Yet Another Moment

Checking in with all of you for a little story time...

I would reckon that all of you know a pastor's wife. Perhaps she is quiet, reserved, and gentle-spirited. Perhaps she loves Point of Grace and Betty Robison. She always has everyone over for Sunday dinner and it never burns despite the fact her husband preaches thirty minutes longer than normal. She might like to dance only when no one is around and she plays a killer piano piece or two.




I am not That Pastor's Wife.


Sometimes I wish I was. My life would be a lot simpler if I was sometimes. But as you all have learned by now, I am not. As hard as I may try sometimes, I will probably never be known as a quiet and gentle spirit, as a great cook, or as a fantastic piano player.


But Alas, I am That Girl.


Today's worship experience was another reminder of that. You see, every week we rotate who is in charge of leading musical worship and that person is in charge of introducing songs, welcoming people, announcing transititions in the service-such as introducing the offering time and having everyone be seated before Seth preaches, and today I was the worship leader. It had been an eventful Sunday morning even before I showed up, as our sound system wigged out during our first service and Seth found himself crawling in a cubbie to get it back on--wherein his allergies flared up and I heard he sneezed his way through the message as he got what I playfully call "Allergy Face."


You who suffer with allergies and those that love you know of what I speak.


Anywho, Seth didn't feel good. But everyone was excited as we had four baptisms to do during second service, and there was celebration in the air. So we sang a few songs, but the normal order of worship was changed because of the baptisms at the beginnning.


Who knew that this would throw a Type B like me off my game?


Shoulda known. Shoulda known.


We normally sing three songs at the beginning and then after scripture reading and offering we do two more. I forgot that things were upside down and as soon as we ended with a beautiful acapella last-time-through chorus of "Mighty to Save," I asked everyone to please be seated and invited the children to head through this door to the right, ages 3 through the 2nd grade. I smiled and as everyone was seated, I got up to walk off the platform, Seth shook his head and said, "We have one more! One More!"

You ever wish the altar would open and swallow you whole?


As if I should be so lucky. Instead, I shook my head and said my classic line: "Just Kidding!"

Unfortunately, the damage was already done. It was like PT Barnum introduced the next act. The kids had no idea what to do and the adults were laughingso hard they couldn't sing. Except for the visitors, who had that look of confusion mixed with awkwardness.

grrreeeaaatt.

It's a good thing this next song just happened to be "Your Grace is Enough." As I stood there tryingg to laugh it off, my heart was embarrassed and all I wanted to do was go sit down in the pew.

You have felt that way at some time too, I'm sure.

But this part of the verse changed my mind:

You use the weak to lead the strong


Maybe that's why I am the pastor's wife. Not because I am a great piano player, or a quiet and gentle spirit, but because He uses the weak to lead the strong. If that's the case, I am willing.





But you won't find me sitting on the piano bench. As you might have guessed, I don't have a lot of coordination.

4734

I hope this post rocks your world like it rocked mine.

Not Me! Monday.

MckMama is teaching all of us in blog world to be brutally honest and live to tell about it.


Here goes:

I would NEVER, ever drive and talk on my cell phone at the same time on a pretty Saturday afternoon.

Furthermore, I would not even DREAM of driving without my hands at ten and two and without constantly glancing behind me in my rearview, up ahead on the road, and in my side mirrors. Another thing I would never do is get so ridiculously lost in conversation with my dear friend that I forget what else I am doing: operating a motor vehicle.


Sheesh. What kind of person do you think I am??


I would never, ever look up and realize that I am headed for the hind end of an Aztec. Since that would NEVER happen, there would be no need for me to lock up my brakes, right?


{Not me, folks. CLEARLY not me.}



Since those things would never happen, you KNOW that I didn't hit that Aztec in the back. I didn't rear-end that Aztec. Never. And I sure didn't hit it very HARD!

I certainly did not see my life flash before me, and of course I didn't cry and shake like a newborn hamster. An elderly gentlemen who did not look like George Burns did not climb out of the car still chewing his cigar (I would have bit it clean in two if I got rear-ended) and tell me, "It's okay, honey. These things happen."

