Sneak Peak!

I'm home in Montana now! I just wanted to give you a sneak peak from Christmas! I'll write more and post more pictures later =) It was absolutley wonderful! And it's also so great to be home! I'll be seeing some of you around!!

My Mom and Heidi and Josie and Nate got here last night!

Josie kept hugging me and asking me to hold her! She would say, "Whoen [Lauren], I wost [lost] you, but now i found you." It was so precious! And she slept in my bed with me and kept waking me up cause she'd be rubbing my face or arms.

Ok...

...so I've posted a lot today...but what else am I supposed to do when there is nothing to do? After our 9am-12pm practice this morning, we showered and then we (Katerina, Sarah, Kate, and I) went to the Lancaster Mall...took pictures in a photo booth...smelled stuff at Bath & Body Works...then went to WalMart to get groceries...then we (Katerina, Kate, and I) made dinner (a pre-cooked chicken from the deli, brown rice, carrots, and garlic/cheese bread)...hung our snowflakes...watched Lucky Seven and then the Notebook...and since we were all homesick and the movies were sad we cuddled on the bed and cried...and Kate was right when she said that we're pathetic...and then Kate and I played ping-pong...and drank egg nogg...and ate Teddy Grahms and the rest of the chicken...yep! And now we're going to bed! And when we wake up, it'll be another day closer to our loved ones!!

What I've Been Learning...con't...and final one

Jeremiah 32:39-41

"And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good and for the good of all their descendants. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them. I will put a desire in their hearts to worship me, and they will never leave me. I will find joy in doing good for them..."

Roommates:
Kate and now also Katerina (aka: Sunshine) are the best roommates! Praise God! I am blessed! (side note, both of them have changed their hair since this picture =)




Facebook:

Facebook may seem necessary to survive life, but I am better off without it! I promise you, you don't need it!!


Winco:

GREAT for buying bulk candy!! Sour apple rings = $1.86 per pound! Also, when you need a study booster, they sell bulk chocolate covered coffee beans at a great price!!

Survey of Biblical Literature (Old Testament):



The tests are very narrow and the lectures and study guides are very broad. Bad combination.


Corban Warriors Basketball (JV):

* I'm thankful that I won't even get to sit on the varsity bench because it means I get more of a Christmas break with my family, beau, and friends!! And I rarely miss class!!

* God has me right where he wants me.

Skype...

Is GREAT for dates with Jason (especially when we do devotions!)...is GREAT for "seeing" my family (Josie especially gets really excited!)



US...

God is SO good! He has grown us so unbelievably much! We are more in love than ever before!! I've been learning to trust His perfect plans, and that He has marvelous things planned for us together! When it's the THREE of us...our love is perfect!

1 Tim 4:12 "Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity."

Three Doors Down

These pictures are taken half-way between moving in and putting away, so it's not quite as messy as it was at the beginning of moving! (I will post pics again when everything is put away...and I will do the "To Be Continued..." blog this week too!) Anyway, Kate and I moved three doors down and Katerina (aka: Sunshine) joined us in a double-room that is made for four people. So we have a bit more space and furniture! It'll be a blast! We spent all day deep cleaning and moving! But it's so worth it! And I'm about 75% moved in!!

PS: I've done really great with my finals so far! Praise God!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...?

Does this look like Christmas to you?

I'm thinking it should look something more like this...

I'm dreaming...of a white Christmas...

Well anyway...at least there's only about 8 more days!!!

Finals!

Ok so I'm not really even stressed about them, since I only have three and they are not accumulative... But here is a picture of us studying at Starbucks...for about 4 hours! It was very productive! (I'm serious too!) Oh and Kate was there too, but she took the picture =)

PS: the continuation of what I'm learning will come AFTER finals are done! (So about Wednesday night...or Thursday =))

College 101: What Have I Been Learning?

Seeing as this is the last day of classes for the semester...WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought I'd give you a glimpse of what I've been learning this year:


Speech Class:

"Speak boldly, speak without fear, speak knowing that God can use your words to minister to others." Professor Stephanie Staley



Anatomy & Physiology:

(this is for my Uncle Bob...even though he doesn't read this...he always talks about how "such and such isn't good for your pituitary gland" And one time we had a discussion about what it actually does and where it is...and we didn't really know...)

