Surprise Creations

I had been working a part-time job for over 10 years, all the while raising my daughter. As she got older I felt the need to stay home more and spend more quality time with her. Keeping that in mind, I knew that I needed another resource to provide for her and myself. One day I sat quietly and said a prayer to God: "Lord I am a jack of all trades, but a master of none. Please guide me and lead me

in the direction you would have me to go, in order to adequately provide for me and my daughter, I will follow your lead. Amen"

In December, my daughter and I were out Christmas shopping. We saw a Kitchen-Aide mixer that I had been eying for a while; however, I couldn't afford to buy it at the time. I said to my daughter "That surely would be a nice gift for mommy for Christmas". She looked at me in disbelief once she took a peek at the price tag. Her reply was, "Mommy I can't afford that". We both began to laugh. I then said, "I know, but you can tell grandma granddaddy how that would be a good gift for your mommy". She further stated; "Ma you know that Grandma says I can only buy gifts that I can afford and since I don't have a job, I can't afford a mixer like that". We continued to laugh and moved away from the mixer that I would continue to just think about having. Christmas morning, we were having our traditional family gathering where we all opened gifts together. My daughter gave me a set of mixing bowls since she couldn't afford the Kitchen-Aide. My mom gave me another set of mixing bowls as well as an attachment for a Kitchen-Aide. I was puzzled. She stated that she couldn't afford the mixer either. However, she wanted to assist me with getting all the necessary parts once I got the mixer. I was appreciative of all my gifts. While cleaning up, there was one box left under the tree with no name on it. Everyone was trying to figure out to whom it belonged. My mom said that she forgot it was there and also forgot who's it was, since it was not labeled. So she said open it up and we can re-wrap it. To my surprise it was my Kitchen-Aide. God is good and good things come to those who wait. Sitting in my kitchen January 2002, I was reading about all the things that my new mixer could do and make. I decided to bake some cookies, and to me they were pretty good, but the real test would come when I let my co-workers try the cookies. They indicated that the cookies were really good. I wanted to expand my baking abilities so I decided that I would bake a cake, which also was a thumbs up by my co-workers. Something was telling me (only could have been God) that I should explore other avenues of baking and decorating. I went out the next day and brought various books and tools to bake and decorate cakes. I volunteered to make a cake for a family members' birthday party. The cake turned out well, but I needed more practice on the decorating piece. I didn't have any extra time in my schedule to take any classes to build my decorating skills, so I continued to buy books and materials to educate myself on this skill. With much reading, practice and giving out samples, people continued to tell me that I had a good thing going, and I should take this to a higher level. My confidence level was building and by Spring 2001, I was taking orders for various types of cakes and desserts. I knew that I needed to formalize this new found gift, and give it an official name. As I began to think of a name for my business, I went back to a time in my life when I began to get acclimated with the internet and screen names. A true and dear friend of mine told me that my screen name should be "Surprise". He stated that name would fit me well, because a person never knew what I was going to say or do, it was always some sort of surprise. I took on the name and it has seemed to stick with me. I thought what better name to use for my business than "Surprise". However, it needed a little more spice. Later in the week the name "Surprise Creations" came to me (surely it was my God speaking to me again). From that day forth my business would be officially named Surprise Creations. OK, now I have a name, but what about a slogan. This was all too much for me to try and figure out at one time. I looked to one of my family members for assistance in this area. For her, slogans just come naturally. It took all of one day for her to come up with "Surprise Creations, Where Surprise Outcomes Are Our Specialty". I instantly loved the slogan; hence forward my business "Surprise Creations" was officially named and had a catchy slogan. Phil: 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me!