tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6561137900116162392024-03-05T16:47:26.966-08:00Laura NoelleA Home-Focused LifeLaura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-24001902619215039842014-04-14T19:59:00.002-07:002014-04-14T19:59:16.467-07:00We've moved!We have moved to a new website: <a href="http://www.lauranoelle.com/">www.lauranoelle.com</a><br />
Please check it out!Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-78088232226162927972014-04-03T05:59:00.003-07:002014-04-03T06:02:54.557-07:00Intentional Pregnancy Project Episode 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Buying Baby Stuff & Sharing Stories</span></div>
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Ever since I was a little girl, I have felt a strange pull towards baby items. My sister and I used to spend hours at garage sales going through baby clothes, blankets and toys and spent our hard earned quarters on these treasures for our doll collection. In fact, I still possess a few of those blankets and outfits!</div>
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Needless to say, I've always had a thing for dolls, which makes it easy to justify spending a little money on adorable outfits, shoes and accessories. A few years ago I discovered the world of Reborn Dolls and that's when my baby stuff buying truly went wild. I became a regular patron of thrift stores and purchased piles of clothes, blankets, shoes, diaper bags, bottles, pacis, and even a car seat (used for less than $5). I know own two reborn dolls--one that a reborn artist assisted me in making myself, and one that she crafted. The baby I "made" wear newborn and 0-3 month clothing, so the majority of my collection exists in these sizes. And while I say sure, a real baby could wear them, I am also not going to regret owning the clothes just for my doll. We all have our hobbies!</div>
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But back on topic. Some women say you shouldn't buy baby items until after you are well into your pregnancy. This is wise if you are saving money and don't want to have things around the house in case of loss or infertility. Other women say that they enjoyed the process of buying a few things wisely before pregnancy, or early on. </div>
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Personally, I decided that it was a wise investment for me to shop around and purchase select items beforehand that are great deals--sales, clearance, used, free, giveaways, etc. That is most of my collection now. I have spent full price on a few things I absolutely love, but they are new and have good resale or gifting value. </div>
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If you want to see some of my collection, watch this week's video!</div>
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As a part of researching and writing my book, Intentional Pregnancy, I am inviting women who are hoping to have children or who have already had them, to share their stories via survey. You can share annonymously, or give me permission to use a quote or story in the book. If I choose to quote you, I will not publish your name to protect your identity, and I will also email you a PDF of the finished book as a thank you. The survey can be taken here: <a href="https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LC3TZJC">https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/LC3TZJC</a></div>
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So what about you? Did you collect baby items before having children? What were your favorite purchases?</div>
Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-73078788834217449262014-04-01T18:24:00.001-07:002014-04-02T05:53:28.840-07:00New Series: 30 Days of Clean<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm still new to the land of YouTube, so when I heard about VEDA only a few days ago, I knew this was something I wanted to experience, even at very last minutes' notice. VEDA, or Video Every Day in April, is a challenge to vloggers and a little daunting I'll admit!<br />
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So I decided to do something simple, yet fun. Every day in April I will be posting a short tip on an aspect of household and office cleaning and organization. I have been wanting to do an organization series for awhile now, as my professional organizer gene is itching to get out there, and this seemed like a great opportunity.</div>
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So here's day one! I hope you will continue to follow the journey on YouTube this month.<br />
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Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-65074255964505119392014-03-21T09:33:00.000-07:002014-03-24T17:57:53.347-07:00Intentional Pregnancy Project Episode 3 <div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Baby Fever & BumGenius 4.0 Cloth Diaper Giveaway</span></div>
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Alright friends...it's the long awaited moment...a giveaway!! From Tuesday March 25 - Tuesday April 8 this giveaway will be live on the Rafflecopter form below. If you are a resident of the US, you can get one "free" entry by entering your email and if you want additional entries, you can like facebook pages, follow twitter accounts and much more fun stuff!<br />
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This week on the Vlog I discuss that oh so fabulous topic of Baby Fever! Oh the joy oh the pain of this emotional awwwwwwwww every time you see a baby! But the downside to that attraction to all things squishy and cute is the pain and jealousy that can occur when you see a new mom and her little baby and wish you were in that stage too. I've seen that baby fever can strike during all phases of life--even for those who have young children. It's understandable that women think babies are just so darn cute, I mean, that's how we populate the planet! But the downside is that it can cause a great deal of emotional anguish and frustration when we want something sooo badly and aren't able to achieve it at this time of our life.<br />
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I have dealt with a great deal of baby fever and have tried all sorts of methods to cope. Keeping busy, focusing on hobbies, reading, researching, learning, staying active, journaling, meditating, the list goes on. My goal is to remain somewhat content (just not too content!) in order to enjoy the phase of life I'm currently in, while looking forward to the adventure that little ones will bring to my future!<br />
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If you didn't see the YouTube episode on Baby Fever, check it out here:<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Enter the Giveaway & You could win a BumGenius 4.0 Diaper!</span><br />
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/61afc72/" id="rc-61afc72" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></div>
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<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com79tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-48727869851768611192014-03-19T19:52:00.001-07:002014-03-19T19:54:15.173-07:00Intentional Pregnancy Project - Episode 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Episode 2: When to Start a Family</div>
