Today, I witnessed the most loving, most beautiful, and most heart breaking wedding ceremony ever. My friend Ann, and her husband Hal, renewed their vows to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. In a packed sanctuary, we watched as Ann walked down the aisle, flanked by her two young daughters, to meet her groom at the alter. Tears streaming down both their faces, they renewed their vows of marriage, similar to what they did ten years ago today.
I was crying, my husband was crying and nearly everyone around us who witnessed this beautiful event was crying. You see, this wasn’t any ordinary vow renewal. Hal and Ann took the same vows that Nick and I took ten years ago, but the significance of the words behind their vows has taken on an entirely different meaning. ‘Through sickness and in health’ has meant Cancer. Ann has been battling breast cancer since before I met her 7 years ago. She has valiantly stared cancer in the face and has been an example to us all of what it means to fight. Ups and downs. Good times and bad. Hal, her husband, has stood by her side and has cared for her thorough this all. He has watched his best friend, the mother of his children, bravely fight all the while maintaining the faith of one of God’s true soldiers.
Ann’s blog recently read…“We are saddened to say that we did not get the results that we were hoping for. The cancer continues to spread in my liver and in my back and some still in my chest area. Numb is a good description of how we feel.” Ann continues, “To be truthful, I feel like giving up sometimes that I cannot possibly keep doing this but when I look into my girls eyes then i know that i can do it. I don’t want them to ever ask why mom gave up.”
I wrote about Ann a few weeks ago in my Cupcakes for Cancer post. At the time I was struggling to think of something I could do for them… something besides praying and making meals. I don’t have a lot of talents, but I do have a blog. How can I turn my blog into something that could help to benefit Ann, Hal and their girls? After the ceremony today, it dawned on me. From now through the end of 2009, I am going to donate all of the advertising dollars I receive through my blog to Ann and Hal. It won’t be much, but right now I think every bit counts.
How can you help? Well, I’m starting a “Clicks 4 a Cause” network and would love for you to join. My goal is to continue to provide quality content and good recipes for you to enjoy and my hope is that you simply will continue to visit. Pass the word on to your friends to visit Dine & Dish. Whatever it takes to get people to at least stop by on a regular basis so that through viewing the ads on my blog (you don’t even have to click ON the ads), I can raise more and more money for Ann and her family. (Signing up for new post email updates is the easiest way to know when there is new content at Dine & Dish. Click on the red envelope in the right hand sidebar & fill out the easy form.)
If you have a “cause” you would like to raise money for in a similar way, please join the Clicks 4 a Cause network. I will provide you with a “Clicks 4 a Cause” badge for your blog that says “Clicks 4 a Cause.. My clicks are for <insert name>” (example mine would say “My clicks are for Ann”. (My blogging friend, Amy, is graciously creating these badges…will let you know when they are ready!)Write a post on your blog with your intentions and a link back to this post and I will include your link on my “Clicks 4 a Cause” network page, which should be up and running shortly. As part of my commitment, I will visit your site on a regular basis and will ask that you do to the same for those included in the network.
Now for a recipe. After the ceremony today, there was a dessert reception. Tables and tables full of scrumptious desserts. I made these delicious Zucchini Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting. If you have any leftover zucchini hanging around your kitchen, put them to good use with this delicious bar recipe…. hey, if it has a veggie in it, it has to be good for you, right?
Zucchini Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
SERVES 12
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups zucchini Grated
- 3 teaspoons vanilla
- 2 1/2 cups flour
- 1 Tbs cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- milk, as needed
- Preheat oven to 350°F and use cooking spray to grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
- Beat eggs; add sugar and oil.
- Add the zucchini and vanilla; stir to mix well.
- Sift the dry ingredients together and add to the egg mixture.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until done.
- While the bars are baking, whip the butter and cream cheese until light; add vanilla and powdered sugar.
- Beat until fluffy, adding 1-2 Tbs of milk, if needed
- Spread frosting on top of the bars when they are cooled.
Hi Kristen,
I’ve been reading Ann’s blog ever since your Cancer for Cupcakes post. I left her a caring comment and I popped back in for an update. Her lastest news brought me to tears even though I don’t know her. But, I’m so happy that she and her family had a beautiful day at the wedding vow renewal. I bet it was wonderful to see and be a part of.
I don’t have a blog…can I still help with Clicks 4 a Cause? I always read your blog 🙂 Is there anything I special I need to do when I visit? I will definitely spread the word too. And you are so right…every bit counts! It’s a very thoughtful thing that you are doing 🙂
Hugs… Dawnie
Can you tell it’s after midnight here in Massachusetts? I goofed when asking you if there was anything special I need to do. I wish my computer had an auto pilot, lol. Have a gnite!