*The pituitary gland is an endocrine gland located in the head and is connected to the hypothalamus via the infindibulum stalk. It is divided into two parts, the anterior and posterior. The anterior produces and releases 7 hormones, (hGH, LH, TSH, FSH, PRL, ACTH, and MSH) and the posterior releases two hormones (OT and ADH). For the sake of not boring you further, I will not explain these hormones to you.

Evangelism:

"My life is in Your hands today God. Use me to point someone to You today. I promise to cooperate in anyway I can. If You want me to say a word for You today, I'll do that. If You want me to keep quiet but demonstrate love and servant hood, by Your Spirit's power I will. I'm fully available to You today, so guide me by Your Spirit." Bill Hybels, Just Walk Across the Room

American Thought & Culture:

Ambrose Bierce wrote the Devi's Dictionary, and here are some for the selections from it that I found amusing =)
* academy: a modern school where football is taught
* admiration: our polite recognition of another's resemblance to ourselves
* bore: a person who talks when we wish him to listen
* fiddle: an instrument to tickle human ears by friction of a horse's tail on the entrails of a cat
* saint: a dead sinner, revised and edited



To Be Continued...

What Did You Give?

Today was our last day of speech class and we were finishing the final speeches- persuasive. One of the speakers today challenged us with this: "Instead of asking all of your friends what they got for Christmas, ask them what they gave."

This speech inspired me to be more focused on giving than receiving this holiday season, and I would encourage you to do the same! What would you be able to say, when at they end of the season you were asked, "What did you give?"


Here are some great giving options/ideas for this Christmas:


- send a Christmas care package to soldiers www.loveboxesforourtroops.com. The website gives easy, step by step instructions and all you need (except the items to fill the box! You have to get those yourself!) The best part is there is no deadline for these! They could even be after Christmas! Kate and I (and maybe Monz too...but she doesn't know about this yet...) are going to put together a box this weekend to send!


- put together shoe-boxes for the homeless and deliver them to your local mission or hand deliver them when you see them on the streets. (If you hand deliver them, be safe and be friendly. Maybe bring hot chocolate and cookies and talk for a bit too. They needs friends just as much). Ideas for what to put in the boxes would be: McDonald's gift cards, warm socks, gloves, hats, etc, long underwear, snacks (healthy), personal hygiene, flashlights & batteries, notes of encouragement, small Bibles, etc.


- talk to your local church pastor to find out about a family or individual in need and deliver Christmas to them. Arrange to bring presents for each family member and holiday snacks and cheer! Or invite them to a holiday dinner with your family.


There are many other ways or options as well! I would encourage you to find at least one option that fits with your family/budget. No matter how small or how big, I'm sure you can do something. Even just a plate of cookies for the neighbors. And remember God has a special place in his heart for the broken, homeless, poor, lonely, and needy. Do you have room in your heart?


"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." Matthew 10:42


"'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me...whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'"
Matthew 25:40, 45

17 Days!!

I'm so ready see Jason and my family for Christmas!! And then to go home and spend even more time with them!! And get to see Monz and Hannah and Meaghan!! And go to some of the Lady Eagle games!! Most importantly, I get to be with people who really know me and appreciate me for being me!! I miss that!! I miss my best friends and family and my beau!!

Don't Worry About Tomorrow...

"Simple striving to bring joy to your Father's heart is enough to keep you occupied"

One more video...just as poweful...these guys have some awesome skits!

Cards You've Been Dealt « Videos « The Skit Guys

WATCH THIS VIDEO!!

Wow, this is a powerful, challenging video that I need to watch everyday! It's nine minutes long, so make sure you have the time. But also make sure you take the time, because it is VERY well worth it! If you watch it, please comment! And I'm serious, you will thank me that you watched this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXut0HxncvY

Portland Community College

Tonight our JV team played Portland Community College in Portland. We lost by 3 points but they are a totally beatable team, especially if we make our free-throws!! We'll play them again on the 22nd. Even though we only had 7 girls tonight I still didn't get to play much, so I was a bit discouraged about that. I talked to the coach after and he said that he's really impressed with my defense but that I need to get more comfortable and consistent in my offense. And the reason why I'm not is because I missed 5 weeks because of cross-country, and he knows that and said that in a couple weeks I'll be a lot more comfortable... So ya...that's the scoop!


Oh and funny story...after the game I was waiting to talk to coach and someone knocked on the gym window and then I looked and they put up a sign that said "Hey Losers! The bus for Salem leaves in 5 minutes!" So I thought that was pretty funny!


