Episode 44

full
Published on:

26th Jun 2024

#44. Summer Fun, Sweet Treats, and Good Messes!

Betsy and Stephanie talk about some of their favorite summer treats, why creativity and free time is so great for kids, and what you can encourage your kiddo to do this summer if they have an entrepreneurial itch! This conversation is silly, but full of great ideas! There's also a brand-new announcement about Entrusted with a Child's Heart!

Scriptures Mentioned:

Malachi 3:2-3

Recipes We Recommend:

Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes

S'Mores Pie

Transcript
Stephanie:

They're the joyful agains our children shout on the swings, the

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exhausting agains of cooking and laundry,

and the difficult agains of discipline.

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So much of what we do

as mothers is on repeat.

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So what if we woke up with clarity,

knowing which agains we were called

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to, and went to bed believing we

are faithful in what matters most?

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We believe God's Word is

the key to untangle from the

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confusion and overwhelm we feel.

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Let's look up together to embrace a

motherhood full of freedom and joy.

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Welcome to the again, podcast

from interested ministries.

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I'm your host, Stephanie Hickox.

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And I hope that you had a chance to

listen to our latest two part series.

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On ordering our days well, and making

sure that the Lord is our priority.

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If you didn't have a chance to listen

to that, I'd really recommend it.

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But today we're going to switch

things up a little bit and give

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you some really fun summer ideas,

whether your budget is tight or you're

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looking for a fun dessert to make.

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Or a fun creative activity.

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We're going to give you

plenty of permission.

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And hopefully spark some

creativity for you and your kiddos.

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After you listen, you're probably going

to think that I'm problems with sugar.

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And I think that we need to

have an episode about some

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healthier recipes that we make.

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Like my favorite

chocolate avocado pudding.

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That really would be my go-to, but

I think that it's fun to celebrate.

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And to make holiday special.

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And that definitely comes through.

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In this episode.

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Before we get to that conversation with

Betsy and I, I wanted to let you know

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that we have a very special announcement.

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And trusted with the child's

heart is going to be the lowest

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price that it has ever been.

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Very soon.

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We are trying to make it as accessible as

possible for those that would like to do

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a home group or even for churches to do.

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So please stay tuned.

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That is coming soon.

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If you have any questions.

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You can find us at www

dot entrusted ministries.

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Dot com fill out a contact form.

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And we would be so happy to get

that process started with you.

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Betsy: Here I am with Stephanie.

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This is Betsy and I had the privilege

of having her here with me at my home

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for a few days and we and even the

kids are with Grandma Cheryl and so

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we've had lots of conversations and

she told me a story and I thought

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we it would be fun to share some.

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Fun summer ideas that she's done and not

just that, but she makes the best birthday

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cakes and always has so many great ideas.

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It would be fun just to share a

couple of them because I don't know.

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She doesn't even share the pictures

with me, but then I have to ask

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to see him and when I see him,

I'm like, unbelievable girl.

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Stephanie: Thank you.

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The hospitality and the creativity runs

deep on our O'Malley side, doesn't it,

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so I feel that after years of watching

my mom loves to be artistic, and so

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does Auntie Anne, and Aunt Betsy, I

just have always watched your hosting

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abilities and have been amazed, and so I

want to hear some of your summer things

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that you've done, and I'm happy to have

the inspiration from you always going.

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She's thrown me some pretty epic baby

shower and bridal shower with a cupcake

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Betsy: Yeah, but I don't

make cakes as good.

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That one was got epic, but I definitely

got myself in in trouble there.

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So this cake that I made for Stephanie's

baby shower was a white porcelain pot and

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then I made a topiary out of it by taking

a styrofoam ball and setting it in there.

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There was no extra stick.

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There was just a styrofoam ball sitting

on that fit nicely on top of this and then

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I made cupcakes and frosted them with a

swirly pale blue flower and put a kind

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of a little spike, a little stick, kebab

stick or something, and put them into

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the ball so that this entire styrofoam

ball was one big globe of cupcakes and

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My goodness, I started to make cupcakes.

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I made a couple dozen and then I'm

like this, it took five dozen cupcakes

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Stephanie: Oh, no way.

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But

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Betsy: saying, we need more cupcakes.

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And I, but it was really fun.

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It's a one of a time thing that I did

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I don't think I would ever do it

again, but it was just for you.

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But you do it time after time.

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You come up with such really

great, fun birthday cake ideas.

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But you just told me about something you

did for, with your boys, just go through

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the entire process of it and really,

why did you do it in the first place?

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Stephanie: It started because

my third, Everett, is Mr.

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Entrepreneurial.

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I think he gets that from his dad's side.

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They have this drive and this vision

to scale things and to invent things

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and Everett, he was born with it.

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So he is always just looking

for, what can we do, mom?

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What can we do?

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And my son Ryder is a super great sport

and he loves to help his brother out

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with all of his grand schemes in life.

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And along with that, the kids wanted to

be in some extracurricular activities.

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And as much as I want that for

them, it just really wasn't

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in the budget right now.

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And so I thought, great

let's make that happen.

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What can we do to pave a way?

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And I'm just trying to channel my

Proverbs 31 woman, and it was also

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inspired by my sweet neighbor Dee

and she makes incredible egg rolls.

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One of her sons had come

around maybe six months ago.

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And he said, I am, I'm trying to help.

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My parents pay for some sports.

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Would you consider helping support me?

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And would you buy egg rolls?

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And so they did a very smart form

where you would pre order because

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they wanted to deliver them hot.

