Watch this video, listen to this song. That's my mother!

The day I first heard this song, I had chills all over. This describes my mother to a tee. 

Donna is the most caring, giving, selfless person I have ever met. She loves my daddy like no other, and to me that's the biggest blessing I could ever ask for. 

She loves the LORD with all of her heart and soul and has been the best example in my life. My mama told me about Jesus, has taken me to church since I was born and has prayed over and for me since the day I was born. 

Seriously, could I ask for more??

She is a wonderful daughter to my grandmother, Mom, and loves her family to pieces. I love being a part of such strong, Christian women and I hope to carry on their legacy to my own little girl one day. 

Mama,

Thank you so much for all the love and support you've given me over the years! God knew that I would be all over the place in this world and I needed someone to be my backbone. He chose you! :)  I can't thank you enough for praying me through college, helping me any possible way you can, and loving me unconditionally. 

I love what all you do for our family. You've shown me how to be a woman of faith and how to trust in HIM for all that I need.  On a funny note, I know I can't cook and I don't enjoy cleaning, you've told and tried to teach me how to be a wife ONE day! I couldn't thank you enough.

Love you Donna! You are my ROCK! 

Don't tell daddy. His is up next! :)

Just something REAL.

What's on my heart is this. 


TEACHING.


It's all I've ever REALLY wanted to do, what I used to play growing up, what I couldn't wait to do when I was little, and the degree that I received in college. 
I'm an educator with a big responsibility and a bigger heart!


Enter, January 2012. It's been a crazy week. I'm overloaded, stressed, and burned out. It's only my first year of teaching people. This shouldn't be happening. But, I've been given great peace today about how God already knew this would happen but that he made me to teach and perseverance is key!  Things are way different from the environments back home but that's okay. God works wonders when we are away from our comfort zones and that's what I'm banking on.


Sorry for the downer post. Please don't think that I don't love teaching I do, but this week has very much brought me down a little and shown me that life isn't always how you think it will/should be.


Thank you Lord. Help me be the teacher that I want to be! :)

Source: imgfave.com via Lauren on Pinterest

{one}

I'm so thankful that it's becoming nicer weather this week! Life is more enjoyable when it's sunny and cool. This teacher LOVES recess! :)

{two}

I love these bracelets. Alexandani is the name of them. Aren't they so cute and anything stackable, I'll take! :)

{three}

Every experience God gives us, every person he puts into our lives, is the perfect preparation for a future only he can see. 

                                                                                                  - Corrie Ten Boom

I'm loving that quote! It's been my Facebook status all week. It's powerful to me. 

What I'm Loving Wednesday.

{one}  I'm loving this precious mouse pad that I created from Shutterfly. :) Seriously, they have the best ideas for photo gifts and more. Check them out if you never have. :)

{two} We have a field trip to the Orpheum this week! My kids are going to stroke. "The Magic Schoolbus" here we come. :)

{three} Church fellowship Sunday night makes me a happy lady. Good food, great friends, and memories being made. Couldn't ask for anything more. :)

Learned this tonight @ church:

Don't just love the blessings, love the giver of those blessings! 

Source: homedit.com via Lauren on Pinterest

My daddy and I reallllllyyyyy need to make this for my deck patio!

Source: astepinthejourney.com via Lauren on Pinterest

easy to do! Love this!

Source: Uploaded by user via Lauren on Pinterest

Amen. that's me.

Source: etsy.com via Lauren on Pinterest

must find frames. 

Pinterest, you WILL break me! :)

Monday, I guess it's good to see you again.

Well, it's that time again. Post those pictures that we love from the week before.

Enjoy my life through pics, will you?

Harper's cute little nose. this dog steals my heart every day! :) If you own a dog, isn't it crazy how happy, sappy, mad, angry, and special these dogs can make you feel?

Thanks, Emily! I love my Colonel Reb! I put him on my desk like you told me to.

(FYI: I know I am going to get asked this question. That prickly thing is a finger paper sorter. Easier than licking your finger. A teacher friend gave it to me for a present.)