Also, if you want to look at our schedule, stats, and what not, go to gowarriorsgo.com and click on the women's basketball link on the left side, and there are some JV links on that site

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I am very thankful and blessed!

I am thankful for my family, that God is the center of it and that we love each other deeply.

I am thankful for how hard my dad works to send me to a school like Corban College.

I am thankful for Corban College, that it is a place to grow in my faith.

I am thankful for the basketball team and that even though it seems as if I'm getting a small taste "of the world," it's NOT more than I can handle, God has promised me that. I will grow because of this.

I am thankful that when I am in tune with God I can find blessing in ALL circumstances.

I am thankful for my beau, that God is the center of us, and "as we live in God our love grows more perfect." (1 John 4:17) I am thankful that this season apart has grown us dynamically! I am thankful that he loves me just the way I am, always and forever, never wanting to settle. I am thankful that he is a man of God and leads our relationship that way. I am thankful that we pray and do devotions together. I am thankful that he is patient and gentle with me, and always encourages me. I am thankful that he will not give up.

I am thankful that Monz is so close and that we can visit each other! I am thankful for Monz because she is my bestest friend. She always speaks the truth to me, loves me, and encourages me. She helps me learn from the hard situations. And we have a lot of fun together!

And I am thankful for my new friends here, like Kate, Mel, Courtney, and Sunshine. They laugh with me, some run with me, and they encourage me!

I am thankful for Christmas that is coming! Because I will get to be with my family, my grandparents, and Jason in a beach house in Pacific City, and then I will get to go back home with them and spend more time with them and see Monz, Hannah, and Meaghan!!

Thank You, Father, for Your unfailing love and mercy that is new every morning!

The Mysterious Ways of God...

Last night I was supposed to read 1 Peter 5 for my devotions...but God had other plans, because I "accidentally" read chapter 4 again. Look what He was showing to me:


verses 4-5: They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation [referring to the debauchery, lust, drunkenness, idolatry etc from verse 3], and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.



verse 8: Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.



verse 12-14: Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rest on you.


Thank you Jesus! I am right where you want me!


PS: to understand why this post/scripture is significant to me right now you might have to go back to yesterday's post "I Miss..." and then last night's post of "Thoughts From My Boy:"

Thoughts From My Boy:

"When God throws you a curveball don't duck, because you might miss something. He has you right where He wants you. Remember your purpose is to bring glory to Him."

I Miss...

I really miss my family...my best friends Monz and Hannah and Meaghan...Jason...my Lady Eagles... I miss people who encourage you to get good grades and do your homework instead of making fun of you... I miss people who think it's ok that you don't listen to Michael Jackson or songs about drunkeness and sex. I miss people who think it's ok that you aren't into Twilight or Harry Potter... I miss people who are positive and encouraging... People who care about basketball and aren't just playing because they are paid. I miss people who act like the Christians they say they are. I miss it.

**Disclaimer: don't get me wrong...there are some great girls here too...and overall I feel like Christ is the center of this school...

Free Throw Shoot-a-Thon

For basketball we're doing this fundraiser where each player shoots 100 free-throws, keeping track of the total made. Your pledge will then be multiplied by the total made to determine your contribution. (for example, 50 free throws made, times a pledge of $.25 equals $12.50). The money is used to offset team travel expenses for the season. So if you would like to participate and "sponsor" me, please leave a comment with your name, address, and the amount per free-throw! (PS: I usually shoot about 60-80%, and the donations I've gotten so far have ranged from $.01 to $.05) Thank you in advance!

31 More Days!!!!!

This picture is from August 21, 2009. It was the morning Jason left for college. And it is only 31 more days until I see him again! On December 24, when I see him, it will have been 124 days!

I remember the Monday on the week that he was leaving, I looked at him with tears in my eyes, and I told him I wasn't ready for him to leave. He looked at me and softly said, "You will be, I promise." That promise defiantly came true! The day he left, we both were filled with complete joy and contentment, knowing that God had magnificent things planned for this season apart. And boy were we right!! Even though I miss Jason so bad my heart aches at times, I am so very thankful for the ways God is growing our relationship and deepening our love! It's unbelievable! And it's all because of Jesus!

Jason Paul Koemans I love you always and forever! I'm honored and blessed to be called to a relationship with you that proves ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. (2 Cor 6:6 NLT). You are the most amazing guy I have ever met! I love your heart for God and for me! I can't wait to see you!!

