A Song About Love

Check this out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5ZwnmJgC-g&feature=topvideos

This kid has a lot of time on his hands. Although it did make me smile and it was interestingly entertaining. haha

Twitter Age.

I have been trying to get into Twitter. I can see the "coolness" in it. I enjoy following certain politicians, pastors and well known newspapers. However, I have a hard time really getting into Twitter myself.

Today I was trying to figure out what to Twitter, or is it Tweet...? (Which reminds me - Who the heck came up with the idea to call it Twitter. It is a lame-o name if you ask me.) So I was trying to figure out what to write but nothing intelligent, funny or informational came to mind. I hear that you are not supposed to "Tweet" what you are doing (Apparently that is for facebook). That also caused me to wonder, am I selling out? Reminds me of a quote:

"I think pickles are cucumbers that sold out. They sold their soul to the devil, and the devil is dill..."

Am I pickle who was once a cucumber? Problem is I really like pickles AND cucumbers so if having a Twitter AND a Facebook is wrong... Too bad.

Am I retarded to think this? I like facebook for a means of communication. I think that Twitter is a great concept I just need to find my "niche". It is more difficult than I thought it would be.

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Now on to more random news....

I "Spring Cleaned" this weekend. It felt so nice. We were reaching that point, being married for eight months (almost - 5 days!) and all, that we needed to go through things and most importantly get rid of things!! Our apartment is very homey and quaint but also very small and we cannot afford to let stuff (aka junk!) accumulate. I cannot even begin tell you how good it felt to take a box and a trash bag of "stuff" to Goodwill. I also have a bag of clothes that I am going to pass on to someone I know.

On top of the "stuff" being gone our apartment is clean and smells wonderful. I sleep better when things are clean, don't you?

..................

Right now, as I sit here and type this on my lunch break, I have a roast cooking in the crock pot with all the correct ingredients to make French Dip Sandwiches. I am seriously excited about this people! I love French Dip and I love Home cooking. This ='s happiness for me. :)

On top of that Britt and I have nothing planned tonight. I am thankful for this. Seriously thankful.

Happy Monday. (If Monday can be happy.)

Children

Being married means that there are times I cannot help but think about having children. How fun it will be to have a child of my own; to see Britt and myself through/in a child. Is it all a cake walk? I am not so naive to believe so, but I am still looking forward to it in so many ways.

I would like to put on record that I am NOT pregnant. I hesitate to post anything about kids because I am leery of the conclusion that people might draw.

I am ready to be a mom though. It is something that I believe God puts in every woman. The desire in me is so great right now. It is not the Lords time for Britt and I to have children but I am looking forward to that day with great joy!

I cannot help but wonder what kind of mom I will be. I hope to be the “fun” mom of course and I think that I will be fun. I love adventure and creativity. I thrive on spontaneity and laughter. I know that those are gifts from the Lord and things that I can use to bring laughter and create wonderful memories in our home.

When I think about kids being the good mom is not my greatest concern. I am worried about the responsibility I will have to be a Christ like example and a spiritual leader to my children. Britt, of course, if the spiritual leader in our home and he does, and I know will do, a wonderful job! I know though, that he will be a work during the day and the face my children will see the most, the character (good or bad) they will see the most will be from me.

Wow!
What a responsibility.
What a privilege!

My parents did an awesome job of raising my three brothers and myself. They were amazing and spent hours upon hours talking to and teaching us. I learned from them what it meant to love the Lord with all my heart. I saw in them what it looked like to love others more than myself. I saw what it looked like to stand for what is right no matter the cost.

As I result I experienced for myself a relationship with the Lord and good relationships with other believers. I also felt the sting of persecution for standing alone. I scares me at times to think of people hurting/mocking my children some day. I want my kids to be cool, have tons of friends but even more I want them to do the right thing and often that eliminates “coolness” and so called “friends”.

I was reading a ladies blog today and she was touching on a similar subject. She has the following quote on her blog:

"You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something in your life."

I am working towards having this mindset for my children. I am not even a mother yet, I have not met the precious baby the Lord will bless us with, but I already feel that protective instinct of “No one hurts my kid.” But the thing is that people, other children, WILL hurt them. I will be there to encourage them and wipe their tears, but I also want to say “I am glad you are persecuted.” That sounds so harsh but it is not. Jesus told us “Blessed are the persecuted”, “In this world you will have trouble..”. I want my children to experience the blessing of the Lord and if they choose (Lord willing!) to follow Him then they will experience the hurt and persecution that comes with it but the blessing on the other side will be FAR greater!

