Amazing....

Yes....this cake is amazing. :-) I credit the Hall Family for providing this delicious recipe and I think it's a new favorite dessert in our house. Several people have asked me for the recipe so....I now give you.....Chocolate Chip Cake! (If you say it like an announcer it's way more fun. ;-)

CHOCOLATE CHIP CAKE

1/2 c. butter
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 c. sour cream or plain yogurt

Topping:
1/2 c. sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
16 oz. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream butter, sugar, eggs & vanilla. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, and add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream.  Place 1/3 of the batter in bottom of greased 9x13" pan. Cover with 1/2 of topping. Add remaining batter. Smooth out (it will be thick). Add remaining topping. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Serves 8-12.

ENJOY! :-D

What IS love?!

Yes folks.....I do have love on the brain as of late. :-) It might be due to the fact that the man I love is constantly on my mind. But....ahem....you probably don't want to hear about that. What YOU want to hear about is what I think love is.....hence my title.

But....I'm not going to define love as I see it. Since the Lord has brought this new love into my life I've been contemplating even more what it means to love. The world has its own definition. Often it involves feelings and emotions that change at every turn life brings. Amidst this disillusioned people who seem to think they have love figured out yet can't make a marriage last, how are we supposed to come to a true understanding of what love is and what it means to love?

Just like anything in life, we turn to the One who DOES have it all figured out. There's no need for us to question or wonder. We have all the answers at our fingertips. We just have to crack the Book open and let Its light shine in our hearts.

So what DOES God's Word say about love? I don't think we can go very far without looking at Christ's example of love. It is said that 1 Corinthians 13 is the Love Chapter. I think 1 John 4 is pretty competitive!

1 John 4:7-11

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Wow.....What an incredible example of love we have in our Savior! So then what IS love? The chapter continues...

Vs. 16-21

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

We love him, because he first loved us.

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Verse 16 says "God is love". How has God loved you? THAT is how you are to show love to others. Is it easy to love others? Not always. But then....as often as I fail the Lord it would be so easy for Him to choose not to love me. Yet, He doesn't! I'm so grateful for that.

How have YOU shown love today to those in your life?

Funny and Ironic...

So I was scrolling through my photo gallery on my phone today and I came across this picture. 

Here's the story... 

A few days before Benjamin came out to propose I was at Taco Bell with a friend....a friend who happened to know he was coming to propose. HOW she managed to hold in her laughter as I came back to the table smiling about the hot sauce I happened to grab is beyond me! :-) I knew he would propose sometime so just for kicks I took a picture and logged it away in my phone. (Truthfully...I just happened to grab THAT sauce packet out of the whole bunch) Little did I know he would be asking me that very question just a few days later.... 

The Last Year!

Yesterday marked the first day of my last year of school! As you can imagine, I'm eagerly counting down this year towards a much bigger event than graduation. :-D

As usual, the first week is quite overwhelming. Trying to find my classes, and on time, can be difficult with all the construction obstructing the very center of the campus forcing everyone to go the long way everywhere. But, all is going well and I think I'll enjoy the many classes. I've also been given two jobs on campus! I'm now the Aide for the Social Science department and the Aide for the Music department. It will be nice to have a little income but also have the convenience of working right there for my instructors.

Also, amidst the craziness, I found time to make Zucchini Bread today. By far, THE best recipe I've ever found! You can find the recipe HERE...

Now I'm off to Pilates class.....I have to say that working out for college credit is pretty awesome. :-)

Engagement Photo Session

Before Benjamin came out here to surprise me with a proposal, I had scheduled to meet with our photographer just to go over paperwork and details. Little did I know the Ben had already talked to her and scheduled our Engagement session! I'm sure she was laughing as she scheduled our meeting. :-)

Caren Morris was an incredible photographer! I cannot praise her work enough. She found an amazing spot right at the Mukilteo ferry that included a light house, dock, and cute white fence. Can't wait to see what she does with the wedding next summer. :-) We'll get all the photos in a couple of weeks, but for now, here's a sneak peek!

Whirlwind

A little over a week ago the love of my life flew in from the other side of the country to ask me to marry him. What a whirlwind of a week it's been! At the beginning of the year if someone had suggested that by September I'd be walking around with the look of love plastered on my face I probably would have laughed in disbelief. God does work in mysterious ways!

Needless to say, my week went a little differently than I expected! I had a long list of things to accomplish before school starts and my intention was to cross a chunk of things off. Well....that didn't happen. I mean, who wants to be studying music theory and practicing scales when you could be walking on the beach with your fiance or taking engagement pictures! :-)

God has been so good to me. I can't wait to share more about what he's done in bringing the two of us together. But I'll save that for our joint BLOG which will be opening shortly. For now, I'll just say that it's the most wonderful thing when you finally meet the person that God has created just. For. YOU!

So...to my single friends who read my blog, I want to encourage you. I know it seems like such a cliche thing when you hear married or engaged people say "Wait for God's timing and He'll bring you the perfect one!". But I can honestly say...it's worth the wait. Every minute of your single years, God is preparing you to be united with that special person, even though you can't see it at the time. So take courage! And make the most out of these growing moments in your life.

Ahem.....I Have an Announcement!

Yesterday......

The man I love got down on one knee and asked me to marry him.

And I said "Yes!!"

To see the proposal video, sign up for our blog: BenjaminAlyssa.