Cookies and Christ

“One more?” The waiter asked my son.
“Sure!” was the reply as if it were a personal contest to see how many strawberry-lemonades he could drink.
I watched my son’s face in delight as he switched his straw from an empty glass to a full one, gave a twirl to mix up the strawberries, and slurped down his seventh lemonade as he finished his re-filled basket of fries.
I was super hungry. Yet, I wasn’t interested in the sandwich I had ordered. I had a hard time taking my eyes off of my teenage son. I was in awe of the impressive young man he was becoming. I felt like I had a front-row seat watching God refine him. And yet- here we were sitting together over burgers and fries as if it were just a normal Monday evening. I think my hunger was lost amidst the shock and disbelief as I recounted in my mind the conversations over the previous couple of hours.

The phrase that still sounds with perfect memory and clarity today -was uttered by the oncologist. We had traveled hours to see him. His Physician’s Assistant had previously been in the room and seemed to take an uncomfortably long time reviewing the images.
He said- “I’ll go get the doctor. I’ve never seen anything like this…”
We sat in the tiny, cramped sterile room having been silenced by the PA’s statement- just waiting…
The oncologist came in- exchanged some awkward small talk and took a second look at the images. He paused emotionless, and said with surety-
“This isn’t cancer.”

In the previous week, all of the radiology reports indicated osteosarcoma. Additional tests were ordered and imaging scheduled immediately. We were prioritized into a packed schedule of a top-rated oncologist in a larger city several hours away. A series of two-day appointments were booked including a particularly dangerous but necessary bone biopsy on day two. However, day two had me back at home.

Our case was dismissed. Nothing added up. I had to choose between chasing down facts and sitting with the doctor’s suggestive question…”Do you believe in miracles…?”

I had to get real in understanding healing from a different perspective.

I later learned of my son’s prayer as we drove to the oncologist appointment. My son said he was in a place in life where he believed in God and felt he had developed a relationship with Him.
My son also said he believed time with a football or basketball in his hands served as a greater priority based on how he spent his time.
Apparently, my son made a commitment to God that if He would heal him- my son agreed to put God first.

My son never played another down of high school football or a minute of high school basketball. So was he healed?
The concept of healing has evolved for me.
I think of it more as an avenue where God allows us to become more perfected in who He needs us to be.

That’s sometimes a different expectation than we have for ourselves. I used to think of healing as a return to what once was.
But perfection doesn’t work that way. We were imperfect before. So a return to that…?
Is that healing?
Certainly not…

Think of the invisible ways we feel broken…
How can God heal our hearts, and our minds…?
-Not by returning what we lost in the realm of loved ones, time, or opportunities. But through God’s lens of perfect love and wisdom, He heals us by allowing our scope to widen, our understanding to evolve, and our vision to more closely align with His.

Healing is then able to be seen as we become more in line with the version of ourselves God needs us to be – more perfected in Him and in the ways He sees fit.

I saw some stadium lights lit in the early evening hours a few weeks ago.
The sight took me back to the week my son came out onto the football field through the tunnel with his team following his initial injury. The smell of fresh popcorn, the sound of the pep band, and the clamor and excitement of the crowd were all muffled by my thoughts. He was in street clothes holding a football in one hand and a DB clipboard in the other. His season moving forward was that of a peer coach.

As I reflected on this experience the other day- I charted the timeline again. The initial injury sent us to the doctor. It was a season-ending injury and completely unrelated to the tumor. The tumor was found by chance and then deemed inexplicable.
I won’t be gifted God’s eyes on “this” in mortality. But my “Mom eyes” tear up with gratitude.
I’m grateful for a God who knows what type of healing we need as we sojourn through this seemingly hectic world. And I’m grateful for a son who thought to make a deal with God and is clearly seeing God’s promise of compensation play out in unexpected ways.

As I look at my son’s leg today- it’s the same as ever- no visual evidence. There are no bandaids or bandages that were ever part of his healing in any literal sense.

But his heart, his Spirit, and his mind are covered in bandaids and bandages that God placed there for healing. What was replaced in healing was a bit of God’s lens as to how He needed my son to show up for Him. Then…and now.

What will you accept and expect regarding healing in your own life?
Would you benefit from spending time rethinking how you see healing…and the accompanying bandaids and bandages…?

-JC

Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

¾ cup soft butter
¾ cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg + 1 egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 ⅔ cups 1-for-1 gluten free flour (I use Gold Medal Oat Flour)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon corn starch
1 ½  cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 385 degrees. Cream butter and sugars with an electric mixer on medium high for 1 minute or until fluffy. Hand stir in egg+ egg yolk and vanilla; don’t over-mix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Add 1- 2 Tablespoons more flour for high elevation. Stir in chocolate chips. Scoop out approximately 18- 2” balls of dough.  Gently roll. For a richer flavor and smoother texture, form cookie dough balls, flatten slightly and refrigerate or freeze until ready to bake.  Place on greased or parchment paper on an aluminum cookie sheet. Bake at 385 degrees for 12+ min. Let set. Share!

Once I had seen them… I couldn’t unsee them. Nor could I control myself… I thought about them constantly… 
I devised the plan from beginning to end in my head -days in advance. 
Then the moment arrived. 
Every detail I had calculated played out just as I had expected… 

My parents had left for the evening for a church meeting. My older sister was put in charge. Once the younger sisters were asleep, we were allowed to watch TV. I left to go to the “bathroom.” And that’s when my plan played out.

I found the scotch tape and a pair of scissors. I went into my parents’ closet, closing the door behind me. 
I meticulously began opening all of the Christmas presents, checking their contents, and carefully re-wrapping and re-taping them. I had officially ruined Christmas.
Or had I… The excitement over the next few days was even more powerful for me because I had seen what I had seen. I had no guilt or shame. -Only memories of delight in how I spent my evening.

As a kid- we hiked in the same state park twice a year. As much independence as my parents would allow- I’d sprint ahead through the tree-lined path. I did not find much beauty or peace in the dense portions surrounded by nature. 

I wanted to see…

Not just where the path would lead through the trees- but in life. 

