Tuesday Treasures

July 28, 2015

For the ride up and back to Chicago (post coming soon), Apple Music was my best friend. When it first came out, I immediately made the switch from Spotify (all motivation goes to my inner teenage girl who occasionally wants to jam to Taylor Swift). It has taken me well over 2 weeks to get my playlists even half way decent, but with time, they'll get there.

To me, Apple Music isn't as appealing to the eye as Spotify. Spotify looks more sleek and user friendly, while Apple Music is bland.

Spotify also has some features that Apple Music doesn't. Spotify checks the playlist before you add the song, while it is very easy to double up tracks with Apple. Spotify's playlists are also a thousand times better. Apple's "playlists" are really only about ten songs long, which really isn't even a real playlist to me.

I've loved the library that is available on Apple Music, but that's really about it.

Friday Night Lights is absolutely golden, y'all. I'm only on season 2, but I am in love. I never have missed football season more or wished I grew up in a football town more than when I watch this show. Within only a matter of episodes, you fall in love with the Taylors and Tim Riggins. It's a quality show full of drama and love. I'm watching through it on Netflix, but it is also available on Amazon and other retailers.

I don't know how often you go to Chicago, but if you're ever in Chicago, I definitely recommend a stop at Rudy's Bar and Grille. For our "free night" on our trip, my group made a stop at Rudy's on East Madison, and it was wonderful. Our table split an order of fried pickles that were more expensive for the serving size and quality, but they were a great taste of home throughout the week of no sweet tea. For my entree, I ordered the buffalo chicken sandwich without the bleu cheese and a side of their homemade chips. Now you see, I'm very picky about house made chips. I have had the best ones (Bricks' Cafe), and ever since then, I have only been impressed by a few, and Rudy's is one of them. They were so delicious. If you're ever looking for a decent, family friendly restaurant in Chicago, I highly recommend Rudy's. 

To close out this week of Chicago themed treasures, I have to include the bean. It's totally wrong if I don't. Another stop on our "free night" was at the large mirrored object in downtown Chicago. Despite the many hand prints and the streaks on it's reflection, the bean is pretty cute. In all honesty, I think the bean is pointless and a waste of money, but it makes for some cool pictures and creative captions, so it's all balances out. For example: 

"Hey how ya bean?" "Thanks for bean my friend" "Bean friends with you never gets old" "It's bean a while since my last selfie, so here you go" 

See? The possibilities are endless. 

Bean thankful for everything makes life so much happier.

Sorry, I couldn't help it :)

xo,

lauren

Never Be Thirsty

Another Sunday, another craft, right?

This week's story was about the woman at the well, who met Jesus there. In quick synopsis, this woman (who remains unnamed) goes as she does every day to this well to draw water, and on this specific day, she encounters Jesus there. Though first caught off guard for she is a Samaritan and he is a Jew and the simple conversation breaks the normal social ladder, Jesus tells her how this water she is drawing will never quench her thirst, but if she drank from the water He gives, she would never be thirsty. Obviously going over her head, she asks where to get this water. He proceeds to reveal some facts about her that only a prophet would know, and then, He reveals his identity as the Messiah. She runs back to town, and because of her testimony, many Samaritans become believers.

To me, this is a great story of undiscriminating love that only Jesus can give.
Since kids are very physical learners, as some entry activities, we got large bowls and filled them with water as well as some items that they could transfer the water from bowl to bowl with as if "drawing water."
For the craft, we made cups of water. It is so simple, and can be altered depending on age levels.

For my 4 year olds, I cut the water drop, punched the holes, wrote the reference, and cut the string. If you have older kids, I suggest letting them punch the holes and write the reference.

By tying the drop to the cup, it lets them "fill the cup" just like the woman at the well would have.

My church provides labels with the unit verse on it that we placed on the outside of the cup reading a paraphrase of Matthew 28:19-20. A few of the kiddos also decorated their cups with crayons if this seems a bit bland to you. 

For older kids, you could get a water drop for each word and have them write each word on one drop and tie them together. I would write the end of verse 13 reading "whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst."

The suggested craft provided by my church looked like this, but I thought this was too coloring based for my class of all boys to enjoy.

If you're interested in this one, here is a file of the print out of the well. They used 2 man di-cuts to represent Jesus and the woman. Everything else was colored on.

"Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.'" 

John 4:13-14

I think verses 13 and 14 convey the overall message of the story very well that nothing in this world can satisfy us except for Jesus. Friends, sports, fame, work, none of that can satisfy us.

This week, let's focus on the one who can satisfy us, and worship him in all that we do.

Tuesday Treasures

July 14, 2015

I have spent the past 7 months of my life watching Lorelai Gilmore's disastrous love life, and I have absolutely no regrets. After 153 episodes of Gilmore Girls, I finally know who Loreali ends up with, and I could not be more satisfied.

