Tis the Season to...Bake! Yum!

It's nearing Christmas and I'm in the mood to bake yummy desserts.  Yesterday, it was Cinnamon Sugar Butter Cookies (as the Mrs. Field's recipe calls them, but others mistake them for Snickerdoodles).  Today it's Apple Pie.  This weekend, I think I'll make Mexican Wedding Cookies for a potluck I'm going to as well as another apple pie (my coworkers killed the one I brought today).  :-)

For some reason, I've always loved baking.  It's something that I'm looking forward to doing w/ my kids.  I want to be the mom that ALWAYS has baked goods for the kids to come home to, for them to share w/ their friends who come to visit.  I want to be the mom that sits down w/ Little Dionna w/ milk, a cupcake and fruit (gotta encourage good habits) at the end of a school day and listens to her share everything that happened that day.  I want to be the mom that's at all of Little (enter Husband's name here)'s soccer/basketball/lacrosse games cheering on the sidelines and ready to provide a congratulatory or consoling hug afterwards.  I want to be a very hands on parent that doesn't pretend to have all of the answers, but is willing to experience new things with my kids, be their #1 fan, but still put the fear of God in them so that they don't act a fool.  :-)

Does anyone else ever think about the type of parent they'll be?  Or is it just me? 

Tis the Season to...Reflect

As the end of the year draws near, I'm beginning to reflect more and more on the things that happened, the things that stood out, my high points and the low points of 2011.

2009 started off good, but ended up being a disaster.

I spent 2010 working through the damage caused by Hurricane 2009.

It's wonderful to report that 2011 was the turnaround year.

I'm thankful for the new friendships I've formed this year with some pretty fantastic people.  After much prayer, I've gained clarity and truth with regards to lies I was believing about things that have happened in the past.  Furthermore, I've grown in leadership skills in ministry and at work.


2011 brought new visions, new relationships, new family members and new babies to spoil.  I've gained favor at work and I have a new perspective on my gifts and how God wants to use them.

The high points of 2011 involve a menagerie of events and experiences:

• Laser tag w/ 6 grown women who I have the privilege of doing ministry with
• Being at the hospital when my niece was born
• Singing He Loves Us at Jamfast (one of the few singing opportunities I had this year)
• Turning 27!!!! (You know I had to throw my favorite day of the year on there) :-)

The lowest point I can remember is being hurt by a friend, who thought he was being funny, saying some pretty unkind things to me.

Now, as I look forward to 2012, I can already tell it will be a year of celebration.  I'll be attending 4 (maybe 5) weddings (2 of which, I'm in).  Brooklyn will turn a year old in March.  And I have a feeling there will be several more exciting transitions happening in 2012 regarding work, friendships and music.  Stay tuned!

3 more weeks left of 2011.  Don't let them go without taking some time to think about all that you learned this year.