Saving Sweets: A Really Super Rough, Rough Draft

Well hello, friends.

It’s been a while, hasn’t it? No, no, I’m not mad at you. You didn’t do anything wrong. It wasn’t you, it was me. I just…needed some space and some time to think. I didn’t want to drag you into anything because you deserve so much more…

Heh. Sorry. I couldn’t help myself.

In all seriousness, I wrote a post last night that detailed what all has happened since March when I first told you about my idea of going to Georgia, so that I could tell some prostitutes about the Almighty.

By the sixth page, I realized I was tired and that there was about a 100% chance you wouldn’t give a rat’s patootie about it all.  

You say you do, but let’s be real. Ain’t nobody got time to read a 20 page blog post talking all about me. Good gravy.

That would be obnoxious.

So I’ll just bless you with four and a half pages. You’re welcome. I'm Enter happy, so chill.

Long story boring, a week or two before I was planning on heading to Georgia, I couldn’t shake the uneasiness about going. I ended up throwing a temper tantrum deciding to stay in Texas and interview for jobs instead.

I hate being responsible sometimes.

I know, I know, I heard it plenty: “but you have the rest of your life to work. Go enjoy the summer.”

Yeah, well, when you feel like you’re forcing the summer to happen and doing it solely because you told so many people (ahem, refer to previous blog), then something isn’t right.

Anywho. I stayed in Texas, went to California for a week, refreshed, landed a job, moved to the Houston area, and have been thoroughly enjoying my time in prison. In fact, I’m planning on doing 35 years without parole.

Unless I have babies.

If that ever happens, I’ll probably send for an appeal.

Hashtag babies don’t belong in prison.

Anywho. Adulting is weird. Bills are stupid. Moving to a new town is lame (because I would really rather be in Tyler, but Jesus said no).

And don’t even ask about student loans.

I’m avoiding that subject like the plague until my six month probation period is up and I have to start eating beans and bread for the next ten years. Thanks a lot, Way Too Expensive College Tuition. This time it really was YOU and not me. Stupid.

But I must say, my first big girl purchase was GLORIOUS: an antique copper, 5-quart KitchenAid mixer (with a glass bowl, HOLLA) that has a constant light from heaven shining on it and angel music playing every time you look at it. Yeah. It’s THAT awesome. And beautiful. And magnificent. And amazing. IT’S JUST SO PERFECT.

Thanks to this beautiful new friend, I’ve been baking sweets for my coworkers every week. It’s the best.

I come home from work, put on some Michael Bublé Pandora, and sing sweet love songs into the dough. It’s magical.

Don’t you dare look at me with those judgmental eyes. You know good and well if you have Michael Bublé or Frank Sinatra singing sweet nothings into your ear, you’d be all oooey gooey inside and do whatever it is that they ask of you (within Jesus limits, of course).

That’s all I’m doing for the cookies, cupcakes and brownies, okay? I’m in love, they’re in love. We’re all in love love love love, craaaazy love.  

So with my edible love children blessing work each week, I’ve had a few people place orders already. Mission accomplished: make people fall in love with my baking, have them buy the goods, make extra money for student loans. Ba da bing, ba da boom.

But something inside me remained unsettled.

***Side bar: this entire summer has been slightly difficult. It’s like graduation happened, cheers, yay for being done with school, and BAM.

I freaked out because real life was happening and I couldn’t handle it. I was also melting inside (the bad kind) because I wasn’t in Romania.

My babies. My heart. Oh how it hurts.

As most of you know, the last two summers have done a number on me. There is a part of my heart that is overseas that I know I’ll never get back. The hole that’s there has never been more present than it has this summer as I saw friends loving on the babies I am supposed to be loving on. I’m supposed to be there. I’m supposed to be giving them kisses, singing lullabies, and praying over them. I’m supposed to be getting hit with their toys, spit up on, and frustrated that they’re not doing what we’re praying so hard for them to do.

Blah. I’ll stop there before my two-year-old side comes out even more.

Anywho. I’ve been praying that the Lord would show me exactly what He wants me to do since I decided against Georgia. I’ve been praying that He would show me where He wants me to go and to just do something so that my heart would feel a tad more than heartache.

So naturally when I felt Him trying to talk to me, I cluttered my life so I wouldn’t have to listen.

Makes sense, right?

I know you do it, too. So shush it.

Again with the long story boring, I’ve spent the summer running away and yet praying for a miracle because I’m a brat my heart hurt.

God answered.

He gave me a bum leg, which forced me into rest.

Hashtag thanks a lot Jesus.

***End of side bar.  

About two weeks ago, I really felt Him trying to talk to me. Prior to the leg ordeal, I finally hit my knees and begged God to get rid of everything that’s been getting in the way of Him. Cue temper tantrum 23,409,324 for the summer.

I didn’t want to declutter, but I knew I had to if I wanted to hear His voice.

And I so desperately needed to.

The whole leg ordeal has just been icing on the cake. It has allowed me to spend the hours I would normally spend running with Jesus instead.