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Starting a family is a very personal decision, but one that everyone has an opinion on. Some cultures have norms and expectations, in addition to many religions and even family groups. In society today, it's common for people to push marriage and children into the "later in life" category. Some by choice, some by circumstance and some by necessity. But if I have learned one thing from the experience of being married young-ish (I was 24 and he was 21) and talking about children in our first few years of marriage, I've learned that people are quite open about encouraging you to wait. I used to be very offended when people told me to wait 4-5 years or until I was 30, because I want children way before then! I am not trying to build a career outside the home--I greatly desire to be home and raise a family. However, I quickly discovered that when people told me to wait, they were sharing their story of what they did, or wish they had done. </div>
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I believe that it is valid to put off starting your family until you feel right about it, regardless of whether you work outside or inside the home and where you desire to be once you have a family. Timing is not an issue that anyone can decide for you. Certainly concerned observations can be made, but it requires careful consideration and evaluation on your part. And only you and your partner get to decide when you're ready.</div>
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<br />Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-55820449395577766172014-03-14T06:26:00.005-07:002014-03-14T06:26:54.143-07:00Intentional Pregnancy Project - Episode 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The project has officially launched and I need your help! I have a basic list of topics to cover in the coming weeks, but I know you have more ideas. Please let me know of any topics of interest that you would like us to talk about! I currently am posting videos on Tuesdays with a topic from the book, but I would like to add an additional video each week, probably on Fridays, addressing your questions, comments and opening more discussions!</div>
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Getting any project off the ground is a lot of legwork, so bear with me as we build some momentum. I am so passionate about the subject of motherhood and preparing to be a parent, and, seriously guys, I have so much to share that I'm super duper excited about! (Is that enough enthusiasm, you think??)</div>
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You will want to stay tuned as Episode Two opens the oh-so-popular topic of "when to start a family" and the following week, March 25th, we'll be talking about baby fever and I'll be giving away a brand-new BumGenius 4.0 Pocket Cloth Diaper!! So excited! </div>
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So without further ado...here is Episode One!</div>
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<br />Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-60124913342346062792014-03-07T18:12:00.003-08:002014-03-08T07:42:07.051-08:00The Intentional Pregnancy Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">The YouTube Project...What Am I Doing??</span></div>
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Okay, here it goes. Ever since I got married, almost a year ago, I have had baby fever. Like, really really strong baby fever! I have followed bloggers, vloggers and Facebook groups of moms, cloth diapering, infertility/pregnancy loss, families, and other parenting issues. On any average day, I see more media about babies and mommyhood than anything else.</div>
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Five days a week, I run around after infants and toddlers for eight hours a day. But my struggle has been that these aren't my kids. And as much fun as it is to care for them and come home to a quiet house with uninterrupted sleep, <i>it's just not what I really want to do with my life. </i>It's not the same because those aren't my kids. I love them, but I want my own little ones.</div>
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Many, many people have made comments like "you should wait until you're thirty to have kids" and "enjoy being married for at least four years first" and inside I cringe. For them, it may have been perfect to wait that long before having children, but what they don't understand is that I don't want to work outside the home/build a career/travel the world. I love my husband and enjoy our time together, but my dream is to be a stay/work at home mom and homeschool my children. Certainly I am not against working part-time or doing things outside the home, but I want to be at home first and foremost. It's not a job that's for everyone, but it's what I most desire. </div>
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Intentional Pregnancy Book Trailer<br />
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Having said all that, I began a writing project a few months ago entitled <i>Intentional Pregnancy: Practical & Prayerful Preparation for Baby before Pregnancy. </i>I've been freewriting, journaling and brainstorming, and hope to release the finished ebook in May. But as I'm working on this book, I was inspired to reach out and start a community project. </div>
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I don't know a lot of young, married women who are planning and preparing to start families. But I want to! And I am hoping that by starting a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/lauranoellewrites" target="_blank">YouTube Channel </a> and uploading weekly videos based on topics from my book, conversations will be started, relationships will be formed, and information and stories will be shared. This is personal, this is important. </div>
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I will be creating surveys and polls that will appear in the book and also offering a few giveways as well. </div>
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Channel Intro Trailer</div>
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My first vlog is a fun one...just a get to know me video to express who I really am! =)<br />
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All About Me</div>
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So this is the invitation. I want to start conversations with women who are planning for a family and those who have already started theirs (both young and older), so we can share our hopes, dreams, struggles and experiences along the journey.<br />
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Weekly Vlogs will post on Tuesdays, so please subscribe to my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/lauranoellewrites" target="_blank">channel</a> to keep updated and be a part of this project. It's about to get really real over there!Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-22568413830791978132014-01-05T07:54:00.003-08:002014-01-05T07:58:34.075-08:00Reflecting on 2013...a year in pictures<div style="text-align: center;">
2013 was a year of change. Of endings and beginnings, new opportunities and adventures.</div>
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<i>Newly engaged at the beginning of 2013, life was a whirlwind of pre-martial counseling, reading books, and wedding planning.</i></div>
