Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Peach Ice Cream Day? Get Out of Town!

So this week I went on a baking craze! I made beer bread, granola, cookies, and peach yumminess. My friend Michelle came in town and lets just say, she, like me, has the passion for baking as me (if not more). So you get us together and we're gonna bake something.

When we found out that June 17 was National Peach Ice Cream day, we knew we had to do something! So we went to our local peach stand (yes, Waco has a peach stand. . it may or may not be in front of a gas station, but its a peach stand) and they so yummy! We bought some Blue Bell ice cream and came up with something good!

I decided that we also needed to make homemade granola bars.



Here is the granola! Its
has oats, peanut-butter, honey, brown sugar, cranberries, pecans, and white chocolate chips!! Get it my belly!! (oh, and it did).








Michelle did an amazing peeling and slicing the peaches. Its her favorite. (hmm). We (she) sautéed the sliced peaches in some water, sugar, honey, and a tiney bit of cinnamon.
Once that was done we took the peaches out and made a sauce from the left over liquid from the peaches. EASY. Leave it on the stove for a few minutes and add some cornstarch and you got sauce. We invited couple of our friends over and we devoured it.

SO, also this week, a few of my friends and I were bored and had to think of something to do. So, we played this game called 60 minutes. Everyone writes down something random to do and turns them in. The thing is, EVERYONE has to do it. Well, I'm not gonna lie, our challenges were a little lame.

1. Get a piggy back ride from a stranger
2. Hide in the Wal-Mart freezers
3. Build a fort out of paper towels in Wal-Mart
4. Scream in the Brooks quadrangle and pretend like nothing happen
5. ( I can't remember).

What also ended up happening, was fake interviewing people (and getting told to stop) and eating a $1 taco with cow tongue. It was actually pretty good. I would get it again.

Now, I gotta go back to real life and start my homework by reading a novel. (I dislike reading). But as someone once said, "Readers are leaders!" So i'll just keep that quote in my mind.

PS. I made made cookies today. Another post soon!

Until Next Time: Enjoy life, do something random, & have fun.

Laney :o)

Friday, July 15, 2011

HOLY SMOKES (this is going to be long)

So, its been since December since I have blogged!? I am really terrible at this aren't I. I'm debating where to start. I won't tell my whole life story, just give a little update.

So, its the summer here in good ol' Waco but its not so summer considering I am taking summer school. BUMMER. BUT this so far has been the BEST summer of my life.

At the end of May I went to Capetown, South Africa for a mission trip. So many people ask, "So, did you enjoy it?" I'm thinking are you kidding me?! I loved it! It was completely life changing as always. I've been on mission trips before, but after this one, it was confirmation that this was in fact what I wanted to dedicate my life to. To say "yes" to whatever God has for me and to bring him glory in everything. I do not feel specifically called to one place but to many.

My heart right now is to work with women and some children who are in Human Sex-trafficking. My ideas on this are so completely scattered. I want to take them out and pour identity in to them. I want to get their feet back on the ground by teaching them new skill sets. I would love to teach women how to bake and cook. I love to exercise and dance, so I would love to involve that as well. The list goes on. I am a Family and Consumer Sciences major so I am learning about families, children, adolescents, nutrition, housing, clothing etc. You get the idea. Most people say its the M.R.S. degree but really its the degree that has everything wrapped into one that women enjoy. Its preparing me with knowledge and skills to work with women. (plus, I haven't even gone on a single date since getting to college and I am now a Senior, so I would say I am not going for that M.R.S. degree haha!)

Maybe, I will open up a bakery and take women and teach them and give them a new job by having them run the business. Maybe I will just have a safe house with an open kitchen and teach them and their children and at the same time disciple them.

The verse that Lord gave me for my ministry is Isaiah 52:3
For thus says the Lord, "You were sold for nothing, and you shall be redeemed without money."

EEK! So good. My heart and passion is for so many places right now.
Amsterdam. England. Cambodia. & Thailand and to other unreached people groups. But at the same time, I do have the desire to be in America some. So maybe I will do both! Its exciting that Lord gives you desires and passions and knowing that the Lord will work all things out together for good to bring him glory!

So enough of this scatter brained-ness. Here are some pictures of the South Africa Trip (can you tell that I am truly A.D.D. . fact).

So, have you ever walked into something and thought to yourself, "Yup, this is what I want to do?" Well this happened to me. The Lord was so good. This is me cooking for an African family. The two ladies Rachel and Priscilla taught me how to cook a meal for them. The Lord was just giving me a glimpse of what He has for me and the special gifting he has given me to connect with women.


This was the family that I really connected with in the township. The older lady is Rachel and the younger one holding the baby (Diago) is Priscilla.


This was my awesome group that I went with! Love and miss hanging out with these guys 24/7


Yes, this place is real!


What else have I been up to this summer? Well, I just got back from a road trip with two of my friends, Ayla and Kaitlyn to Wisconsin to go to SummerFest! (The largest music festival in America.) It was a blast. PLUS I got to see Jason Mraz for the third time! He never disappoints to put on an amazing show! AND on our way back we stopped in Chicago to go to Taste of Chicago!! That will have to be another post of its own.


Ayla and I at the Farmers Market at the capital in Madison, WI. It was early, can you tell?


Yes, I know I did it. I bought a Jason Mraz shirt. I always think those people who buy shirts and yell out "I LOVE YOU!!" at concerts are a bit much. I always feel badly for the artist. I'm thinking they are people too! They put on their pants one foot at a time too. But I gave in. I'll go ahead and say it, I love Jason haha he is truly a brilliant artist. He's been my favorite for 7 years. I'm allowed at this point.



Ok. This is embarrassing. After all that I said about those crazy fans, here I am with a Bieber cut-out. Wow, such a hypocrite I am. But I'll confess, I'm guilty. I really like this kid. :-/



Kaitlyn and I at Taste of Chicago "stomping" cranberries! Hilarious.



What I am doing now? I feel like I am finally doing EVERYTHING I love to do again! Its summer and I finally have time. I have recently picked the guitar back up and relearning how to play. Its been a blast. I signed up for dance classes (ballet, tap, & jazz). I feel old when dancing since my body doesn't quite move how it used to and I am only almost 22!!! I am taking pilates & yoga classes, and baking a little when I have time! I really want to go golfing but its been too hot. I also want roller blades and a bike. I feel like this is like a midlife crisis. But I am just fully enjoying life abundantly and experiencing the JOY that Lord has given me!

Things to come? Kings of Leon concert for my birthday and then CALIFORNIA to visit my best friend Rachel!!

Sorry this was SOO incredibly long.I think I really did end up telling my whole life story. I guess this is more of a place for me to vent haha. But if you actually read all of this I would say you need to get a life and find something to do. If you just looked at the pictures, well pictures speak louder than words and that's what I would have done. Until next time, enjoy life!!

Laney :o)