Snuggie War.

As I have previously mentioned, Seth hates Snuggies. He thinks they are ridiculous.


Here's how much I care. Remember this? I got one anyway because when I visit him at his house I get very cold and Angie the dog wants me to pet her but it's nearly impossible to pet her or change the channels with a regualr blanket covering my arms.


Okay, that last one was wishful thinking. I don't really have need for the Snuggie due to the Tivo remote. Seth likes to have it in his hand, sort of like a scepter for the King. He does so graciously share much Tivo space for things he doesn't give a rip about, such as SYTYCD. He really is precious.

(My friend Kasey just told me, by the way, that she loves to turn hers around and wear it as a cape. That would be cool if she was three. But she's 22. Even That Girl draws the line someplace.)


One evening Seth and I were working on Save the Date cards (mostly Seth was working and I was just pretending to look busy) and I tweeted that I wished I had my Snuggie. Seth, sitting right next to me, got out his laptop and checked his facebook. He looked at me and said, "Seriously?" Then he proceeded to diss the Snuggie with a comment.

This got our whole church buzzing. Who was for, who was against, who thought they were practical, and who thought they were a glorified bathrobe (that wounded me, Nicole). It was the Snuggie discussion heard round the world.
For the record, I'd like to go ahead and say that I have yet to actually don the Snuggie at Seth's house, so in his defense he has yet to see the real practicality of the thing. But that doesn't mean that this war of words has stopped. So last night, my SIL pulled out the big guns.

The piece de resistance, if you will.




This photo went up on facebook last night with the caption, "Look Uncle Sethy. Mini snugglette Lovers."



Like he can keep hating on the Snuggie when these three look so dang cute.




Are you on Team Snuggie or a Snuggie Hater?

either, way, those three little Snugglettes are adorable, wouldn't you agree?

Advice.

During this season of engagement, Seth is holding me accountable to focus more on the marriage and less on the wedding. Bloggerotsky, will you help me too?

Leave some advice for Seth and me today in the comments.


(and keep it clean kids. this is a family show.)


love you all



(squealing)

I Love to Tell The Story...

One of my favorite hymns is called I Love To Tell the Story...

I love to tell the story of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory, of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story, because I know ’tis true;
It satisfies my longings as nothing else can do.

I love to tell the story, ’twill be my theme in glory,To tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems
Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams.
I love to tell the story, it did so much for me;And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.

I love to tell the story; ’tis pleasant to repeat
What seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.
I love to tell the story, for some have never heard
The message of salvation from God’s own holy Word.

I love to tell the story, for those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.
And when, in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song,
’Twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.



It has always been my heart cry to tell the story of God's great love for His people. I could have never imagined the opportunities I've had to share about the reckless love Jesus showed us, and to have the chance to tell that story, belonging to God's family, is the greatest honor of my life.



I always prayed for a man to come into my life who would love to tell the story as much as I did. From the time I was thirteen years old, I have been praying for my future husband. I have prayed about pretty much everything-
that God would protect him
that his relationship with God would grow strong
that God would bless his life
for his family
for Godly mentors
and lots of other things

since that time, there were periods in my life when I had trouble believing the possibility that God had someone out there for me who was engaged in telling the story already. A man who had been brought into the story and now took great delight in sharing it.

It was hard to believe based on our culture's poor imitation of love.


I still kept praying, hoping in my heart that a man would come along and see a potential diamond in the rough.


When I met Seth, I could tell he loved to not only be a part of the story of God's redemption of His people, but that he loved to tell it as well. It was the passion of his life. Through everything we have faced as a couple and even in the valley of the shadow of death, it became so clear to me that he was a man of great integrity. I could tell that he also placed marriage in a high regard and understood the implications of that kind of commitment. God showed me several times in his Word that this indeed was a man I could trust to guard my heart and to love me.




So it is with great joy that I tell you this joyful part of the story of Jesus and His love being perfected in us.


Sidebar:
On Monday night, Seth and my dad had a chat. Of course it was at Mi Pueblo, where I first met Seth and where most of the significant events of my life have happened (whether I am present or not, it seems). For about three weeks, poor Seth has not slept at night for being nervous about said meeting of the minds. My dad, bless his heart, came prepared to their meeting with pages and pages of difficult questions (ack!) for Seth to answer. I felt bad for Seth when I learned this, but I was also proud that my dad took it so seriously. (Seth told me later that he was glad that I have a dad who truly cares and wants the very best for me.)

