Letter to Heaven

Dear God,

Just wanted to make sure You’re still up there…I sometimes wonder if my prayers get lost in the vastness of space. It’s so hard for us humans to trust that You are still at work when we can’t see, hear, or touch You. Wish I could just come up there for a day or two and watch Your army at work. Maybe then I could know that Your silence doesn’t mean You are inactive.

I wonder if You ever get tired of me asking for the same thing over and over and over… I have prayed so long and hard about this that I don’t know what else to say to You. I feel like I’m "prayed out." I try to imagine You up there, watching me come in again with my requests. Do you smile understandingly as I drag my burdens to Your feet? Do You cry when I’m overwhelmed and I can’t even speak through my tears? Does Your heart ache with mine as I talk to You about what I’m going through? Do You wish You could “make everything better” but know that it is best for me to walk through this?

You say in Your word that You won’t give me more than I can handle. I certainly hope I’m getting close to that point. Maybe the break in the clouds is right around the corner. I hope so because I can’t bear to think that this wilderness will last longer. I’m sorry I’m such a wimp; thank You for being patient with me. I’m believing in faith that You have good things waiting for me.

Write back soon!

Love,
Lauren

Dedicated Football Fan

Maybe it’s because I grew up in the southern division of the Big 12 Conference where football is everything. Maybe it’s because of the southern loyalty I have in my DNA. Maybe it’s the thrill of the sport and the excitement in the air at the games. Maybe it’s the simple fact that my brother plays.

I’m not really sure what makes me go to football games in rain, wind, and freezing weather…but I still go. Win or lose. Easy teams or tough schedules. For better or for worse. I love football. I love it even better when my team wins. And I do my level-head best to take all the trash talk my coworkers and other people dish out at me about my home state team. Dedicated loyalty is scorned these days…but I’ll try to stay off my soap box for now lol.

I’d like to introduce you to upcoming trends: Frigid Football Fashions. I have several simple steps for layering when you’re headed out to those winter weather games. You can modify the colors, of course, for your own team.

I start off with a white thermal shirt. Over that goes the team football shirt, then a hoodie (alternating between blue and red each week). Then I either wear my blue Carhart, or my red fleece-lined puffy coat. I wear microfiber tights under my jeans, and before pulling on my fur boots, I slip on some fuzzy thick socks. Then I top it all off with a hat, scarf, and gloves (in team spirit colors, of course!). I take two blankets to the games: one to sit on, and one to wrap around me. Snuggies would be a great investment for such occasions, and the retail industry knows it because they’ve already got them personalized with your school’s mascot and colors.

By the time you have all these layers on, you may find it hard to move, but try not to think about the fact that you look like a mountain of clothes sitting on the bleachers. Warmth is all that matters, right?? Besides, if you master this art, you will enter into the Dedicated Sports Fan Club. Congratulations.

Changing topics here, I would like to give a great big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my favorite brother, Chris!!! He will be 15 years old on Monday. I can’t believe it…my baby brother…15??? He will probably love me for saying this on the world wide web for all to see lol, but I remember changing his diapers and taking care of him when he was little. He was such a cute little boy. sigh. I love you, Bubba!

Here are some pics we took the day Dad got home. This was when we realized he was taller than Kaley. I’ve still got a couple inches on him, but I know it’s only a matter of time before he accomplishes his life-long goal: being taller than I am.

Here are some other pics from the eventful season:

Yes, there are times when even the most dedicated fan has to duck under the bleachers...I was trying to keep my camera out of the rain, okay???

The Mom Shift

I put on my mom hat Wednesday night. My poor little sister has been sick since last Friday, and my mom has faithfully stayed by her side, but Wednesday night, I stayed home with Julia so mom could get out of the house and go to church.

I made Julia pancakes for supper, like any good mother would do lol; after all, that’s what she wanted to eat, and it’s sort of an unspoken rule in our house that we will make whatever the invalid is craving (especially if the invalid is the youngest child lol). Then after I cleaned mom’s kitchen, we went down to my apartment and sat on my couch and watched movies.

