thought of the day. again.

don't use chapstick after its been out in the sun. even if it looks like its just fine. don't do it.

it's gross.

I want to make a snippet of a [public] love note, since it is still father's day & because I love him. There are so many reasons why I desperately need, care for, and love my dad. He is providing in every way possible. He loves me and I know it full well. And he encourages both my sisters and I in our relationships with the Lord and that is what I am most thankful for. He is responsible and calm. He is understanding and helpful. He usually has answers for all of my questions. I know that the number of solid relationships between father and child, or even existing ones at that, can seem rare. So tonight, and other nights, I am so very thankful to have a father. And one that loves and cares for me. I couldn't be at the point in my life (whether physically, emotionally, spiritually, educationally) that I am at without him. Thank you for being a father who spurs us on with our relationship with our heavenly Father.

And thanks for buying me dinner tonight :)

a baby check

the past few nights my two nieces have been spending the night over here at the house. They are so precious and such joys to be around. Last night my parents sent my almost three-year-old girlfriend to give me a check. She hopped (when I say hopped I mean she walk/ran/skipped the way that little ones do) in the kitchen holding out a little folded piece of paper and said,

'here lolo, here's your chick.'

me: 'my chick? Oh my check (it was a check) thank you big girl.'

her: 'you're welcome. it's a baby chick.'

we both went into the room where my parents were...

me: 'hey thanks for my chick.'

parents: 'your chick?'

her: 'I want a marshmallow. Grandma, can I have a chick?'

parents: 'a chick?'

me: 'I think she's wanting a peep.'

her: 'A PEEP'

Seeing as how it was far past easter, they didn't have any of those. so a slight meltdown happened but then she forgot about it. It was just a funny moment for myself and it might not make sense but it was worth sharing....

have a great thursday!

thought of the day.

I thrive on long-sleeved t shirts. even in the summer. I just need to say that.

more blogging to come!

Hello June!

Good mid morning, almost afternoon!

Yesterday, I got to use my picky, particular, anal hand at trimming a room with paint while my best friend powered through painting all of the walls herself. I'm such a huge help. Sorry.

Today, I just want to give you a little piece of this......

Jillian Edwards.

My friend and baylor alum, mer, introduced me to her voice and I absolutely love it. She went/goes to Baylor and I believe is now in Nashville for the summer, recording another album. get it girl.

Her songs really make you relax and feel so chill. perfect for summer. or spring. or fall and winter. love it.

You can find her on itunes everyone. Go on now. Check it out.

This week, my wonderful friends Jaime and Grant will be getting married. Today is there rehearsal and friday is the big, gigantic day. I am so excited for you two and I know you've been waiting for this for a while. I'm so glad I get to be apart of it.

take your babies with you...please.

you might find me posting a little bit more often....maybe. we'll see.

I just want to encourage you to stop just for a minute & take a peek at this blog post from my brother-in-law's sister.....I love reading this blog, but this particular post makes me so proud to read. What a good and quick reaction and way to be a protective mom for someone else!

stop what you're doing. stop. and read this real quick. www.sparklesnsports.blogspot.com

It's really getting hot outside, especially in texas, and everyone needs to be careful. It's a perfect example proving that we need to pay attention.

blog neglectfulness

talk about neglect. for real. I'm sorry. Alot has happened in the last few weeks and every time I sit down with my computer I end up not having time to type out my thoughts. Well here we go, I'm sitting on the couch, wet hair (don't ask), and watching a little tori & dean on the side. I'm ready to blab my life away to you now.

let's go back a tad, shall we.

three weeks ago I graduated from Texas Tech with a degree. An actual degree. The entire family, except for the bros-in-law, came to Lubbock from Dallas the DAY OF, through rain and windy-ness, and then packed most of my belongings for me. Then I avoided all ways to not pack up the rest of my things in hopes to stay, somehow. Who knows, I was very emotional off and on.

then, I moved all the way back home. I do not live in lubbock anymore yall. I absolutely love being at home with the family. I've been wanting to be closer for so long, but for some reason, I miss that little windy town. It has all of my sweet friends there. It has all of my memories, it has my apartment and my roommates. But now, its time to transition. oh I am so tired of transitioning. stop it!

After we drove home, I took a trip. A trip with just a good, sweet friend of mine, lauren. We went here......

Maui.

An 8.5 hour flight. For someone who cannot sleep on a plane. A place that has a five hour time difference. A place of innumerable rainbows. The cleanest air. The brightest sun. A place with an ocean. Mountains. A bit of rain here and there. Gorgeous gorgeous plant-age. It's completely easy on the eyes. AKA bliss.