Hashtag seriously thank you Jesus.

So here comes the whole purpose of this entire blog (sorry not sorry for rambling so much).

I HAVE AN IDEA.

Brace yourselves.

It’s big.

Saving Sweets.

What you do you think?!?!?!?! Fantastic, huh?!?!

Yeah, that’s about all I know of it, too.

Kidding (kind of).

The other night, I was drifting off into la la land when the Almighty slapped an idea into my head.

I’ve been yearning to serve people but haven’t known in what capacity ever since I gave up the idea of Georgia.

Hello, Haley. It’s pretty stinking obvious. I love to bake. I love to share my edible love children with others. I love to love people. I love to tell people about the ultimate Love. Love love love love, crazy love.

So why not make a business of baking and serving others?

HEYO.

In true Jesus fashion, He has given me the idea but there’s really nothing more than that. I will, however, share my extremely rough ideas (heck, even then name is subject to change).

Saving Sweets would be an opportunity to share the love of Jesus with the least of these. Instead of charging $15 for a dozen cookies, I would charge $25. The extra $10 would go into a fund that would ultimately provide (food, water, clothes, cookies, Ihavenocluejustyet) for the homeless around Houston. I love building relationships with those who don’t know Jesus. So why not do that? Actually bring good news to those who don’t know Him? Hmmm. That’s an idea. Sounds like something Jesus would tell us to do.

I’ve thought about something along the lines of: for every dozen of cookies I bake for you, I bake an extra dozen to give to the homeless and share the love of Christ with them as we enjoy some tasty treats. Then there’s the idea of using the extra money to go towards a ministry overseas. OR instead of homeless, maybe prostitutes or abused women.

The possibilities are endless and I LITERALLY CAN’T EVEN wrap my mind around it all.

I feel like a little piglet who has found mud for the first time.

Ultimately, a certain percentage will be added to the total amount of your order and all of the profits will go where He tells it to go. Not to my pocket for loans, but to His account to serve others. I know the loans will be taken care of in due time. And since it’s your money, you’re serving God’s people, too. HEYO.

My heart is overwhelmed by God’s grace and mercy. I’ve been a brat all summer long and yet He has been faithful. And I know He will continue to be as we journey along this next phase of life together.

For a while now, my prayer has been, “More of You, Jesus, and less of me.”

More spreading His word, less worrying about loans. More time in His truth, less time worrying about my weight and marathon training. More about praising His name, less about trying to bring attention to myself.

In this season of rest, I will surrender all that I am. Less of me, Jesus. So much more of You.

It’s so sweet, isn’t it? The way God tenderly picks us up and embraces us when we are trying to resist Him?

I remember last summer when my boy, Tibi, was throwing the worst fit I had ever experienced. He was scared. He was confused. His little mind didn’t know what to think. I remember grabbing him and holding him tightly, rocking back and forth, singing “Jesus, Love of My Soul.” He hit me, bit me, kicked and screamed, until finally he took a deep breath and relaxed. An hour later, I continued to hold him, rock him, and sing to him until we could both move on.

That’s exactly how I picture our Savior with us. We get so caught up with life, so caught up in everything but Him. Then we become confused, frustrated, and afraid. When He tries to embrace us, we try to run away and fight it with all our might.

But lo, His embrace never fails. His love always win. We surrender, He has His way.

Oh, praise Him.

So with my crazy baking business idea, please feel free to give ideas or help out in any way the Lord has gifted you. If you’re tech savvy, teach me your ways on how to create a website (or just do it for me to save us both from pain). If you are business/money savvy, share the knowledge. If you have any other ideas and won’t be offended if I decide against them, please share.

Also, if you need any sweets baked, HIT ME UP. I had my first order go out last week, two coming up this week, one in September, and a couple, “Imma get you to do this party for me so I don’t have to do anything.”

Until the Lord reveals exactly how He wants this business run, the extra funds will be set aside and never bothered with until He tells me what to do with it. Your money is safe, people.

Please be gentle and kind in your thoughts about it all. This is truly my baby that I’ve been incredibly excited to share. While she may look a little deformed and odd (I’ll have to take the blame for that since Jesus is perfect), I’m confident she will grow into something beautiful, Lord willing.

I have no clue what I’m doing, but I trust our Savior will come in clutch as I continue to pray, “More of You, less of me.”

My prayer is for you to do the same.

Father God, I pray in this season of rest, You will make your voice heard. I’m tired of kicking and fighting you, I’m tired of trying to do life my way. I pray that You remind us all of who You are. You are such a good, good Father. When we deserve it least, You love us most. My prayer for everyone is that they would surrender all that they are, letting go of the chains that bind them, so that they can hear Your voice loud and clear. Our purpose here on earth is to do the work You have called us to do: love You and love others, bringing You all the praise and glory in everything we do. I praise You for never giving up on us. Remind us, Lord, less of us and more of You. Have Your way with me. Amen.