Trial

These past three days have changed my life forever.  I never imagined how it would feel when someone you loved would come to me and say, "Leslie, I have cancer."  I never imagined seeing the people I love so deeply sad, scared, but brave.  In these past two days, I've felt more pain, more love, more peace, more gratitude, and more faith than I think I ever have.  My sister and bosom friend Kennedy is engaged to another wonderful friend of mine, Kyle.  Monday, they found out that he has cancer.  We are waiting to find out more information and see what we will be doing to fight it.  I'm so proud of them and love them so dearly.  We will pull through this and I know that as we rely on the Lord, He will support us and give us strength. 

Pig Pancakes :)

My dad made me a pig pancake a while ago and it made my day.  All you do is make a big pancake with 2 smaller ones attached for the ears.  Cook a more oblong circle to the side.  Cut to small slits in the oblong circle and place on top. 

Enjoy :)

Anise Seed Cookies

These are a family favorite that I think are a mix between a traditional Italian easter cookie, spanish cookie, and Moroccan cookie.  I grew up thinking were super hard to make, but started making them all of the time now that I'm at college. 

I know you may be thinking what is Anise Seed? Anise Seed looks like this and tastes similarly to a fennel seed, but has a subtle black licorice flavor (for all of you that didn't grow up on black licorice, don't be turned off by that description).  They can be pretty expensive, but I've found that they sell them at Macey's Grocery store in a little packet for like $.69.  

I researched Anise seed and found that it is used basically everywhere, except the United States.  It is believed to relieve menstrual cramps, help with digestion, and a cure for insomnia.   In India, they just chew the seeds after dinner and in the middle east they put about a tablespoon of them in hot water and drink it as tea.   Basically, it's an incredible herb.

Anise Seed Cookies:
3/4 cup water
1 pkg of Anise seeds (julia's seasonings) or 3 tbs.
3 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 orange
1 cup milk
1 cup oil
1 egg
1/8 cup sugar (for sprinkling)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a standard cookie sheet.
2.  In a small saucepan,  boil water and add seeds.  Let the seeds cook for about 20 minutes.
3.  In a medium mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar and baking powder.  Zest the orange and add the zest to the dry mixture.
4.  In a tall glass or jar, combine the milk and oil.  Add the juice from the orange.  Stir so the liquid is mixed.
5.  Add the cooked anise seed to the dry mixture and mix well.  Then slowly add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and mix well.  (I typically end up kneading the dough)
*If the mixture is too wet or too dry, add a little more flower or mix equal parts of oil and milk and add.
6.  Then, take about 2 tbs of dough and roll into a snake.  Pick it up and twist the dough from the middle out.  Or you can twist the dough so that it makes a breast cancer awareness ribbon shape.  Or you can twist it into a traditional knot.  Place on cookie sheet
7.  Beat an egg and thinly brush on top of the cookies.  Then, with a spoon sprinkle sugar on top of the cookies.
8.  Bake for 10-12 minutes or until they are solid.
9.  Eat with milk and Enjoy!

I end up freezing most of the cookies just so I don't eat them all in one sitting. :)

Fall

Fall makes me long for home.  Everything about fall is cozy, happy, and memorable; those same adjectives describe my home.  I love going to the pumpkin patch, the leaves that deepen and fall to the ground, the smell of fall air, fall foods like pumpkin pie and warm soup.  I love trick-or-treating and getting hot donuts at the Pages and cotton candy at the Howard's.  I love Aunt Betty's upside-down pear pie at Thanksgiving.  I love being able to wrap up in soft, pretty cardigans and warm blankets.  I love being with my family and friends with these things.  Although, I feel somewhat alone and miss those beautiful experiences, I have some amazing friends and family members that are around me.  They are the type of people that are selfless, Christlike, and going places.  They are the kind of people that are positive amidst adversity and enjoy the ride.  They are people who listen to me and my semi-pathetic trials that I am going through, and try to understand, even though their own lives are chuck-full (a LeCheminant term) of their own worries.  I've noticed that these people notice the beauty in the world around them and share that with others.  I want to exhibit those same attributes.  So today, the world around me was stunning.    I love the mountains and am extremely grateful that I can live so close to them.  I think that I am going to try harder to be more appreciative about the amazing opportunities that surround me and be more aware.