Dad would only let me run ahead to a certain point and then I’d have to wait. I would move forward- trying to see what was next or get to a place where I felt less trapped by the compromised vision of what was ahead. 
Finally, Dad would let me sprint ahead to the top of the ridge. From that point, we had a view of where four states’ corners converged. I loved it. 
I felt big and small at the same time. I felt freed from the forest-y part of the hike where I strangely felt trapped. I could breathe deeply at the top in the open air and see for miles in every direction. 
It spoke so much to my personality. 

Fast forward 40 years-
Eight weeks ago I went on the same hike I did today. 
I don’t typically love to hike. Nevertheless, I’ve been doing it a lot lately because the gains are worth it. 

As I recently hiked the same path as a couple of months prior, I looked out over the view reaching dozens of miles to the north, west, and south. 
I was anchored on the east by a large mountain covered in beautiful late summer green foliage turning brilliantly beautiful colors of red, orange, and yellow. 
As I took time in the silence of my breathless steps, My question was simple- Do I know more…?
Last time I hiked this trail I had questions… lots of questions. 

In the solitude of my scenic surroundings, I presented my questions to God. 
I knew one moment one day at a time was my resolve prior to my questions, but oh how I wanted God’s lens to see a more distant future in my life. 

I needed this moment – the vitamin D as the sun seemed to be soaked up by every cell in my body. 
I needed peace and solitude. 
I knew God wasn’t going to show me the future. It would deny me the opportunity to exercise my faith as I chose a path working to hear Him, align my will with His, and work through and rise to the stumbles that would no doubt be part of my journey. 

God loves me too much to deny me those opportunities and experiences. 

I took a deep, thorough breath as I turned towards the final switchback. My final climb would be followed by a quick descent and it would send me back into the regular comings and goings of daily life.  My solitude with God and nature would be replaced by so many of His blessings woven throughout my life- as well as moments of doubt and question. It’s a great life. Even so, sometimes it feels noisy. The noise leaves me exhausted, confused, and frustrated. 

So I’ve learned to seek silence. I feel it in different ways and in different places. Sometimes God screams at me through the noise. But if I only heard Him during these times, I would miss out on so much that He wants to tell me and teach me about. 

I slow myself and my thoughts down often enough to get a temperature reading. 
As I work to live with God’s light and Spirit guiding me- He will bring ideas to my mind. 
I don’t always feel like it’s what I wish was my role- or what I had hoped He would have me do-

But I know the truths at these times-

My role is to align. 
Silence my complaints.
Open my heart. 
Choose to trust God, traveling into the unknown with Him. 
Work to see what God will show me and increasing faith for steps seemingly taken in the dark. 

I live my life knowing that God’s plan is filled with a parallel delight that I felt as I opened every Christmas gift.  Truly this life is a gift. Agency to navigate it is a gift. But the greatest gift is what’s next- for the believers…

I’m working to be numbered among them…

-JC

Oreo Cheesecake Krispy Treats

Oreo Cheesecake Base Layer

18oz package of Oreos
8oz. Cream cheese

Crush Oreos. Add softened cream cheese. Mix well. I prefer the food processor for both of these jobs. It takes less than a minute each.
Press Oreo mixture into bottom of parchment lined or greased 9 x 13 pan. Refrigerate.

Oreo Marshmallow Krispy Layer

4 Tablespoons butter
7 cups mini marshmallows
¼ teaspoon salt
7 oz. marshmallow creme
5 cups Rice Krispies
1 ½ cups mini Oreos or cut Oreo pieces

In a large microwave safe bowl, melt butter with marshmallows for 2 minutes.
Stir until smooth. Stir in salt.  Stir in marshmallow creme. Add Rice Krispies and Oreo Pieces.  Stir thoroughly until combined. Remove Oreo Cheesecake Base Layer from refrigerator and gently press Oreo Marshmallow Krispy Layer on top.  Spray hands with non-stick cooking spray. Use your hands to flatten and even out treats. Garnish with melted white candy discs and oreo crumbs as desired.
Let set. Share!

I remember the first day I drove alone. It was several months past my 16th birthday when I finally got my driver’s license. I had met many of the requirements and passed the Drivers Education course- but my commitments to the high school volleyball team left me with little extra time to go to the DMV and take my test to get my license. 

One Saturday, Coach had arranged for a special volleyball clinic organized by Penn State. One of the most critical skills I learned was how to safely fall without getting injured. I learned the importance of playing a ball that could only be played as I left the stability of my feet and took a dig in the air or laid out on the ground. I was taught to use my continued momentum to roll over my shoulder and quickly return to my feet to remain in the game of quick play. 
I loved it. 

Falling is something I have always done often (in life and in volleyball) and the day Penn State Volleyball came to my school I realized it can be a skill learned to do really well. 
I felt that maybe there was a place for me (in this world) if I learned that sometimes I can only succeed while falling. Then, learning to roll through the falls and land quickly on my feet. It was actually a remarkable skill set. 

(Reread that- with life parallels.)

Finally- a break in my high school volleyball schedule allowed me the opportunity to secure a driver’s license. My older sister, Mom, and I all shared a car- so it was rare that I ever used it. But on this particular day- I had a side gig of cleaning the neighbor up the hill’s house and I was allowed to drive myself. I remember manually adjusting all of the mirrors despite it being a two-minute drive. The rear-view mirror was positioned perfectly encompassing the view seen through the window of the hatchback car. 

Today, As I spend time and energy discussing and developing concepts for change, I often think about what can be seen in the rear-view mirrors of our lives- and whether it’s helpful. 
I think of my own past and the stories I remember. 
The stories I tell are my stories. Some of them are written to preserve the past. Some of them are written to understand the past.
It gives me pause to form and seek clarity on the question:

Looking In the rear-view mirror of my life…
Is it a Stumbling block?
Or
Necessary for clarity?

Obviously, the answer is an all-inclusive BOTH!
There is great danger in looking without God’s lens of understanding as to what is helpful and what can be destructive. And for certain- it is never helpful to linger in wishing for the past or to try and live in it. 

I remember the audible gasps that escaped from my mouth as I watched Disney’s The Lion King for the first time. This was a kid’s movie. Did I really just witness the gruesome scenes of death, deceit, and mayhem?! It was not a relaxing evening watching a movie, but rather a time filled with countless thoughts for pause. 

In the movie, Simba has a moment of reflection.
Rafiki wisely tells him that “Change is good…”
Simba regretfully realizes he’s been running from his past and the perceived misdoings and realizes he may need to face it. Rafiki breaks Simba’s contemplative remorse and strikes him. Simba seeks clarity regarding the blow, noting the pain from it. 

