okay, let's explain the title...

Yes, it's true...I've joined the world of blogging. I'm about to embark on a crazy, challenging, incredible journey and would be SO glad if you joined me. And yes, I'm going to China...EEK to say the least! I don't think anyone could have predicted this next chapter in my life; least of all me. And yet here I am, about to fly halfway across the globe with no plan whatsoever; and I couldn't be more thrilled. And thus, we come to the story behind the title of my blog.

To explain, I go back to a momentous occasion that will surely go down in history; the Akalka-Pauline-Peckham Violent Movie Marathon of December 2008. Two of my dearest friends and I decided to partake in one of our favorite pastimes: movie-marathon-ing (which in our case, maxes out at two films due to all of the laughing and anecdoting and such). In preparation for such a significant event, we decided delicious snacking must accompany the delicious gore we were about to enjoy. I decided to bring cookies and Pauline planned to bring faaabulous butter brittle, thus leaving one movie-marathoner to contribute her delectable sweet: Akalka Barath. Lovely, dear, hilariously unique Akalka has conjured many ideas worthy of words such as "brilliant" and "glorious"; however, no such adjectives could apply to her concept behind what indulgence she should bring to this gathering. A mere hour and a half before beginning our expedition in blood and guts, I get a phone call from Akalka:
"Okay, you are never going to believe what I just bought for our movie night."
"What?" I ask, wincing slightly.
"I just left Costco," Oh no, I thought, hoping my near future wasn’t doomed to yet another chocolate covered bundt, "and bought...a four pound cheesecake!" exclaims Akalka with triumph and excitement.
"A FOUR pound cheesecake?" I ask, trying to fathom this little Indian girl carrying such a massive dessert.
"YES! I saw it and it just looked too amazing to pass up!"
"You realize that's a pound and a half of cheesecake per person?"
"Yeah..." she says, as the dawn of reality begins creep over the horizon, "I'm carrying it to my car right now, and it's really starting to hurt my hand. But if anyone can conquer the four pound cheesecake, we can!"
"Okay, let's try!"
"I'm now thinking that I shouldn't go to Costco when I'm craving cheesecake," she reasons, soon to be proven correct.

Needless to say, we did not finish the four pound cheesecake, as I should hope no three humans should be able to. We made as big of a dent as we could, considering we were also full of cookies and butter brittle. The rest of the creamy, grahamcrackery goodness finished its existence in the garbage...but the memory of it lives on still. We have since made many a reference to it; seeing it as a symbol of "the unattainable dream," to quote my beloved, Indian friend. In thinking about this new chapter of my life, this monstrous, Goliath of a dessert came to mind.
Not just this China trip, but this new phase of my life I'm entering is intimidating, mysterious, and completely unforeseen; much like the four pound cheesecake...much like I'm discovering life is. I can't tell where this journey will end up, I can't tell how difficult the steps will be to get to wherever I’m going, I can't see two feet in front of me. However, unlike the previous attempt at a four pound cheesecake, I am entering into this challenge with the baker. He's crafted this dessert and presented it to me at the perfect time when my appetite can take it; He can't wait to see me enjoy every delicious bite; He'll be there when I think I've had my full, to encourage me that I can consume the rest. Though this path right now seems like trying to eat my weight in cream cheese and butter, I know that He will give me strength to journey on, because He is the unattainable made tangible, and I couldn’t walk through this without Him.

So this blog will attempt to chronicle the adventures, challenges, and joys of my life in the near future. I’m leaving for China in a few short days, about FIVE to be precise; the first bite in what I’m sure will be the most delicious, sweet and filling phase of my life thus far. I’m anxious, excited, thrilled, and can’t wait to begin.

Also, it just so happens that cheesecake is my very favorite dessert. :-)