Happy Mother's Day

As I celebrate Mother's Day today, I am reminded of how God has blessed me with some truly amazing women. These women truly embody the Proverbs 31 woman that God calls us to be. I am blessed beyond measure to have them in my life and today I want them to know how loved and treasured they are.

To my mother

Mom, I don't even know where to begin. You are the most amazing woman and have been such an inspiration to me in my own journey of motherhood. Growing up, you were the person I knew was always in my corner no matter what. You taught me to be kind, loving, forgiving, and to find my self-worth in Christ. You have encouraged me to be independent and have supported me through all my decisions.
As a child, you were my mother; as an adult, you are my best friend. Living so far from you is truly one of the most difficult things I have had to face but I'm thankful you're never more than a phone call (or Skype call) away. Words will never be enough and I'll never be able to thank you for all you have done. I love you so very much and thank God every day that he chose you to be my mother!

To my Granny

Granny, you are one amazing woman! You are one of the most selfless people I have ever met. You love your 5 children, 11 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren with a love that never ceases. You are giving, patient, and always think of others before you ever think of yourself. I am so thankful that I have you as my grandmother. I hope today you know how loved, treasured, and cherished you are!

To my Grandma

I miss her everyday. The legacy she created and left in this world is something that is treasured by so many. She touched thousands of lives in her countless years of teaching and I really believe that it was her example that sparked in me a passion for teaching. She may have only been a biological mother to 2 boys but was a mother in so many other ways to the children she taught.
Although I wish I still had her here on Earth, I am thankful for the 26 years I had with her and I celebrate the life she led on this Mother's Day.

To my mother-in-law

Sharon, before I married your son, I prayed daily not only for my future husband but also for his family. I prayed that God would grant me with a mother-in-law who would welcome me into her family and love me like a daughter. I prayed that she would be someone who loved the Lord and would encourage us in our marriage. Sharon I want you to know that God answered and exceeded every one of my prayers. From the moment we met, you showered me with love and made me feel like one of your own children. You are an amazing woman, wife, and mother and have set such a wonderful example for your children.
Thank you for everything thing you do for me, Kevin, and Blakely. Thank you for loving her and taking care of her everyday while Kevin and I are at work.  I want you to know how appreciated and loved you are. Thank you for being my mother-in-law!

To Blakely

Blakely, being your mommy is the most rewarding thing I have ever done. I am so thankful that you have some amazing women in your life who love you just as much as I do. I hope that I can be the kind of mother to you that they have been to me. Thank you for making me a mommy. I am able to celebrate today because of you!

American Flag (Dark Chocolate) Cupcakes

 A few weeks ago a teacher at school asked me to make some cupcakes for her son who was deploying to Afghanistan. Since he's a soldier, she asked me to do some American Flag cupcakes.

I had recently stumbled across a new recipe for dark chocolate cupcakes and decided to try it (my old chocolate recipe just wasn't cutting it anymore). Trust me when I say these cupcakes are YUMMY! They are super moist and really, really good. One word of caution though...only fill the batter halfway because these suckers rise quickly!

I then filled the cupcakes with homemade Hostess Marshmallow Creme. After all, what good is a cupcake without a yummy filling.

Chocolate Cupcakes (original post)

• 1 cup Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa Powder 
• 1/2 cup regular Cocoa Powder
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 3 cups granulated sugar
• 1 Tbsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

How to Make

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Line muffin pan with cupcake liners
3. In your stand mixer sift flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and baking powder together. Add in the sugar and salt.
4. With your mixer on low speed add eggs, one at a time and then the vanilla, water, vegetable oil and buttermilk.
5. Mix on medium for 2 minutes until combined.
6. Fill liners 2/3 full and bake for 20 minutes until set.
7. Remove from pan immediately and cool on wire rack.

