Ever since Jen Flickinger (YL committee extrordinaire) made these cookies for a leader gathering, I’ve been hooked. I confess, I was never a sugar cookie fan before last year when I tasted one of these heavenly-sugary bites. I just recently made them for a party we had at our house and no joke, I placed about 30 of them on a plate and they were gone in less than ten minutes! So, Jen, I hope I’m not breaking any secret family recipe rules by posting this recipe for others to try; I just think it’s too good to keep to myself 
If you make these, I’d love to know what you think!
Sugar Cookies
Ingredients:
- 1 c. granulated sugar
- 1 c. powdered sugar
- 1 c. canola oil
- 1 c. butter or margarine, softened
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. cream of tartar
Cream together both sugars, oil, and butter. Stir in eggs and vanilla. In separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cream of tartar. Gradually add to creamed mixture. Mix all ingredients well. Chill dough in refrigerator over night for best results. Roll dough in small balls; roll balls in granulated sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten ball by crossing with a fork or by pressing down with the bottom of a small drinking glass. (I think the glass works best.) Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly brown. Cool.
Makes 7 dozen.
This summer, we went to an outdoor Metavari show at the conclusion of Taste of Fort Wayne. We had a great time hanging out with Val, Adam, and Miles and running into and visiting with old friends.
Our little Evelyn loves to dance. Since she was first sitting up she bounced to music and now that she’s mobile…watch out. Her little bopping moves and jumps are a true picture of what it’s like to be one and have not a care in the world.
A complete stranger captured this footage (on his phone, I believe) and posted it on Vimeo, where Sam found it just a few days ago, so I thought I’d share it in case it has the ability to bring a smile to your face like it did mine.
I just wanted to post a quick update about mom. She met with an oncologist this morning who reviewed her case and recommended chemotherapy treatment. Because of the aggressive nature of her cancer, even though her pathology reports showed the cancer had not spread, this doctor thinks it’s best for her to receive treatment. The good news is that he recommended only four treatments and said she’d be finished by Christmas! We can already see the light at the end of the tunnel!
Her first treatment will be October 1st. Please continue to say prayers for my mom, that she would have strength and endurance during the next three months.
Love, love, love this sweet picture of mom and dad! Thanks to Betsy King for allowing us to post/share these!
Betsy King, a portrait photographer in Fort Wayne, captured shots of our family before mom had her surgery. Check out the pictures by visiting the link below and be sure to take time to watch the slideshow. Not only are the pictures just so in sequence and timing, her husband, John, wrote the original song that accompanies them.
Just the other day, Evelyn and I were spending the day at my parents house due to the Amish crew roofing our house. We had walked over, a morning walk I’ve come to love going up Forest Park Boulevard while the morning is still crisp and cool as the sun begins to shine.
We spent time with mom, Val, and Miles and then I offered to go grab lunch for everybody, but didn’t have my car. Val’s car was available, so Evelyn and I headed to Arby’s for their great 5 for 5 deal. Val has this kids hymn CD and Evelyn loves to dance in the car. Perfect combo! I turned up the tunes and put the windows down. If the beat is catchy, it takes a matter of seconds for Ev to begin bobbing her head to the music. Sometimes, if I don’t have the music up loud enough, she reminds me and yells, “Dance! Dance!” from the back seat. This was a good day; there were tunes playing and her head was bobbing in motion.
A song I know well from my childhood came on just as we were on our way home. Here are the lyrics. Maybe it’s one you know too?
Open our eyes Lord
We want to see Jesus
To reach out and touch Him
and say that we love Him
Tears filled my eyes. I find myself so tender lately in my newly pregnant state and it’s a tenderness I want to embrace as I long to gather up all the sacred moments that fill our day. Whenever I feel overemotional or teary-eyed, I’m reminded that I could have a heart of stone and lack of memory and emotion and I try to be thankful for my sensitivity. I don’t know if Sam would entirely agree with me on this one. He may call this something more like fragile or frantic. But, nonetheless, I’m trying to be grateful rather than frustrated about what pregnancy hormones cause in me.
