This cake was made to celebrate my grandbaby, Maya Olivia, just born yesterday on Friday the 13th at 1:00 in the morning during a beautiful storm! Congratulations to my loving son Justin and his truly lovely wife Kimberly.
Words can’t fully express the joy in my heart, not just knowing that sweet Maya is here, but watching my son walk through life and growing as a man. I have three children, and love them with all my heart, but Justin holds a very special place in my heart because I had him when I was only 18, unmarried and unprepared, but very much willing to love and care for him with all I had.
Through the years I’ve sometimes thought that I could have been a better mother to my son if only I had been older and more mature. I wonder if I had more money, or more time, if I could have made things easier, or set him up for even more success. When I go there, I’m quickly reminded that God has his hand on our lives whether we know it or not, and we walk through certain things in life for a reason. I think back to my childhood, and my life as a young, single mother, knowing that some of the struggles I endured are the very things that shaped me into the woman I am today.
Justin was an easy and beautiful baby, a smart and good-hearted boy, and an energetic and athletic teenager. Sure, he got into a litte trouble and got mad a me for a while, but we have love and a bond that will last forever. It is my hope that I was the perfect mother for Justin despite my imperfect parenting, and that like me, he will end up being a better and stronger person because of it.
Last night in their hospital room I watched this handome guy, beautfully rough around the edges, change his newborn’s diaper, help his wife in the bathroom, and then comfort litte Maya by placing her on his chest. Pure joy to watch.
And at a moment when I was feeling that I just might be intruding on their precious time with their new baby, Justin looked at me and said, “I’m glad you’re here.”
Life is funny. Don’t ever stop praying, and don’t ever believe that difficult situations are the end of the world. God is there in the midst – and can turn struggles into beauty if you believe and have love in your heart.
I couldn’t be more proud of Justin and Kim, and Olivia, and don’t know where I’ll find room in my heart to love them any more than I already do.
Oh boy, the CAKE recipe – I almost forgot! I used the recipe for my red velvet cake pops. Pour the batter into 2 round, greased caked pans.
For the frosting, see below.
| Sweet Maya Red Velvet Birthday Cake |
- 1 package cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 stick butter, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar
- With electric mixer, cream together cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add vanilla extract, sugar, one cup at a time and continue to beat until fluffy.
- To frost, use pastry bag with a 1M star tip. Just make little swirls and then go back and dot in between the swirls. It was pretty to let some of the dark, red cake show through, so don’t think you have to cover the entire cake.
