Cramps

Dear Cramps,

I am thankful for what you mean and symbolize. The Lord is good to make our bodies in such a way. I thank my God daily that I am a woman and I have the opportunity to bear children, Lord-willing. Despite the joy that comes with you, please go away. Your familiar tug on my lower back is not comfortable. Please come back when I have access to a heating pad and do not have calculus homework. You are welcome any time that I have measures to make myself more comfortable. Just not now. Please go away.

Yours Truly,

Lauren

Progress Update I

I have a progress update on my 101 in 1001 list since it is nearing the end of January.

I am excited that I have completed #32 and have six other goals on my list.

Those accomplishments/goals that are in progress are the following:

#34 Read through the Bible: Yes, I have started and it is a beautiful thing to allow myself 1001 days to accomplish this task for as I read through I desire to savor every bite, big or small, I take. I have made this a goal or a New Year's Resolution so many times in the past and have never accomplished it because I was always so overwhelmed with how much I had to read in that year. It averages out to four chapters a day--not too much if you intend on only taking one bit of what you're reading with you. I also will be honest with you. I started this January 24, 2010. Just two days ago. Twenty four days after the new year had begun. Yes, I have not really been in the Word over the past twenty four days. This sorrows me greatly but when you don't yearn for it, it is so hard to make the time for it. On Sunday, I read Romans 1:1-2 after a wonderful, encouraging, and freeing conversation with Melissa and delighted in every word of those two verses. Oh how I yearn for it again! Yes my life is not always perfect and rarely do I have it together. Grace is good. And my God is good to have grace with me.

#39 Find and disciple a young lady: I have been praying about this one for a few months now. Back in December, I met with a few of the freshman girls from Navigators to test out how we "clicked." I found this to be fun and a good experience. With one of the girls, Kerrie, I had expected for our time to be perfectly awkward and for the time to drag by. Our conversation was good and we were able to go past surface-level topics. My time with Addy and Kayla was also a blessing and I have approached both of these girls about discipleship. Bethany is praying about discipling Kayla and I do not want to remove that opportunity for Bethany. I told Kayla that if she, for some reason, was not comfortable with Bethany, then I could disciple her but first and foremost, Bethany should be given the option first. I also asked Addy about such opportunity telling her to pray about it for the next couple weeks because I do not want to something the Lord is not leading us to do. I have also made it clear that I will not be offended if she does not choose me for it is true. I want her to have the freedom to make the decision herself without feeling any obligation to my emotions. This has been left in the Lord's hands and He shall do with it what He wills.

#44 Take Math 181: With my recent change in majors, I had to rearrange my schedule and it just so happened that a Math 181 class was open and it fit perfectly with my schedule. I love being able to do math again although this is going to be rather difficult. I think it will be helpful in my plan for tutoring next semester and in home schooling my children.

#46 Read 1 book per month every month for a year: I have finished my book for January already: The Last Sin Eater by Francine Rivers and am almost finished with my second January book (not that this was necessary): Adventures in Natural Childbirth by Janet Shoewegel (sp?). I have enjoyed being a reader again immensely. This has been good for entertainment, passing the time as well as furthering my mind and knowledge.

#58 Don't eat sugar for an entire year: Yes, yes I am doing it. Some people's resounding answer to this declaration is "YOU'RE CRAZY!" Some people's answer is "Wow, I wish I could do that." It started January 1, 2010 and will end the minute the clock hits midnight on January 1, 2011. Honestly it has not been that difficult because I have a goal in mind and I am purposed to achieving that goal. Temptations have been few and far between and even then they are resistible. I did have a dream the other day that I ate a cookie by accident without even thinking. Eek! I certainly hope that does not happen but even if it did, I would continue on for it was an accident.

#85 Organize my photos on my laptop: Ooph! Has this been a job. I've only gotten through three folders. It is one boring job but I am thankful that I am doing it because I want to get rid of all those weird unusable photos that are taking up gigabytes of space on my hard drive.

It is going well. I am thoroughly enjoying this process. I find things weekly that I need to put on my next list. Silly me--thinking in facebook statuses and 101 in 1001 lists. Oh how one must love technology.

#32

#32: Find and purchase a pair of flats that have arch support and are comfortable.

