Amarillo By Morning

We took a long weekend this past weekend to go home and enjoy some time in Amarillo. We had the best weekend! We got to see our families, grandparents, and friends. It was full of golf, tubing, sunbathing on the boat, biking, shopping, and yes, another birthday party! We absolutely love the time that we get to spend in Amarillo. Its funny how when we tell people that we are from Amarillo they give some sly joke about there being nothing there or talk about how boring it must have been there, but its home to us and some of the most important people in our lives are there. So usually we just laugh those remarks off and remember the great memories we have. I guess we were having too much fun to take many pictures (so unlike my family), but I do have some good ones from my birthday party. Since it was the big 25, my parents decided to do a big cookout with all our family and friends at their new lake house. It was so much fun having everyone together. That night as I was in bed going to sleep all I could think about is how blessed I am with the people the Lord has placed in my life. He truly showered his love over me that evening. We had games, lots of food, presents (I was too spoiled by EVERYONE), and cake!

Gotta Love Girl Time (Ashley, Jennifer, Me, Megan)

The boys hitting golf balls into the canyon (Sam, Dad, Brad, Jacob)

A Big Thanks!

I wanted to give a big thanks to everyone who made my 25th birthday so special with birthday wishes, cards, gifts, texts, and phone calls. I am way too blessed with such amazing people in my life! I have now officially made the turn to 30! Do I seem older????

Some friends and family helped me celebrate on my birthday by going to dinner; we got a few pictures! Thanks to all of your for taking time to come to my "birthday party"!

Rob, Melissa and Reed had to leave before this picture, but they were there too!!!

My newest cupcake "model"; is there a better advertisement than this???

Thanks Reed from bringing your Cars toys and letting me play with them!

Love-filled weekend

From the celebration of our 2nd anniversary, to a wedding, to wedding cookies and cupcakes this weekend was filled with LOVE!! My incredibly, amazing, loving husband planned a special anniversary for us this past weekend. He is so good at surprises and making things so special. We went to eat at a wonderful restaurant in Uptown called Avanti Ristorante (delicious) and then spent the evening at the W Hotel. We were so spoiled!!!

Then Saturday morning he surprised me by taking me to Frosted Art which is Bronwen Weber's bakery in Dallas. She has competed in several Food Network Challenges and has even won a few times. I am always amazed by her work and even more amazed that my sweet husband found this place to take me (I knew it was here, but I would have never thought he would know). I did not get to take my picture with Bronwen nor any pictures of her work, but here is the outside of her shop! I was like a little girl in a candy shop (but this time a bakery) and on cloud nine in there!

Since Frosted Art was just about looking, after we ate lunch Sam took me to Sprinkles! I honestly can't get enough of this place. If you have not taken the time to go get a cupcake at Sprinkles, get up right now and drive to Preston Center (if you are in the DFW area that is), this is a MUST!! We decided on a Strawberry cupcake and a Banana Dark Chocolate cupcake. We split them each and in about .5 seconds they were GONE!!!

Just before we attacked!

All gone. Thank you honey for such a special weekend. A time to just concentrate on each other and a little mini vacation. You are an amazing man and made just for me. The Lord is so good to me through you, and I am blessed each day.

Then Saturday evening I went to a college girlfriend's wedding while Sam went to watch his good friend Chance Douglass pitch at Dr. Pepper stadium. Congratulations Jeremy and Katie! She was a gorgeous bride. Hopefully I will have pictures to come once I get them from the girls who were clicking away (hint, hint).

I was also asked to make some cookies and cupcakes for a wedding shower! I had so much fun making wedding cookies. I decided on bridal gowns and wedding cakes. The wedding colors are going to be green and salmon, so I did my best to match the colors. For this reason I decided to make strawberry cupcakes with Sprinkles strawberry icing (yes, this is why I had to try a strawberry cupcake, and yes my icing really did taste just like it) and lime cupcakes with vanilla buttercream icing with a hint of lime. I thought they all turned out really cute!! I don't have too many pictures, but here is a little sample! Enjoy!!

A Celebration of Love

Our anniversary is approaching and we are finding ourselves reflecting on the people that taught us how to have a loving, devoted marriage - our parents. As my parents celebrated their 34Th anniversary last week, and as Sam's parents get ready to celebrate their 37Th in July we are reminded of what amazing marriages they each have and all they we can learn from them. We are both so lucky to have such amazing families and cherish them each so much. We also found some fun pictures that show us how it all began!!! (Its funny how we sit here and laugh about what our parents looked like and what they wore when they were our age; when I stop to think though, its not so funny b/c our kids will be doing the exact thing someday!!!)

Thomas - June 8Th - 34 years

Mom and Dad, you have taught me what it means to have a devoted marriage. It is apparent how you are constantly thinking of the other person in all situations. I also love how you do everything together and still live such a fun, active life. You have taught us that no matter how long you have been married that you can still have a blast with your best friend. I only hope that when we are married for 34 years that we are having as much fun together as you are!!! I love you both so very much and thank you for teaching me how to be a loving wife....we're only 32 years behind you guys!!!

THEN

NOW

Sessler - July 24Th - 37 years

Mom and Dad, fresh 60's pic. Ha Ha! What an awesome marriage you both have had. An early congrats goes out to you for having such a model marriage and doing such a fine job with your family. You taught us all how to love one another. Thank you for the wonderful childhood memories, and the memories in the making! Love you both!

