According to Julia Child, "A party without a cake is just a meeting." I would have to say that I agree with that statement! When I attend a birthday party or wedding or shower of some sort and there is no cake, it just feels like something is missing. I know, I know...there are those of you who say you really don't like cake and prefer pie or some other dessert, but that only makes me wonder if your cake experience is limited to "store bought" cakes with little flavor, no texture, and sugary, tasteless icing. I do feel sorry for you if that's the only cake you have ever tasted. A good cake is so much more than that! 

I love coffee...

I love the aroma...the taste...the color of coffee...

When I get up in the morning, the first thing I do is hit the brew button on my coffee maker...before I do anything else. The aroma fills the kitchen and I sneak my first cup out of the carafe...a happy moment:).  The day is off to the right start as I head to my chair for quiet time in the Word and prayer. 

Last summer several friends and I met once a week in the early evening to kayak into a quiet corner of Lake Stevens called "the Cove." My husband had given me a kayak for Mother's day several years before but I had not used it that often since I had to kayak alone. I'm one of those people that believe exercise and enjoying the outdoors is always much more fun with a friend! Case in point, after years of running alone for the most part, I met another runner who ran the same route I did at about the same time. We've been running together now for over 13 years! So, back to kayaking....several other friends of mine had kayaks too but we often seemed a kayak short...the more, the merrier, right? 

I love fresh fallen snow....but we don't get much of it here in the Puget Sound area of Washington. I know, I know, those of you who live the Midwest or the East or Alaska are thinking...she wouldn't feel that way if she lived where the winter is long, and cold, and snow becomes a nuisance. Just to let you know, I did live in the Midwest for 6 winters and in Alaska for 5 so I do know what your winters are like...still, I like fresh snow. We had snow for a day or two in December....that's it so far. Those of us who love snow have to go to the Cascade mountains to see  and enjoy it in the winter. I'm thankful that's only a 90 minute drive for us...to enter a winter wonderland. There's just something about the white, pristine beauty, the sense of quiet hush when snow is falling. I love the words of Psalm 147:16, "He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes." Isn't that a wonderful word picture?