Cupcake Success

This morning I all but leapt out of bed so I could start the butter softening and get everything set up before I took my shower. Then I went to work on squeezing more lemons and making the icing. The first step was to get all the cupcakes iced:

Then I divided the remaining icing and colored some pink and some green, and got started on the rosebuds. Turns out, I am more efficient than I remembered. I got them all done by 10:00:

What a relief! Then I could finally have my first cup of tea and sit down to do my Bible reading before cleaning up my cake decorating stuff.

Robin came to pick up the cupcakes at about noon, and then stayed to visit for a while before taking them over to wherever the shower is going to be. The guy getting married is the son of one of Robin’s good friends.

After Robin left, I had a very late “breakfast” and then decided to go ahead and go to Aldi this afternoon instead of waiting for tomorrow morning. Because all I want to do tomorrow morning is lounge around drinking tea and reading.

Anyway, I got to Aldi after stopping at Hobby Lobby for some yarn, and there was a young mother going through the store ahead of me with two cute little girls in her cart. She ended up in the checkout line ahead of me too. And as the cashier was ringing up her purchases, I could see the mom getting nervous. “I hope it’s under a hundred dollars,” she said. “I only brought a hundred dollars.”

My heart went out to her. I remember those days so well. Going through the store with a calculator because I knew exactly how much I had. Well, her total rang up to a little over $106. I could see the tears coming. “Can I put something back?” she asked the cashier.

“Please,” I said. “Let me help you.” I don’t normally carry cash in my handbag, but after our recent trip I knew I had a $10 bill in there, so I gave it to her. She was so grateful. And she didn’t have to put anything back.

I tell you this not to toot my own horn, so to speak, but as a reminder that the difference between watching someone cry and watching someone smile is often so tiny. I was once that young mother—counting every penny, and feeling utterly humiliated when I miscalculated and had to put something back when the total rang up to more than I had. I was so happy to be able to prevent that from happening with the girl ahead of me. And the smile was a great reward.

Jasper helped me put the food away since Walter was visiting friends on campus. Then I could make tea and enjoy a little reading time. Because I am hoping to see the movie soon, I am reading Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Flynn read it while we were at his house and said it was very good. I agree. It’s so delightfully sciency. I love reading science fiction by someone who actually knows a lot about science. Unlike me. I find it fascinating—I’m just not that knowledgeable. At least, not knowledgeable enough to write hard sci-fi.

Joy Spark: Getting those cupcakes done on time despite the short notice.

Parting Shot:

This rose bush seems pretty happy.