There's no way I would've wrecked my car in front of the new First Federal on the main drag in Washington, and that makes it impossible for me to have stood on the side of the road with snot dripping from my nose and long sleeves on in the blazing heat looking on awkwardly as the cars passed. Bloggerotsky, please. I have way more class than that! And I most certainly did not not take a shower that morning and have nasty hair. Because that would be so gross and awkward. I would have never sweat even more on the side of the road and have my hair go from nasty to nasty and stringy.

There is no chance that the Emergency officials saw EVERYTHING, from lock up to impact, because they would never be showing off their antique fire engine in the bank parking lot.

I certainly did not act like a sixteen-year-old kid, apologizing over and over for my lack of discretion. I am way more mature than that, people.

I didn't call my daddy to come rescue me. He DID NOT take me out to Scoops to make me feel better.

And of course, I didn't total sweet little Darla, who has been with me through thick and thin since 2002. Her hood wasn't partially perpendicular to the car or anything. And it wasn't like a movie at all with the smoke pouring out of her engine.
I wasn't mad at all that my airbag didn't deploy.

I didn't cry a little more when I got to the body shop to see her in such a condition.

I would never not keep fancy clothes at my old homestead in Loogootee for emergency situations. I would never have to go raid Ashley's closet and wear a dress without a girdle of some sort. I was raised right!

I would never be slightly late to my speaking engagement and be totally frazzled. God would certainly never send my friend Colleen there to pray with me and calm me down before speaking to 30+ women.

I would never get in my dad's car and drive all the way to Oakland City only to figure out that my apartment keys were back in Loogootee. I wouldn't drive at 11pm to the Thompson's to sleep on their couch only to discover a horrible accident on Hwy. 61. I did not, of course, wait in my car for over 45 minutes as they brought the heliocopter in to lifelight someone out. I did not start crying all over again and thanking God to be alive.

I did not wear a black dress and weird-looking white shoes with my legs that did not need to be shaved to church and my toenails that did not need to be painted on Sunday because of limited wardrobe choices and limited time.



Because let's face it, my friends. I am soooo not That Girl. Not me!

The Snuggie has Landed.

Remember this post?

Well, since Seth's administrative assistant, Carla, does love to aggravate him in multiple ways, she definitely bought me a Burgundy Snuggie with a book light.


Which I may or may not have modeled at the church business meeting last night.



What? There was a motion and a second.




one small step for Snuggies, one giant leap for FBC Bicknell.



I bid you Snuggie wishes and Slanket dreams.

Community+Dinner.

Sure wish I could post some pictures for your viewing delight, but as some of you know already, I lost the nicest camera I have ever owned.


Well, I use the term "own" very loosely as Seth bought the camera and showed me much love because he gave it to me. Then I lost it in the mother-of-all-that-girl-moments.

(I still claim it got stolen out of his unlocked truck. I know what some of you are thinking...maybe the backseat of her car ate it)


I secretly think Seth is getting me a new cam for Valentine's Day but if not I won't be disappointed, either.

(ok, so the secret is out now. you heard my prediction here first. He said it wasn't so we shall see.)


Tsk, tsk. Anyway, we were invited to the home of a very special family for dinner last night. Being the PG* has some sweet perks, one of which is getting to build relationships with families (and getting a home-cooked meal that I don't have to cook). It's a really beautiful thing to sit around a table to share fellowship and break bread together. In fact, where did some of the most important times of Jesus' ministry occur?
around the table.

If we really beleive that we are surrounded by the sacred, then every moment is dripping with the holiness and pleasure of God if our hearts are turned toward His Kingdom. We find Him where we choose to look for Him.

I found him last night at the Sydow household. Doug and Bonnie have been worshipping with us at FBC for a while now, and we were thankful to sit down and share company with them and their eight beautiful children. The children are adorable, well-behaved, and extremely hospitable. The kids call Seth Pastor Seth as a term of respect, and it was really cute to see even the youngest ones show "Pastuh Sef" their cool toys. They love Star Wars, so when they got out the fake lightsabers, I'm pretty sure Seth thought he had entered into his eternal reward right then and there.

