Whole Wheat Carrot Cake Waffles with Cream Cheese Glaze

Whole Wheat Carrot Cake Waffles will turn your breakfast into a wholesome and delicious meal. Simple and delicious with just the right amount of cinnamon, carrot and more.

These past weeks have felt like a long season. The last six weeks stretched in a way that made each day feel heavy, and I’m so relieved that period is behind us.

Shifting our path toward adoption has brought unexpected challenges. The time, energy and paperwork required can feel overwhelming; it’s an emotional and logistical marathon. I have so much respect for everyone who has navigated this road before us. The process can feel like a filter meant to test resolve, and there were many moments when I wondered whether we’d be one of those filtered out.

But we pushed through. No amount of forms, appointments, education classes or uncomfortable conversations would stop us. This week we completed the home study, and finally we can breathe easier.

One bright outcome of this journey has been the community of women I’ve met along the way. I connected with Liz Shaw of Shaw’s Simple Swaps through mutual friends online, and our conversations have been a gift. Liz created Bumps to Baby as a supportive place for women facing infertility; she’s working to break the silence and stigma around that experience. If you are struggling, please speak up and reach out — there are many who understand and want to help.

When Liz invited me to be featured in her “Warrior Women Wednesday” series, I felt both honored and unsure. Warrior? Me? I’m the person who flinches at pregnancy announcements, who cries when friends share their good news, who avoids baby showers to protect my heart. Sometimes answering the question “Do you have children?” is too painful. Those feelings made it hard to see myself as a warrior.

At first I resisted the label. I wanted the easy route — to be one of those who gets pregnant effortlessly. But after reflecting more, I realized being a warrior doesn’t mean pretending everything is easy. A real warrior can be brave and also honest about pain and vulnerability. She carries scars and gold medals, and she shares the whole story: the joy, the loss, the hard parts along with the good.

So I accepted that being a warrior for me means refusing to hide the raw, difficult moments. I share them not for praise, but so that someone else might feel less alone. That is the kind of warrior I want to be. Thank you, Liz, for helping me see that in myself.

_____________________________________________________________________

Now, food for the body: let’s keep it simple. With Easter approaching, carrot cake flavors feel just right — so I’m sharing these Whole Wheat Carrot Cake Waffles for your brunch table.

These waffles combine shredded carrot, unsweetened shredded coconut, golden raisins and a touch of cinnamon for a comforting, wholesome breakfast. They use whole wheat pastry flour for a lighter whole-grain option and are sweetened gently with maple syrup. They make a lovely addition to an Easter spread or any morning you want something a little special.