I Can Pray

Every week in Sunday school, we stress the idea that prayer is important. On a regular Sunday school morning, we pray 4 times in that one hour of class. We pray before the story, after the story, before snack, and then an open ended prayer at the end for all of the kids to pray about whatever that want. If you ask me, it's only fitting that we do a lesson on prayer.

This story was a collection of verses from Matthew 6. The story takes place when Jesus is sitting on the mountain side preaching to the masses. He gives instructions on things like giving to the needy, fasting, worry, and also prayer. He tells the people to not pray like those in the synagogue or those who are praying for attention, but to pray genuinely with all you are. He then gives the example of the Lord's Prayer that displays the different aspects a prayer has: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and sacrament.

To teach this to a 3 year old, we really focused on the fact that you can tell Jesus everything and that he wants to hear about everything -- big and little. 

For their take home, they made a "spinner" out of 2 paper plates, a brad, and some paper. 

 It does require about 10 minutes of prep work, but it's just cutting.

One the sheet of paper, draw a circle that is the size of the center of the paper plate and cut it out. If you're feeling lazy, here's the circle that I used without the things they can pray on it. 

 On the sheet of paper, I mentally divided it into four sections and wrote in three of the sections things they can pray for, leaving the fourth one blank. I've learned that vague and simple things like "for my family" or "for my school" works best. 

Leave one plate in it's original, whole circle form, and on the other plate, cut out a quarter of the plate. On this 3 quarter plate,  write "I can pray..." and Matthew 6:6, or another reference about prayer.

For them to make it, I had them color pictures of the things they can pray for as well as come up with an additional thing to pray for to fill in the blank quarter.

Once they colored it, I had them glue the circle onto the whole plate. Then, I took the quartered paper plate and brad and assembled the spinner part. 

From bottom to top, it should go whole plate, circle glued onto plate, quartered plate, and the brad.

If you were to make this with older kids, they could write "I can pray.." and the chosen reference. 

One mom told me that her son took it home and keeps it on his bedside to decide what to pray for each night before bed.

Relatively simple yet useable at any point in life as a reminder to pray about everything.

Tuesday Treasures

August 18, 2015

It is a rainy Tuesday in Nashville which only makes me want crawl back in bed and finish my book, but sadly, that did not get to happen. There have been many joys this week despite the sad weather. 

For those who didn't know, my grandfather is one of my most favorite people on this planet. He loves me with such a genuine, constant love and is such a role model of mine in every single way. If you know him, you'd know that he is almost always seen with a coffee cup and blue shirt when he teaches his Sunday school class.

On Sunday, I go to meet my parents after service and I am greeted by this:

It turns out that his Sunday School bought a bobble head for him, and the resemblance is uncanny. 

Such a small, humorous gesture of appreciation brought such a smile to my face then, and as I type this, I am grinning ear to ear as well.

If you're interested in a replica bobblehead, check out https://www.likenessme.com/ to order one.

Even in the dark skies, yesterday was filled with color and life because of the Lilly After Party Sale.

Until yesterday, I had never participated in the APS, but I now know I am participating in every other one to come. 

Yall, these deals were crazy.

$298 Annabelle dresses for $99, $69 shorts for $44, $70 scarves for $29. 

It was every Lilly lover's dream.

If my funds were more thorough, I definitely would have bought a few dresses and a scarf or two, but I couldn't swing much more than a top or two.

I purchased the Amelia Island Tunic in Resort White and I am so excited for it to come in. I have wanted a tunic like this for a long while and now, I finally have one. When it comes in, I will be sure to let you know about the fit and wear of it all.

I'm already saving up for the next APS, which happen twice a year so in case you missed out, I'll be sure to post some tips and details for it! 

Much like the south has Cracker Barrels and Waffle Houses, the north has Friendly's. Friendly's is sort of like a Steak n Shake for those who are familiar with that chain. They're known for their ice cream and milkshakes.

When we were in Pennsylvania, I got to taste Friendly's food and desserts multiple times as there was one right next to our hotel at Hershey. 

Their coffee ice cream is my personal favorite, but my mom's favorite is a slice of Watermelon Roll.

Watermelon Roll is basically sherbet ice cream with chocolate chips in the shape on a watermelon. Sadly, they didn't serve it in store and Mom never got her slice of Watermelon Roll Cake while we were up there, but when I was shopping with my grandmother on Saturday and found Friendly's Watermelon Roll Cake. I promptly put it in our buggy and surprised her once I got home.

Her face when she opened it was priceless. I hope I never forget that look of excitement she had. Sure, it was just a piece of ice cream, but it brought so much joy to her that it made my heart happy. 

I know I've sung the praises of She Reads Truth many times before, but they shared a wonderful quote in one of their recent devotionals:

"What I do is because of who I am; what I do does not make me who I am."