Stars Hollow and Gilmore Girls have become a part of me, like it or not. The girls' obsession with coffee has only fed my obsession with coffee, I can't help but think of Luke when I see an older blue pick up truck, and I see my mom as my best friend now. 

Gilmore Girls is one of the few clean humored shows that I thoroughly enjoy. Light enough to play in the background when I'm cleaning, but deep enough that I was in tears during the series finale. It's perfect.

Gilmore Girls follows the lives of single mom, Lorelai Gilmore, and daughter Lorelai Gilmore (known as Rory) from Rory's freshman year until she graduates college. When Rory gets into a prestigious, expensive, private school, Lorelai is left with no choice, but to turn to her wealthy parents after years of avoiding. They agree to fund her education...as long as Lorelai and Rory will join them for Friday night dinners.. If you're looking for a great TV show, Gilmore Girls is definitely it. All 7 seasons are on Netflix, as well as available for DVD purchase. 

I caved in..I bought Jack Rogers. I am totally not sorry for the $94 I spent on them either.

I ordered the Hampton's sandal in platinum, and they go with literally everything. I wore them to church on Sunday, I wore them to coffee yesterday, I wore them to a mission trip training. They go with everything. I discovered they run a little big, but nothing unbearable. I typically wear between a 7.5 and 8, and I figured it would be better to be too big than too small, so I went ahead and ordered an 8. There's a little bit of room at both ends, but not enough to trip or drag. 

Typically, from Jack Rogers' website, these sandals are $118, but I bought mine from Country Club Prep, where they are also $118, but I found a lovely coupon for 20% off, so I knocked the price down to $94. The 20% off code is for anything on their website, and you can use it over and over again. Awesome, right?

The code is "xcgal98". One of the girls I follow on Pinterest has a partnership with Country Club Prep, and encouraged me to use it, so feel free to get your 20% off.

Country Club Prep is an amazing source for all of my favorite brands. Until recently, I hadn't paid much attention to them, but they are definitely my go to shopping site now. With fast, free shipping and great quality products, I can't complain.

Check out all of CCP's Jack Rogers here, and the ones that I bought here. The black ones are the next on my list.

With the new addition of Apple Music (which I'm still trying to figure out), I've been using iTunes radio while trying to reconstruct all my playlists, and iTunes radio brought me a new artist who is one of the best.

Marie Miller.

Until this week, I had never heard of her or any of her songs, but "6-2" is one of my current favorites. Her folky style and easy, powerful voice draws me in and her creative story telling about her future husband and acceptance keep me listening. 

Check her album out on iTunes, and give her a follow on Twitter. I think she's just the cutest thing.

This week, I've needed some encouragement, and when I saw this, I just fell in love with it.
"I hope you know you're capable and brave and significant even when it feels like you're not."
I really love this, and I hope you always feel capable, brave, and significant.
 I found a sweet friend who made me feel this way this week and it made all the difference. Surround yourself with people who make you feel this way and help others feel this way, too. Life will be so much better if you do!

I'm off to Chicago for a mission trip on Saturday. Your prayers for safety and opportunity for conversation are greatly needed and appreciated! I can't wait to see what God is going to do through our team.

You're capable, brave, and significant. Live like it this week.

xo,

lauren

Culture or Faith?

The world is changing, and it is changing very fast. With the world changing, many people are going to change, too because if you don't know what you stand for, it is so easy to start believing everything the world is saying is true and right.

My church's weekly bible study is going through Colossians, which I think could not be more timely. The book of Colossians is a letter from Paul (formerly Saul) to the church is Colossae, who is undergoing many struggles, in the same way that the church is now. The church in Colossae is dealing with false teachings, and honestly, we are, too.

Is that group that protests peacefully right? Do we accept what the government says is right? Is Westboro Baptist Church right?

As laws change and new philosophies emerge, we, as Christians, have to know where what is right. We have to know what we stand for. We are going to hear all kinds of perspectives, but we need to know what the one thing that we know is true says. The church can't take Christians who are luke-warm with their beliefs anymore.

"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ." Colossians 2:8

People are going to try to change what you believe. Maybe not straight up, but they're going to question why you believe something, and if you can't defend it, you're that much more of an easy target.

We have to know what we believe and why we believe it, now more than ever. In all honesty, we're in a post-Christian country now. Persecution to the church and to Christians has already begun socially. How long until it begins physically?

Culture in the US is a very powerful thing. It controls almost every aspect of lives from our eating to music to clothes. Though we're no longer of the world with Christ, we are still in it, and this culture can definitely effect us. But how long are you going to let your culture define your faith? When are you going to let your faith begin to define your culture?

It is hard to stick out in this culture. It's not easy, but just like a new suit, it gets easier. So many times in Colossians (especially chapter 3), Paul refers to life in Christ like putting on new clothes. It's uncomfortable at first, but it  really does get better.

