Some mornings begin with the simplest kindness.

This morning, a beautifully packaged box of homemade blueberry crumb muffins gave me a glimpse of what can happen when a young person’s determination is met with the encouragement of people who believe in him.

A Recipe From His Mother

Corey Swan is 14 years old, and the recipe behind these muffins came from his beautiful mother, Lacrissa Swan, who has made them from scratch. Corey chose her recipe because he loves his mother so much and wanted to begin with something that already carried the warmth of home.

Although Lacrissa was not there while Corey baked this batch, her recipe was right there with him. That made these muffins more than something delicious to sell. They were also a loving tribute to his mother and something special they could share.

Learning in Rhonda’s Kitchen

Rhonda, Pastor Dalton’s wife, has been making homemade breads, cinnamon rolls, and all sorts of delicious treats for decades. She assisted Corey as he worked through the baking process and helped him explore the idea of turning his interest into a small business.

This is simply part of Rhonda’s heart. She loves encouraging people of all ages to work, build confidence, meet real needs, and make a difference. What I love most is that she was helping Corey learn so much more than a recipe. She was encouraging him to develop a skill, follow through on a commitment, serve others, and discover how good it feels to contribute to the community.

Corey accepted the challenge wholeheartedly. What began as a goal of gathering a handful of orders quickly grew to close to 20! It was wonderful to see how interested and excited he was to take on the project.

Handmade With Love

Of course, I was happy to place an order and support Corey.

The muffins came in the prettiest little bakery box, complete with a “Handmade With Love” thank-you sticker. Inside were four generously sized blueberry muffins covered with a crumbly streusel topping and filled with blueberries.

I placed one on one of my vintage floral plates and arranged it beside a few of the beautiful old pieces that were left with our home when we bought it. I love bringing those inherited treasures into ordinary moments. They still linger here, quietly becoming part of the life we are creating in this house.

The muffin was moist, full of blueberries, and every bit as good as it looked.

A box of four muffins is $12. That gives Corey a more realistic way to cover the time, ingredients, bakery boxes, wrapping materials, and other supplies that go into each order while he learns what it takes to build something of his own.

There is something very special about watching knowledge and encouragement pass from one person to another, especially around a kitchen table. In this story, Lacrissa’s treasured recipe, Corey’s willingness to work, and Rhonda’s steady guidance came together in one beautiful little box.

A homemade muffin may seem like a small thing, but behind this box was a lesson in love, confidence, responsibility, generosity, and serving others well.

I am proud of Corey for taking on the challenge, grateful to Lacrissa for the recipe that inspired him, and thankful for Rhonda’s willingness to patiently guide and encourage him along the way.

And yes, Joey and I will be enjoying every last crumb. 🤎

Would You Like to Support Corey?

If you are local and would like information about ordering a $12 box of four homemade blueberry muffins from Corey, leave me a comment or send me a message.

I would also love to hear from you: Who taught you how to bake, cook, or make one of your favorite family recipes?