Last night (Tuesday), Seth came to pick me up for date night. He arrived at my door with a gift bag in his hand, saying he had a present for me. I said "Can I have it now?" He, of course replied to the negative and we went on our merry way to Evansville. He asked if Biaggi's, a local Italian place that we go often, would be okay.
"Is that your favorite place in Evansville?" he asked.
"Yeah. I like it the best. And Firefly too."

We walked into the restaurant and Seth strangely asked the waitress for a more private table in the back. I looked at him like he was crazy when they told us we'd have to wait five or ten minutes. I LOVE MY CARBS, people. And oh the Biaggi butter.

I thought it was weird because we always sit in a booth up front. We were seated right away, and we sat down. Bloggerotsky, you know how much I can't handle a secret I don't know about, so I said oh-so casually, "I haven't hardly asked AT ALL what's inside that bag. I have been so good, haven't I?"

"Yes," he answered. He didn't hand me the bag. NUTS.

I ate my rigatoni alla toscana all while talking to him a mile a minute like always. When I got done, I pushed my plate away and Seth plopped the bag down on the table in front of me.

Now a few months ago, I had mentioned I wanted to do a couple's devotional together but we hadn't had time, so he wanted to give me a gift.

I pulled the gift out of the bag and it was a Couple's Devotional Bible. It is beautiful with silver and brown, and I said, "Thank you honey! It's really beautiful!"
Then Seth told me to turn to Proverbs 31--he had a note to me:

Dear Lauren,
I love you more than anything but Jesus. You are the most important thing in this world to me! Paul tells us that a man is to love his wife like Christ loves the Church. that is what i want to do so will you marry me?
Love,
Seth

At this point, I was overwhelmed. Shock is probably a very accurate word. I looked up and Seth got down on his knee. I looked over--

get your tissues

---and he had my mom's wedding set in his hand. My mom's ring, formerly my grandma's, was shaking in his hands. And then he said it.

"Lauren will you marry me?"

It took me a minute, girls.

Then I said, "YES!!"

Then I couldn't say anything else. For a while. Imagine it. That Girl silenced for the first time in her life.


What can you say when God grants you the beginning of the next chapter of your story?


We left the restaurant and I called my dad in the car. That's when the tears came. I was crying and laughing and shaking and screaming and I could barely breathe. I think Seth thought it was time for the paper bag!

Off we went to the jeweler, where we arranged for them to take my mom/grandma's diamond out of my mom's set and put into my very own set! In a week or two I will get some photos up!

I thank you in advance for your prayers as we enter into a really precious time of betrothal and I am honored to invite you to share this journey with us.


I consider it the second highest honor in my life (besides serving my Jesus) to be Seth's wife and partner in ministry. I am delighted to share my days with such a Godly man and I hope that our marriage will be a reflection of the reckless love God offers His children and the blessings that come with waiting on God.



I love to tell this story because it's only a small page in a Bigger Story. the story of our Savior and His love to me.





I AM GOING TO BE A WIFE to the most precious man ever!


(allow me a bit of squealing for the next few days....I just got to add two new tags: Wedding, and marriage.)

Love you all.

This is the One You've Been Waiting For....

Seth asked me to be his WIFE tonight!


I, of course, said YES!


Details to come tomorrow.



(This is not a drill.)



Rejoice with us and thank God for His love for us!

Q & A Time: Part # Who Knows.

Won't you join me for another edition of answering Bloggerotsky questions?



Deanna asks:
Hi Lauren. Would love to hear more about you and Seth.... how you met, etc.!!! If it's already on your blog, maybe you could just post the links?!!! :)



Deanna, I am so happy that you asked that particular question for a number of reasons. First of all, I love talking about Seth and if you give me an excuse to discuss him, it's even better!
Secondly, today, June 9, 2009 is the second anniversary of our very first date! So I'd be happy to fill you in on the details! Allow me the privilege of waxing nostalgic for a moment as I tell the story.


The short story is:
I baked him a pie.

The Long Story is:

I met Seth for the first time at Mi Pueblo, my very favorite restaurant. I was eating with my BFF Ashley. She knew SEth and he and his friend came to sit with us. I was in high school at the time. After that meal I told Ashley wasn't too sure what I thought about that guy. She assured me that he was awesome. I raised my eyebrows.


I left Mi Pueblo that afternoon not knowing what God had in store a few years down the road.