“It doesn’t matter. It’s in the past…Oh yes, the past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it.” -Rafiki from Disney’s The Lion King. 

Sometimes I feel like I do both. I feel like I say and do a lot of stupid stuff. On any given day as I spend time in reflection, I can easily summarize my day with a simple phrase. 
“Mistakes were made…”
Sometimes the errors and misgivings were only clouding my mind- and sometimes they play out aloud- very aloud. 🤦🏽‍♀️

If I compile the list of over 50 years of mistakes, I might as well see the devil smiling in delight knowing he’s got me. If I spend too much time in daily review of how often I stumble, I can quickly forget who I really am. 

I am a daughter of God. 
He knows I’m imperfect and He loves me anyway. I need to show up with that badge of love, worn in His image if I want to have even a microscopic chance of being counted on to do His will. 

So how do I see through the rear-view mirror of life? 
Simply put-
It’s the avenue for forgiveness. 
Myself and others. 

Anytime I’m holding someone else accountable for the mistakes they’ve made in their past – I’m wrong. 
Anytime I refuse to forgive myself for past mistakes- I’m wrong. 

God forgives and forgets. 
He doesn’t grant me the miracle of forgetfulness- only forgiveness. 
So I can think about the wisdom of Rafiki.  I can ponder on my own stories. I can continue to claim them, write them, and determine their endings with each decision I make. 

The rear-view mirror can be helpful- but as I drive through the roads of life- my eyes facing forward will determine my greatest works, blessings, resources, and destinations. 

In the fall of 1986, I meticulously positioned my rear-view mirror. But the most important takeaway from that season was learning how to fall and get back up. I may have perfected it in the literal sense over a two-day clinic, but as the years have passed I realize the importance of recognizing mistakes, and not letting them paralyze me, dissuade me , or shame me into not being able to progress. As I offer myself grace, acknowledging the importance of this, it becomes super easy to offer others grace when they fall. 

I need God to keep His promise to me that he will forgive and forget. And in so doing, it reminds me to offer the same sentiment toward my fellow travelers.

-JC

Peanut Butter Brownie Cups

20 oz.(ish) brownie mix
Egg
Oil
Water
Peanut Butter Chips
Peanut Butter
Mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Make Brownie miz as directed on the box. (I used Ghirardelli Triple Chunk because I wanted the chunks of chocolate.) Spoon brownie batter into 12 muffin baking cups, (with or without paper liners.) Sprinkle some peanut butter chips in the center of each one. Bake at 350 degrees for 25+ minutes. Remove from the oven and let the centers drop a bit as they begin to cool. You can drop the centers a bit further with the back of a spoon. Add a rounded teaspoon of peanut butter in the center of each brownie cup and then sprinkle with mini semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Let set. Share.

I’ve been hiking lately. Nearly daily, I climb the mountain with no earbuds. I’ve wanted to be wholly present to thoughts and inspirations, so I’m working to literally silence distractions. What I’ve noted is that connection with other hikers is invited when I hike earbud free. I’ve exchanged short conversations with others on the climb:

• A lady who was climbing on her 44th birthday for the first time in years. As we chatted, we encountered another birthday girl turning 30 who had hiked the same hill for 40 straight days.
• A young girl seeking clarity in her life climbing for the first time in years. She wasn’t very far into the initial steep climb when she stopped me on my descent, shared her plight and asked me how much farther to the top. I told her- “Far enough to talk with God as you go if that’s something you would like to do.” She seemed to be mildly entertained by my comment and understood she had a ways to go. 😉
• A team of forest firefighters on a training route, fully dressed in gear and equipment, smelling of stale wood smoke, hiking in single file line formation. Their pace was quick and they seemed happy and friendly.
• A couple in their 50s on their third time up the climb that morning, training to hike the rim of the Grand Canyon. 
• A lady who was 93 hiking with her daughter in her 70s. They paused, taking in the view of the valley where she’s lived for 30 years. She reminisced as she pointed out to me places of memories. 
• A group of ladies from out of state on a girls’ trip. I hiked with them and chatted with them for a while. They were all in the throes of raising young families. We talked of simple delights and debilitating exhaustion in parenting. I quickly noted varying degrees of strength within the group- physically, emotionally and spiritually.
• A lady who sprinted by me saying “There’s a serpent!!!”
  “Where?” I hollered back.
  “In the rocks…” was her reply. 
  There were rocks everywhere- on both sides of the trail, and on the trail. My head swiveled as it scanned all of the rocks. 
  I picked up a large rock, cradled it in my hand, and prepared for battle with a snake on my path. I forced myself to forget the message received nearly 40 years ago by my one-day softball coach (I was cut from the team after the first practice.) I was prepared to strike down the snake with a single pitch.

And then there was the most memorable- 

• A young mother with three children in tow. There were two older boys, perhaps 7 and 5, and an infant in a carrier on her back. 

This image took me back. It was a reminder of the me I was over 20 years ago as I heard her encouraging her boys to keep going. Each individual or group I met was climbing. Each one with their own story, resolve and struggle. 

I had made a goal to hike 5 days a week while I transitioned into yet another new zip code noting plenty of time on my hands. On a sunny, perfectly warm hiking day I decided I was ready to climb higher than my normal turnaround spot. Once I got to my top spot for the day, I could see farther than my previous hikes. 
I had climbed an additional 650 feet in elevation and despite all of the buildings and landmarks being smaller in my vision, they were more clear. Clarity came because the shrubs and mountainside that was typical in my peripheral view were no longer there. My focus had shifted. 

There were no peripheral distractions.
Clarity followed.
I could see farther….
(Read it with emphasis on the metaphor of climbing life’s mountains.)

What do I know?
The lens I earn as I climb-
Is far more encompassing than the one before I’m entrusted with a climb. 
What I do with the expanded vision is a choice…
Does God need me to share my story?

What about your climbs and increased vision?
Who do you share your story with?

In the past few days- I’ve spent time reflecting on the young mother I saw with two young boys with beat red faces and the younger of the two tiring as they neared the end of the trail. I stopped to visit for a moment as the boys rested in the shade. Sometimes it feels like yesterday that I was in her shoes. 

