your were made for this

I'm learning to trust and be completely dependent upon the Lord. Typing that is so much easier then really rolling with it sometimes.
Some of you know that the week I went to NYC was a bit of a crazy one, and it is still rolling! That week Aaron was rushed to the Hospital, I quit my job, and then off I went to NYC. That is a pretty eventful week! Following that, there has been a time of excitement and learning.
After lots of prayer and discussions, I have decided to go on staff with Young Life. This has been a thought since last March, but is now going to be reality. It's funny how you can tell God over and over, "No no not me! That is for someone else", and he just sits there patiently tapping me on the shoulder saying, "Ok, really, I wasn't kidding. You're going to do this". That is pretty much where I was at, and now the plan is in action!
I will be what they call Mission Staff. I will basically be doing administrative work, training leaders, recruiting leaders, and working on events (banquet & golf). There is more to it than that, but that is the skeleton version of it.
Please be praying for me as I start this new journey on February 15th, and if you are interested in being a part my ministry here in Shreveport let me know! I would love for you to walk with me in this journey too!

sweet serendipity

When you want something sweet and easy this was a great recipe. I made this recently, and I have to admit it was tasty. Thank you Serendipity for letting your secrets out and publishing a cookbook!

Chocolate Chip Pizza

• 2 1/2 c. all pupose flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 sticks  unsalted butter, softened
• 3/4 c. sugar
• 3/4 c. packed brown sugar
• 2 lg. eggs
• 1tsp. vanilla
• 1 package of chocolate chips
• 1 c. chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Sift together the flour, baking soda, & salt; set aside. With a mixer, cream together butter & sugars. Beat in eggs & vanilla, then gradually add flour mixture & stir until smooth. Fold in chips & nuts.
Spread 1/2 batter in a buttered 12" deep-dish pizza pan & bake for 20-25 minutes. Once cool, remove pizza from pan set aside. re-butter the pan, fill with remaining half of mixture, & bake as above. Serve each pizza in wedges, w/whipped cream & chocolate syrup.

old to you, new to me

Our sweet friends Jordan & Britney gave us this old chest of drawers, and said "have your way with it". So, we said, "awesome"! We had been looking for a set of chest of drawers to redo, and knew that this would be perfect. My Grandmother gave us an awesome red trunk, and our hopes were to create something that would match. Just in case you ever want to get out the power tools and roll up your sleeves we thought we would give you some good tips how!

                                         (Before)                                                   (After)
1- We had to use some putty to fill the holes so we could get new hardware to fit.
2- Sand the whole thing down to the raw wood.
3- Chocolate brown coat of paint
4- Red coat of paint
4- Little hand sanding
5- A special stain/glaze we got mixed up (This is the part where you're glad that your husband had random jobs... like working at a paint store!)
6- Wiped off the glaze
7- Sand it some more to get worn edges
8- Aaron's nice touch- creating worm holes randomly, and sanding behind the hardware to make it appear worn.

Ta-Da...old to the Smiths new to the Lotts.... Thanks for the chest of drawers Smiths!

the big apple was not too big

I know this is a very delayed post, but my computer was out of commission for a moment. Thankfully, it is back in action and ready to share how amazing NYC was! I didn't put all of the pictures from what we saw/did, but this might give you a pretty good idea! Here we go...

Our Apartment on 46th & Broadway... it was amazing

View from the apt. Times Square is to the Left

Other side of the apt. Hudson River & New Jersey

Times Square

Hannah & I in Times Square

At the top of the Rockefeller Center

Empire State Building. It was so pretty at night!

It was really pretty. Looks so much bigger on TV.

Flowers were being sold everywhere like it was Spring.

In Whole Foods. These LA Satsumas were $3/lb...they are never that much in LA.

This was an awesome Italian restaurant Becco ...I tried Octopus... no comment on that.

These people were lined up to pick up their kids from school...it was complete chaos.

In Soho getting amazing bit size cupcakes...

Stop! We tried them all!

Brooklyn, NY

At MOMA

Wicked

(L) Just a cool church near Madison Sq. Gardens (R)This was the only place with no destruction from 9/11...a church... interesting and beautiful.

We went to church at Times Sq Church. not only was the church a-mazing... the service was absolutely incredible!

Ground Zero

Hannah & I!

This was called the "momofuku- ssam bar". It was called the place to eat in NYC for 2010. It was awesome! So good we went to the other "momfuku -milk bar" for desert afterwards!

I was very excited to be at Serendipity 3!

We order way too much! People were taking pictures of us as the waiter brought out our desserts. (Before)

(After) enough said...

It totally made my day! Not to mention I bought the cookbook! Already made something from it!

Dylan's Candy Bar

GMA

Central Park! Went for a run with the local nannies, and then the next day Han and I went for a walk!

Castle in Central Park & the Met

I loved this chair in the Met... and then I got in trouble for taking a picture. Oops!

Van Gough...so maybe I bought 3 prints while I was there!

Goodbye NYC I hope to see you again real soon!

nyc t-minus 12 hours

OK, so in t-minus 12 hours I will be in air to New York with my sweet friend Hannah! I can't believe we're going! Aaron isn't letting me bring the "fam cam", so my pics might be so-so, however the memories wil always be there. (Did that just sound like a cheesy canvas in a dorm room?) Anyway, watch out we might just be on TV and of course I can't wait to eat! I'm going with a pro, so I'm just going to walk around and take it all in. It's funny how if this trip would have been 10 years ago I would have wanted to be in Times Square trying to get on TRL. Now, I'm like take me to the Met and Serendipity 3 for a frozen hot chocolate! Stay tuned for when we get back!

insta-gator

This past weekend we went to visit my Mom in South Louisiana. It was filled with good family time, good food, Kermit Ruffins, and a gator ranch. A gator ranch? Yes, a gator ranch. Jim was our guide who was "indeed" in love with alligators and Insta-Gator Ranch. Unfortunately, Amanda got smacked by the gator in the face, and I was scared that my baby alligator "Alli" was going to poop on me. Jim said not to worry at that size it’s not too bad, but I wasn’t too interested in getting pooped on.

Right before Insta-Gator Ranch took a turn...literally.

A little scared after seeing Amanda getting smacked!...and didn't want to get pooped on.

Jim sooo "glorious"..."indeed".

Amanda is such a trooper. I think we were ready to go!

It was a great weekend, which ended with appendicitis! Aaron is good just a little surgery, and resting in the hospital. Hope to head home tomorrow. Only 2 days till NYC!!!