THEN

NOW

We would also like to take the time to congratulate Nan and Gramps Sessler on 60 years of marriage!!! They just celebrated their 60Th year on June 1st!! You are a living testimony of how to love your spouse! It has been fun to see you too around each other and see how much you love each other. Even after 60 years, you both still adore each other, and it is easy to see! We respect you both so much as you are an example to all of us. We love you!

THEN

(Do you see Sam in that face??)

NOW

My Dad

Did you know that prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer among men in the Untied States (only skin cancer being more common); did you know that prostate cancer affects one in six men; did you know that out of every three men who are diagnosed with cancer each year, one is diagnosed with prostate cancer; did you know that more than 186,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, and more than 28,500 will die. This is serious stuff!

No one knows the exact cause of prostate cancer. Doctors often cannot explain why one man develops prostate cancer and another does not. Scientists are studying prostate cancer to find out more about its causes and are looking for better ways to treat it. That is the reason I am writing this post. The Prostate Cancer Foundation is doing their annual Father's Day drive to help raise money to help find a cure and to find better ways to treat this cancer. Between June 5th - June 15th they are trying to raise at least $250,000. They are doing this through general donations at the following link: http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org/site/c.itIWK2OSG/b.4096795/k.4A3B/Hit_a_Home_Run_for_Dad.htm?utm_source=grizzard&utm_medium=homepage%2Blink&utm_campaign=hp%2Bmay%2B08%2Bappeal and through The Home Run Challenge. The Home Run Challenge is where you can designate a certain amount of money to be donated to this cause between those dates for every home run hit during designated Major League Baseball Games (see schedule). To help you get an idea of what your total donation might be, there were 130 hit during this time last year. You can go to this link to set up your pledge: https://www.kintera.org/site/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=ikIULaMWJvE&b=2639971&en=bpJCLUOtF4ILJRPoHaIQJ6MAI7IDIVNEKfJMKYPwFhK1E

This is a cause that is near to my heart because my family was affected by this in 2005 when my dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer. We were lucky though because my dad was getting checked out early due to his family history and they were able to catch his cancer at a very early stage. He was able to have surgery to have the cancer removed rather than go through major treatment. I think too many people think this type of cancer is not a big deal because it is so common, but based on the statics I shared above, we all need to be aware. This was a hard and scary time for my family and I want to do all that I can to keep anyone else from having to endure that pain.

My dad was a fighter though and did not allow this to get him down. I was so proud to watch my dad go this difficult time of knowing he had cancer and then to endure a difficult surgery. It was not an easy time, but he never gave up and always tried to keep an up beat spirit. About one year later he was fully healed and competing in his first triathlon. Since then he has competed in several triathlons and bikes races. He took a step to take care of his body and to prove to himself that he could overcome this obstacle. (You can go to this link: http://www.amarillo.com/stories/030807/fea_6894771.shtml to read more about his overcoming prostate cancer and his races).

As Father's Day nears I am reminded at how much I love my dad and how we were so blessed to have him survive being affected by prostate cancer. I encourage you to push each of the men in your lives to get checked for this cancer because you never know who might be affected, we never imagine it would be our family. I would also ask that if you can and are willing to donate to this cause with the links I provided above.

Big Apple

This week we decided to give up a nice relaxing beach vacation to take on the Big Apple!!! We might need a vacation to get over our vacation, but we are super excited to see all that New York entails - from the Yankees, to Broadway, to the Statue of Liberty, and the food!! I know many of you have been before, so I am asking that you help us plan our vacation! We have a few things scheduled already, but I would love to hear places that each of you think is a MUST DO!! Places to visit, people to see, food to eat - tell us it all!!
Happy weekending to everyone.

Baby Boys

This past weekend some girls in our bible study class threw a baby shower for two of our girls that are expecting baby boys, Taylor Street & Caden James this summer! It was such a joy to do this for both Emily and Mel. Most of the showers I have been doing lately have been for baby girls, so this was a good change! I was asked to make a cake for this shower, and I was so excited because I don't get to do cakes too often. I decided I was going to make a two tiered Chocolate Mousse cake. The bottom layer: chocolate cake with vanilla butter cream and fresh strawberries filling. The Top layer: French vanilla cake with whipped cream and fresh strawberries filling. I finished both of the cakes and it was time to put them together Friday night before the shower.....

Needless to say the vanilla cake did not make it on top!!!! I walked into the kitchen to find my lovely husband enjoying what he thought was his own personal french vanilla cake with whipped cream and fresh strawberry filling!!!! Ok, ok...this was just my back-up story....really the topped layered didn't workout too well on top, so we carefully brought it down and dug in!!! Horrible I know. It was the best way for me to take out my frustrations, and Sam was just enjoying being able to eat what he has to smell cooking all the time! So I went to plan 'B' and made vanilla cupcakes with the chocolate mousse icing. I think they turned out really cute and I was actually very happy to have the choice of cake and cupcakes. Here are some pictures of how they both turned out and from the shower.

CUPCAKES

CHOCOLATE CAKE

HOSTESSES

Amy, Jamie, Lisa, Mandy, Lindsay

Mamma's: Emily & Melanie