A Box Of Empty Promises…

A box of empty promises…

“…Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
Matthew 22:39

I was madly deeply in love. I felt like a princess in a storybook- well except for my hair…
I decided to get some drugstore bleach and touch up my blonde highlights I had worked so hard to gain over the summer with “Sun In”…
My engagement pictures were the following week and I sought out the promises pictured on the box of shiny luxurious hair. 

When the timer rang out, I headed upstairs in my college apartment to rinse and bask in my beauty. 

Minutes later I shrieked in horror. 

My hair was green. Legit- green. 

Car-less and low on cash I begged my roommate for a ride to the grocery store to scan my options for a remedy. I read every label in detail and spent my remaining dollars until payday on a box of empty promises. This time the result was a pale purple…

I was in trouble. 

I panicked and paced until I felt a disparity unparalleled to any I had experienced since committing to leave my senseless poor decision making behind upon boarding my bus to college. I called Mom. I spilled all the stress I could find words to communicate through the phone. She met me with calm unconditional love. 

I knew finances were tight and yet a few days later was a check in the mail to cover the cost of a professional salon trip. I didn’t feel worthy of the gift and yet I was completely desperate for relief from wearing my dry damaged hair in braids for the previous week.

My engagement photos picture me as a natural ash brown…as if the previous hues and accompanying grief never existed.  

My memory has never faded nor the level of gratitude I felt when I saw the envelope from home in my mailbox with mom’s signature pretty cursive writing. I felt bad for the years of grief I put her through knowing I was not an easy child… and yet this was proof of her angelic legitimacy.  And through it all. I understand my Savior better.  Neither He nor my Heavenly Father holds a grudge. When I’m ready, when I make an effort- Their love is perfect. They don’t see me as a series of mistakes, misgivings, or misfires… They see me as my potential as a daughter of God.  

Poised in a denim jumper with curls coiffed, makeup subtly natural- I felt a bit transformed… Perhaps I saw a glimpse of the girl who God sees me to be.

-JC

Strawberry Cream Topped Lime Sugar Cookies (Chilled)

1 cup soft butter
½  cup vegetable oil
2 cups granulated sugar
Zest of one lime
2 eggs
2 teaspoons lime extract
3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt

Cream butter, oil, sugar and lime zest with an electric mixer on medium-high for 2 minutes or until fluffy. Hand stir in eggs and lime extract; don’t over-mix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Add 2-3 Tablespoons more flour for high elevation. Scoop out approximately 24+ 2” balls of dough. Gently roll and flatten slightly. 
(For a richer flavor and smoother texture refrigerate or freeze until ready to bake.)
Place on greased or parchment paper on an aluminum cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10+ min. Let cool completely.  Pipe Strawberry Cream straight from a Ziploc bag with a 1 inch corner trimmed off. Drizzle with Lime Icing. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Share!

Strawberry Cream
8 oz. softened cream cheese
1/2 cup soft butter
2 oz. crushed (to powder form) freeze dried strawberries
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 drops red gel food coloring, if desired
2 cups powdered sugar
Dash of salt
16 oz. thawed Cool Whip
Mix cream cheese, butter and strawberry powder. Add vanilla extract, then mix again. Stir in powdered sugar. Mix until fluffy (3-5 minutes). Fold in Cool Whip. Spoon into 2 freezer strength Ziplocs and refrigerate until ready to use.

Lime Icing
4 Tablespoons lime juice
2 cups powdered sugar
Dash of salt
Mix all ingredients in the food processor until smooth.