It was so cool to hear the story of how Doug and Bonnie met in college and married (those stories never get old, since as BeckyB. says, I am a hopeless romantic.) It was also neat to hear about the approach that they take with teaching their children at home and how passionate they are about raising their children in the admonition of the Lord.


I am so thankful for their hospitality and thankful for the blessings that come along with being in leadership of the FBC Community.

How He loves us to present opportunities to do life together.
















I came up with my own term as I my role with the community of FBC is often undefinable. PG stands for (are you ready for this, it's brilliant) Pastor's Girlfriend.

Pray for Andrew's Recovery.

*Update*
Andrew is already on his way home from Riley! Please pray as his stomach has been upset and he has been sick, and with that is a risk of dehydration, which Andrew has had before. It's not fun for him at all and really delays the healing process. So pray about that.






Andrew had surgery today and is recovering fine. Please pray that his healing process goes smoothly and that he feels better than ever soon! He has been through so much and it would be a great encouragement if you stop what you're ddoing, pray for him, and then go to Andrew's blog and sign the guestbook with a prayer for them or some kind words.


We love you, Andrew!

A Few Things.

1. One of the best photographers in the country stopped by "That Girl.." to say hi...Seriously, Jasmine. I spent ALL DAY in my office Monday looking at your work. Folks, the girl is the real deal. And she loves Jesus. And she is dang good at what she does. Her engagement and wedding photography blows my mind...It makes me secretly wish I lived in Cali. J*--Thanks for doing what you love very well.

2. A Snuggle Story follow-up. Seth snuggled (which he may indeed hate but he takes one for the TEAM) and I did something I SAID I would never do: I watched part of a Star Wars film. I was informed that it was not, in fact, a Sci-Fi movie but a "fantasy" film. I pinched myself to make sure I was really having that conversation. Anyway, the things we do for love. Give and take, people, give and take.

3. It's Pastor Appreciation Month. Tell your pastor thanks. (or in my case, tell pastor/boyfriend he's hot and his glasses make him look like Rob Bell. He says he doesn't believe me, but I'm convinced he still likes hearing it.)

4. Speaking of, I was teasing him last week that I was not getting any love for Pastor Appreciation Month--
"I doubt they make cards that say thanks to our pastor's girlfriend," I said.

He then made an interesting observation. "Do you really want them to make Pastor Girlfriend Appreciation Cards...After all, what are most pastors?"
"Married." I said sheepishly. "I guess you're right. It wouldn't be good to hand one to their wife and one to their girlfriend."
And in one fell swoop he killed my (not-so-serious) lack of love argument.

5. Speaking of gifts, that next Wednesday I received a purse from BeckyB. It is black with pink fuzz and polka dots. Come on friends! Does it get any better? As a matter of fact, it does. It also has "That Girl" and John 12:1-8 embroidered on it. I did get a kickin' pastor's girlfriend appreciation gift after all. (Pumps fists in air.)

6. I am getting a haircut a la Beverly tonight. Can't wait!! I sent her a text that said:
"Well then, yes, That Girl would like for you to chop her hair off and make her look smokin' hott so her BF and everyone else does a double-take. Capiche?"
I don't ask for much, you know.

7. I had a great time with Annie and Krystal last night. This red-headed duo and I have been friends for a looong time, and they are both firecrackers in their own right. At one point, I almost wrecked and peed myself because of them. I did backwash into my own drink. Gross. But it was either that or give my car a healthy spray of Pumpkin Spice Latte. We make choices, you know. Let me just say that Krystal is proabably the ONLY person on the planet who could successfully talk me into seeing "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" but I fought off her incredible arguments to avoid it, Praise God. Instead I showed them Seth's house and our church building.

8. IF you are local, it would pretty much be a crime for you to miss Providence's women's conference. If you read the blog but have never met me, COME to the party and let's be friends! Email me for more info...

My music mix and the joy it brings.

My friend Thomas said the following to me last night:


"Lauren, I have a confession to make. I get on your blog and leave it on during the day to listen to your music," he sheepishly confessed.



