Isabela = Consecrated to God

consecrate: to devote to a purpose with or as if with deep solemnity or dedication

Whenever I look at my children, I immediately think of the brave decision Samuel's mother, Hannah made when he was newly weaned. She did not just devote herself to raising him in the fear and admonition of the Lord, but she actually brought him to the temple and left him there to be used in whatever way God would choose. Talk about a baby dedication.

As Christian mothers, we're called to devote ourselves to raising our children with the same dedication Hannah had. Thank goodness that we're not called to leave our infants on the church doorstep, but there does come a day when we have to let go and allow the Lord to use the children we've poured heart and soul into for His glory. This can mean many things, and my mind feels both anxious and hesitant to find out what it is the Lord will ask of my girls. Will he call them to the deep jungles of Peru to spread the gospel and minister to the orphans there? Will he ask them to be pastor's wives? Will he call them to live the simple life of a wife and mother in a small, inglorious town? Whatever it is, I know that I'll have to be able to loosen my hold on them.

I can't imagine that at all right now. I'm the paranoid mom who calls out from the laundry room to make sure they're okay in the living room because I've been away for more than 45 seconds and I'm sure that they've found a way to turn a plastic toy into a fatality. I'm the mom who has nightmares about my children wandering too far from me and my not being able to find them. I'm a bit of worry wort when it comes to my girls, as I'm sure my mommy buddies can relate to. How the heck will I be able to let go when the Lord calls me to?

I don't know. But I do know this; I fell in love with name Isabela for a reason. I loved the idea of my baby being consecrated to her Maker. Picking the name Isabela was my way of vowing to the Lord that I would raise her with that same passion and dedication that Hannah emplified when she brought her baby boy to the temple.

And today, on her first birthday, I re-affirm that vow. Of all the things I want for my little girl and her big sister, the thing my heart desires most for them is that they will come to love their Maker with a love that overwhelms and dictates their every decision. That they will not be molded by the pressures and expectations of this world but they will live with a peace and a confidence in what the Lord has called them to be...set apart.

This last year with her has flown by and time will continue to fly I'm sure. But today, Isabela is still entrusted to me by our Creator and that is not a position I will take for granted or take lightly.

Happy Birthday Isabela Grace! I love you so much!

My Birthday Baby

Tomorrow is my baby's first birthday! Where does the time go?!? I swear it was just a week ago that I first laid eyes on her. Didn't I just bring her home from the hospital? Didn't she only get her first tooth yesterday? Wasn't it just last night that I first heard her tell me Hi? And then she awoke this morning and she's almost ready for her first step and tomorrow she'll be walking and talking and next week she'll be starting ballet and then, in just a few short years she'll be talking about boys.

But in this moment, she is my sweet baby Isabela.

You are precious my little girl and I treasure every minute spent in the honorable and glorious role of being your Momma.

A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words

**All photos except the last one taken by Paulie-wallie.

Doing What's Best?!?

I want to go here. 9 years after graduating from high school, I've finally decided what I want to do when I grow up.

I was always the girl that everyone thought was so odd. I completely went against the modern phenomena of women in the workforce and women's lib and all that jazz when I mouthed the words on a fairly consistent basis, "I want to be a wife and a stay-at-home- Mom when I grow up." People used to look at me like I was crazy saying things like, "you're selling yourself short" or "okay, but what else?" But to me, there couldn't be any greater joy or responsibility than making a house a home and raising the children you brought into this world with the man you love in the fear and admonition of the Lord. And I still believe that whole heartedly! I wouldn't trade my job for the world! I'm a happy mom and loved wife. No cause for complaint here.

That being said, I didn't get to finish college and the military has been so kind as to offer me a large amount of money to finish school through the GI Bill. And I only have 10 years to use it. 10 years seems like a long time, I know, but believe me, it's not. Especially when you're a stay at home mom with potential aspirations to homeschool.

So much guilt. Isn't that part of our daily lives as mother's though? Guilt. Around every corner, sneering at us through every decision to splurge and buy that $10 shirt from the clearance rack at Target when we could've used the money towards Eva's new pair of shoes or something like it. Or in this case, contemplating sending my kids to school so that I can go back to school, instead of homeschooling.

And so the battle wages on. How much of our doing "what's best for our kids" is really about warding off guilt? Meeting expectations? Performing to the standards that have been set by others who are not in our predicament? How do we know"what's best" sometimes?

