Aunt LaLa

2013 is here. Well less than 24 hours away. This year has stretched me, changed me, and challenged everything about my life. To be honest I'm glad this year is coming to a close. I'm thankful that I've made it through this year. I love that my blog has grown. I have loved interacting with the blog world. I've met new friends. And have had some really great support and love that has been sent my way. Through this year my relationship with God has changed. Its become more intimate. When we lost Hope I didn't know if I could take another breath. If I would make it. But every day, moment by moment God gave me the strength to go on. My prayer has changed, my perspective has changed.... Grief is a monster. Its something that can take over your life. It tried its best to take me down. But God never left me. This year I have grown closer to my friends. Women I trust and know love me and have my back. They will fight for me and not with me.  I've been able to be a...

(Read as the night before Christmas) " T’was the Night Before Christmas Heaven’s Version 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through Heaven‘s house, All the angels were stirring, the Saviors birth to announce! The Heavenly Host’s were getting ready to sing, In the hope that their anthem would let True Freedom ring. The shepherds were keeping their sheep late that night, While the Provision from Heaven hung just out of sight. Mary was weary from traveling all day, While Joseph was searching for a place they could stay. A decree from Caesar made travel a must, Mary’s feet were now cold, tired, and covered with dust. Yet, in her heart she quietly remembered,  That the Angel of the Lord said, She was highly favored! All Joseph could find was a room in a barn, But at least for the night Mary’s feet would be warm. The time of her delivery would be here soon, As the light of the day, gave way to the moon. The Son of the Highest...

Here is our tree. I'm loving it this year! We have so much more room!! :) And one of Josh and Is Christmas pics my lovely grandmother took. Happy Saturday!

It's so easy to be busy during this holiday season. Christmas parties, celebration, shopping, and on and on. But we must not forget what this season is about. It's about a night long ago that a yong girl gave birth to our savior and Lord. Our father in heaven GAVE his only son for us. Only to be crucified some thirties something years later. Yet, we lose sight of magic of Christmas. I've been so disappointed to hardley find any Christmas music on. Not that many joyous people either. Instead I'm finding more scrooges or people  who are indifferent. This makes  me sad. Have we become so wrapped up on our own selves and problems that we are losing our joy and happiness as a society. In light of the tragedy last Friday we should be holding on to every pure, happy, joyous thing we can. Thats my opinion any way. So you can't buy everything you want. So every thing isn't going your way. So you might have had a tough year.... But you have life. I know that God had...

As I looked into my niece and nephews big blue eyes Friday tears poured. My heart is broken... Honestly I've read and seen so many argument, opinions, views on the tragedy that has befallen these poor families. We are never as sane individuals going to reason away or grasp why this happened. You can say we need more guns We need no guns We need better treament for mentally ill But at this moment I don't want to even THINK about contributing to any argument because no matter what side, issue, or argument we are standing by It will not bring the 26 souls that are no longer with us back. 20 of those who died as innocent children. Who had to look death in the face. Or those 6 brave individuals who died by trying to protect the babies. So as my heart breaks I'm praying hard for peace, solace, strength... healing. And hope.

Can you believe that were are only a little over 10 days away from Christmas? Did I just make you panic? :) Anyhow, I apologize for my absence. This time of year is full of craziness! Josh and I still haven't had a chance to celebrate our anniversary... but we were able to spend some extra time together these last four days and it has been so nice. Josh and I work hard on our marriage. Sometimes its easier then others. After all we have been through this year it has taken a toll on us as a couple. I have struggled with whether to write about this, but, I've always promised honesty. I believe we go through things to grow us and to prepare us to minister to others. It's the circle of God miraculous plans. My pastor last night at our ladies Christmas celebration mentioned a story she heard a minister tell. He was suffering with great pain, and instead of being in desperation about the pain he stopped and prayed. Thinking this pain was for a purpose. Shortly after th...

Linking up with Ashley for Friday letters :) Dear week, you have been ddrraaggiinngg Dear self, I worry about you...what a weird week. Dear job, your awesome but exhausting Dear dad and mom, was great riding with you yesterday Dear J, I love you Dear o and e, you both were so cute last night! Dear HCF, love all of our Christmas activities! Dear S, I'm trying to be happy for you. Dear God, please help me not to let the bitterness and jealousy take over. I'm a work in progress, be with me. Dear J, just wanted to say I love you again <3 Dear Jlaw Incorporated, I'm looking forward to your dinner ;) have a great weekend! Love, Aunt LaLa

Here is a bunch of random pictures :) So it took me 2 nights to catch up on my sleep from the weekend. Is that normal? Lol Even though I've only read, read, and read student files I'm really enjoying my new job. Looking forward to finishing decorating our tree Looking forward to play practice... This year is going to be halarious! I love holidays!! Happy Wednesday!