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<i>Dustin made the move from his farmtown home to the city where I abided in February, settling into the home we would share once married.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZR5eRdv0QUOg4ym60y1S75ZjuzgNRFA_0W-z-Hq97VyZGVt1RcfBk5O45BC3-tXxDRK_YzE5N3k4IS0zyOqnu73uwCF5HphYDbEBmz5ambEJ3R5w5nCizlvrnQ7okX-D7Q5xjLUnCfJ8/s1600/P8270060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZR5eRdv0QUOg4ym60y1S75ZjuzgNRFA_0W-z-Hq97VyZGVt1RcfBk5O45BC3-tXxDRK_YzE5N3k4IS0zyOqnu73uwCF5HphYDbEBmz5ambEJ3R5w5nCizlvrnQ7okX-D7Q5xjLUnCfJ8/s320/P8270060.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>I shifted careers throughout the year, leaving my part-time office job and part-time Kid's Club Attendant positions for a part-time Infant Teacher job which finally led to a promotion to full-time </i></div>
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<i>Lead Toddler Teacher.</i></div>
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<i>On March 23, 2013 the long-awaited wedding finally arrived.</i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipqcDsEZ_K4_c7PKEsDqaAxYW8fHlScdsxvh_mPUcuNhgUCf23VcbJCe30pikZqiHHhcIXGqIG4ZOzItwChv6jf0CcZ47vaPQ5Fc4mtafzeJyV5w1Km2OzIBk6TuUlmLXiL6heDHzNv4/s1600/IMG_0935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipqcDsEZ_K4_c7PKEsDqaAxYW8fHlScdsxvh_mPUcuNhgUCf23VcbJCe30pikZqiHHhcIXGqIG4ZOzItwChv6jf0CcZ47vaPQ5Fc4mtafzeJyV5w1Km2OzIBk6TuUlmLXiL6heDHzNv4/s320/IMG_0935.JPG" width="213" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">©Hope Photography</span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqiQNQR8N8ZV4ZISHCpzCHMBLsaj5rCr7KDpJxkPDlI7QY3rd6dYU4wl9MdsOtKyBDxbmrTAR_zWkQqJJRaehStsRwp01VbxJVDYKcFZbVVeEGZamb58HB1ZYoO71hnXMMCg4tNrOw0s/s1600/IMG_0975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqiQNQR8N8ZV4ZISHCpzCHMBLsaj5rCr7KDpJxkPDlI7QY3rd6dYU4wl9MdsOtKyBDxbmrTAR_zWkQqJJRaehStsRwp01VbxJVDYKcFZbVVeEGZamb58HB1ZYoO71hnXMMCg4tNrOw0s/s320/IMG_0975.JPG" width="213" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">©Hope Photography</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">©Hope Photography</span></div>
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<i>Our honeymoon was at a Bed and Breakfast on the coast of Inverness, CA/Tomales Bay.</i></div>
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpg4cwrNrHNBP4Wo5XnqrBmyTuBD3Ph3uQpikdKSxPyuN14l7jvaNjNAXsqnz7X9dTe-8BboHJbFVjwuqf_AccUnvMOm4dWUywHtRIANMvc4XzKeKyaHAyHSSrokSNSjMHsG7ZU1VHjkg/s1600/P1000725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpg4cwrNrHNBP4Wo5XnqrBmyTuBD3Ph3uQpikdKSxPyuN14l7jvaNjNAXsqnz7X9dTe-8BboHJbFVjwuqf_AccUnvMOm4dWUywHtRIANMvc4XzKeKyaHAyHSSrokSNSjMHsG7ZU1VHjkg/s200/P1000725.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJVv10o11pO-8EHP2dzaOnPiml5ZSrZdsQHPHbNPukWh0kKew8pR-nE5gadpIY8PUQJe4WWbSesxRIES6B2yKtECkjmDG_dKoO5rtcD1Jjb8R7IvrO3q6B_jxc8HOhXEeH2Vxr095PWw/s1600/P1000761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJVv10o11pO-8EHP2dzaOnPiml5ZSrZdsQHPHbNPukWh0kKew8pR-nE5gadpIY8PUQJe4WWbSesxRIES6B2yKtECkjmDG_dKoO5rtcD1Jjb8R7IvrO3q6B_jxc8HOhXEeH2Vxr095PWw/s200/P1000761.JPG" width="200" /></a></i></div>
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<i>I moved out of my first "official" place that was all mine =)</i><br />
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<i>And into our new, much smaller, home together.</i></div>
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<i>We attempted to plant a garden, which didn't really work.</i></div>
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<i>Despite lots of craziness, AngelInk Illuminations with Candice continued to grow and spark lots of new ideas and writing projects.</i></div>
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<i>In summer, Dustin was baptized!</i></div>
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<i>And with all the changes and work and life, we ended up with our first Christmas upon us.</i></div>
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<i>And my year ended with a wonderful adventure to Southern California with Candice, where I got to see Vanguard University, the school I will be studying online through for continuing education teaching credits.</i></div>
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<b>2013 was quite a year. It has gone quickly, but it has been good. May 2014 bring new adventures and excitement!</b></div>
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<br />Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-77983504284392323272013-07-27T10:12:00.003-07:002013-07-27T10:13:40.557-07:00The Natural Files: Compromise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A touchy subject amongst the natural/green/eco-friendly movement is that of compromise. There are die-hard environmentalists who won't go near anything toxic and then there are people like me, who do our very best to live as naturally <i>as possible.</i><br />
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I call myself "just a lil' crunchy", and for good reason. [Side note: crunchy, granola, hippie, etc. are words to describe those of us who try to live green]. I embrace concepts of homesteading like handwashing clothes and dishes in addition to buying all organic or grass-fed meat, produce, and dairy when accessible (haven't been able to find good organic sources of cheese yet...).<br />
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I have always been adamant about using non-toxic/eco-friendly laundry detergent, hand soap, dish soap and household cleaners, in addition to finding natural ways to get rid of bugs and the like. However, this week I had to make two compromises. For a few weeks our home has been infested with tiny thief ants and I desperately tried everything I could: peppermint oil, vinegar, dish soap, baking soda... Nothing worked. I wanted to try a mix of Borax, as I'd read that was effective, but couldn't find it in stores (just found it at Target yesterday, much to my joy/dismay!).<br />
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As quality of life with the ants diminished, I couldn't eat (they were around the fridge, on the stove/counters/in cupboards), couldn't sleep (in the carpet, on bedroom dressers, bathroom and living room!) and was having stress related anxiety attacks frequently. The ants had to go.<br />
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Finally, I gave in and let my husband use chemical ant baits and outdoor spray and within two days, they were gone. I don't like the fact that we had to use pesticides, but for our sanity, for us, it was necessary at the time.<br />
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The second compromise was in the laundry department. One of my work shirts is white and while handwashing and spin drying, it got purple marks on it from another shirt that must have rubbed against it. (Oops, never doing that again). Needless to say, I tried every natural soap I owned and nothing helped. So I ventured into the laundry aisle at the store and bought a dreaded bottle of...bleach. I can't tell you how much I hate bleach, but I had no other options left. After a good drench and soak, the marks were gone.<br />
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In my opinion, making compromises from natural solutions to chemical ones are based on individual preference. Are all natural options exhausted? How urgent is the need for a solution? Can you live with the problem or does it need to be fixed immediately? Often, natural solutions take more time to work, or may not work as instantly as chemical ones.<br />
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Each of us have to weigh the options and make that decision for ourselves. When is it worth it to stick to natural or include chemicals?Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-45628773263532256072013-06-16T09:00:00.001-07:002013-06-16T09:01:38.323-07:00My Author Journey + Giveaway of an Autographed copy of "Broken Silence"!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Even though it's been a little over a year since the release of my first novel, "Broken Silence", I've never really introduced it on this blog or told the story behind it. So, here's all the info. =)<br />
