My Sweet Ellie turned 14. We decided we needed a breakfast as sweet as her to celebrate. We went for Funfetti Waffles. It’s like a cupcake for breakfast, I know! Just mix the cake mix and cook in waffle maker. To calm my Motherly instincts, I substituted orange juice for some of the water and put sliced bananas on top. That’s totally healthy now, right? 
During the time I was pregnant with Ellie, I found out I had a tumor growing from my Thyroid. The first months of Ellie’s life was filled with surgeries and radiation for me. The Doctors told me I was lucky, ”That if I were to get a cancer, this was the best one since it was 97% curable.” I knew I was lucky, but I didn’t want any cancer, I just wanted to go home and hold my sweet little baby girl. It would have seemed that those first few months would have been awful. But there was Ellie, a little slice of heaven in my arms. Just as it got time for surgery, Ellie learned how to smile. With that smile, she brightened that time in my life. In fact, Evan and I reflect back on that and realize what should have been the worst Christmas really was the best Christmas Season. Ellie has that way of lighting up peoples lives and making things better. I was and still am so thankful that God sent her into our home during that time. And now she is 14! I can hardly believe it. Doesn’t she look cute modeling some of her Birthday Presents! 