"Ahoy there matey"

Do you ever think in a different accent?

I very well may be setting myself up for people walking up to me, putting their hand on my shoulder and saying, "You need help". But I am willing to take that risk. I guess because something in me tells me that I am not the only one who does this!

For example. I am sitting here, checking facebook, email and various other things on the computer. All of a sudden I start thinking "Pirate". Why? I don't know. Did something prompt it? Not to my knowledge.

I do this most often with "Pirate" and "British".

I am mental. I said it. Now you don't have to.

Moving on to things that don't prompt you to recommend a good therapist....

We (Britt and I) FINALLY saw the movie Leap Year. After 3 times trying AND failing we made it the fourth!

1st try - Wednesday, Date night. We decide to be "grown up" and go grocery shopping instead because we had ZERO food.

2nd try - Thursday. We are exhausted!!

3rd try - Friday night. Movie = SOLD OUT. *boo*

4th try - Saturday afternoon. After purchasing tickets (In advance!) we made it to the 4:5o (Matinee!) showing. :) Was it worth 4 tries? Probably not, but it was cute and we had fun!

100!

This is my 100th post! 100 and still going strong!

Does that make this my blogs 100 birthday? haha... I guess if I count a post like a birthday. That is retarded.

Anyway, I can hardly believe I have wrote something on this page 100 times. (I am trying to see how many times I can use "100" in this post)

I am wondering if there is really that much significance in 100 posts. Other than the fact that it is something to post about, probably not. Oh well, here I am anyway. ;)

I was trying to decide what I should to to commemorate this occasion. Maybe a list of 100 things, write 100 words, have a cake? haha... Then I decided to just write about life, because that is what this is anyway. Life, in the written word.

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~LIFE~

- Work ='s CRAZY. 'nough said!

- Britt and I went to eat at BJ's last night, shoe shopping (for him), and grocery shopping. We had such a great time! Seriously! I love how we can just do random things and still have a wonderful time.

If you have never been to BJ's -YOU SHOULD GO!- We LOVE it. Almost every time we get the "Parmesan Crusted Chicken" and split it. It was yum! In fact, I am really hungry right now and my mouth just started watering.

Shoe shopping was fun. Britt was in desperate need of a new pair of tennis shoes (Since he walks about 12 freakin' miles a day he kind of wore his other ones out!). We found a GREAT deal at Famous Footwear. If you need shoes, you should go there right now because they are having a good sale!

Then we went grocery shopping. I love grocery shopping with Britt. He pushes the basket, I walk in front with my little list, as I find things I toss them in the cart, and then he meticulously organizes the cart. It's cute, it works, we fit well together! :)

- Tonight we are going to go see a movie. Leap Year. It looks cute. I think that cute is the right word for it. I feel like seeing a cute movie.

- This weekend we don't have anything planned and I am HAPPY about that. I love lazy weekends. We will go see my family on Friday night or Saturday, and we are planning to have lunch with Britt's family this Sunday because his two older sisters, plus the nieces and nephew will be here. Other than that. Nothing. *Happy sigh*

- I need to remember that Britt has to get his drivers license renewed.

- For those of you who did not know, I do not work Fridays. It is nice. PLUS, this Monday is "Martin Luther King, Jr. Day". Of course I get that off because I am a state employee and we get everything off! haha...

So... Happy four day weekend to me! :). And Happy "100 posts" to my blog. And Happy "Thursday to you!"

I need Him.

“We cannot find Him unless we know we need Him.”


My mom had a small dry erase board hanging on her refrigerator and she likes to write different quotes and verses on it. This quote is the one currently hanging. It was just what I needed when I read it.

The lord has been showing me (again! – I am a slow learner) how utterly dependant I am on Him. I try (WAY to often) to walk through this life on my own strength in my “own way”. Not to be too hard on myself but that is S.T.U.P.I.D.

In the book series I just read one of the characters is “searching” for God, the God of Abraham. He is angry with God and wants to find him to “Give him a piece of his mind!” (Funny thought!) Anyway, through a LONG process and many trials he realizes his need for God.

There is another character who consistently realizes that she needs God and lives her life in an “every moment for Him” kind of way. Even though these books are fiction they are SO convicting. I found myself challenged time after time in my walk with the Lord and what that looks like.

I admit, I more often than not neglect TRULY getting in the word. TRULY praying. TRULY seeking. It sometimes feels like a facade, a on the surface kind of thing. I find that to be more tiring then not doing anything. Maybe that is why God hates the warm believer, the fence rider if you will.


