In January 2020, Clinton’s Michelle Akeman found herself in a dark place. 

Her father had recently passed away and she was falling into a depression and was fearful that depression would lead her to return to old habits. To avoid that, Akeman said she turned to her faith and prayed. 

“And I heard, ‘bake.’” 

In her mind, Akeman said she responded, “’But I don’t bake!’ And loud as day, I heard, ‘Bake anyway!’”

Akeman credits baking with saving her. A recovering drug addict, Akeman found baking soothed her soul and allowed her to turn a hobby into a business.

“I started baking and I would take (the baked goods) to people at work, and they liked it and they wanted to buy it. I had no intention of starting a business; it was just something to do during Covid.” 

• Read the complete story in the Friday, Jan. 12 print edition of the Clinton Journal or now in the Journal E-Edition for subscribers.