Day 11: Post your favorite picture ever taken of yourself.
This picture evokes a lot of emotion for me. It represents one of the happiest times in my life, graduation. It reflects on the happiest place I've ever been, Malibu. It exudes pride in myself and my accomplishments. It shows contentment, excitement, joy, thankfulness, honor and success. However, it was not a selfish moment, it was a moment I got to share with the people I value most in my life, my family and my friends. It was a moment of celebration. Whenever I look at this picture it instantly brings me back to Malibu, the joy of attending a university like Pepperdine, the immense gratitude I will forever have for my parents, the love of my friends and my relationships and the pride I took in myself that day. That day was a great day. This picture represents all of that.
Day 10 - Elaborate on a dream you had this past week, described in detail.
I'm not a dreamer, I never have been. I've always been jealous of those people who have these vivid dreams, or people like David who can interpret those kind of dreams. I'm lucky if I dream once a month. But, I did have a recent dream, that I'm not sure if it was subconscious or not, was about law school, Nebraska, and all my fears regarding the subject, I don't think I need David to figure this one out.
It was last week and it all started on the back patio of my parents house. We were having this huge cookout, hot dogs, hamburgers, watermelon-seed spitting contests, cold beer, water fights, basically your average Englert pool party. Everyone I love was there....mom, dad, Tommy, Erin, Cami, Coti, Whit, Lauren, all my college friends, Car, Cal, Bree, Kate, a ton of my sorority sisters, the boys from EX, all my new friends in AZ, Cami's sisters, all my family, it was a HUGE party, the backyard was full, full of laughter, flashes from the cameras, musics blasting, it was a party for the record books. Just as we were about to cut the 'going away cake' I had to leave for Nebraska. I had to catch a flight, I had to leave the fun, the excitement, all the people I love and move away from it all and no one was allowed to go with me. I just remember crying and moving to Nebraska. I started school and law school was hard... but I did it. The three years was a flash and all of a sudden I was back at the same party I left three years earlier, my heart was full again with laughter, more pictures, everyone I love and it was as nothing had ever changed. And then I woke up, in a cold sweat, but with a reassuring feeling. I'm scared of leaving, I'm scared of the change, but I know that the relationships I have here are forever, I know they're going to last. So, I know that I can go away for a couple years, do my thing and come back, be back, and it'll be as if I never left. I have confidence in that. So, for not being a dreamer, I know this one was for a reason. It was one of the best dreams I've ever had.
"You may say that I'm a dreamer...but I'm not the only one."
Omaha, Nebraska. Home sweet home?
Wanna know what I've realized? Life is messy, life doesn't always go the way we've planned in it in our heads. Sometimes the life plan we've made for our lives isn't the 'right' plan. Sometimes God says, 'Stop, I'm in control, let me handle this.' That's what I'm realizing right about now. Wanna know what my plan was? My plan was to move to Malibu, go to school, meet a boy, get married, start a life, start a career, move to Arizona, or stay in California, start a family, done, done and done. Wanna know what God's plan for my life has turned in to? I moved to malibu, I went to school, I met a boy, I lost the boy, I moved home, I got into law school (hooray!) I'm now moving to Nebraska. I'm lost, uncomfortable, seeking security, I'm trying to make a new home, find new friends, locate new hangout spots, relocate while finding new everything. I'm trying to hold on to everything I have in Arizona, while subconsciously letting go in efforts of grasping on to what Nebraska holds. Life is messy. Life doesn't follow a prescheduled plan. But that's the exciting part. Life moves with us as we move with it. It's like the Malibu waves, it changes, it pulses, it stops... it flows, it's choppy, it's life. I've decided as long as I try my best to ride the waves, I'm going to be just fine. As long as I hold tight to what I know, family, friends, my God, I'm going to be okay. Stay focused, stay honest, stay me, I'm going to be okay. God's never going to give me something so impossible that I can't figure it out. So, here I am, 23, with no plan except to try my hardest. I'm going to succeed, I'm going to have a plan, I know I can do it, but that doesn't mean things aren't going to get messy in the process. But, I'm ready, a little mess is fun sometimes. I'm going to stop waiting for life to take me with it. So, ready....set....go. I'm jumping in to my life, even if I get a little messy, feel free to join me.
Day 9: Discuss five things you wish to see change.
1. I want people to learn to love with wide abandon, and to not be scared of love- for it is the greatest of these.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a shild, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we can see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 132. I want people to be happy because they're actually happy, not because of material things, or jobs or anything else. I want people to be happy with who they are. I want people to be content with themselves, with who God made them to be.
3. I want people to stop blaming others, it's time for us to take control of our own lives.
4. I want people to believe in themselves and to believe in their own miracles. The world is full of magic.
"You just have to believe in it. So make your wish. Do you have it? Good. Now believe in it, with all your heart." -OTH5. I want people to have faith. Faith in God, faith in themselves.
