Just Another Day

I have been rather contemplative lately. I wonder why. Maybe its because everything has settled down just a little bit so I have more time to devote to thinking on different things.

Just another day....THAT THE LORD HAS MADE! I walk around a lot thinking, "Here we go again, another day of business, sinning, work, homework, stress, etc." Why would I do that? My God sent His Son to this earth to die for my sins. I am His daughter. He is my King. He is my Lord. He is my Redeemer. I have been set free from sin and death and am now graciously bound to the One who seeks me above all others and yet I can still walk around most days mopey about life because its just too busy. Oh boo hoo! My God is bigger than today; He's bigger than my life. He's bigger than UNM who tries to shove evolutionary doctrine down our throats. He is bigger than the QSA people who meet across the hall from the Navigators.

My God is big and He is rightly to be praised. My my heart, mind and soul remember this today. For it is not just another day....it is one that my God has made for me to live for Him. How blessed I am to be allowed to see these things. Oh my God is good to me.

Dating

What is it with all the dating lately? Goodness me! Everyone seems to be finding a guy/gal. I try very hard not to push my dating beliefs on anyone who announces to me their latest plan of action in their romantic life but if you know me, you probably know how I feel about dating. Maybe I'll post something about that later. We'll see. Golly gee whiz, it seems like everyone is dating someone, there must be something about springtime!

Can I ask someone to make it stop? Please stop dating. Please.

For some weird reason, I don't feel like that plea will be answered in the way I want it to be answered.

I'll still express my beliefs on dating and exhort my brothers and sisters to search Scripture on the topic but when it comes down to it....I can not make it stop. That is in the Lord's hands.

On the other hand, all the dating is nice for one reason. It is a selfish reason at that but when no one was dating or moving toward dating, we [the entirety of everybody] was hanging out all the time. Now that people are moving in the dating direction, they tend to spend Friday nights out together which gives me more time to do homework. This is the only reason this is a good thing.

Wedding Bells Are Ringing!

Rachel and Brandon are getting married at the end of March. I have had the opportunity to make the groom's cake for the wedding and the possibility of my constructing the normal wedding cake is still up in the air. I haven't made a cake in so long and I am truly looking forward to his opportunity. You can't just make cakes to make them because they never get eaten!

I love weddings. I love the dress and the ceremony and all the special touches that each bride and groom choose to put into to. It is a beautiful joining of two to become one. Oh I long for the day when I will be the bride in such a ceremony. Although, there is much growth that I must see in my life before even entering into a courting relationship.

Every once in awhile, I think about what my wedding will be like. I used to think about this A LOT! I had every detail planned and ready to go. If you read my blogs from years ago, I wrote as if I was getting married the next day. This was insanely ridiculous because at the age of sixteen, eighteen, and even now, I am so far from being ready to get married. The Lord has grown in me some contentment towards the whole situation by His grace. He is so good to me. Although, I do not cultivate or submit to this contentment as much as I should. Anyway that leads me to what I was going to write about...

I had Texas chili and cornbread for breakfast. I think a casual country wedding would be so fun. (Disclaimer: I like thinking about weddings. This is just a fun idea. I'm an events kinda gal and thus like to plan what to do for what. This is just one of my events.) I would have it in my parents' backyard or in a field of some sort. I would have guests sit on bails of hay with quilts covering them. I would be wearing a casual dress (most likely with pockets). Maybe even some cowboy boots. We'd have square dancing and line dancing later under the stars. There would be lanterns everywhere with little candles. We could have Texas chili and cornbread. The day would be so relaxed and comfortable. Slow. A hoe-down wedding.

Great Day

Today was a great day. I had a really rough day yesterday and honestly to just keep going, I needed a great day. Side note: We should always see our days as great because of the gospel. I pray that the Lord grows me in this because oftentimes the status of my day is based on the productivity, emotions and encouragement involved in it.

I had an amazing quiet time this morning. The Lord is so good to give me a fervor for His Word again. Oh what a blessing to not have to fight as hard to get myself out of bed in the morning.

I then got help with all my calculus that I have a test over on Thursday. I understand more now. I still need to study but what a relief to understand more.

Then I had the opportunity to meet with my sign language buddy face to face. This was so helpful. Its sometimes hard to read her signs on skype because they aren't super clear so this was fun. Lord-willing, my life lived before her is shining His light and I pray for an opportunity to share the Gospel with her. Maybe in sign.

I then had class. I didn't fall asleep in Psychology. YAY. That means I got a decent amount of sleep last night. What a blessing. Sign language was good too. I enjoy that class as challenging as it may be.

Then I went running. Oh my! Oh how it felt good. I don't think I realized how out of shape I was but I ran the whole time. So fun. My knees are bothering me now. I need to icy hot and wrap them. Blisters on my feet too, one on each arch, each an inch long. All worth it.

Then I went to Wal-greens for some deodorant because I didn't put any in my sports bag. Problem solved now. I have one for inside and one for outside.

Then on my way to trig, I found Ben from church. We exchanged which class we were going to/coming from and he said "oh well than you could probably help me." For sure. I LOVE MATH! I love helping people with it too. What a blessing to be able to help a brother in Christ. I'll go over to their house on Sunday afternoon.

Trig was good. My teacher is crazy. Sometimes I think he might be on drugs because of the way he acts and then I realize he's just that enthusiastic! He definitely keeps everyone awake.

Now I'm here. Blogging. Blessings, blessings, blessings.

My God is good to me on these days. My God is good to me on the bad days. I find myself in mud and slowly but surely He pulls me out only giving me that which I can handle at the time. He grows me in the tough days and I pray that my heart realizes this and is thankful for it on the easy days. My God is good. He is the great I Am. He has saved me, chosen me, separated me for the gospel. Oh how good is my God!

Crash.

I feel like well actually I don't know what I feel like right now.

I thought I was ready to write and process but maybe not. I don't think I even understand what is going through my mind right now. Things just keep stacking on top of each other. One on top of the other like blocks in Jenga with only one or two in each of the bottom rows. There are definitely some sides missing, not just centers. I don't think I can properly write right now. I really need to push emotions and circumstances aside and finish homework so that I can process.

I feel like things are crashing down. In the present this seems purposeless and annoying but in the end I know the Lord is using it for growth.

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.