If I were to cross my former self in a season of life where I felt drained of my mental, emotional and physical strength every day- I’d like to tell her a few things-

• You’re doing better than you think you are in raising your family and in life. 
• Offer yourself more grace- it’s the legacy you want to live by, in extending it to all- and it begins with becoming adept at offering it to yourself.
• Every hard day comes to an end and the efforts and sacrifices that made it hard- are completely worth it. 
• Worry less about the things that won’t matter in 20 years.
• Bedtime stories are a treasured time to reconnect with your little person physically. They are worth it – every single night and the sweet prayers that follow will do more to grow faith than you could possibly imagine. 
• Your children see you through God’s lens. Listen to how they love you. It’s how God loves you. Lean more steadily on that vision and crowd out any voice that communicates anything contrary. 
• Take time to take care of yourself and never feel guilty about time spent strengthening yourself mentally, emotionally, physically, socially, intellectually, and especially spiritually. 
• Keep believing, keep trusting in God and rely on the strength and power possible because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. 
• Keep climbing. Every mountain you climb is a blessing because of the increased scope of lens earned in the climb. 

Think about your own mountains…
If you could go back to your former self in the middle of a hard climb…
What would you say?

Imagine as you reconnect and realign with God through prayer, being blessed with an ability to see through His lens. Maybe not the distant scene- in a full-encompassing view- but perhaps a glimpse of where and how He needs you to see today. 
I’m learning to become watchful for serpents. I usually think of the word serpent in conjunction with the adversary. The lady hiking who hollered a warning message definitely intended to warn me of imminent danger. But it gave me pause to think about how just like my hike had rocks everywhere, so in life is the adversary everywhere. If I’m picking up a rock to fight off a potential snake, What kind of tools am I picking up along my journey to fight off the powers of Satan?

Be kind to yourself as you climb any of life’s mountains. Be cognizant and full of grace with yourself and your fellow climbers. All have a story of struggle and heartache. All need compassion and empathy as they stretch to find clarity amidst the tiniest of victories.
One thought.
One step.
One purpose under God’s great design on this beautiful earthly journey…

-JC

Oatmeal (Raisin -if you must) Crumble Cookies

½ cup soft butter
½ cup butter-flavored Crisco
½ cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cup quick oats
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 ½ cups of raisins 

Cream butter, Crisco, and sugars with an electric mixer on medium high for 1 minute or until fluffy. Hand stir in eggs and vanilla extract; don’t overmix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Add 2-3 Tablespoons more flour for high elevation. Stir in Raisins. (If Raisins aren’t your favorite. Omit. You can add baking chips instead. I would strongly recommend butterscotch.) Scoop out approximately 24 balls of dough.  Gently roll and flatten slightly. (For a richer flavor and smoother texture, refrigerate or freeze until ready to bake.) Add 1 Tablespoon of Crumble Topping to each cookie.
Place dough balls onto greased individual baking dishes.  Bake at 375 degrees for 12+ min. Let set. Share.

Crumble Topping
½ cup Biscoff cookie crumbs
¾ cup toasted rolled oats (toast oats in 400 degree oven for 10+ minutes)
⅓ cup packed brown sugar
3 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
6 Tablespoons cold cubed butter

Cut all ingredients together until crumbly.

I ran into DX gas station as fast as I had run my whole paper route. 

It was a once-a-week route delivering a free newspaper to every house in town. The route was divided between my sisters and me. Dinner would be cornbread and chili after we returned. I only kinda liked it. But I loved my DX treat I got each week. 

I ran in and quickly counted the people in line. This was rare. I usually ran it, grabbed my Nutty Buddy Little Debbie snack, put a quarter on the counter, uttered a barely audible “thank you” and ran out and home as quickly as I had run in. 

Today was different and I didn’t like it. As I stood in line with a quarter in one hand and my treat in the other, I had time to pause and reconsider my decision. Maybe this treat was a waste of money. I counted how much more quickly I could get to the red and white sweater I wanted if I skipped the treat. 

My hands were black from the newsprint, the line was still long, and I looked back toward the treat display wondering if I should skip it…

The red and white sweater was my current predetermined purchase. 
At this stage of my life, most of them were. Money was “spent on paper” well before it was earned. The few dollars I made each week on my paper route went towards the big purchase I was saving for.  

The usual agreement I made with myself was 25 cents for a treat, tithing- a portion for God that I would pay at church each Sunday, and the rest towards something I wanted that cost more than the few dollars I collected each week. Every time I’d go to the department store to finally purchase my item, I’d see so many more items I wanted to save towards. 

I thought about the sweater and my dirty hands. The discussion in my brain was silenced when the attendant called “next” and I stepped forward. I put my quarter on the counter, exchanged a glance, and left when she nodded that we were square in the transaction. Within seconds I unwrapped the treat and began enjoying it despite my filthy hands and my initial question as to whether it was worth the price of delaying my larger purchase. The creamy peanut butter layered with crisp wafers submerged in chocolate was super tasty and I had no regrets as I ran home.  

What about other costs?
Since a young age- I’ve always weighed the value of anything I purchase. Once I married, money was tight for years as my husband and I tried to raise our family on one salary. 
Costs were constantly weighed with value. 

What about the unseen costs today as I think and speak of change?
There’s a big concept here and an easy measuring stick to assess your own value system and the opportunity costs…
Be ready for some honesty as you hear this… 

What was the last thing you complained about?
Rethink the details. 
Here’s the truth-

When we complain- we are screaming to all within earshot that the price to do something different is too much, so we will complain instead. We are saying the opportunity cost for change in thinking or action is too great and therefore we will stay in our current thought or blame position. 

