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The snow here is melting. The sun is shining. The grass is green!!

...What a tease. :P

Have a happy new year everyone! :D

Beauty Will Rise

This CD, Beauty Will Rise, from Steven Curtis Chapman, is the most incredible collection of music I have ever heard. Words can't even describe the beauty of this album... From first song to last, it's like listening to a story play out.

When his little girl, Maria Sue, died in a tragic accident, Steven Curtis Chapman channeled his pain, his thoughts, his hope, into his music. Thus, this album was born.

I remember the first time I listened to it the whole way through; it was such an intense emotional experience. I was laying on my bed, in the dark with my headphones in, just listening to the words. Each song is so impactful, with so much emotion poured into it. There were moments while listening where I just couldn't help but sob; other moments simply required silence, and recognition. And then there were the truly beautiful moments, the glimpses of joy and hope that provoked smiles and even a tiny laugh here and there.

The layout of this album is so...real. Yeah, I know, that sounds funny. But what I mean is, it starts out with so much hurt, so much pain that you can't help but to feel it with Steven as he sings. But by the very last song, you realize that the hope, and the promise of seeing his Maria Sue again outweighs the pain. By the end, you've heard the faith that Steven has, that leads him to sing out "You are faithful", "I will trust You", to our Savior. The very last song, "Spring is Coming" is just the most perfect ending to this album; it's uplifting, and tells of how spring is coming! The darkness and dreariness cannot last forever...and we have the promise that spring is coming.

This CD is like a book of psalms...and the words are wonderful. There have been so many times where I've been feeling down, or negative, or whatever, and like a Bible verse would pop into your head, so do Steven's words.

Give this album a try; you won't regret it. ;)

"I mean, that's all any of us wants: to find a nice person to hang out with till we drop dead. That's not a lot to ask!"

-Lorelai Gilmore

Amen, sista friend.

I looove Gilmore Girls. It's pretty much the only good thing on TV ;)

"Over the mysteries of female life there is drawn a veil best left undisturbed."

I absolutely adore this movie. And the fact that right after John Brooks says that quote ^^^ the scene goes to the girls dressed up and play-acting, being completely silly!

This has been one of, if not, my favorite movie for as long as I can remember. I find it fascinating...and I'm always envious of the relationship the sisters have: they're the very best of friends, who share their "most appalling secrets", and are constantly playing, despite their mature ages. I just love getting pulled into their story, and laughing with them, crying with them.

"Doesn't he have a noble brow? If I were a boy, I'd want to look just like that."

Embrace Life

So I saw this a while ago, and found it to be so incredibly "Wow!". I love love love it.
Seriously, watch it. It's so impactful.
Oh, and make sure your sound is on ;)

An Idea...

I like the idea of sharing little things I find inspiring, or touching, or whatever...So I think I just might change the focus of this blog to things more like that. I mean, I'll still share little moments that are all ME every now and then...but I'm going to make a point of posting at least once a day something I find snazzy. A video, a song, a quote...This is also a good way for me to actually have a little bit of dedication when it comes to blogging!

I'm also working on tweeking my blog layout...fun fun!

So yeah! Enjoy, my very few followers ;D

-Lauren

"I finally understood what true love meant...love meant that you care for another person's happiness more than your own, no matter how painful the choices you face might be."

-Nicholas Sparks, Dear John

" 'It isn't Narnia, you know," sobbed Lucy. 'It's you. We shan't meet you there. And how can we live, never meeting you?'

'But you shall meet me, dear one,' said Aslan.

'Are-are you there too, Sir?' said Edmund.

'I am,' said Aslan. 'But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there. "

Voyage of the Dawn Treader? So so so so good. Intense. But had so many moments that gave me chills...

Beautiful, beautiful.

You're Beautiful by Phil Wickham

I found this song and simply fell in love. It's so incredibly beautiful...One of the comments on the Youtube video of it says "Learn this song if you don't know it yet, because we will sing it together on that day!". How awesome is that?

When we arrive at eternity's shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We'll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we'll sing
You're beautiful.