Tears filled my eyes simply because I realized the plea of this song is what I’ve always truly wanted. Open my eyes–I want more of Jesus–Does he know how much I love him, need him? And, so often, a prayer of -Give me what I need, God. Not what I want or think I need, but in your love, please give me what I need.- Isn’t that really our hearts in asking to see more? We’re asking for a larger perspective, a holy perspective, a kingdom perspective. A perspective that more closely aligns with our Heavenly Father’s.
As I review the past two months, my mind acknowledges the scary realization of my mom’s cancer, meeting with doctors, awaiting her surgery, sitting in the waiting room through surgery, hearing the great news that the lymph nodes were clear, wondering if she’ll need chemotherapy, waiting, waiting, and more waiting. I’m reminded of how much I’m really not in control when we found out we are pregnant, even though this wasn’t really a part of our plans. I can’t help but see that in all the “hardness” these many scenarios have brought to our lives…there’s been equal and MORE blessing.
Never in a million years when I’m singing that song did I realize I could be asking for whatever it takes to see him more and know him more. Bottom line is this: that day in the car, driving on State Street, I realized that my heart is saying YES, YES Father. Whatever it takes, I want to see you more and more. And in that case, mom’s cancer and unexpected baby news seem more like gifts than tragedies or kinks in our plans…and I hope to recount and tell the stories of how we have seen God through people’s loving kindness, hospitality, thoughtfulness, and the many answered prayers and small miracles along the way.
I’ll close by asking you to join in the conversation. How has God changed your perspective lately or how have you seen more of Him in ways you never noticed before?
Mom’s cancer type is triple negative, meaning her cancer is negative for expression of estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 Protein. Her specific cancer has been labeled “tricky” by her doctors, which we’ve learned means that it is typically aggressive, has a unique molecular profile, and therapy may be more complicated.
My brother Josh was sitting around with some friends discussing my mom’s diagnosis and talking about ways to stay positive when they came up with the idea of “triple positive.” Basically, as my sister Val puts it, “we’re turning this cancer on its head.” So, Josh created a logo, had t-shirts made, and casted a vision for a surprise party for mom to make her feel celebrated and loved.
Dad made plans with mom for last Friday night and told her they had to stop by our house on their way to help Sam with something. Mom was going to just wait in the car, so dad had to nudge her to come in for a minute. We were all standing in the living room in our brand-new triple positive shirts hollering “surprise” when mom walked in. She stood there for several moments with her mouth wide open–I think we truly caught her off guard. We then started hugging her while chanting, “Julie! Julie! Julie!” We explained that the evening was all about her, a time to celebrate and pray for her. We took a few pictures then headed to The Italian Connection for dinner.
After dinner, we came back to the house and brought out a cake Missy had made bearing the words triple positive. We ate that delicious cake, drank coffee, and talked as the kids ran through the house together. Then after a bit, we surrounded mom in the living room, laid hands on her, and prayed together as a family for a miracle, for healing, for her surgery and treatment. This was such a powerful experience to pray as a family with one purpose in mind and what I love even more is that I know our Father God heard our prayers. There is such comfort in knowing a God who hears our pleas when we’re gathered in his name. And I especially loved that my nieces, Olivia and Roslyn, were still awake when we prayed. Olivia joined us and a few times I heard her whisper, “Yes, God.” Roslyn prayed at one point with her hands holding JuJu’s, her eyes closed she shook her head up and down, said “uh-huh” over and over, and ended confidently with an amen. How sweet!
I’m writing this Friday afternoon and as an update, mom will be coming home today from the hospital. Evelyn and I visited her last night and when her doctor came in to check on her she told her she’s ready to go home any time since she’s doing so well. Mom opted to stay at the hospital one more night. She kept saying, “I like it here” and I don’t blame her! Our prayers have been heard and answered, so thank you for lifting up my mom day after day. Let’s continue to pray her through the rest of her recovery and chemo!