I loved staying home with my little sis and taking care of her. It’s been so long since I’ve done that. Now that I work all the time, I don’t have time to do things at home like I used to. It’s rather sad, but makes me enjoy nights like these. I think one of the most special relationships in the world is being able to help raise younger siblings. I’ve been like a second mom to them, so we share a special bond.

After our movies, I decided to read Bible stories to "Queenie Pooh", just like I used to. I read a few, and also read the book “Just in Case You Ever Wonder” by Max Lucado.

I cried.

It’s been a while since I’ve read that book, and I was suddenly reading it from several different perspectives. I was reminded how much God loves me, how much my parents love me, and how much I love Julia.

I just had to post the story on here. This will be a long post, but take time to read it. And never forget how very special you are…

Just in Case You Ever Wonder
by Max Lucado

Long, long ago God made a decision-
a very important decision…
one that I’m really glad He made.
He made the decision to make you.

The same hands that made the stars made you.
The same hands that made the canyons made you.
The same hands that made the trees and the moon and the sun made you.
That’s why you are so special. God made you.

He made you in a very special way.
He made your eyes so they would twinkle.
He made your mouth so you could smile.
He made your laugh so you could giggle.
God made you like no one else.

If you looked all over the world- in every city in every house-
there would be no one else like you…
no one with your eyes,
no one with your mouth,
no one with your laugh.
You are very, very special.

And since you are so special, God wanted to put you in just the right home…
where you would be warm when it’s cold, where you’d be safe when you’re afraid,
where you’d have fun and learn about heaven.
So, after lots of looking for just the right family,
God sent you to me.
And I’m so glad He did.

I’ll never forget the first time I saw you…
your eyes were closed, your fingers were curled in two little fists,
your cheeks were puffy and round.
I knew in my heart God had sent someone very wonderful for me to take care of.

Your first night with me I heard every sound you made:
I heard you gurgle, I heard you sniff, I heard your little lips smack.
I heard you cry when you wanted to eat, and I fed you.

You’re bigger now and do more things.
You can walk and run. You can play and talk.
You can eat and sing and look at books.
You’re not a little baby anymore.

But as you grow and change, some things will stay the same.
I’ll always love you. I’ll always hug you.
I’ll always be on your side.
And I want you to know that…just in case you ever wonder.

Remember I’m here for you.
On dark nights when you hear noises in your closet, call me.
When you see monsters in the shadows, call me.

On hard days when kids are mean and don’t treat you like they should, come to me.
If your grades are bad and your teacher is mad, come to me…’cause I love you.
And I always will, just in case you ever wonder.

Most of all, I’ll be here to teach you about God.
He loves you. He protects you.
He and His angels are always watching over you.

And God wants me to make sure you know about heaven.
It’s a wonderful place.
There are no tears there.
No monsters.
No mean people.

You never have to say “good-bye,”
or “good night,”
or “I’m hungry.”
You never get cold or sick or afraid.

In heaven you are so close to God that He will hug you, just like I hug you.
It’s going to be wonderful.
I will be there, too. I promise.
We will be there together, forever.
Remember that…
Just in case you ever wonder.

No Vacancy

My friend shared this story with me last Saturday; she heard it from a coworker who either saw it on Candid Camera or heard it from someone else who saw it…I’m not really sure, but it was on an episode of Candid Camera. It totally blew me away when I heard it, and I just had to share…

A coffee shop had a sign outside which read “National No-Change-Day.” The camera showed customers paying for their orders. The cashier would put their money in the drawer and close it without giving any change back. The customers got very upset about this, but the cashier would calmly point out the sign and explain that it was “National No-Change-Day.” This didn’t seem to appease the customers.

Eventually, one customer came in, ordered some coffee, and paid with a twenty. After watching the cashier put his money in the register and then close the drawer, he asked if he was going to get any change back. She once again explained the unique holiday, to which he simply replied, “Okay” and got his coffee and walked out. The other customers who were livid about getting “ripped off” followed him out and asked why he didn’t get upset about this.

He said, “I decided a long time ago that I wasn’t going to let anyone rent space in my mind.”


