Day 27

(Full list.)

A Picture of You and a Family Member

Since I miss this little guy and he didn't make it into the last post...

My fireball of a nephew, Justice!

Isn't he cute?

Day 26

(Full list.)

A Picture of Something that Means a Lot to You

Parents who loved me and encouraged creativity and curiosity...

A mother who loved me enough to give me away...

And a new family that raised my soul mate "in the way he should go"*...

* Proverbs 22:6

Day 25

(Full list.)

A Picture of Your Day

Well... most of my day is spent looking at a (quite large) computer screen, sometimes happily typing away and other times sitting still with a furrowed brow (hoping for a revelation... please, God... I know you created Java... I know you know the answer).

I don't have a picture of my office space.  Mostly because I don't have a non-awkward reason for taking one.  Imagine me turning to my cubicle-mate and asking, "Excuse me coworker, would you mind taking a photo for me.  It's for my blog..."  Awkward silence.  "My mom wants to know what my work place looks like..."  (Insert awkward turtle...)  Imagine me reaching out my camera with my sweaty hands (because I'm nervous, I don't have sweaty hands all of the time... ewww).

See, it just wouldn't work.

Image allposters.com

Here's the substitute image.  This is pretty accurate, except my hair is curly and I have a desk too (she probably has one, it's just cropped out).

Day 23

(Full list.)

A Picture of Your Favorite Book

So, when I read that, the following song popped into my head:  "B-I-B-L-E! Yes, that's the book for me..."
That's actually including the "...", because my childhood church didn't have Sunday school to teach me said song.   I probably learned the few lyrics I know from osmosis during my time at Pine Cove.

I have some other faves, as well (in no particular order):

On the Christian Life

The Divine Conspiracy stands out to me because it is an intellectual book about Christianity.  There are not a lot of modern books that reach my heart and my mind.

Favorite quote:

"Can we seriously imagine that Jesus could be Lord if he were not smart? If he were divine, would he be dumb? Or uninformed? Once you stop to think about it, how could he be what we take him to be in all other respects and not be the best-informed and most intelligent person of all, the smartest person who ever lived?... 'Jesus is Lord' can mean little in practice for anyone who has to hesitate before saying, 'Jesus is smart.' He is not just nice, he is brilliant... He always has the best information on everything and certainly also on the things that matter most in human life."

Sci-Fi

Douglas Adams is a comedic genius.  He's also a little crude, so don't read it if you're sensitive to that.  And, promise me that you will never, ever under any circumstances watch the movie.  It will ruin everything.  Just take my word for it.  The best things about the book are lost when converted to cinematic form.

Sci-Fi

Ah-may-zing.  Genius.  Thought-provoking.

It's a collection of short stories that I've really enjoyed.  "There Will Come Soft Rains" is probably the most famous story, and, coincidentally, a very common prose piece in high school forensics.  But, that's besides the point.  This is one of my favorites.  The end.

P.S.  Mom, I have proudly put on my nerd glasses to bring you this post, thank-you-very-much.

Day 22

(Full list here.)

A Picture of Something You Wish You Were Better At

We've already talked about remembering... so I'll spare you that one. (Tee hee.)  However, related to remembering is The Art of Joke-Telling.  I will laugh at just about any joke, mostly because I know (oh so well) what it feels like when you've just delivered the punch-line and your audience is still expectantly waiting for it... "Uhh... that was it guys... get it? Too-farty!!"  So... yeah.  I wish I were better at telling jokes.  Uhm.  Anyway, I don't know what sort of photo-form that comes in, so... moving on.

(Insert photo of blank stares.)

I also wish I were better at being brave.  Some of you are naturally confident, and my wish will seem incomprehensible.  Honestly, it boggles my mind, too.  So many of my confident friends have tried to talk me into being brave.  "What's so scary about it?"  "What are you waiting for?"  "What's the worst that could happen?"  I can answer those questions, and I know my fears are sometimes illogical, but it still takes all of my will-power to override my hard-wired timid nature.

The EPITOME of Brave.

The thing that helps me more than will-power is my confidence in the Lord.  I have never been comforted by being convinced that I'm nuts for being timid or afraid.  I mean, what's so comforting about someone questioning your feelings?  Logic prevailing, I still feel afraid.  But, confidence from knowing scripture and trusting that I can know God's will and obey him helps remove the feelings of fear and replace them with confidence.  Knowing that I am following the God of the Universe gives me great confidence... 'cause he's bigger than anything else I'll run into! (Cue: "God is bigger than the Boogey Man, he's bigger than Godzilla and the monsters on TV...")