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<b>Don't forget to scroll down the page and enter the free giveaway to win an autographed copy of the novel!</b></div>
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My author journey started in the fifth grade when my English teacher encouraged me to submit a short story to the school newsletter based on creativity and exceptional writing skills. While that story wasn't published, it lit a fire under me that sent me to pursue publishing. I had sent a total of over 30 stories, poems and articles to various magazines before my poem "For Keeps" was accepted by Skipping Stones Magazine in January 2005 when I was 16 years old. </div>
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For over nine years (from ages 13-22) I focused on freelance writing, submitting over 300 poems, stories, articles and book manuscripts to magazines, websites, newsletters, contests, devotionals, anthologies and publishing houses. Of those, 47 were chosen for publication and were featured on websites, in magazines and Sunday School take home papers, in addition to three anthology books. </div>
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In 2008 I was introduced to <a href="http://www.nanowrimo.org/" target="_blank">NaNoWriMo</a>, or National Novel Writing Month, held in November of each year by the Office of Letters and Light, a nonprofit literacy organization. The goal is simple, to write a novel with at least 50,000 words in 30 days.</div>
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I was 19 years old in November 2008 and I decided to undertake this challenge with a story that had been brewing on my heart for awhile. It was very much my story, but with a lot of fictional additions. I spent those 30 days with my beloved <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AlphaSmart" target="_blank">Alphasmart</a> typing madly in between college classes and before church events; late into the night and early mornings. But at the end of November, I had my first rough draft in my hand. A complete novel!</div>
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For the next few years I worked on re-writing and editing, but for the most part, it just sat there. It never felt right or ready to submit it to a traditional publisher, so I kept it hidden.</div>
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In 2011, I turned my focus from freelance writing to business and teamed up with <a href="http://candicejenee.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Candice Jenee' </a> to run <a href="http://www.angelinkilluminations.com/" target="_blank">AngelInk Illuminations</a>. We started with dreams of a publishing company and creative design, and later changed the direction to focus on writing and <a href="http://angelinkilluminations.com/AngelInk/Coaching.html" target="_blank">Life REdesign Coaching</a>.</div>
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In spring 2012 we each released our debut novels, both of which were college works of our hearts, and incredibly personal to us. Many hours of editing, revising, and rewriting went into them, but they are still our first novels. They are both written with a young adult audience in mind. <i>Older readers may need to head the warning that my book was written by a teen for teens and won't read like many conventional fiction books!</i></div>
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<b>Broken Silence - Book Description</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Brigitta Skye has known more pain than most people experience in a lifetime. A withdrawn skeptic of life, she’s quickly slipping into silence as haunting memories bubble to the surface. But the scars on her arms and her heart are becoming more visible and when Jake, an overly-responsible guy comes into her life, she’s left with more anxiety than she can handle. She’d give anything to be whole again. Will she make it out alive?</span></span></div>
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Watch the<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WNKjqxJioA" target="_blank"> <b>Book Trailer</b></a></div>
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Find my author pages, reviews and more on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Broken-Silence-Laura-Noelle/dp/0984855505/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1371395949&sr=8-8&keywords=broken+silence" target="_blank">Amazon</a> and <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/Laura_Noelle" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></div>
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<i>A final note. If you have read Broken Silence, I would so appreciate if you would take a moment to post a review on Amazon or Goodreads. Reviews and ratings are what authors rely most on! Thank you!</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Giveaway terms and conditions: Giveaway open to residents of the US only. Winner will be emailed within 48 hours after the giveaway closes on July 15, 2013. Winner will have 7 days to respond to the email with their mailing address for prize delivery or a new winner will be selected. Facebook is not associated with this giveaway in any way and holds no liability for outcome.</span><br />
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<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/61afc70/" id="rc-61afc70" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-26750919566209323092013-06-15T14:43:00.001-07:002013-06-15T15:58:55.458-07:00The Natural Files...part one<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Editorial Note: Woven Starlight will be featuring a new series spread throughout the blog entitled "The Natural Files". These posts will discuss topics of natural living, organic parenthood and the like. Some may be personal stories, others based on research and additional product reviews and giveaways may occasionally be offered as well. Please join in the discussion! Enjoy!</b></div>
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If you've ever mentioned the topics of cosmetics, conventional cleaners, disposable diapers, or fast food, you've probably heard my gasps of horror. Toxins oh the toxins!!!! Some would rush to call me crunchy, eco-nut, granola, whatever hippy-dippy name that fits my craze of <i>the world is dangerous!</i><br />
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While even I laugh at my ability to spout off facts about dangerous chemicals in the world around us, it's an outlook on life that I take very seriously. While I long ago collected all-natural cleaners for my home and laundry, and keep chemical filled cosmetics and soap out of my home, recently I've been doing more research on organic living--especially in regards to parenting young children. No, I'm not expecting a little one to join my family for awhile, but when that does happen, I want to be the best mom I can be in addition to offering the safest, healthiest environment I can for them to grow up in. </div>
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My goal list is extensive, and I know it can't be done in a day, but I am trying to make a few choices slowly but surely:</div>