Ouch. I know- it hurts. I’ve been hurt by this truth so many times. 
So spend some effort assessing this week. 
What are you avoiding changing?
If you aren’t sure- track your complaints- even if the only voice they find is the one in your head. 
Is it hard to identify…?
Listen more intently this week to friends, family members, and co-workers. 
As you hear complaints from them, you have a direct window into their souls as to what’s going on in their world. You can immediately see what they deem too high of an opportunity cost for change…

A few years ago I would nearly daily complain about one of my kids’ basketball coaches. Straight away- he/she was terrible. That’s a fact. 😉
But- why the constant complaint on my part?
What opportunity cost was so great that I looked to complain- shifting the assignment in my life to something I didn’t want to do the work for…?
Gratefully I identified it then and worked to do my part-
Leave what was God’s to God and the responsibility of my child to them. 
But the truth is it was hard and I felt like the way this coach treated my child made my job as a mom harder. Every mom knows- the mom gig is hard- anything(one) making it harder might hit the complaint list…

However, the truth is constant. 
And here’s what I needed to do-
Pray to know what my immediate role was with my child. 
Were there things I could do at home to teach the importance of self-esteem and worth as a child of God? Was I consistent in teaching through voice and example faith in God’s purpose and love for each of us?
Was I keeping clarity, realizing it was not my responsibility to control any of this? 
My child had an opportunity for growth and testimony. 
It was not my responsibility to protect them in a way that this opportunity was denied. 

I had to let go-
Step back-
Steady my own faith-
And trust God. 

Many many many countless moments- I failed. 
And I would complain. 
And then I’d steady my purpose as a Mom raising God’s children and re-focus. 
Difficult. But not impossible. Because truly- Luke 1:37…

If you pause, and your hands seem tired, dirty, and rough, and you contemplate the cost-
Don’t quit. Just silence the clamor and work on one decision for clarity at a time. 
Then, like a kid unwrapping the one treat for the week- Enjoy the journey with any and all added light and knowledge you work to obtain. 

It is enough…

-JC

(Easy) Turtle Bars

½ cup butter
⅓ cup milk
15 oz. yellow cake mix
½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
6 oz. caramel sauce
1 cup+ milk or semi-sweet chocolate chips (milk chocolate will be sweeter and richer)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix butter, milk, and cake mix until smooth. Stir in nuts if desired. Spread 2/3 of the mixture evenly over the bottom of an 8” square baking pan and press to form a crust. Bake for 10 minutes. Drizzle caramel sauce evenly over the cooked crust. Sprinkle it with chocolate chips. Pat together and form the remaining dough mixture on the top in pieces. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes more. Cool somewhat to let set before serving.

I began to pack… I laid out my green floral sleeping bag, not sure if I was too old to have a sleeping bag like that. I put a bag on my bed not knowing what to pack in it. I started with the basics and moved it to the floor that night before I crawled into bed, unsure what else to add. I was invited to a birthday party. This was commonplace. I was raised in a small town. Everybody went to everybody’s birthday parties. This one was different. It was a birthday party with an extended stay for the girls to sleep over. I begged my mom to let me go, not sure I even wanted her to say yes…

My convincing conversation tactics were effective and the next Friday night, I was nearly silent in the car for the ten-minute drive to my friend’s house. I was nervous. My tummy churned with anticipation of the unknowns. When we pulled up< the same group of girls I knew and loved from school every day had gathered. I quickly joined them and forgot about my concerns. We had a great time and all was well until it was time to climb into my green floral sleeping bag.

The evening game was announced. “Truth or Dare”.
It’s a childish game that I passionately hated. The vulnerability to play was so intense and truth be told- I didn’t really fully trust everyone at the slumber party with either telling them the truth or acting out a dare that I may have found to be compromising.
This was my first time playing for real- in a large group. I nervously watched others take their turn. Time passed and I became more uncomfortable with the looming inevitable that I would need to take my turn. My real or imagined stomach ache I had on the drive over returned. I weighed the decision of whether it was worse to stay and keep playing or whine about my tummy ache and have my mom come get me…

Social norms are a tough thing to navigate. Right, wrong, or indifferent, I became so paralyzed by my discomfort. I waited for what felt like hours for my mom to drive the ten minutes to put me outta my misery.
That hard night, as they all do, came to an end. But my distaste for this popular game did not. I did however learn how to navigate the game. It finally got easier as I learned to lie my way through the “truth.” Which became the option I always picked…

It was a game- but I learned a survival skill. I learned that a subtle lie can protect you from feeling vulnerable.
It’s a skill I had to unlearn as I worked to gain a deep relationship with my Heavenly Father through prayer. I had to learn to tell God the truth. As I worked to break down my walls and barriers, I realized there was a consistent feeling of peace and safety from Him as I talked with Him.

Have you invited God through prayer to help you journey?
Did you put a quarter in your shoe and pray every time you felt it throughout your day?
Or did you set up other cues to remind you to turn to Him first to ask for aid In the climb and companionship in celebrating all the progress?

When I feel my path steepen and my vision crowded-
When I feel my energy drain and my ability to feel and give grace diminish-
I know it’s time to reconnect with my perfect loving Heavenly Father.

Here are the things I’m working towards in this effort:
Taking ample time each day to talk with God – just me and Him.
Planning for it.
Scheduling it.
Prioritizing it.
Silencing distractions.
Hearing Him.

As I work to re-prioritize feeling His love by talking with Him- by telling God the truth, I’m not alone. I can journey with better purpose, clarity, and confidence. I literally feel the gap between me and heaven bridged. I can see evidence of God’s love in my life and more easily identify the steps He wants me to take.

-JC

Strawberry Coconut Cookies

Soft Coconut Sugar Cookies

¾ cup soft butter
⅓ cup vegetable oil
⅓ cup sour cream
1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
1 ¼ cups powdered sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon coconut extract
3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups sweetened flaked coconut

Cream butter, oil, sour cream, and sugars with an electric mixer on medium-high for 1 minute or until fluffy. Hand stir in eggs and coconut extract; don’t overmix. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Stir in flaked coconut. Add 2-3 Tablespoons more flour for high elevation. Scoop out approximately 24+ 2” balls of dough. Gently roll. For a richer flavor and smoother texture, form cookie dough balls, flatten slightly and refrigerate or freeze until ready to bake. Place on greased or parchment paper on an aluminum cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 10+ min. 
Let cool completely. 
Frost with Strawberry Cream Frosting. Immediately top with sweetened shredded coconut. 
Let set. Share!

Strawberry Cream Frosting
8 oz. softened cream cheese
1/2 cup soft butter
1 oz. crushed (to powder form) freeze dried strawberries
1 teaspoon strawberry extract
2 cups powdered sugar
Drop or two of red food coloring
Dash  of salt
2 Tablespoons whipping cream

Mix cream cheese, butter and strawberry powder. Add extract, then mix. Stir in powdered sugar. Add whipping  cream and mix until fluffy. (3  minutes) Spoon into freezer strength Ziploc until ready to use.