Day 21

(Full list.)

A Picture of Something You Wish You Could Forget*

This is hard, because it implies regret, and I don't let myself regret things in my life.  By the grace of God, I choose to see the benefit of everything that happens, even if the only good I can see is that God allowed it to happen**.  I've done some really embarrassing things and said some really dumb things, which have humbled me, but humility is something I need to grow in, anyway.

I think the problem for me isn't forgetting, but remembering.  Eeeks.  I forget all kinds of things--assignments, dates, NAMES (!), etc.  My mom would call me "Forgetful Fred" sometimes (I think he's a character on some TV show we used to watch).

I've developed some memory-management techniques (helped greatly by the fact that I am highly visual).  I use lists, post-its, and calendars--as long as I can see it later, I'll remember (the opposite of "out of sight, out of mind").

One summer I worked as a secretary at Pine Cove, managing 60-something people's schedules, haha.  My life was a flurry of post-it notes and checklists!!!!

See all of those post-its?

So, there it is, folks.  Nothing to forget... so many things to remember!

(Who knows, I may be the one to forget my anniversary... pray for me!)



*Not exactly.  The photo is of something that was a very good experience, and I hope to remember it all of my life!

**Referring to Romans 8:28-29, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son..."

Day 20

(Full list.)


A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel


It is finals week for me, and my first one was this morning at 11:50.  This means I have been spending time thinking about all of the places I wish I were heading as soon as finals are over.  Lucky for me, today's topic is a picture of somewhere I'd love to travel.  But first, I have some advice for those of us who have finals this week:

1. Do not get a cold on finals week.  If you do, you'll be forced to get up from studying every five minutes to blow your nose.  You'll also decide that you should have chicken noodle soup for lunch... or chicken-flavored noodle soup (aka. Ramen), forgetting you only have 15 minutes until you need to leave for your final, and forcing you to stir in an ice-cube and slurp 'em down fast!  Weird.  Messy.  And you may get some little yellow spots on your shirt, just sayin'.
2. Do not try to run up concrete stairs with flip-flops on.  If you do, you may trip and stub your toe.  And that will hurt.  But you'll have to keep going, because you're going to be late for your final (that's why you're running, right?).

Now, both of those stem from theoretical situations that could befall you.  And I want the best for you, so I shared them with you.

On to daydreams, since I am done with finals (for today)!

First stop, MAINE!

Image from www.visitmaine.com

Lighthouses, lobsters, cool summer weather, winding roads... and one of the few states that I haven't been to!  I know you west coast people think I'm crazy, but whatevs.  I still want to go.  And when I do I will eat lots and lots of lobster and crabcakes.  Yum.


Next stop, GREECE!

Image from www.visitgreece.gr

I would make a trip to Patmos, where the apostle John was exiled to.  I don't know where else I would go, but, hey, who says I have to be specific?


Next stop... one place near and dear to my heart... PINE COVE!

Ahh... someday I'll go back, and bring my kiddos (I have to have some first, though).  PC is the place where Handsome and I got to know each other.  It's also a place with many, many sweet memories.  People who loved me so well and helped me grow to be the person I am today...


Last stop, any trip on followtherabbi.com (I would go back to ISRAEL in a heartbeat).

Shalom, friends!

Day 19

(Full list.)


A picture of a letter


Inside a cabinet over our desk sits a navy blue three-ring binder labeled "Physics Blue 2nd."  It used to hold notes from my high school physics class...

Now it contains most of the notes, letters, and cards that Handsome has given to me, and it's one of my favorite things because it's part of our story.

It documents our courtship and dating years.  The silly things, the sweet things, really everything.  And it makes me smile now, reading it in hindsight.  I can feel his words bursting with emotion, but sweetly restrained to "guard my heart", if you will.

So, it's more than just a letter.  It's many letters, and it's a picture of the sweetest earthly gift I have, my marriage.

Day 18

(Full list.)


A picture of your biggest insecurity


Shooooot.  My deepest, darkest fear set before your eyes in glaring pixels of glory.


And what to share?  What is my biggest insecurity?  Is it my need to wear mascara so my eyelashes are visible (not really, but I've told Handsome that I hope our children have his eyelashes, as they are much darker and fuller than mine)?


