Year in Review And Cookies Too
January 3, 2012
2011 was a year filled with unexpected moments of beginning and enjoying new friendships among an awesome group of women who like me, spend much of their day with flour under their fingernails and various colors of icing in their hair, and who talk about icing craters, cookie spread, and re-purposing cookie cutters with the same enthusiastic energy as The Real (on what planet?) Housewives of Beverly Hills talk about their new Mercedes Benz, botoxed lips, and diamond-studded bling. As the year began I was warmly welcomed into the company of the crazy and kind cookie women over on the Cookiers R Us forum, and later my circle of cookie friends expanded to include a wonderful network of cookie folks over on Facebook. I’ve participated in contributing to and taking from a box of cookie supplies that made it’s way across the country not once but twice, and this Christmas I joined in a cookie swap that provided me with enough stunning cookies to decorate our entire Christmas tree. If you were to ask me to name some of the people I consider friends in my life among them would be the names of Chris, Georganne, Susan, Anne, Donna, Jeannette, Lorraine, Leslie, Elizabeth, Sarah, Kimberly, and on and on and on. And then there are those who I take such inspiration from, not only when it comes to the cookies they design but in the kind of gracious women they appear to be like Callye, Pam, Bridget, Angie, Daniela, Glory and on and on and on.
I didn’t know a single one of these women last year at this time. I find that so amazing. Overwhelming even. And for each name and each woman behind the name, I’m filled with thankfulness. 2011 was a generous year that way.
And 2011 was a year that brought me incredible joy in seeing the delight others found in my cookies. I can never tell you how much I loved making birthday cookies for my great-niece Rosie’s first birthday or monkey cookies for my godson’s third birthday. That a 50 year wedding anniversary was made sweeter for a loving couple, that a dear friend felt more appreciated at her retirement party, and that a little guy squealed when his mom gave him cookies made just for him, all thrill me to no end. I’m so grateful that something as simple as a cookie made with intention for the one who will receive it can bring a little joy into another person’s day. I’ve always loved baking for others and that after all these years I’ve found an outlet for doing it for so many and so often is another great blessing of this year.
But through all the delight I’ve found in creating and making cookies for others, all the friendships I’ve made with others who salivate over new cookie cutters like I do, and all the fun I’ve had in writing snarky silly blog posts, I never forget why I do what I do.
I started Sweet Hope Cookies in 2011. My brother Randy had ALS and I was tired of feeling helpless in the most helpless of situations. I had to do something and so I started baking. I baked to show my brother with not only my words but with my heart, my energy, and my time that I loved and supported him. I baked to raise money to help others, who like my brother, were living with ALS. And when my brother died last April I continued baking and decorating cookies to keep his memory alive and to have something to fill my days as I walked through the grief of losing my brother much too soon and in a way much too hard. It is for Randy that I started Sweet Hope Cookies and it is for Randy that I continue. I think of him, miss him, and thank God for him every time another batch of cookies leaves the oven. That’s just how awesome of a brother he was to me.
Last Christmas Randy was still with us. The four of us siblings were still four. Now there are three. This was our first Christmas without our brother and the advent of 2012 is the first year to begin without our brother in it. How sad that makes me is a deeper sad than I can ever tell and my brother and sister, Randy’s wife, all his nieces and nephews and his many friends feel it no less than I do.
Just as our family begins a new year without Randy, there are other families like ours facing their first year without their dad, their husband, their sister, their daughter, or their best friend. Approximately 5475 of these families are grieving the death of a loved one from ALS and that’s just in the United States, and the numbers of grieving families will be about the same next year and all the years after that until the time comes when research is at last able to uncover the treatments and therapies that will vastly improve the life expectancy of those 15 people diagnosed each and every day in this country with ALS.
And so as 2012 begins I renew my commitment to do my small part to spread awareness about ALS, to raise money to support ALS research and those individuals and families now living with ALS, and to continue to honor my brother’s memory. Oh…and to keep sharing the cookie love!
To learn more about my brother, Randy Cadonau, click here.
To learn more about ALS and the vital work of the ALS Association click here.
To make a donation to the ALS Association through Sweet Hope Cookies, click here.
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January 3rd, 2012 at 5:13 am
What a beautiful photo of you with your beloved siblings. I admire the bond between you and the devotion you have to Randy’s memory. God bless your efforts this year in his honor.
January 3rd, 2012 at 5:23 am
I am teary eyed. I began decorating too after I lost my Nanny. It was all I could do not to think about her every single waking minute. I had no idea we shared another story. I hope Randy and Nanny are looking down at us proudly!
You amaze me Anita, and I am glad this year has brought me to you. Cannot wait for this year. XOXOXO, Callye
January 3rd, 2012 at 5:31 am
Brenda, I think to the extent one lives their life, they are remembered. That’s why Randy will never and could never be forgotten. Thanks so much
January 3rd, 2012 at 5:37 am
Callye, I think at the same moment you were reading my post I was off reading yours which provided me no small amount of comfort in knowing that your obsession will always be more than my own could ever attain to
And the healing and comforting power of cookie decorating…hard for others to understand if they haven’t experienced it, eh? Thank you Callye for your generous words! They mean a lot. Truly.
January 3rd, 2012 at 7:17 am
Anita – what a beautiful, sweet post. Cookies are so much more than cookies when you share them with people. I’m SO GLAD that cookies brought me your friendship. Randy may not come through your door in the year 2012, but you can be sure that this year will not be without him. He will be the bright spot in your afternoons and the love in your cookies. You are a wonderful woman, and I am so glad that you are sharing yourself with the world through your blog and your cookies and your dedication to ALS.
