You all are quite intimidating. I started this blog with the idea that I would write about some of my travels, which I’ve done very little of, and it’s become some sort of journal for me. Which, if you’ve ever had the fantastic experience of reading my journals from 5th grade, you would know that this is hilarious. (For those of you who haven’t, here’s a clue. They weren’t any good. Even my mom mocks them. Often.) I try to write about what I’m going through, explain the crazy that happens in my head, and just in general, be me.

It’s funny, because at times I feel more myself here than I do anywhere else. It’s not that I’m not social, because I am, and its not that I’m not myself everywhere, it’s more that I’m not this open with everyone. Which is ridiculous, I know, since I’m putting this online and literally everyone can see it. But I think its got something to do with all of you being faceless numbers that makes this so much easier. And while its wonderful that I have all of you to listen to my ramblings, I need more.

I need to be inspired. I need to be directed. I need to be held accountable and called out when I’m not holding myself to the standards I and God have placed on my life. And I, and you as well, can’t get all of that from the faceless masses.

We need real people in our lives. We need to have relationships that go beyond 140 characters, no matter how much we can get to know a person on Twitter (Follow me!). We need to reach out to those that are actually around us. Social media is wonderful. It’s a great way to meet new people, stay connected with friends, promote blogs you like, hint hint, but it’s just a tool.


We need to connect. I wrote in a different post that “we aren’t meant to be soulless, emotionless, disconnected beings. We’re meant to connect! We’re meant to share our stories and thoughts with people.” Because when we stop doing that, when we shut people out, we become far too self reliant. We’re stuck with our own ideas, our own thoughts, and we begin to loose imagination, inspiration. We become the self absorbed folks who actually think we know what’s best. 


We have to have others in our life for God to reach us. To stretch us and grow us. To keep us from growing stale. To keep us from being fake. 


I say all of that to say this: I don’t know what I’m doing here. I’m never going to write something for you all just to write something. I’m going to write things because they’re things I’m dealing with, things I’m learning, things others have pointed out to me and made me think. But I’m not going to write to please or impress you. That will ultimately fail, just like my 5th Grade journals. And no one wants to read those.








Thank you all for reading. It really does mean the world to me. If you have things that you’re dealing with, something that’s been revealed to you, or whatever, let me know! Like I said, I haven’t a clue what I’m doing, so any inspiration is welcome! 

I’ve got to tell you this upfront, I pretty much want to plagiarize this entire post. I don’t think I can explain this concept better than Mark Steele did in his book flashBANG. I love books, and being a life long Christian who attended a private Christian school means I’ve read my fair share of Christian books, and this one is one of my favorites. I laugh every single time I read it, and more importantly, I learn something new every time. I mean, the book’s secondary title is “How I Got Over Myself.” It’s like it was handwritten just for me! So, as soon as you can, I highly suggest going and picking up a copy for yourself. You won’t regret it. But wait till you’ve finished reading me first! (See? I still have so far to go!)


The thing that always grabs me by the face and slaps me is his chapter called “The Effect of Cages”, or “Hamster, Thou Art Loosed!” It is as wonderfully epic as the title would suggest, and flips so much of what we’ve been taught forever on its head. So answer me this, what’s your first thought when you picture cages?


I picture this fantastic antique green cage we kept my bird Heathcliff in growing up. It’s tiny. I couldn’t imagine living in one. Some picture Christianity, what with all the rules and regulations in the Bible. I think that’s probably why the Grace message is becoming so popular today. We want to stop being associated with the old man with a long beard sitting on a cloud, waiting to strike us with a lightning bolt the moment we mess up, and start being associate with the God who is the very definition of true, pure love.  So we’re told from the youngest age to “Reach for the Stars!” “The Sky’s the Limit” and “Get Out of Your Cage!” We’re raised to believe that we, especially Americans, can and should have absolute freedom to go about and do whatever we feel like doing. We’ve gotten Women’s Liberation, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Sexual Revolution to clear the path for us to do whatever the Bleepedy Bleep we want. And in someways, that’s wonderful!


It is about time that people are seen as equals. ALL PEOPLE. It’s a good thing that sex is no longer this taboo subject that can’t be talked about. I know that’s hard for some of you to hear, but God obviously created it for a reason, and apparently He made it pretty fun. Unless He’s a cruel God, which I don’t believe, He thinks it’s a good thing too. 


