What Sisterhood Looks Like

At the end of senior year, just a few months ago, everyone had something on their mind. For most it was college and where they wanted to go in life and for others I think as far as they went was beach week (but that's okay, I was planning one too). I got to have a date with one of my best friends and it is one of the sweetest nights I have ever had. My friend is awesome. She is so funny, smart, loving, thoughtful, beautiful and so much more. She and I have "special" moments together. Moments that only the two of us would understand and that, I think, is what makes our friendship so great. Let me paint a picture of this cliche date.





It was a warm Friday and I was just getting off of work. I smelt yummy of course, like old, dirty coffee but i knew she wouldn't care. The date was at her house and the attire was a dress and cute shoes of course. I brought two pieces of red velvet cake with me; the perfect treat. When I arrived, I was greeted at the door by my beautiful date in a pink dress. She invited me in and onto her porch where we had a lovely setting. The sky was crystal clear that night and every star was visible. We sat on a blanket with a vanilla-scented candle in between us. In the background, of course, a picture of the Roanoke Star since we couldn't have the real thing because we were afraid of getting mugged or accused of being lesbians again..... Anyway, it was beautiful.





While eating our cake, we got deep into conversation. Not just the first date, surface level questions like: "Where are you from?" And "what do you plan to do with your career?" It's not like we met through E-Harmony or something. We started talking about the heart. I was worried about whether or not I was going to get into Mary Washington and what I would do if I didn't get in. She was hurting on a deep level too. The most beautiful thing is that when we were talking, I don't remember anything about the rest of my surroundings. For all I know, her dog could have eaten the rest of my cake. We were so connected by this outside force. I believe with all my heart that it was the Holy Spirit. We were laughing/crying (you never know which it is because we do both at the same time) together and we both understood the hurts that the other was experiencing. At the end of our date we wrote down the things that we wanted to get rid of; our yokes that we wanted to trade in for the Lords (Matthew 11:28-30). Then we stuck them in the fire of that vanilla scented candle. Our troubles were gone. We wiped away the tears and laughed at the picture of the star behind us.

Of course since it was the two of us together, the list that we put into the fire started to smoke and wax started going everywhere when we tried to fix it. By everywhere I mean, on the blanket (her mom doesn't know that it's ruined so this is our little secret), the plates, the forks, and the candle was ruined too... (her mom doesn't know that either).

Regardless, that was one of the most touching nights and I will remember it forever. When we were baptized with the Holy Spirit and became sisters, it was a totally new kind of sisterhood that I never expected; the most special kind.

I love you bestie!!!!

I've Been Humbled

I have the perfect view of the most beautiful sunsets right outside my window when I sit on my brothers bed. I set up our room so that when he's not staying here, I can use his bed to study on. but most of the time I find that I am distracted by the bright colors God used to paint the sky at dusk. In fact, I'm having trouble concentrating on this blog right now because it's 7:48 and the sun is gone and only a peachy-colored sky remains over the blue mountains.



I get told by at least one person everyday that I am small, tiny, petite, baby-sized... or however you want to say it but most of the time I just take it as a complement and move on. I like being small. For whatever reason tonight I feel extra small and I'm not talking about the 18 year old that can shop in the "girls" section in the mall or buy size 4 shoes or even the fact that I can take middle schoolers to Rockbridge with me and one of my girls is confused for the leader, and me for the camper. No, I'm talking me compared to God.



I feel like the sky is something that little kids look at and wonder about like "mommy! why is the sky blue?" but I've really been wondering; if the sky seems to be this endless mass of, well, space I guess, then how big is my God that created it?!

This always makes me think of the film "How Great is Our God" by Louie Gigleo (This is an amazing thing to watch. everytime I watch it I learn something even more amazing than the time before.) In the movie, he goes on about how BIG the universe is that our God created. Then he switches over to talk about the very small things that make our body work; also created by God. I think the thing that catches me so off guard when I watch that movie is the point that our God is so big and He created so many awesome things but yet, He cares so much about us even though we are imperfect and weak humans. What a caring God we have!!

Thank you Lord that you have painted me a beautiful sunset and thank you that you love me with an everlasting love.

Love, Lauren