I think the only reason people bake cookies and cake in the first place is to eat the uncooked ingredients..you know, the dough and the batter and whatnot. It's the best part of baking! That's what Esther and I did yesterday..we did manage to get a full plate of cookies out of the bowl before we ate the dough. Those were some good cookies! We also watched Mulan 2 and looked at the website for the New Zealand DTS I still really want to go and attend. (http://www.ywam-oakridge.org.nz/) I've got to talk to my mom about it.. It costs up to 7,800 NZD. In USD that's about 5,420.92. If you've got any ideas on how I could go about raising that much money, please share! I know a few people who will donate some money, but I can't rely solely on donations, you know?
Also, while at Esther's, I had some caramel flavored hot chocolate for the first time ever. It was GOOD. I love that stuff; can't believe I've never tried it before. So basically, yesterday was a good day. I hung out with Esther, baking cookies, watching Mulan 2, and hanging out on her back porch. Got to know Josiah a little bit better too. Gosh, I wish my family was as close as hers is. They don't actually hate each other!! Well, I don't hate my family, but we're still not that close..

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Merry Christmas everyone. This is probably the best Christmas I've had in years, and I know it's because I'm finally happy, and that it's the first Christmas I'm truly spending with Christ in my heart. I thank God that he brought Esther into my life, because I don't think I'd have found my way without her to help me. I don't know that I'd even be here today without her or Edward. The one gift I've always wanted for Christmas was love, and this year I finally feel like I have that. I don't care what presents I may unwrap today, that's not what it's about. (Though everyone loves getting gifts!)
Have you ever heard the song 'Angel' by Beverley Mitchell? It's the first song I've ever listened to that makes me cry. I started thinking about the two most special people in my life, and wonder what I'd do without them. And how I'm so blessed to have them in my life. I hope they're both in my life for many, many years to come. Esther is kind of like everybody's angel. She has so many friends, and has this way of making people happy with just her presense in the room.
Oh, and I got a really nice gift from her too. I gave her a photo album and some scrapbooking supplies to put all of her Argentina and Costa Rica pics in. She said it was perfect. I got a book, and what I think are Argentinian candies. I know they're candies; looks like hard candies with sugar coating. I'm gonna try those later today.
I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas, and enjoy time with your friends and families, ok? Love, Laura

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I visited Trinity College with Esther and her family yesterday. It's a nice school; I could literally see myself going there in the future. The dorms aren't that big, but they are pretty decent. I'd have finished an application already but I can't seem to be able to finish writing my testimony. It's something I'll get to sooner or later. (Hopefully sooner!) If I go on a DTS, I will have to write one for that application as well. New Zealand is still where I really want to go; it's my #1 pick, but it is kinda costly. It's 6000 USD!! But I searched on the YWAM site again this morning to see if there were any others I might be interested in (and a little more affordable). I found one in Taiwan that's about 3000 USD, and two others that are about 4000 USD. We'll see which one pans out though!

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Well, Ed finally told me what he had to say about the DTS opportunity I've become interested in. It's awesome, now I don't have to wonder if he'd be okay with it (sounds like he's more than okay with it!), nor feel guilty about wanting to explore another country while he's away. It's a bit heartwarming to read that part of his response.
But now I'm anxious and nervous. Ed also said that he's worried about me. But he didn't say what worried him. I'd really like to know so I can reassure him that I am okay, and 100% fine. He says he's going to tell me tomorrow, but that doesn't help when I'd like the reason today. Hm. Not much I can do about though, guess I'm gonna have to wait until tomorrow. Phooey.
As for the DTS, I have been searching again for maybe something more affordable, and Taiwan seems to be the cheapest at $3000. That'd be cool, especially learning Chinese/Mandarin. I could talk to my aunt in Chinese when I come back home! (My aunt was a missionary in Taiwan until I was about 13, so she knows a little bit of Chinese.) It starts April 2, and I'm assuming ends sometime in September, so I think I'm going to need to start fundraising ASAP! Wish me luck!

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I have decided for the next few weeks, I am going to try and create a virtual cookbook as part of a website dedicated to my future husband. Nobody thinks I can cook, and truth is that I can (as long as I've got a written recipe to follow..). They won't give me a chance to cook though, and claim that I'm a terrible cook because I burn my toast every now and again. Our toaster was on its last leg, and then we got a brand new toaster--how is that my fault?!
Anyway, I don't know what else I'm going to put on the website. Pictures, a journal, and maybe some poetry. That's all I've got so far; I'm going to go look up some other ideas online.
Also, please keep praying that I will get to go on a DTS sometime this year!

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I want to go to Switzerland. I know I've been saying that New Zealand is my first pick, but now I think it may be my second choice. YWAM Lausanne sounds like so much fun, and I've been searching online and looking at the website for Geneva (which is apparently really close to Lausanne), and it seems like the place for me. So many gorgeous sites to see in my free time, and Lausanne itself, especially the base, looks like a beauty too. (They have TONS of pictures on the website: www.ywamlausanne.com). I think I spent a total of 5 hours looking at that site, and the one for Geneva (www.geneva-tourism.ch/eng/index.php3)! I haven't been able to find more on taking a YWAM course, other than what I've already read and heard from others who've taken a DTS. I know every experience is different though, but I think the biggest key factor is your attitude going in. If you have a positive attitude, and keep looking for the bright spots, you'll enjoy yourself. If you have a negative attitude, you'll just keep looking for the downsides and make yourself miserable.

Anyways, I still really want to do a DTS. The cost for Switzerland is just under $4000 USD, and I think that's a little more managable than the $6400 USD for New Zealand. The only thing on the application that worries me is the references. They want three: Pastoral/Spiritual Reference (Karl?), Teacher/Employer Reference, and Friend Reference. Now, I'm not real worried about the friend reference, I've got a few good friends that I know would help me with that one. The teacher/employer reference is a bit difficult. I'm not really in school at the moment, nor am I employed anywhere. I know the most common solution is to go to the most recent employer and ask them to fill it out, but I don't feel that that's going to be a good reference. I know I did an okay job there, but it definitely wasn't my best; there's so much more effort I could have been puitting into my job at Publix. The pastoral/spiritual reference also worries me a tiny bit because I'm not sure of who to ask to fill it out. I'm not really close to any of the leaders or anything, and I know they don't know me real well--or at least not well enough to be able to complete the reference form. I think I'm going to talk to Pastor Karl or Jay about it either this Sunday or next. (Hmm..Jay. There's an idea..)

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