Everything I do is because of the events and people and beliefs I have, but what I do does not define all that I am. I am more than my daily cup of coffee or my excitement about new music and concerts. I am more than anything anyone could ever try to make me, and you are, too. Not to get cheesy, but remember this. Don't let anyone try to define you because you can be whoever you want to be.

xo,

lauren 

Tuesday Treasures

August 11, 2015

This week has been so busy. Balancing golf with school and church and babysitting has actually been very hard. I'm typically good about managing my time, but it's hard to manage time you don't have, you know?

Going back to school means going back into dress code. Our dress code is cap sleeves and nothing 6 inches above the knee. My Nike shorts are more than 6 inches above the knee, which means that right there eliminates most of my summer attire. So...we went to Old Navy. I found these jeans, which I am currently wearing as I write this. I have worn Old Navy jeans for as long as I can remember: classic skinny or midrise sweetheart fit since day one. They are cheaper price wise, but just as high quality as department stores. I wear mine out! They come in many different fits, colors, and styles. I guarantee they have a fit that flatters every body type.

If you didn't know, my most recent accomplishment off the golf course was making my grandmother shortcake from scratch (and it turned out totally wonderful. Of course, what is strawberry shortcake without whip cream?

Originally, my plan was to make the shortcake and whip cream from scratch, but I chickened out and just bought a can. I explained this to my grandmother and she insisted that she show me how to make fresh whip cream, so Sunday night, we did just that. Really all you need is a cup of heavy whipping cream, 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Mix it together with a mixer until peaks form! This makes about 2.5 cups of whip cream, but if you need more, just use the whole pint and double everything else! 

The stuff in the can has nothing on this fresh cream. It is so much richer, and I really do think everyone should try fresh whip cream at least once.

In the summer, I am very very bad about throwing my hair into a messy bun on top of my head. Honestly, it's a good day if I just brush it. I'm very low maintenance, but I do enjoy "dressing up" just as much as the next person. I love how my hair looks when I curl or straighten it. 

For promotion Sunday at church (all the kids and students move up a grade), I decided I was gonna do just that. I used a 1.5 inch Remington curling wand and 1 inch sections of hair. I'm normally not this happy with the curls I get, but I loved these, especially once they relaxed and curled around each other. I'm still trying to master the whole barrel/mermaid curl, but until I can get that, I'll gladly settle for these.

I also broke out my Lilly and Jacks for promotion Sunday :) #lovemyjacks

Part of my morning routine before school is listening to really good, uplifting music to get in a fresh mindset. I typically play my "good morninggg" playlist with Young and Free, Matt Maher, and those kind of people, but I felt adventurous Sunsay morning and played iTunes Radio's Christian station. I lucked out and found a gem. It is Beautiful" by MercyMe.

"Days will come when you don't have the strength

When all you hear is you're not worth anything"

When I first heard this, school was starting in less than 24 hours. I was about to immerse myself in a world full of "you're only as good as your clothes" and "your grades are how I see you." 

I stopped fixing my hair and sat on my bedroom floor with my eyes closed.

"You are made for so much more than all of this
You're beautiful
You are treasured, you are sacred, you are His"

For me, it is so easy to believe that my grades are my value and that the score of my golf game is my identity.  And I forget that I am so much more.  I am treasured, sacred, and His. I am not the 42 I shot at Brentwood Country Club. I am not the size of the jeans on my legs. I am not the Vera Bradley lunch box in my hand. I am a child of God who is priceless to the One who gave His life for me. 

Thank you for reminding me, MercyMe. 

Don't you forget it this week either.

xoxox,

Lauren

Chicago 2015

I sit here over 2 weeks later, and I am still trying to put into words everything that happened on my trip to Chicago at the end of July.

It is always amazing to me the many different ways God reveals himself when we take the time to listen. 

 Working with this excellent team, I went up to Chicago, and we put on kids' carnivals with games and bible stories in hopes of connecting families with Reborn Community Church.

It was amazing how God brought together so many different people with so many different gifts. We all come from different homes and different backgrounds, but we were all united because of a belief in Him, and His glory was definitely the outcome. 

After church and some last minute planning and on Sunday night, we headed out to the parks bright and early Monday morning. 

Im the parks, we played games (sack races, tic tac toe, connect 4, etc), made balloon animals, and painted faces.

Each day, we were at a different site, which gave us so many opportunities to meet new kids and love on them in ways that don't always recieve at home. 

Cherish and I played Fish In A Bowl for at least an hour, if not more. She was so satisfied sorting the green, pink, and orange balls among the 7 bowls, something so small. Through this precious 3 year old, I could see a message about being content. 

I personally am so bad about becoming unsatified with things after a short period of time, but Cherish could have (and probably would have) sat and sorted balls all day. She didn't ask about snack or when we were going to do story. She sat and was content with all she had and was doing. So many times, I am not that way. I am almost always thinking of what I'm doing next, when really, that ruins what I'm doing now.

Much like Cherish, Denaeja taught me an awful lot, too. 

