Round 27 Goodness

I had a blast baking this round. Well, every round. I spent an entire day baking. My guy was working and I was actually caught up on laundry and housework so I dove in. I had big plans. Peanut Butter M & M Bars, Snickerdoodles, homemade Oreos and Monster cookies.

I was especially excited to try out the Oreos recipe from Bake at 350.  I even added the little heart that she did. To give it a little extra flare, I rolled the filled cookie in red sugar crystals.

 

          

              

It is Valentine's Day afterall. What kind of baker would I be if i didn't throw in some festive Valentine's Day sprinkles and M & Ms.

I tell you, every time I bake for Baking GALS it reminds me just how big this world is and how much of a difference one organization can make in the lives of people who sacrifice so much for our country.

Homecoming!!!!

We have a couple of our guys coming home!!!

As I mentioned before, Matt, is scheduled to come home at the end of the month. 10-12 more days. Almost there. His family and I are chomping at the bit to give him big hugs.

I just found out tonight that our Baking Blessings Round 26?27 recipent, Josh, will be coming home in two weeks. Please join me in praying for him and all of the people he will be traveling with. I know Josh's family is beside themselves with excitement.

To everyone that sent Josh some baked love, Thank You!

Pictures from Stefanie

I L-O-V-E getting pictures from team members! That's what this blog is all about! Stefanie emailed this to me this morning. The cookies look incredible! I don't know about you but these were some of the thoughts that went through my head when I saw it:
1) My address is...
2) I seriously need to work on ym "flooding" skills
3) I'm drooling, good thing I'm home alone
4) Those are some lucky guys inAfghanistan
5) My address is...
6) How in the world to people make the picture collages on their blogs?!?!
7) I'm still drooling, I have a problem
8) My address is...

Thank You Stefanie! I am so happy you sent this to me and that you're on the team again!

Check out Stefanie's Blog. It's really cute!

And on a side note... I really love the friends I have made through Baking GALS! What a blessing all of you are!

Round 27 info!

YEAH!!!! It is finally time to start baking again! Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. It always amazes me how quickly it goes by.

Here's the info for our next round:
Teams Open: January 22
Shipping Starts: February 1
Shipping Ends; February 12

I would love to start posting recipes from team members on here so please email me some of your favorite cookie/bar/goodies recipes! jcskiddo@hotmail.com

Also send me pictures of you and your friends/family baking!!

I will be hosting 2 teams again this round. "Fire and Icing" and "Baking Blessings".I am excited about blessing these two guys with boxes and boxes of good stuff.

Welcome Back everyone!

Round 26: Final Stats

First of all, I am a slacker. I apologize for that. I've been meaning to writing about "Operation Christmas Blessing" on this blog but time has just gotten away from me. Somehow I managed to write it on my personal blog but not the Baking Gals blog. I think I got my wires crossed. Oh well.

Here's the blog about Operation Christmas Blessing.  I hope you enjoy reading it and looking at the pictures. I had a good time writing it.

So do you want to know just how many boxes we sent between the 2 teams?

Between "Team Fire and Icing" and "Team Baking Blessings" we had 32 team members. Of those 32 team members I've heard from 23 people. Are you ready for the grand total?

I am.

Are you?

Are you sure?

Have you been good this year? Oh wait, that's Santa's gig.

ok ok I will tell you.

maybe.

OK for realsies...

Drum Roll Please.....................................

47!!!!!!

I am shocked and blessed and overwhelmed by your generosity. I hope you realize what kind of impact we have just made on the lives of those we sent boxes to. 

Take a moment to imagine being in a desert, away from your family and friends. Freezing cold temps. Thanksgiving has passed, Christmas is coming. Probably no Christmas Lights. No tree. No (or very little) Christmas music. Then you get a box in the mail. A box from a total stranger. They have sent christmas cookies, much needed toiletries, hot chocolate, apple cider packets, hand warmers and kind notes, among other things. Can you imagine how you would feel? Humbled, blessed, joy and thanksgiving. Take a moment and think about how you would feel and multiply it by atleast 2 or 3. That is probably what they are feeling.

Thank you , from the bottom of me heart, for taking the time during this busy season to be part of such an amazing organization! Hope to see you all in the next round!

It has begun!

Round 26 Shipping has started!! Some of you over-achievers have already shipped your boxes. Wow! I am impressed. I am putting together stockings on sunday night and (hopefully) shipping my boxes out bright and early monday morning. I am soe xcited about the Christmas round. I think we will be making a huge difference in the lives of Matt, Josh and all of their co-workers.

Thank you so much for being part of Teams "Fire and Icing"  and "Baking Blessings!"

Hopefully some of your will email me pictures of you, your baking friends and all of the goodies being sent. I would love to post some on here.

The Spirit of Giving

Each round I am continually amazed by the generosity of everyone involved. I've received many emails, from people on both teams, telling me about everything they have/will send. It is just blows my mind.

Eventually Matt will be my brother in law so basically, he is my family. Josh's sister, Angie, is a good friend of mine that is more like family than a friend. Therefore Josh is family by association. Follow me? I hope so ;)

I want to thank all of the members (past and present) for taking care of my family. I know the men/women that are deployed appreciate it far more than words can say but don't forget that those of us that have loved ones over there also appreciate your generosity. It is comforting to know many other people, from all over the United States, are doing everything they can to take care of our family. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Ok.. Now I am getting all mushy. I need a tissue.