Love my new classroom door happy! It'll be personalized one day! Until now, enjoy the cuteness! I am obsessed with cutesy things for my classroom and home doors. But after Santa was stolen off of my front door, I am really skeptical about where I put them!

Re-did this mailbox. I'm going to use it in my classroom soon. Writing has to improve before then. I'll keep you updated on the teacher blog. www.1stgradebound.blogspot.com

I need to start posting on there weekly. Keep me motivated.

Love my new kitchen organizer. Plate rack, and random dishes from the thrift store. I'm so easy to satisfy. Ha! These will be turned into a plate wall soon. 

This was a canvas at the mall. I just loved the saying and the little people. Aren't friends wonderful! So glad God blessed me with some that would give me sunshine on any cloudy day! *Thankful

Shoes purchases from Saturday! Love these. I might break my neck, but I really think they are so fun. Plus, my brother's girlfriend got the same ones on the bottom so we can twink sometime. 

Crackle polish attempt #1! I really like it. ULTA had it for $5.99 yesterday. I couldn't resist. 

On another note:

I have the best parents in the world. My daddy fixed my air conditioner in my car this weekend and I couldn't be happier. He's the best.
Plus, thank you LORD for helping my grandmother this week. She had eye-lid surgery and she is badly bruised and awful looking. He's helping the pain and for that we are thankful! :)

Happy Monday!

the 23rd.

Source: bing.com via Janet on Pinterest

You know. Getting older is fun and sad all at the same time! 

I love being on my own, having my own money, and pretty much doing as I wish but getting older kinda stinks. :)

My precious friends and I celebrated the 23 @ Rooster's on the square in Oxford. So much fun and memories was made.

Thanks best for putting this together. 

The food was yummy. 

The friends were wonderful. Thank you so much for coming! 

I love you all so, so much!

My sweet cake.. Thanks, Kelli! 

Chad, so glad we got to show you around the square. Can't wait to come visit soon when it's 

YOUR TOWN! :)

Birthdays are too much fun. My family is notorious for making it a celebration of ME! Couldn't appreciate anything more. Thank you all for the cards, calls, and pure love. :)

Source: kendieveryday.blogspot.com via Kate on Pinterest

Here's to a wonderful 23rd year! It's looking great so far.

What I'm loving on this Wednesday!

I've got many, many things running through this brain of mine. So, let's splat this out here.

{one}

These are the CUTE mousepads I ordered from Shutterfly last night. They were so nice and gave me a $20 gift certificate but with everything after it added up, i only paid $10 for these! Went ahead and made one for the madre while I was at it. 

Mouse Pad

View the entire collection of cards.

{two}
I'm loving that this has been a short week at school. My children are crazzzy monsters but bless them, you can't help but let them steal your heart. I sometimes feel like all I do is yell all the day LONG, but at the end I usually end up with at least 5 hugs so guess it's worth all the screaming! :) :)

Source: etsy.com via Lauren on Pinterest

{three}
I'm excited about the blog post about my 23rd birthday that's coming up! Be watching and ready for it. I've just got to get motivated to upload pics from my camera! Judge me all you want. 


Now, I have to go get ready for church tonight. Thank you Lord for Wednesdays! :)

Fill in the blank, Friday.

1.   The last thing I ate was  a baked potato and a glass of water. Boring life. I know. I need to learn to cook. HELP ME!

2.   The last song I listened to was  a song that played on a blog. I have no clue what the name was  .

3.  Using the letters in my name I can spell    {Lauren}...learn, are, rue, ran, lane, run, Earl, earn, lure, rule, ulna, urea, urn, real, nu, neural, lunar, near, era, lean, ear, el, an, ale      .

4.  If I had to dress in one color for the rest of my life I would pick   turquoise, because I love the ways that it can go with many other colors. Plus, blue in general because I LOVE blue jeans.

5.  If you were to look in my bag right now you'd find   my camera, HOBO wallet, tic-tacs,  pens and lipgloss. It's a clutch. Not too big so not near as much stuff as I usually have.

6.  When I finish filling in the blanks I'm going to   fold clothes, and go to bed.

7.  My all time favorite song to dance to is  Macerena. yes, cheesy. it's okay. I'm honest. I love to dance to anything and everything.