My friendship with Ashley continued and every once in a while she would mention something about her friend Seth and how nice he was. Her mom would also make comments. We were both active in the same Emmaus community and had a few mutual friends so I would hear his name. I can't explain how but I would think about him from time to time. "I wonder what he is up to these days." Perhaps a desire to get a new opinion of him since my friends all had such respect for him.
I didn't date at all in High School, which ended up being a very good thing for me. My freshman year at OCU, I got an email from a lady who attended FBC saying she had a guy she wanted me to meet.
Sweet! So I began emailing back and forth with the guy. After several emails, he asked me out. Turns out, he was the music director at FBC, where Seth was still serving as the youth pastor. While Brian made plans for our blind date, he solicited advice from his friends, including (you guessed it) Seth.
(I know I have a crazy life but what are the odds, people?)
I went out with Brian that night, and as life would so ironically have it, we saw Seth and a friend of mine walking down the street. Brian pulled over and we talked with them, and I remember thinking that his eyes looked very kind--I know, pass the cheese-- and he was very nice to me. I remember thinking that maybe I had "that guy" pegged wrong.

After my one and only date with Brian, I knew it wasn't the right fit. He loved the Lord but we were in very different stages of life. As life would again hand out the irony, Brian went on to meet a great girl named Summer and they lived happily ever after as SETH performed their wedding ceremony.

haha.

Why yes, I am That Girl.

Fast forward through a few more years, one heartbreak, missions, more school, a call to ministry, and a cancer diagnosis. In April of 2007 Seth and I were asked to work the same retreat. At the first meeting, we did a 'get-to-know-you' game. I really had a desire to know him better, so I walked over and he then was my partner. We each had to talk for a minute about ourselves. I told him about K, H, and E and he told me about his dog, Angie. He seemed really nice! We had a delightful little conversation and I was sure he was a good man. I ended up in Seth's prayer group. We all shared prayer concerns (he may sell my new domain name and kill me for this, but) and Seth asked us to pray because he wanted to find someone with whom to share his life-someone who would have a passion for serving people and ministry.

I died and went to Heaven right there.

Later that week I discussed with my BFF Jami how cute I thought he was and what he had said. Then I got out the directory and paced back and forth trying to figure out a way to call him. I decided I would call "ALL" the people in my prayer group and see how they were doing. I had never done that before or since. I was SO NERVOUS when I called him because I didn't want to sound like a freak (like every other moment of my life--he's QUITE used to it now, I think), and I just asked him how I could keep him in prayer this week and just to see how things were going. Utterly lame, I know. He was like, "Well, just what I told you this week pretty much." It took every ounce of self-control I had not to say, "Honey, I have heard you preach and I would like to be the answer to your prayers."

I got off the phone, looked at Jami who was there for moral support and said, "Welp, I blew that. He thinks I am a total whackjob."

Little did I know that Seth asked his roommate that night about me. Including if I was single.

During the retreat he always came to talk to me or to see if I needed any help. We bonded over funny stuff and ministry and Caedmon's Call's best album ever. Most of all we bonded over Jesus and His love for us.

Ashley and I schemed after the retreat, and we invited him to Mi Pueblo-where else, no wonder Mexican soap operas are so popular- with a bunch of other "friends" for no reason in particular we said. He showed up and said that he thought women could do anything men could do in ministry. I think that song "I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight" may have come on my mental jukebox. We started texting that night and I became That Girl to the people in the church community where he served. They desperately wanted to figure out who That Girl Seth is always texting was.

Through our "conversations" I learned that Seth is a big fan of pie. One morning I got up DETERMINED to bless him. So I got out the recipes and I whipped up a pretty fantastic strawberry pie. I called him up, drove to Office Max where he was, and said this AWESOME line.
"Um. Hi. Umm, I brought, I made you this pie. HERE!" I basically threw it into his arms.

He liked the pie. The next week I happened to have a roommate working at the camp the same week as Seth, so I drove up to see her (haha) and happened to run into Seth. Then I happened to give him a bag of Chex Mix. I am such a believer of winning the heart through the stomach. Can you tell?

It paid off. Seth invited me to a friend's barbecue (it may or may not have been on facebook if you want to know the truth...).
We sat on this sweet little swing and talked until we looked up finally and realized we were the last ones there. That was two years ago today.



And that was the end of the beginning.