This is part of my story- my collective- major life event -kind of story…

Why? It was just a moment in time. It could have and potentially should have -according to some- told me I wasn’t cut out for sports. Instead- it showed me my mind and how powerful it could be in changing the trajectory of my life. So if you’ve read it before- enjoy the story again with thoughts on this question:

Does tripping or sprinting at the starting line determine how you will finish the race?

I was raised in a family where I was taught to pray. However, at the age of 14, I certainly did not have what I would consider to be a relationship with my Heavenly Father. It was an element of my life that I was still trying to understand what I believed in.

High school brought the opportunity to play on sports teams. I loved playing volleyball and basketball with my best friend and followed her onto the high school track team in the spring!

Our first four competitive meets were rained out. In week five, we were finally blessed with a sunny day with no threat of thunderstorms. Area coaches agreed to hold multiple large invitationals the rest of the season to try and play catch-up and give the athletes the opportunity to compete against each other before regional and state meets. So my first track meet was attended by eight area high schools. As we arrived at the stadium I was completely awestruck. There were SO many people. We were immediately given two instructions by Coach: 

1-“Stay off of the football field (A string about a foot high was placed around the entire perimeter to remind people to stay off of the field, protecting it for the football season in the fall).
2- Pay attention to ensure you don’t miss your events”. 

Our team found a nice grassy spot on the embankment surrounding the track and took off for our warm-up laps around the track.
I was the only runner from my school in the mile event, but I knew that I was supposed to listen to the first call and turn in my entry card at the scorer’s table. I listened closely, heard my event call, and turned in my card. Then I just simply watched other teams of runners and followed their lead. When they stretched- I stretched. When they jogged around- I jogged around. So when I came back near the scorer’s table and saw the hurdles being moved onto the track, I asked the nice lady at the scorer’s table if they had moved the mile run after the hurdles. She jumped up and called the people putting the hurdles on the track to get them off and told me the mile was getting started on the far side of the field.

In near disbelief combined with panic-stricken horror, I broke the big rule of running on the football field in an attempt to make it to the starting line of my race. I jumped over the string barrier, sprinted as fast as a distance runner can sprint, and when I neared the starter whose gun was already raised in the air to start the race I screamed a somewhat breathless- “Wait!!!!”  

In my attempt to stop the race from beginning without me, my focus shifted and I failed to successfully navigate the string barrier on that side of the field. I tripped over it, landing face down right at the starting line. Motivated in a moment of crisis, I put my faith to the test. I uttered the most sincere fervent prayer of my life thus far. I begged my Father in Heaven whom I was desperately trying to believe in, with all the faith I could possibly muster… to make me invisible… It was the only solution I could think of…

When I heard giggles, I knew my prayer had gone on answered.

I was trying to understand spiritual things at this time in my life. I was trying to see if prayer was real and if I had enough faith to ask for things that I felt I needed. I’m sure I wasn’t completely surprised that Heavenly Father did not make me invisible. I was desperate and at a desperate moment, I asked for a desperate solution.

In all my clamor, I successfully paused the beginning of the race. The starter invited me to take a spot in the last row and in the last position of runners. I held back tears as I took my place in the back of the pack of over twenty runners at the starting line wishing I was anywhere but there. 

Three laps into the race I found myself in sixth place. My mind had been wandering through embarrassment with God about my ridiculous plea for help and hoping that absolutely no one from my team had seen what happened. Perhaps in a last-ditch effort to try my faith that day I prayed for help in running the last lap of my race and finishing strong. 

With 100 yards to go, I passed the two front-runners.

I felt God had sent me a message. I felt he wanted me to keep trying, to keep believing, and keep searching for Him.

Let’s circle back to the question…

Does tripping or sprinting at the starting line determine how you will finish the race?

The answer becomes obvious, so let’s re-write the details into any area applicable in your own life. We quickly can acknowledge there is power to change trajectory.
I will tell you the first step is incredibly simple and will only cost you a quarter- 25 cents…

For me to authentically show up as one on a journey of progression- my first step is with a quarter in my shoe or some other cue set up in my direct space to remind me to pray. 
I invite God to guide my steps, thoughts, and ideas. And then I thank Him-
For my Savior who extends grace when I stumble. 

How many times a day do I offer this type of prayer?

It depends on how much I really want what I say I’m chasing after or working towards. 
So perhaps 10-50 times a day I invite God to journey with me. (Imagine the difference between 10… and 50… especially if the placement of a quarter in my shoe is a two-week goal…)
It’s math- simple math. But as I work to near 50- change and absolute knowledge are imminent…

As I feel my quarter with every step I take, I’m reminded to use the incredible resource available to me (all of us) to walk with Him. As I turn to Him first throughout my day- I feel safety in telling God the truth. I often ask for help as I climb through the current mountain or opportunity in my path and I turn to Him first to celebrate my progress. 

My faith grows and my individual races or experiences as I journey are never decided by my first few steps. God gives me the power to change- through Him and because of His Son, Jesus Christ who serves as my advocate. There’s nothing more perfectly simple as I do my work!

My final thought on this today is to remember my story-
I sprinted – then tripped BEFORE I even got to the starting line. And several layers of success were mine to claim that day. 
It was important to learn that day and more important to remember in the tomorrows since- that there’s always more than one way to get to the finish line. 

-JC

Reese’s Take 5 Krispy Bars

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1 ¼ cups peanut butter
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal
Pretzels
16 oz. tub Caramel Dip or Caramel Sauce
4 oz.+ milk chocolate bars
Take 5 Candy Bars

Mix sugar into corn syrup. Heat until dissolved, not boiling. Stir in peanut butter. Fold into Rice Krispies. Pat into a greased 9 x 13 pan. Layer on top with pretzel pieces. Gently heat caramel sauce (store-bought or homemade). Spoon into freezer strength Quart size Ziploc. Drizzle caramel over the pretzel layer. Melt chocolate bars. Drizzle onto the caramel layer. Top with pieces of Take 5 bars. Let set. Share!

Answer these two questions:
What are you defending for?
What are you defending against?

