to Do List

1. Bring posters to ARC.

2. Finish 4 hours at ARC.

3. Finish Field Experience Packet.

4. Math sample test- do to determine whether or not to skip class

5. Find idea for VBS offering incentive.

6. Print Accomodations/Modifications.

7. Batteries for calculator.

8. Find a protractor I can read.

9. Check with references.

10. Find a special ed teacher to interview.

11. Post LiveText 2.

12. Sunday School lesson.

13. Call bank to reset password.

14. Write a letter/email to Sandra.

15. Laundry.

16. Find camera power cord.

17. Bake cake for the 4th.

18. Eye doctor appointment.

19. Study for Survey final...the one that's in approx. 2 hours.

20. Read Bible. (Job is done. On to Exodus)

This is the kind of stuff my weeks are made of. And the reason I need to stop procrastinating and get on top of things!

life at this moment

<a href="http://www.laurenelizabethadam.blogspot.com"> <img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/wetuhpfreak/meme.gif" /> </a>

I'm back (for another week of life at this moment at least!).

So, we've done introductions....and the sharing of summer goals. What to do next? (If you know the answer to this question....leave it in the comments, I'd love to get some ideas. Haha!)

Plans for the 4th of July, what are you doing? (Thanks to Mom for this week's idea!)

We normally spend the day up at the lake for the fourth. This year, since it falls on a Sunday, we'll get up and go to church in the morning (and I'll teach my 2 kids that show up for Sunday School). Then, we'll head out there. I also plan on making this super cute cake!

I'm listening to....

Silence. Or rather....my asthmatic computer in the silence. For once, Pandora and/or iTunes aren't pulled up. And the boys are being relatively quiet. This silence thing isn't really a bad thing. :)

I'm reading....

The Bible....Job to be exact. I was reading in the Chapters 38-39 range last night. You should totally go check that out. I serve an awesome God. That's all I can say.

I'm thinking about...

Many things. But I think this post on my other blog kind of sums it all up. Pray with me? I know that I need some guidance on this one. :)

I'm inspired by...

This book. I really can't say enough about it. :)

I mean, I see random people walking down the street and I tell them about it. Okay...maybe it's not like that, but I have had a conversation or two about it on campus. With people that I semi-know (yes, MOM, that's a word).

5 favorite links of this week...

1. This spoke to me.

2. Hobby. Lobby.

3. I'm pretty sure I've linked to this blog every week. But....it's kind of one of my favorites.

4. Bakerella. She's my fav.

5. Gap Year? What do you think about it? How about this? (Okay...so, I know that technically made 6 links...but who cares?)

Picture of the Week...

(note: this doesn't actually have to be a picture from this week. that would be way too difficult here.)

Note to self: Wear flip-flops less and chacos more. Must. Work. On. That. Chaco Tan. It's FADING! (You see...I've always wanted one. And now I have a very faint one). This picture is from football season last year. Because I don't have a recent one uploaded to Photobucket and I'm too lazy to do that. :)

this world has nothing for me.

You are the source of life
I can't be left behind
No one else will do
I will take hold of You

My heart is yours for life
I need your hand in mine
No one else will do
I put my trust in you
I need You Jesus

I've come to realize that I'm a goal person. I like to create goals for myself. They aren't bad things....they're actually fairly normal for the society we live in. Things like "Make good grades", "Finish college...in four years", "Get a job", "Get married", "Have kids", "Adopt cute Asian babies"....these aren't inherently bad goals. They're actually pretty good. I'm pretty sure my parents would like me to finish college in four years. And I mean...jobs are good. And marriage and kids aren't too bad either.

But, I've come to realize that maybe my plans aren't God's plans. Maybe he has something so much bigger planned...but I'm going to miss out on it. And it is breaking me inside. I like the idea of getting married right out of college. I had it all planned out....time frame and everything. I like being called pretty. Relationships are comfortable. I over analyze everything. But  then...God has a way of making his way into my life. And putting his plans in my life....and well....his plans don't always correspond with mine the way I would like them to. It's a scary thought....but what if I'm not called to be a Mom? I can't imagine that scenario. I've always wanted to be a stay at home Mom...and I dream of the day that I have a kid running up to me calling me Mommy. But, what if that isn't in my near (10 years out) future? What if God is calling me to go serve him...uninhibited? Maybe I need to stop planning my life around my three (now two) year timeline. Maybe....I need to stop seeking praise from the world...and instead praise my creator.

