Muffins for Music

A few months ago Oldest/Violin daughter called from college to tell us that her new and beloved Czech violin teacher wanted her to attend a particular strings master class
in the Czech Republic for three weeks this summer. A wonderful opportunity, we all thought, for Oldest daughter to work on her music under world-class instructors. Wonderful yes, but costly. We've long since resigned ourselves to the fact that the pursuit of musical excellence is not an inexpensive endeavor, but helping Oldest Daughter finance her first year of college left very little in the budget for such classes no matter how wonderful they might be. As we have so many times before, we encouraged Oldest Daughter to pray and ask God to provide the funds needed if this class was something she should pursue.

And we prayed too. How might the money be raised, even bit by bit? Baseball season was approaching and I suggested to Tayta (youngest daughter) that she might try doing a bake sale to help her big sister raise some money. Tayta, with a large servant's heart, a great love for her big sister, and a passion for baking thought it a great idea. I helped her the first week develop her product line, organize, and shop for ingredients, but after the first week she baked, glazed, and frosted almost single handedly (with very minor help from me, Artist Son, who artistically frosted the chocolate cupcakes, and Active Son, who loaded the van each Friday morning.) Each week Tayta baked about 200 items: a mix of giant cookies, chocolate cupcakes with seven- minute-frosting and sprinkles (oh so tantalizing--the little T-ball players really went for these!), Pumpkin Muffins with Chai Spice Glaze, Lemon Poppyseed Muffins with Lemon Glaze and Strawberry Muffins with Strawberry Glaze. Cookies were baked and frozen early in the week, extra schoolwork was done (well, sometimes) on Wednesday, and on each Thursday afternoon for 10 weeks the baking began in earnest.

We had no idea how well Tayta's fine baked goods would sell! By the end of the season she had a faithful following, some people waiting for her to arrive at the ball field so that they could buy their breakfast muffin. Tayta learned so much about marketing/human nature as well as honing her baking skills; she decided to let customers choose their own muffin and reported that everyone, even the adults, chose the biggest, best-looking muffin. And when business slowed down in the club-house, she loaded up a tray of her wares and with the help of some friends, took them to the stands. This sales suggestion, from a friend of ours, helped her to sell nearly every item, every week.


A couple weeks into the season, people began to ask Tayta how much money she was making: Tayta's profit was an average of $100 a week, for a net total of $1000 for the season~a third of cost of Oldest Daughter's class, including international airfare! This effort definitely qualifies Tayta for a place in the Little Sister Hall of Fame. Another third/plus was raised through a small garage sale--though we don't have a garage--, a little photography by mom, a gig or two, and an outside scholarship. The last bit, well, we don't really need to replace the dryer as it is always sunny in Jordan until October or November : ) We are thanking God for his perfect provisions~ never too little, never too much. And many thanks to all Tayta's faithful and encouraging customers; requested bake sale recipes to follow soon...