Our first full day there, it actually rained for most of the morning and since we woke up at around 6am we did what anyone else would do while waiting for it to clear up. A little bit of coffee, food, uno, jumping on our beds, food, more uno, food....then all the days after that were wonderful and perfect.

It was the most wonderful trip. So relaxing. And perfect timing. These few days were a huge blessing and I am so thankful that I was able to go.

Now, I am home. Ready for what the summer may bring. Ready to see where God leads me. Ready to pursue what I need to and not pursue what I don't need to....make sense? i hope so.

hide & seek

This afternoon I played a huge game of hide & seek. My fellow players are stealth. They can fit into all the nook and crannies of each room, so it is a tough role to play with them. Now, me being twice...okay maybe three times their size, makes it really hard to find a decent hiding place. The past few times we have ever played it, I proved myself to be a horrible hide and seeker.

But today, I dominated. I was behind doors, behind barbie houses, behind rocking chairs. I probably looked a fool. But then they both pulled a fast one on me. I couldn't find them to save my life. They had climbed up into the linen closet and covered themselves with blankets. It was the most difficult and sneaky of places! What makes this game funny though, is the point in which they feel they've been hiding too long for you so they'll yell out because they're tired of waiting. Oh well.

If you actually read all of that, thanks.

Today I did something else that I have been putting off for weeks. Its been dust storm season here in lubbock and if anyone has been around during that time, you know exactly what that entails. A brown sky, gusty winds, dirt in your ears, teeth, and nose. Perfect to walk to class in. But even though it is supposed to rain in the next few days, and my car is an outside car (as opposed to an inside one) I just couldn't handle it any longer. I got my car washed. I payed money to wash it. I mean, really, on top of general dirtiness there were little hand prints thickened with dirt all over my windows and after it was clean, I swear I could hear my poor little car say 'gosh loren finally, thank you, uggghhhh.'

That was today.

More packing. More needed tissues.

Have a blessed night!

Negotiations

Today I negotiated. Well today someone, my five year old friend, who reallly needed a drink negotiated with me. Let's set the stage...we had just got a special snack at sonic, dropped a brother off for practice, ran a quick errand and stopped to get gas. Apparently the large drink someone got at sonic wasn't enough.

Here was the judgement call I was given, 'I need to save my sonic drink for dinner tonight and I am just really thirsty right now and even though we have diet dp at home and we're about to be there, I really need one right now.'

me - 'uhhh........okay.' followed by a long talk in the car about how that won't happen again because it's wasteful and we just can't buy two drinks in the same car ride.

Now after that, it is time to continue packing up my college undergrad life......accompanied by a box of tissues.

family - cannot wait to see you on Friday!!!!!!

my stern voice

The other day at work I had to use my stern voice. My very stern voice.

And if anyone knows a tiny piece of my self, you probably didn't know that I had one. Well I do. And it broke my heart. We had some issues, I won't go into detail, but I had to be the adult. Developmentally appropriate, appropriate discipline of course. And my five-year-old friend replied, 'I know you're my best friend, but my feelings are just hurt and I'm upset'. I gave her a few minutes to have by herself, under her bed, and walked out shaking. I felt so bad. Basically thats just hard for me to do but there were no hurt feelings later on, and the next day she was the charming, sweet girl she always is.

Because of that day, I'd like to share just a few hilarious moments I've experienced the past couple weeks....to lighten the mood. Here you go.

The other day I wanted to wipe the counters. Here was our conversation:

me - 'hey would you like to help me wipe the counters so when your mom gets home she'll be so happy?'

her - 'Okay....um, can I sing the cleaning song?'

me - 'Sure' (proceeding to grab my phone and write down what she sings because she is constantly making up songs that are so funny, creative and such and I never remember them. Don't judge).

her - 'Ooh oh oh. cleaning is right. cleaning is my businneeesss. oh yeah a a a. get my wiggles out, get my wiggles out. yeah. we do this cleaning business. Is so much fun to do. did you know you know you dress up in different clothes (to do cleaning?) oh ha ha ho ho ho yeah. La la la la la.'

If that doesn't make you smile, here's one more:

We were driving home from school the other day. It was quiet. I think everyone was tired. Then, from the back seat, I hear, 'I just really like basements. It kind of feels like going to the roof. You know that feeling. That's why I like them.' [pause] 'And I like stairs too. A lot.'

every weekday. love it.

radio sermons. what....