In the end....it's not going to matter if I finish college in 4 years. Or really...if I finish at all. Jesus could come back tomorrow...and I need to know that I'm doing everything I can to serve him....faithfully, not halfheartedly. The things that were my dreams....they don't matter. I can't let anything get in the way. I can't let my plans get in the way of God's plans....they are so much better...I know it.

There are tough decisions in my future. I honestly don't know what I want to do with my life. Or rather, what God wants me to do with his life. I'm being called to serve. I'm listening to God for guidance on that one. And those other plans? I definitely hear a loud voice on that one. Those plans need to make way for God. I need to trust him to take care of everything...and not take things into my own hands. The world tells  me I need to hurry up and grow up....but, I think I need to leave room for God in the equation.

By the way. There's this book. Called Radical. Changed my life. My viewpoint. Showed me...I'm not who I thought I was. I'm called to a higher purpose. There's something more....something better. Something radical.

overview

I've come to the conclusion that I'm not a really great blogger.

I don't blog as often as I'd like to.

I kind of always imagined that once I started blogging I would blog about my everyday life and with pictures and it would be all fun and exciting.

But, honestly...the excitement quotient of my life has not exponentially increased since beginning blogging. And I don't really take more pictures. I should work on that. :)

But, since I want to make an effort to blog more about what I'm doing...

I'm going to tell you what I've been doing. Since I have an awesome life and all.

Ha. Very funny.

We can start on last Saturday. Since that is the only day I have a picture of.

You see, on Saturday we went to Birmingham to go shopping. We found an outdoorsy outlet store. They had a Chaco sale. Just not in my size. Tear, tear. And then, we went to a really cool Schlotzsky's/Cinnabon. I'm competely serious. It was a Schlotzsky's with a Cinnabon combo deal (like you order at the same register). I mean, the best of two worlds. AND they brought your food to your table. Super cool. And then we went shopping at the Summit/Galleria. Mom and I went to Anthropologie (my favorite! Someday I want my house to look like this) and Vera Bradley (I needed a lanyard to put my AUM School of Education nametag on. I have to look cute you know!). And then, we went to JCrew. And I found cute shorts on sale in my size. Um. Yay. And then....we went to the Melting Pot for dinner. They had fondue. And it's a nice restaurant. And we had two boys....so imagine how that went. Here's a picture....

Annnnd....then there was Sunday. I taught Sunday School to cute second graders. We played some games. And learned about responsibility. And then...we went to Mimi's for a Father's Day lunch. I'm not going to discuss that visit. Let's just say that right before they brought out the food, they decided to let me know that they we out of the quiche I wanted. So....I had Zoe's for lunch instead. Then, we ran some errands in Montgomery. Got the boys some of those oh so ugly Crocs.

Then, came the school week. On Monday and Tuesday I had class at night. Tuesday morning I went over to ARC where I'm doing some observations for my special education class (that's a blog post all for itself....you would be amazed at what goes on. But I have to get my hours done first. You know.) Then, when I left ARC, I headed to a children's ministry pool party. Where I of course didnt bring a swimmy-suit. Of course. So, I just stuck my toes in. And then....homework. Class. Science lab. You know the drill.

That brings me to today. Today is Wednesday. Wednesday comes in the middle of the week. I am halfway there. This morning, I got up to finish a presentation that i presented at approximately 1:30pm. I thought it went well. Then, when I got out of class, I worked on some homework and made my to-do list with a friend. Then, she got the great idea that we should go to Chick-Fil-A for dinner. And I LOVE Chick-Fil-A. I could eat it...um...seven times a day?

(Click on the video to go to YouTube and watch it. Because this blog is stupid and cuts off part of the video...)

Now that I went off on a completely random tangent....

And so, we went there for dinner before heading to Elementary Math (also know as the MOST boring, LEAST useful class on the planet Earth). We learned about angles. And curves. And polygons. And used protractors. And then, I came home and blogged.

