Girl Scout Cookies

Girl Scout Cookies have been a touchy subject for me since I my Celiac diagnosis. I miss the days of hoarding boxes of Thin Mints, Tagalongs and Samoas in my freezer. Because I can feel the cookie season coming around the corner, I decided to go out on a limb and try something new: Gluten Free "Girl Scout" Cookies.

My first set: Thin Mints. They looked the easiest (and the cheapest) to make. I was happily surprised with the outcome. They turned out crispy on the inside, and chocolatey on the outside - and if I don't eat all 44 of them today... I can even hoard them in my freezer to enjoy at a later date. I've posted some pictures. The first is of the completely cooled cookies (the final product! yum!) - the two in the middle are of the cookies just after being dipped and the last one is just the cookie - no chocolate.

What's the reason?

A year ago, I would have told you "Everything happens for a reason."

Now, as I ponder on this little phrase...I find myself with a new train of thought. I don't think everything happens for a reason. I think some things happen because people are selfish or unprepared (unnecessary divorce, robberies at gas stations, kids picking on other kids, getting a detention for not bringing an assignment to school).

I don't think people are selfish for a reason. I think they are just selfish.
People may be unprepared for a reason, but that reason could be that they are lazy or irresponsible.
I don't think people are lazy for a reason.

I have a hard time believing that rape, genocide, child molestation, illness, kidnapping, murder etc... happen for a reason.

I think some things happen because there are people who are prepared, ready, financially able, loving (healthy marriages, happy children, adoption, financial stability, happiness in general).

I don't think people are prepared "for a reason." I think that's just in the fiber of their being.
I don't think people are financially able for a mystical reason: it's because they work hard.

I don't think God makes them that way. I think they make themselves that way. God doesn't make people drug addicts, God doesn't make people famous. People make themselves what they are.

So ... then ...what "reasons" are these types of things happening for. For us to learn? For us to grow? For us to become compassionate towards other?

Don't we learn the same lessons from lesser offenses - different experiences?

I think that some things might happen for a reason. But, more than anything, I think humanity needs these types of things to happen for a reason.

I think we make reasons for things that occur. Generally, I think we make reasons for things in times of need as a coping mechanism. I think people use "reasons" to explain other people's shortcomings ("your house is in foreclosure but it wouldn't be if you made a fast offering. Your lack of faith is the reason for your trials!) <---rude!

And I don't think that it's bad to want things to happen for a reason. I just don't think I agree.

I don't think I met Matt for a reason. I think I met him, and I'm very much in love and happy and I'm glad we met. I don't think I met him to convert him, or to bring a specific child into the world, or to have a learning experience.

I don't think I met Jamie for a reason. I think we were just in the right/same place at the right/same time (and I'm ever grateful we were). He served as a comforter, jokester, texter and a dear friend for a long time. I don't think we were thrown into each others paths for that reason. I think we were just fortunate to be walking in the same direction. I don't think he died for a reason. I think the accident was just that - an accident.

I DO believe these occurrences serve a purpose after the fast. I think Jamie's death resulted in Heaven earning an extra missionary/angel earlier than expected. It reminded many of us to love and cherish our time/relationships together. I don't think these lessons were the reason Jamie died.

I think Matt's and my relationship serves a purpose (love each other, have fun, get married someday, have kids, grow old, die...circle of life purpose). I don't think all those things are the reasons we're together!

Confused? :)
PS: it's okay to disagree.

Goodbye, 2010.

Dear 2010,

Your year was so unbelievably torturous and emotionally draining that I don't think I even have the energy to try and express the extreme anguish, sadness, disbelief, sadness and plethora of other emotions I experienced during my time with you.

I just wanted to let you know that, while we had some good times, I'm so incredibly happy to see you go.

I look forward to 2011 with great expectations as the happiest year of my life (so don't let me down, 2011).

Love

Nikki

Fast and Testimony

PERFORMED BY ROBERT LUND

Brother Johansen says God fixed his prostate
Sister Hill wails that her son's gone apostate
Missy Brown details her trip to Belize
These are a few of the testimonies

Brother Stone calls his ex-wife to repentance
Sister Dean can't form a blubber-free sentence
Ammon Smith's grateful the Jazz beat the Kings
These are a few of the Fast Meeting things

There's unchaste movies at Wal-Mart in Layton
Hillary Clinton's a minion of Satan
God loves you just a bit less if you're gay
These are some nuggets I've picked up today

When this low-key
Karaoke
Shows how odd we are
I simply remember I'm not Warren Jeffs
And then I don't feel bizarre

Madison cries that her mom flushed her turtle
Then she announces her daddy's infertile
Tyler loves Jesus and recess and peas
These are a few of the testimonies

Elder Jones gripes that less-actives frustrate him
Nine CTR's thank the same things verbatim
Brother McPhie knows Rush Limbaugh is true
And The Da Vinci Code may well be too

Sister Cabell says the United Nations
Must be the beast from the book Revelations
Folks squirm through dubious doctrine and then
Everyone drowsily mumbles "Amen"

When euphor-ya
Starts to bore ya
Here's the thing that's sweet:
Each talk brings us nearer Hymn 152
And then we go home to eat!

I'll Take Calligraphy and Then I'll Make a Fake Degree

Dear Senior Paper,

I want to go to the store and gym so I can be skinny and healthy, but alas -
You keep me here, in PJ's, with a jug of orange juice and a bottle of advil - making me fat, tired, and annoyed.
Please write yourself,

Nikki

Who needs school when you can have welfare?

What. The. Hell.

I have been spending hours looking for scholarships that I can apply for so that I can help pay for my masters degree.
So far, you're only qualified for financial aid if you are:

1.) an orphan
2.) left handed
3.) a minority
4.) an abuse victim
5.) a drug addict in recovery
6.) an athlete
7.) a convicted felon
8.) a minority woman

Forget the fact that there are white, right handed men and women who want to go to school and contribute to the world without falling into serious debt or anchoring their families down with bills and then proceeding to feel guilty for the rest of their lives!

No, no sir. It doesn't seem to matter. White people going for their masters degrees get to pay for it out of pocket, or get a loan! No one wants to give any more privilege than is necessary to the white person. Heaven forbid a white person with good grades with a mediocre life get some financial assistance for academic achievement!

And - guess what - you can't make me feel bad for this. White people contribute to diversity, too. Look at the Italian, Polish, German, Irish, Scottish, Danish, Russian, Finnish, French, Australian/Kiwi, English Americans in this country! Does that not SCREAM diversity? What about the diverse backgrounds we come from? Don't those count for anything?

Apparently not. White people are not allowed to ask for anything. Ever.
We're suppose to go into debt, get jobs, and try to pay off our debt while the government continues to rob us blind.

And don't forget to smile, if you complain - you're a racist.

I needed a laugh!

Click on the photo to make it bigger, it's pretty funny stuff.




No offense, guys.