Heavy Heart

I was planning on posting some art this week as it has been far too long but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Something else has been on my mind. Early this week we received news of my husband's aunt passing away. My heart sunk. She had just found out her cancer had spread and was given six months to live. Only a couple days after getting the news she was gone. When we heard she had six months I still had hope. Hope that God would cure her here on earth. I've seen a friend given no hope from doctors and God healed her so I was very hopeful. Maybe too hopeful as I have seen several loved ones lose their fight to cancer. My heart aches for the girls who lost their mom, the husband who lost his wife, the mom who lost her daughter, the young grandkids who lost their grandma... and though it is so sad I have to look at the brighter side. She is no longer in pain. She has gone home to the Lord.

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,

and death shall be no more,

neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore,

for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:4

For those left behind...

"I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

Death can really make you look differently at life... what is really important. Our time here is short.

A Fairy Party

Instead of spending much time on a special cake this year for Kaelyn's party I spent it on the invitation. 

From a designers standpoint that is by far the most fun. :)

Kaelyn was busy months ago working on fairy pictures for the walls. We added fairy balloons, fairy figurines (which she already had), fairy coloring/sticker books, and wands. Fairy success!

I made allergy friendly/gluten free chocolate cupcakes. Recipe is found HERE from The Renegade Kitchen. I made a couple tweaks, I doubled the batch, used half the coconut sugar and added a little stevia, plus added in a sprinkle of Enjoy Life chocolate chips. I then made the healthiest frosting recipe I could find... coconut, recipe also from The Renegade. I cut out the agave/coconut syrup part and I didn't have full fat coconut milk on hand so had to use light which made for a runnier frosting but worked fine. I can't give my input on taste since I was unable to try them at this time, but birthday girl gave them two thumbs up and wanted to eat them all, so they passed the test. :)

 There was lots of play time...

Kaelyn thought it would be fun to have help on her Valentine's box.

Last year we went with mini play doughs for her classmates, this year it was organic suckers which all the kids seem to love the fruit flavors. Kaelyn had her mind made up for how she wanted to make valentines so I didn't have to help at all. {insert happy mom that didn't have much time!}

Happy Valentine's Day! 

Be sure to hug a loved one and let them know how much you care about them today.

Six!

This past Saturday marked a very special day... Kaelyn's sixth birthday. Can't believe how quickly she is growing up. Her dad and I are so blessed to have her in our lives.

Some of her favorite things include creating art (she says she is going to be an artist and a mama when she grows up), family movie night, biking, running, eating kale chips (her favorite snack), playing with her mom and dad - preferably with her princesses or horses, and playing with friends. Although she can be super stubborn and hard of hearing when it comes to mom and dad's voices, she does have a soft heart and loves the Lord. She's always teaching us... whether it is to give freely at church or that we need more patience. :)

It has been such a good five years. I look forward to the new adventures this year holds for us. :)