Our culture is forever changing. There is always a new trend coming around the corner, so why do we let something so temporary decide something that is eternal? God is the same today that He was yesterday and will be tomorrow.

It's time to figure out what you believe, and stand your ground for it. 

Are you going to let culture define your faith, or are you going to define culture with your faith?

"Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules?" 

Colossians 2:20

Lauren

Tuesday Treasures

July 7, 2015

This past week has been a relaxing one. Though it was the 4th of July, and the U.S. Women's team won, this week here in Nolensville has been just like any other.

One thing that has dominated my life pretty recently is coffee. It shouldn't be a surprise that I love it, but I don't only treasure it for it's flavor (though it is one of my most favorite flavors). The conversations I have had this past week are the real treasures, and it just so happens that I had coffee in my hands during them. Such real, intentional conversation happens when you sit down with someone and lay your heart out, whether it is your best friend or someone you want to get to know. A good conversation can be hard to start, but saying you want to drink coffee is a pretty darn good reason to sit down with someone and converse.

In middle Tennessee, there are coffee shops everywhere, especially in Franklin, but The Well and Mama's Java are my two favorites. The Well is a missional coffee shop with a rustic feel and a friendly atmosphere. There are 2, one on Granny White Pike and one on OHB. When I went into the one on Old Hickory Boulevard, all I could think (and say) was "this is so cute!!" Mason jar lights, artsy chalk boards, and warehouse ceilings. If you're ever in Brentwood, I definitely recommend the Well for some intentional conversation. Their iced hazelnut latte is my recommendation

If you're ever to Brentwood's southern neighbor, Nolensville, your options for coffee shops becomes a bit more limited considering the small town you're in. Though it is Nolensville's only coffee shop, Mama's Java is one of my favorite environments. I've had many breakfasts with Poppa there and several cups of coffee with Em there, and I find myself going back every time. Their Americano is excellent year round, but their iced vanilla coffee is my go to summer time drink. Check their facebook page for the most up to date specials!

The book of Colossians has been one of my lifelines lately. With the world changing around us so rapidly, I can't help, but cling to this letter to the church in Colossae. A more in depth post coming about it soon, but if you're questioning what is true as our laws and world evolves, Colossians is a good place to start.

This past week, the University of Tennessee has revealed their #OneTennessee line, which is their new Nike uniforms and apparel. I love Nike, and I love UT, so I really have no problem with the brand change. Nike brought so many cute things to Tennessee, but my most favorites are these pullovers. 

This gray one definitely put on my "to buy" list, but it is almost sold out, and this orange one is totally cute, too. I know Nike probably wasn't going for "cute," but it is what it is. In all honesty, I would take one of everything they revealed.

                               

I don't really think it is a "Tuesday Treasures" without a new recipe, and this week's is one of my new favorites. It is a french onion chicken casserole. I know I say everything is my favorite, but I could eat my weight in this stuff. So. Good. And it even has those crispy french onions on top. Yum!

                                                                        

I really hope you have real conversations this week! It is so good to let down your guard for a few hours and drink some delicious coffee while you're at it. 

xoxo.

lauren

Hannah Prayed

This week's bible story was about Hannah.

For those who don't know, Hannah was Samuel's mother. Her story is a story of faithfulness and trust in God. 

In short, Hannah was one of two wives to Elkanah, and Peninnah was the other wife. Hannah did not have any children, while Peninnah did, and back then, how many children you had was a big deal. For many years, Hannah prayed to God about becoming pregnant. She actually prayed so hard that she could not eat, and another time, she prayed so hard the priest thought she was drunk...Hannah even made a promise to God that if He gave her a son, she would have her child serve God for all of his days. After all this time of praying, Hannah became pregnant, and later, she gave birth to Samuel. Once Samuel was old enough, Hannah indeed turned him over to serve God. 

Even though she was giving up her baby, something she prayed for years about to the point that she was sick over, she still praised God. She still praised him for being holy. You can read her whole prayer in 1 Samuel 2, and more about her conceiving Samuel in chapter 1.

Originally, I had this craft in mind, but I could not find the printable for Hannah. My artistic abilities are not that extensive, so I settled with this.

We made prayer books with things we can pray about. Super easy if you can't tell, and it sparked great conversation with the kids.

On the inside, we had 4 pages with 3 of them being things that they can pray for.

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We put things like my family, my friends, and my church, and had them illustrate who/what they were praying for.

To make the hands, I just traced a rough, slightly larger mitten shape of my hand and cut it out on 5 different colors to make it a little more appealing to the eye. For the words to the book, I uploaded the file here and you are more than welcome to use it in your book. 

Super easy, and a great discussion starter that can also serve as a reminder to both us and them to pray about everything.

xox,

lauren