Thomas is a man's man--wears suits on a daily basis, works at a funeral home, is involved with politics and loves Civil War Reenactments. I think it's pretty hilarious that he likes the crazy mix of everything from Abba to Shinedown to Rich Mullins found on this here blog.


I know that there are some of you who curse my blog because of the noise it makes. But take heart, as it turns out I am helping people grow in their appreciation of truth and beauty.


and Abba.


Play on!

Ahoy!

We are doing "The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything" for VBS.



just wanted to let you know that I am learning from Bible School that...















My boyfriend makes a really cute pirate.

I will prove it as soon as I get one of the pics from Becky.





Dang, he is hot with that earring...too bad I can't talk him into getting a more permanent one.

Hooray.

I almost just whizzed my pants with excitement.


(sigh. Some of you are like, "tell us what's NEW in the world.")



One of my favorite bloggers, Heather Whittaker, just stopped by my blog. Thanks Heather!



aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaacccckkk. That made my day happier.




Speaking of, I dare you to go say hey to H and tell her how much fun her blog is, especially family nights...

Her life and ministry with her hubby Carlos is inspiring.






annnnnnnd.


My BFF Jami is coming to visit tonight! Could I be any more thrilled? psssh. NO!

We will probably stay up all night and then run on pure adrenaline for some Vacation Bible School action tomorrow in the A.M.

There's not more we love in the world than some good ol' fashioned Bible School.

(Minus the flannel boards...)


Interested in VBS? Local? Please bring your kiddos...

Indian Creek.

I just returned from First Timers' Camp, an overnighter designed to help younger children acclimate to camp at Indian Creek. Although I didn't take any photos at this particular camp, I wanted to share some of the photos I took at Explorer/Discovery, when I had Grace and Tali, two of my favorite blessings at FBC Bicknell.

Miss Grace with her cutie-pie goggles on.

Julie and Melea chatting before chapel.

Nothing more beautiful than the one I love teaching the Gospel to children.

My five explorer sweet peas.

hmmm. A turtle...

Four of my five hanging out on the legendary top bunk.

It is so clear that Bev and Becky prayed for me to take better photos than I could on my own.

Finally...

...Saw Prince Caspian last night.

with good company. (smile.)

I loved it--are you surprised? Just a heads-up, this one is a little darker and there is more violence in it, so younger ages might need to wait a year or two...lots of swordfighting. Cried only a little at the end, not full-on ugly cry like in the first film. The soundtrack was amazing, especially this song: The Call by Regina Spektor (S-I found it without staying to the very end--there were a lot of credits, I know :)

Also got to eat at Biaggi's last night...you're jealous, I know--it was to celebrate the fact that Seth and I have been dating a year on June 8 (can't go out then--I will be overseas). Had a lovely eggplant parmesan.

My lack of blogging in the next two weeks is not because I do not love you, Blogerotsky, but rather because I will be with Haitian people and then at Indian Creek to hang out with the kiddos of two of my beloved blogging amigas, Bev and Becky. I get to be the cabin mom for Tali and Grace. Love it!! I will post at least one more time before i leave so that you can join me in prayer for my trip and for camp.

Enjoying Where You Are at (on the Way to Where You are Going)

This is a collaborative post. Cue that song from the Wonder Years ("I get by with a little help from my friends... whoa oh oh oh"). Actually just one friend.

Turns out I get by with a lot of help from her. She gave me the title.

Which brings me to tonight's topic.

I live in the home of Randy and Terri, beloved friends who are now family to me and who see me as part of their family as well. I sleep on the most beautiful red couch I have ever seen. By a fireplace (which in truth doesn't do me much good during these summer months--most of you know that I find myself sweating in the most Arctic of conditions) that is most legit. In a house filled with warmth and love and laughter and joy and beauty and a Wii.

I have become a gypsy. A vagabond.

It's so weird. I never once thought that after college I would be gypsying my way through the summer before I became a full-time grad student. But here I am, at the Thompson family home, living in a town I said I would never live in (love makes you do some crazy things--and I'm talking about the love for God and His people--the benefits of living in the town extend much further than being close to Seth (definite bonus, though!). I am close to the people I fellowship with, which is why I love being here.)