I don’t have ads on my blog, but I will make stalking your blog my number one priority (like it already is. 😉 )
I don’t have ads on my blog; but I’m going to make stalking your blog my number one priority. 🙂
I left a comment…hrrmph! Second try.
Hi Kristen,
So sorry about your friend. We have two families in our church/community that have a child fighting brain tumor/cancer. It is a heartbreaking journey filled with many highs and lows and every family member is profoundly affected.
This is a great idea. I’d love to participate.
.-= Cheri´s last blog ..Summer Succotash =-.
hi kristen,
m so sorry to hear that! ann is soo brave!! god bless her.. those bars looking fabulous!
.-= nora@ffr´s last blog ..Poach a whole bird =-.
Cancer is such a cruel disease. It seems that so many people fight and will win for a while but then after some period of time, sometimes a short time and sometimes many years, it returns and takes a final blow. it’s so good to know that through God the ultimate fight is already won! I love that you are able to use your blog to help your friend, Ann! I don’t have advertisements on my blog, so I don’t really know how I could participate other than visiting your site (which I will continue to do) and linking here through my blog, which I will also do.
.-= Claire´s last blog ..Baby, Baby, How was I Supposed to Know… =-.
How hard it must be to watch your friend go through this battle. You are such a good friend to come up with a way to help her through your blog. My heart goes out to her and her family.
.-= Patsyk´s last blog ..Gastrokid Cookbook: Parmesan Chicken Cutlets =-.
You are such a wonderful woman!! I know I’ll keep coming back and clicking!!
.-= Deborah´s last blog ..Bacon-Tomato Cheese Toasts =-.
This is truly an amazing and thoughtful way to get involved, get the word out asnd show you care.
I want these little cakes now! So lovely!
.-= ABowlOfMush´s last blog ..Raspberry Bavarian Cream =-.
What a great recipe! And I am so sorry about your friend, I already subscribe to your email, but I will make it a priority to came here everyday, new content or not! I am also updating my links page, and you will be there too!
.-= Angelia McGowan´s last blog ..Cocoa Brownies =-.
I just read your blog to your dad and we are both so very proud of you. I am going to guide all my friends to your site to help with this. We will continue to pray for strength for Ann and her family.
We just pulled most of our garden up – it was looking sad. Wish I had some zucchini now. Can I just skip the cake and eat the icing with a spoon?
.-= Amy J´s last blog ..The Bodacious Bean/Week 2- Black Bean Hummus =-.
What an amazing and touching story. Thank you for sharing it.
Your cake recipe looks so good. Creamy and sweet!
What a truly beautiful amazing touching story! Thank you for sharing with us!
Such a moving story, and how special to renew wedding vows despite setbacks in Ann’s health. This is a perfect example of the power of love & the commitment of marriage—their story is an example to all. And I’m proud of you too, dear friend, for doing what you can to help. Every little bit counts 🙂
.-= Sandie´s last blog ..The Golden Rule (Recipe: Curtis Stone’s Spanish Frittata) =-.
Is the zucchini bars have the taste of the zucchini? I never tasted something like that.
.-= recipe cooker´s last blog ..Top 10 Recipes for Chocolate Bliss =-.
I was brought to tears reading this. I’ll stop by regularly to help with the ‘views’…every little thing counts. We’re thinking of and praying for Ann and her family.
.-= Joy´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday =-.
Love your idea–Ann has such a great friend in you. She and her family are still in my prayers.
Kristen, I’m so inspired by your generosity. These zucchini bars were a huge hit and disappeared instantly. I asked my readers to pop over here, I’m sure every little bit helps! Sending positive thoughts to Ann and her family, and to you. She’s lucky to have you as a friend!
.-= Amy I.´s last blog ..Lemony Pasta with Broccoli, Walnuts, and Toasted Breadcrumbs =-.
Throw on cream cheese frosting and you know it has to be good.
The bars look wonderful .
Clicking for Ann today! Thanks for the reminder. I’ll keep her in my thoughts.
.-= TasteStopping´s last blog ..Some people just don’t like dark meat =-.
Hi Kristen – So great to meet you this weekend at BlogHer Food! It’s so heartwarming and inspiring to see you loving your friend Ann through your blog. You are a true friend to her. I’ll pass the word along to others about this and will pray for her, too.
.-= Whining ‘N Dining´s last blog ..Try This: Tangy Edamame =-.