Baking Up a Valentine's Day Blessing

Happy Valentine's Day!  We are ever so thankful for a sweetie of a baker friend who volunteered her time and talent to conduct a Cupcake Fundraiser for our adoption!  Marci had read about our adoption, felt the tug of her heart to help and boom- she did something about it!  Sharing God's love through her gifts and talents, she baked over 1,000 cupcakes to be delivered for Valentine's Day!  We had put out the word to our face book friends setting a max order of 100 dozen.  Well, 4 days later, we were putting the brakes on with 120 orders!  Marci has prepared the icing, baked the cakes, decorated and boxed, and wow- days and days of laboring in love.  We are deeply blessed and so very thankful to her and the many people who helped her to get these cupcakes into the customers hands.

Marci, my friends, her friends, my daughter, and myself all helped put the final touches of icing and sprinkles on each one of those cupcakes!  We boxed them, labeled them, and they are ready to deliver!  Thank you for those who participated in helping bake and/or by purchasing the yummy cupcakes!  And a big thank you for the behind the scenes people too like the grandma's who babysat the kiddos so mommies could come to help. A shout out to the daddies too who helped and supported gladly too!

Some people had their cupcakes delivered today, the day before Valentine's Day, and it was so awesome to personally say "thank you" and give hugs to those whose hearts are following ours in loving on these children that we can't wait to bring home!

Let me tell you, these just aren't any cupcakes.  Listen to the flavors we had: Reese's Cup- a chocolate cupcake with a Reese's center and peanut butter butter-cream icing, Raspberry Lemonade- Lemon cupcake with Raspberry butter-cream icing, Samoa- a chocolate cupcake with caramel and coconut center, caramel butter-cream icing topped with toasted coconut, and Valentine Treat- a vanilla cupcake with red butter-cream icing and sprinkles.  Is you mouth watering?  Yummy!

Personally, I am not talented in the kitchen, so this was quite fun for me to venture out and learn some new things.  I had never put icing on a cupcake, besides with a butter knife, and obviously those who know anything about icing know that is lame.  So, I learned how to use an icing bag (is that what it is called?).  Let me say that some looked better than others, and that if any one's cupcakes look 'unprofessional' well, that is all me!  After about 300 cupcakes I think I slightly improved, but still not near as pretty as Marci could whip up. It was like I was on a reality show for Cake Boss Apprentice- very fun!

My 9 year old daughter helped with sprinkles and then she took a try at the icing too.  I must say that she holds more pastry chef potential than I.  She did very well and was so pleased to be a part of this fundraiser!

Thank you Marci for being a 'doer' of the word and for sharing God's love through your actions and talents.  It has helped us tremendously and we are grateful to you for helping us get closer to bringing our children home.  I pray that God will bless you and your business abundantly for your generosity and caring spirit.

THANK YOU for your thoughts and prayers, encouraging words, and loving hearts that you have opened up to us and our journey to adopt!  

Happy Valentine's Day and God Bless!