What a wonderful weekend... but I'm exhausted. Working both jobs, getting up extra early, J working at different locations, twisting my ankle, then a weekend packed full of parties, and no sleep. So today now I'm feeling a little tired and out of sorts. It was my first day at my new job by myself. It was so much fun even though all I did was meet people and read student files. So Saturday was our five year anniversary. And we didn't get to celebrate together. We tried Friday night but that didn't work. We were both exhausted and so tired that neither felt very romantic or celebratory. So after 2 hours of just driving around and talking we ended up just going to the groceries store and buying snacks... went home and watched our wedding video. The next day was our actual anniversary which I left early that morning to head to a family reunion. Josh had to work. By the time he made it to the destination in another state to pick me up it was late in the afternoon. After ...

Happy 5 year anniversary to one of the sweetest, gentle, humble, big hearted, godly, funny, loving, sexy man I have ever known... And I get to spend the rest of my life with him... I love you Joshua Aaron Love, your funyungrl

(From the Sound of Music... one of my favs) Today is my last day at a job that I have been at for a couple years. As this day was approaching I have wondered how I would feel. I feel bittersweet... I know that some may think I'm crazy... I'm just changing jobs. But I guess I should tell you why this is a BIG milestone in my life. You see, when I came to this job I had suffered a breakdown of sorts. I was diagnosed with PTSD. I was living a life in a anxiety filled world. Let me tell you, if you don't have anxiety be so thankful. This disorder can be crippling. I was not able to work, I had to resign from a very good job. For 6 months I worked on getting better. I needed to work again, or we would lose everything. Josh and I prayed. Then I received a message from our Pastor saying they needed someone in the office and would I be interested. I wept. Because I knew that I could do this job. I would be around people I knew and that loved me. I would be close to ...

What makes you? If you had to say one thing that makes you, you what would that be? I have been really thinking about this subject. What makes up my life? What defines me?  If a certain item is taken away from life where would that leave me. Family may define you. Faith may define you..... or your spouse, kids, job, friends... What SHOULD define us? I would like to think that every aspect of our life is makes us who we are... Some things more than others. I think sometimes we are unhealthy in the way certain things define us. Such as a bad past.. it gave experience and altered you but doesn't have to DEFINE you.. Me and God are hashing this out. And I would love to hear your thoughts on this... What defines you? What SHOULD define you? Please comment below or let me know on Facebook :)

We are alive. Today I got out. I had to work both jobs today...so residing on my couch again wasn't going to work... So alas...I made it and now am waiting on the hubs to get off... so sorry this post isn't going to have much to it Let me show you a song I like... and that I read about in a book this week...

Joining up with Ashley Adventures of the Newlyweds ... (Sorry don't have the button. Blogging from my phone) Dear flu, You stink. I don't appreciate you visiting our home. Dear laryngitis, did you have to join flu? Dear blogger friends, I might be absent in my commenting and such. Dear body, thanks for at least holding out to be such until the night of Thanksgiving. Dear J, at least we are together sick... we did say we haven't had any quality time lol Dear God, please touch our bodies Until...Well, whenever Love Aunt LaLa

I'm thankful for... My Jesus, my God, my savior husband niece and nephews siblings Love that surrounds me Grandparents who I treasure Parents who love me unconditionally Church family who are like my blood family My baby, Hope, who I will one day hold and kiss New job There are so many blessings in my life, so many things I'm thankful for I couldn't name them all Happy Thanksgiving from us!!

Ever hear that song Flight of the Bumblebees? That's what I feel should be my theme song for the week. It's been crazy busy and emotional. Yet, as I sit here in the hospital waiting for a family member I feel so blessed. The family member is only having a routine procedure... nothing serious. I'm thankful. The fact I have had events and people to fill my life this week makes me thankful. I got to have lunch with the greatest grandparents by myself. I'm thankful. I'm thankful I made it through yesterday and today is better. I also got a special gift from my grandparents that they made for me. "So that I can take Hope with me" Until tomorrow... Love, Aunt LaLa

I haven't really talked much about Hope here lately. Its not that I don't think about her. In fact she has been on my mind quiet frequently. The 15th came and left and I didn't even remember it was the 15th. It has been 6 months since we lost our Hope. Even though it has gotten easier the grief hits me out of no where sometimes. Like yesterday. I was shopping for Thanksgiving groceries and I thought while I was there I would look in the man's clothing to see if I seen anything that caught my eye for Josh for Christmas. As I was walking through that section I walked right into the baby section. I turned that buggy so fast and practically ran from there. The air escaped my lungs. I have so much to be thankful for. And I am. As much as I smile, pray, and enjoy my family there will be something missing. I should be around 6 months pregnant. I was realistic about how I would feel during the Holidays. Thinking it was going to be painful... but the ache of a hole in ...