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So you pre ordered and then

they deliver them a couple of

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days later, right at dinnertime.

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It was really brilliant.

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And I thought I can't make egg

rolls, but I can make cupcakes.

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And so I offered that to my

kids and they loved the idea.

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Betsy: Now these weren't

any ordinary cupcakes.

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They weren't out of the

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box cupcakes.

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Tell us how you came up with the recipes.

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Stephanie: Searched on

Pinterest for a little bit.

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And I said, let's pick out some

different flavors and what do

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you think people would like?

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Let's have a nice variety.

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Betsy: All 60 of mine were the

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same

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Stephanie: were the same.

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But they were what I like.

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Chocolate with buttercream.

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I had them look up the

ingredients on a grocery website

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so they looked up the cost of the

ingredients and I also, had them

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create a Google sheet with the

prices and then the quantity That is

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Betsy: you've lost me

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already, But this is amazing.

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Stephanie: so

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cake flour has about seven cups in a box.

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Then we had to figure out, okay, what

is the price per cup for cake flour?

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Then we took each type of cupcake that we

were considering and we broke down what

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would be the cost to make this recipe.

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And it makes 30 cupcakes.

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how much does it take to make

a lemon blueberry cupcake?

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Betsy: And how much does it take?

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Stephanie: It was about 53 cents.

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Betsy: 53

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cents a

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Stephanie: cupcake?

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Yes, for that flavor.

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And that turned out to be

pretty consistent, about 50

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cents when you're making from

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scratch.

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Okay.

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We had to think about, based

on that, which recipes do

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we want to go forward with?

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And I had them pick four favorites,

and then we threw in a gluten free

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Betsy: nice of you!

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Stephanie: From a cake mix at the end.

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Betsy: What is the best

gluten free cake mix?

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Stephanie: I don't, You

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Betsy: You don't have a

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Stephanie: favorite?

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I don't.

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I will say this I have found to be

interesting, if I'm making chocolate

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cupcakes, I will often use a dark

chocolate mix because I like that

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it's not too sweet and it evens

out the sweetness of the frosting.

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And when I use a cake mix, everyone still

thinks it's made from So there have been

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times, many times, where I have made it

from scratch and I just feel oh, people

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liked it just as much from the box.

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We did make some Magnolia

copycat cupcakes.

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Betsy: Make, oh, okay.

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From,

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Stephanie: I haven't tasted her

cupcakes, but I've heard they're amazing.

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It's a vanilla cupcake with a, It's

still a buttercream, but it's a

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little bit whippier and lighter.

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That was from scratch,

and they were really good.

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That recipe only yields 12 The Lemon

Blueberry, that's the most time intensive.

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But those were great.

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And then used our secret family

buttercream recipe that I've adapted

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a little bit, people were very

intrigued by mom's secret butter cream.

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That one sold a lot.

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Then we did an Oreo cupcake and

that one, you put pudding in the

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mix and you put Oreo crumbles.

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So that had a mix.

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But then a lot of alterations to it.

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And then you actually make a

buttercream frosting and you put

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Oreo, crushed up Oreos in the

frosting and the kids loved that one.

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Then you had to teach them a

little bit about marketing because

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of course everybody's going

to say, what's your favorite?

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And

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Betsy: I'm like,

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Stephanie: yes, but you guys, we

have the most lemon blueberry when

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we saw the price break down, we had

to decide what will be the cost?

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And then are we going to package these?

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We bought boxes of a four pack on Amazon.

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That had the little nice dividers so they

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Betsy: would transport

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Stephanie: well.

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And we decided to charge 3 per individual

cupcake if someone wanted to just buy one.

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But we would charge 10 for a

four pack of the same flavor.

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Betsy: Then they're 2.

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Stephanie: And I found boxes at HomeGoods

that were really cute and confetti

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And then we did a six pack variety pack.

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And those we charged 15 for.

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They helped me make the order

for all of the ingredients.

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And, I just got to show them, okay, we're

buying a pack of butter, but how many

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recipes will we use that for and to make

all the tally marks and place that order

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Betsy: And how many did

you make all together?

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Stephanie: It was almost 300.

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I think 286.

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Betsy: We're going to

have to put a picture up

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Stephanie: picture up.

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Yes, it was so many.

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By the time we had all the ingredients,

I started at 11 in the morning.

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Okay.

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And I went all the way, I

think it was 9 at night.

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Betsy: Now they need to be

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Stephanie: Yeah, and that was just baking

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Betsy: them.

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I know,

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you understand how much work they

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Stephanie: And then I had each of the kids

pick a type of cupcake to help me with.

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Adeline helped with the lemon blueberry

because she really wanted to be involved.

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Betsy: And she's six

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Stephanie: had sticks.

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And Lincoln.

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He was in and out.

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He has a shoe customization side

business, so he wasn't sure if

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he was gonna raise his money

that way or through the cupcakes.

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So he went with the easiest one.

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Betsy: So we're going to

have to come back to that

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Stephanie: And

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Betsy: And

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come back to

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Stephanie: that yes,

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Betsy: in a second.

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Okay.

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Kids businesses

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too.

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Stephanie: All that day I was just

baking, but then, I still did laundry.

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I cooked for everybody, but you know that

baking process takes a long time, but from

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start to finish that's how long it took.

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And then the next day I woke up early

and started making the frostings

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a lot of it you just wanted to be fresh

and the lemon blueberry have a lemon

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cream cheese frosting and that had to

be done right before we went out, so

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I tried to do it as much in advance

as possible, but also keep them fresh.