A Mother's Hope

The sky has burst into a million vibrant colors, as the sun departs, and nighttime draws in. It is a beautiful sight that sets a feeling of awe into anyone who takes it in...So glorious, a little hint of what God is capable of.

Yet there, on the lush green hillside, sits a young woman whose tears distract her from the beauty before her. She's come out here to be alone; to get away from the noise of life. But with the absence of noise has come the overwhelming pain...thoughts of her baby girl flood her mind: images of her chocolate brown eyes, her tiny hands and feet; the sound of her first cry; the months of holding her inside of her belly, feeling her hiccup and kick!

The young woman holds her head in her hands, the tears streaming between her fingers...I just want my little girl here in my arms.

Up in Heaven, there's a little girl sitting on a beautiful man's lap. He bounces her on his knee, and she giggles hysterically. But suddenly, a look of worry comes over her angelic face. "Jesus, why is my Mommy so sad?" she asks him, her voice full of concern. "Well," he begins in a gentle voice, "she misses you, and sometimes wishes that you were with her, instead of here with me."

The girl's eyes grow wide. "But I love it here!! It's so pretty, and there are other little kids to play with, and you're here!!" she says, with a tone that conveys that she believes that this is the obvious answer.

"I know that," he says, "and your mommy knows that too. It's just that there are some days where she feels sad that she's not getting to celebrate your birthdays, see you grow up, or even just hold you in her arms!", he squeezes her tight to him, forcing another fit of giggles out of the girl. After she's settled, he looks into her brown eyes, a warm smile on his face.

"But Mommy's going to see me again! Daddy too! Oh, I can't wait until they're here with us!!" she hops off of his lap, and dances around, throwing her arms in the air in excitement. Abruptly she stops, and looks up into his kind face. "But, I wish Mommy realized that more. Then she would never have to be sad! Because I'm right here, waiting for her and Daddy! I don't want her to cry...I didn't go far."

Back down on that green hillside, the young woman lifts her head, the tears coming to a sudden stop. She looks around her, but finds that she's alone; that's funny. She could've sworn she heard a little girl's voice, right next to her.

A blanket of peace now surrounds her...she's surprised at it. Just a moment ago, she had been so upset, so brought down...but it's as if an angel had come and whispered encouragement to her soul.

She stands up to walk back to the house, just down the hillside, wiping the tears from her face. As she's walking, a smile lights up her face, for a magnificent image has popped into her head: her little girl being bounced on her Savior's lap.

For Jackie and Lacey

A Name Above All Names...

At our church, our pastor encourages us to prayerfully pick a name of Jesus to focus on for the year. I've never done this before, but I've also never been as serious about my relationship with Jesus as I am now.

I've been thinking about it, and praying about it for a few weeks now, and I've picked my name:

Beloved Bridegroom.

Now, that name doesn't appear in that exact phrasing in the Bible; it's a combination that I feel is just all too perfect, at least for me, at this moment in my life.

See, I've been struggling with worrying about the man God has for me, and worrying about when it's going to happen, if it's going to happen...over the past two years, it's definitely something that's caused me a ridiculous amount of stress! (which in itself is ridiculous, considering I'm only 17!)

But I've come to the point where I realize, I need to "let go, and let God". I need to chill out, and leave it up to Him! And I need HIM to be my ultimate focus, no one else.

The name "Beloved Bridegroom" was actually inspired by the song "Beloved" by Tenth Avenue North, which is an incredibly beautiful song, that tells of how we are His beloved, and how He truly loves us, and holds us close to His heart. And I thought...if I am that to Him, shouldn't He be that to me?

The bridegroom part is obvious: Jesus compares us to his bride, and he as our bridegroom, and considering my worrying and fretting over who I'll marry and such, what better name? What better promise than the one that HE is our bridegroom, and loves us more than a husband ever could?

Therefore, "beloved bridegroom" was born. And they fit together perfectly! The goal of this name is that over the next year, I will really, truly learn to think of Jesus as my Beloved Bridegroom...and that I will hold him very dearly to my heart, as he holds me dearly to his.