Friday night was AMAZING!  Our Children's Ministry team decided that this fall we were going to try and show the kids what the first Thanksgiving was like. All the teachers and helpers who were able to come dressed up!  We told the story through puppets, showed them authentic toys, and even had a reactments of the prayer over the food. We had Teepees, fake fire, make your own butter... Just look at the fun!  This is a total photo dump :) Thank you to the photographer.. My lovely grandmother! :) O and her buddy playing the teepee! Aren't they adorable? Yummy food!! This was the table. It was set up on the floor. Research showed that it was unlikely that they had tables to sit at.  The puppets The puppeteers! "And their pilgrim friend completed them" E and M giving bye hugs and kisses! Me, O , and E... my Grandma made their outfits! Aren't they adorable?  Pastor Chief Ken (smile) My dear friend (and fellow pil...

Dear new job, I could hardly contain my excitement this morning. I was in a real to goodness BIG GIRL meeting today! Dear J, I so miss. I think some quality time is needed. Dear Grandma and Mom, THANK THANK YOU for working on my pilgrim costume! Dear Bloggie friends, I was so excited to have some new followers this week! Dear self, let me just tell you... you rock. God is opening doors for you. Walk through. Head held high. Rest in his peace. Dear other job, I can't promise I'm not going to cry buckets when I leave. I love it here. I love working with my church family. Dear J, Did I mention that I love you? I'm so excited for the doors that are opening for us! Dear God, You simply amaze me. Your so wise. Thank you for keeping me close. That's all folks!! :) Come Monday I will be sharing the pics and details from our Thanksgiving Celebration at our church... With me in costume :)

So if you follow me on  Instagram  then your know yesterday was exciting! I became official at my new J-O-B! Got my paperwork done, my drug test, and I got my "official" badge/ID. Can we say excited!!??? YES WE CAN!! Looking forward toward this new door God has opened! I noticed that I have 2 new followers! Welcome :) I'm so excited to see what place my little 'ole' blog has in God's plan. Yesterday Josh was off and hung out with me while I was getting all this stuff done. Our schedules can get so busy. Life can really crowd us ... we have just felt disconnected. But we are continuing to pray and find ways to strengthen our marriage. While we were chillin (I'm such a dork) I was messing up my words ALL day.. Here are just a couple that J busted out laughing at :) ~When trying to find our GPS... I asked where our GheePS was! Like Mcghee without the Mc... He found this hilarious! ~We were discussing other people's parenting ...

Funness.... is it a word? Of course it is! Good news! I heard from HR yesterday! Getting closer to actually starting the job! YAY! Tomorrow I'm meeting  with HR for the paperwork. Apply for my badge. So stinking excited! I'm still at my current job right now and will be until I'm booted out! Smile. No,  I'm hoping that the schedules do not conflict. However if they do I have the full support to pursue this new job from my current on. They are just awesome like that! I'm going to miss it terribly when that time comes... moving on... Have you and your significant other or someone you have lived with constantly want to talk to you from the other side of the house? It goes something like this... J: LAUREN!! L: What? J: Lauren!!!? L:What do ya need?!! J: What?? L: What! Do! You! Need?! J: Lauren!! L: Good greif. (gets up irritably goes to the room where J is) What did you want? J: I was yelling for you...can you hand me towel, find the blah ...

I have to have one of those random lives that people look at me like I'm joking when I tell them things. Maybe I think too much of myself... oh well. I think my life has some quirks! (Smile) Some thing I've never expeirenced happened Saturday morning! I experienced an earthquake! There was an earthquake in Kentucky and we felt the aftershocks from there passed us to Georgia! If you have ever never expeirenced this... well it is really just.. weird, for lack of a better word It felt as if someone was standing at the corner of my house and pushing it back and forth. It last for what seemed forever but was probably right under a minute. I really didn't realize until afterward what happened... I thought a big gust of wind and a tree was falling! But everyone was fine, but I believe there was extensive damage in KY. So say a prayer for those folks. I did see a funny pic yesterday on Facebook and I have to share... I busted out laughing at this one!  So as you all r...

My beautiful niece,  You have brought so much joy to La La's life. I love your sweet smile and sweet spirit. Your love for prayer and worship melts my heart! I will forever love you and be here for you. I will pray for you until my dying day. I hope you have the best birthday ever!!  Love,  LaLa (your favorite person of course)