Terrific Thursday!

Hi! It’s a gloomy day in the good ole’ sunshine state today and we’re supposed to be getting rain. I want the beautiful sun that we saw yesterday, and we’re supposed to be getting another cold front this week as well. I don’t know about you but I really am ready for spring and summer to come.

So I had to share because I don’t know if anyone else is like this, but when it comes to any kind of service I might be getting and I’m not pleased with it, I have a really hard time speaking up for myself and I’ll just keep my mouth shut and deal with it. Well, last night my mom and I went to Cracker Barrel, and Wednesday they have their to-die-for Chicken and Broccoli dish. Seriously, try it, and you’ll live for Cracker Barrel on Wednesday, haha!! So, I was all excited about this, and yes, who knew that food could bring one person so much joy. So when I got my dish, I was disappointed because it was not hot at all and looked like it had been sitting there forever. I thought, no this isn’t happening, my joy was not going to be tarnished by cold food, so I toiled with the idea of sending it back. And I'm beginning to learn that you have to be confident and learn to speak up for yourself and so yes, I got up the nerve to send the food back and they sent me a whole new dish that was steaming hot and FANTASTIC!!!!! Not only that, they let me take the one I had to send back home with me and got to take my other leftovers from the second dish I received, so I had tons of leftovers, haha. Ask and you shall receive, right?? So, never be afraid to send things back, and in a polite way of course expect and ask for the service that you are paying for. Good lesson for me last night and I was proud of myself, ha :o)

And I got to watch American Idol last night. I’m proud of the picks for the top 12 so far and just let me say I was SOOOOOO happy Miss Drama Queen left, and I think you know exactly who I’m talking about, haha!!! This is going to be a GREAT season, I can already tell.

So at your request, here’s a picture of me with the braces (and the sores are already starting to form, haha)

Brace Face!

Well, today is the day… just call me brace face for the next few months! LOL! I can’t believe I’ll be going on my third set of braces. Maybe the third time will be a charm, ha!! At least it’s only for a few months. So I think I’ll survive! Just might post some pics, we’ll see, haha! :o) The second time of having braces was totally my fault, because I kept losing my retainer or my dog kept eating them up (seriously). Why dogs have such a fascination with retainers is beyond me, but I can’t completely blame it on him, and you would have thought I would have learned my lesson. But this third set is totally not my fault because the Orthodotist totally failed to tell me I have an option of a permanent retainer on my top teeth, and I do not want to be 80 years old and having to wear my retainer. And my teeth shift horribly when I even go a little while without wearing my retainer. So in order to get my teeth where they need to be for the permanent retainer, I have to go a few months with braces. So there’s the story, ha!

This is the culprit behind the chewed up retainers, haha…


I had to share these with you all. My BFF Melissa has been in a bead making frenzy lately and she was so sweet and made these two necklaces for me…

(Best picture I could get)


Now, how cute are they? I love the cross one and so happy she made me a St. Patty’s day necklace, because I have nothing St. Patty’s, so I’ll have some decorative jewelry to wear now! :o)

Okay, so I've been totally addicted to these CD's, have you heard them yet??? If not, GO out and get them, they are FANTASTIC!!!




This week’s school schedule has been kind of turned around for me. I didn’t have school Monday night and last night I had school, and then I’m off the rest of the week. Thursday I’m going to play hookie because Laura, a friend of mine, is having a lingerie shower. She is getting married in March and I’m totally bummed because I’m not going to be able to make her wedding because of a prior commitment. So I promised myself that I’d at least make it to one of her showers to make up for it. I know she’s going to make one beautiful bride and I’m so excited for her. So the shower will be fun and definitely pictures to follow. Not necessary of the lingerie, that’s kind of personal if you know what I mean, ha, but definitely of the good times with friends :o) So this week has been sort of like a mini-break from school, ha! Again, behind on my blog reading, you all are WAY to quick for me! haha!!

Happy Hump Day everyone!!! :o)

Bachelor Night!

Thanks to the President's of the past, present, and future, I had off from school last night. Unfortunately, my work didn't get the memo, ha. It's true when they say the world of law never stops.

This did allow me to watch...