Well. To anyone who reads this, college years are winding down. Here in the next month I'll be taking my last finals, graduating, moving home, going on a little trip, then celebrating one of my best friends getting married to my other sweet friend. So to say this transition will go by quickly is an understatement. But no fear, I'm sure my own feminine emotions will take a bit longer to transition.

As for now, I'm sitting and enjoying watching three of my loved ones sleep in the living room. Some are on the floor, yes, but they enjoy it. I think.

I've come to a small revelation these past couple of months. Pastors on the radio. I love them. Well, most of them. Growing up, my dad always seemed to turn the radio to the sermons. I usually didn't enjoy them. At all. Because being younger you don't usually feel like hearing a pastor's sermon fill every nook of you car. But as I got older, I've learned to just let my dad have that time and enjoy it with him. But I noticed something a couple months ago. Everyday, during the exact time I drive to work, Charles Stanley is on the radio. And over the past while I have absolutely cherished my time in the car listening to him. Maybe its because it reminds me of the moments I got to listen to those voices with my dad. I love my dad. And I miss him. So maybe that's it.

There's something about being alone in a vehicle, listening to some wisdom, and soaking it in. Dr. Stanley, thanks so much.

I know this is short but its time to go prepare for something I hope and pray and know God will take charge of.

enjoy the rest of this day today.

Holla.

A love for everyone

Yesterday, we were outside while my friend rode her scooter. An elderly man pulled up in a 10 passenger type van to a house down the street. She passed him on her scooter and came back to me and said,

"Ohh. Loren do you see him. He is so cute and good looking. I think he could be my boyfriend."

me: "Do what?"

"That man, I think he should be my boyfriend...do you see his van and all the seatbelts."

me: "yes"

"Well I'm pretty sure that means that he has lots of kids"

I just hope our staring at the man was a self-esteem booster rather anything else.

rain. lysol. more rain.

Today, it's raining. And I could not be more thankful to be inside my blessed apartment. No class. Just a morning of coffee, beth moore, blogs, CLEANING, laundry, list making, kings of leon, ben rector, owl city, bon iver, norah, the avett bros, gift wrapping, card making, and all avoidance of going outside and getting wet. I love the rain, only when I can enjoy it from inside.

I can speed sort my laundry. Found that out today. I love doing laundry. Except on the days when I do not.

And I love the smell of comet and lysol.

I have a physical...inability-to-move type reaction when I'm learning of new ways to make things and craftiness and being creative with my hands. Oh my goodness, I just enjoy it so much. Why can't I just do that for a living haha. Welp I'm working on a few things right now, here and there, pardon my lateness for some of you (melanie, I think its been over a year since you asked me).

I'm sorry for the random thoughts that just flew out of my fingertips. I just know that a few certain friends and roomates are about to bust a gut if I tell them one more random thought that just has to be told. I can't keep them to myself. I just cannot.

Its time to brave the undrainable roads of Lubbock and pick up some kiddos from school. Some days we have discussions of whether or not we'll make good decisions for the next few hours while I am there. Some days I get a 'yes', or a 'yes maam', or a 'duh'. I get to hang out with the neatest and sweetest two children everyday.
Love them to pieces.

Marriage

What is the point of a marriage? Oh, my, do we really want to delve in to that thought (did I just make up a new word)? I know, you're probably thinking what is she thinking, she has no idea what she's talking about. Girlfriend's not married. You are so right! I have no idea about a smidge of what a marriage consists of (pardon the grammar). But I am surrounded by it. And I know the truth about one marriage.

It's the one between Jesus Christ and His church. Have you heard of it? I know for most of us, at first, it can be a strange thought to think of that covenant as a 'marriage'. But that's exactly what we call marriage, right, a covenant between a man and a woman?

Hold on, right quick, can I just share something for you to chew on, for me, for us to chew on really. Please read this with a confidence, 'Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same attitude in mind Christ Jesus had: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a human being, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death- even death on a cross!' - Philippians 2:1-8

I wish I could say I'm able to exemplify half an ounce of that.

Oh, Christ died and rose again for his bride, his wife, his church (props to my friend Lauren for that thought). That doesn't mean we should be sitting back thinking, Wow that is great to see a relationship like that. That's just too bad that mine can't ever be similar. God created marriage, and for it to mirror that.

