Michelle Lauren.

turning a page

Crunch time. We’re getting married in just a few short days.

Tomorrow I start the serious moving process….my clothes. Some furniture has already been moved over. Books. Movies…all that’s left is a few things I need daily, a bed, clothes and a dresser. The house Kyle and I will be living in is already home to me. He’s been living in it since the end of July and leaving gets harder every day.

After tonight, there will only be 3 nights left here at my parents house. A place I’ve called home for just over twenty years. We’ve lived in the same house since I was a year old. To say I have a lot of memories here would be a total understatement…Growing up homeschooled on top of having a mentally challenged brother means you spend A LOT more time at home than the average child.

I cut my favorite pair of pink shorts climbing over the fence that’s no longer in the back yard when I was about 5.

I “helped” daddy put up the pool in the back yard when I was 7.

I got my first cat, dog, bird and hamster here.

Me, Hannah and Aubrey painted faces on the back deck, turned the dining room into a tv show set, played in the woods and down at the creek.

Me and Andrew played countless hours of N64 excitebike and super mario. We created clubs in the woods and we tried to convince our parents to pay for pictures we made.

Andrew came over here when Aunt Titia was in labor with Ryan.

Me, daddy and Brandon have stayed here on our own waiting for mama and Isaac to be able to come home from the hospital after he was born.

In this house, I watched my brother have seizures every single day. In this house, I watched my parents pray over him. And in this house, God had mercy on our family and began a healing process in Brandon.

In this house, I have slid down the hallway in socks to crash into a mountain of pillows, I’ve gone down the slide to land in a pile of leaves, I’ve cried myself to sleep, laughed until I’ve cried, I’ve learned, I learned to cook, clean and do laundry here. I’ve learned how to move on and let things go. I’ve prayed, I’ve learned to read and I’ve gotten up early to read the bible.

But….God has blessed me with a new home. The home isn’t a house. It’s a person. He’s my best friend. We cook together, we clean together, and we laugh until our stomachs hurt. We cry together, pray together, and we learn together. I’ve learned more about myself since I’ve known Kyle than I ever have before. He was made to understand me. God created me to trust him like I’ve never trusted anyone. He knows exactly how to pray for me and when to comfort me.

There’s no doubt in our minds that he has everything that I thought I was missing before. God gave Kyle everything He knew I would need one day. I’m so glad those days are finally here!

i love fall!

This is the absolute best time of year. Sweaters, hot chocolate, coffee, bonfires, beautiful colors, yes, PLEASE! I love it all.

Our weekend plans consist of friends, oktoberfest, a bonfire & working on some wedding things. I’m SO excited. I’m especially excited about the oktoberfest & bonfire.

Kyle’s wedding band should be in any day, the programs are ready for us to go have prints made, we picked up some little pumpkins for decoration this past weekend in Highlands, the bridesmaids have all their outfits (can’t say the same about the groomsmen…tisk tisk)

Overall, everything is coming together great. I read a quote that is SO true and I want to have somewhere at the wedding. “a wedding is a PARTY, not a performance. If at the end of the day you are married to the one you love, then everything went perfectly.” I’m not worried if the flower girls can’t stand still, won’t wear their headbands or won’t even walk down the aisle. If Cade refuses to hold the ring bearer pillow or keeps calling himself “Frodo, the ring bearer” because that’s what mama has drilled in his head to make sure he knows it’s very important, that’s fine. I enjoy children being children. If someone trips, that’s fine (unless it’s me of course ;)). If Jonathon does something to Kyle to give him ANOTHER cut on his face the week of the wedding, that will just add character. If Mark messes up words or me or Kyle mess up our vows, we have them written down to always be remembered anyway.

At the end of it all, as long as Kyle and I ride off at the end of the day as Mr. and Mrs. LaVere, it all went perfectly and just as planned.

Even though not everyone has been pleased through the planning, everyone is being understanding and encouraging now and it’s all working out great.

lately.

Well, Kyle and I celebrated our “official” one year anniversary of dating. Even though we were pretty much together for a while before that. We like reasons to celebrate. We went to the Columbia zoo last week. I think his favorite part was the reptiles. Especially the Sand Viper. I liked the baby baboon, the elephants and the gorillas. It happened to be raining when we first got there, we looked at the birds in the rain then when it started to pour, we went in the gorilla building and they were outside of the glass walls. Neither of the gorillas like the rain, so they were right up at the glass and we got an up close look! We went shopping afterwards and then to Cracker Barrel where we played the triangle game (I don’t know what it’s called) the WHOLE time we were in there. Neither of us only had one left any of the 239473608576 times we played.

Then, Thursday, we went on a babys bbq picnic by the lake. When we got back to the house, Kyle enjoyed the cake I made him. Devils food cake with caramel sauce and buttefinger. YUM.

I’ve had two Bridal Showers in the last month, both very different and a lot of fun. It’s amazing to be blessed with such wonderful people who have showed us SO much love and support. We couldn’t ask for a better family. God has not been good, but GREAT to us. We’re beyond thankful.

I have to say, one of my favorite gifts I received was from mama & daddy. I wasn’t registered for it. They got me a coffee maker…but not just ANY coffee maker! A Keurig coffee maker! Along with a spinny-K-cup holder and a big box of K-cups! It’s a single cup coffee maker, which means when friends are over and would like coffee, everyone gets to choose which kind they would like!  Not only coffee, but hot chocolate, apple cider and tea as well! I can have a different hot beverage every day in less than two minutes…what better way to enter fall!