Seriously, though.  Sometimes I feel like I need to be impressive, to wow 'em, and to show everyone that I'm a unique, well-rounded and fully capable adult.  I feel like I need to be the best at everything.  Then, the worst part is when I believe this lie long enough that I actually start trying to be the best.  At this point, my greatest insecurity?  To be measured and found wanting.  To be unimpressive, regular, normal.  To be found out as a "faker".

I don't know if you've ever been there.  I've spent too many hours worrying about whether or not I'm impressive.  But, by the grace of God, I don't stop there.


I am loved by the God of the Universe, with a very strong love.


This reality, and the reality that I'm forgiven (see the "I Believe" tab), gives me great freedom.  The God of the Universe found me valuable enough to die for me, so that I would be healed of many things, including my insecurities.


P.S. If you didn't understand the picture, it symbolizes being measured and found lacking (aka. not what you first appeared to be, upon further investigation).

Day 17

(The full list is here.)

A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently


I can't think of anything more significant than getting married to Handsome (and I count the past year as "recently").  Marrying him has changed my life forever, and for the better!

Our first dance as Mr. and Mrs.!!!

Day 16

(Click here to see the whole list)


A picture of someone who inspires you


This one is easy for me, but may catch you off guard...

Leonardo da Vinci

He was an engineer and an artist.  I want to be just like him someday.  Except female.  And really only in the art and engineering way... no other way.  Did you know that he taught himself to write cursive backwards so that no one could read his work?!  They only discovered this was so when someone held it up to a mirror.  How cool is that?  Seriously.


And someday I want to go to Paris and see the Mona Lisa, but that's unrelated to this post and more relevant to the last one.

Day 15

(Click here to see the full list.)

A picture of something you want to do before you die

My friend Nathan the Engineer is president of the skydiving club.  I think I first met him when Amy the Engineer and I were taking Thermodynamics 1 (ick).  We gracefully thrashed our way through, and he probably got an A (I definitely didn't), and Amy definitely got an A (she loooves Thermo... weirdo).  There are three things that Nathan has tried to get Amy and me to do since we've been friends:  go to Aggieville and get a "Dead Nazi" shot, go skydiving, and go to ColdStone on student night.  Only one of them's happened... and it involved chocolate, if that helps you figure out which one.

I actually have a bucket list.  I made it a few years ago when there was something I wanted really badly, and it was all I could focus on.  I made the list to remind me that I had other, better goals.  One of the things on my list is "go skydiving", shhh... don't tell my friend Nathan.  I'm not exactly sure that I want to do it... yet.

Here are a few other goals:

Make a friend from every (inhabited) continent.
Still waiting for Australia.

Donate my hair.
Accomplished 10/2007

Make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Israel.
Accomplished 3/2009

And... a lot more!  But, I can't find my list.  It's actually a photo album, so when I complete one thing I can put a picture in the album.  Maybe someday it will be full of fun memories!

Day 14

(Full list)


A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

Dear Handsome, 
I am a better person because I know you.  You challenge me with your life; you are wise and humble.  You are the most loving person I've ever met (and maybe the silly-est, too), and your love challenges me to be more like Jesus.  Maybe someday I can learn to chop wood and ride a motorcycle just like you do.  I'm looking forward to the rest of our lives together, as long as the Lord wills!
All my love,
Lauren

Day 13

(Click here to see the full list.)

A picture of your favorite band or artist song

Hi.  It's been a while, I know.  I've typed a lot of words in the last week.  I ended up with 1,724 words about natural gas trash trucks (and I'm not quite done), and none about my favorite band/artist.  I've been suffering from writer's block... actually, my favorite band/artist depends on the day (or minute?), and so I've had a hard time choosing.  Now, since this is my blog and I do what I want to, I edited the requirements (again).  Here are some of my favorite songs (right now)!

P.S.  I apologize for the cheese-tastic-ness of the last two videos, I guess it comes with the territory.


"Now that you'll listen, I'll tell you that I'll love you for you, not for what you have done or what you'll become."


"Thirty-five cents off a ground round? Baby, cut that coupon out!"


"You can't jump the tracks, we're like cars on a cable and life's like an hourglass glued to the table. No one can find the rewind button, girl, so cradle your head in your hands and breathe."

Day 12

(Here's the full list.)