January 3rd, 2012 at 12:53 pm
Anita- Like Bridget I have tears reading your post. I too am SO thankful for our friendship, first on Cookiers and continued with our FB group. The first Christmas is always the hardest, I remember it so well the year we lost my father, I was pregnant with my first son. Randy will always be with you and smiling at the amazing gift you are doing with your cookies. Cookies can be very healing. I had several years of vertigo and getting up every morning to work on cookies, kept me from getting lost in bed all day. So yes I believe cookie decorating is very therapeutic and helps to keep us moving in our every day lives, especially during the difficult times. May 2012 bring you many blessings, my cookie sister ♥
January 3rd, 2012 at 2:55 pm
Only you sweet Anita, can make me both laugh and cry in the same blog post. The work you do is nothing short of amazing, the joy you bring to others through your cookies is inspirational, the awareness you bring to ALS shows the true love you have for others. I am soooo honored to have you as a “Cookie Sister” May this year bring you lots of joy, the perfect icing consistency, not a single crater in your cookies, cookies that NEVER spread, icing bags and bottles always clean, and continued success for SWEET HOPE COOKIES!
Many Blessings
Kim
The Cookie Puzzle
January 3rd, 2012 at 4:56 pm
Georganne, so you made me cry over that one. I just hope you’re proud of yourself! I also hope you know your rectangle paneled cookies were among those that stirred the first possibilities for me to decorate cookies and your blog, you, and your wicked talent continue to inspire and delight me! The people I’ve met because of cookies are just one of the things I wish I was so able to share with Randy. He was such a people person and would be so delighted that making cookies for him led to such blessings for me.
January 3rd, 2012 at 5:00 pm
Susan, right back at you in terms of gratitude for our new friendship. I know that nearly everyone is touched by some kind of sadness or loss that always feels a little more acute when a special season or holiday rolls by. I loved what you wrote about how cookies keep us moving in our lives even through the difficult times. I love how we come in common over cookies over to discover so many other things in which we can share together as people and friends. Sending you big hopes and love for 2012 yourself!
January 3rd, 2012 at 5:01 pm
Kim, such a sweet note, thank you! I loved your wishes for the new year…from your lips to God’s ears!
January 3rd, 2012 at 5:57 pm
Anita,
This is a very special tribute to a brother that you loved unconditionally and he returned that unconditional love. Thank you for sharing. Blessings to you and Dana and we continue to pray for the whole family.
January 3rd, 2012 at 6:11 pm
Anita what a beautiful post from a beautiful gal. It has been such a pleasure getting to know you and hearing about Randy and your dedication to ALS. I respect you so much and your cookies are always gorgeous and inspiring! Thank you for your beautiful post as you wrap up 2011. I’m so sorry for your loss. I lost my dad to Cancer a couple years ago and I think about him every day. My family has raised over 15k toward the battle against Cancer. I hope you take comfort in knowing that Randy watches over you and all you do in the battle against ALS. God Bless. Cristin (Pinkie)
January 3rd, 2012 at 7:07 pm
Anita,
You are so wonderful. I feel so many of the same things you expressed about 2011 and cookie friends.
I am so sorry for the loss of your brother. I am glad making cookies is an outlet for you. I, too, decorate because of someone special, my mom. We baked together throughout my childhood and now as she faces stage IV liver cancer, I bake to show her I am living my dream, just as she taught me.
I didn’t know all that much about ALS until we became friends, and I am glad to help with a small donation through Sweet Hope Cookies.
I pray that your 2012 is so blessed…that you continue to do amazing things with cookies, build even more cookie friendships, and inspire others to do good.
Anne
January 3rd, 2012 at 8:10 pm
Bev, thank you dear friend. Your encouragement and support is always so appreciated!
January 3rd, 2012 at 8:16 pm
Cristin, how inspiring to hear of what your family has done to raise so much money in the name of your dad. I understand what it is to think of someone you love every day and I hope in all those thoughts you feel your dad and his love close to you. And speaking of cookies….two words….snow globes. Whoa!
January 3rd, 2012 at 8:29 pm
Anne, what a dear new friend you have become and are becoming. It’s an honor to know you both for your talent but most for who you are….and that you have a husband with an awesome name and such a handsome mug doesn’t hurt your cause at all
I’m so touched by the story of your mom…I didn’t know, and I can only imagine how thrilled she is to see your cookie talent explode and all the more so the wonderful Christmas village you made for your family. Did she love it or what?! I’ll keep your mom in my thoughts Anne and most definitely in my prayers. And just so you know, there’s no donation too small to help. Yours was so generous and appreciated and much of it will go to directly fund the lending closet in Portland for ALS patients, a place where they can borrow without charge medical equipment that aids them in accomplishing the daily tasks of life so that they can retain as much independence as they can for as long as they can. Again Anne, thank you so much!
January 3rd, 2012 at 8:54 pm
I am in awe, not only of your heart-pouring blog today, but in reading how many of us have “found” each other this year….I thought I was the “newbie” but it seems that most of us just began this journey and are experiencing the joys and the tears together……glad to be a part of it and appreciate your friendship and generosity (as seems to be the “norm” of all of our darling cookiers!)
2012 Blessings to you and yours,
Donna B.
January 21st, 2012 at 1:23 pm
anita, i cant believe i missed this post earlier this month…its so beautiful! i am truly tearing up right now…i am so glad that i have come to know you thru our cookie world and i look up to you so much for all that you do. i cant tell you how much i look forward to your wonderfully humorous comments on fb:) you are fantastic! i actually just made a donation thru sweet hope cookies and though its not as much as i wish i could donate, i hope that it can help even in some small way. thanks again anita, for being you and for enocuraging me with my own work as well. you are such an inspiration and im so happy that i have been able to get to know you and call you one of my cookie friends:)
xo, sarah