Thinking of you

Today I'm sad and thinking of a friend who fought cancer for over 3 years and on Saturday, surrounded by family and friends, passed on very peacefully.

We met during a retreat at our church in March, 2001, and our group of 30+ women bonded as, over the course of the next 6 months, we put together a retreat weekend for the next team. We shared our lives, we shared our hearts, we trusted one another with our real selves and we were forever changed.

Nine years have passed; several have relocated with husbands to cities far away. Some have moved just far enough that their lives have taken on another rhythm. We are, however, still bonded by our weekend.

When diagnosed, Sharon reached out via email and I immediately picked up the phone and we talked for over an hour, discussing her options and providing support to one another. For the past 3+ years we've spent time together going to the doctor, radiation treatments, gatherings with the other women, breakfast, coffee and more time on the phone. When she had surgery I visited and we talked; Sharon always remaining positive and looking beautiful through it all. Her faith in God's plan never wavering. Not once. I kept waiting for her to breakdown or to question or to be angry. Nope. It wasn't going to be.

Last Monday I took over cupcakes and cakeballs, knowing that her husband enjoyed carrot cake and hopeful that maybe she could eat some high calorie sweets. My way of saying what words couldn't. That I care. That I love her and that I knew things were changing.

As I was leaving Sharon joked that if I was going to bring chocolate chip cookies, her husband and sons wouldn't be allowed to have any... they would all belong to her and she wasn't going to share.

My flight to Ft. Wayne was Thursday morning, so I set aside time on Wednesday to bake chocolate chip cookies for Sharon, watching with extra care to make sure they were just right. I took the cookies over and, as I looked at my friend who had somehow gotten smaller than she was on Monday, I was very sad. "I'll come see you when I get back. I love you."

The news came via cell phone on Saturday morning as my daughter and I readied her home for my grandson's 2nd birthday. Life is complicated, yet simple. Joy mixed with great sadness. Pleasure is seeing a life grow and evolve and such sadness for what will never be.

Bringing a smile to someone through simple baked goods is what I try to do. With love and caring these delights are created and someone knows that they are loved.

Rest easy in the arms of Jesus, my dear friend. You are loved. You will be missed.

Sharon K. Duncan

High School Graduation

This sweet girl, Maggie McClew, has been a part of my life since I met her parents in 1997 and this past weekend she graduated from high school. In August she heads West to Lubbock and will be attending Texas Tech University. Maggie and her sister, Kaitlyn, mean so much to me that when Mr. Man and I married nearly 5 years ago they were part of our wedding.

Awww... aren't they sweet?
So, when her mom was planning Maggie's graduation party I jumped at the chance to provide dessert for the big celebration. And, of course, cake pops just had to have a place on the table.

The colors at Texas Tech are red, black and white so this was going to be fun!

Baking the cake wasn't nearly as intimidating as decorating the cake; I'm still learning but thought I'd make a go at it anyway.

Months ago I found and ordered a 3 dimensional Texas Tech logo cake pan.

Knowing that I would need a pretty big cake to feed all of the attendees, I went to Cake Carousel and purchased a 1/2 sheet cake pan. The bottom of the cake is made from 3 recipes of Mom's Chocolate Cake and the top layer is 3 recipes of vanilla cake.

I practiced baking a cake in the logo pan, but was disappointed with the results. Then, inspired by another baker, I decided to use Rice Krispy Treats to fill the pan.

This would also allow me to decorate the majority of the logo with tinted buttercream frosting and the easily transfer the logo from parchment paper to the top of the cake.

The most difficult aspect of the entire endeavor was tinting the frosting which took quite

a bit of Wilton gel.

I learned a lot along the way, like when tinting frosting black, begin with chocolate frosting. Next time I'm going straight for the dark chocolate frosting in the can and then will add black tint. Making the frosting a day or two ahead of time and then allowing it to sit in the fridge is also one of the tricks of the trade. The colors will deepen as time goes by.

It took a couple of days to make the cake, but it was worth every single minute when I walked into the McClew home, holding the cake. Mom, Michele, took one look at it and her eyes welled up with tears; that meant so much to me.

CONGRATULATIONS, MAGGIE!

You have grown into a beautiful young woman and we are so excited for you!