So why am I paranoid about where I am headed?

in life.
in ministry.
in relationships.

The wise sage Dr. Seuss knew a few things about this place...

"You can get so confused that you'll start in to race down long wiggled roads
at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space, headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.

The Waiting Place...
...for people just waiting. Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or a No or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting." excerpt from Oh! The Places You'll Go

My mom once told me as we chatted through the night that she felt she wished portions of her life away, waiting on the next thing to come along. For example, when she graduated high school, she couldn't wait to get married so life could "really" start, she said. Then when she was married, she looked forward to having kids so that she could have the American Dream--the picket fence family. Then when my brother was little and later when I was little, she couldn't wait for us to quit running around amok and get potty trained already. The list goes on and on. That is, until she built a viable relationship with Jesus and quit wishing her life away. So her advice to me as cancer ravaged her body and at times her mind, was to avoid wishing this precious gift, this life, this breath, away. We cried and prayed and found ourselves wishing for all the things she had wished away so we could keep enjoying each other's company.

Slowly, I am learning that difficult lesson. God has put me in a place in my life where going forward in some ways is what I would have considered failure to be before. Like not having my own place, for example.
But is it really failing...

• to live in community with people you love because the realization that the blood of Jesus has the capacity to make you one That is more powerful than DNA and public opinion. Don't believe me? Check this out.
• to stay up late with your BFFs and sleep in really late the next morning because you know this is the only time in your life you may have the opportunity without little fingers pulling your eyelids open*
• to be able to serve others and surprise someone with finished dishes or folded laundry because you had no other pressing commitments
• to read every book on your to-read list and never once feel guilty about it
• to swing all afternoon if you darned-well please?
• to sit at Starbucks all afternoon and spend time with the One who knows you best while listening to the same Coldplay song a million times
• to be able to work three walks in one spring because nothing and no one can hold you back?
• to take a trip that's a little unplanned and unstructured and totally irresponsible because there are things to do at home (but you know it will make you a better, happier person full of life and the joy of Christ)
• to have time to cry and pray and seek the Lord with a brother or sister just because you can take time to really get it

If this is failure, I want an F on every report card life ever writes me.

I want to enjoy where I am at on the way to wherever the heck I am going.







*this has happened to me. Hannah was the culprit on that one. I know you are surprised...

She Strikes Again!

So last night I went to the funeral home to visit the family of a Godly man in our fellowship who passed away this weekend. He was a good friend to Seth and his family is precious.

When I got there, Seth who was milling around like a pastor should, offered to go through the line with me (bless his heart-I hoped he would)and we waited for fifteen or twenty minutes. We were in the sanctuary and walked up the middle aisle. I greeted one of his daughters and gave her a hug. Then there was a couple just standing there, and I don't know quite what I was thinking, but I motioned for that couple to come through and greet the man's wife.


ummm, duh.

They were standing there because the woman was the man's daughter too. I'm cringing even typing that. Believe it or not, I have had a lot of experience with funerals in my life. But I assumed. And one should never assumed. It's especially dangerous when you are That Girl. So Seth tries to help it out by telling them, "She goes to second service, that's why she didn't know." I don't think it was too bad because I actually knew the lady that I motioned to come through (cringing again)

Well, Seth got me out of there quick, fast, and in a hurry and on the way out, I reminded him of the pain and embarrassment that can come with the territory when one loves That Girl. It was really my first That Girl moment/pastor's girlfriend faux pas, so if that counts for anything...Okay, I know it doesn't. Cringing again.

Welcome to the world of That Girl.

Photos and Mind Dump.

There are Kristin and Hann in all their glory: matching t-shirts and eating subway.





the kid loves to eat. Must be genetic. And check out the purple headband. I have a good feeling she wanted the purple one not because it matched, but precisely because it was indeed purple. I already know she looks like me when she eats. You should see her at Mi Pueblo...

• Go to Judy's blog for the whole story on my little characters and their hilarious ways.