But the problem is, we’re us. We screw EVERYTHING UP! We take these freedoms, and we stretch, bend, and break them to include freedoms that God never meant us to have. Not because He didn’t think we couldn’t handle them, that we would have our eyes opened to how “awesome” the World is away from Him, but because outside of the freedoms He’s given us, there are consequences.  Did you know that SCIENCE is now saying that couples who live together before they’re married or at least engaged are much more likely to get divorced? SCIENCE. We’ve been told forever that the reason God doesn’t want us to “get our freak on,” is because He’s some odd control freak, and that living with a person is one of the best ways to know if you’re compatible. Well, you’ve now been Scienced. (Any HIMYM fans?) Turns out, the Big Man had a reason for the whole wait till you’re married thing. 


So what are we to do? Stay in our little Christian Bubble, safe and shiny? Nope. Not only is that impractical, it’s selfish. We need to, to paraphrase Mr. Steele here, “live in both worlds. Spread our wings in one, while finding our source in the other. After all is said and done, we must return to our coverless cage, because even though our “free reign” is limited there, it’s our home.” 


You see, it’s in embracing our cage, or parameters, that we find true freedom. “Following Jesus is irony. Always has been. Be last to be first. Give to receive. Be weak to be strong. Get in your cage to get out of it. Get under His freedom to get over yourself.” We have to swallow our pride, and just simply get over ourselves. Take the freedom, that sweet, priceless freedom, and take it with us wherever we go.  Because that is where true freedom lies.


P.S. Just an added bit of goodness: “If you feel enslaved by Christianity, you are still trying to attain goodness instead of living in freedom by a radical, supernatural grace.” A timely tweet from another Lauren.

Some of you may not understand ditches like us Minnesotans. I have a feeling the people of the South do not have an intimate knowledge of their local ditches like we do. It’s not that we’re horrible drivers, though you might think so during the first snow. I like to think that all the cars that fall in are from recent migrants, who just don’t get ditches and driving in snow like we do. We can handle the craziest weather. I remember for one New Year’s Eve, heading about an hour north in a blizzard that literally had the snow up to my bumper in some spots. It was easy, because I know my way in the midst of snow. I know how to take a wild tailspin my car has started, and to turn it into an awesome turn that gives me the false idea that I can be a stunt car driver. We know tricks to get our cars out of ditches, the best ways to avoid them, and so on. The number one way to stay out of a ditch? Stay in the middle of your lane. You’re welcome.

So, this is craziness. I’m guest posting today! So, head on over to MadtoLove.com, and check it out!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and survive Black Friday!

           Lauren Jean

I remember this night so well, which is funny, since there was really nothing remarkable about it. It was one of my last nights in Mexico, and so two of my friends and I went out. We got bubble tea and talked and laughed, then went to Sam’s Club for some food and more laughter, then for tamales, and then just bopping around downtown. We laughed and talked, about nothing and everything. I’d been gone for about a year, but it still felt like old times. When they pulled up to my house to drop me off, none of us wanted the night to end. So we sat in the car, and they got me to memorize a song in Spanish. The song is ridiculously over the top, hilariously so, gushing from this man desperate to win back an ex. He goes on and on about all the things he’d be willing to loose, but not this woman. Her presence is essential to his being, and so on.

My friends and I belted this till we were hoarse, and then sang it once more. For the remaining days I had there, whenever we saw each other, we would burst into the chorus and then laugh at the stares we got. To this day, whenever I think of them, or they of me, we pop over to their Facebook and drop a “No Te Quiero PERDER!” or for those of you who don’t speak the Spanish, “I don’t want to lose you!” And while for the 3 of us it’s a silly statement that brings back fond memories, in actuality, it’s a pretty powerful statement.

Who can you not stand to lose in your life? Yes, I realize that the Christian answer is Jesus, but really think about it for a moment. Who are the people that, if they left your life, you would notice their absence? Miss their presence? Mourn the loss of their friendship?

I know for myself that several of the people who fall into this category for me, well, let’s just say that I haven’t been making it clear that they are those people for me. It’s all to easy to spend time alone and make excuses for why we haven’t connected, or to place the blame on them. But that’s not fair to them. I’m as much responsible for connecting with them and letting them know that they’re valuable to me as they are. You get out of things what you put in them, and all that. So, with Thanksgiving just around the corner, let’s take a closer look at the people in our lives, and let them know how much we really care for them. ‘Tis the Season, after all.

Thanks for reading! You guys definitely fall into my “Things I’m Thankful For” Category! Have a wondermus Thanksgiving!

With Thanksgiving coming up soon, and my busy week, I’m going to keep this post short and sweet. Basically, I’m just gonna give you a quick run down of things I’m thankful for, because there are so many.

1. God’s Favor.
   It never ceases to amaze me when God moves things on my behalf. And the best thing is, it’s not because I’m oh so awesome, but because He is!

