most importantly doughnuts with bacon on them.  But you are not named after the food but after a great heritage.  There aren’t many firstborn bacon men so you have big shoes to fill.  Bacon men work hard.  Your great-grandpa Harold was an amazing man who worked hard and taught his sons to work hard.  It’s just what we do so you too will be a hard-worker.  You will be surrounded by great Bacon men who will love and care for you.  Your Grandpa Brad will shower you with gifts of food.  Your Uncle Ross will take you to many sporting events.  Your Uncle Wesley will teach you how to use tools.  Your Uncle Taylor will show you how to be cool and genuine at the same time.  You have other amazing family members too who will shower you with love, but most importantly you’re a Bacon now so that means you will love pizza, your first slice of Lou Malnati’s (butter crust) is on it’s way.

Your Mother and I love you and we know that you will be an amazing man.

Love,

Your Dad.

Doughnuts!

I love Doughnuts.

Now that I’ve gotten that confession out of the way I’ll also admit that over the past couple months the pregnant one and I have eaten a lot of doughnuts.  Every time I’ve been within a mile of a well reviewed doughnut shop I’ve stopped to get my wife a treat slash I wanted one and I knew she would appreciate it.

So with all the doughnuts we have devoured over these past few months here are my favorites.

1.  Do-Rite Donuts

I read about this place when it opened but because it’s in the loop I wasn’t able to make my way there.  Luckily my lovely sister Abbie last fall picked us up some because she loved them and ever since then I’ve found my favorite doughnut in the city-The Old Fashioned.

The Buttermilk Old Fashioned is the perfect doughnut.  The right mixture of cake and glaze that fills the tastes buds.  Do-Rite doesn’t only have one Old Fashioned but has the Lemon, Cinnamon Crunch, Chocolate, and the Double Chocolate Old Fashioned.  The doughnuts are huge and are worth every penny.

2.  The Doughnut Vault

The glazed doughnuts here are so big and unlike any doughnut I’ve had before.  They are a little expensive but when you only make it a special trip it is well worth the money and time spent in line.

Personal favorite here is the Double Chocolate-can never have enough of that glaze.

3.  Dinkel’s Bakery

The first time I had their Chocolate Doughnut my eyes were opened to a new world of doughnuts, one where Dunkin’ was ousted for the stale rock like treats that they are.

I am biased on this ranking because I lived across the street from this bakery and smelled them each morning I woke up.

4.  Glazed and Infused.

Maple Bacon Long John

Maple BACON Long John

5.  Enoch’s Donuts at Endgrain.

Counted down the days for the opening of Endgrain and ran over there the day it opened, happening to be their first customer that day.

I was a little disappointed because they are quite expensive for such a little donut.  Then one day I returned and discovered the doughscuit.  A doughnut and biscuit combined.  It was heavenly.

Along these stops over the past couple months I’ve also enjoyed City Dough, Stan’s, and Firecakes.  Firecakes was amazing but one of my doughnuts was missing filling which caused it to be bumped from the list.