Now that Deanna and everyone else who reads this blog is so incredibly glad she asked that question (i just didn't want to leave anything out!), let's go to the cyber-mailbag for another question.

Savannah asks:
How are you always so positive? It's....so hard for me to do! Any advice or verses you use?

Savannah, I am certainly not "ALWAYS" so positive. Just like everyone else on earth, I have my moments when I feast on the anxiety and negativity that this world has to offer. I have always been a person who enjoys life, and I think it's hard to have fun in the water if you are always looking around for who peed in the pool, so to speak. Honestly, since my mom's death I have realized how important it is to live every moment completely and not to waste it dwelling on what I DON'T have or what I am NOT. Instead I can count my blessings and focus on what God HAS given me.
That's a double-edged sword because since her death, although I understand the importance, I have found it hard to be as positive as I was before. I am not making excuses. I am only saying I want to get back to the place where my mind does not go to the negative immediately. Even if I don't voice that and give off the air of remaining positive, the battle is lost in my mind.

Negativity steals the joy God has so richly given us. I have made up my mind that I don't have time to lose or throw away, and having a negative attitude does both. God's word tells us in Ecclesiastes:

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

If that's the case, and eternity has been set in my heart, does this light and momentary affliction really affect me that greatly in the light of forever?
Probably not.
And has He not suffered and endured in greater things for me than I will ever face in this life?

John 16:33 convinces me that there is nothing that can get in my way of living and loving if I put Jesus as the center of my life. Furthermore, if He is for me, who can be against me? Plus, what does complaining and pining for what I don't have get me except a lot less friends and an ulcer? It doesn't change anything. It only makes me miserable.

A line from Martina McBride says it best:
I've come to know/that the world won't change just 'cause I complain/let the axis twirl/I'm a happy girl.
Hope that answers your question a little bit!


Jenn wants to know about my jamz.
I love your playlist! I even have some of the same songs on my playlist. You seem to have quite a diverse mix...what is your favorite kind of music?

Oh girl. First of all let me just say a great big thank you for noticing because I lurve me some music. My favorite musician is Dave Barnes. My favorite genre is definitely singer-songwriter acoustic stuff. Is that even a genre, you may ask? Yes. It is because I just decided it was just now. I also love Sandra McCracken and Derek Webb. Give me some U2 and a Coca-Cola Classic and I'm one gleeful chick. Bring on the Patty Griffin with a side of Bebo Norman and for dessert, Bethany Dillon and Shane and Shane. Let's not forget the Taylor Swift with a twist of Watermark (christy nockels--that girl can SAAANG) as well as a hint of Hillsong United and let's add some Abba for good measure. While we're at it, why don't we add a little Johnny and June and some TobyMac to the party? Let's keep it real with Charlie Hall and Tenth Avenue North. I am groovin' to Jimmy Needham and Aretha. Throw a little old-school Point of Grace (they're still pure awesomeness after all these years) and some Leeland and you've got yourself a heck of a playlist.

As you can see, I really enjoy almost all genres of music. I always keep in mind that just because it may not have the label Christian on it does not limit God's use of it in my life. Truth and beauty can be found in lots of unexpected places.




Thanks for sticking around to the end and for all of your questions, faithful ones. I love you more than I love The Goonies and hot tamales.

Friday (Pineapple) Tidbits.

*****Update*****
I just got my mail and received a Bath & Body Works gift card from Sheila and Amanda Heshelman. What a red-letter day. Thank you girls! I love you both very much. HOORAY! Our bathroom soap has almost run out, so perfect timing :D

• Dr. Barber is my hero today.

He's letting us out at 2pm for Memorial Day weekend!

• And even better, tonight we are going to Outback with Seth's parents and grandparents (who I LOVE LOVE LOVE--they are all precious and Patti, his mama, always gets me the cutest surprises too!) for dinner for his dad Tom's birthday.

I always get the steak and veggie griller--which is so incredibly deluxe and not too bad on the waistline, either. It's pieces of steak with mushrooms, grilled pineapple, peppers, and onions on a bed of rice. Isn't that good and good for me?!


well, unless you count the bloomin' onion.
ack.

• F-R-I-D-A-Y. It's my favorite day, OH MY! It's Friday, Friday, Friday, Friday!

It's the little things, isn't it Bloggerotsky?

• Hug a veteran at church and tell him or her you are thankful to live in this beautiful land with a right to live, laugh, and love as you wish.

• I did walk to the post office and back with Nicole on my lunch break. One small step for That Girl...