So...I think I know now why I don't blog more. I ramble.

I need to get a life.

And go on a vacation.

best daddy ever? i think so.

So, for those of you who didn’t know, today is Father’s Day. If you haven’t done anything by now, you might want to hurry up, because the day is almost over.

Here’s where it all began. I’m the little one. :)

I’m thinking this is on an Easter Sunday. All I know is that there’s pictures out there of Mom in a dress that matches mine and Daddy’s tie is coordinated. I’m guessing that was back when we were one of those families. You know the ones.

I also feel inclined to mention that Daddy is the fun one. :) He let me sit on tables. Come on…you know that was probably unsafe.

This is from when we were in the process of moving to Alabama. I think. Honestly, I don’t remember that far back.

Um. Yeah. So my Daddy’s the greatest. :)

After about seven years, there was an addition to the family. That went/goes by the name of Max. I’m still not convinced that that was a good decision. I think my imaginary friend was a little less annoying. :)

And then, about four years later, along came Desmond. I just had to throw this picture in. It makes me laugh. :)

And here we are today. Yes, it looks slightly different than the first. But, that’s a good thing right? I don’t think (okay, I know. There’s genetics involved) that I would be the person I am today without my Daddy. And for that…I am thankful. :)

i'm alive...

I would like to say that this week has been busy and that's why I haven't been a very good blogger. But, the truth of the matter is that my power cord decided to start shooting sparks last Sunday morning.

So, we had to order a new one via Amazon.com

And my computer is still asthmatic and deciding to shut down at random intervals.

I hate HP. Even though they make pretty computers.

So, for this week, there is no "Life at This Moment". I'm still trying to catch up on everything and my unread blog list is insanely long. Oh- and the fact I have a HUGE presentation and assignment for my Special Education class due next week. That I haven't started on yet. Um, oops.

I did get my photobook, the one from the last post, in the mail today. It's pretty. And will make a great coffee table book. When I get a coffee table. Ha. :)

So...I'm going to try and be better about blogging this week. So that maybe come next Friday, I'll have some inspiration for LATM.

photos and quotes.

The other day, I received an email from Shutterfly with an offer to make a FREE (well, I had to pay shipping...) 8x8 photobook. So obviously I got to thinking. And brainstorming. And looking on digital scrapbooking websites for ideas. And, after much contemplation and photoshopping, I came up with this.

Click here to view this photo book.

Um. Free plus $8.99 shipping. Not that bad. Not that bad at all. These places (Shutterfly, Vera Bradley) know how to catch me at my weaknesses. Scrapbooking and cute purses. J.Crew would get me, but...well, they don't fit into the budget as well. How do I find these great deals? It's easy. Mailing. List. I have one email account that I sign up for mailing lists. Kodak Gallery also has some great deals (Um....cheap, cute Mother's Day card). A few months ago, I found an offer for a "free" photobook and I scrapbooked my Senior Year in high school (Picaboo). Around that same time, i found a code for free photo luggage tags. Of course, when they came in, the parentals got excited and thought I was leaving home to be a dutch airline stewardess (which would be weird because I hate flying. But no, I just wanted the luggage tags. They were cute. So, my advice...mailing lists are good.

These 2 sites also post good information on free stuff and the such:

http://jessicaturnersblog.blogspot.com/

http://www.thefrugalgirls.com/hot-photo-deals

life at this moment

So, it's Friday, which means it's time for another "Life at this Moment"!

<a href="http://www.laurenelizabethadam.blogspot.com"> <img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/wetuhpfreak/meme.gif" /> </a>

This week for LATM, share a few of your summer goals. Because goals are good.

1. Learn to take control of my laundry.

2. Sew something. Preferably this dress. Because it's super cute. But, I mean, I'll settle for a pincushion or something.

3. Stay on top of my summer classes. Easier said than done.

4. Blog more. Take more pictures. Make more memories.

I'm listening to....

Passion: Awakening

I'm reading....

Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education (I have a test Monday...what did you expect?)

I'm thinking about...

How my to-do list keeps getting longer

How I need to put my clothes away that I washed last week

How I should probably get out of bed and be productive

....I think I'm just going to watch My Sister's Keeper instead. :)

I'm inspired by...

pictures of clean houses....

and the fact that I don't want to end up here. Or here for that matter.