Let me reiterate, I know that I know so little about marriage, and I won't understand much about it until I am immersed in one myself. But I know that there are good times, not so good times, seasons, confusion, hurt, bitterness, a whithered spirit. Times where one wants to just walk away. It's too much. I believe in a God who restores. I believe in a Father who renews the nonrenewable. I believe in a God who places people in relationships for a reason, whether it be a friendship, dating, sisterly, a marriage. But a marriage, oh a marriage, what a brave and courageous journey to be apart of with another person. And if you have children, can we say brave times a million. I know that a marriage is between two people, but the effects it has on others, specifically children (adult children too), is huge. simply huge.

Please believe this. Please know that you are an example of Christ and his bride, the church. You are an example for your kids no. matter. the. age.

You are an example for me.

{I would like to thank all of those marriages that are apart of my life, whether 'new' or 'not so new', the ones I know best are so encouraging, and so brave, and so real}

Paper roses? Yes paper roses.

Okay yall. I found such a neat paper rose idea from little birdie secrets. In order to wind down from the daily conversations between me and my 5-year-old friend of what happened on hannah montana, or how 'root beard' tastes really bad, or how why we LOVE 'chip-fil-a', or even having to explain why you won't get birthday presents after you die, I decided to try my hand at these. egh. They are really neat to make so I took pictures to make an easy how-to, if you will. Try it. Today. Super easy. Do it.

I have a tendency of impatient scrolling to see the end result of a blog post. at times. So I just put the last picture at the beginning so anyone else who does the same as I do, well here you go. No need to scroll friends.

Seriously, all you need are the following:

-Scrap book paper....I used left over pages from a book I had used for a design project

-Glue

-Scissors

-Hole punch

-Skewer type tool....I just used the end of a long, skinny paint brush

-Sonic drink (optional)

Cut out three, six-petaled flowers from the paper.

Now, if you have a punch that will do it for you, great. If you don't, then just cut them out with your bare hands (mine, as you can see, are terribly messy. I think its a little funky. I like it).

Oh, and hole punch them.

Take the first flower and make ONE cut in between two petals towards the middle of the flower. Sit it down.

With the second flower, make a cut to both sides of one petal as seen above.

With the third, cut off two petals, but make sure they stay together. Meaning, don't cut them separately.

Okay. So now you should have a flower with 6 petals (with one cut). Another with 5 petals. Another with 4 petals. Another with 2 petals. And a single petal all to its lonesome.

Now, pick up that first flower that has just one cut. Put some glue on one of the petals next to the cut. Then take the petal from the other side of the cut and glue those two together.

Now pick up that second flower. Put a little glue on the edge, like so.

Then, do the same as you did with the first flower and fold the other petal (from the other side of the cut) and glue them together. Hold it tight with your fingers for a minute so it'll stay.

Oops. I didn't take a picture of the third flower that should now have four petals on it. You can do it. Pick that up and glue the two petals together. This will make it look like a three-petaled flower.
Now here's where trickiness arrives and pictures come in handy. Grab that long skewer-paint brush utensil and curl the two-petaled flower around it. Just the two edges. Curl them inward.

WARNING: Please disregard the nastiness that is my fingernails. I have not payed any attention to them until now. ugh. gross. please. I know.

I know.

Other side.

Glue the two edges together.

Now it should look somewhat like this.

Now curl the one petal all the way around the stick. no gluing.

Now, take each of the glued flowers and curl each of the edges out a little bit.

You should end up with these.

Now, take (what is now) the four-petaled flower and put glue on the bottom. Then place it inside the five-petaled flower. Sit that down and let it dry.

Then take the two-petaled flower and the one petal. Place a small amount of glue on the bottom, outside of the one petal. Place it inside the two-petal flower and use the end of the skewer to glue them together.

After the bigger flowers have had time to dry, place some glue on the outside of the three-petaled flower and place in inside.

Almost done.

Just take the little glued petals and glue them inside the bigger part of the flower. Feel free to use the skewer to push the petals down or closer to the other petals so they will stay together a little better.

There it is. You can put them on anything. Just something pretty and easy to do it you're feeling crafty.

If you choose to share, please respectfully link it back. thanks!

Love.

That is the Jesus we follow

'...born a baby refugee from the badlands of Nazareth, wandered the world a homeless rabbi, died the rotten death of insurrectionists and bandits on the cross, executed by an oppressive empire, buried in a borrowed tomb. Jesus was crucified not for helping poor people but for joining them. That is the Jesus we follow' - Irresistible Revolution, Shane Claiborne

I hope this honest quotation is a simple reminder of why we have Good Friday, Easter Sunday. Its not just about eggs and the beginning of spring. It's about Him.