A Little Help
Youth Wisdom
Written by MaryEvelyn
As I believe that everything happens for a reason, my youngest grandchildren came into my life, when I consider, right on time and for a reason.
We don’t always know why our life changes, what the changes are going to show us, or even why they need to happen. But I do know that we can be sure, there is a reason, and you will obtain knowledge from the experience without even trying.
This week I had the pleasure of baking my grandson a birthday cake for his eighth birthday. I have also had the pleasure to watch him grow daily these eight years into the lovable, amazing, delightful, intelligent, witty boy he is today. Watching him and his sister grow to be best friends has been inspiring.
Also, I have noticed that they are amply intuitive to recognize when the other one needs, a little help. They never have to go out of their way to help each other because they know that the other one only needs a boost.
What I have learned from my grandchildren concerning this, is to pay closer attention to actions. And —- to be more aware of what need I am filling for the other person. To take a moment to be more intuitive without over thinking the feeling. A little help is so often the only answer.
As adults, we tend to want to over help, give more than what is needed. Feel guilt for too much or too little given, give for too long of a time, and unknowingly making those that we help dependent, thus hindering their growth.
Children give a little help. They don’t over help, they don’t give you more than you need.
There is a lot to be learned from our little ones just being who they are, acting as they feel in the moment, doing what they feel in the moment, showing love in their way.
My grandson loves to rhyme so I asked him to write me a poem to share.
I am as the growing tree.
Growing up so I can see.
Being what I want to be,
And that is me.
— Justus
White Cake recipe
Ingredients
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoons table salt (if you used unsalted butter)
1/2 cup whole milk, room temperature
Instructions
Step 1
Gather all ingredients. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9 inch cake pan. Double the recipe for two cakes.
Step 2
Beat sugar and butter together in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer until lighter in color and fluffy (3-4 minutes). Add eggs one at a time beating briefly after each addition, about 30 seconds , mix in vanilla about 15 seconds.
Step 3
Whisk flour, baking powder (and salt if used) in a separate bowl. With mixer in low speed add flour mixture to butter mixture in 3 batches alternating with milk beginning and ending with flour. Mix just until combined, (scrape down the sides if needed) about two minutes.
Step 4
Spread cake batter into the prepared pan (s).
Step 5
Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
Step 6
Remove cake from oven and let cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes. Now turn the cake out onto wire rack, removing the pan and let cake cool completely before frosting.
I used a fondant to cover my cake. Follow directions on the fondant package.
Before putting on the fondant you will want to spread a buttercream icing on the cooled cake so the fondant will adhere to the cake nicely. I then put the cake in the fridge for about 30 minutes for the icing to firm up.
During the 30 minutes I rolled out the fondant large enough to cover my cake.
If this is your first time to use fondant it may be a tad tricky but the fondant package will give you more insight into that.
Because my grandson loves chocolate I added a thin layer of chocolate icing between the layers as well as the buttercream cream frosting and I added purple food coloring to the cake. Just doing it your way is so much fun. Most importantly, the kids loved the cake and especially the fondant.
Buttercream Icing Recipe:
Prep Time: 10 minutes
1/2 cup butter (at room temperature)
2 cups confectioners sugar, sifted
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
3 drops food coloring (optional)
Instructions:
Gather your ingredients.
Cream butter in the bowl of mixer or by hand until smooth and fluffy.
Gradually beat in confectioners sugar until fully incorporated.
Beat in vanilla.
Add milk and beat for an additional 3-4 minutes.
Add food coloring (if using) and beat for thirty seconds until smooth or until desired color is achieved.