• Thinking about starting the Shred. Although I am pretty sure after a couple of days I will call it the Dread.

• I am going to be in Loogootee on THIS Saturday night at New Beginnings Church. The church meets on the street where the Post Office is located. It's a women's event (sorry to the two men reading..) and it begins at 6:30 PM. I look forward to seeing you and your friends there! It will be a very fun night!!

• I am so thankful to all of you who called and emailed and asked to help me in my goal to get rid of that idol called food. I covet your prayers as I start this scary journey and I ask in return for my vulnerability that you would find people with whom you can be transparent. God is going to do abundantly more...Hold on to your fork--figuratively speaking, of course.

I love you all more than waterslides and bratwursts.

{That's a lot for Memorial Day weekend.}

Just Give Me One Moment in Time...

...to gush about this guy, who thought it would be a good idea to write me a note for every day I was on the retreat.


{it was.}

All those Junior High (alright, and High School, and most of college) days and nights when I cried to my mommy and said, "IwillnevermeetaniceguywholovesJesusandwhowantstodatemeEVER!!!" have been proved wrong. glory//hallelujah.


he also happens to be really hot. BONUS.

:D

__________________________________________________________________

...to say that I NOW can prove there are more lurking bloggerotsky out there--I only have 29 followers but there have been many more hits than that today...come out of hiding and be free in your love for That Girl's hapless daily grind.



Okay, okay, not that free. I wouldn't want our friendship to get creepy or anything.


__________________________________________________________________

...to tell you that on mondays I get really really overwhelmed because I pretty much never read blogs on weekends because
1) I am almost always on the road speaking at churches and doing ministry
2) Sometimes a weekend hiatus from some things technological is good for my mind, body, and spirit.

I get overwhelmed at the sheer number of blogs I have to catch up on. Yes, some of them are like Y and R or As The World Turns because not much changes in a couple of days, but just like my friends hooked on soaps I can't help but turn in. Does anyone else feel this way?

_________________________________________________________________

I read something in a magazine (trust me, I didn't buy the magazine, I flipped through it at lunch--my mistake) that made me so irate today. It was an article about Jon+Kate and it was so heartbreaking. I was angered by an "Anonymous" source who attends church with them basically saying he/she didn't like them and didn't think they would stay married much longer.

As believers it is our responsibility to GUARD one another in Christ Jesus. The fact that someone who is a professing Christian would speak so negatively of a brother and sister being completely slandered in the media made me sick to my stomach. How quickly we shoot our wounded and throw them like garbage to the side and then wonder why no one wants to be a Christian.

Let me tell you, if I had every mistake, or bad word, or thing that I had said or done wrong plastered on the cover of a magazine (like I don't plaster them all over this blog or anything...), I would hope that my church would be a place of refuge and not a place of great condemnation and venomous words. Matthew 18 tells us that if we have a problem with another believer, we should go to him/her and try to rectify the situation. I am working toward getting better at that.
The world is watching us, especially when we talk about others. If we hear gossip, let's try to put it down in a conversation and if we can't, let's refocus our time and energy in another direction. I know old habits die hard, but it's time for the Body of Christ to use our speech to encourage others instead of tearing down everything about them. Should Jon + Kate have gone on TV? I don't know but it's a little too late for that conversation. We need to be praying for their marriage and praying for God to do something really incredible that will lead people to Jesus instead of talking about what they have done wrong and what a shame it is.

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
Ephesians 4:29

Okay, so that took more than One Moment in Time. So another song lyric to reward you:

Please forgive me, I know not what I do, please forgive me, I can't stop loving you, Bloggerotsky.

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.

An A.T.T.I.T.U.D.E. of Worship.

Hey little bloggerotsky cuties!


why don't you head on over to the greener side of the fence and see the little acronym my love has been working on?

It's a really good theology of worship, and I am not just saying that becauseit's Shake 'n Bake and I helped. He had it pretty much figured out before I came on board.





Some other thoughts on worship:

Worship is not a bunch of songs. I think we can all agree that it's the way we live our lives. As my girls Point of Grace sing,

"Everybody's worshiping something...."


What are you worshiping today?

Is it money?

Is it a career?

Is it a relationship?

Is it a lifestyle?

Is it self?

Is it your children?

Is it material possessions?




Everyone is worshiping something. What will you choose?