He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you." - Luke 17:6"What'cha gonna do with the 36 cents, sticky with Coke on your floorboard
When a woman on the street is huddled in the cold, on a sidewalk vent trying to keep warm
Do you call her over hand her the change, ask her a story ask her her name
or do you tell yourself....You're just a fool, just a fool, to believe you can change the world.You're just a fool, just a fool, to believe you can change the world.
What'cha gonna do when you're watching t.v. and an ad comes on, yeah you know the kind
Flashin up pictures of a child in need, for a dime a day you can save a life. Do you call the number, reach out a hand. Or do you change the channel, call it a scam...
or do you tell yourself...You're just a fool, just a fool, to belive you can change the world. You're just a fool, just a fool, to believe you can change the world.
Oh, the smallest thing can make all the difference
Love is alive, don't listen to them when they say, you're just a fool.
Love is alive, don't listen to them when they say, you're just a fool."
Thanks Carrie.
I love weekends dedicated to spending numerous hours with my family.
I'm so lucky to have them.
“The love of a family is life's greatest blessing”
When you look at your life the greatest happiness are family happinesses”
The most beautiful discovery that true friends can
make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.
I think this is something Kate and I have had to figure out how to do. We don't live in the same city anymore, we're going to completely different law schools, but even through all that, it doesn't change our friendship. It's one that regardless of of location, changes in our lives, new schools, we will still be friends. She's one for the record books - she's a friend that I know will be around forever. I'm so blessed to have her.
Day 8: Write about someone you think would make a great president
Growing up, I've always said my dad would make an excellent president. He's thoughtful, honest, deliberate, respected, thorough, has more integrity than anyone I know and most importantly, he's an American in every sense of the world. I've never met a man who loves this country more than him. I've never known anyone to take more pride in this country and what it stands for. He believes in the immense power and possibility this country has to offer, as well as believing in the values that this country was built upon. He takes pride, but is never proud. He is confident, but never arrogant. He's intelligent but never cocky. He believes but is not naive. He works hard, but plays harder.
In my mind, he's a perfect definition of what a president should be, maybe one day. And... my mom would be a great first lady :)
My reason for not blogging all weekend - my best was in town :)
Go after your dreams Lauren, I'm so proud of you. Go get 'em.
After the perfect birthday weekend, it's time to get back to the countdown.
Day 7: Post the favorite cover of your favorite song.
Okay, is it alright if I have two? I couldn't choose because I have my favorite cover of one of my favorite songs, and I have my favorite singer singing an amazing cover. So, I changed the prompt a bit - I don't think you'll be disappointed with either of these two songs.
1. "Hallelujah" by Lee DeWyze, originally by Jeff Buckley
2. "How Great Thou Art" by Carrie Underwood, originally sung by Bill Carle
Okay, is it alright if I have two? I couldn't choose because I have my favorite cover of one of my favorite songs, and I have my favorite singer singing an amazing cover. So, I changed the prompt a bit - I don't think you'll be disappointed with either of these two songs.
2. "How Great Thou Art" by Carrie Underwood, originally sung by Bill Carle
Day 6 - Describe the earliest thing you can remember.
Over Memorial Day weekend I was sitting around the outside patio table with my family having them help me with this assignment. I was having a hard time determining what I actually remember versus what pictures and endless stories have done to me. So after stories about hairspray bottles, singing to Kids Incorporated, 1/2 water - 1/2 orange juice, scary basements and chicken pocks, I think I've determined what I actually remember.
I was born in Littleton, Colorado on June 8, 1987 (did I just age myself?). I had the chance to live right behind my best friend Cara, we even had this really awesome gate that allowed us to go between houses. She was born 6 months after I was ever since that moment, we've been best friends, it was basically a friendship that was meant to be. My earliest memories have a lot to do with activities that involved her, as does my very first, hence this blog and the reason for this story. So, it was my birthday, I loved birthdays then and I still love them now (8 days till mine! whoo!) We had this amazing Little Tikes picnic table that used to be located outside. But for my birthday, it was allowed to be brought inside the house. It was perfect because it enabled us to have a little party, but a lot of class. I remember Cara and I, and her brother Marc sitting at this table. I was turning three, what a great age, and it was perfect. My best friend, my perfect picnic table and my birthday. All I really remember is being there with her. It wasn't a crazy vague memory that defines who I was, but it was the first memory I have of being completely content and absolutely happy in the place I was in. I think this memory is the reason I love birthdays and the reason I correlate so much happiness with birthdays. I just can't get enough. Luckily for me, Cara still plays a huge role in my life, and to this day has yet to forget my birthday.
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