Hello faithful readers. I’m writing from the waiting room at Parkview North. Mom started her day here around 9:30 this morning. She had blue dye inserted for the lymph node testing and then they prepped her for surgery. She was scheduled for 11:30, but didn’t actually go in until 1:50 this afternoon. The hospital staff was so gracious to allow all of us (and by all, I’m talking dad, Missy, Kyle, Val, Josh, Ash, Truett, Grandma Joan, and all my wonderful aunts) into her tiny pre-op room. We waited with her and she was smiling and laughing and said we helped make that time pass by quickly.
After about an hour of surgery, a nurse came out and told us that the lymph nodes tested clear–they are benign. Gooooood news! Aunt Marcy said she wanted more than anything to go in and tell my mom the great news. If only she could know the relief we know…I can’t wait for her to learn this tonight.
Just a few minutes ago we had a consultation with the cancer surgeon and she said mom did great and everything went really well. She is now in with the plastic surgeon. She’ll go to recovery and then we’re hoping we’ll be able to see her and love on her tonight.
Gotta run home to see my sweet Evelyn and grab some dinner. I’ll leave you with this verse of hope:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Through Young Life, I’ve had the privilege of getting to know some pretty amazing high school girls. This group (pictured below) has been coming to my house Sunday nights for the past two years.
Let me tell you, those Sunday nights are often the highlight of my week. Wonderful, mysterious things happened in my living room, which the girls call the blue room, when we sat together, always with a snack, and studied the bible, laughed hysterically at times, cried together, listened, prayed…
Sometimes it is hard to move on from such sweet moments when all you want to do is cling to them, and hide your face in them like a big soft blanket. So as we say goodbye to our seniors (now college freshman) Alex, Casey, and Lauren, let’s all move forward in this hope– choose to see God in the small things like butterflies and pennies and sunsets, share our hearts with others even when it is hard or awkward or uncomfortable, and invest in community. We all know it’s well worth it.
I’ve thought about posting on this subject several occasions now, but I hadn’t mustered up the courage or the words until today. I’m going to take a shot at writing about this news that has so affected me and my immediate family. Please know, writing is like therapy for me. I dive in hoping for healing, renewing of my mind and spirit, and a miracle.
Evie and I took the trip to Big Long Lake on July 29 all because I found a great deal on a dress at Macy’s (for Matt and Stacie’s wedding) and I needed the dress hemmed. My mom had volunteered to help me out, but she would be vacationing with my dad this last week of July at their lake cottage. I love any chance to be in the sunshine near the peace and calm found in a large, blue body of water…so we packed up the van, turned up the tunes, and drove north.
When I had arrived, dad was out for a walk. Adam was just getting ready to drive away, and my sister, Val, was at Shippshewana with my aunts and cousins for the morning. Mom had told us a few days before that she had discovered a lump in her right breast and had a biopsy done, but she assured us that this had happened several times before and nothing had ever been wrong. She made it sound like the typical routine whenever she had a mammogram. She was awaiting the results from her biopsy when she had received a call saying they wanted her to come in to review the results. Never a good sign. If they won’t tell you over the phone, doesn’t that mean something complicated? I happened to be arriving at the lake when her OB doctor agreed to tell her the results over the phone.
I’ll never forget seeing my mom’s petite frame out the back window as she stepped outside for the phone call. My dad just returned from his walk and approached her. She stood upright, with her back to me, shaking her head up and down as she listened. Then, as if she could no longer carry her own weight, she suddenly leaned her left arm onto the car beside her. Her shoulders fell. I knew something was wrong. As she hung up the phone, she hugged my dad and my chest grew heavy with the knowledge that whatever news the doctor just delivered, it was not good. She walked inside, fighting back tears, and everything around me started to spin. I can’t remember much of anything specifically after this point. I know she told me she was diagnosed with cancer and that they needed to drive in to Fort Wayne that day. I know she was trying to be strong and that she was apologizing to me, for what, I do not know. I know I held her, cried with her, and played with her hair as she made phone calls to my siblings. I know I fed Evelyn an entire lunch of apples, and avocados, and turkey. I know I cried and stared at the wall and eventually drove back home, but I can’t remember doing any of these things.
We learned later that day that mom has a small, yet aggressive form of breast cancer.
