It was finally time for Anna's birthday party with her friends. Let me tell you, the time is gone where kids just have a party in the backyard! Seriously, this was an incredible party and I was pleased to know they do these events even for adults! There is a wonderful bakery near us called Blessed Little Kitchen that just added a "party room". Mary Holzkopf, the owner, welcomed Anna and her friends into a cookie decorating experience like none other. Every girl got cookies to decorate and several piping bags of delicious icing. Mary (a mom to many kids), talked to the kids about being "cookie artists". It made for a great experience for the girls since nobody was afraid of making a mistake. They could choose the colors used at each step and there were step by step instructions. Anna had picked a "Stich" theme and was so pleased to see a Stich cookie to decorate. 
Lia and Ellie were there for part of the cookie fun, but then left with their boyfriends to go to a play. Birthdays are always a fun cousin time and Grace had a great time
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There were kids at this party from Kindergarten age up. Everyone was able to create their own special cookies to take home.
After Lia and Ellie left the party, Gwen got called in to finish Lia's cookies. Ellie wanted to finish her own at home!
The party concluded with everybody singing to Anna and then cupcakes all around! It was a sugar heavy party, but you could hear a pin drop as they concentrated on the decorating. It is pretty fun to find a new way to celebrate a kids party.
Blessed Little Kitchen provided such a welcoming environment for a kids party. Mary reminded the kids that everyone has their own gifts and talents and everyone could create in their own way. I love that this bakery supports their local food panty and this family blesses my church with baked goods at their coffee bar almost every Sunday. Lately. you are hard pressed to find a Christian establishment that isn't afraid to show their faith. Mary has Bibles and other Christian material available in the Bakery not for purchase but just to take! All of the baked goods are really "home" made and taste amazing. This is a business that is good to get behind.
That is one of the hardest things for this grandma - finding places that you can support (or on the reverse side, boycott). I am incredibly thankful for businesses that are not afraid to be who they are. This is a kind of witness that takes a true gift of faith. Especially when your business is your families livelihood. What a lesson for all of us. I have been praying that in 2024 I would be able to more openly express the things that are the foundation of my life. Recently at my church we are encouraged to take a "self evaluation" called a Faith Check Guide. It is a tool to help you continue to grow and find areas of your Christian walk that might need a little encouragement. I have found this helpful and something that has helped me figure how to not feel so "stuck" or lost at times. I encourage you to take the time to at least look at this guide. It is eye opening for sure.
Jesus, thank you for the joy and wonder kids and the celebrations that fill our hearts with love. Pour out your continued blessing on Blessed Little Kitchen and Mary and her family. Holy Spirit, give us all creative ideas and ways to express our faith to the world. Fill us with the desire to know you better Jesus, and to be willing to examine our own faith walk. Most of all, thank you for great tasting cookies! Amen
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