mini messages

Dear Husband, 
I hope you had a fantastic brithday. Minus the mishap with the chocolate chip pancakes (again, why are they so hard to make?) You were to sweet to smile and eat them anyway. And when we went bowling, the girls totally decided to let the boys win, since it was your birthday...love you!

Dear Tennessee, 
You have made this girl very, very happy. Waking up to snow two days in a row? Thank you! You'd think I never lived in snow before, but I have. I just really love snow.

Dear Downton Abbey,
I love/hate you. Don't you understand that we can't watch your show through endless tears?! Lay off a little, geeze.

Dear Me,
I'm so proud of you for being off of soda's for over 2 months and off of caffeine completely for a week. You deserve a special treat. (Yes, I did write a message to myself.)

Dear diybride.com,
I feel so honored that my wedding has graced your pages. To see the sweet post, click (here.)

Happy Monday!

Joy Filled Friday

1 tax refunds (woo!) 2 buying 100 classical movies for 20bucks. (see picture above) 3 rainy days 

4 eating out 5 brown nail polish (fave) 6 colored skinny jeans

  7 good cries 8 quilts 9 red anything 

10 chick-fil-a (this is probably a constant on my joys... I can't help it!)

This weekend will be much more slow paced than last! I love spending time with my in-loves! It was a much needed mini-vacay. We went shopping (new dress and shoes!) and got to see some friends at church. Even if I came home with a sickness, it was time well spent! 

This weekend, however, we are chilling! Tomorrow morning the guys and I will head out to Tallahassee so I can kick their behinds in a fierce round of disc golf. No, seriously. Then, hopefully, some chick-fil-a will find its way into my belly. (Cause we all know how joy filled that makes me!)

Hope your weekends are filled with love and good food!

Blessings.

Since starting my year as a 2nd grade teacher, I have been overwhelmed. I've been stressed out, worried, anxious, fearsome, nervous, tired, exhausted...you name it, I felt it. This job is unlike any other. Not only mentally demanding, but physically and even spiritually too. 

I've honestly been questioning God on His reason for bringing me this oppurtunity. I've been stressing over whether or not this is where I need to be. 

Trial after trial, day after day, I couldn't get a break from the craziness.

I took a day to crawl into my Father's lap. I talked to Him like He was sitting next to me. 

I laughed. 

I cried. 

I yelled. 

I broke. 

I started reading the book of Jeremiah. In the first chapter, one phrase kept repeating itself. 

"Do not fear. I am with you always." 

I realized that through the depressing, busy, crazy month I've been having, I began to blindly hide from God. As soon as one storm came, I ran right into another. I slowly built a wall of stress between myself and The Peacemaker. I was blind. I was hiding from Him. Knowing He could take away my burdens, but questioning why He gave them to me in the first place.

That same day, I was driving home and I heard a song on the radio. I only caught the last verse and chorus, but that was all I needed to hear for God to really smack me in the face. I cried, right then and there. It was as if I had written the song without even knowing it, and someone put it to music. I have never heard of the artist and I certainly never met her before, but I know this song was written for me.

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

Mini Messages

Dear Clothes,
Work with me here. I'm trying new things.

Dear Thunder,
Don't tease me. Where's the rain?

Dear Wedding Pictures,
I'm so ready for you! It's like Christmas Eve everyday! Is today the day I finally see you?

Dear Weight,
ihateyou.

Dear Husband,
I love you. You're stuck with me forever. I don't mind.


*Picture: My parent's dog, Bella. I'm dog-sitting while they're in Zambia. She's only happy with a window to look out of!

Hi. I'm Lauren.

I felt like I had to introduce myself to the blog world again. It's been forever! I do believe I have a legitimate reason, though. But, nonetheless, I'm sorry to have put this off for so long.

I smile looking at my previous blogs. Especially knowing what I know now! For instance, I was so stressed over school...and guess what? I've done been graduated for a month!

(The use of improper grammar was on purpose, promise.)

I teach middle school Language Arts, I better know how to speak and write correctly! Ah, my job. Yes, I still teach at this wonderful school. No sarcasm there, folks. It's truly been a blessing to have this job. But, God has shown me that this is not where my heart lies.

It's funny how I used to know what I wanted to be when I grew up. I have my kindergarten portfolio and I knew even then that I wanted to be a teacher. I attended over 4 years of college as an Elementary Education major and graduated with my AA and BA! But now, I'm not so sure what I want to do for the rest of my life. I have so many ideas in my head, teaching just seems to be the most practical for right now. Maybe I need to get back to the younger ones. Middle school is great and all, but when they're all taller than you and have major attitudes, it's hard to deal with the drama. So, maybe the answer will be found when I start teaching the little ones. Oh, I hope so.