**I can get about 45 cupcakes from this because I only fill the batter halfway. Also, you can do 1 1/2 cups of the dark Cocoa Powder if you prefer them to be extra dark.**

Marshmallow Filling 

• 1 cup of marshmallow fluff
•  4 tablespoons unsalted butter (room temperature)
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon heavy whipping creme (or whole milk)

1. Using a stand mixer, cream the butter until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
2. Beat in confectioners’ sugar. Add the vanilla and milk and beat until smooth.
3. Beat in the marshmallow creme.

Easter Egg Hunt

First of all, let me just say how much I LOVE this time of the year. Winter coats get packed away, flip flops emerge from the bottom of the closet, and kids are able to run outside and play. Oh, I just love it! I wish Spring could happen all year (except for the pollen).

Ok, so on to the purpose of this post. This morning, Blakely and all her little friends had a belated Easter Egg hunt. We did this last year but with the busyness of the past month, we were unable to schedule it closer to Easter. So this morning, all the mommies and kids got together (all the daddies were working). We started the morning with a yummy brunch (complete with mimosas)! Afterwards, we hid eggs for the kids and then let them hunt.

They had a great time, especially eating the goodies that were inside!

We've decided that this will be an annual tradition. It's so fun to watch the kids together because they are all really close in age. They play so well together and always have a great time!

Jacob and his ladies!!

Trying to get into the candy!

Best Surprise Ever (Spring Break Part 3)

Yesterday was definitely the best day of this vacation so far!!
A few days ago while my mom and I were making our plans for the week, she told me that on Wednesday we had to go to the airport to pick up her friend Charma. Charma was a friend from church who didn't have any family in the Sioux Falls area. She had been out of town for a few days and needed a ride home from the airport. Being the wonderful person my mom is (not to mention I'm extremely gullible) I didn't question this at all.

Before I really tell my story, I should insert one short story here. On Tuesday night, I left the dinner table to go start a movie for Blakely in my parent's room. When I came back, my parents and sister Amy got real quiet. I said, "Are you all talking about me?" My mom hung her head and sheepishly said, "Yes." I really didn't care and asked, "Well, what are you saying?" She wouldn't tell me and my dad and Amy wouldn't look me in the face. I started to get kind of upset and then my mom told me what they were talking about. I don't even remember what it was but I knew it was a total lie. I decided not to push the issue any farther but went to bed a little upset that night. My mom is never one to talk about any of us when we're not around and will always tell us if there's something bothering her. I figured it must be pretty bad if she wouldn't tell me what she was saying.

So yesterday morning, I was still a little hurt but decided to just drop it. On the way to the airport, she started telling me more about Charma and mentioned that Charma thought it was so wonderful when people met you inside the airport rather than outside at the pick-up area. I've always loved having people come in to meet me (just ask my husband) so I thought that would be a sweet gesture and I once again didn't question it.

We were a little early so we went inside, got a snack, and then made our way to the pick-up area. While we were waiting, she continued to tell me about Charma. She was a gastroenterologist who had never married and had been away at a conference in Ohio. She lived in a very nice condo not far from the airport.
I just want to say here that my mother is a very good  liar story teller.

The flight finally landed and everybody from the flight started coming through the doors that led to the terminal. We waited a while and then she said, "Oh look, there she is." I couldn't see her face but I did notice that there was a little girl walking with her. My first thought was, "Charma has a daughter. Mom didn't mention that." Then I saw the woman's face and my jaw hit the floor. It was my Aunt Shirley from Atlanta and her daughter Bailey. I just stood there in total disbelief. (By the way, my second thought was "I wonder if mom knew Shirley was on Charma's flight.") I looked at my mom and said, "What????!!!" She was just smiling from ear to ear.

Shirley and Bailey came through the doors and I gave them the biggest hugs ever. My mom immediately apologized and said that the night before at the dinner table, they had been talking about Shirley coming. She didn't want to ruin the surprise so instead she told me that had been talking about me. She said it had bothered her ever since and she felt so bad. Of course, I forgave her!

It was such an awesome surprise to have them here since I don't see them often. Plus, we girls definitely don't get a lot of time together since we're all scattered across the country. What a wonderful surprise!!