Wow. Do you realize the power of that mindset?? It really sank in on Monday when I went to work. A couple of my coworkers came in my office and asked if I heard about what happened Friday when I was gone. They explained that one of my coworkers (Coworker A) came upstairs Friday morning and noticed that my office was dark and I was gone. She immediately investigated and found out from one of my other coworkers (Coworker B) that I had taken the day off to go the zoo with my friends. What I didn’t realize was that Coworker A had asked for the day off, but didn’t get it. Sooo, Coworker A was basically furious that I got the day off to go to the zoo. She promptly went around the office and made sure that everyone knew what I had done and that it wasn’t fair. She apparently was yelling and cussing and throwing a tantrum.

When I heard this, several things went through my mind: I was sorry I had to ruin everyone’s day by unknowingly making Coworker A mad; I felt guilty about taking a day off to do something fun; I felt hurt that she would take my good name and smear it in the mud by saying things about me that were untrue and cussing me out behind my back; I was dreading the confrontation and interrogation that would surely follow.

I felt like my whole day and week were ruined. What a way to start off Monday! I sank back in my chair, good feelings gone. Then, I heard God say to me, “You don’t have to let it ruin your day or week. Don’t let anyone rent space in your mind.”

Immediately, I felt a weight come off my shoulders. “You’re right! I don’t have to let her ruin my day.” What a freedom. I am now determined not to let anyone rent space in my mind.

I’ve had to work with some challenging people who love to do whatever they can to make me miserable, and they are quite good at it!! But I’m not going to give them the satisfaction of succeeding. I vividly remember something my mom told me years ago. At the time, I was having trouble getting along with a certain sibling who I thought was so annoying, and this simple statement she made has forever changed my life: If you can learn to get along with (insert sibling name), you can get along with anyone in this world.

That is so true. You see, the problem wasn’t really my sibling…I was the problem!!! I had to learn how to get along with people no matter how much they annoyed me or made me mad. What my mom told me is so true. God gave me this sibling to teach me this lesson. He knew I needed to learn how to get along with anyone. I’m so thankful I learned that before I had coworkers. I can see the importance of learning this while you’re young; you definitely have to have this getting-along thing down.

Just for the record, my coworkers are much worse than my sibs, and I now get along with my family just fine!

Hope this has helped you get rid of some of your “renters.” Be free!!

Omaha Adventure

Some of my friends and I went to the Omaha Zoo on Friday. It was cold, windy, and rainy, but I had so much fun! It is a really neat zoo; definitely a place to add to your list of things to see if you haven’t been there yet. I would love to go back sometime, especially with my family.

We started off our trip by stopping at a gas station for pop so we could use the coupon Melissa had lol, and we parked by this sign:


That’s when I knew it was going to be an exciting trip. lol jk!!! I think the sign was there to keep people from leaving their cars at the gas station for extended periods of time. Besides, I knew it would be a fun trip because I love hanging out with my friends…I wasn’t worried about illegal procedures. :) The rest of the trip was normal, except, of course, for the rain, bitterly cold winds, traffic jams, etc!

Here are some of my favorite pics from our memorable zoo trip:

This picture was taken just for Julie. I personally think gorillas are ugly. I mean, come on, how can someone who doesn't like cats think this wrinkled, smelly thing is cute???

I had never seen a black squirrel before...

Missy: Star Trek fan, avid concert-goer, and my comrade-in-arms in the youth group lol!

Melissa: interior designer, loves gardening, hates traffic jams :) and is like an older sister to me.

Julie: can always make me smile, loves cranking up the music in her car, hates cats and cold, rainy days. ;)

Me: but you pretty much already knew that...

What Faith Can Do

They started playing this new song on the radio a couple weeks ago, and I think God meant it just for me. I love how He uses music to encourage me. If you haven't heard this song yet, look it up on the internet. Turn up the music and soak it in!

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it’s more than you can take
But you are stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard
Impossible is not a word
It’s just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody’s scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It’ll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do

Overcome the odds
You do have a chance
(That’s what faith can do)
When the world says you can’t
It’ll tell you that you can!

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
That's what faith can do!
Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise

Kutless
"What Faith Can Do"
From the album It Is Well