P-p-p-oker Cake

My brother hit the big 30 a few weeks ago and had a men only poker party. They enlisted me to make a red velvet poker cake and this is what I came up with. It is no Ace of Cakes, but it did the job!

This weekend my niece turns 1, so I should have some pretty fun pictures to post of the big birthday bash!!

Lately....

Since I don't have too much to talk about right now, here are a few pictures of cookie projects I've done lately! Kappa Kappa Gamma cookies for a friend that is a Mississippi State grad (or maybe its Ole Miss) and more baby cookies for a baby shower!!!

Spring has Sprung!!

Spring has Sprung here at the Sessler house. Well it actually sprung a few weeks ago, but we have been going home for the last few weeks to spend time with my mom while she has been healing so I haven't had time to show the evidence! The blossoms have been gorgeous and everything is turning such a bring shade of green! I think this could be one of my most favorite times of the year. Its my favorite time to shop, my favorite time to start cooking fresh meals, my favorite time to clean, and my favorite time to be outside. We have to take advantage of that last one here in Dallas before the hot and humid summers start!!! As you can see our tulips have already come up and now we have started planting our other flowers and our lilies are starting to show some life too!! I can't wait for it all to be in full bloom! So cheers to spring! I'll put more pictures once we get everything done!

As for my mom (sorry it has taken me so long to give an update). She is doing very well and is just taking it easy to allow her body to heal. The surgery went very well with no complications and the pathology reports came back to show that the cancer had not spread and they believe they got it all out with the surgery. So once again our Lord has proven that He is in control and our great healer. It has been so fun going home the last few weekends and just getting to spend some good quality time with my mom since there is not much to do beside chill! I will cherish those times forever. So thank you for all your prayers, they are greatly appreciated!

MOM

MOM

unconditional love

selfless

faithful

giver

genuine

best friend

steady and strong

comforter

My mom is and has been heavy on my heart lately. A few weeks ago she was told that her doctors had found some cancer in her uterus. Tomorrow she will be having surgery to have a full hysterectomy to try to remove all of the cancer. I am very faithful, and have honestly been filled with a peace that can only come from the Lord, that this is all going to go very well and be successful. I ask that you please be in prayer with my family and I as my mom undergoes this surgery tomorrow morning around 8:00am. Please pray that the doctors hands will be guided and that all of the cancer cells will be removed. Please also pray for her healing and that she would be able to allow others to serve her as she is so used to being the one serving.

Mom my is the things listed above and so much more. She is not just my mom, but my best friend. The one whom I talk to everyday and lean on for so much. She would do anything for her family and has given more to us than we could ever repay. I hope that we can show her just a glimpse of how much we love her and appreciate all that she has done for us during this time by giving back to her!!

Mom we love you very much and will be by your side through this all!

"Peace I leave you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

Happy Birthday Sam!!!

We celebrated Sam's 26th birthday this weekend with friends and family. Conveniently for Sam it ended up being a whole weekend of celebrating!!! Saturday he chose donuts and Starbucks for breakfast, then mexican food for lunch, then a stop at The Cupcakery - and that was just by lunch time! We then headed over to Top Golf where we spent the rest of the day with friends and family playing golf! That night we went to dinner and spent more time with family. Sunday morning, after loosing a precious hour of sleep, we went to church only to celebrate again with friends and family with a lunch and cake!!! It was a great weekend and Sam enjoyed spending it with the people he loves. This next weekend we'll celebrate again with his family!!! I love you Sammy and I hope that you had an awesome birthday. You are loved by many for more reasons that I can count! I am one blessed girl!

I didn't get a pic of everyone at lunch on Sunday,

but here is most of the people that went golfing!

Sammy golfing!!!

The cake with the fudgiest (technical term) icing I could find to make!!!
Our niece Mia and her new friend Audrey at lunch
Audrey after enjoying the cake!!!

Sam and Jeremy

The ladies Cupcakes!!!!

After all the "celebration food" we ate this weekend I think we'll be hitting the gym and our veggies!!!

Ski Trip 2010

Last week we drove up to Angel Fire to ski with another couple. The snow was awesome, which is weird for NM, so we had a great time! When we got there it was snowing and when we left it is snowing! It was a great time with great friends, family, laughs, sore muscles, and snow!!! My mom even got to go along with us (dad had to stay home and work) and she spoiled rotten and fed us like kings!!!

Michael, Diana, Mandy, Sam

These next pictures look totally set up, but they aren't!

Turned out cute though!!

Sam taking a jump at the terrain park. Notice his perfect

"T" formation! (cracks me up every time!)

What we did when we first got to the cabin. The snow

up to the cabin was up to our knees!!

Mandy and Diana

The previous day Michael thought this was a jump and

proceeded to put his skis right into the hay, come out of his skis,

and land on the other side after doing a front flip! I gave him a perfect 10!!!

Beautiful view. Check out all of the snow on the trees from

the previous days snow. It was not there the next day!

Sam covered in snow after taking a good fall!

Remembering our Blessings

Tomorrow will mark the second anniversary of our precious Lilly passing. Its so hard to believe that two years have already passed. The Lord has been so faithful to us all and I believe He has truly been gloried over the past years. This little girl changed my life during her short time here and now time in heaven then I could ever express. I ask that you please pray for her parents, Richard and Jennifer, tomorrow as they celebrate Lilly's life and remember all that she taught them. Please pray for peace and for a wonderful day of focusing on the amazing family that the Lord has blessed them with today.

Song of Solomon 2:2
"As the lily among thorns,
so is my darling
among the daughters."

Celebrate

This weekend was full with a few birthday celebrations, a baby shower, and a girls night but sadly I only ended up with pictures from Jamie's surprise 30th birthday party! She was so surprised and it was a wonderful evening celebrating!

Some of the girls with the birthday girl

The fellas

Day of Love

Although we don't usually make a huge deal out of the "Hallmark holiday" of Valentines Day, we do like to take some time to be together and do something special. Again this year we opted out of the expensive Valentine's Day menus and stayed home. As in the past, Sam planned an amazing meal and we spent the day shopping for food and making an amazing dinner. The past few years Sam has done the entire meal on his own, but this year he allowed me in the kitchen to be his sous-chef. I helped him by prepping his ingredients, chopping, and washing the dishes as he went. He did the rest and did an amazing job! We had the best day together and I will cherish these times together forever. I could not ask for a better man for me. I love you so much Sam! Thanks for an amazing weekend.

Menu:

Candied pecan salad

Homemade pasta with bolognese sauce

Herbed cheese bread

Homemade tiramisu

Cupcake wine

*please notice the computer & iphone that never left his side!*

Sam followed up the next day (actual Valentine's Day) with breakfast in bed, beautiful roses, and a trip to Sprinkles!

Snow Day!!!

So like everyone else in the DFW area, I just had to post some snow day pics. Yes, I realize that there are people that have experienced more snow in their lives (including myself having grown up in the panhandle), but we made history here yesterday in the DFW area...the most snow in one day EVER. We got between 10-11"!!! That's huge for here and so random. The forecasters predicted a trace of snow to 2"; they missed that slightly!! We did not get out and play in the snow (rather opted for a warm fireplace and our living room with lots of comfort food), but I did snap some shots as I was leaving work yesterday. Mind you, it did snow for about 8 more hours after I took these!!!





"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." Isaiah 1:18

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Psalm 51:7