Friday, April 3, 2009

The great return!

It's 12:30am as I'm beginning to write this. I can't go to sleep so I figured I would fill you in on my week of bloggy hiatus! It was a wonderful week. It was great not having to worry about what I was going to write next and to simply just be. And might I suggest that each and every one of you take a bloggy break at some time or another, and with that said I missed you all like CRAZY!!

Last weekend my mom, sister, and I went to Daytona Beach for the day on Sunday to visit family that were in town. Let me tell you, we had the best time. The day started off gloomy but as the day went on it turned out to be one GORGEOUS day! We laughed, ate too much, and just enjoyed being with each other. There was alot of talk that day about my sister's college plans and her going off and leaving us, and at one point I had to excuse myself and have a good cry by myself on the beach because we're going to miss her so much and I was feeling so many different emotions that day as there was alot of talk about my life and the direction it's heading and received so much confirmation that day. And as I stood there standing in the ocean by myself with the waves crashing over my feet, the wind blowing my hair, and the sun beating down on my face, I saw God's awesomeness in a whole new way. It was like a conversation with him but no words were necessary. It was a God-ordained day, that's the only way I can explain it.

The rest of the week pretty much consisted of school and work and Wednesday night of course being my free night from school. I came home and had a productive evening, I conquered the cleaning of the bathroom, haha. Then my mom, sister, and I went for a walk on a wonderfully cool and beautiful spring evening. This is another highlight of my week. I love some good quality time with my mom and sister. See, I still live at home with my mom and sister (I'll explain further in just a minute), so we're all very close. Although, my sister and I might have our differences at times, I love her to pieces and she brings so much joy and laughter to my life. Hence, this is why I had to have a good cry on the beach, ha. The quality time is so important now for all of us because my sister is leaving for college, hopefully soon I'll be done with school and so no telling where that's going to take me and I'll be leaving the nest to figure out this whole "LIFE" thing on my own, and my mom won't know what to do when she has the house all to herself, ha! And so here that brings us to the weekend and Friday night (which it's now Saturday morning, ha) again more quality time with the two ladies in my life, and we went to go see the movie "Duplicity" and let me tell you, I had to think too hard during this movie, and I just didn't like that. You seriously had to follow throughout the whole thing or you'd be lost. Although, I love Julia Roberts and Clive Owen, but I'll stick with my romance and comedy where less brain cells have to be used, ha!

All in all, this week break has really taught me alot about...











No, I didn't learn about butterflies, but aren't they beautiful??? Do you notice what all the butterflies have in common? They're all transparent. Isn't that exactly how God wants us to be? Transparent with ourselves and transparent with him. He knows the real me and you can't hide anything from him, so why not just lay everything out on the table, struggles and all. And I think the one main thing that others desire from us is transparency. So if you have trouble in this area at times, which I do, the answer for you may not be in a one week bloggy break and it's not the cure all, but seek the answer out by seeking God.

One thing I've had to be transparent about is my failure to not always be content with where I'm at in my life right now. I'm going to be 25 and still living at home and I struggle with that often, especially when I'm comparing my life against somebody else my age who has already completed school, married, and have a child and some even two children. But God knows the plan for my life and I'm striving to be in complete peace in knowing that.

And I think this puts into perfect words how God feels about us and views us...

A butterfly with transparent wings is rare and beautiful. As delicate as finely blown glass, the presence of this rare tropical gem is used by rain forest ecologists as an indication of high habitat quality and its demise alerts them of ecological change. Rivaling the refined beauty of a stained glass window, the translucent wings of the Glasswing butterfly shimmer in the sunlight like polished panes of turquoise, orange, green, and red. All things beautiful do not have to be full of color to be noticed: in life that which is unnoticed can have great power.

It's almost 1:30am right now and I need to go to bed...

Okay, so tell me about your week :o)

Good to be back!!! Okay, so how much did you miss me??? haha!

23 comments:

Holly said...

So glad you are back. What a week for you to be gone huh!?!?
I love you girl.

The Nashville Nosher said...

Beautiful post!!!

Jordan said...

I'm so glad that you're back Lauren!! Sounds like you have had an awesome, God-filled week. I might have to try it sometime but I think it would be nicer if I lived by the ocean! ;-) lol Awesome post!!

yours truly... said...

Oh wow, what a beautiful post. You always keep things in the most Godly perspective...thats pretty awesome sweet girl!

Unknown said...

love the post! :) And soo glad you're back, shew, I can breathe easier...hehe. Your week sounds so awesome & I love hearing about how God is moving and working in your life! xoxo

Jacquie said...

I DID miss you! Glad you're back... but I'm so glad that you heard from the Lord this week.

Don't rush your youth... you're only this age once. Take it from someone who got married at the age of 19. Enjoy the journey.

Melissa said...

So glad to have you back! I love love love you!!! I will have several bloggy breaks over the summer because I have vacations planned and I try to be computer free during those times! Have a wonderful weekend!!

♥ H ♥ said...

Yay! glad you're back! I left you an award sometime this past week! lol...The Friend Award :)

Rebecca Jo said...

I totally missed you & am so glad you are back!!!!

And I LOVE those butterflies & your thoughts on that... about being transparent... & you are not alone - how we tend to judge ourselves on everyone ELSE's guidelines- what society says... we forget, God has a plan for US - individual... no one can or SHOULD tell us where we need to be... its listening to HIM!!!! And being obedident to that!!!

Welcome back cutie pie!!!

Nichele Lynn said...

Ok. So, 1st of all, I missed you!!! SO glad you're back. Now how on earth did we manage to write about almost the exact same thing? I do think we are on the same page with quite a few things, like with our book (Lady in Waiting) and our contentment issues. But I LOVE that Im not alone in this.

Jenna said...

Sounds like you had a great break! Glad you are back!!

Jackie said...

Welcome back!

Transparency - something I struggle with constantly. This was a beautiful reminder, beautifully written. I always have to remind myself that God sees me, right where I'm at, and that He has me right here for a purpose.

Kelsey said...

So glad to have you back on the bloggy world, Lauren! I missed reading about what was going on in your life!

This was a lovely post--so awesome to hear about how God worked in this time!

Kaitlyn said...

Lovely post, so nice to have you back!

Niki said...

So glad your back!! Missed you!!

Lauren said...

It's about time!! I have missed you, but I can tell it was a much-needed break for you. I'm glad that you were able to spend time with your mom and sister and with God.

You know how much I love butterflies. I think you'll look back on all of this one day and see how your cocoon has opened up to reveal a truly transparent and HAPPY beauty.

Whitney said...

I missed reading your blog!!!!!!!!!! This is the best post EVER - hello twin!!!

Megan said...

Glad you are back! Yay! I love the butterfly analogy. I have learned that one of the biggest traps in life is comparing ourselves to others! We are individually made so we shouldn't do this, yet we do (believe me I do it all of the time) But I can see God really teaching you and working in your life! So exciting! Again, glad you are back!!

Unknown said...

all is calm in the world now that you're back. hahaha :)

p.s. - my email is shan0725@gmail.com
yay! can't wait to hear from you!

Staci said...

Welcome back!! Love the butterfly pictures.

Loree said...

Welcome back. Wow I had never seen butterflies with transparent wings. They are absolutely goregeous. I wouldn't worry too much if I were you, things happen when they are meant to happen. I know we often tie ourselves in knots waiting for an evernt to occur but I guess we all need to learn to wait until the time is right....which doesn't mean to say that I always do that :)

Becca~CapturingSimpleJoys said...

Just beautiful~both the pictures and the post!

In This Wonderful Life said...

we missed you!!! love this post..my 2nd time to read :)