2. Friends
    I love that I have been blessed with friends that have my back and can laugh with me, no matter how long we’ve been apart. I’ve also been incredibly blessed to meet several new friends, who have spoken into my life in more ways than I can count.

3. Family
    My sister is coming to visit from California for Thanksgiving! I just saw her last month when I went out to visit her, but I miss my baby sis! She is one of my favorite people, with her hilarious stories, sweet nature, and obnoxious sibling ways. (By the way, this does mean I probably won’t be posting much next week. Gotta soak her up while I can!)

4. God’s Protection
    This last month has been quite the test for my friends, family, and myself. But no matter how hard things have gotten, God proved Himself time and time again. He truly never fails.

5. Baby Showers!
    Several of my friends are having babies, and it gives me an excellent excuse to bust out my knitting needles and get a cracking. I’ve already made 2 blankets, a pair of booties, and a pacifier attachment thing. I love it.

6. My Job
    I have a wonderful job, that while at times boring, it pays me well, has normal hours, and I don’t continually want to strangle coworkers or customers. That’s a miracle.

7. You!
    Like I say every time, thank you for reading! I know your time is valuable, so I don’t take it lightly that you waste some of it on my writing! My ego is growing bigger every day, thanks to you guys! I kid, I kid. Kinda.

So, once again, thank you for reading! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Love you,
    Lauren Jean

There is one thing I have always been proud to say about myself, and that’s that I don’t care what people think about me. If I feel like singing/dancing in my car, eating a gigantic steak, or making a fool of myself, I’m going to do it. I choose my music, clothing, movies, books, or whatever, based on what I like, and not on what’s popular. I’ve never had much time for other peoples opinions on me. I know what I like and who I am, and I’m not going to alter it because someone thinks I’m odd. I AM odd, crazy, different, unusual, and unique. And I love that about myself.

However…

I am aware that people are watching me. Young, old, male, female, Christians, and the World are all watching me. I don’t blame them. I mean, I am pretty fascinating, for a 23 year old who knits, and just planned a craft night for this weekend. And because of this, I have to be cautious and aware of what I say and do.

I do realize that those are two rather contradictory paragraphs. So let me clean this up.

We need to make sure that the person we are, and the person we show to others, are in fact, the same person.

This goes beyond “being yourself.” This is making sure that you are proud of the person you are, regardless of others opinions, but at the same time, are proud and ok with people seeing you do it, because people are watching you, whether you knit or not.

I know that those seem like two things that go hand in hand, but so often we can decide that our actions are fine, as long as they’re something we really want to do, that it’s “part of who we are.” LIES!!!  They maybe something “lawful,” but at the same time, our actions can lead others to fall, doubt, or just cause general discord. And while their actions are on them, they can also point towards us as the one who pointed them off the path.

Now, I am all about Grace and Mercy. They are the most valuable thing we have as Christians, in my opinion. They are not an excuse to lead others wrong though. If you read Matthew 18:6, you’ll see that Jesus feels pretty strongly on the subject. I mean, He literally tells people to jump into the ocean with a rock around their neck rather than cause someone else to stumble. That’s a pretty strong message, at least in my book.

Now, before you tell me that no one is watching you, so you’re in the clear, just stop. You may be the most boring, hideous person alive, and I will still bet that there is SOMEONE watching you. It could be the your local barista, the bank teller, your coworker, your friend’s little sibling. You have no idea who it could be. I didn’t. I started volunteering at my church’s high school program, with kids who I used to babysit, and I am constantly amazed at the kids that come up to me and tell me they remember me from when I was a cheerleader, or when I did the school plays. I had no idea who these kids were, let alone that they were alive when I could do the splits. I’ve been shocked at the kids who have told me they did something because they saw me do it, or heard me talk about it. I mean, are they nuts? They’re making choices because of me? The me I was in 9th grade?! That’s INSANE! But it happens all the time, and not just to me! People constantly are making decisions because of other people they see. Myself included.

Now, I again want to say that I am not at all saying that you need to care about peoples opinions of you. Nope. When you know you’re doing what God has called you to do, or its something that may just toss you into the “geek” category, toss their opinions right out the window. BUT, when you’re going about your life, you need to be aware of how your actions can influence others. Be the you that you would want a group of young kids to want to be like. Be the you that your grandma would be proud of. Be the you that the World will say, “Yeah, They’re a Christian, but they’re cool! They’re someone I want to be like. They have something about them that I want.” Because that’s what we’re called to do here, right?

Thanks for reading! I really do not get why you pick my blog to spend your valuable time reading, but I want you to know that I truly appreciate it. Thank you!