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we had debated, do we do a stand?

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Do we go door to door?

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Do we let people pre order?

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We think the visual of having the

cupcake right there in front of you is

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going to be more effective than a little

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Betsy: So did the boxes have a

cellophane lid so you could see through?

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Stephanie: see through?

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Yes.

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Then they took grandma's nice wire

organizer that fit the boxes very nicely.

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So they took that door to door with

a clipboard that had the flavors and

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they explained why they're doing this.

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And I took the car with

cupcakes all packaged in the

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Betsy: trunk.

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So they could refill the

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Stephanie: Yes, with some, ice

packs and things for some of them.

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And I would park and then walk a

little bit behind them and watch them.

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It was funny those little lessons

the sales pitch was so good in our

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home then you get to the front door.

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You're like, oh, we're losing a

little spunk here or Hey guys, if

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we're arguing on the front step, I

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don't think

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they're gonna want to support our

business it was interesting those

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little lessons that snuck in.

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Betsy: So how long did you

actually go out there and sell?

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How long did it take and how

many did you sell that first day?

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How many hours did you

put into selling them?

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Stephanie: Two of the boys had a

youth group party that night, we

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went out maybe three hours initially,

and then we came home for a while.

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Sent the older two off and then the

younger two and I went out again.

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Betsy: But the three hours was enough

to say, for your boys to be really

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charged up like, people want these

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Stephanie: cupcakes.

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Yes.

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We did definitely sell the most that

first day, but then the second day They

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set up this cute little stand that we

have and I said let's not go door to

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door Like I have invested a lot of energy

in this project and I had some other

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things I needed to be doing at home.

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So I just they set up the stand

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right And continued to sell and it was

cute, we, they made a big sign and I

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could not believe how many people pulled

over and a lot of people gave more.

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that was really surprising to me,

but Ryder was a very determined.

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Sales line with his sign

and he was not giving up.

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So he drew a lot of people

to their little stand.

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Betsy: Yeah.

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Stephanie: They did it

a couple hours that day.

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It was a very rainy day.

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So they just used that window and

then the next day they finalized.

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And, I said, let's have a price decrease

cause they're not quite as fresh.

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And then they said, Oh mom, we're sorry.

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We forgot to do The discount, but

people still bought them at that price.

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Betsy: That's awesome.

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Stephanie: there were some cupcakes

that I had set to the side, like

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we will absolutely not sell these.

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These are, I called them casualty

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cupcakes.

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Some just didn't look beautiful

when they came out of the oven and

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I just threw a dollop of frosting

on them and then company came over

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because it was Memorial Day weekend.

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Company came over on Monday And I opened

my fridge because I had planned that

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we're gonna serve cupcakes for dessert.

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I had an apple pie backup too, but

then I opened my fridge and I realized,

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or I see my boys taking the last of

the cupcakes out and I'm like, no,

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like those, you can't sell those.

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And there was a woman

saying, oh no, I want them.

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It was just a very funny experience.

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What was interesting to me, I almost

felt a little bit embarrassed.

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Are people going to think, I'm

trying to figure out how to pay

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for my kid's extracurricular.

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Why should I pay for your kid's?

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And I just wondered if that was

what they were thinking deep down.

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But one, one woman actually chased me

down and she said, I just want you to

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know my husband said, what a good mom

that you're teaching them this lesson.

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Betsy: Didn't somebody else say something

like they came back to say, Oh, I'm sorry.

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I said, I

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Stephanie: didn't

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want them.

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Betsy: And

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now I want the cupcakes because

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Stephanie: yeah, so she was trying to eat

healthily and she was just gardening as

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we walked by and she said, I'm so sorry.

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I can't eat that, but I'm, I think

what you're doing is wonderful.

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So then we had parked in a nearby cul de

sac and all of a sudden she comes around

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and she honks and she's I'm so sorry.

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I said, I didn't want them.

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My son said, hey, just because you

can't eat them doesn't mean we can't.

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And she said, my husband said, what a

great thing that mom is teaching them.

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A lot of Especially, senior citizens,

I noticed that they were very impressed

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by it, that they were learning that

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Betsy: Yeah, and it's fun to just make

those contacts, too, with your neighbors

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and get to know them a little bit.

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Introduce yourself.

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I think that's really a great idea.

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And for them to see your kids,

who are these kids running around?

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Stephanie: Everett said, I think we

should say, hi, we're your neighbors

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from down the road at blah, blah, blah.

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It's just that born salesman where it's

very natural and it doesn't feel salesy.

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He really thinks this

cupcake's good for you.

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And he's going to let you

know, he's going to sell it.

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It was a great experience and I

would definitely make it an annual

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thing, although Everett would

like it to be a weekly thing.

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Betsy: Yeah, he wanted to

do it again right away.

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Stephanie: But they were very happy

to give their portion to church

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Betsy: And now you saved up

enough to enter the kids in

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some sports activities . Yes.

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Yeah, that's great.

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Stephanie: It was a really great

learning lesson Supply and

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demand, it was helpful for them

to see, and the value of a dollar,

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Betsy: so I had one of my grandsons

over recently and he is 14, almost 15.

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So he, I was doing something in the

kitchen and he looked up on his phone.

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I didn't know exactly what he was doing.

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He was looking up a recipe,

but he wouldn't let me see the

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recipe.

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And he said, Grandma, do you

have All these ingredients and so

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we went through the whole list.

