I take great pleasure in food.

My recent conquerings have included that of baking and cooking. I have always had a desire to conquer these essential parts of life, but often laziness wins in these matters. However, the last couple of weeks have been different. With Robbie working crazy long hours there are less things for me to default to. In the last week or so I have found myself experimenting with such things and alas I have discovered that I find great pleasure in creating food. Perhaps I am drawn to learn these things now as in less than a year I will have my own household of sorts. It certainly helps.

I thought it would be fun to make a list of what I have recently made:
- 2 chicken stirfrys
- a lasagna (with Kyla and Karyn)
- a chicken, blush sauce pasta
- blueberry pancakes
- chocolate, blueberry, banana, chocolate chip pancakes (highly deadly)
- 3-4ish dozen ginger cookies (twice!!)
- 6 dozen chocolate chip cookies
- a chocolate cake from scratch
- chocolate icing (great comfort food)

I have always enjoyed making myself decadent breakfasts. I have created many omelets and 'gourmet' egg sandwiches over the years, but this week I have been experimenting with pancakes and toppings.


This little creation is my 'pink breakfast'. I enjoyed chopped and sugared strawberries on top of blueberry pancakes. It was tres yummy. I enjoyed raspberry yogurt, a touch of earl (grey that is), and pink lemonade.


These were the leftovers from the day before but with blueberries and strawberries on top. I cut the blueberries in half life my sister does for her one year old so they wouldn't roll away on me. I also had a chocolate chip muffin and white grapefruit juice. I'm a big fan of that juice and so was my nephew Benno.



This last one was a bit excessive. These would be the chocolate, blueberry, banana, chocolate chip pancakes. I topped them off with a blueberry sauce, icing sugar and I'm ashamed to say a bit of chocolate icing. I also had some of my ginger cookies, apple juice, yogurt, and chai tea. Heres a closeup of the pancakes.


I'm a fan, but this is probably something I can only eat about once a year. It was uber rich... super yummy.

So all and all this is lots of fun for me. Hopefully I'll continue to create and experiment once the school year commences.

Love story

This is my love story.

I am moved by love, compelled by love, and I am ultimately designed by love.

Now I am preparing to leave myself behind as much as possible for the sake and calling of loving another person completely and fully. I want this to be a fairy tale, and in many ways it is. He came from another land, a handsome foreigner with a stellar accent different from me in every way, but our faith. God literally moved an entire family across the world and as a result I met my man. I call that epic. We met when we were young, very young. We both fell quick and fast. I can safely declare now my secret that I knew, I really knew he was the one from very early. I remember in the early days daydreaming and imagining Robbie travelling to Canada from Africa in shining armor. I would be waiting in my castle, princess hat and all. I would imagine God moving mountains for him to get to me. And then he was there, and we were happy and it was sunny.

There were signs everywhere that it was intentionally orchestrated by our Papa. He pursued me through all my inner selfish struggles of learning to love another person. I resisted and was confused and doubted, but he was convinced. He was my constant, a rock. I don't know what I would be if I'm using metaphors, probably something like a butterfly or a very restless kitten, but I know for sure that I was sure alot more flakey then him.

Then one day he asked me the question I'd been waiting for, praying for, hoping for for what seemed like forever, but I guess it really wasn't. Led by Our Lord Jesus to His mother in a beautiful graveyard of all things he asked me. I love that it was in a graveyard. 'Till death do us part.' I think thats beautiful.

I was, am dumbfounded by the fact that I am now engaged. I feel like a feather. I feel amazing.

So this is my side of the love story, the girly romantic side.

But...

I have learnt that life isn't always a fairytale. Life is draining, love is a sacrifice of self. I have been able to truly see how selfish, how self centered, how unaware of others we are. I am incredibly weak without Christ. I am nothing without him. I truly need him to love others, to love Robbie.

Dating Robbie has been my renaissance. He has allowed me to be myself, to surrender to who I am. Hes taught me that life is better when you choose to love it and not just hope that life will treat you kindly. It is our choice to live with joy or to reject it. Robbie challenges me when I need it. He is not afraid to disagree with me. Most importantly he isn't fooled by me when I'm putting on an act and he will relentlessly and patiently wait until I reveal the real Laura. This hasn't been easy for me, but I wouldn't want it any other way.

But...

While I am far too sensitive and he is perhaps far too practical we have reached a place of balance that isn't always comfortable, but it always challenging and changing us for the better. You are the potter and we are the clay.

This is my love story that will last. I am sure of it.

And if you still are confused about how I feel, this piece of music says it all.

Papa

God is closer to me, more accessible to me right now than any human on earth right now. Not to say that I don't want to be around people, but I think I am finally understanding the lyrics of many a praise song such as

Be my everything. God in my waking. God in my sleeping. God in my resting. God in my waiting.

I'm falling on my knees, offering all of me. Jesus, you're all this heart is living for.

All of you is more than enough for, all of me, for every thirst and every need, you satisfy me with you love, and all I have in you is more than enough.

I have always had a hard time singing each of these songs. Its difficult to realize you dependecy on God, your utter need for him in every moment of your life. I'll never be fully there I'm sure, but for some reason I understand this better than ever. This semester has been really hard for me. Letting go of something that is so giving is painful. Finding people who love me for me only to have to leave is not the greatest. Having to trust God that everything is fulfilled in His time, according to His will. Keeping my brain in the present instead of having it wander into the future.

I
keep
waiting
for
everything
to
change
but
I
really
don't
want
it
to

Yet in this unknowing closeness that I feel with my creator that He reveals to me the extent of my brokenness, the extent of my selfishness.

The song 'Child of God' has been my song for this year. Here is it, because it can say what I cannot:

With every breath with every thought
From what is seen to the deepest part
I offer all that I've come to be
To know Your love fathering me

Father You're all I need
My soul's sufficiency
My strength when I am weak
The love that carries me
Your arms enfold me
Till I am only a child of God

With every step on this journey's walk
And wisdom's songs that the soul has sought
I give myself unreservedly
To know Your love fathering me