• It's official: I am the new Director of University Housing at OCU! Big girl job...YAY!
• I'm looking around this apartment, and it's not pretty, folks. I think about moving and I never want to buy anything again. I want to give the majority of my worldly goods to Goodwill (not so much because I am a giving person--I am, but not that giving...I just don't want to move all of this crap.) Wonder if they do pick-up...
• I really want to see a couple of movies coming out. Hello, Made of Honor!! Seth said he didn't want to see it (he said he already met his quota of chick flicks in our relationship. I say one [27 Dresses, which he enjoyed, btw] is not sufficient. I watched two Bourne movies in one night!! I do love the Bourne movies in all fairness). So I'm looking for someone to go with me. Any takers, blogerotsky?
• I want Starbucks so badly right now. My body is screaming for a Caramel Macchiato. Sweet baby those things are good!
• I have been reading this amazing book called The Passionate Church. If you guys are serious about discipleship in the Church Universal, you want this book. You really, really want it. LIFESHAPES--I soooo want to teach this concept!
• God has been doing some very significant things in my heart for church growth beginning about six months ago. Little did I know then that we would see God use it at my precious FBC Bicknell...God is moving, and I can't wait for the opportunity to share more about that with you...stay tuned!!
• One of my lifelong dreams is to be a radio Deejay. How fun would that be? Not sure where that came from...
• www.perrynoble.com had some fabulous blogs in the last couple of days. Single ladies (don't know how many of you read this blog) please check out the post directed to singles--and don't settle for anything less than that!
• please pray for me. It's going to be a busy week, and I need Jesus to do some big things...like finals-I would love to pass all my classes with flying colors this semester and maybe even make the dean's list again...Your prayer is appreciated.
• Pray for my friend that I tutor. His final is on Wednesday and he's pretty nervous. Can't give you his name, but God knows :)
• please pray also-tonight is our last meeting for Response this year--my heart is weeping for these women that I love more than anything!!

love you all! Thanks for your prayers!

Lyrics with Lauren: A New Song

My friend Kara said something the other day that made me think...

"Every day I ask God to put a new song in my heart," she said.

so I tried it today.

and it was such a great song to describe the past few days as God's presence has really challenged me in such a beautiful way....

And how could I stand here with Him and not be moved by Him?

I simply can't.



[And it happens to be the song that matches the drama in my last post. check it out:]

Everything by Lifehouse.

Find Me Here
Speak To Me
I want to feel you
I need to hear you
You are the light
That's leading me
To the place where I find peace again.
You are the strength that keeps me walking.
You are the hope that keeps me trusting.
You are the light to my soul.
You are my purpose
You're everything.

And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

You calm the storms, and you give me rest.
You hold me in your hands, you won't let me fall. {safe in His arms}
You still my heart, and you take my breath away.
Would you take me in? Take me deeper now?

And How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

Cause you're all I want, you're all I need
You're everything, everything
You're all I want, you're all I need
You're everything, everything.
You're all I want, you're all I need.
You're everything, everything
You're all I want, you're all I need.
You're everything, everything.
And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

Yay. and Mind Dump.

Yay for Thursday nights!