Oh tis life

Right now, I am trying to make a bunch of decisions...and I don't like it. Isn't it totally ironic that we fought a war in heaven over agency and we so desperately wanted to be able to make our own decisions. Now that I have that right and can be choosing my destiny, it's freaking me out and I am really confused as to what I want. This is a totally new sensation to me, because I feel like I have known what I wanted out of life since I was 4 or 5; go to college, graduate, travel the world, make beautiful dresses, get married in the temple, have a family, and live happily-ever-after. I know that I just want to be happy and accomplish what I am supposed to before I leave this life. Un-vauge-ifying those two concepts will take me the rest of my life. Benjamin Franklin said, "There are three things that are extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one's self."

On the bright side, at least I feel really good about my major. Home and Family Living is one of the most diverse and interesting majors! If you are undecided and lucky enough to be at BYU, you should check it out! Although it isn't PD Bio or Nuclear Physics, it still is very challenging. Especially the skill classes, like clothing construction. Awesome, but I am failing my projects, and have been sewing for a large majority of my life. Rather pathetic. But seriously, I love my major. &Right now I am in a Residential Landscape Design class that is super cool! Human development is also way interesting, and although I think my professor (and ta's for that matter) probably think that I am an idiot, I am totally fascinated! It's weird, there are no children in my life...at all. I can't even think of the last time that I held a baby or played an imaginary game with a 3-year-old. Maybe that's why I love that class so much. I am only remembering the really sweet experiences and am forgetting about the tantrums and smelly diapers. Sorry I get so easily sidetracked.

p.s. this is very off topic, but Kenn informed me that we are related to President Lincoln today. That made my whole day! That and a wonderful conversation with my roommate Janet. (Not to be confused with another roommate Jana or Janana)

p.s.s. We have banana bread coming out our ears and I think we will be making more in the very near future. So help a sister out and take some off our hands! Much thanks!

gratitude

I forget how incredibly blessed I am.

My body works pretty well.

I am at the greatest University in the world.

My parents and siblings love me, and I love them.  And...we get to be together forever!

I have wonderful friends with similar goals and dreams.

Life is Good.

BY-ME!

I feel so happy.  Like the novelty of being able to bear my testimony during class or share a comment that indicates the need for morals in society (without getting my grade docked) is so exciting to me!  I personally hope that novelty never wears off. :) 

this would be the "yay!  I'm at BYU face"

 My Marriage and Family Class is beautiful!  We are studying the Family: a proclamation to the world and I am blown out of my mind!  This document is so basic but states so many eternal principles so clearly and eloquently.  I am so blessed to have the knowledge that is written there.  Everyone should read it or take another look at it. 

 * Click here to read it *

Disneyland Nostalgia.

Tomorrow is the official day that the Pat and Suzan Gerber Clan will be gracing the Happiest Place on Earth's lovely gates.  Super Excited!  I love the way the smell (a perfect blend of coffee, cigarettes, and flowers) and the exhilaration of waking up early to get there first so you can rush to your favorite ride and be the first to ride it.

  

 So many fond memories are associated with it.

I remember meeting Beast for the first time; I was so scared I cried.  I remember bothering Kennedy to the point that I made her cry and having to go back to the hotel because I was being sassy; Jon and I played cards until I told her sorry and sound like I meant it.  I remember finding my Snow White dress at the Princess Store.  I put it on and knew I would never be the same: it still resides in my basement.  I remember the old submarine ride and being terrified of the mermaids.  The first time I heard my cute Grandma Schwendiman scram was on the Matterhorn. I remember going to the Lion King Parade with Uncle Jon and I will swear to this day that the Alligator bit my hand.  I remember when California Adventure was built.  I remember going on that silly Ferris Wheel with the whole family (minus sam) and we were all crying, except for Owen who was probably two at the time.   I remember watching the fireworks with the fam and eating pixie sticks and holding my knit winnie the pooh.  The first time I rode Splash Mountain was with my Dad and Jon and on every uphill Jon would say that this was it, and so I didn't believe him on the real one. :)  I remember scouting out cute boys with Kenn and describing them as various assesories to describe their various features. (ex.  a tall, dark, and handsome man might have been described as "wow Kenn, did you see that purse?" "ya, it looked Italian."  "yes, it was a very beautiful bag." )  

Oh, the good times of Disneyland.  Magical, one could say.