It's Friday...

So why am I in a funk? I honestly think it is because I have been so busy this week, I haven't been able to let any of my creative juices out! Actually, I have had to keep them bottled up for about two weeks now. Ugh!

That is about to change after work. Tonight, I have two cakes to make and decorate, and have to make potato salad. This will all happen of course after I make dinner (which is just simply chicken enchiladas - nothing creative). Needless to say, I am getting ready to have a cup of coffee to physically prepare for a long evening.

What I am most excited about is this...



This is a baby blanket called "Tree of Life," and I am gonna start it for my cousin whom I just found out is pregnant! I.cannot.wait! Isn't is just breathtaking? Thank you Lion Brand for free patterns!

I will post pictures throughout the process of making this blanket. Although, fair warning, it is a knit pattern, so it will probably take me several months to complete it! Thank God I found out when she is only 4 months along!

I also want to mention one of the cakes I am doing tonight is for a very special occasion. My uncle and aunt's 40th wedding anniversary! My aunt absolutely LOVES fondant, so I am making them a small fondant covered cake to enjoy on their special day. Happy Anniversary Frank & Sari! I love you both very much.

Hope everyone has a great and creative weekend!

The best gift to give on Resurrection Sunday...

I have never been a very good gift buyer for a couple of reasons:

1. I.HATE.SHOPPING!
2. I cannot keep a secret, so if I buy something even a day before an event, I am gonna give it - never fails!

It always makes me laugh that holidays, especially "HOLYdays" have become so commercialized. It wouldn't be so bad if more people recognized and honored the true meaning of some of these HOLYdays instead of just using them as another excuse to party, spend money, give gifts, etc. And no, I am not judging, I am just inspecting a little fruit! :)

I am not saying that gift giving should not happen, because I have always been a partaker of the spirit of Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny, they are fun and magical. However, since I had Stephen, we have always explained to him (even though he is still young, but because it is VERY important), that Jesus provides everything for us, and without Him, we would not even have Christmas and Easter to celebrate. Isn't that the truth, without His birth, there would be no Christmas - and there would be NO SALVATION! And without Him dying on the cross and rising again the third day, there would be no Easter - and there would be NO SALVATION! Wow! Thank you Lord for what you have done!

Today, Todd and I made a very serious purchase. This has to be the best thing we have ever gotten Stephen! And probably the most important gift (other than salvation) he will ever get in his lifetime.



His first official Bible! King James Version Study Bible for Boys! Absolutely cannot wait to give it to him. He is going to be so excited!

What better gift to receive on Easter, RESURRECTION DAY!

I hope each of you take time this Sunday to reflect on the true HOLYday. Have a great weekend!

Spring is here...

Yay! My favorite season of all. I know that a few years ago, when I started this blog, I posted about Spring. I just LOVE it!

Talk about renewing! Whew! Today is absolutely gorgeous! There is no doubt in my mind that God created Spring as a reminder that we need to die out to our sins and renew ourselves daily.

There is nothing more breathtaking than to walk outside in early Spring and see the buds on the trees, flowers blooming, smell the fresh cut grass...mmmm! Whether you acknowledge it or not, that is God speaking to us. He is showing and telling us many things with Spring.

Even though things seem to die through the winter months, with a little sunlight and warmth, all things can become new and beautiful again. Much like our lives, we may go through deep, dark, dreary times in our lives, but with a little "sonlight," we also can become new and beautiful again.

I will leave you with a picture I took the other day. Although the sun was not shining, and it was still a little cool outside, the flowers say it all! God loves us, that is for sure!



Spring is here, Spring is here, it's the best time of the year!
Spring is here, Spring is here, IT'S THE BEST TIME OF THE YEAR!

Mood swings...

I said I would be posting periodically about my journey through Lupron. Wow! Today has been a day to say the least. Like someone who has been through this already stated to me yesterday, "someone drops a paperclip and it makes you want to kill someone." EXACTLY!

Between being absolutely worn out, and now these horrid mood swings (and just a reminder, today is only my second week of a six month journey), I am already afraid people think I am nuts! Okay, maybe I am, but until now I was able to keep it under wraps mostly of the time!

I personally think I would like the hot flashes as opposed to this rollercoaster, but who knows. Check back in a couple of weeks and see if I am eating my words!

A year ago today...

A year ago today, just another ordinary day. Little did any of us know what kind of day it would really turn out to be. I was teaching cake decorating at the Culture Center. My phone rang, and it was my mom. No one ever called me during cake class, so I knew something wasn't right. She called to tell me that there had been a mine explosion, and it was more than likely the mine where my Uncle Boone worked, other than that, she did not know anything else. She said that a reporter from the Today Show had contacted her for information, stating that they had "heard" that Howard (Boone) Payne had been confirmed as being trapped in the mine. First and foremost, how in the world did they know to contact my mom? Very strange! But mom ended up telling them that they really needed to contact Boone's immediate family.

On my way home from cake class, I called Erica, which is Boone's daughter. She confirmed that it was indeed the Upper Big Branch mine, and much to our disbelief, Boone was inside. No one still knew what was really going on at that time, so we didn't know how tragic the events would end up.

This year I have seen my family struggle with grief, anger, acceptance, guilt, and turmoil. I want them to know that these feelings are all normal, and I, as thousands of others are, praying for them daily! My heart is heavy for them, especially today!

I want to share some scripture to hopefully encourage them as they face today. Remember, God has promised that we can all be together again. He has also promised never to leave you and also to be your comforter.

Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Psalm 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.

Matthew 5:4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

In Memory of Howard "Boone" Payne
May you rest in peace

I love you Erica, Jeremy, Jason, Amanda, and Debbie!!!