Ok, I posted this in the General forum as well, but I thought it might be kind of cool to post it here too!


Good Morning Everyone!!!

In honor of Jackie and Health sharing their amazing story with us, I thought it may be a good idea to let them know the diiferent ways that their wonderful creation has impacted each of our lifes.

My story: (FYI...my spelling can be horrific at times )
My husband was a Fireman in the Airforce, he received multiple Firefighter honors all while getting 2 Associates degrees, 1 Batchlor's degree, and eventually his Master's. He got his Batchlor's degree in Safety Managment and his Master's in Industrial Hygiene. He took and passed a VERY difficult professional test called the CIH test, to become a Certified Industrial Hygienist. He passed on his first try, which is virtually unheard of! Making him one of the youngest CIH's in the country. Now while I am very proud of his accomplishments mind you, this can become a little intimidating! I tried to go to college several times, always with a different major in mind, only to always drop out! I even took Real Estate classes and got my Real Estate License. I tried a few Independent Consultant things such as...Partylite, Avon, etc. Nothing felt "right" you know? Now all the while...through all of the schooling...test taking (DH)...etc. We managed to have three little girls, move a few times...to a few different states. There were times when he put so much time and energy into studying that I felt like a single mom of three very small children. We usually had no family around, so breaks for me were out! We usually ALWAYS had to tell friends "no" when it came to get-to-gethers because he was busy with his nose in the books. (He had a full time job too of course). So while I was VERY proud of all of his accomplishments, and he was very quick to give me TONS of credit...saying he couldn't have done any of it without me and my support...that I was at times virually a single mom...etc. I still always felt a little "in his shadows" you know?
Well, I always knew that I loved to bake, and I always recieved compliments on it when I did. I loved the "challenge" of saying to family members...no...this Christmas you DO NOT have to order that pie from Marie Callender's (a tradition in his family...same every year, the Lemon Supreme) I will duplicate that pie this year!! And I did, hence the end of that tradition. And then when I started making the cakes for my daughter's birthdays, I began to realize that nothing else in the whole world mattered when I was baking and decorating...I was on cloud nine! It took me a few years to realize that THIS is what I was MEANT to do! (not that I am awesome by any means ) But...THIS is where my "passion" lied. And it felt so good to be in the spotlight when I created something really cool for our kids, or our friends and family...I loved be the center of the "wow" factor!!! That is about the time that I found this site, and I am telling you that I have learned so much from this site and have been so inspired by the amount of talent and wisdom on this site that it is probably one one the sole reasons that I am so happy with life today! I am ALWAYS signed into this site...usually with a huge "cheezy grin" on my face!! I can't thank our wonderful creators of this site enough for litterally helping my find my way and passion in life!! I now feel like a seperate successful person...and that feeling is PRICELESS!

LONG I KNOW!!! I'M SORRY!!!!

I LOVED the knowledge I have gain thus far. And the people who are so dedicated and love baking. This is my favorite site. I sometime feel guilty being on this site for so long and my kids are doing their own thing.

Come on Guys!!! Think of how awesome this will be for them to see...to know what all of their hard work has done for the rest of us!!!

CC and Cake decorating kept me out of deperssion as I got really ill in 03 and the Dr.s told my family to keep me comfortable... I have always had a love to bake and make things pretty but bing a mother and wife came before me and my likes until I got sick. I made up my mind to really live and that ment taking classes to cake decorate as I can;t work a normal job any more and need extra income healthy or ill and I can do cakes on my good days if I'm on a down period I just don't twake any orders so CC has tought me more then I learned in my wilton classes I on here every night weather I post or not. Thanks CC for being apart of my new way of living!

I love to bake and have done it for years but I always wanted to learn cake decorating. There was never the time or money to take a class so I tried it on my own here and there but never went very far. For Christmas this year my sweet husband bought me the Wilton starter kit (the one that comes in the blue tool caddy) and signed me up for my first class. (I love that man!)

I am a research junkie so while taking the class I went online and started surfing cake decorating sites. I was already very familiar with baking911 and enjoyed that site but it just didn't have all that I was looking for. Then I stumbled on CC and it was love at first click! I lurked on here for awhile but I had a close family member pass away right at the end of my class so I was preoccupied with other things for awhile. I did post a few of my early cakes on my blog and my SIL saw them. Then when her son got engaged she asked me to do the cake (actually, she had to talk me into it because the thought terrifies me!)

I finally capitulated and since I am a newbie I knew right where to come for help! I can honestly say that if it weren't for this site I would not have agreed to do the cake. I knew that I could get answers to all my questions here though. I haven't done the cake yet (end of July wedding) but when I do I know it will go okay. I have not only gained knowledge but with the encouragement of the great people on here I have gained confidence as well. And I absolutely love decorating cakes! Hopefully I will have lots of excuses for doing it when the wedding is over!

Thanks CC!

CC means that I have an outlet, THANK GOD... though I still require my CRAZY PILLS on a daily basis, I am saved by CC to not be on the lethal dose of them, hehehehehehe.. no seriously. CC has opened so many new doors in my life. Before I didn't have any real passion in my life other than being a wife and mother, now I have found a true creative outlet that allows me to be something other than mom and wife, a baker, an artist and wow factor to someone! Nothing makes me feel more special than to see someone's reaction to a cake they had not idea was possible... or to see the pure elation of that 1 year old smashing their fingers into their 1st bite of a yummy chocolate, brightly colored cake and needing a bath before the end of it, PRICELESS. CC is a great place to meet wonderful people, and believe it or not I have met one of the dearest friends in my life, she has even traveled hundreds of miles to meet my family and was there only a day after my DS was born, what a GREAT story to share with him someday. Life brings you many opportunities and blessings. In life you appreciate the small ones and the big ones... and appreciate the small one of CC which turned out to be a MEGA one.... Jackie and Heath have saved me from Major Depression, walking out on a marriage and being a single mother, they have helped me to find a new best friend, and have helped me to create a new biz which will open this fall... so KUDOS to them for being my anchor.. I only hope to make them proud.. God Bless them, and all fellow CCer's and their families, as well as our countrymen and women keeping us safe!