Love is . . .

"Love is the very essence of life. It is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Yet it is more than the end of the rainbow. Love is the security for which children weep, the yearning of youth, the adhesive that binds marriage, the lubricant that prevents devastating friction in the home; it is the peace of old age, the sunlight of hope shining through death."
~Gordon B Hinckley

Many of us have an armchair view of what love is. We manifest a staid, comfortable boundary for our feelings, and then we sit back, comfortably . . . safely within the limits we have imposed for ourselves. We don't go to love . . . we expect it to come to us.

We may read novels, and watch movies and television programs . . . seeking for them to bring us love vicariously . . . content merely to be passive observers. We are fearful of feeling things and doing things that might make demands on us, that can get out of hand and take us out of our comfort zones.



Love is not known to thrive and grow in such an atmosphere. Real lovers do more than just seek out the comfort of love. They work hard to make it an art, which requires a continuous expanding of their senses and sharpening of their perceptions in order to keep them up with the challenges that loving, and being loved, might bring to them.

Love is like a blank canvas that awaits the stroke of an artist's brush, except that this is a painting that will and should never be finished, but always be a work in progress. As with all creative works, our vision gets clearer as we labour. The joy comes, not so much in the finishing of our masterpiece, but in the journey we took to get there.



"It is when we ask for love less, and begin giving it more, that the secret of human love is revealed to us."
~Leo Buscaglia

Love isn't in the card, the flowers and the candy that may come your way on this day. It is in the touch of a hand that you know cares every single day of the year, or a gentle smile from a warm, friendly and understanding face, a sincere word spoken in comfort and true compassion. It's in the everyday caring gestures that we should all give and be given . . . just . . . because.



May each one of you, on this Valentines Day 2010, feel love for others, and feel loved. May you each know the joy and peace that comes from knowing that we care and are cared for in return. May someone adore you . . . right from the top of your heat . . . down to the tips of your toes.

(This was a piece I wrote for Valentines way back when I hosted my blog over on AOL Journals. For those of you who have been following me since then, I apologize if you have read this before, but some things just bear repeating!)

We had a lovely dinner with the missionairies last evening and after Todd got back from driving them home, we settled down and watched a film together. " The Time Traveler's Wife." It was pretty good, but I ended up in tears at the end of it!

If you are looking for a special dinner to cook your honey tonight, look no further. These lovely chops are just delicious and not very hard to do. They also go together in a jiffy!







*Parmesan Herb Crusted Lamb Chops*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

This is the way I like to cook my lamb chops when I want to make them really special. They are always tender and delicious. Served with mint sauce, tender boiled new potatoes and baby peas, you just can't ask for a nicer or a tastier dinner.

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh mint
1/2 cup fresh soft bread crumbs
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
8 lamb rib chops
1/2 tsp salt
a pinch of freshly ground black pepper
2 large eggs, beaten
3 TBS olive oil

Heat the oven to 205*C.425*F. Combine the fresh herbs in a medium bowl. In another bowl combine the bread crumbs and the parmesan cheese. Place the eggs in a third bowl.

Lightly season the chops on each side with the salt and some pepper. Press the fresh herbs into each side of the chops, covering them completely. Dip the chops into the beaten egg and then into th breadcrumb mixture, coating them well, and pressing the crumbs onto them with your fingertips if necessary. Let them sit for a few minutes while you get the pan ready.

Take a large skillet with an oven-proof handle and place it over medium high heat. When it is hot, add the olive oil and heat just until it begins to shimmer. Add the chops and cook until lightly browned, about 2 minutes on each side. Carefully turn and brown the edges, about 30 seconds. Transfer the skillet to the oven and finish cooking the chops for about 2 minutes longer, which will give you beautifully done, medium-rare chops. If you want them dont to medium or well, then leave them for a bit longer.



For a great way to begin this special day with your loved one, hop on over to The English Kitchen where I've been cooking some special Fluffy Ricotta Pancakes!