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*get more exercise by walking downtown (library, post office, local stores) a few times a week [also increases natural vitamin D exposure that boosts mood and immune system!]</div>
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*drink less caffeine, and choose a healthier low calorie tea instead of sugar filled coffee [I can't do black coffee, but if you can it's better for you!]</div>
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*eat less sugar and processed foods and buy organic fruits and veggies</div>
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That's just the start, but taking only a few steps at a time is easier for me than jumping in and trying to change everything at once. For me, living more naturally is about a lot of different things, from feeling healthier and having more energy to doing what I can to be environmentally friendly. As I discover more along this journey, I'll post interesting tidbits.</div>
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Are there any topics of interest you'd like to know more about? I'll take them into consideration for research and postings. =)</div>
Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-53068520724443656452013-04-22T17:20:00.000-07:002013-04-22T17:21:01.660-07:00Winding Roads & New Trails<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Life has taken some tumultuous turns in the past few weeks. New adventures and new challenges (getting married will do that to a person), and routines that must be adjusted (opposite work/sleep schedules--how fun!).<br />
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And yet, in the midst of it all, hope abounds in the form of tiny dreams. Planting a garden together. Making space for meditation/prayer for balancing. Taking new exercise classes at the gym with friends. Dreaming new directions for our fledgling business.<br />
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Some days I feel like I have no credentials to be a life coach, or an organizer, or a creative individual at all. I'm young...what can I possibly offer young moms and their families? I have only been married 4 weeks and have no kids! But I work with kids every morning. I play with them, watch them with crafts, toys and boxes. I studied early childhood development for two years and have spent over ten years in various childcare settings. No, these are not equivalent to raising a child myself--but they are a start from where I can put my organizational and design psychology training and instinct. I can't solve the world's problems, but I can put systems into a room to clean up clutter. I can jot out a time schedule and recommend balancing and wellness practices for a more holistic life.<br />
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And so with these little nuggets of experience, interest and passion, I set forward with my business partner, <a href="http://www.angelinkilluminations.com/" target="_blank">Candice Jenee'</a> and reach out to maybe, just maybe, help someone who is at wits end and needs a little support. I still doubt myself at times, after all, I'm only human. But as a coach, I'm seeking a daily journey to holism, simple living and harmony. Isn't that what we all really want?Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-90965411913991078202013-01-25T07:35:00.001-08:002013-01-25T07:35:16.778-08:00TransitionLife is full of transitions. Some are small, some are monumentally life shaking.<br />
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This week has been full of crazy things... job resignations, new business dreaming meetings, closing of some dreams, and opening of others.<br />
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All in all, life is changing! And as such, I am back blogging on blogger. In the coming weeks, look for back-posts and a whole lot of explanation as to what is going on with <a href="http://www.angelinkilluminations.com/" target="_blank">AngelInk Illuminations</a> in the near future!<br />
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Many blessings!Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-69604280162051532762011-09-08T14:37:00.000-07:002011-09-08T14:45:30.823-07:00Confessions of a 20-Something: I don't know who I am<a class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-related="angelinkcreates:AngelInk Illuminations - Creative Design & Publishing" data-via="lauranoelle88" href="http://twitter.com/share">Tweet</a><br />
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Identity. <br />
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We hear all about how adolescence is about finding out who we are, what we like and how that prepares us for adulthood. <br />
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Well, today, <b>as a twentysomething, I'm making a confession: I still don't know who I am. </b><br />
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Some days I see the Laura who loves people, who is gentle and kind, who smiles, laughs and encourages others. She is a blessing to people and she's glimpses of the woman of God I aspire to be one day. But the problem with this Laura is that she's transient. Oh so quickly she can turn into depressed Laura, anxious Laura, angry Laura, or worse yet, destructive Laura who can take out her frustrations on herself and others. On days when she gets up grumpy and continues through the day with short remarks and a frown, she scares me. <b>And I don't know who she is.</b> So many times I think to myself, <i>she can't possibly be me. I don't even recognize her!</i><br />
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I know she's not the Laura God created me to be. I know she's not the woman of God who mentors and counsel's teens; who advocates and educates youth leaders about the hard issues in mental health and society. <b>I cannot help by stand back and stare at her, appalled that she is a part of me.</b><br />
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In my mind I can visualize the strong, joyful woman I want to become, and sometimes I catch reflections of her in myself. But reality is stronger and many days I can't imagine how I will ever be able to breach the chasm that separates my selfish sinful heart from softening into a woman after God's own heart.<br />
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But even in the hard days, the times of defeat and discouragement, I press on. <b>It may not be today, tomorrow, or even months from now, but one day I am confident that GOD will mold my heart into a vessel He can use.</b> I will keep trying, keep pursuing, keep seeking until I change--because I've learned it's not so much the finished result that will satisfy me, but rather the daily journey to get there.<br />
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**<a href="http://allyspotts.com/">Ally Spotts</a> is hosting a blog series where twentysomethings are sharing their confessions. Check them out <a href="http://allyspotts.com/confessions">here</a>.Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-32477034629973257452011-08-21T20:44:00.000-07:002011-08-22T09:48:12.957-07:00Quarter-Life Crisis<a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-via="lauranoelle88" data-related="angelinkcreates:AngelInk Illuminations - Creative Design & Publishing">Tweet</a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
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There are dishes piled up in the sink, and papers strewn all over my bedroom floor. But the piles are unnoticed as I sit here typing as tears trickle down my cheeks. <br />