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It was quite a list and I said

yes I have all those ingredients.

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So we're gonna make this mystery thing

that he didn't tell me But of course,

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I know it's some sort of obviously it's

some sort of chocolatey dessert And

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I'm guessing that it's baked and all of

these things So I know it's some sort

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of cake and it was a chocolate cake But

my goodness, that recipe was pages long.

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It was quite involved

and really fun though.

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He would read the instructions to

me, and then I would do the steps.

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And there was this one point where we

were making frosting, and I've never

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made frosting like this before, where

you have egg whites and sugar, and

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you're beating it on the stove till

it reaches a certain temperature.

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And I needed five hands.

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Stephanie: So

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Betsy: was holding it, the, oh my

goodness, and I'm getting out the

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double boiler and everything and we're

whipping it till it gets to that certain,

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and we had to throw out one batch

because I had to let go of it a second

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and what happens to the egg whites?

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They,

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Stephanie: separate

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Betsy: They harden.

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So we had to start over on that,

but there was so much butter in that

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Stephanie: frosting.

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Betsy: It was delicious though.

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It was really a delicious cake.

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That was just a really fun kind

of crazy thing that we did.

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Then we print off the recipe and we say,

what occasion did we make it for and

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how we rated it, that kind of thing.

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Stephanie: When eating lunch, you

said, We're eating the salad so

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that we can have those cupcakes.

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And that is my Philosophy

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Load up on the vegetables and

enjoy a little cookie dough later.

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Betsy: actually we did

eat a cupcake before we

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Really good ones.

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Stephanie: but I do, it is so important

for me to give my kids healthy

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food and to set them up for life.

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To love the foods that God made,

but I do feel you know what?

384

:

It's fun to have a little

treat now and then and Yeah

385

:

Betsy: yeah, I like my

treats a little too much.

386

:

Stephanie: Speaking of cakes an

incredibly easy cake that I made recently.

387

:

I couldn't believe how easy it was.

388

:

I'm talking from start to finish.

389

:

10 to 15 minutes and I only say 15

minutes because I let Everett help.

390

:

He wanted to help, but he loves ice cream

so much he didn't really want a cake.

391

:

So I found this recipe where you take

ice, you use a springform pan and line

392

:

it with saran wrap and then you take ice

cream sandwiches, you cut them in half

393

:

and then you line them around the exterior

sorry, the, yes, thank you, the perimeter.

394

:

So it's fanning out around the

pan, and then in the center of it,

395

:

you're gonna fill it with ice cream.

396

:

So we did half vanilla, half

chocolate, I think, in the center.

397

:

And then on top of it, you

take, you form a couple balls

398

:

of ice cream in your favorite,

399

:

Betsy: How big?

400

:

Stephanie: Just large

401

:

Betsy: Okay.

402

:

Stephanie: And then you take ice

cream cones, like sugar cones, and

403

:

put them on top of the balls of ice

404

:

Betsy: cream.

405

:

But there's only two balls of ice

406

:

cream?

407

:

Stephanie: of ice cream?

408

:

Three to five.

409

:

Then you just put those cones on

top, almost like a little castle.

410

:

Betsy: Okay.

411

:

Stephanie: And I think I used three cones.

412

:

And then you take some

of that quick freeze.

413

:

I know it's

414

:

Betsy: Yeah, it's like a

chocolate syrup that freezes at

415

:

room temperature or solidifies.

416

:

Stephanie: Yes.

417

:

And pour a little bit of that

over the balls of ice cream and

418

:

then throw some sprinkles on

419

:

Betsy: in

420

:

no sparklers

421

:

Stephanie: That would go great with it.

422

:

Then, I put it in the freezer

for a little bit because the ice

423

:

cream sandwiches are so soft.

424

:

And then, brought it out, took the

saran wrap and the springform pan off.

425

:

It was just so simple, and it looked

really cute, and I thought, wow, that

426

:

was easier than the hours it usually

takes me, and he's pretty happy

427

:

right now that's a great summer one.

428

:

And, it held the candles

really really well.

429

:

Oh, the funny thing that,

happened recently?

430

:

That was with the s'mores pie that

Lincoln wanted for his birthday.

431

:

He had a bunch of boys

over for his birthday.

432

:

And I was like, what is

happening to the candles?

433

:

They were just melting, but it's

because I had taken the pie out of the

434

:

oven,

435

:

just stuck the candles in and all of

436

:

Betsy: a sudden Imagine that.

437

:

I

438

:

Stephanie: it just took

a second to register,

439

:

Betsy: so a couple of desserts that

are fun for this summer are, of course,

440

:

everybody likes to make popsicles with

441

:

Some

442

:

gelatin in so they're not too icy hard

and all that and but we like, and this

443

:

isn't just for summer, but a fun thing

to do is, I mean you can just buy the

444

:

cheesecake from Costco if you want to,

but to find some rock pop rocks, and put

445

:

them on top of the cheesecake just before

you're serving it and it just makes this

446

:

little crackle in your mouth and it's fun

for you know fourth of july or whatever

447

:

Stephanie: That's very fun.

448

:

Betsy: We always had, everybody makes

ice cream floats, or I'm surprised that

449

:

people don't make, I always said, have

you ever had orange pop in ice cream?

450

:

And people will be like, what?

451

:

But no we made ice cream with any kind

of flavor pop, even Green River, which

452

:

is fun, so for a particular holiday,

but it's fun to make volcanoes, so

453

:

you put the ice cream in and then you

pour the pop on top and of course it's

454

:

foaming up up, and kids do love that.