5 favorite links of this week...

1. Sweet baby Cohen

2. Why Adoption Is Worth It

3. I am in LOVE with this child's birthday party. Of course, Green Eggs and Ham is one of my favorite books. :)

4. Um. This Math Lesson. Football + Geometry= Kids that might actually pay attention!

5. Ace of Cakes now makes cake mixes and stuff. Um, I have a birthday in a month. I'll accept cupcake donations. :)

Picture of the Week...

(note: this doesn't actually have to be a picture from this week. that would be way too difficult here.)

this week, is a picture of a picnic table I took when we went to the lake for mother's day. um, i think a picnic sounds pretty nice. :)

ten things from Genesis.

So, I think it's time for an update on my Bible Reading and how that's all going.

I'm reading through the Bible in a year, and I'm following the Radical Experiment's Bible Reading Plan. So far, it's going pretty good.

I'm reading in Genesis right now, and here's what I've picked up on:

1. of course, there's the whole creation story. God creates the heavens and the Earth. Then, he creates man. Says "Hey, this is pretty good". Then man goes and eats the fruit and sin enters the world.

2. I'm a fan of the genealogy stuff. There's this guy names Enoch. He lived 365 years and then one day he disappeared because God took him. Not because he died. Nope, he just disappears.

3. Then, the people turn even more evil. And God decides that he doesn't want to put up with humans for such a long time, for they're only mortal flesh. So, from now on, humans are only going to live 120 years. But, all this broke God's heart, and he was sorry he ever made humans.

4. So, he floods the Earth. And because Noah honors the Lord, he lets him build an ark to live in while God floods the Earth. Noah builds said ark at around 600 years of age. Pretty old. Noah and his family hang out in the ark for about a year. Imagine being stuck in a boat with your family and a bunch of stinky animals for a year. With no bathroom breaks to escape.

5. I already posted about my global warming revelation.

6. Then, comes this guy named Nimrod. His name was proverbial. He was like, the greatest hunter in the world. I didn't know that being a nimrod was a positive thing. Maybe he turns bad. We'll just have to keep reading this B-I-B-L-E thing if we want to find out, huh?

7. Then, there was a guy names Eber who had two sons. One was named Peleg. Which kind of reminds me of "Peg Leg". Just sayin....

8. Then, Abram and Sarai go to Egypt and he says she's his sister instead of his wife. Um. Gross. And the Lord curses the Pharaoh. Because he wants her. And yeah, you get the picture.

9. And then, a bunch happens ( I need to blog more, for real!). Lot comes into the picture. Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed. Ishmael was born. Sarai is promised a baby (Issac) . She laughs. Lot's wife turns to salt. Oh- and Abram and Sarai become Abraham and Sarah. Much easier to type. :)

10. Old Abe and Sarah once again try the whole brother sister thing. Didn't they figure out a few chapters ago that that wasn't a good idea?

Okay, so that's ten things I've learned in the first 21 chapters of Genesis. We'll continue with some more at a later date. :)

baseball and a cute dress.

This post is going to be more than a little random. I apologize in advance. It just took me a week to upload pictures from my phone to my computer. You know how that works, right?

Last Monday (Memorial Day), I went to a Braves game with the family. We drove over to ATL with some friends and had fun watching some baseball. Below, you can see the Chacos at the ballpark. Since Mom and I take Chaco pictures everywhere we go (by the way- I now have a Chaco tan for the first time EVER. I’m super excited. I just don’t tan. I burn.).

After the game (which the Braves won, by the way!) we saw the Beach Boys. And I’m going to be completely honest and tell you they aren’t as good as they used to be. We left after about the first minute and a half. Because they we LIP SYNCING. I mean, come on. I know that people like Hannah Montana lip sync, but I thought the BB were a little more respectable. But, I guess they are like a hundred years old. Probably can’t sing anymore. :(

After we left the concert that wasn’t meant to be, we went to the Varsity. Because when you’re in Atlanta, you have to eat at the Varsity. That’s just how it goes.

And that was Memorial Day.