• I made a pie. It didn't turn out that well. But everyone liked it (or so they said!)
• DAVID ARCHULETA! BROOKE WHITE! need I say more?
• I left groceries at the grocery. Hate it when I do that! Then the walk of shame..."so I left some groceries here, and uh...."
• Seth arranged for me to go to a very special leadership conference in September and I was so moved and grateful that he got special permission for me to attend. He loves me a lot and I'm thankful for him.
• Terri's daughter (and my new friend!!) Sarah is having a sleepover tomorrow night with some of my other new friends. And I'm going to crash it after I spend some time with Seth's sweet parents!!! Hope they don't mind when I show up with my pj's for a good time (and maybe some chocolate??)...
• Maybe I might be doing Ash's wedding invitation addressing sometime this weekend. I hope to see both Ash and Heather in the process! I LOVE GIRL TIME (can you tell?)
• I am getting baptized by immersion on Sunday. (More on that this weekend: hopefully with pictures...B--can you help a sister out??!)
• I need a new cell phone.
• My life is good.
• I want to learn to play the guitar like Sandra McCracken.
• God has been giving me understanding of Psalm 86:11. You should read it. It's challenging.
• Please pray for Andrew--not feeling well this week--doc appointment this weekend. I love this little boy and am praying for a complete and total healing!
• While I'm on subject, please also remember my friends Brandon and Jeannette. They are fellow religious studies students and husband and wife. Currently Brandon is in Kuwait serving our country, and I saw Jeannette today--it broke my heart to see how much she was missing Brandon and worrying about him. Please pray for them both as it takes its toll. Praise God for brave folks like Brandon who give up so much that we can be free!
• Does anyone know of a way to get Angie the dog to STOP licking me? I know I'm sweet, but c'mon! ha.
• I was reminded tonight that a seminary degree is beneficial for lifelong ministry involvement-even if that ministry is chasing three-year-olds, giving bottles, and rocking babies to sleep. But I am still praying that someday God will make a way for me to have a vibrant women's ministry. Who knows, maybe both at once...I am nothing if not ambitious!
• Confession: I watch the heathen show "Lipstick Jungle" and then have text discussions with my awesome sister-in-law, Shannon. Yes, it's rotten and I shouldn't, but I do.
• It's Grey's Anatomy's fault. I haven't had a new episode in so long I needed some drama (not like I have enough living with 70+girls!).
• I love Amos Lee's music. His voice is like buttah and you should listen to it!
• I think that Emmanuel Lewis and Gary Coleman should do a show together on cable. Rachel and I would be their biggest fans!
• Easter is coming up soon. I love Easter and celebrating the Resurrection--proving Jesus didn't come to make bad people good. He came to make dead people ALIVE.

That's it. I think. I love you guys.

"Pray Without Ceasing..."

I would first like to thank everyone for praying for me as I have been sick the past few days. They're working...I'm feeling much, much better!

Since y'all are such good pray-ers, (lol), I would like to ask you to consider the following in prayer:

• The Melhiser Family as they are grieving the loss of their husband and father, Jim
• Travis Burkhart and his family - Travis was in a terrible accident during the ice storm and had some severe head trauma (Travis's brother, Ryan is married to Krissy, Jim Melhiser's daughter, so the family has been through SO MUCH recently and they really could use our faithful prayer on their behalf)
• Courtney, Carol, Andrew, and Isaac as they have to wait for the results of the trip to Texas (see the link on my blog for details) and that the docs will have encouraging news!
• My sweet Seth is down with a migraine. yuck.
• Our little friend from church was in an accident today. She's okay, but shaken up quite a bit.
• My best's (ashley) hubby-to-be has a big job interview in Greencastle on march 5.
• The high-school girls who just went on the Chrysalis last weekend. (Shout out to Sarah and Aimee-I know you read the blog. Keep pressing in to Jesus. You'll never be sorry! :)
• My professor, Dr. Leuze, lost his mother last week. My professor, Dr. Low, lost his mother-in-law last week.
• Adam Arvin
• My friends Jeremy and Katie (check out the Crossroads link) welcomed Wyatt Josiah into their family
• My friend Annie and her co-workers as there is a crazy guy on the loose stealing things and he recently tried to break into her car while she was in it. If I was not such a scawedy-pants I would sooo go on a stakeout and give him some Mace in the face (along with a tract of course! lol.)

so pray with me! Because as my friend Kathy says, "All of Heaven moves when we pray."

she is sooo right.

Lyrics with Lauren: "That Girl..." Wins?

I won something.

CRAZY, I know. It's totally the Lord, and so cool.


It's the "Model of Beauty" contest.

My friend Esther is a Mary Kay consultant, and she asked me to be a part of the contest (she has to do so many faces each month) and I love her and her husband Ricky and their sweet baby girl Isabella (not the Izzy I keep, different one...) so I went over and had her make me up. To be honest, I don't normally wear a lot of makeup, and some days I go without it all together.

