October

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Such a blessing to be able to spend the day together with my Mom and my sister.

It's such a beautiful thing to be friends with your family. <3

On the way home we were caught up in some slow moving traffic, figuring it was just due to work traffic, we did what we could- wait.

Just when the traffic starting breaking up we were going under a bridge and realized that there were people on the bridge waving at us!

Donald Trump!

We saw Donald Trump!

He waved at us!

I was so excited!

Anyway... *shoo* (as I calm down...) that is the significance of this next photo, this is the backside of the bridge where Trump stood waving...

Introducing my sister to our love for sushi.

My niece Ira Jo .

Finally, after being home for two months, I was able to visit her. To meet her in person and hold her for the very first time. 

She is going four months being in the hospital, she is doing so well! 

Read her miracle story here

Sweet sweet Ira Jo

Sweet baby fell asleep in my hand.

oh, my, my heart beats quick, can I stay like this forever...?

Dinner out with the fam.

Working towards getting all my paperwork completed for Portugal!

Fingerprints - CHECK!

My workplace.

Harvesting bibb lettuce

The Second-In-Command Boss

Labeling for grocery stores

The Boss Man

Harvesting basil

Along with school work, work work, and various other things to fill my day. 

I keep working at my knitting orders.

This super chunky yarn knit up quick on size 25 needles

So huge and very warm!

It's that time of year again!

My favorite time- Shoe Box packing for Operation Christmas Child

I was invited by my friend to join her church to pack boxes, the goal was one hundred boxes.

God was good-

We ran out of boxes.

We can up with a total of 106 boxes!

I loved watching the children and youth get involved, especially in such an impactful ministry.

Every story that I hear about a child receiving their Christmas box has touched my heart and made me tear up.

Many have trusted Christ after receiving a box.

 A shoe box - such a simple gift

Look at these two sweet faces excited about filling their boxes to the brim

Writing little notes for the gift receivers

106 boxes = 106 children 

praying over the boxes

Cait and I

Out with Our Support Group

Had a two day refreshment trip with me and Mom's best friends.

It was great to get away, to be loved on, and to catch up on life with these wonderful ladies of God. We always need friends to support us when life's weariness gets us down and out, they encourage us to press in close to Jesus.

Food

Fun

Fellowship

The laughs never end with these gals!

Even in the produce isle at Dorthy Lane...

Laughing is good for the soul.

♡❤♡

Haha! 

"Let us turn up the beat!"

I had the privilege to share my ministry and my heart at my grandparent's church, Grace Bible in Springfield.

Even though I have not been able to visit this particular body of believers as much as would like to, they are always to welcoming me and encouraging me!

1 Corinthians 12:12-27

12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ... 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased... 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

September

Great reminder. These words are such a comfort for me.

It is a promise of God, that where ever we are in life, the trials that we go through, the joys that we experience, every step- God is with us.

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This post is from the colorful life of Lauren.

Enjoy-

September was very eventful...

Mom and I ate our lunch outside on the crazy beautiful sunny days that September had.

My mom, sister and I had the awesome privilege of spending the day together hearing from God's Word at a Beth Moore simulcast.

Campfire night and hanging out with friends

Beautiful sunrise on my way to work.

This fall semester I am taking an art class, here are some shots of what I have been learning.

Art is a fascinating subject, and there are a million ways to perform.

But there are five principles that are important and helpful to ensure success.

1. Perception of Edges

2. Perception of Spaces

3. Perception of Relationship

4. Perception of Lights and Shadows

5. Perception of the Whole, or Gestalt. 

(the "ah hah!" moment)

I was able to go on a road trip with my swell grandparents and Grandpa's brother, Noel, and his wife, Cynda. The trip was a blast! Older folk are hilarious, I learned a lot from them during the week, I have more peace about getting old now!

Quote from Cynda, "Getting old is not for wimps".

The week was successful, my reason for going was to have meetings with a few of my friendships that I had made over my two years of internship at Word of Life.

While I traveled around, Grandpa, Grandma, Noel, and Cynda attended the Director's Ministry Summit Conference at the Word of Life Lodge.

Stayed half way at some of my grandparent's friends, Ross and Marylou, who have now become my friends as well. 

When I was headed to my second year at the Bible Institute, Grandma had insisted that I stay all night somewhere instead of driving the whole 12 hours. Grandma told me about Ross and Marylou and how three of their grandchildren were also headed to the Bible Institute for their first or second year. So that night on my way to New York I met Ross and Marylou and stayed the night with them.

The connections are crazy, but God has used every single person that I have ever met to make some kind of influence in my life.

Some friends crossed my path quickly, 

some have come in and out, 

and some have stayed faithfully.

Mom sent dinner frozen in a cooler for us all, all it took to be ready to eat was some heating up and assembling of the salad.

The next morning we met Lillian for breakfast.

She is ninety-five years and still going strong! 

She still drives, crazy lady. I believe it is her fiery personality that keeps her going!

While Grandma rode with Lillian to visit a quilt shop, the men and I went and visited old cars.

Lillian's brother, ninety-four years old, owns two big garages full of antique cars and a few other very cool antique items.

Following are few of the blessed meetings that I had over the weekend.

>>Natalia<<

During my first intern year at the Bible Institute, I had met Natalia when she was doing her first year, and she had asked me to be her discipler. 

After a challenging and growing year at home, God moved Natalia's heart to come back to the second year. She has a huge desire to learn more of God's Word and His heart for missions.

.....Marie.....

Marie was one of my bosses during my internship. She helped me run the Student Lounge, ordering pastries, coffees, syrups, and other supplies.

The Matthew family

Margaret 

Teresa

Family will always find each other.

Crazy enough, my boss for Portugal, Matthew, was in New York the same time that I was. 

Matt, also part of the Portugal team, was taking Matthew to the airport and they stopped by to say hi to me.

Trisha and I made it to our favorite place- Blue Fin 9 -to eat our favorite thing- SUSHI.

We were able to find our the young lady's name that serves us every time, to be able to connect with her and to encourage her. She was open to meeting with Trisha to talk. 

Please pray for Malita, that she will have an open heart to hearing the Gospel.

I just thought this was the cutest!

Cynda, and her love for nature, saw some neat grass by the road and Uncle Noel proceeded to sweetly wade through the weeds to grab her some spikelets of the grass. 

Dinner at DQ

Thank you for taking time to look through my photos and reading my captions.
To see what is going in my life, what I am learning and the blessings of God that I am enjoying!

I appreciate your prayers...

Have a wonderful day!