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What is going on you may ask? Well, it’s simple really. I’m having a quarter-life crisis. <br />
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I have been feeling the isolation, questioning and confusion for months. I watch incredible people take <a href="http://meglockwood.wordpress.com/">earth-shaking risks</a> and find God’s blessing, and <a href="http://laurennicolelove.blogspot.com/">people who drop everything to do what they love</a>. They know it’s not easy, but as they follow God’s call, they have found peace, strength and adventure. <br />
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And I want it to. My heart longs to hear the Spirit’s soft whisper of guidance and direction, to know that I am following His lead, not leading Him! I desire to live each day trusting that the provision will always be there, that even in the hardest of times, He will always take care of me. <br />
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I long, overall, for community. Tonight, my two wonderful friends, sisters and housemates (though one has now struck out on her own), went to a church that strives to create an environment of belonging in the local area. They are the true essence of a community—a safe place that reaches inward for communal strength from their God, then rushes outward to spread that love to everyone they come into contact with. And it is a beautiful sight. <br />
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And it makes my heart ache to be a part of such things. To interact with people outside of the church office where I work. To reach teenagers outside of the church building where I serve. To get OUT into the community and love on people who desperately need Jesus’ love shown to them. <br />
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So I am on a search to find God’s heart, and to find my place in His plan. To dream with Him and to live out those dreams every day of my life for the rest of my life. It will not be easy. It will not be comfortable. It will most definitely not be safe. But God never told us it would be simple and fun. The Bible doesn’t promise us a happy, secure life. Yes, it says we should be filled with the joy of the Lord, but even that can happen during a trial. <br />
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I am determined to move away from stagnation and get out of the rut. Who’s with me?<br />
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Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-85718365117076148902011-08-02T15:07:00.000-07:002011-08-02T15:08:36.191-07:00Quitting Life and Other Lessons from DreamLand<a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-via="lauranoelle88" data-related="angelinkcreates:AngelInk Illuminations - Creative Design & Publishing">Tweet</a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
<br />
Recently, I discovered I am not a 9-5 girl. In other words, I am not an office girl. A one-job girl. A sit here all day part-time or full-time girl. <br />
<br />
I have too much energy. Too many dreams. I want to change the world, love teenagers, start programs, and write books at the beach. I want to take photographs, organize people's closets and speak to befuddled parents and youth workers. I want to shine light into the darkness and bring unspoken issues that are full of shame into the spotlight. <br />
<br />
And besides, <b>the 9-5 routine makes me feel stuck.</b> I am a forward moving girl. I hate standing around. While I enjoy the stability of routine, I hate stagnation. I want freedom, new experiences, and the liberty to find my destiny--every day of the week!<br />
<br />
<i>I do NOT want to sit at a desk for the rest of my life.</i> I don't even want to do it now! If you know me, don't get me wrong--I love my job. I just don't <b>love</b> my job. I enjoy working in ministry and I like the behind the scenes typing and organizing. I'm good at it. But I believe God created me for bigger things. <br />
<br />
I came to this conclusion after realizing that I live for the weekends. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are my only days when I do not have the same work routines and I dream of seeing my house, cleaning, shopping, going places and hanging out with people. It's adventure time. <br />
<br />
The four to five days in between are, well, dreaded and dragged through. Sadly, if I am not enjoying four days out of seven, I'm missing <i>more than half of my life</i>. That's a scary thought folks! I dread going to bed because I dread getting up in the morning. On some occasions, I want to just give up and quit everything. <br />
<br />
Part of this comes from my overdoing personality that takes on more than I can adequately handle in a healthy manner. But even when I try to simplify and reduce my commitments, there is little satisfaction. Last week I found the blog of a 23 year old lady who quit her 9-5 job to live her dreams as a freelance photographer/graphic designer/blog designer, and let me tell you, I so wish I could be her! The funny thing is, I think God is using all these influences to shape me--to prepare me for a life so totally opposite 9-5. It might start sooner than I think. It might take longer than I think. I don't know what God's plans are. But I know I am ready for a change. For a radical revolution to the next step in life. <br />
<br />
I have been told by adults and mentors that they expect nothing less from me than changing the world. Two other adults have told me that they want to be like me when they grow up. I know on every level that God has huge things in store for me. And that scares me out of my mind. But I also know that God's adventures, while radical and crazy and oftentimes, seemingly impossible, are the exact places we need to be, and I'll take that any day. <br />
<br />
Today, I wish I could quit everything and live my dreams. And guess what? There's no telling when that will happen!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UHHnYwZoWR8NljyjcXK80hi1KVTJ-wwyiAGboaPD48VfPVqgGwEvLPBpWdHQaHESe0v6sxybPgzVscMAB8wWg8W7PFUaZSimGcvewCV4U-5Jfg-yQ2MPNLYUItSddrUShXso11RFBxQ/s1600/228824_226434134067600_223497797694567_731579_7985052_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2UHHnYwZoWR8NljyjcXK80hi1KVTJ-wwyiAGboaPD48VfPVqgGwEvLPBpWdHQaHESe0v6sxybPgzVscMAB8wWg8W7PFUaZSimGcvewCV4U-5Jfg-yQ2MPNLYUItSddrUShXso11RFBxQ/s320/228824_226434134067600_223497797694567_731579_7985052_n.jpg" /></a></div>Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-70637134094064222632011-07-26T12:02:00.000-07:002011-08-01T14:30:37.803-07:00The Wisdom to Decide<a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-count="vertical" data-via="lauranoelle88" data-related="angelinkcreates:AngelInk Illuminations - Creative Design & Publishing">Tweet</a><script type="text/javascript" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br />
Recently I have been faced with some very life-changing and directing decisions. The impulse decision-maker I am is tempted to make a split-second choice, but I know wisdom follows another road. One of patience, of prayer and seeking. It is all too easy to conveniently "forget" to pray about a big decision, and then I find myself (again) a few months later trying to scramble around and pick up the pieces after the situation exploded in front of me. Thankfully, I have not been burned too badly, and instead have learned some valuable lessons. <br />
<br />