I found these babies a few months ago and had initially liked them. I decided against purchasing them because they were a little crazy and they wouldn't go with everything. The pair of shoes I ordered ended up smelling so BAD! They were so bad that if I didn't take a shower at night, I could smell my feet up at my pillow. ICK! So, despite the arch support and cuteness factor, I threw those away and attempted some new ones. I got these beauties from backcountry.com on Tuesday. I like them so far. They have good arch support and are roomy in the length. They are a little tight in the depth specifically with the mary jane strap but I think with some stretching, they'll come around. If they do not work out, there will be a #32 do-over. :)

101 in 1001

1. Run a half-marathon.
2. Do a sprint triathlon.
3. Be able to run a 7:30 mile.
4. Get in shape.
5. Exercise for 21 days straight.
6. Take a pilates class.
7. Run in the rain.
8. Learn to knit.
9. Learn to snowboard.
10. Learn to play an instrument.
11. Learn to make Pad-Thai.
12. Take a trip with Mom.
13. Take a trip with Dad.
14. Return to SMR.
15. Go to Chicago to visit grandparents, Chelsea, Caleb and [Ryan?]
16. Put my feet in the Atlantic Ocean.
17. Put my feet in the Pacific Ocean.
18. Put my feet in the Gulf of Mexico.
19. Go to the Jemez hot springs.
20. Go to Slide Rock in Arizona.
21. Visit Mma and Papa in Florida.
22. Go on another mission’s trip.
23. Go to the orphanage in Juarez for at least a weekend.
24. Go on a spontaneous, unplanned road trip an hour after deciding to leave.
25. Sleep outside/camp alone for one night.
26. Hike the Grand Canyon.
27. Hike a 14-er in Colorado.
28. Go backpacking [not Grand Canyon].
29. Buy a pair of overalls.
30. Purchase a [large] computer monitor to use as a home theater system.
31. Buy a new pair of running shoes.
32. Find and purchase a pair of flats that have arch support and are comfortable.
33. Memorize the TMS.
34. Read through the Bible.
35. Don’t speak for an entire day but use the silence for prayer.
36. Institute <3 HDAWGs in a semester.
37. Switch churches.
38. Get involved with people my age at this new church.
39. Find and disciple a young lady.
40. Share the Gospel with an unbelieving friend.
41. Share the Gospel with a stranger.
42. Pray about who/what to faithfully support monthly.
43. Develop habit of praying first thing every morning.
44. Take math 181.
45. Take an infant development class/learn extensively about the subject on my own.
46. Read 1 book per month every month for a year.
47. Become relatively fluent in Spanish.
48. Research the Home Foundation [thehomefoundation.net]
49. Don’t go clothes shopping for 3 months straight.
50. Keep track of my spending in a journal for one month.
51. Give up texting for a week.
52. Give up Internet for a week.
53. Give up facebook for a month.
54. Blog daily for a month.
55. Save $2400 in the next 1001 days.
56. Write daily for a month in my husband journal.
57. Make cookies weekly for a semester.
58. Don’t eat sugar for an entire year.
59. Do something nice for a friend anonymously.
60. Send care packages to 3 far-away friends.
61. Write encouragement letters for twenty close friends [anonymously?].
62. Do something nice for a stranger anonymously.
63. Write thank you letters for my professors one semester.
64. Wait for the mail man one day and thank him.
65. Pay for someone behind me in the drive-thru.
66. Do Operation Christmas Child one Christmas.
67. Cook at the Ronald McDonald House again.
68. Math tutor either volunteer or for pay.
69. Make a quilt.
70. Make a successful wheat bread loaf.
71. Finish my life scrapbook.
72. Make a scrapbook of 101 in 1001.
73. Scrapbook my first year of college.
74. Make [sew] a piece of clothing for myself.
75. Make a painting.
76. Make/buy reusable grocery bags and USE THEM!
77. Write 5 short stories on events/memories in my life.
78. Write 5 poems applicable to life at the time.
79. Begin compiling an anthology of my short stories and poems.
80. Begin sending Christmas cards.
81. Host a tea party.
82. Host a dance party.
83. Host a cookie swap.
84. Plan a successful surprise party.
85. Organize my photos on my laptop.
86. Transfer organized and sorted pictures to zip drive.
87. Print organized and sorted photos.
88. Organize printed photos into photo boxes according to year.
89. Print canvases/prints for decoration within my home.
90. Clean out clothes that are too big, too small or clothes that I simply don’t wear any longer.
91. Do one major assignment one week ahead of time.
92. Dance in the rain with someone I love.
93. Take a picnic with someone/people I love.
94. Visit Mississippi and get reacquainted with a friend after carefully praying about whom this should be.
95. Go to a concert.
96. Go skinny dipping.
97. Curl my hair randomly for school.
98. Wake up at 6 am every day for a month.
99. Wake up without pressing the snooze alarm for one week.
100. Drink body weight in oz. of H2O for a month.
101. Develop healthy teeth brushing habits…[night: brush, floss, mouthwash, gel-kam; morning: brush, mouthwash]