Does pursuing something I'd love mean that I love my children any less? I know the answer is no, of course. But then why the guilt?

My friend, Ruth and I used to talk about starting a wedding cake shop when we were younger. I've always loved the idea of cake decorating. Even before Ace of Cakes ever came on TV. Of all the worthy professions out there I've thought about pursuing, nothing gets my engine revving like the thought of a cute little bakery with aqua painted walls and an old black and white checkered floor. There'd be brightly decorated cakes, cupcakes (of course), pies, tarts, and all kinds of retro pastries and desserts. And of course, specialty coffees. I'd hire a few people that I love to be around and we could cater all kinds of events.

Well, no decisions will be made today. I don't really have to take the first step across this bridge until next year when we face the decision to enroll Eva in K-4 or not to. Until then, I'll be praying about this. I'll try not to fret, and I'll try to keep the guilt at bay. I'll be praying the same for all of my stay-at-home mommy friends as well!

Pics from the Past

It's the not-to-distant past. I realized this morning that I did not have any pics up of our first show at the Ashland Strawberry Faire. I did really well at that show. I sold out of every cupcake except my corncake with hot pepper jelly. I really LOVE that cupcake, but I guess it's just a bit too different for fair goers to wrap their brains around. Perhaps I'll send it into Martha Stewart. She might would get a kick out of it!

Kim did really well too! People were all over her Aloha Jam (wich is pineapple jam with a bit coconut added to it) as well as her Strawberry Splash (strawberry jelly with a bit of pure orange extract added). If you're interested in trying a few of her new varieties, go to www.freshbatchjams.com and order a few!

Anyway, it ended up being a family affair. Masie and Yosie came and Yosie, Paul and Mitch and swapped out shifts for child care while Kim, Kay, Masie and I mostly manned the booth but stepped away for the mommy only emergencies. The kids had such a great time running around and we had a great spot in the shade. Paul and I walked away from our first cupcake experience with high hopes and a little change in our pockets. This was definitely motivation to continue with Fresh Batch Cupcakes, but to be honest, it was just plain fun spending time with family. I love that this business that is Kim's creation has become something that the whole family can participate in, in their own way! It's really fun.

Kim being silly and me in a daze with a big bowl of chocolate espresso buttercream in my hands....buttercream has that affect on me.


The women of Fresh Batch Jams and Cupcakes


Izzy and Yosie...or Yo Yo as he is also affectionately known.


Masie-Mas with a few of her grandbabies


Eva and her cousin whom she always enjoys playing with! This is a game of chase, I believe.

I Need This

Can't you just see me on this bike? Can't you see me peddling to the Georgetown farmer's market to pick out some fresh strawberries, gourmet cheese and a long loaf of french bread to put in the adorable basket that comes with this bike?


And of course, I'd have to stop by Georgetown Cupcakes to get a half dozen cupcakes to bring home to Paul.


Wouldn't it just be lover-ly?

Fun with Fondant

Eva received an early birthday present this weekend from her Uncle Mitch and Aunt Kim. Knowing how much Eva enjoys helping me bake, they found a kids size Kenmore bake set that is just adorable! This morning, when Eva woke up and walked into the kitchen, she immediately spied her un-opened bake set and asked if she could play with it. I obliged but soon realized that I certainly had no plans to bake today as it's not the best thing to do when dieting. I began trying to think of something she could play with using her bake set and my mind went to play dough. I ran into the laundry room and looked on the top shelf where we keep the art supplies only to find that we were fresh out of play dough. Hmmm...

I walked over the pantry and gave it a quick once over when my eyes found the fondant that I colored last week wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and sealed in tupperwear. That could work. And it did!

Eva had so much fun rolling out the red fondant and using her star shaped cookie cutter to make perfect little red stars. She stood on her stool at the breakast bar for a good hour rolling it between her hands to form a ball and than squishing it down onto the counter and rolling it out flat with her little rolling pin. She used her wisk to wisk whatever it was that she was pretending was in her mini stainless steel mixing bowl and even pretended to chop things on her cutting board with the edge of her tiny spatula. It was adorable.


While Eva worked on her fondant creations, I took the time to sketch out some ideas for some new cupcake flavors and decorations for some festivals and fairs coming up in August. I have 8 flavors in the works. I'm really excited to start experimenting and perfecting these potential recipes!