A Martha Moment and Ugly Cupcakes

This past weekend truly was great. 

Food tour. Sleepover with the girls. Church. Spirit Fest.

But goodness, I had a hard time getting to the great part.

I let myself stress about whether any students would show up for the sleepovers.

If the money would be there for the events.

If I could really show the love of Christ to students 

who are so far removed from accepting it.

And so even as I was enjoying my food tastings,

 my anxiety was building.

Our girls and guys were having overnight events on the same evening. 

Our budget is depleted so I was preparing as much as I could on my own 

for their events. So I made two dozen chocolate cupcakes 

and two dozen vanilla cupcakes and was attempting 

to make swiss meringue buttercream frosting 

(because I think regular vanilla buttercream is gross)

Well, I don't think I let the egg white-sugar mixture get hot enough. 

Or something. Because stiff peaks never formed. 

Even when I beat it for like twelve minutes. 

And then I thought- well I should just add the butter and see what happens. 

So I ended up with sweetened butter, not even close to the 

beautiful frosting I was envisioning.

Oh, and then my mixer stopped working.

Just decided it was done.

But seriously?

I lost it.

I called my mom in tears.

because I'd wasted five eggs and four sticks of butter.

Because now my four dozen cupcakes weren't frosted 

and I was out of money.

Because my mixer was broken. 

I hung up the phone

and the Holy Spirit whispered sweetly,

"My dear Chelsea, why are you worried and upset over all these details?"

because, obviously, Lord I'm a baking snob and can't use a store bought frosting.

And obviously i'm not trusting You in anything. 

And Luke 10 resounded clearly to me.

"There is only one thing worth being concerned about"

And I clearly saw the picture of Mary at the feet of Jesus. 

So I took a few moments to wash my face

pray for grace and fresh beginnings 

and for a holy perspective

and made some quick, unfancy cream cheese frosting for the chocolate cupcakes

and some melted chocolate chips became a ganache for the vanilla cupcakes

And I turned my perspective from the little details 

that my students wouldn't even notice

to the King that encompasses all goodness and alters lives.

Sometimes it's ok to have ugly cupcakes.

if it means we can instead reflect on the beauty of Christ.