A Memorable Guy

A year ago today (well, June 30th, that is), my 19 year old cousin Adam went home to be with his Savior, after a car accident. I remember that day, and those following very vividly...

When I was little, Adam was just another big brother to me. We'd bury each other in the sand, play hide-and-seek, watch movies on rainy days. When I think back to being a little girl, it's him and my actual older brother Tyler who pop into my mind as my friends and playmates. Adam and I would always make fun of each other; with a few moments of physical abuse here and there (memories of getting slammed into lockers at school come to mind). It's funny how

you can not realize how much you really love someone until they're gone. I loved my big brother very much, and I miss him: his obnoxious laugh; the smirk that was always on his face, no matter what. I even kindof miss getting kicked in the shin pretty much every time I saw him! Jerk.

But ya know, when he died, I didn't cry a single tear for him. Nope. Not a one. On the 4th of July, just a few days after he passed away, as I sat and watched the fireworks with my family, I found myself thinking "Adam's never gonna get to see fireworks again...", but that thought was immediately replaced with a grin when I thought of what my brother was seeing on that day, and has seen every day since. No, I didn't cry for my cousin, and still don't. Rather, I'm constantly finding myself envying him! You see, my big brother knew the Truth...and is walking with Him now on streets paved with gold. No, I don't cry for him. And I don't cry for my

loss either; I know I'll see him again someday. I'll be walking those streets with him.

So here's to my big brother. The one with the vibrant smile and the cocky attitude. The one who told us to "live life with no regrets". The one who did THE most random and obnoxious things ever. Ha! His are footprints on our hearts that we won't be forgetting anytime soon.

"When we walk through life's darkest valleys, we will look back at all You have done...and we will shout, our God is GOOD, and HE is the faithful one!"

things that make me smile :D

~Rainbows after a spring rain
~Giggling!!
~Gazing at the awesomeness of the night sky
~Christian concerts!
~Thoughts of graduation…mmm
~The feeling of getting into a heated car in the middle of winter

~Sitting on the beach listening to the waves crash onto the sand
~Super-late night conversations
~Laughing so hard it hurts
~The little moments of warmth from the sunshine on a breezy day
~Sitting in a hammock swing with a good book on a sunny afternoon ;)
~The sound of waterfalls
~Inside jokes!
~MR PERSCH!! (refer to last)
~When someone plays with your hair :D
~Cotton candy skies
~Finding money in your pockets
~Packing your bags to go somewhere exciting
~Jesus music!
~Singing insanely loud and ridiculously in the car
~Cherished memories that you wouldn’t trade for anything
~Bare feet on grass :)
~That nervy “I’m gonna puke” feeling. The good version!! Hahha
~Laying on the trampoline (safe, away from bugs), looking at the stars
~Pugs!
~British accents. Awe yeah.
~Screaming and laughing hysterically when bats decide to take a sip of the pool at night
~Dreams you don’t want to wake up from
~Making forts out of blankets and pillows :D
~The way Forrest says "Jenny"
~“As you wish”
~Chocolate cereal! Duh
~Pushing the little buttons on a soft drink lid
~Orange Tic-Tacs…
~Biting the heads off of animal-shaped food. Heh heh
~Popping bubble-wrap!
~That feeling of accomplishment you get when you’ve just carried something really heavy (despite the immense physical pain you’re now in)
~Boys with blue eyes ;)
~Blue eyes in general…
~Putting olives on your fingers and eating them one by one!
~Disney princes :D
~When someone gives you a nickname you actually like
~Waking up in a good mood
~Google!
~The 24-pack of Sharpies :D
~Fireworks
~Knowing you’ll see him again someday
~Blankets that just came out of the dryer!
~“If you’re a bird, I’m a bird…”
~Seeing someone you’ve missed
~Making shapes out of clouds
~Mark Hall’s voice. Don’t know what it sounds like? Look it up :D
~LAUGHTER!!!
~Love songs :)
~Big brothers; both biological and not ;)
~Watching the world come back to life after a long winter
~Handwritten letters
~Crayons!
~Newborn puppies. Newborn babies. Newborn kittens. Newborn anything! But not bugs. No, never bugs.
~Harmonizing
~Blowing bubbles
~The smell of fresh cut grass
~Catching lightning bugs
~The moment you realize you’re OLDER than some of the American Idol contestants?!?!
~Thunderstorms
~Talking animals. Heh heh
~Irish accents
~“Don’t let the balloon touch the ground!!”
~Seeing an old couple holding hands
~That feeling when you wake up, and the horrible, horrible sunburn you had doesn’t hurt anymore. Ah.
~The feel of a really smooth pen on paper
~Discovering new music
~Getting woken up in spring by birds singing :)
~Getting to know another person’s tones of voice, facial expressions, mannerisms…
~Burnt marshmallows!!
~Songs that tell a story
~Being home alone and belting out random songs as you go throughout the house
~Chocolate-covered strawberries
~Singing for Jesus :D
~Spontaneously, yet casually, jumping into the pool at night when you’re already in your pj’s :D
~Purple pen ink
~Competitive Easter egg hunting. Heh heh
~The smell of books!
~Laughter through tears
~The way the sky is a million colors when the sun is setting
~The one-eyebrow lift :D
~Those moments in the middle of the night when EVERYTHING is hysterically funny
~Holding a newborn baby
~Those nights when the moon is so bright, you can literally see everything
~Happy endings ;)

(This list is mostly my own with a little help from some friends here and there. Enjoy!)

Sunshine and "Hello"s :D

The first day of summer... The trees outside my window are bathed in golden sunlight; The birds are out singing their melodies, flitting from tree to tree; The air is HOT, forcing thoughts of swimming pools and orange popsicles to enter my mind (that's right, orange. It's the best!). A friend of mine once said "Sunny days are like a big warm hug from God". How awesome is that?? Well, anyways. Here in lovely PA, nature is living up to its own little day of official recognition...and it's living up to it beautifully.

So I suppose I should give you an introduction, eh? Simple enough.

Hello there! My name is Lauren. I'm 17 years old, but I'm not your typical American teenager... in fact, I'm pretty sure I was born in the wrong generation. I'm a poet, a singer, a dreamer, a wisher, a thinker... I have so much hope and faith that it freaks people out sometimes. Music is therapy to me... But above all else, I am truly falling in love with my Jesus more and more everyday. I go against the grain of this world...and live for the day when I'll finally get to meet Him face to face. :)

I'm starting this blog simply because I love to write! I'm not a brilliant writer, not even close. But I don't love it any less. So in this blog, you'll basically be getting a preview of my thoughts, along with some creative writing here and there. But overall, I can hopefully share some of the passion I have for my one true love, Jesus Christ. In these past few months, he has become incredibly important to me...He has, and still is, changing me from the inside out. Thus the meaning behind the title of this blog that you've stumbled upon: Everything is Different. Because everything truly is different, now that I've really found my Jesus. So along with my random thoughts and ramblings, maybe I can help you to see Jesus as I see him. :D