A Simple Country Mouse

I know you are hurting right now. I know life seems like it is about to fall apart and all you want is for it all to go away. For it all to be fixed. I know you want it to go back to normal. I know you wish it was different. I know. But it's not. The pain and hurt is still there. The worry and stress seem like they are going to drown you. It feels like you can't see the light in the dark. You feel alone and lost. You feel like there's no one who understands. You feel like you can't get out. That it won't end. The despair is overwhelming and it's all you can do to hang on to the tiny little string of hope you have left. But there is hope. Not just your tiny string, but also the small strings of hope of all those who love you. Together they form a solid rope you can hang onto. A tapestry of love to wrap yourself in. It will end eventually. You will get out, and there are those who understand. They are standing next to you, and they will not falter in holding y...

How many lies over the years have you been told about yourself that are on constant repeat in your head because you think they are truth? Me? I've got more than I'd ever like to admit. Before today I have always said I'm not a great baker, but I'm a decent cook. A few people growing up told me that my baking wasn't very good because my baking wasn't as good as xyz's in their life. I don't think they realized at the time how much damage that did to an influenceable young teenager. I used to bake cookies, pies, breads, shortbreads, all kinds of stuff. My brother loved my apple pies so much he wanted them instead of a birthday cake. You can't imagine how much that meant to me...until a few adults I looked up to greatly put me down so harshly. It wasn't just then either. I've had cupcakes explode and then some how implode. Don't ask. I literally have no idea. So eventually, I just stopped baking altogether. As an adult, I realized in my hea...