Does a good defense lead to a good offense?
When it comes to fending off powers that seek to thwart positive change….YES…
If we are talking about high school girls basketball in a small town in the Midwest during the mid-1980s… not always…

The varsity roster had my name on it. I looked again to make sure it was real.
It was.
I immediately felt like it was wrong – that I didn’t belong- that I was undersized and lacked the athleticism and skill to be included on the team. I couldn’t make eye contact with my teammates or talk about it with anyone. I didn’t fit in.
No one else was saying it.
No one else needed to. I was speaking loud and clear in my own brain-
“YOU
DON’T
FIT
IN!!!”

The next day at practice I felt weird going over to the Varsity group.
It was the 1980s in the Midwest. High school (and much of college) girls’ basketball was a game of 6 vs. 6 utilizing a split court play between offense and defense.
(Look it up if this sounds confusing. 😉)

We warmed up and began drills.
Before long, we were scrimmaging.
I spent most of the practice on the sidelines where I believed I belonged.
Coach eventually put me in.
I was on the same team as our top defender. She was good, serious, and intense. I was bad, intimidated, and scared- not what anyone wanted in a freshman on a Varsity roster.
But there I was sharing a court with “M” as her teammate. She stole the ball from the girl she was defending, took two strong dribbles toward the half-court line, and chucked the ball at me.
It was a bullet pass that literally hit me in the gut. I couldn’t handle it. It seemed to partially knock the wind out of me before it sailed down the court and outta bounds.
The disappointment was communicated in silence, except in my own brain.

The next day at school- Coach pulled me aside. He asked me if I knew why I was pulled up to Varsity.
“Because you feel sorry for me…?” Was the response that was only communicated with a shrug while I fought off tears.
“You’re going to be good.” Coach said. “You work hard- and you’ll grow.”
I recognized these self-truths when I heard them. He was right. Embracing these truths changed how I showed up at practice and when I played.

A good defense can only lead to a good offense if I understood what I was trying to defend.

For me- it was self-doubt and negative self-talk that I needed to defend against. They were destroying me and I didn’t realize it.
The adversary was tricky. He was winning the battle of thoughts in my brain and I was the only one who could defend myself against him.
I worked harder to pray for help to think more consistently positive about who I was. Not only as a daughter of God but as a basketball player. And that’s exactly what I identified as truths I needed to defend for!

Everything changed. Like Coach said,
I was going to be good- because I worked so hard. And I became immediately better as I became my own cheerleader and encouraged myself instead of continuing to adopt self-betraying ideas.

What do you need to defend?
What thoughts about yourself serve you well?
What thoughts are lies perpetuated by the adversary to paralyze your progress?
What will change in how you show up if you identify self-truths of being a daughter or son of God and conducting yourself accordingly?

I often wonder why I have to do so much housekeeping in my brain.
There’s a bunch of junk thoughts that don’t serve me well and thus need to be eliminated.

Am I alone here? Or do you have junk thoughts that need housekeeping?

As I continue to work to see myself as God does, I play better defense against the adversary. It seems as though the second I even think about working to improve, the adversary is trying to weaken my resolve and tell me it’ll never work.
Now- I know he’s coming for me- and I work to raise a shield in his direction, committing to defend my position and choice to change.
Better defense leads to positive progression. Telling myself “you’ve got this girl” and believing it is simply a choice.

A good defense can absolutely be the enabler to scoring confidence and the capability to change.

I’m working to more fully show up leaving intimidation and fear behind. They don’t serve me and are absolutely not how God sees me nor how He needs me to show up. I’m accountable to Him -to step up and step out for change. He sends His Spirit and angels to stand with me. As I choose to place my steps of faith toward a teammate of the Savior, I’m strengthened through the enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to do the work to defend my personal truths.

-JC

Spiced Pumpkin Cookies with Brown Butter Icing

2 cups granulated sugar
½ cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 ½ cups canned pumpkin purée
2 ⅔ cups flour
¾ teaspoon ground cloves
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
¾ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt

Cream sugar with oil. Stir in eggs and pumpkin. Add dry ingredients and stir until well blended. 
Drop a large dollop of sticky dough onto a greased or parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 15-17 minutes. Let cool. Glaze with Brown Butter Icing. Let set. Share!

Brown Butter Icing
½ cup butter, browned and cooled
¼ cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dash of salt 
2 ¾ cups powdered sugar

Heat butter in a saucepan on medium low until it foams and turns brown. Remove from heat and let cool. Combine the remaining ingredients and use a food processor or electric mixer to blend thoroughly. 

I had exactly zero interest in the product, its details, or utility. I also had zero appreciation for why the clients spent so much time thumbing through the catalog.  But the day had arrived to deliver the products and collect my money from my side gig with my sisters.

We loaded the wagon with the stationery products previously ordered by older neighbor ladies. I was back behind the house waiting for my sister and decided I could manage to take the loaded wagon down the steep driveway on my own. It was heavier than I expected. Within a couple of steps I could no longer hold on and the wagon flew down the driveway. I chased after it only warranting the perfect view as it continued across the street in front of our home and jumped the curb in front of the neighbor”s house before it spilled its contents onto the concrete sidewalk.

I quickly gathered the notecard sets, recipe cards, and embossed paper packs, stacked them back into the wagon, crossed back over the street, and waited for my sister. A few moments later we pulled the wagon down the street together. My sister – excited to deliver the stationery and collect a paycheck…

Myself- distracted in wonderment as to what I witnessed my wagon do with the steep incline of the driveway…

The next day, with my first opportunity of minimal supervision, I gathered a couple of large floral sleeping bags that had been our Christmas gift the previous year. I meticulously laid them in the wagon and climbed in. I inched my way to the top of the incline and deliberately lifted my feet up into the wagon and held onto the handle as if it was a functioning control lever. I whizzed down the driveway, across the street, and crashed up onto the curb just as my stationery had done the day before.  

What a ride!!

Adrenaline raced through me as I sprinted back across the street, up our driveway for another thrilling go-around.
The risks seemed reasonable for the impending rush as I zoomed down the driveway completely out of control using a concrete curb as my brakes…

Today, I look around… Here we are- on earth. 
Our Father in Heaven has blessed us with the opportunity to come here giving each of us the gift of agency.

How are you using yours?
How are you encouraging those around you to use theirs…?
How often do you choose or encourage the runaway wagon ideas to play out -for yourself or others…?

