America Needs Dunkin...

Even though the picture came out blurry, the point is still clear--"America Runs on Dunkin." Therefore the United States of America is stating a need for me. How tender.

Trusting

Today, I read this devotional written by Amy Carmichael. The beauty of these words hit home:

"Let us listen to simple words; our Lord speaks simply: 'Trust Me, My child.' He says, 'Trust Me with a humbler heart and a fuller abandon to My will than ever thou didst before.'

'Trust Me to pour My love through thee, as minute succeeds minute. And if thou shouldst be conscious of anything hindering the flow, do not hurt My love by going away from Me in discouragement, for nothing can hurt love so much as that.'

'Draw all the closer to Me; come, flee unto Me to hide thee even from thyself. Tell Me about the trouble. Trust me to turn My hand upon thee and thoroughly remove the boulder that has choked thy riverbed, and take away all the sand that has silted up the channel.'

'I will not leave thee until I have done what I have spoken to thee of. I will perfect what concerneth thee. Fear thou not, O child of My love, fear not.'

Love, what is love?
Love is what inspired My life, and lead Me to My cross,
and held me on My cross.
Love is what will make it thy joy to lay down
thy life for thy brethern.
Lord, evermore give me this love."

The Christmas Story Through the Eyes of a 6 Year Old

I came across a "book" I created for my Dad for Christimas when I was six. With handdrawn illustrations included, I proceeded to "dictate" to my Mom the Nativity story. I give you my work of 15 years ago:

A Book for All Ages
By Lauren Duncan

Once upon a time in Nazareth, there was a girl named Mary and a man named Joseph. An angel named Gabriel came upon her and said unto her, "Fear not, for behold, you're going to get married to Joseph and you're going to have a baby who is going to be Christ the Lord." (Don't you just love the King James Version mixed with a six year-old brain?)
So they got married and they had to go to pay their taxes to Bethlehem. They went to every inn and they even begged to sleep on the floor, but there was no room.
But an innkeeper felt sorry for them and let them stay in a stable. And she had her son there.

My Sister is Engaged!

For years I've been teasing my older sister*, Shelly, that she would never get married--or that I would end up getting married before her! Tonight she called me with the exciting news that her man, Ben, asked her to marry him. I'm pretty much excited at the prospect of being a bridesmaid...
*Okay, sidenote for everyone saying, "You have a sister?" Shelly is not technically my sister, but she's spent so much time with my family that through the years we've come to call each other sisters.

One Night with the King

Tonight I saw it for the third time. One of my favorites. Highly recommend it.

Quote

"I am convinced that my mission is finished on earth; I tasted yesterday the supreme delight; God condescended to brighten my eyes with the splendor of eternal hope."
Louis Braille

A College Woman and an Airplane

For those of you who have not had the pleasure of flying with me, you have missed out on one of the most entertaining experiences. I've often told my friend Emily, "People with big imaginations should not fly." They (as in my Mom) tell me that it should become easier to fly the more you do it....Well, 3 trips to the Philippines, a trip to Paris, and countless flights around the U.S. have not cast aside my flying "joys."

So, come last Friday morning, I was an energetic wad of nerves. J.V. and I were walking to breakfast and I turned to her saying, "I don't feel like I'm going to die today," to which I then added, "I'm so glad my emotions have control over the outcome of the flight..." Three hours later I found myself aboard a tiny aircraft with Delta plastered on the side of it. To borrow Dr.Mohler's wording on aircrafts, "It was like a tricycle with wings." As the engines started up and the wee craft made it's way into the air, I found myself intently saying Psalm 23 in my head while clinching my Great Books reading material. 45 minutes later we landed safely and I found myself in the beautiful chaos of the Atlanta airport.

In order to find my Dad and baggage claim I opted for walking there, how far could it be? 30 minutes later....
An hour after that, we found ourselves waiting in a long line for lost luggage....24 hours later I received my clothing from Delta airlines.

This Thanksgiving I'm thankful for big airplanes, suitcases that arrive, and small airports...

You know you have too much studying when....

"Okay, when you have to chew your orange juice, you know it has too much pulp in it." Jessica Vaughn in response to my orange juice 'partakage.'