Just let me say that Jason can give me a rose any day, but I'm going to have to work on his smarts, haha... How in the world could he have gotten rid of Jillian? That was a big shocker, because I was so sure it was going to come down to Melissa and Jillian. Did your T.V. fog up like mine did on Jason and Jillian's date???? LOL! They definitely did have the physical attraction but maybe there just wasn't more depth then that, and I never did understand Jason's problem with her statement of wanting to marry her best friend, because isn't that how it's supposed to be? Can somebody clarify that for me??? haha! I like Molly but I'm not feeling it there either. I really think he's going to chose Melissa! What do ya'll think? Did you like last night's show????

Well, my teeth are going to enjoy their last day of freedom today because I get my braces put on tomorrow, Lord help me.... :o) Just please, please pray I get them off in time for my best friend's wedding in June that I'm going to be in, that's all I'm asking, haha!!!!

As you can see, this post isn't deep, but we don't always have to be deep right??? :o) We can throw some lightheartedness in there!!!! Hope everyone is having a GREAT start to the week!!!

Lay down your regrets, because all you have is now!

"Life is a journey, not a destination. There are no mistakes, just chances we take. And lay down your regrets, because all you have is now." I heard this quote, and it will forever be embedded in my mind!

I never want to regret missing out on time spent with family...


I never want to regret not relishing in the title of being "Aunt" for this sweet niece of mine, every chance I get...




I never want to regret not taking the time to see the beauty in the artwork of a child...


I never want to regret not giving love back to those four-legged friends who love us unconditionally...


I never want to regret not basking in the beauty that surrounds us...


And lastly, I never want to regret not taking a moment to thank God every day for having this woman to call my mom.... (I thought this was a great picture).


So that was my Valentine's Day all wrapped up in those pictures. Got to spend it with my mom and beautiful niece. We got to watch her overnight while my brother and sister-in-law went away and had a Valentine's overnighter. She is such a ball of fire and so fun to be around. She's the cutest thing I've ever laid my eyes on, of course I'm a little biased :o)

Back to the whole intention and meaning of this, many of us go through life living with regrets, including myself. I challenge you today and myself, to put those regrets aside, and make it a beautiful day!!! :o)

My Sweet Valentine!

Ya'll, don't be jealous but I have the BEST Valentine in the world. He's my constant companion, one that will never leave me nor forsake me, loves me unconditionally and without fail, knows me inside and out, accepts me even with my faults and my failures, rejoices with me and weeps with me, he's the gift that keeps on giving. Have you guessed it yet?? You got it, it's JESUS!!!! :o)

He's my Sweet Valentine today! When today can be a rememberance for alot of people of what they don't have, I choose to remember what I do have. The love of Jesus, and the love of my family and friends. Do I have my moments where I wish I could spend a first Valentine's Day with someone, you betcha. Yep, I've never had one before, but that's okay, because noone could compare to the big guy upstairs! I choose to rejoice this day in the love that surrounds me and in the meantime I chose this song (which could be spoken as a prayer) for my future husband...

(He Heals Me by India Arie)

He heals me
Told him my biggest secret
And he told me four.
He smiled at me and said that makes me love more
And then he made me laugh
And I knew it was a sign
That he was a man,
That I wanted in my life

And with every passing day
I feel more and more of that way

He heals me
He knows the real me
And he accepts me, he never hurts me
He heals me
He knows the real me
And he accepts me, he never hurts me
He heals me,
He heals me

I can play him songs, all through the night,
And he will listen to every line,
And even when I’m wrong, he is still kind
He chooses his words wisely when he tells me I’m not right.

And yes he is a beautiful man,
But he is also a beautiful friend

He heals me
He knows the real me
And he accepts me, he never hurts me
He heals me
He knows the real me
And he accepts me, he never hurts me
He heals me

The moment that we met, he made me smile.
He has so much compassion in his eyes
I have no idea, how long he’ll be here
A season or a lifetime, forever or a year
But for the first time in my life I’m not worried about the future
Because we have such a wonderful time when we’re together
However things turn out, it’s all right
Cause he’s already changed my life.

He heals me
He knows the real me
And he accepts me, he never hurts me
He heals me
He knows the real me
And he accepts me, he never hurts me
He heals me..........

Okay, I'll give you a moment to wipe those tears away and blow your nose, haha. I was given this CD as a Valentine's gift, and boy I just LOVE IT!! To my future husband out there, that's for you!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day and enjoy all the love that surrounds you and whoever you'll be spending it with :o)

Being REAL with you on this Friday!