I posted about some other events that have happened this week already on this blog, so I won’t be a repeater. But, I did go shopping today at Target and found this cute dress. Every time I walked by this dress in the past, I would say “That’s a cute dress”. I mean, it’s pink and has flowers on it. But, I never tried it on. Because it was in the girls section. And I thought it would be too small. But, today I stopped and looked at it. It has an elastic waist, and a large definitely fit me! (Um..yay!) So, it’s super cute and cheaper. And I thought the dress was too cute, so I wanted to blog about it. I also found two headbands in the dollar bin at Target and found a pair of $14 jeans at Banana Republic, so I would say that today was successful shopping day. Not bad for only an hour of shopping! :)

That mouse.

I would sing the "Ding dong the mouse is dead song",

But that would not be true.

In reality,

At about 2am, I heard something

Squeaking,

And bumping around.

It was JaqJaq.

In my trap.

So,

I went and got Daddy (because that man is really helpful in situations dealing with mice!)

And he stuck the thing in a peanut butter jar until morning.

It was really sad

I don't know if everything is more emotional at 2am or what.

But JaqJaq was squeaking

Like "Help me!" kind of squeaking.

I promise I'm not about to go join PETA or something.

But,

when I woke up,

Mom told me Daddy had brought JaqJaq to the Walmart parking lot to release him.

He ran straight for the nursery.

Which is good,

Because now I can visit him any time I want!

(But he can't wake me up at 2am)

And that was the end of the story of the mouse.

And everyone lived happily ever after.

Except the other mouse that suicide jumped off the 2nd floor...

But that's another story for another day.

life at this moment

As I was sitting at the computer the other day...an inspiration struck me. Why don't I create a blog hop? I mean, come on, it's not like I don't have enough on my plate already. So, Life at This Moment was born. Or, um, created. I haven't birthed anything recently. Or well, ever. But, you get the idea. So, you're welcome to play, just grab the code to the button and link back here to we can all see what you're doing at this moment! Oh- and don' forget to link up to the inlinkz at the bottom of the post, so I can visit you and leave you a comment. Because comments are fun. :)

Basically, each week I'll post a few "questions" of sorts. Some will be the same week to week, and some will be new. We'll just see how this goes! (Mom-I think it's part of your motherly duties to do this.)

<a href="http://www.laurenelizabethadam.blogspot.com"> <img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b88/wetuhpfreak/meme.gif" /> </a>

Introduce yourself....

My name is Lauren. I'm nineteen years old (twenty in a month and eight days!). I'm a sophomore/junior in college. Elementary education major. I like the color pink and princesses and cupcakes, too. Life dreams: Learn to sew. Master the art of fondant. Learn to bake something other than brownies, actually. I teach Sunday School to cute second graders every Sunday morning. They're my favorite. And...I think that's all you need to know. :)

I'm listening to....

Healing Begins by Tenth Avenue North

I'm reading....

Genesis from that book called The Bible

I'm thinking about...

Radical- And how I'm going to spend time in another context.

How about the Sonrise Baby Home in Uganda?

I'm inspired by...

Ali Edwards. When I grow up, I want to be creative like her. :)

These address stamps are the cutest.

5 favorite links of this week...

1. Beach Towel Dress

2. A Different Kind of Charity

3. This made me Laugh

4. American English

5. This is presh

Random Picture of the Week...

Add your link below and join in on the fun! If at all possible, link directly to your LATM post!

Reason number 7 7 7 not to believe in global warming

Those people think that the ozone layer is causing the glaciers to melt. And when the aforementioned glaciers melt, it will flood the Earth. Or something like that. It’s been a semester since I took Astronomy/Biology and we discussed that stuff.

Well. I found a flaw to that plan. You see, I was reading the Bible.

And in Genesis 9:11, the LORD (he’s a pretty powerful person. And believable source. Even if he doesn’t have his doctorate) says, “Yes, I am confirming my covenant with you. Never again will the floodwaters kill all living creatures; never again will a flood destroy the earth.”

So. Therefore, since I believe in the Bible, I believe that God won’t flood the Earth. Because he is a God that remembers his promises. And since I believe God won’t flood the Earth, I don’t believe that all the glaciers will melt and flood the Earth.

Reason 777 not to believe in global warming. :)