455

:

I suppose everybody here listening

now is going to be baking cupcakes

456

:

tonight,

457

:

Because

458

:

it's making me want to bake cupcakes.

459

:

So that's just a couple of things here

and there, but also kids do other fun

460

:

ways to earn money for the summer.

461

:

Our granddaughter yesterday has

been babysitting a lot while her mom

462

:

does Bible study with her friends.

463

:

It's a lot of work, but she's

earning money to buy a Bible.

464

:

Clothes for herself

465

:

and

466

:

Stephanie: and it was interesting when

she came out of the dressing room because

467

:

we thought we said, oh, that's cute and

she said Yeah, I don't think i'm gonna

468

:

get it and we said why not she said

because i'd have to pay for it And so she

469

:

all the differently right all of a sudden

if mom was paying Yeah, that's cute

470

:

enough to get but if it said why Dime.

471

:

I'm gonna think a little bit harder about

472

:

Betsy: It's interesting how

their dollar has more value

473

:

than your dollar.

474

:

But going back to some of the things

that kids do just to earn money, because

475

:

it's difficult when you're not old

enough to get a job, but you just want

476

:

to make a little money, maybe you're.

477

:

I don't know if kids deliver

newspapers so much anymore.

478

:

Maybe they rake yards or mow and

all that kind of stuff, but there's

479

:

some fun things that kids are doing.

480

:

And one thing that your son

is doing is customizing shoes.

481

:

So explain that a little bit.

482

:

Stephanie: He, Lincoln is such an artist.

483

:

He's just from the time

he was very little.

484

:

He sees things clearly

that he can draw so well.

485

:

And he has been Purchased Posca

markers, so P O S C A, and

486

:

Betsy: they're like a paint

marker with really vivid

487

:

colors.

488

:

Stephanie: And they last well.

489

:

So he will use those,

and they are expensive,

490

:

Betsy: You can

491

:

get a good set on Amazon, 50

for several colors but smaller

492

:

Stephanie: sets.

493

:

Betsy: when they dry, are they waterproof?

494

:

Stephanie: Yes.

495

:

He does

496

:

do some touchups too with

alcohol markers on Crocs.

497

:

Okay.

498

:

And I'm like, have we tested

those enough to make sure?

499

:

And he says he has.

500

:

Betsy: These are the kinds of shoes he's

501

:

Stephanie: or tennis

shoes and it's a thing.

502

:

And the youth group

503

:

Betsy: Those athletic slides.

504

:

Stephanie: Yes.

505

:

And even, he did this recently for a

birthday present, which was really neat.

506

:

He actually did it for Jen's son.

507

:

Betsy: oh,

508

:

Stephanie: I

509

:

asked Jen what would your son like

for his birthday and she said,

510

:

Oh, he is going to love anything.

511

:

Lincoln thought I would really love

to customize a pair of shoes for him.

512

:

And he knew that he likes Mario and Luigi.

513

:

And we found out his shoe

size and we went and bought.

514

:

Just a basic black and white

tennis shoe, but it provided a lot

515

:

of room for Lincoln to draw on.

516

:

And so he made, the question mark

block that Mario pops up on and

517

:

the mushroom pops out of and some

different characters around it.

518

:

Betsy: For the person

519

:

who has everything, get them some

520

:

Stephanie: words.

521

:

Betsy: Actually, he did

a pair for my husband.

522

:

. And he wore those.

523

:

He still wears those.

524

:

Yes.

525

:

He just slips 'em on and walks

around the house and they're

526

:

so comfy and really cute.

527

:

Customized,

528

:

Stephanie: Also likes to do

things well, but he really is

529

:

like, Nope, Mom, they're done.

530

:

They're good.

531

:

They're done.

532

:

I'm like, Oh, really?

533

:

Don't we just want to add this

little, do you think we should

534

:

straighten that up a little better?

535

:

Nope.

536

:

Betsy: That's a true artist because

I always overdo and it's when you

537

:

know when you're done, even in

writing, oh slap my hand, like

538

:

Stephanie: You're done.

539

:

Betsy: done.

540

:

But I appreciate that

about him at his age.

541

:

He's no, it's done.

542

:

I look, I was looking at an abstract

painting yesterday and I was thinking,

543

:

how did that person think they were done?

544

:

But

545

:

they were done.

546

:

Stephanie: Yes.

547

:

I, I

548

:

Betsy: would have just kept adding

stuff till I completely ruined it.

549

:

Stephanie: There's something to it.

550

:

Once someone was cutting my hair

and she was telling me that she

551

:

had recently gotten engaged and

she went wedding dress shopping.

552

:

She's yes, I found my dress.

553

:

And I said, how many did you try on?

554

:

She said, two.

555

:

And I'm thinking, how could you stop at

two, I'm like, is there territory to be

556

:

Betsy: explored?

557

:

Stephanie: I can't finish.

558

:

And she, I, all of a sudden I said,

that's why you're so good at your

559

:

job because you know when to stop.

560

:

Because you think when you're

cutting someone's hair, the worst

561

:

Betsy: is Oh yeah, I would cut the

hair for two hours and not be done.

562

:

And it would be shorter and shorter.

563

:

Stephanie: I do think that's such an

innate quality that some people have,

564

:

some people don't, but then as his

mother, just guiding him because I really

565

:

want the customer to be pleased too.

