Chinese Lantern Cookies {For a Cause}

A month ago, Amanda from the popular baking blog i am baker faced a dilemma. {click the link to read the whole story}

She wanted to give five families, some homemade cookies, to brighten their day.  Instead of five comments, of deserving families, she got 165 comments of needy families that could use this pick me up.  She then sent out the post CALLING ALL BAKERS, so that others could help her accomplish the goal.

I was one of the bakers selected to help and I was so excited.  The only bummer about accepting this job, was us getting the Ickie Sickies for more on than off over the first three weeks of the month.  I wasn't able to get the cookies sent off by when Amanda preferred, but I figured it was better that they go late, than be made in a household filled with sickies:)

The family I was paired with was submitted by their family friend that said this...

my friend is an amazing mom to two little ones, one of which just completed chemotherapy for a cancerous brain tumor. She has completely put her life aside to be there and care for her sweet little girl (like all of us would, of course). But, she did it with a smile on her face and kept everybody's spirits up around her. It is nothing short of a miracle for this baby girl to have had such an amazingly difficult course of treatment with smiles on her face... of course, they were aimed directly at her mama!

I wanted to make Chinese Lantern Cookies, because I assumed that these little girls love Tangled as much as my kids do.  It was my first time using royal icing, and overall I am pleased with how they turned out.  I just hope the cookies shipped well to Kentucky:)  This little family deserved a pick me up, and this mother deserves a big hug for the attitude and spirit she had while supporting her little daughter through this illness.

I also made the Chinese Lanterns, because I baked a second batch of cookies to give to a friend.  She celebrated the birthday of her little boy Luca, who was born last year to stillbirth, just a couple of weeks before his due date.  Luca's mom sent lanterns up to Heaven on Luca's birthday last week.  Asher really wanted to eat the cookies, but I explained that they were for Luca's mommy, and that her heart was sad that Luca had died.  Asher seemed to get what I was saying, because he said, "Luca's mommy's heart is broken." I had to gulp down the lump in my throat to tell him that yes her heart was broken, but that she would see him again someday.  We talked a lot about these to families, Luca, and the sick little girl.  I hope that I was setting a good example for my kids... that it isn't all about us, and there are people around us facing trials that we cannot begin to understand.

My little Lanterns of LOVE Symbolism

White for FAITH in trials

Lanterns that reach to Heaven, just like prayers

Pink Hearts for LOVE in everything we do, though it isn't always easy to feel or see.

I was grateful for this small opportunity to serve, and I look forward to using my skills to help others again in the future.


Linking to
Vintage Wanna Bee
The Blackberry Vine
Tip Junkie
Topsy Turvy
Young Nester
Lil' Luna
Sew Much Ado
Free Pretty Things for You
Sugar and Dots
My Girlish Whims
Trendy Treehouse
Whipperberry
Cupcake Apothecary