“We cannot find Him unless we know we need Him.”

Well, I know that I need Him. I want to find Him on a deeper, more intimate level.

I appreciated what a guy said in our community group last night. He said that he heard intimacy described as “In-to-me-you-see”.

I want to live in a way that the Lord can look into my heart, and even others around me can see that I am living for Him.

Do you know that you need Him?

Must Reads!

I just finished reading the first two books to "The Mark of the Lion" series by Francine Rivers. Let me just say, if you have never read these books you should! One word. Fabulous! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. It was thrilling, captivating and VERY well written. The book takes place about 40 years proceeding Jesus Crucifixion. It is full of true historical facts but fictional characters. But let me just say that these characters will draw you in to where you do not want to set the book down.

A voice in the wind is the first of the 3 books. I have personally not read the third and have not fully decided to. It does continue the series however the first two you HAVE to read together. In fact, if you choose to by the first you might as well get the second while you are there because you will want it RIGHT away. Can anybody say, "Cliff Hanger"?

The second book, as I said, goes right along with the first and will NOT leave you disappointed. I don't really want to tell you about them or write a detailed review because I don't want to give away ANYTHING.

So, here is my review.

You.

Should.

Read.

Them.

Only $14.99 at your local Mardel! ;)

On top of being able to read the books (enough in it self!). I have been able to participate in a book club with other girls who are reading. We meet once a month and discuss the book we read. Tomorrow we will meet to discuss the second book, An Echo in the Darkness, and we will decide on what to read next. I am so excited! Reading a book with a group of people it so much fun. I am a bookworm though so I get a real kick out of it!

I can only hope the next book is as good as these. They are a new favorite no doubt!

Old and New Years

Well, I am back to the working world. It is going well so far. The first few weeks will be a good time to egt started on things. Work will really pick up at the start of February because the Legislative Session will kick off February 1st! I enjoy the gast pace craziness though so I am looking forward to it!


Still praying for a job for Britt but the Lord will provide in His perfect time. Waiting is always the hardest part. Britt has been kicking it into high gear applying for jobs and I am sure the Lord will reward his dilligence.


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A friend asked me a few days ago, "What is your top goal for 2010?" What a great question! So, what is your top goal for 2010? You should have one!


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2009 What a year it was!!! A whirlwind in fact! Lets recap:


I began my job at the State Capitol as a Legislative Assistant.


The year that I would become Mrs. Lauren Clay.


I learned more about walking in the Spirit. I am going to quote myself from a previous post, "Be the person who walks on a daily basis to do what God is calling you to and not allow stupid things to detour you from what His plan is." Still true and still a good reminder.


Truly discovered my love for Mango Tea from Tea Caffe in Norman.


Coutning days till the wedding!


Made my first donation to http://www.abort73.com/ and bought a t-shirt!


Britt and I put our names down on the waiting list for the apartment that we now live in.


I tried on my wedding dress and it was TOO SMALL!. I freaked. Major. I lost 10 pounds that month. Soon to find out I was only bloated the day I tried it on. By the time my wedding rolled around if I would have lost any more weight it would have been too small! Ironic.


I went to Glorieta New Mexico.



Sent out my wedding invtiations!



3 wedding showers. Realized how blessed and loved we are!


Hosted a surprise Birthday Party for Britt!


Learned a lot about grace. Had some bad experiences at work and I had to learn to extend grace when it was very hard.


Planned, planned and planned some more!

Found out Britt had to take a calss over in the fall. Learned a lot about trusting God and casting my burdens on Him.


Turned 21 and it didn't even feel like it. My birthday was the day before our wedding so it was rehersal day. There is always 22. haha

Got married to Britt Clay on May 30, 2009!


Honeymoon! Destination, San Antonio!


Started a new job. HATED it. Quit.


Cleaned an 18,000 spuare foot house!


Ate lots of Watermelon


Had a fun day with my girl friends. Girls night was a fast growing tradition for sure!


Dyed my hair dark brown!


Got a rude comment on my blog. Vented.


Went to St. Louis, MO.

Learned about worry and not doing it! Money was tight but God is faithful.


Became a Substitue teacher.


Shopping trip to an outlet mall in Texas with good friends!


Ate too much turkey. Good for life now!


Went to 9 Christmas celebrations!

Celebrated the new year in a little cabin, near a fire, doing a whole lot of nothing! *Sigh*

That's about what my year looked like! ;)