Mother’s Day is this weekend and for a couple weeks I’ve been struggling with the right thing to write about my dear mom. There are so many happy times, so many lessons, so many stories I could share. But none of them seem to be worthy of the celebration she deserves.
To tell you the story of my mother, I suppose I need to start by telling you about my father.
Four years ago, on an April afternoon, mom shared with me that my father had died. We were in the car on the way home from one of my book signings. It was just the two of us. I was emotional, but didn’t cry. I was sad and angry all at the same time. I’d never met him and I found it hard to be sad about the death of someone I had never known. You read that right. I had never met him.
At 22, Mom got pregnant and he decided that he wasn’t ready to be a father. So he left. In the wake, I was born to a 23 year old single mother who lived with her parents.
The story is happy because shortly after I was born, Mom met the man I know as my Dad. They married when I was 3, but he was always there, so I never really felt like I was missing anything. But Mom carried the burden.
Over the course of my first 18 years, Mom made me her priority. Every day. In every way. She stayed home to take care of me. Despite the financial burden it was for our little family, it was important to her.
She was the mom who was at every baseball practice, every school play, and every band performance. She was the mom who would say up to the wee hours of the morning playing Uno, or Monopoly, or Super Nintendo. She was the mom who saw me struggling to fit in at school and got a credit card just to be able to buy me popular clothes in the hopes it might make me seem like the other kids. She was the mom who made it fun to scrounge for change to buy 59 cent hamburgers on days home from school. She was the mom who bought me an Alanis Morissette CD as a teen even though she knew it had bad language and told me I was “old enough to handle it.” She was the mom who worked so hard to never let me feel like we did without anything.
The first time I held Jack in my arms, I instantly understood why she did all that she did. But it’s one of those things where I don’t think you can fully understand the sacrifices your parents make for you until you have a child of your own. You just can’t grasp that kind of love until you experience it yourself.
Every day has me in awe of the mom she was and continues to be. Seeing her be a grandmother is just as amazing.
Is she perfect? Nope. But I’d give anything to be as close to it as she is.
I can’t wait for y’all to try this new recipe. It starts with a basic boxed cake mix but is transformed into so much more. Light fluffy, layers of lemon cake are filled with lemon cream filling. It’s so easy, but looks and tastes like a million bucks.
Seriously. No one will believe this was a boxed mix. And the filling made with lemon curd, cream cheese, whipped topping, and fresh lemon juice will have you licking it right out of the bowl. Shhh… I won’t tell anyone.
Recipe Card
Easy Lemon Cream Cake
Ingredients
- 1 (15.25 to 16.5-ounce) lemon flavored cake mix
- + ingredients called for to make cake
- 1 (8-ounce) block cream cheese, softened
- 1 (10-ounce) jar lemon curd
- 1 (16-ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Prepare the cake according to the package instructions in two 8-inch pans. Allow to cool completely before slicing each layer of cake in half crossways to create 4 equal layers.
- In a large bowl, use a mixer to beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the lemon curd and beat until smooth. Add the whipped topping and mix until well combined. Add the lemon juice and mix completely.
- Place the bottom layer of one cake on a serving platter or cake stand and spread about 1/4 of the lemon filling evenly over it. Repeat with the other layers and filling and top the cake with the remaining 1/4 of the filling. If you find the filling too runny, refrigerate it until spreading consistency. Chill the cake completely before serving and store in the refrigerator.
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
Faith
Speaking of moms, my mom loved anything lemon but esp lemon curd on scones. When I saw this recipe I knew I had to make it in honor of my mom amd yours! Cheers to all moms! They teach us about unconditional love. Thank you for sharing
I am so glad that this recipe reminded you of special memories with your mom!
Carrie
Gosh, I have never cried while reading a recipe. Thank you for sharing your story.
Sally
You know Stacey, in my small world, the people that have been most successful have come from families just like yours. Your mom is a wonderful person snd she is truly dedicated to you. That’s all anyone really needs in life is that someone that makes you feel special and loved. You are a true inspiration to me and I’m sure to many other people who follow you.
You are so sweet, Sally. Thanks so much for making my day!
Ha! So sorry for the tears, but I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
PATRICIA
Where do you get lemon curd?
You can usually find it by the jellies and jams in the grocery store.
Kim
I absolutely love lemon cake. Can’t wait to try this for the kids. Thanks!
Kim W.
Stacey, Thank you for sharing this bittersweet and beautiful tribute to your mom! This recipe is a must-make. Thank you for all you to to share deliciousness from the heart ❤️
Thank YOU, Kim!
Terri Hughes
WOW…….what a great tribute to your Mom. She sounds like a wonderful lady. She also raised a great son. Miss my Mom, she passed away when I was twenty. Happy Mother’s Day to your Mom. And this cake looks so good, can’t wait to try it!
That she is! Thansk, Terri!
Judy V
A touching and wonderful tribute to your Mom!
Am making this recipe for sure.
Thanks so much, Judy! I sure hope you’ll enjoy this recipe!
Aileen
What a blessing your mother is! An angel. Thank you so much for sharing, Stacey. I love these little tidbits of your life that you let us peek into. God bless your family. Also, I love how you’re not beneath using a cake mix! No shame in that. 😀
I couldn’t agree more! Thanks, Aileen!!
Cynthia
Wow Stacey, I’ve NEVER cried reading a recipe. Kiss your Mom for me and let her know that she raised a son that appreciates all her sacrifices. This recipe sounds like a cake my 1st mom-in-love used to make, but this one is yummmier with the cream cheese. I just may have to make this with the grands this weekend. Thank you for sharing your mom’s story with us.
Oh, no! I hate to make you cry. 🙂 I will certainly pass on the love and I sure hope y’all will enjoy this cake!
Claudine in Fort Worth, TX
Oh, Stacey, how inspirational and moving your narrative is about your wonderful Mom! I was moved to tears when I read it. Thank you so much for sharing. Your Mom really sounds like a wonderful person and someone everyone should strive to be like. You are so VERY lucky to still have her and I know you treasure every moment you have with her. I lost my Mom many years ago, and I still to this very day miss her, but this I do know, one day, if I am truly good, I will be able to be with her again. Thank you again for sharing, and please if I may, will you give her a big hug and kiss for me on Mother’s Day as I no longer have a Mom. I truly wish you and your family all the best.
PS: The Lemon Cream Cake looks delicious!
You are so right! Thanks so much, Claudine!