<b>1. It's okay to wait. </b> I am not, by nature, a very patient person. I want what I want when I want it. The little girl inside me has yet to learn the true gratification from delayed response. She knows that patience is a virtue, but she would rather not wait! Most of us have some work to do in this area, and God keeps chipping away at our impatience. In the end, what has been patiently waited for is usually <i>always better</i>.<br />
<br />
<b>2. It's okay to slow down (even stop once in a while!)</b>. I am a do-er. I cannot sit still for very long without looking forward towards the next activity or project. It is very difficult for me to remain completely present in the moment because my mind is always two to three steps ahead of me. This past week I began to realize just <i>how much I miss by not being fully present.</i> I do not aspire to live my life this way! So, I am learning that it is okay to put things on hold and relax--to wait on the Lord and enjoy what He has given me NOW--not what I want to receive two years down the road!<br />
<br />
I have much to learn on this life journey, but as I have been gently nudged by people who are very important to me, I have to learn to let go and let God take control. These decisions are not ones to be taken lightly, and though there are times when you have to jump in and take a risk, there are other times when God wants to teach wisdom and discernment. And it's okay to slow down enough to hear the directions!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pEasXKWRNMiK3QNZFFj5Eeb441Y3sjEqe9VJAAgK0SxKOjCZleCue18_D7WsGDEwi4Mr2Txh_ApP4zdHCbfLbrNSu9FqzFVA7rofRCA0xQFduIZWAuYgkIkbT-mXtjNpHd2_4lfqJqY/s1600/path1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5pEasXKWRNMiK3QNZFFj5Eeb441Y3sjEqe9VJAAgK0SxKOjCZleCue18_D7WsGDEwi4Mr2Txh_ApP4zdHCbfLbrNSu9FqzFVA7rofRCA0xQFduIZWAuYgkIkbT-mXtjNpHd2_4lfqJqY/s320/path1.jpg" /></a></div>Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-5117856393846014772011-06-25T09:29:00.000-07:002011-06-25T09:29:32.382-07:00What If We Were RealToday I listened to Mandisa's new album "What If We Were Real" and while all the songs make me want to get up and dance, the title track really stuck out to me. <br />
<br />
From the first line, I felt like she was speaking directly to me...<br />
<br />
<i>"Well I'm tired of saying everything <br />
I feel like I'm supposed to say. <br />
I'm tired of smiling all the time, <br />
I wanna throw the mask away."</i><br />
<br />
So much of the so called "Christian life" has been made out to be one big masquerade, where church is the place for people with their lives together. And yes, followers of Christ are supposed to be a little more together than the rest of the world, but let me tell ya, we are all messed up and full of faults. And some days, even after being a disciple of Christ since childhood, I come to church in a puddle of repressed tears because I failed to be perfect that week. Yet, we fear judgement from people around us, so we keep holding everything inside. <br />
<br />
I think it would be a glorious day if we just <b>let it out.</b><br />
<br />
<i>"We keep trying to make it look so nice. <br />
And we keep hiding what's going on inside. <br />
But what if I share my brokenness, <br />
what if you share how you feel. <br />
What if we weren't afraid of this crazy mess. <br />
What if we were real?"</i><br />
<br />
Let's imagine a world where there was no pretending. Where the mask wasn't necessary, <b>especially</b> at church or with Christian friends. What if we opened up and let ourselves be vulnerable. Do you think it would deepen our friendships and lessen the burden of life? <br />
<br />
Will you take a step of faith with me today and <i>be a little more real?</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdwboQEDVutM-RQ9tz00vrGKArFTjeh-EWu4CRtg2YcN6sjn-RMFOqwrE47JU6mcDTgHKF9KDKZxJDMbWgTkjcBTXEfvzM8l7BKwJwryHyTMjfCqJSfPFEA-yjcTBTgD2GZ2tWFYOMvg/s1600/P4090145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcdwboQEDVutM-RQ9tz00vrGKArFTjeh-EWu4CRtg2YcN6sjn-RMFOqwrE47JU6mcDTgHKF9KDKZxJDMbWgTkjcBTXEfvzM8l7BKwJwryHyTMjfCqJSfPFEA-yjcTBTgD2GZ2tWFYOMvg/s320/P4090145.JPG" /></a></div>Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-80769185634468374952011-03-01T09:14:00.000-08:002011-03-01T09:25:05.662-08:00Bleeding Hearts: the secret shame of self-injury“by His wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5 NIV)<br />
<br />
The shouting from yet another argument rung in my ears. Feeling torn, broken and misunderstood, through dripping eyes I glanced at the drawer where I knew a razor lay. "Just once this time..." Muttering, I grabbed the blade and began to run it across my arm. Not once, but over and over again. <br />
<br />
Finally the blade dropped and I bandaged my wounds as a sense of relief came over me. It would be temporary, but it was the only way I knew to control my life and let out the anxiety and pain. <br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
Today is Self-Injury Awareness Day.<br />
<br />
Most people are at a loss to understand why people choose this form of release to deal with stress in life. Why would someone purposely hurt themselves? Most self-injurious behaviors start in the teenage years when an individual is overwhelmed with circumstances in life and views self-injury (SI) as a way to deal with the pain <i>without hurting anybody else</i>. This is not the reality of it, though, and as one friend told me upon retrospection, "I wish more than anything that back then [when I started self-injuring] I had known how destructive it was."<br />
<br />
So what exactly is self-injury? SI is an impulse control disorder used to temporarily calm out of control emotions and anxiety. It can include compulsive cutting, burning, carving, re-opening wounds, hair pulling, scratching, nail/finger biting and skin picking. While studies show that 14-39% of teens have self-injured at least once, the numbers are assumed to be quite higher, as it is a secretive behavior. One very strong correlation that has been found is in abuse victims. Close to 60% of those who self-injure have endured some type of abuse. Sexual abuse is particularly damaging to children and teenagers and many victims turn to SI as a way to punish themselves or literally cut out the imperfections and shame brought on by abuse. <br />
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The psychological foundation for SI lies in the belief that the emotional pain they are enduring is too much to handle, but physical pain is manageable, so covering inner pain with outer pain redeems them. <br />
<br />
But there is hope. While SI can become an addiction, even that can be broken when replaced with healthy coping alternatives. I suggest starting by creating a list of 10 reasons not to hurt yourself, and countering that with 10 things you can do instead. Keep adding to the list and try to practice alternative methods. <br />
<br />
For further help, please check out these resources:<br />
<a href="http://www.twloha.com/index.php">To Write Love On Her Arms</a><br />
<a href="http://jankern.com/">Live Free Journey</a><br />
<a href="http://www.selfinjury.com/">S.A.F.E. Alternatives</a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Scars-That-Wound-Heal-Journey/dp/0784721041?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185157051&sr=1-1">Scars that Wound, Scars that Heal</a><br />
