It’s inevitable that unexpected circumstances will occur at one point or another in our lives. There are a variety of life events that can take a toll on the average person such as a troubled relationship, financial hardship or an unforeseen illness. More often than not we’ll find ourselves in a state of disbelief asking why me? During troubled times the support of close friends and family can make a big difference in helping to alleviate the problem. Having an open mind is beneficial when considering the pros and cons of allowing our inner circle to weigh in with possible solutions. These are the times we hope and pray for a miracle or a sudden turn of events for the better, keeping our fingers crossed and relying on our faith to get us through.
In the autobiography Made from Scratch by Mignon Francois, Mignon finds herself in desperate need of a change in direction having gone through a teenage pregnancy, a troubled marriage and years of financial insecurity. Mignon discusses how her faith in God empowered her to take control over her life. She acknowledges that her success didn’t come without God’s leadership which strengthened her everyday as she remained undeterred with her plan to financial freedom. Mignon prayed that her bakery business would become more than just an idea but would come into fruition providing stability for her growing family.
While attending college in her hometown of Louisiana, Mignon gets sidetracked by an unexpected pregnancy during her second semester. When her mother suggests the possibility of not following through, Mignon questions her mother’s Christian values being a prominent figure in their church as well as Mignon’s moral compass. Mignon ultimately decided to keep her baby due to her religious beliefs and took on the responsibility of raising a child on her own. Prioritizing her education Mignon enrolled herself in a small catholic school after giving birth which would be the first step to securing her career.
Mignon would meet her soon-to-be husband Alvin Francois while he was there attending night school. Alvin with his charming personality and good looks made winning Mignon’s approval easy at the time promising her a stable future. Mignon had struggled with self esteem throughout her whole life and admits to believing that no one would entertain marrying her due to having a child. Her limiting beliefs had also been perpetuated by relatives who proceeded to mock and ridicule her situation.
Riddled with guilt Mignon could not shake the feeling of shame that she has now brought to her family. Marriage would be the only way to “fix” what she had done. Mignon and Alvin were engaged four weeks after their first meeting and as they anticipated their union, they waited patiently for Alvin’s split from his previous marriage to be finalized from his wife and mother of three children. Mignon recalls the moment walking down the aisle and hearing a little voice inside her head telling her not to get married. “Mignon, do not get married!” Mignon reasoning with herself responded…”But the guests are already here bearing gifts!” Mignon felt that it was too late to call things off and proceeded to marry Alvin in her mother’s backyard. On that summer’s day in July of 1994, they had become a family of six.
Approximately one year after getting married, Mignon and her husband would move to Houston for a better opportunity. When she moved to Houston she learned how to listen to God who spoke to her daily. It had been a difficult time for Mignon and her husband because they were unsuccessful in terms of what they were hoping to accomplish. After residing in Houston for sometime, Atlanta would be next until they finally settled in the city of Nashville, with plans to purchase a home. The home that was purchased would unknowingly become the location of their home-based business called The Cupcake Collection.
Mignon and Alvin had their hands full after purchasing a condemned home that required hefty renovations. Alvin was an experienced contractor and was able to strike a deal with the seller when he agreed to renovate another property in exchange for the down payment that they needed to purchase the home. After delivering the project beyond the sellers expectations, Alvin continued to work on other projects during the day and in the evening, he and Mignon worked on their family home until its completion.
In the midst of their renovation project, they were also drowning in serious debt. Mignon would speak to God often with several requests or “deals” that would resemble a trade of some sort. “I will practice discipline when managing my money…If only I can be delivered from this debt!” “Please God find a way!” Mignon and her husband both had been living beyond their means which contributed to the mismanagement of their finances. Having no electricity in the home, no gas in the car, stretching meals from one day to the next was the way of life in their household. Struggling to keep up with mortgage payments and the threat of foreclosure looming over their heads was a common occurrence.
Mignon would wake up in the middle of the night and perceived this as God waking her up to speak to her. She would pray and speak to God after making her rounds checking up on the children. One day Mignon happened to be listening to a popular talk show and heard a discussion of things one can do in order to raise money. When the prospect of having a bake sale was suggested on the show, Mignon was instantly hooked on the idea and felt that God had spoken to her. Mignon prayed for a successful business venture after not following through with multiple projects in the past. Mignon made a promise to God that she would spread the message of faith once her business was established and she was determined to honor that promise.
Mignon reached out to her grandmother knowing that she would be the one to assist her in an area she knew nothing about. Mignon was not a baker but was willing to learn and get to work. Mignon with her back against the wall had the tall task of creating a superb product hoping to ultimately go viral. Mignon spent days in effort to perfect this sweet treat, baking multiple batches and coming up with a product that’s considered unmatched. Mignon incorporated what her grandmother told her over the phone with the use of cookbooks, shows and whatever resources she could find. Mignon credits her beloved grandmother for providing the one thing that would change her life and family legacy.
Due to limited financial means, Mignon resorted to selling cupcakes right out of her home for the next two years. As the business grew it was decided that part of the family home would officially be converted into the bakery. Mignon and her husband worked diligently together to build The Cupcake Collection despite their troubled marriage. Both were in agreement to end their union once Mignon became financially stable and in position to run the business on her own.
Humble beginnings are where Mignon and family started and persevered for many years when the unknown was yet to be discovered. With a hand-written sign on the door, word of mouth marketing, God’s guidance and refusing to give up on a promise had finally paid off. Mignon Francois became the proud owner of The Cupcake Collection when it officially opened its doors in November, 2008.
Today The Cupcake Collection is a million-dollar bakery business with two thriving storefront locations. Mignon continues to share her knowledge, experience and faith with others around the globe who also have struggled but have remained firm in their faith searching for answers not necessarily seen but rather heard.
How was Mignon able to focus and wait on God while dealing with multiple setbacks and challenges in her life?