--------------------------------------------------------------
Shout-out to Miss Lissa...thanks for reading ♥

I have added a speaking date on the sidebar for May 23. I will be in Loogootee at New Beginnings Community Church for their Ladies Tea. Check out the other dates as well. It I am in your area, feel free to contact me about how to come to one of these events.

The Fence gets a Facelift....

Check out Seth's new blog look and read this post about being transformed...


It's really good--do we let God have every part of us, or just a part of a part of us?

Overheard....

"I haven't always been the model of manliness you see before you today."


--Seth Alexander,
my beau of almost two years and apparently an undercover stand-up comic.





Oh honey, your mom showed me your photo albums through the years and frankly, I beg to differ.

Cupid, you shouldn't have! But so glad you did!

Dear Cupid,

You read my mind! The one thing I forgot to put on my list...a new bag for my laptop!!


Good job.

My Sweetheart got me a very, very fashionable pink laptop case this evening in honor of my very favorite 'holiday' as he's such a good sport about this kind of thing (by this kind of thing I mean my overarching ridiculousness in treating Valentine's as such an incredibly big holiday). Not only does he put up with it, but as one of my dearests points out, he honors my slightly frivolous ways by getting me something slightly frivolous that costs a mint and I don't really need that badly.


Bless his heart. He's too cute. Cupid, you shot me right in the tail end when I met that man. You got me good.

Thanks.
Love,
your pink-loving fan,
That Girl.


I would have shown the Bloggerotsky a link of my gift but apparently it's as rare as he is-a stand-up kind of guy in a culture that practically write of the idea of a man of integrity.


PS- nobody get any ideas about him. He's all mine!

wellIwouldtellyouthatmyboyfriendhasbeenblogging
likeacrazymanandyoushould
goreaditbutIdon'twanttojinx
hisamazingprogress
intheworldofbloggerotsky.


go encourage his SKILLS.




Just a note for Susie--I made it to Joines Chapel exactly three minutes before the Christmas Extravaganza started.

What I am Thankful for...

This Guy.


What a great day to celebrate his birthday!
Unfortunately, we are continuing our tradition of being apart on our birthdays...


go wish him a happy one!


tell him "That Girl..." sent you.
I love you Honey :D

What I Love.

Sitting on the two-seater porch swing on a beautiful autumn day with nowhere to go and nothing to do.


except holding hands and playing with the doggy.




okay,
and maybe some Mexican food.

what do you love to do on a beautiful Saturday?

A Few More Things.

1. My hair is oh-so-cute (can I say that?!) and SHORT! Thanks Beverly. A little plug: My friend Bev works at Dimensions studio in Vincennes. Go see her sometime. She cut it at church last night because I didn't have time to go in and see her...Then she made me go see Seth before I saw it myself. He started saying, "I like it!" before I had really even walked into the room. I love that man. He knows that you don't mess around with compliments when your lady gets a new haircut. Or haircute. baha. Go tell him to blog, dang it!! Blog outrage.

2. I did not look around to see who was watching, but I can almost guarantee the CFO or the VP of the University was walking by at that precise moment that the gushing geyser got me in the face. Why do I instinctively know this? Because I'm "That Girl..." and I can't have a dumb moment without the world watching. And I'm my own worst enemy because even if they miss it, I still tell YOU, Good Blog Reader.

3. Many thanks to Mandy Ash who sent me a way cute e-card for Pastor Appreciation Month. Who totally thoughtful and much appreciated!!

4. My Uppercase Living SOIREE is tonight. I like using soiree because it's so much more fancy, don't you think? Anyway, it will be held at Seth's sweet pad, aka the Church Parsonage.

5. For the party, I used my quality Kitchenaid artisan stand mixer to prepare the food, which includes cheesecake and a pumpkin dip that changes lives. By the way, some people might think it's extravagant that Seth bought me that blessed mixer. I DON'T!!!!!! I love that thing. So much that, in fact, it rode in the front seat next to me on the way from Oakland City to Bicknell.

And I put the safety belt on her just for good measure.

Seriously.

Ask my roommate. She raised her eyebrows a bit, but betwixt the two of us, we are used to antics that the world simply does not understand. Like seatbelting our food mixers.

6. I have trouble taking medication. I don't remember it. Plus, we slitting my time between the Thompson's and my apartment, I don't have the same routine every day. Plus, I take Synthroid, which is one of those you have to take one hour before or two hours after you eat. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have tried everything, and the men in my life are like, "TAKE YOUR MEDS!!" This creates a problem as I eat ALL THE TIME, which leads to...

