"People are like stained glass windows.
They sparkle and shine when the light is out,
but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed
only if there is light from within."
-- Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
This quote by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross inspired the cupcakes pictured above: rich chocolate fudge cake topped with creamy chocolate buttercream icing, chocolate windows and homemade hard candy glass. I made these stained glass cupcakes for Wetumpka's recent Relay for Life cupcake competition (notice the cancer ribbons drizzled into the chocolate window frames).
This was our first year to be at Relay for Life at night when the lights were dimmed for the luminary ceremony. It was so moving to walk quietly around the lighted path, side by side with so many people whose lives have been touched by cancer. When the football stadium lights went down, 5-year-old Emma reached up to me and cried, "Meme." Later she asked me -- with fresh tears on her cheeks -- "Can someone come back from heaven from you missing them so much?"
Despite our tears for my mother, who passed away in September, we were grateful to participate in this year's Relay. It is gratifying to know that perhaps in some small way our efforts will help keep other families from having to miss their loved ones.
(And, I have to say, being named Cupcake Grand Champion ended the night with a sweet surprise.)
Stop in tomorrow for some light moments with Emma sure to make you smile.