At this specific park, there was a preschool next door, and during their free time, the teachers brought them out to play at the carnival. These kids were on a class schedule, so they had to leave before we got to tell our bible story, which is really the main point of the carnivals. 

BUT!

Their preschool ended at 1:45 and our carnival didn't end until 3, so a select few came running back across the field when they got dismissed -- Denaeja was one of them.

Both when she was with the class and when she came back, Denaeja and I hung out. She drew hearts on my cheeks, and I drew a butterfly on her forehead. 

Once she came back out, she asked what she had missed, so I began to relay the story of Abraham to her. 

For those who may not know, Abraham is a man who obeyed God when God told him to pack up all his things and move. God promised Abraham as many descendants as there are stars in the sky, and His promise came true. When we were being trained on telling these stories, we were told to emphasize that God has a plan and that He is faithful in every way. 

After I told D this story, she looks at me and says, "God has a plan for you, too!" 

If you know me at all, you should know how badly I stress. I stress about basically everything, but when I heard her reassure me that God does have a plan for me, I almost cried.

He reveals himself in the most unsuspecting ways. 

Despite my experience last year, foolish me went into this trip trying to pour into these kids' lives, but really they poured into mine. 

They are so trusting and so content. They are also so open minded, which is something I admire very, very

much. 

God not only broke my heart for this beautiful city, but He has begun to break my heart for the lost people, even at home. Coming back, I am so much more aware of the lost and broken around me, and I'm ready to share the Good News with them. 

My prayer these next fee weeks is that God will give me a content heart like Cherish and a trusting heart like Denaeja, but also for a completely broken heart for those around me.

"Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what is good in His sight."

- 2 Samuel 10:12

xox,

Lauren

(For the touristy side of it all, check out this post.)

Tuesday Treasures

August 3, 2015

Life is starting to get crazy and crazier as school beings to approach. It seemed at first glance that I could only see the treasures of life when everything is calm and relaxed, but I'm so thankful that isn't the truth. Though this week has been primarily spent babysitting, there's just as much joy in watching Paw Patrol as traveling the streets of Pennsylvania.

SRT is where it's at, y'all. SRT stands for "She Reads Truth," which is a daily bible study via email or the app. They never fail to have the most wonderful daily devotions. They just completed a study called "Women in the Word" that went through the Bible book by book and studied the lives of the women in the Bible. It covered the majors like Mary and Eve to the unsung heroes such as Joanna and Pilate's Wife. Their devotions are short, but so insanely rich and applicable in any walk of life!

They actually started a new study today called "This is the Gospel," and I know that I personally can not wait to start it. I've been a "she" for almost a year now, and SRT has definitely made a difference in how I look at every situation.

SRT is middle Tennessee based and have writers of all different kinds, but they are all united by a passionate love for Jesus.  

You can sign up for their daily emails here or you can download their app for your iPhone or for your Android.

This past Friday was my grandmother's birthday, and one of the birthday traditions we have on that side is a homemade family dinner. For all of our birthdays, Amma cooks for us, but this year, I decided that I was going to cook dinner for her, and that is exactly what happened. We had chicken enchiladas roll ups and strawberry shortcake. The enchiladas are a family recipe, but when my grandfather and I decided we should make shortcake,  I was a little stumped. Buying the pre-made sponge cakes from Publix just wasn't appealing to me, so I scoured Pinterest and found an excellent shortcake recipe. It claims to be of Amish origin, and I do not doubt that at all.

It takes about 30 minutes and is hundreds of times better than the pre-made ones. This recipe makes a nice biscuity base and delicious flour, sugar, and butter topping.

When I made it, I made 9 servings because I cut the 8x8 pan into 3x3 rows and the serving sizes were just right. 

We did learn that it doesn't keep well over night, so it is best to make it the morning/day of your event.

I got so many complements about this cake and it is so addicting! This recipe is great because the toppings can be way more than just strawberries. My brother put cinnamon on his, and the original author/s dad puts milk on his. The possibilities with this recipe are endless! I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for an easy dessert base.

I feel like I'm preaching to the choir when I say coffee is the best conversational drink, but it really is. This week, I got a wonderful opportunity to catch up with a very very dear friend and role model of mine that I look up to with all that is in me, and we caught up over breakfast and coffee. My heart is so full after our conversation, and I am more encouraged than ever. If you're ever trying to get to know someone or to catch up, breakfast and coffee is a great place to start.

Kyle Donn is a genius. This week, I came across an article of his called "Sexy Christianity." I know, you're probably as skeptical as I was when I saw it, too, but believe me, it is worth the read. Not so much focusing on the sexual side of Christianity, Donn questions the "believers" motives who succumb to Christian social trends and reminds all who read that our sights should be on God's approval. Not man's. Check it out when you have 5 minutes. It is brilliant.

You can also read more from his blog, http://kyledonn.com/.

Even when it's busy, you just gotta look for the little things.

xo,

lauren