The terrifying truth is that this cancer is unseen. My mother appears to be perfectly healthy and full of life. She smiles big, laughs loud, cooks meals, holds our babies…and yet this intruder, cancer, has come to change her story.
The past few weeks have been a blur of anxiety and grief as we travel to appointments with cancer specialists and plastic surgeons. We have worked out the details of what she wants her surgery to be and we’re hoping that her surgeons will be able to work her in next week or the following. She will have six months of chemo. And we will know much more about the cancer and whether or not it has spread to other areas after her surgery.
Without a doubt, I have been encouraged by the presence of God in this circumstance. I don’t think it is a coincidence that I arrived at the lake the time that I did that Wednesday morning. I find it encouraging to know that of all times, of all years this could happen, it is happening when my mother is surrounded by all of her adult children—the first time we’ve all lived in the same city in four years. My dad was able to be on vacation the week she learned of the cancer and he was by her side at every single appointment that week. Family and friends have provided support and encouragement, sending us all cards, calling us, and letting us know we are in thoughts and prayers. In such a hard and unfortunate time, I choose to see God’s spirit woven in and around us.
What I know of God in scriptures points to a God who is relentless and consistent in His love for us. My experiences of Him only clarify and solidify that He is sovereign and good. After working through many weeks of emotions: anger, denial, sadness, etc. I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ll never really understand how or why these things happen in life. But when they do happen to me, I want to be clinging to God, the giver of all good things—hope, love, joy, healing, and comfort.
A few Sundays ago, I shared this quote by Dallas Willard with a group of high school girls who gathered at my house: “For those who love God, nothing irredeemable can happen to you.” I want to believe that there is nothing God can’t redeem. I want to believe that for my present situation, for all the ways in the past when I screwed things up, and for everyone who does not know the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ. Everything…everyone can be redeemed. This is hope for my soul.
So, my prayer is simple: God of goodness and love, Be who you are. Redeem us. Cancer or not. Healing or not. Long life or not. Redeem our deepest souls so that we can love you more, know you more, serve you more.
If you’re reading this and you know my mom (or even if you don’t and feel plain led to do something) send my mom a card letting her know you care. And if you’re praying for her, for us, let her know. I can already tell that the cards she has received are like a foundation under her feet reminding her of how much she’s loved. Her address is: 2710 West Drive, Fort Wayne, IN 46805.
Thanks for reading!
My youngest sister, Melissa, tied the knot on Saturday. She married her high school sweetheart, Kyle Pearson. We were overjoyed to celebrate such an exciting union of two, wonderful individuals. I thought I’d take a quick moment to post a pic (one of the only ones I captured that day) and share my toast.
Baby sis
From the day you were born
I knew you were
Full of wonder
Your blue eyes have always been captivating
Like looking up into the bluest, brightest summer sky
And your smile always communicates
Acceptance and a deep peace with the world around you
Even the neighborhood boys knew you were something special growing up
Parading you up and down the street
In a wagon
As you wore a tiara, beaming ear to ear
I love your contagious laughter
And I admire how hard you work at things that are important to you…like becoming a certified nurse and marrying your high-school sweetheart
You also have an amazing ability to see the world through a lens of peace and calm
You are easy going, easy to be around, and steadfast
I’ll never forget
All three of us girls
Snuggled into that king-size water bed
And how we’d make dad lie at the end of the bed until we had all fallen asleep
As we grew older, even though we each moved into our own bedroom we began a tradition on Christmas Eve snuggling under the covers, giggling until way too late as we anticipated the next day
And mostly
My memories of you hold an overwhelming sense of togetherness
Celebrations aren’t truly celebrations without you
Moments of joy and laughter are more vibrant because you are in them
And times of loss and painful news are more bearable because of your steadfast, calming spirit
As life continues to change, and hard things enter your reality…the way to go get through them
Is together, surrounded by your community of friends and family
So, Kyle
I’m not asking you to make room in your bed on Christmas Eve
For Missy’s sisters
But I do want to toast
All the memories we share up to this day of being a family, of being sisters, of being together
And the blessing we have of being together today
As you begin your life as Mr. and Mrs. Pearson