Yesterday was my birthday, I turned 21. You know, I almost forgot about the fact that I’m legally old enough to buy alcohol until someone reminded me at church. Truth is, it doesn’t really matter. Instead of bringing in my 21st birthday with alcohol, I taught the precious pre schoolers at church yesterday morning, sang songs, held them & danced. Then Kyle & I went to my parents for the most incredible baked ziti you’ve ever tasted, homemade italian bread and asian salad. My mama even stayed home from church to make my birthday lunch! I really hope God gave me some of her cooking abilities.

Kyle & I left, went to our house that for the time being, he has to live in alone. Poor thing. Moose keeps him company by barking outside. The family came over for strawberry cheesecake and coffee (in my new awesome coffee maker!)

Kyle & I ended our day by going to the Crusade. Ken Freeman is a really great speaker! Can’t wait for tonight. Of course, tonight we’ll be sure to eat first!

I’m so excited about everything God is teaching me & Kyle. He is such a sweet blessing to me.

Okay, I’m finished!

Wedding planning.

I’m not overwhelmed yet. I’m not stressing about anything other than the fact that we haven’t booked the venue or decided on a definite date! two are up in the air.

Kyle has been so, so, so much help and I’m really thankful for that. He has ideas and constantly reminds me that God has the whole thing under control.

We’re meeting with our pastor, Ronnie to talk to him Monday. The dress has been bought and is hanging in my Grandmothers closet at her house. My amazing purple shoes are on their way to David’s Bridal in Greenville. My bridesmaids and I are hopefully going to find their dresses next month. We have most likely decided on our caterer and have definitely decided on BBQ!

Now, where in the world are we going to live? :/

changing the world.

If you stood on stage in front of a thousand people and asked them to raise their hands if they had ever thought or said something like, “I want to make a difference” “I want to change the word” or “I want to be a hero” I really don’t think there would anyone who DIDN’T raise their hand. Who doesn’t want to change the world or make a difference?

There are so many songs about it, books about it, quotes and inspirational speakers talking about it. But I got reminded of something today (by God, driving in the car). That the place to start is HERE and NOW. Think about the people who live in your house. Your parents, your children, your brothers and sisters. Your roomies, best friends, boyfriend or girlfriend. You co-workers, neighbors and random people in stores you see every day. Who needs extra money? Who needs a hug? Who needs someone to listen? Who needs motivation? Who needs someone to help them with dishes or to baby sit? Who needs someone to simply care? Who needs YOU? Who has God put directly in front of you, for you to MAKE A DIFFERENCE in their life? Who has God put in YOUR WORLD, for you to change their life? This is your first mission field.

God has been using this lately in EVERY part of my life, this ONE question. If I ask God for money, he says, “why would I give you more money, if you don’t do what I’ve asked you to with what you’ve been given?” If I ask for an opportunity to serve, he says, “why would I give you ANOTHER opportunity, if you haven’t used the ones I’ve already given you?” If I ask God to expand my territory, he says, “Why would I expand on something that YOU’RE not working to make it grow?”

So, here’s MY question for whoever is bored enough to read this. What are you asking God for? or complaining to God about? Is it your job? money? relationships? your car? your calling?

Wherever you are today, is building up or tearing down tomorrow. Look at who’s around you and what’s around you. Serve your family instead of overlooking them. Be your children’s hero, love your wife, smile at the grumpy girl behind the counter. Give as much of yourself, your love, your time and your money as you can, and ask for nothing in return. This is how you grow, this is how you become blessed, this is the character of Christ. He WILL fill you up more than you pour out.

Your mission field is HERE & NOW.

Take heart;

Okay, so after Christmas at Grandma & Evelyns, Papa & Donnas, Christmas at our house, feeding the homeless & less fortunate, Christmas dinner at Aunt Titia & Uncle Duanes, Christmas in Greenwood with mamas side of the family and our big New Years day meal with the family, the holidays are over and everything’s going back to “normal”

It’s back to average and maybe life will slow down a little…maybe.

This is going to be a big year. I just know it. In the words of Tim McCall “I can feel it, blowing in the wind, I can feel the hairs raise on my skin, I can see it in the eyes of my friend, I can feel it, He’s coming here again” God’s moving in me, in Kyle, in my parents and in a few people surrounding us. God is preparing us for the Ministry he has laid before us. Me and Kyle have talked about this before. How even though something may seem “scary” that God asks us to to, if it will bring us closer to God and allow us to just inch a little closer to him…we want to do it. If God says “pack up and move to Uganda” guess what? that’s exactly where we’re going! Because we’d give anything to feel God near us. We desire that above anything else.

Another part of that song Tim wrote says “I gave you an inch and you took me miles” and that’s exactly where I want to be, I give God what I can and what I know I have in me, then he shows me how to use that and takes me further than I could have even imagined. I want to feel God every single day of my life. His name should bring us to our knees and the thought of his mercy should draw us into repentance. I’m not there yet. But God’s doing something. He’s moving in us and all around us. Spiritual warfare is at a high right now. We’re at war with the world.

In John 16:33 Jesus says “But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

2011; here I come!

Jeremiah 17:5-8

I like the way the NLT version puts it:

“This is what the Lord says:
   “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,
      who rely on human strength
      and turn their hearts away from the Lord.
 They are like stunted shrubs in the desert,
      with no hope for the future.
   They will live in the barren wilderness,
      in an uninhabited salty land.

 “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
      and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
 They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
      with roots that reach deep into the water.
   Such trees are not bothered by the heat
      or worried by long months of drought.
   Their leaves stay green,
      and they never stop producing fruit.”

This is encouraging to me.

My goal for 2011; To trust in God like never before. To soak my roots in God’s words and encouragement. To stand firm when the storms come. To produce fruit like never before. Not to be bothered by the little things but keep my focus on heaven. Not to worry when the circumstances around me are dark, but to cling to God with my whole heart. To stay confident in God during trials.