Anyways, back to me and the changes that have been happening! There's been a small addition to my every day apparel. Just a little (actually, not so little) token from my sweet and handsome man. You guys know him, I wrote a special blog just for him! Then, he was my boyfriend. Now, I get to introduce him as my FIANCE! Yes, that's right! I'm engaged! It happened the same day I graduated. Talk about walking on cloud nine! I couldn't have asked for a better proposal, ring, or future husband! Check out the story on our wedding page! (I've been waiting to do one for years!!)

http://brandonlauren.ourwedding.com/

Christmas break was perfect! It started out not so perfect (my flight home was cancelled indefinitely.) I had to be a "big girl" and miss my first birthday and Christmas away from my family! Talk about hard! But, I had Brandon and his sweet family. I enjoyed joining in their Christmas traditions. Especially knowing they're future family to me too! We met my family and spent a week in TN with our close family friends. We saw snow, went sight seeing, made ceramic coffee mugs, and had an impromptu engagement picture session! All in all, it was a wonderful and much needed break. Needless to say, I hated having to wake up before the sun and get back into my "teacher" routine!

Nowadays, my life consists of lists. Well, that's a lie. My life has ALWAYS consisted of lists. I even wrote a lists of things to cover in this very blog! That's bad, isn't it? But, now my lists consist of wedding details. Every single random thought that pops into my head is written down. I've got 135 days to go! The big ticket items can thankfully be crossed off.

Boy? Check.
Parent's approval? Check.
Ring? Check.
Bridal party? Check.
THE DRESS? Check!!!
Photographers? Check.
Invitations? Check.

Now I just have to sort through my little notes and figure out the flowers, decorations for the ceremony, reception site, reception decorations, etc. Hmmm...I'm starting to get a little stressed. I better stop before the anxiety starts. Breathe.

Picture time!

                                          

My mom handed me my diploma. It was so special!

My amazing family!

Only a few hours later he became my fiance!

Most amazing moment in my life! So glad our families were there to get pictures!

I was in shock!

First posed engaged picture!

Showing off the bling to his mama!

We went out for yogurt and Chick-Fil-A to celebrate!

A few shots from our engagement shoot in Nashville, TN!

 One of my favorites.

 Can't wait to get this blown up and framed!

 Love!

 The bling!

My life! :)

Blank Pages

I've always started different journals. I have a strange obsession with the idea of buying a new one. Rarely do they get completely full. Not that I stop writing, but I simply find another one to start filling.

I love having a blank page, ready to fill, and always struggle with how or where to start.

This is another attempt at finishing a journal. Another blank page to fill with the random-ocity that is my mind. Since this is the first entry (of hopefully many), I'm dedicating it to...well, myself.

Here are some things about me, some you may know, others probably not. They are in no order of importance. It's just a "getting to know you" type of entry.

1. I'm entirely too poor for the lifestyle I want. I'm learning that now that I have my "big girl" job. But, I'm also absolutely blessed and grateful because I have been given everything for the lifestyle I need.

2. Being a vegetarian is something I've always wanted to pursue. I think I could do it, except the chicken. Chick-fil-A and Zaxby's are too good to me. Chickens aren't very cute, I can live with eating them on my conscience.

3. I'm a list person. I live and go by lists, all day, every day. My planner is my life and without it, I honestly don't know what I'm supposed to be doing.

4. I love music. I love to hear it, sing it, write it, and play it. I'm learning guitar but would like to be amazing over night.

5. I teach 6-8 grade Language Arts. I'm mistaken as a student ALL the time. The Lord has blessed me with this job, but has also shown me my heart is with the little ones.

6. I love Christmas. Every little thing about it. The sights, smells, sounds, everything. It honestly is the most wonderful time of the year.

7. I have my very own knight in shining armor. He fought in pursuit for me and broke down many walls. He's a keeper.

8. I'm a big eyelash person. I'll spend an hour getting ready (clothes, hair, and all) and about 25% of that time is spent on my mascara. It's an odd thing I've been doing since I've worn makeup.

9. I have a bad case of comparing. I tend to compare myself to others. Although, instead of doing it to make myself feel or look better, it's always done in a way that I'm the lesser of the two.

10. I'm most thankful that God created taste buds. I LOVE food. But, how would I know what it tastes like without my taste buds? Taste. Buds. Mmmhmm.

11. I've never cared to much for football. I was always an FSU fan just because I'm a Daddy's girl and he "cheered" for them. But, after being with Brandon and his family for so long, I've decided to become a Gator. Brandon bought me my first shirt and all. Now, it's official.

12. Words are such a marvelous thing. That fact that you can put them in order to make such profound statements just blows my mind. Words can be beautiful, sad, angry, heartfelt, etc. I love the feeling when I hear a quote that puts what I'm feeling in the perfect perspective. That's why lyrics are so special to me. I just love words.

13. I love the mountains and everything that comes with them. The altitude, the weather, the trees, the snow... I WILL inhabit them once more!

14. I have a terrible memory. It's only gotten worse with age and I'm only 21!

15. I love my family, friends, etc. But, I'm really working truly loving unconditionally. To love someone even when they don't meet my conditions. It's been a challenge...but God has given me great practice!

Well, this is (sort of ) me in  a nutshell. There is more about me, but I wasn't feeling creative enough to think of "unique qualities."


I'll be back soon.