This is a list of goals that I will begin to complete starting January 1, 2010 and the 1001 days will be up on September 27, 2012. As I complete each item I'll blog about it and provide pictures if possible. I think this will be a fun adventure over the next 2.75 years.

Mulling Over in My Mind

So I shouldn't be writing right now. I should be doing something productive; primarily this productiveness should be portrayed in writing my paper, if not in that what about cleaning the kitchen so that Mom has a clean kitchen to come home to? Or what about the rest of all my homework?

This past weekend I went with the Navigators to Journey '09. Such a renewed sense of purpose! God really impressed upon my heart that I haven't been seeking Him, that I've been seeking other things and people far above Him. I feel like priorities are back in order although it takes so much work. It takes perseverance and I need to go for it. Seeking my Lord is worth it! I'm excited for the adventure! Alright, I'm convicted, I'm gonna get started on my paper.

Change Me

Lord make me gentle and not sassy. Cause me to love my brothers and sisters by being one who is quiet and measured, self-controlled and loving, and secretly kind. Make me to love the way Your Son loved on this earth. Make me a Proverbs 31 woman that I might serve my husband as he will serve me.

God Will Provide.

I feel like my mind goes through boys rather quickly...I tend to have a few that I "like" at one time. That's something that I would love for the Lord to work on me with so that my mind might be even saved for my dear husband. Oh do I long for the day when his love for me will be declared. Why do I like certain guys and not others? This is something that I have examined for a while and I think I shall spend some time writing about it.

What do I find attractive within a man?

• I think number 1 would be a deep and abiding love for our Lord Jesus Christ. Something that I find so much joy in watching is a man live out his life before the Lord, walking blameless before our God. I think something that accompanies this is a pursuing of holiness. He must desire that the Lord change him and continually be working within him. I also love seeing someone who can rightly divide the Word, understanding it well and being able to explain things to me and discuss things with me.
• Number 2 would have to be his interest in me. Granted this is because I'm selfish but I love it when a man asks me questions and remembers what we discussed and can reference it later because he was truly listening. I don't have to be the leader in the conversation but he makes a point to ask "how was your day?" before I can get there. I love when someone is interested in what I have to say. Also, what goes along with this is that he makes a conscious effort not to interrupt when I'm speaking because he truly cares what I have to say.
• I also desire that he be a strong leader. He isn't afraid of confrontation nor dislikes conflict but appreciates it for the opportunity it provides to speak truth. He is a servant though too. Even though he is leading, his one desire is to find ways to wash feet. Oh, how attractive! Going along with the leader thing, I really want to marry a first child. They're leadership abilities are built in and because I was a first child, that's just really important to me.
• I desire that my husband is selfless in many ways in that he isn't too busy with work to spend time with people. That his time is worth more invested in people than in money. And his time is spread out. He doesn't spend every waking moment with one person but disperses his time knowing as a brother he can encourage his siblings in Christ.
• I desire that he is a MAN! In that he appreciates manly things: (any combination of the following is acceptable) camping/hiking/backpacking, exercising, cars, guns, hunting, sports, cooking under certain conditions, grilling, lawn care, taking out trash, fixing things. Ah, I love men so much for this reason. I love it that they are so different from women in this that they love to fix things and figure things out---WONDERFUL!
• I desire that he desire children and that he loves playing with them but in a guy sort of way not in nurturing motherly woman sort of way. Oh, I can't wait to see my husband with our children! Beautiful!
• He is a spiritual leader in that he wants to pray and discuss Scripture with me and continually bring it up. He desires to guide me in that which is holy but with love not out of control.

God will be so good to provide. I love my husband already, may my mind and actions reveal such things.

Oh yeah, can my husband major in pre-med, pre-dental or engineering, please?