A Rose

At Salem Alliance Church that I attend here in Salem, they put a rose on the stage during the service for each person that came to Christ that week. I am going to start putting them in my blog, when they happen within my relm of ministry and prayer.

This week on Tuesday, Kristina from the homeless church accepted Christ!!! Praise the Lord!


Please keep praying for her husband John and their 10 month old daughter Hayden as well, that they could come to know the love of Christ!

"So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of His will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding... All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better." Colossians 1:9-10

If you would like to pray for some of the others I am praying for from my various relms of ministry, they include: Max, Russell, Tim, Ryan, Daniel, Kate, Galaxy, Emma, Krista, Christene, Frank, Roger, Ben, Jane, Jen, Misty, Brett...

Promise in My Pocket

Our theme for chapel this year is "Dedicated to the Journey," and when our campus pastor speaks we are going through the book of Pilgrim's Progress. The other day PK (Pastor Kersey) preached about the "Lesson of the Key." While on his journey, Pilgrim ran into the Giant of Despair. This giant was bigger than him and took him captive in the Castle of Doubt, spreading lies in Pilgrim's head until he was so full of despair and hopelessness that he considered ending his life. But then Pilgrim remembered he had something in his pocket. A key. A key called Promise that will unlock ANY door in the Castle of Doubt.


I LOVE this analogy, because it is SO TRUE, for me anyways! The Giant of Despair (i.e.: worry, fear, discouragement...) IS BIGGER than me! And sometimes I let him lock me up in his Castle of Doubt and lie to me! But I have to remember my God who has always proven Himself faithful- and the key of Promise He has put in my pocket to unlock the doors in the Castle of Doubt!


Along with this, I love the line in "Come Thou Fount" that says "prone to wander, prone to leave the God I love! Take my heart Lord, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above." Because I feel like that's what I do when I succumb to the Giant of Despair, I "wander" from the truths and promises that I know. So I pray that God SEALS my heart, mind, and eyes on HIM and His truth, because then no matter what, I need not despair! This also goes along with a verse from Jeremiah 31:22, "How long will you wander, my wayward daughter?" I could save myself so much heart and head ache if I just remembered the promise in my pocket and didn't wander away from the truth!


So, you might wonder where this is all going. Well it inspired me to write a song. I don't have chords for it...but I have the lyrics!

It's called "Promise in My Pocket."

I feel the clouds turn gray

As I walk down the cold, stone stair

Into the dungeon of the Castle of Doubt.

The Giant of Despair

Has brought me here.

Huddled in the corner,

The lies swirl around my head.

My mind is weak and weary,

My heart feels like a lump of lead.

The Giant has brought me here.

Feeling hopeless and lost,

Like there is no way out,

I feel a poke in my pocket, a key

That can unlock any door in the Castle of Doubt!

This key called Promise has always been here.

Just before I fell through the cracks,

When it felt like I'd reached the end,

You let that poke remind me

That on Your promise I can depend.

The Promise in my pocked will always be here.

I get up off the ground,

It's as if the sun has risen on my day!

Unlocking the door and climbing up the stairs,

The promises on my heart say-

He has always been here.

You cry out to me,

"Oh my wayward Daughter,

There is a promise in you pocket,

How long will you wander?

My Promise will always be here!"

Oh Father! My heart is prone to wander!

Prone to leave the shelter of Your love!

I'm lost without You, desperate for You!

Take my heart, and fix my eyes on You above,

In You my hope will always be here!

In my heart is Your love.

I will trust in You!

You have marvelous things planned for me;

The Promise in my pocket says that too!

You will always be here!

In this world there will be trouble

But the darkness is no more,

Because the light of Your Promise in my pocket
Will shine and unlock every door!

You will always be here!

Today is my second official day of practice...and it's going SO MUCH better than I expected! Which is super encouraging! My main problem now is I'm super sore! =)

Conference, Cake and the Paul Wright Concert!!

