Turkey Cookies

I love, love, love to bake.

My Father loved to bake.

So did my Mama.

And my Grandmother loved to bake, too.

I've always wanted to bake with a child. Back in the "old days" when i didn't think a family was going to be in the plans for my life due to my black sheep mentality and just not trusting that the Lord would put in my life whatever HE had planned, and not ME, i would dream of baking cookies with my daughter. Sugar cookies. With lots of icing and candy decorations. We would laugh and giggle as we baked, making a special plate for Dada....after a while, i shoved that dream to the farest reaches of my head. It was painful to think that i would never re-marry, or have a family. And so, dreams of baking with my future daughter faded...i threw myself into working and that did help a lot.

I still baked, mostly during the holidays or to bring treats to work. And i baked when i went home for the holidays to my parent's house. The smells, the laughter in our kitchen are what made the holidays for me. My sister's growing family would also come to our parent's home and i loved on my niece and nephews....trying desperately to block out the ache of dreams not realized in my life.

I wasn't sad, mind you, as i knew that there WAS a plan for my life. I made peace with the fact that God would show me where to walk; i just had to have patience. God may not have a husband or children in my life plan. Maybe he wanted me to travel to other countries, to serve. Or maybe to stay where i was already planted and just grown. Letting go of my dreams for husband/family was hard, but freeing. It's hard to trust God and let go; especially when you always think you need a plan and you need it N.O.W. I have always pictured the Lord looking down on me while i make plans and make my 'to-do' lists and 'must-do' list, shaking His head, smiling, almost giggling at me. I must ask about that when i get to heaven...

(Many years later, i did meet my husband....that's a whole 'nother amazing, sweet, beautiful story, so back to baking cookies!)

These Turkey Cookies were so easy and fun to do with Emma! I saw them on Pinterest and thought "Oh, yes, THAT'S THE COOKIE!" The supplies were easy to gather and we actually already had them in the pantry. The candy corn was leftover from Halloween. So all you needed was a sugar cookie recipe (or you can go buy already baked cookies if you're short on time), lots of icing, and leftover candy corn. I baked earlier in the morning to give the cookies time to cool, but both Emma and i iced and put on the candy corn.

Emma and i both ate way too many Turkey Cookies....and lots of good, sweet memories were made.

It was a perfect afternoon.

Perfect.

Those cookies were really, really cute. Next year, i think that we will bake a batch and have a little Thanksgiving Cookie Decorating Party with some friends. Or maybe decorate some Turkey Cookies and give to neighbors, friends, teachers, and such. I do think that i need to come up with a different name, though....how about Gobble Cookies?

I hope that Emma remembers these moments when she grows up. I hope that these kind of memories make her smile when she thinks back on them. Doing things together as a family, after all, are what the most cherished memories are made of....