7. I am doing a program for the Staff at school called "The Biggest Loser." It involves weekly weigh-ins, and I have to pay if I gain or stay the same, but I don't if I lose. It lasts eight weeks and at the end, the person with the msot percetage of weight loss gets to keep the dough!
Not cookie dough...
mmm, that sounds good...WHOA.
Chugga, chugga, get back on track, Laur. This is gonna be harder than I thought. So girs, smack my hand away from that pumpkin dip tonight.


8. I miss my girls. Someone came in the office yesterday and said Kristin looked just like me. It made me tear up a bit, as I just long to see them. NEXT MONTH!

Thank you, my LOVE!

(the card said: "I'm sorry we cannot spend it together.")

isn't he sweet?



only part of the mystery has been revealed...(although I did grow suspicious when he was drilling me about my work schedule this week...)


I LOVE YOU, honey!

Typical "That Girl"

Why am I ever, ever surprised?



It's not like it doesn't happen almost on a daily basis. I should be used to it by now.





the phrase "way to go, moron" lovingly runs through my head quite often as I wonder why I have:

a penchant,

a knack, maybe even

a gift

{if you will}



for saying and doing the most absurd of things at the most inappropriate times.





As those of you who often read this blog know, I don't mean to say and do awkward things that would strike fear in the hearts of most human beings.



It's an accidental thing, really. Call it bad timing.



Here's the lowdown:



Last night, we had a homecoming party for Miss Amy (my dear friend, former roommate, and missionary), who is back from Ghana. Andy (also my dear friend and Amy's fiancee) wanted us to have a surprise welcome home/birthday party for her. Seth and I went to Andy's and awaited Amy's arrival. He was such a good sport, hanging out with my BFFs and me. You might think, "sheesh, what's the big deal? I mean, if he can't cut it with her friends...."

If that was your thought, you have obviously never met my BFFs. When we get together, crazy things happen. Inside jokes fly, awkward moments abound, and our lack of personal space with one another freaks some people out. We have this amazing bond that comes with walking through the light and the darkness together and helping one another know Jesus better. But it can be scary for onlookers. Some folks probably feel like they are tuning into a reality TV show--the Christian version of Sex and the City. (By the way, the first person who can give me a legit and valid name for said reality show gets props in my post for tomorrow...)


So clearly he is a good sport since he was the only Y chromosome at the gathering for hours. Well, until I said the most awkward thing ever accidentally.


Seth had been ready to leave for a few minutes but was unsuccessfully trying to find a lull in the conversation to say his parting farewells. Then two of our guy BFFs walk in. So Seth is talking to our dear friend Jimmy, with my roommate Nicole looking on. I kept thinking Seth might be getting annoyed because he's ready to leave, but Jami was telling me something and he wasn't moving toward the door yet. So I was just chilling, waiting on him to say goodbye. At the time I didn't know what they happened to be discussing as I am seated next to Seth talking to Jami. We are in our own little world.

Picture this (I feel like Sophia from the Golden Girls right now.). This is a loosely quoted conversation that I found out later actually took place as opposed to the conversation that I thought was going on...

Jimmy: "I think I am going to be single the rest of my life. I am having no luck with the ladies and I'm broke, which is alright with me because I only have to take care of myself. The way it's going I'm never gonna get married anyway."
Seth: "I used to think that way too."

At this point in the conversation, my conversation with Jami allowed me to hear words from Seth but not what words. I assumed** that Seth was telling Jimmy that I had started talking again (we can never make it out of anyplace quickly because I know a million people and I love to talk) and he was ready to go. Why I did this I do not know. I told you, I'm crazy. I just assumed that he was laughing with Jimmy about this because Jimmy has been places with me and knows this as well.
So after my assumption, one of my definitive "That Girl" Moments came.

I turned around and said,

"Well, I'm just waiting on you. Whenever you are ready!"


dang it.

Oh, the look on everyone's faces. Nicole, Jimmy, and Seth had to practically re-wire their jaws. This is when I knew the gig was up--although I had no idea.

It was a short journey from not knowing why what I said put that look on my sweet boyfriend's face to being overwhelmingly embarrassed. I thought for three point five seconds about what just came out of my mouth and in what context that could be a bad thing. It didn't take long as I recalled what Jimmy had said to me a few minutes before that. He was talking to me about never getting married. I figured it out by deduction. All the while I was thinking, "Oh, that's great. Noooooow my brain starts connecting to the rest of me. Awesome."

dang it.