If you haven't checked out Meredith's blog @ www.lifeat7000feet.com (if anyone knows how to put direct links, let me know), please do! She has a great post about the bloggy world and authenticity. I just want to say here and now that I will always strive to be real and transparent with you. At times I may fail, I'm human, but my goal is to always show the "REAL" Lauren, with the good and the bad. Because as you know, life is full of the good and the bad. You take the good, you take the bad, you take them both and what do you have?? THE FACTS OF LIFE!!!! (haha, sorry had to throw that in there). I go through "LIFE" just like everyone else. There's days where I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders, and don't feel like being joyful. I struggle with my fears and insecurities just like everyone else, but we just can't be afraid to express that, because it shows that we're only human, and I'm walking this journey just like you, and glad you're walking it with me :o) So if I've ever came across to you as a blog that likes to sugarcoat, for that I apologize, and I apologize in advance for the times I might mess up, and that's when I encourage you to call me on it, don't be afraid, that's what accountability is all about, and I don't ever want this to become that type of place. So there you have it, authenticity is the name of the game. That's what I expect from others and for those of you who take the time to read my blog, you deserve nothing less :o)

I'll admit, the one thing that overwhelms me about this whole blogging thing is I feel like I always have to have something to say, or I have to keep it at just the right length to keep your interest, or say exactly the right words (and that's where the realness goes out of play). But is it okay with you all if there are just those days where I flat-out having nothing to say, and not be perfect? haha. Also, if you feel comfortable, if you have any prayer requests or praise reports, leave them here, so I can be praying or rejoicing with you and calling you out by name! It would be an honor!

I didn't quite get around to catching up on my blog reading yesterday. Something having to do with work, school, family, LIFE, haha. You know how it goes. Definitely this weekend though. So on that note, Happy Friday!!!! {{you can't see it, but I'm doing the Friday dance}}, haha!! :o) I hope everyone has a GREAT weekend with lots of jammed packed non-stop fun!!!! And as usual, weekend update and pictures to follow! My love to you all!! :o)

He's more than enough for me!

After the bizarre events of last night, I really began thinking about relationships. Last night my sister and I had to run an errand and then after that we had to stop by the emergency room where her boyfriend was becase he just has this flu and fever that he cannot shake, so he decided to go to the ER. Well, I walk in and sit down for awhile and then I look over to my left, and then I see my childhood friend Kelsey that I grew up with in the neighborhood I grew up in. We hadn't seen or talked to each other in such a LONG time. And just to make sure I asked my sister, is that Kelsey? And she's like yeah, I think it is, so I said her name and she looked over at me and it was like a big reunion, haha! So when my sister was back seeing her BF, I sat and visited with her and she was in there because she has Type 1 Diabetes, the most severe, and she was out of insulin and she doesn't have a family physician and her blood sugar was sky high, so her only option was to go to the ER. Please be keeping her in your prayers, because from what I gather she's not really taking care of herself properly the way she should and diabetes is nothing to mess around with.

After talking with her and listening to her circumstances, I am so extrememly blessed, and it's just amazing to me how two lives can go into completely opposite directions. It was such a God thing to me how we could both end up seeing each other in the ER and hope I was able to shed some light in her life at that exact moment. It made me smile when I left.

I say all this because I've come to realize that some relationships are for a certain reason and season, and some are for a lifetime. That particular friendship was for a certain season, and I keep it in my heart, and I look back on it with such fondness. It took me awhile to realize that all relationships are not for a lifetime. And I would hold on so tight to those relationships, and it took me a long time to get to that point to say, Lord, you're more than enough for me, and if this relationship is only for a certain time, then I'm okay with that. I use to (and I'm still working on this) have such a deep dependency on the friendships that God placed in my life, very unhealthy. I would try to get out of those relationships only what God could give me. Don't get me wrong, relationships are a wonderful thing that God has given us, but when you start having those unhealthy dependencies, then you know it's time to re-evaluate. And it took a good friend getting in my face (but in a good way) and saying, Lauren, you're sucking me dry. I've given all I can give and I have nothing left. And let me tell you, that was an eye-opener. I'll be forever grateful for that moment, because it was defining, and at that point, I was able to say with my whole heart, Lord, you're more than enough for me! Relationships are going to come and go, and people are going to let you down, but God truly is the constant one, and will never leave you nor forsake you.

Maybe this will resignate with someone today, but I know this is an area that I've needed alot of work in, and still working on, but in the meantime, he's more than enough for me!


P.S.
Sorry ya'll, I'm waaaaay behind on blog reading, but will be catching up today :o)