She took the "before" picture (and I have to admit that I did the sans smile face thing like you always see in the before pictures when Oprah does makeovers) and then she used her products and she did a really good job. She took the "after" picture (complete with smile) and I thought I was done. Then Esther asked me what was beautiful to me. I had to write a little essay, and I was honest in the fact that beauty is transparency to me (yay for T squared...you know what I mean...) and being beautiful is living a beautiful life from the inside out.

She texted me yesterday and asked for my favorite quote (Psalm 51:6) and my favorite color (pink, please...was there ever a question in your mind, Good Blog Reader?) and my favorite vacation spot, etc.

Each girl in Esther's unit had a winner. Then last night after an awesome, awesome formation, I received word that I won!
Which means:

• A gift certificate to a SPA in Evansville (I think I just peed my pants from excitement...)
• Some free Kary Kay products (!!)

God is better to me than I deserve. I have been exhausted and His grace always brings the unexpected blessings right when we need encouragement.

who would have thought?

In honor of this sweet blessing, I have decided to include another Sara Groves song in this Wednesday's installment of "Lyrics with Lauren." It's a song that really challenges me every time I hear to make sure that I am offering my best and my excellence to my community of faith and the Body of Christ. I hope you enjoy it:

We come with beautiful secrets
We come with purposes written on our hearts, written on our souls
We come to every new morning
With possibilities only we can hold that only we can hold
Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces
Calling out the best of who we are
And I want to add to the beauty
To tell a better story
I want to shine with the light
That's burning up inside
It comes in small inspirations
It brings redemption to life and work
To our lives and our work
It comes in loving community
It comes in helping a soul find it's worth
Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces
Calling out the best of who we are
And I want to add to the beauty
To tell a better story
I want to shine with the light
That's burning up inside
This is grace, an invitation to be beautiful
This is grace, an invitation
Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces
Calling out our best
And I want to add to the beauty
To tell a better story
I want to shine with the light
That's burning up inside

yeah. love it. you can see why.

(Becky, this is the song I was telling you about. If you happen to snap some pics that would fit, I would LOVE it.)

For the rest of you, I dare you to go to Becky's Blog and see two of our amazing FBC Bicknell princesses (Gracie and Tali: Seth and I love you!!) and their awesome dance photos. Now they are beautiful...

Lyrics with Lauren: Valentine Edition

Hi everyone.

One more day(!!)

I am so seriously stoked about Valentine's Day I decided to post a very special song for you. If you have never heard The Fray (they sing that really catchy cable car song and how to save a life-two amazing songs that i think have both been in the top five), then you need to. Anyway, I digress. But their best song is a love song. And a really good love song. Maybe the best one I have ever heard.

here it is (click on the Title of this blog and you can hear it...DO THIS FOR FULL EFFECT, please.)

Look After You

If I don't say this now
I will surely break
As I'm leaving the one I want to take
Forgive the urgency but hurry up and wait
My heart has started to separate
Be my baby
Be my baby
I'll look after you
There now, steady love,
so few come and don't go
Will you won't you,
be the one I'll always know
When I'm losing my control,
the city spins around
You're the only one who knows
to slow it down
Be my baby
Be my Baby
I'll look after you
And I'll look after you
If ever there was a doubt
My love she leans into me
This most assuredly counts
She says most assuredly
Be my baby
I'll look after you
After You
Be my baby
It's always have and never hold
You've begun to feel like home
What's mine is yours to leave or take
What's mine is yours to make your own
Be my baby
I'll look after you

Live version has a cover of You Are So Beautiful by Joe Cocker at the end...studio version is my favorite.)

dedication: you know who you are...

by the way, Terri got me a sweet Valentine package yesterday and I almost peed my pants right there in her kitchen from sheer excitement! thankyouverymuch. also, a shout-out to Andi Hart. (appropriate for Feb. 13 due to her last name...) she told me she likes to read "that girl" and it brightened my day. Hey Andi!!

I know everyone out there in blog world wants to know why in the heck i love this gosh-darned holiday so much...tomorrow I will explain, so stay tuned!

Let's see what God says:

Love one another deeply from the heart. I Peter 1:22