Think about the context of their conversation. Then read what I just said again. I swear on Porkchop's Grave that I had no idea.


after turning bright red and feeling a sudden hot flash, I began apologizing profusely.

"i...uh...uh...I thought you were waiting on me to leave...I just meant I was waiting on you to...uh...say goodbye..to everyone...I was just talking about waiting on you to...uummmm...leave the apartment...NOTHING ELSE....I didn't mean that ....I promise!!"

Trying to dig out unsuccessfully, as you can see. It's like watching a train wreck in slow mo.



By this time, my so-called BFFs are having a good laugh on their pal Laur and sweet Seth is shaking his head like he always does when That Girl strikes. Unfortunately, he is getting more used to it every day. After the funeral incident and numerous other interesting times in the life of Lauren (like that time I sang and danced in the middle of Mi Pueblo for Ashley's wedding rehearsal dinner or the multiple times I have accidentally said awkward things to other people in our congregation), I think he kind of almost expects it. But I always try to temper these moments with a reminder of just how boring his life would be if he didn't have to put up with TGM all the time.


Come to think of it, my life would be pretty boring without "That Girl..." Moments too.




** disclaimer...
That Girl's rule numero uno: NEVER, EVER, EVER ASSUME. Just don't do it. You will thank me later. I promise.

Refining the Fire in me.

This past week, I have to confess that I was mean. Really mean. And what's worse is that I tried to use PMS as a valid excuse for my bad behavior.

I am ridiculous.

I was mean for no reason....




especially to the man I love. I couldn't nail down why, either. Nearest target, maybe...

Bethany Dillon wrote on her blog a few months ago about a time when she was mean to her fiance, Shane Barnard:

"Now, this is gonna be pretty transparent, but I think you guys can handle it. :) Last night, I was sitting in the back lounge of our bus, about to leave Yorba Linda Friends church for Roseville, talking to my wonderful fiancee on the phone... I'd had SUCH a good day... the Lord had really been speaking to me about my fallenness and how much I am NOT selfless or truly compassionate... which may not sound like the ingredients for a good day, but it was. His discipline is like nothing else, let me tell ya. Soo... I'm all in my "spiritual-mode", if you know what I mean- asking about his day, trying to be encouraging and a good listener, sharing about my day-- all good, good, good, until....... Hello, Miss Attitude! Out of the clear blue sky (whoda thunk?), something very very very small rubbed me juuust wrong and that was it. I was ticked. Why? I'm not exactly sure. I mean, I remember what the catalyst was... but it's not even big enough to mention. And the worst part? I KNEW that I was being a jerk, and didn't do anything about it! And wouldn't you know it, as soon as sweet, sweet Shane got off the phone (I'm in awe of how gentle he is in the face of my crappiness) I wanted to call him right back and apologize until I got blue in the face. Instead, I texted him. :) Something really restrained, you know? Restrained in that... my HEART wanted to really repent, but my flesh still wasn't letting me."




I am also in awe of how gentle Seth was in the midst of my wretchedness toward him and the world. It was like I was trying to pick a fight, but Seth refused to let me. He told me the truth and asked me to believe and trust God and him. All week my passive-aggressive behavior continued, but Seth was just like Jesus--not letting me believe the lies, but not telling me what an idiot I was. He struck this amazing balance with me that was evidence to me of the continual growth of the fruit of the Spirit in his life (and my obvious lack of the pursuit of the fruit in my own life this week--ouch). He was patient with me, when I wasn't being at all patient with him. Instead of smarting off or telling me where to "shove it" he showed me something:

this is what makes me more like Jesus.

Seth calling it out for what it was allowed me to recognize my sinful behavior but not feel condemned for it. His gentleness helped me experience the love of Christ more than if he would have yelled or screamed or been angry with me. The refining fire of unconditional love is more power than the fury of anger.

God knows this. It's His love that brings out the impurities. His wrath is there too, but the love is what draws us to change. The love and patience Seth showed to me when I deserved it the least made me want to be a better woman. A woman deserving of such patience and love.

Isn't it the same with Jesus? I think so. Doesn't the fire of His love make the impurities come to the surface? His gentle truth makes me want to be a better woman. I wish I could get my mind around it to write a more eloquent description of the love that makes us desire to be better.

His love makes me want to be and to love just like Him.

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.