Happy Birthday to . . . Me :) !

First of all, thanks for all your love over the past week. Your sweet notes and prayers have made a huge difference. I felt buoyed up by your support. We got our first letter from Kade and he's doing great!

Today has started off great! Breakfast in bed (whole wheat Belgium waffles with homemade strawberry syrup), omelet, bacon and orange juice. Marta then brought by a luscious chocolate cake and Nani brought chocolate chip cookies. Yes--I ate cake and cookies before 10:00 a.m.! I then went with my friend, Dana, to one of our religious buildings together (for those of you of my faith, the Mount Timp Temple). In a few minutes, my pal, Kristy Banks, is taking me out for my annual birthday massage and lunch, and tonight it will be dinner at Park City with my family. Plus my hubby's been doing laundry all morning so--great day!

Last Friday night, several of my friends knew I'd need a little cheering up with Kade just leaving, so they threw a fun birthday bash at a beautiful Sundance cabin. Here are the girls:

And here are the guys:

We played the game, Signs--really a fun group game! My friend, Allison Norton, always makes me my favorite carrot cake. Remember last year's cake--a big chunk was taken away where her little five year old had sampled it? Well--this is this year's cake. It's simply to die for!

Here is the recipe:

Lisa Bearnson's Favorite Carrot Cake

from Allison Norton

2 1/2 c. flour

2 t. baking soda

2 t. cinnamon

1 t. salt

2 c. sugar

2 c. vegetable oil

1/2 c. crushed pineapple

4 eggs

3 c. finely grated carrots

1/4 c. cherry Craisins

1/4 c. coconut

Beat sugar and oil in bowl. Add the eggs and mix again until light and fluffy. Stir in carrots and pineapple. Stir in all the dry ingredients adding the coconut and Craisins last. Cook at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. This mix will make three layers of cake. Wait for the cakes to cool, then you can take them out of the pans.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

1/2 c. butter

1 8 oz. cream cheese

3 c. powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Mix and spread on cake. You'll need to double the recipe for all three layers.

Go ahead and make it and eat a piece for me! On my birthday, there are no calories!

Love ya,

Lisa