Deliberate decision-making is ridiculously powerful.

In a lifelong quest to discover who we are as individuals, as children of a perfectly loving God, it’s imperative that we make choices and grant each other the space and freedom to do the same. 
This “space” means free of control, judgment, or driving a certain outcome…

A fundamental process I’ve been focusing on over the past few years is gaining a better understanding of who I am as a daughter of God. As I’ve begun to grasp what this means, I’ve followed up by giving myself more grace.  As I’ve practiced what that means and how it looks, it’s easier to extend grace to others as I can borrow God’s lens and see them as His child too. 

I was in college before I learned the game of Rock, Paper, Scissors…
Initially, it seemed to be a game of luck or happenstance. Then- I realized that with every “play” both participants are making a deliberate choice.  Some mimic their personality or preference with their selection… and some try to guess what their competitor will choose and base their choice on that…
A simple shake of the fist quite remarkably shows how deliberate our choices are with a subset of thinking either driving them… or not…

As I play the game today, I watch in delight as my competitor makes a split-second decision and celebrates in glory or falls in anguish. I watch from a view of studying deliberate decision-making and how powerful its effects are on emotion, confidence, and responsibility for self.  My work over the past few years has led me to better understand the pivotal importance of it all.

I’ve needed to do the work to learn how to be generous with giving myself and others grace.
I needed to understand that as a daughter of God, I am going to deliberately choose to ride down steep driveways in a wagon utilizing concrete for brakes. And it’s okay… It’s actually brilliant when we realize that each of us is meticulously different in deliberate decision-making. 

If the Savior stood beside me, I know He would offer me a wink and a nod as I stretched my agency in a way that might seem risky.  I also know that when I get in over my head or lose my ability to steer my way to safety- He is there. He offers grace- not condemnation. 

I’m working to see myself and fellow travelers as He does…

JC

Toasted Oat & Fudge Cookie Bars

Oatmeal Cookie Base
1 cup soft butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla 
2 cups flour
2 ⅔ cups toasted oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt

Toast oats in a baking pan at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. This will bring out a nutty sweet flavor. Let cool completely. 
Cream butter with sugars. Stir in eggs and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and stir until well blended. 

Milk Chocolate Fudge
2 cups milk chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
½ cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
Dash of salt 

Melt chocolate chips and butter with sweetened condensed milk. Add vanilla and salt. Stir until smooth. Use immediately. 

Press ⅔ of the oatmeal cookie base into a greased 9×13 pan. Spread chocolate fudge on top. Form pieces of remaining cookie dough and place on portions of the fudge layer. You will not completely cover the fudge layer. Sprinkle with sea salt if desired.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25+ minutes. Let cool completely. Cut into squares. Share. 

I stood completely frozen in exaggerated form…

My legs in stride…
My arms with elbows bent…
And a look of anguish and defeat on my face…

I was keeping the rules, meeting expectations, and needing to remind myself to breathe.

It was my first round of freeze tag. I loved the game…until I was caught and trapped. I stood there hoping someone would find me. I was paralyzed- unable to run, progress, help another, or succeed.

The game of chase is thrilling…
Until it’s not…

Before too long, a classmate extended his hand, barely tapping me in a full sprint on his way to unfreeze the majority of us who had poorly spaced ourselves on the playground. I began to quickly understand a better way to play the game.

40 years later…
I’ve begun to understand a better way to live my life.

I’ve decided my favorite place to go every day as a way to live more fully is “Into the Unknown”.

How would you feel about going there?

In Disney’s Frozen 2:
Elsa felt called-
Beckoned into an unfamiliar place-
Fear gave her pause-
The risk seemed too large-
Comfort would be a price to pay-
If she followed the call into the unknown.

Unsettling feelings of wonder-
A longing to know-
Hoping for connection-
Led Elsa “Into the Unknown.”

I have learned this is where all the dreams and opportunities I don’t know exist.
I’ve been choosing to walk, jump or sprint “Into the Unknown.” Rarely is it a coordinated attempt. I stumble and fall…and then get up…to try again.
Sometimes as I enter into new ideas, paths, or pursuits, I momentarily feel frozen in fear or uncertainty.
But I’m learning to break those down…
I’m resolved to more fully understand and act as the beloved daughter of God that I know I am- That I know each of us are. I believe God expects me to work to attain this pure knowledge and act accordingly.
I begin by giving what’s God’s to God and only trying to control what He needs me to. I’m working to more fully learn how the Atonement of Jesus Christ can provide me the enabling powers to do God’s work at any given moment…
The key to this is exercising my faith to have the patience to only know this moment and not try to see too far down the path.

I’m learning and loving to embrace the unknown.

Begin with me here…
Define the following-
Finding-
Joy-
Chasing-
Happiness-

Are you willing to rediscover the thrill of the chase and see what you find…?

Cookies and Christ 2022…

JC

S’mores Whoopie Pies

¾ cup soft butter
¾ cup granulated sugar
½ cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup milk 
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
¾  teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter and sugars with an electric mixer on medium high for 1 minute or until fluffy. Hand stir in eggs and vanilla; don’t overmix. Stir in milk. Add dry ingredients all at once and mix until fully incorporated. Add 2 Tablespoons more flour for high elevation. Scoop out approximately 24 2” balls of dough.  Place on greased or parchment paper on an aluminum cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 13+ min. Let cool completely.

Marshmallow Creme Frosting

6 Tablespoons soft butter
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
3 Tablespoons whipping cream
Dash of salt
7 oz. marshmallow creme (Fluff)

Beat butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, whipping cream until smooth.  Mix an additional 2-3 minutes on high speed.  Fold in marshmallow creme. 

Milk Chocolate Ganache

½ cup cream
1 cup milk chocolate chips
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Dash of salt

Heat cream and chocolate chips on low whisking constantly. Stir in vanilla extract and salt. Cool completely. 

Assemble the whoopie pies by piping a dollop of marshmallow creme frosting onto the middle of the bottom of half of the cookies.  Keeping the frosting in the middle will allow it to spread to the edges during the next step without causing it to spill over. Sprinkle with mini marshmallows. Carefully toast marshmallows on broil setting of oven for approximately 15-30 seconds. Let cool for 10 minutes. Pipe a dollop of ganache onto the other side of half of the cookies and place a top onto it.  Let set. share!