A picture of something you love

At the risk of sounding like I'm giving you a "Sunday School" answer, my first love is Jesus Christ.  Everything that's good in me is because of Him.  I owe my allegiance to Him, the God of the Universe.

Now, here are pictures of other loves:

Silly-ness with Handsome

The Cutest Nephew in the World

Fun with my Girls

Pine Cove

Eating Glue....
Wait, what?

Day 11

Hey-o, everyone, it's April already and I'm not even halfway through this list!


A Picture of Something You Hate* Strongly Dislike


Hate is such a strong word--so I edited the requirement.  The following are somethings I really, really dislike.

I don't ever remember liking blueberries, although mom says I did at one point.
I do know that they are sooo good for me and full of antioxidants,
I just don't like the flavor... at all.

I have a bone to pick with this song**.
It stands in direct opposition to my theology (what I believe to be true about God).
Nothing is better than giving God the praise he deserves.
(I just don't think we have the freedom to claim what this song does, even if it feels right.)

*One thing I hate is Satan.  There's no picture of him, but he is so tricky and full of destruction.  He is the father of lies and the deceiver.  He is a source of pain, confusion, and terror in our lives.  I really really really look forward to the second coming of Christ when Satan will be thrown into hell, never to torment us again!

**If you disagree with me, it's okay, as long as you know why.  I think it has a catchy tune, and that Amy Grant has a lovely voice, but that is no reason to fill my mind with it.  It is important to know why you believe what you believe and not let everything labeled "Christian" into your life.  (I hope we can still be friends!)

Day 10

(The complete list of days is here.)

A picture of the person you do the most messed up things with

Well... ehm... Wait, what?

Apparently I'm not that cool or something, because I wasn't exactly sure what "messed up" was referring to.  Normally when I encounter slang terms that I don't know urbandictionary.com saves the day (...do I sound like a baby-boomer trying to be cool?  Idk.  whatevs.).

Messed Up
1. to be wasted or drunk. (see wasted).  2. to be beaten up badly.  3. something that is strange or weird.  4. unjust, lacking fairness, unfortunate  5. description of a situation where someone purposely does something to complicate the life of someone else  6. in ruins  
"look at that 6 legged freak, that is messed up!"  "Your mom won't let you go out of state for college? That's messed up."  "You told the teacher that I did it? That's messed up."

Helpful? Not so much.  However, for the sake of moving forward I'll choose #3 (since 1,2,5 and 6 don't apply).  So, now what is something strange or weird that I do with someone else?  Moe* might hate me for this, but the first thought that came to mind was eating an entire jar of pickles or pickled okra together... and then drinking the juice.  That's right, Moe and I like pickle juice**.

It's probably not fair that I reveal this "messed up" thing about her without her permission...
hope the blindfold is enough for her to remain anonymous (and forgive me!!)

*Moe is a pseudonym to protect the innocent from their "messed up"-ness being revealed

**Disclaimer:  I haven't drank either pickle juice or pickled okra juice in several years.  I'm not sure if I'd still be able to handle the sour/salt combo--it makes me pucker and salivate just thinking about it!

Day 9

(click here to see the complete list)

a picture of the person who has gotten you through the most

(c) 2004 LMS*

Jesus Christ has gotten me through more than any other person.  I am reconciled to the God of the Universe because of Jesus.  My relationship with the Creator is set right, because Jesus lived the life I could not live and died the death I should have died.  No one else could offer me a way to God--that's why Jesus has gotten me through the most.


"But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we've compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ."

(Romans 3:21-24, MSG)

*Since Jesus lived over 2,000 years ago, there aren't any actual pictures of him.  This is a charcoal drawing I did in high school.

Day 8

(Click here to see the complete list.)

A Picture that Makes You Laugh


Well, if you haven't noticed so far, I haven't been taking the "a picture" part very seriously.  This post is no exception.  There are funny stories behind some of these, or funny expressions contained in most of them.  It's hard to choose just one picture, when so many make me laugh!

Three Musketeers!

I love these boys!

If you've ever played buffalo hunt,
you know why this is funny/why you have to laugh.

This was a funny night.
Sorry about the embarrassing pic, girls!

Oh Eli, so upset that his big sis was graduating.

What did the other picture look like?

Miss you girls soooo much!

So many fun memories!

Day 7

A Picture of Your Most Treasured Item

my wedding ring

Image (c) Cathy Mores Photography