566

:

So it's been an area of

restraint for me that I'm.

567

:

Just wanna transition.

568

:

Yes.

569

:

Just wanting to encourage him

and, because I do think he's

570

:

Betsy: age 13 Making some money doing this

because he's been doing it for a year.

571

:

. Stephanie: Yep.

572

:

And it's, he's, his generous

spirit is coming out so much and

573

:

it, because often it'll be like,

oh, it's your birthday this week.

574

:

I'm not gonna charge you but

575

:

But he's having to replace the

markers and they do add up.

576

:

Then all of a sudden I'm

like, Oh, sweetie, I'm sorry.

577

:

I think we need to be a little bit less

578

:

Betsy: generous.

579

:

Well, it's a, good lesson to learn

the cost of making goods, right?

580

:

Yes.

581

:

It's, and even when we were

talking about the cupcakes, it

582

:

pretty much cost you about 150

in supplies to make the cupcakes.

583

:

The kids need to know,

hey, that's not just.

584

:

Pure profit.

585

:

There's always that good

little lesson to learn.

586

:

Stephanie: One thing, as long as

we're mentioning Posca markers, they

587

:

are fantastic for writing on glasses.

588

:

Say you're having a party, and

you want to mark the glasses.

589

:

You can write a really beautiful script.

590

:

You can write the ladies names,

or the kids names, or anything on

591

:

the glasses before they arrive.

592

:

And it washes off very easily, but it

stays well, even through condensation,

593

:

Betsy: It doesn't get on your hands.

594

:

Stephanie: your nails.

595

:

I've had a couple parties recently

where that's been, they're

596

:

just like, How did you do this?

597

:

And

598

:

it

599

:

Betsy: he can decorate their glasses.

600

:

I've seen people tape their, their patio

doors or whatever with masking tape.

601

:

And then I'm not sure they would

use Posca markers for that,

602

:

but certain sort of chalks and

603

:

Stephanie: Yes,

604

:

or I think you can use acrylic or tempera

605

:

Betsy: paint.

606

:

Oh,

607

:

Stephanie: yes.

608

:

Betsy: And then you peel off the tape and

you have a beautiful stained glass window.

609

:

And the light shines through

and that's a really fun thing.

610

:

Especially, I think that's

a great Easter activity.

611

:

Stephanie: I agree.

612

:

That's really beautiful.

613

:

a very vibrant, fun thing.

614

:

But that could be a fun thing.

615

:

4th of July, maybe, you

616

:

Betsy: Fourth of July we made a cake that

was, we have a couple of Fourth of July

617

:

desserts, but one of them is you make just

a vanilla cake or whatever flavor and with

618

:

white icing, and then you put some you

put little circles, of dark blue icing

619

:

and dark red icing and you want to make

sure they don't taste bitter or whatever.

620

:

Then you take a knife from the center

or a toothpick and you can have the kids

621

:

just pull them out and it looks like,

622

:

Stephanie: Firework Store!

623

:

Betsy: like fireworks on top

of the cake and you can do

624

:

that on individual cookies too.

625

:

So That's

626

:

real like

627

:

Stephanie: Oh,

628

:

that's a really fun one.

629

:

I mentioned the s'mores pie earlier.

630

:

That's my neighbors know I'm

Guaranteed I have to bring the s'mores

631

:

pie to the 4th of July events and

Everybody likes that and it's again.

632

:

It's not the healthiest, But that's

633

:

Betsy: a pretty much, it's an easier

634

:

Stephanie: It is

635

:

Betsy: easy

636

:

Okay, so explain that one.

637

:

Stephanie: That one It's similar

to a sugar cookie crust, but you're

638

:

mixing graham cracker crumbs in

it And then you do roll it out

639

:

between two sheets of wax paper.

640

:

Otherwise, it would be way too sticky

So you put Half of it on the bottom

641

:

of the pie pan, and then you take

marshmallow fluff, which I know

642

:

is, you're a big fan of, right?

643

:

Yeah.

644

:

Okay.

645

:

I'm gonna say

646

:

Betsy: I got

647

:

Stephanie: over that addiction.

648

:

Betsy: That was when I was probably a

649

:

teenager.

650

:

Stephanie: teenager.

651

:

Sorry.

652

:

that should not proceed you anymore.

653

:

And then after the marshmallow.

654

:

Cream or fluff.

655

:

It really, it's so sticky.

656

:

And then you can just break up

Hershey bars and I use those.

657

:

I, when you break them into the

rectangles, I kind of use that

658

:

to spread out the cream and I,

and then you're going to put.

659

:

It's called, the recipe I use calls for

six bars, but I always find first of

660

:

all, Six butter?

661

:

Oh,

662

:

sorry.

663

:

six bars

664

:

of butter?

665

:

Oh,

666

:

no.

667

:

And that's the money for Hershey.

668

:

No.

669

:

They have the Hershey bars.

670

:

And I usually use four and a half to five.

671

:

They're expensive, and and my

kids always want a little taste,

672

:

and I always give them one.

673

:

And I find it doesn't taste as good.

674

:

Quite neat that it's already sweet enough.

675

:

Then you put the other half of the crust

down and bake it and you serve it warm.

676

:

And if you serve it too

warm, it's definitely not

677

:

pretty coming out of the pan.

678

:

It's so ooey and gooey.

679

:

But it's a s'more in a pie form and

it's a little bit easier to eat.

680

:

And it's just it's funny because it's

like you make it for people once, then

681

:

you're expected to keep You know, nobody's

ever had it before, so they expect

682

:

you to bring

683

:

Betsy: it.