So today was our conference cross-country meet... The only picture I have so far (more are coming later) is of the sweet sign my awesome roommate made for me! (ha...and she even knew I'd put it on my blog! Lol!) In case you can't read it says: "As you run beTWIXt the other runners, you will be NUTRAGEOUS! You will CRUNCH the competition when you ZERO in on the finish line and ROLO across the tape! Love from your favorite IDAHO SPUD!" And in the left corner is a Nutri-Grain bar for something healthy =) She is great! So the course was pretty muddy...and I felt like a ran really strong and my best ever...and then I found out I didn't even PR...my time was 20:30...and my coach told me I "ran a good race but not a great race...but that I have a lot of potential..." So it was a bit discouraging...and yet encouraging... And weird thing...my race number was 43, and I took 43rd place! Crazy! Too bad my number hadn't been 1! Haha!

Before the concert we (Kate, Sarah...a basketball player, Jen, Courtney, and I) went to this cake place that is famous for it's cakes... Kate and Sarah and I shared this espresso cheesecake and also a piece of chocolate peanut butter cake. The cheesecake was the yummiest!

And here we are at the concert! (Sarah is on the far right)

These are our tickets =)

And this...is Paul Wright himself! It was an awesome concert! And I got a sweet t-shirt for $12 and a cd for $5... And...we found out that he'd playing in our chapel on Monday!!

College 101: Get To Know Your Coffee Shops!

Dutch Brothers (Salem college lingo: "Dutch Bros") is a local drive through coffee shop that is really really good! Visit them on Tuesdays, because any drink, any size, is only $2!! I love to get the iced Kahlua Kicker or an iced non-fat Americano with half white chocolate and half peppermint! Yum!

The Ike Box is a great coffee shop to study at! And they have some great concerts too! This Saturday night some girls and I are going to a Paul Wright concert there...tickets are $5!! Oh, and visit the Ike Box on Fridays, because every Friday is called "Friend Friday!" And it means that if you buy a friend's drink...it's free! And their pumpkin muffins and coffee cake are so yummy too! Jen and I go every Friday morning from 7am-8:30am to get our coffee and talk and do homework!

Weekend With Monz

I love that my bestest friend is so close! (I wish my family and Jason were too!) I spent the weekend up at George Fox with her! I cheered for her as she ran her conference meet for cross-country...we made a care package for Meaghan...we watched movies...went to church...went to a coffee shop to study...went running...and took pictures! And had lots of fun =)

Junior-Varsity Warrior Basketball

I'm in the back row on the far right =)

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So...on Saturday the 24th, Jason Paul Koemans called my dad tell him of his heart to love God first and me second and to ask and my dad's blessing to court me. My dad called him back on Sunday and excitedly gave him his blessing. My dad's greatest desire in the man who pursed me is that his heart is dedicated first and foremost to God, and my dad sees this in Jason's life. Not only that but he see's how Jason leads our relationship towards God and fixes him as the center in our relationship. He sees how he leads our relationship to be an example to others of integrity, purity, and honor and love. So it's now official - Jason is courting me! Thank You God! You are so good! And thank You God that though we are in separate states for the school year you are knitting our hearts together in strong ties of love and in complete confidence! (Col 2:2-5)

More Halloween Costume Pics!

Sunshine (Miss Greece and Miss Galaxy Baller)

Kate (nerdy girl in a kissing booth...she has a booth to put on over this!)

Katelynn (bat-woman)

Kyra the pirate

Emily as Hannah Montana

L to R: Kyra (pirate), Emilee (Hannah Montana), Katelynn (Bat-woman), and I don't know who the other girl is...lol...but she's dressed like Wonder Woman!

Kate went as a kissing booth! This is her without the clothes part...just the booth. I helped her make it =)

L to R: Hannah (80's), Kate (nerdy girl in above kissing booth...she even has retainers!), Sunshine (Miss Greece and Miss Galaxy Baller), Emiliee (hippy)

Tonight there was a big halloween party (that I DID NOT go to!) But I helped and watched a lot of the girls get ready (I was like the mom with the camera and safety pins...lol) Anyway...here are some of their costumes!!

Do We Need Any More Evidence?

16 weeks
8 weeks

5 weeks (yes this is the fetus!)

When Lennart Nilsson's pictures of developing embryos were published in Life magazine in 1965, they caused a sensation. Within days, the entire print run of eight million had sold out. More than 40 years later, the photographs have lost none of their power

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthpicturegalleries/6255474/A-Child-is-Born-Photographs-of-the-foetus-developing-in-the-womb-by-Lennart-Nilsson.html

These pictures are evidence of so much...

...how great is our God? How could evolution or a big bang accomplish this?

...A fetus is definitely ALIVE. Definitely a human.

...God works miracles. Life is a miracle...