225

That's how many pictures I just took in 20 minutes with Brandon Heath in my ears and the sun just a-shining and the leaves just a-turning.

But what's a good picture without a good thought? This is how I often waste my time in the evenings when I'm putting off going to bed.

Enjoy!

till next time! 

Lauren

thoughts like Lizzie's

"The more I see of the world, the more am I dissatisfied with it; and every day confirms my belief of the inconsistency of all human characters, and of the little dependence that can be placed on the appearance of either merit or sense."

-Elizabeth Bennett, Pride and Prejudice

I sorta love this phrase. It's been going through my mind a lot recently. I guess it's because my mind has been quite occupied with the vanities of this world lately. No, I'm not obsessing with my looks or wealth, I mean I have been thinking a lot about the realness of vanity. It's everywhere; literally. All is vanity, and grasping at the wind. So true. Even more true when you think you have found a good heart but then the short tempered side comes out. Or you think you have finally got a hold of your tongue when something literally slips and you are humbly reminded that you are not perfect.

What do we do about this? How do we live in a world where everything is worthless and unsatisfactory? I think what I have to keep in mind is that as soon as I am disappointed with something/someone, I am disappointed with where I thought they were. I put them/it on a pedestal and suddenly the pedestal that I made has come crashing down and I can't cope.

Your (and mine, oh, so mine) displeasure with the world is a result of your own expectations and pride. If we are not aware of the worthlessness of this world in comparison to the worth of God's love, we will fall into disappointment often. If we are not so humble as to recognize our own sin and quite worthless state we will expect better from ourselves and for ourselves. The last person who is going to be happy in the world is the one who thinks they deserve satisfaction with everything and everyone in the world. Now that will never happen. So come off your high horse, or fall off. Whichever you choose.

As a little side note, what Lizzie says has to do with her frustration with people's characters and inconsistencies. (By the way that is also completely understandable. Since when did we meet a person that didn't drive us bonkers one way or the other?) What I say is that yes we are going to run into many things, actually all things that will eventually drive us crazy, but here's the nugget: you do it too. Sure Lizzie, you're mad, but you can't go climbing up on any pedestal either.

Now, how to end this? Hope. Always hope. Isn't it amazing that there is One who always forgives? Can we end our thanks knowing that we need and do receive the grace that we so often struggle to show ourselves? Let's not stop thanking; ever. The more we thank God, the less we will want out of this world, the happier we'll be in Christ. Rest in His grace.

currently #2

obsessing...

with this season + new[ish] camera. Love. Love. Love. 

sitting...

in my work clothes on the floor with my back very uncomfortably against this bench. Why? I don't know. 

thinking...

about how in the world I just spelled 'uncomfortably' wrong in the last sentence. Some day I'll do a post with no editing. I think I just got myself into a mess. 

really thinking...

about tomorrow's plans, and unforeseeable plans. Do they even exist? 

thanking...

for safe travels. For beautiful weather. For employment. For so much hope. For music. For the birds. [just very randomly thought of this slightly irrelevant video. I really was thanking for their chirping outside the window.]  And for pumpkin torte. 

learning...

how to drive standard. How this printer works. How to think deeper than surface values. How to do grace. 

remembering...

that I forget so many things. What patience is. What really is important. What the time is. Oh dear. 

so ya, good bye. 

this weekend.

Some weekends are just so wonderful and crazy and full of goodness.

The wonderful:

Beautiful seasons to drive through.

Renewing old acquaintances and making new ones.

The crazy:

Folding a gazillion bulletins before we get left behind.

U-turns with 15 seater vans. Poor Jesse.

Filling up on frozen yogurt.

Plans.

The goodness: 

Where do I start? How do I end? When the people of God gather together to study His Word and grow in their faith given by our Heavenly Father, there is no end to goodness because He does not end in goodness.




Did you think this was it?

It's not the end.

This was the end.

[insert explanation as to how in the world we locked our keys in the house before we even set out]
[or don't]

[bye]

growin' up

Wonderful things happen when you grow up.

Like this.

But in the same token, it's sad. Bitter sweet I should say. 

Yes, my big brother is on his way to his dream, but it's not really a dream without teary good byes, or worry-filled nights, or long distance phone calls to make sure he arrived safely. 

I don't want our family to live 24 hour drives apart, or even in different provinces. I don't want us to grow up. Ever. 

But that is exactly how our family started. My mom moved away; far, far away from home at just 18. She worked for my dad's dad. She met my dad wearing a toque while eating his cereal. She married him anyways and didn't take very good care of his red car. So they sold it. And had big brother, middle me, and little brother. 

I can't not wish this on anyone. It's wonderful. It's beautiful. 

So even though it's hard seeing wings spread and take flight, I wouldn't be here if my mom didn't do it. Even though it's hard, it can bring about something wonderful. I just can't wait to get past the hard and get to the wonderful.  

And then other things happen when you grow up. 

Like this. 

But those are other worried-filled nights that I'll get into later.

stop 'n' go - on repeat

That's all I've been doing.

Up the drive way. Stop. Go. Stop. Go. Stop. Stall. Restart. Go.

Then reverse.

Stall.

Back up.

Don't hit flower pot. Or patio. Or dog.

Stop. Go. Stop. Go.

And so after 12.5793 minutes, 35.295 stalls (because a reverse stall doesn't count all the way; I can't see where I'm going!), and probably an additional 3058 more skid-marks on the drive-way, I finally had more than 6 consecutive stop 'n' go's with no stalling.

Now to do under the pressure of Kentville traffic. Oh boy.

BUT, I must prove to my little (little!!) brother that I can do this just as smoothly as he can. After all, it's my car.

kitty cat

I love my kitties.

They can be so photogenic. 

And then not. 

And then sometimes they get their hair styled with hair gel. Ultimate hold sport hair gel.

And don't forget about this guy. He's pretty special too.