684

:

We've done one at our house,

which is much simpler.

685

:

I just take a low baking dish,

like a quiche dish almost.

686

:

It's got a lower side on it.

687

:

And then I just put a bunch

of marshmallows around in it,

688

:

regular huge marshmallows.

689

:

And then break the Hershey's

bars up just in little squares.

690

:

And that's it.

691

:

Just scatter them on the top.

692

:

Put it in the oven like that

for 10 minutes or so until

693

:

the marshmallows get bubbly.

694

:

Brown, just browned, then pull it out

and then everybody just sits around

695

:

it and scoops in it with graham

696

:

crackers.

697

:

Stephanie: Wow.

698

:

Betsy: And you have to eat it pretty

quickly because otherwise the marshmallows

699

:

tend to, they get really gooey and harder,

700

:

that's really fun if

you don't mind sharing

701

:

germs you know.

702

:

Stephanie: I went to a wedding

once where they had s'mores.

703

:

Oh, really?

704

:

It was this fancy home in

Charleston, South Carolina.

705

:

It was her parents home and they had

a fire pit, you could make s'mores,

706

:

but they also had a donut truck come.

707

:

But they were really fancy donuts,

708

:

like

709

:

bacon bourbon donuts and sriracha,

honey, and it was pretty neat.

710

:

But then you made your s'more, you

put it in foil, and then you put it

711

:

in the fire, and then peeled back

712

:

Betsy: foil Oh,

713

:

Stephanie: a little bit.

714

:

It's interesting, cause I'm,

it's very important to me that my

715

:

chocolate is melted on my And so I

always stick it in the marshmallow.

716

:

Betsy: Oh, okay.

717

:

Stephanie: But it's, that's

718

:

Betsy: So this may be more than

you ever thought you'd learn about

719

:

s'mores or wanted to know, but we

must be craving s'mores or something

720

:

because we're going on and on about

721

:

Stephanie: It's like the

quintessential summer dessert, right?

722

:

Recently my Bible study, we were going

through Malachi and I'm like, I want to

723

:

Betsy: s'mores.

724

:

There's s'mores.

725

:

in

726

:

Stephanie: s'mores.

727

:

Because when it talks about Jesus

sitting as a refiner's fire and he

728

:

sits and it made me think about how

729

:

Betsy: You roasted that

marshmallow so perfectly?

730

:

Yes!

731

:

Oh,

732

:

Stephanie: and he's not going

to let you stay in that trial

733

:

any longer than you need.

734

:

And when you think about silversmiths,

they hold that silver in there

735

:

until just the right time.

736

:

And when is the right time to pull it out?

737

:

When they can see their reflection in

it that you can't do with a marshmallow.

738

:

But I just thought about the patience.

739

:

And I just was like, oh girls,

I want to make you s'mores

740

:

Betsy: want to make these right now.

741

:

Oh, never

742

:

think about that

743

:

Stephanie: I don't

744

:

Betsy: know.

745

:

Well, that's fun.

746

:

And I'm sure everybody has lots

of Fun ideas that they're doing

747

:

with their kids, and I hope you're

enjoying those kids and making

748

:

the

749

:

most of

750

:

it.

751

:

And it doesn't have to

be all about making money

752

:

Stephanie: can do it for your sports.

753

:

Or eating sugar.

754

:

I feel like we need to

755

:

throw

756

:

Betsy: something.

757

:

Let's throw in some carrot

758

:

Stephanie: carrot sticks somehow.

759

:

Oh, Yes, right?

760

:

Healthy snacks.

761

:

Isn't it cute when you see the little

pictures that people can make, with

762

:

fruits and vegetables or little But

I have to say, do not feel like your

763

:

kids need that kind of thing every day.

764

:

Because I don't.

765

:

I don't think that's a

standard that's healthy either.

766

:

Betsy: Yes, we do this once a year.

767

:

Stephanie: and we would both be really

big proponents of letting children

768

:

have ample time and to be bored

and to be creative and to explore

769

:

Betsy: I think the way this kind

of came about is because we do

770

:

something we call making a good mess.

771

:

And I totally believe in having

a good time making a good mess.

772

:

Not being messy for the sake of being

messy, but understanding that There's

773

:

messiness that comes out of doing

something really fun or creative or

774

:

fantastic and being good with that.

775

:

And then of course we have to clean

it up, but I did, I was through, went

776

:

through a phase of poor painting with

my grandkids and I would cover the

777

:

entire island with this plastic, and

then I would put over it, like paper,

778

:

brown paper, and tape it around.

779

:

And then they would each get a

canvas, they would get their cups,

780

:

we would Fill them with different

paints and different balances of

781

:

paint and color and all of that.

782

:

And they would pour them on their canvases

and tip them and make beautiful designs.

783

:

And then we would name them.

784

:

We would all decide, what

are you going to name this?

785

:

And we all have one from

everyone in our entire family.

786

:

And I look at those and they're so much

fun to me, but really poor painting.

787

:

You can have a ball with

788

:

that

789

:

Stephanie: fantastic.

790

:

And I remember one night I came

over asking you for some wisdom

791

:

and you said, would you like to do,

792

:

Betsy: Oh, you

793

:

Stephanie: pour paint?

794

:

And it was so great.

795

:

That was perfect.

796

:

You, we should do that for

the podcast going forward.

797

:

We're just going to do a craft while we

798

:

Betsy: talk,

799

:

Oh my goodness.

800

:

My creative grandchildren love it.

801

:

They all loved it.

802

:

My 14 year old grandson has

one framed in his bedroom.

803

:

It turned out so fun.

804

:

There's so many things you can do.

805

:

You can put a little salt on there.

806

:

You can put a little oil in it.

807

:

You can just do things to

make different designs.

808

:

And there's tons of videos

out there and how to do it.

809

:

And even Hobby Lobby offers the paints

already pre mixed, which is a big help.

810

:

That's a really fun

activity and it's messy.

811

:

You only want one person actually

pour painting at one time.

812

:

The others can be sitting there with their

paints, but you want to see the process

813

:

for each person's, creation coming out.

814

:

That is so much fun.

815

:

We do tie dyeing, soap making, candle

making, we just like to make stuff.

816

:

And so does Lauren.

817

:

Lauren is my, one that's

very much into things.

818

:

Stephanie: so fun.

819

:

I

820

:

remember that first summer where my

brother and I were old enough to not have

821

:

a babysitter and not to go to daycare.

822

:

And all day long, we would just

build these huge Lego cities.

823

:

Just build and build, but

we didn't have a playroom.

824

:

So then my dad would come home

and say, okay, pick it up.

825

:

Betsy: This is the

826

:

playground.

827

:

Stephanie: and be like, okay.

828

:

And then we'd start again the next day.

829

:

I think about the problem solving and so

many lessons that are taught through the

830

:

creative process, some of the greatest

minds in history, were very poor.

831

:

Leonardo da Vinci, he had nothing.

832

:

But a pad of paper, growing up.

833

:

No schooling, nothing, but he

would observe creation and he

834

:

would draw and he would think.

835

:

And I just feel that so often we feel

we need to program kids or take them to

836

:

events and there's a place for those.

837

:

We were saying what great character

is built through sports, and I

838

:

agree with that, but I also think

there's a balance to just be, To

839

:

have your minds develop and to think.

840

:

Betsy: And to use your hands, there's

something fun about using your hands

841

:

and getting your hands in bread

dough or all those kinds of things

842

:

that are just even therapeutic.

843

:

We know that you've got lots of

ideas that you already do, and this

844

:

is probably stirring your creative

juices, so we want you to really

845

:

have fun with those kids this summer.

846

:

Let them make some good messes,

and we would even love to

847

:

hear about your good messes.

848

:

What's your favorite good mess?

849

:

Stephanie: We know you're busy,

Mama, so we are truly grateful you

850

:

joined us for this episode of Again.

851

:

If you're looking for more information

about building your home on the

852

:

foundation of Jesus Christ, head to www.

853

:

EntrustedMinistries.

854

:

com to learn more about our study for

moms, Entrusted with a Child's Heart.

855

:

This scripture saturated study

has blessed families around the

856

:

world, and we want it for you, too.

857

:

Before you go, I want to pray

this benediction over you

858

:

from 2 Thessalonians 1, 11 12.

859

:

We're rooting for you.

860

:

To this end, we always pray for you,

that our God may make you worthy of His

861

:

calling, and may fulfill every resolve

for good and every work of faith by

862

:

His power, so that the name of our Lord

Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in

863

:

Him, according to the grace of our God.

864

:

And the Lord Jesus Christ.

865

:

Amen.

866

:

Until we meet again.

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About the Podcast

Again
Biblical Motherhood Untangled
So much of what we do as mothers is on repeat. Join us to redeem this repetition and untangle from the confusion and overwhelm of parenting. We'll follow the Agains in the Bible to focus on the things that matter most. Let's look up together to embrace a motherhood full of freedom and joy! This podcast is sponsored by Entrusted Ministries.

About your host

Profile picture for Stephanie Hickox

Stephanie Hickox

Stephanie has always delighted in God’s Word and in sharing it with others. Whether it is equipping mothers and leaders through Entrusted with a Child’s Heart, inspiring students when teaching at homeschool co-ops or children’s ministry, or homeschooling her own children, Stephanie’s life mission is to encourage others to follow faithfully and joyfully after Jesus—especially if they hold her favorite job title: mom.

Betsy Corning wrote Entrusted with a Child’s Heart in 1999 in response to the needs she saw in families as she and David counseled young parents just a few years behind them. Entrusted has been taught in hundreds of churches nationwide, been translated into several foreign languages, and has made its way around the world. More recently, Betsy received her Masters in Biblical Studies from The Master’s University and is developing a new Bible Study program called Get the Word Out. Her passion for God’s Word, discipleship, and teaching biblical principles as they apply to family life has remained strong to this day. One of the greatest blessings in Betsy’s life are her three grown children, their spouses, and ten grandchildren that keep her constantly in touch with every age and stage.

Jen Freckman Is an incredible wealth of wisdom. She will tell you a natural remedy for just about anything! She is also a voracious reader and she is just overflowing with quotes and guidance that she's encountered through reading and being faithful. She delights in her children and is a devoted mother. She is also an amazingly creative problem solver! Her solutions to manage her home and guide her children are inspiring.

Emily Deyo is such a treasure. She is an incredible encourager and servant-hearted woman. When she has the mic in front of her, so much value comes out! She is a wordsmith and her heart consistently beats for how she can encourage and serve others. She is a truly loving and attentive mother.

Join Betsy, Emily, Jen, and Stephanie as they share the wisdom only Scripture and on-the-job training can provide to help untangle the joyful calling of motherhood.