<a href="http://www.cpyuresourcecenter.org/hope-and-healing-for-kids-who-cut.html">Hope and Healing for Kids Who Cut</a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Inside-Cutters-Mind-Understanding-Self-Injure/dp/1600060544">Inside A Cutter's Mind</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Rqzp7GFVffsc1kysuDjrDm73ZyA_9aEDkhvG5g_jWYa1dOr-pTyD2bvvSvKhctAOEHug-_EnaHFmUAPYpeaLArecicJa3jEKhR4PzR7XX0otIkaA0mOt_OC_JSpoxGB5a4D9uiJa3_s/s1600/P4140093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Rqzp7GFVffsc1kysuDjrDm73ZyA_9aEDkhvG5g_jWYa1dOr-pTyD2bvvSvKhctAOEHug-_EnaHFmUAPYpeaLArecicJa3jEKhR4PzR7XX0otIkaA0mOt_OC_JSpoxGB5a4D9uiJa3_s/s320/P4140093.JPG" /></a></div>Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-69856320277056998102011-02-19T22:00:00.000-08:002011-02-19T22:01:30.637-08:00Through the Fire"Be strong in the Lord and <b>never give up hope</b><br />
You're gonna do great things, I already know."<br />
<br />
<i>-"The Words I Would Say" by Sidewalk Prophets</i><br />
<br />
I used to wonder why the world felt so cold and dark around me. Why I felt like I was drowning without anyone left to listen and save me. I used to cry myself to sleep feeling completely alone in the depths of despair, to quote Anne of Green Gables. <br />
<br />
A few years later, I learned a very valuable lesson. There is a reason I was allowed to feel such deep pain. <br />
<br />
See, even the darkest night gives way to dawn. The angriest storm still creates a rainbow. And the deepest depression can open the doors to the greatest joy.<br />
<br />
<i>"Even the night shall be light around me; Indeed the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day" - Psalm 139:11-12 (NKJV)</i><br />
<br />
God knew that my pain was for a greater purpose, so He allowed it for a season. Not in spite, or to get enjoyment out of my suffering, but rather as a discipline for a greater good. I was going through the fire so that I might come out pure and filled with beauty. <br />
<br />
In the past few years I have been learning to overcome depression on a daily basis, and have begun to experience true joy. I never could understand before that one can only feel as high as they have been low. I had to live through the darkness to truly appreciate the light. And it is WONDERFUL light! <br />
<br />
If you are in the midst of the fire, take heart. While you probably can't see a bright future, know that your darkness has another side--one of joy that is literally out of this world. <br />
<br />
Never give up hope--you have so much ahead of you. This I know to be true!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WhMDCZSII4vWr_t-uOd86tn82po0vnDVUj9-ROZRPdqbS1sPUHcfBUpDcj-RpO3CJwOdT8kYbZKfZRx-de4hbsrXTPutdO71SNZxf7fpB-3cuoMbnPNyrSP2ojthfsJs3uomk9GWgxE/s1600/PB060260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="239" width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WhMDCZSII4vWr_t-uOd86tn82po0vnDVUj9-ROZRPdqbS1sPUHcfBUpDcj-RpO3CJwOdT8kYbZKfZRx-de4hbsrXTPutdO71SNZxf7fpB-3cuoMbnPNyrSP2ojthfsJs3uomk9GWgxE/s320/PB060260.JPG" /></a></div>Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-11592465176109376092011-02-08T09:00:00.000-08:002011-02-08T09:09:25.440-08:00The Little ThingsIt's easy to become obsessed with the big picture--the huge, dynamic things in life that are successes and accomplishments. But in the search for the big things, we often overlook the little things and instead let ourselves become overwhelmed when big things don't work like we think they should. <br /><br />For instance, this week I became overwhelmed by the amount of homework I'll have in the next four months, and completely ignored the fact that I will be speaking at a church worker's conference next month and assisting in running a young adult's retreat soon after. I let the possibility of stress and insurmountable odds take away the joys of living each day. <br /><br />See, the little things matter too. When was the last time you saw success in the little things? Maybe it's cleaning and organizing your room, or finishing reading a book you've been working on for months, or simply doing the dishes and admiring your clean kitchen. These are the tiny things that make a difference in your day to day attitude and perspective. Don't forget them, because when the little things fall into place, the big things will too. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4AUqxU6En-4byWfNzpmpvmInYN_Vu6Kkhuo-NI-n8XGkEt3NKk5rX29Fs9fJC98eDQ7L_lMssKDWkU3oOkihsoCAhDJwJsCbxUI0SSiKHzc7RcNFzirx2U_wuso2SIjcNRTeuQ62hlA/s1600/PB130075.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4AUqxU6En-4byWfNzpmpvmInYN_Vu6Kkhuo-NI-n8XGkEt3NKk5rX29Fs9fJC98eDQ7L_lMssKDWkU3oOkihsoCAhDJwJsCbxUI0SSiKHzc7RcNFzirx2U_wuso2SIjcNRTeuQ62hlA/s320/PB130075.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571366921012896562" /></a>Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-78426442618807162012011-01-16T08:50:00.000-08:002011-01-17T09:29:33.330-08:00Lies, Lies, Everywhere.Society does a big injustice to young people, and women of all ages. It's what I call the Cover-Up Lie. Some days I still fight to reject it, but overall, I'm getting better at recognizing the untruth and rejecting it. <br /><br />I'm speaking from a girls' perspective, so here's the deal. From a young age, girls are told what to look like, what to wear, how to act and how to please. We learn that pink is a norm and black is a no-no. We learn that dolls are acceptable, but fire trucks are not. We learn that the toy stores are split right down the middle--one side of the store is pink, and the other blue. We learn from princess stories and fairy tales that we are to be dainty, delicate and fall into the arms of Prince Charming, who will one day come into our lives and sweep us off our feet. <br /><br />We are spoiled into thinking that there is an effortless happily ever after if only we'll let ourselves be rescued. You can see it in the dress-up clothes, the make-up salon sets for three year olds and the cell phones six year olds carry around. It's in the core of the Bratz dolls and Barbie's unhealthy and unrealistic proportions. As plastic surgery and cosmetic sales shoot higher each year for younger and younger girls, it's apparent that society's view of beauty is very different from what God's. <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />"I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made" - Psalm 139:14</span><br /><br />The problems started in Genesis and ever since Eve was lied to, we've been in a destructive pattern. See, people speak from the lies they have been told and believe about themselves. So if a parent tells a child they are worthless, that child grows up believing that and ends up telling their child they are worthless and so on. This makes a lot of sense, especially when insecurities are present. Women have been told by parents, peers, advertisements and society in general that they are not beautiful until they plaster their face in make-up. And even when we know this isn't the truth, it's still hard to fight off. <br /><br />Insecurities are where Satan slips in and starts whispering lies, and because we often believe it's ourselves talking, we agree with the lies. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">I'm not good enough.<br />I'm not very pretty.<br />I'm not like her. <br />I'll never amount to anything. </span><br /><br />Every time we agree with the enemy, we're giving him more power to infiltrate our lives. Instead of going along with the lies, we have to learn to recognize them and fight back with God's truth. Pray what the Bible says about your situation. <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />"But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing" - James 1:4</span><br /><br />When we talk to our heart and fuel our lives with God's truth, we take the power out of the enemy's hands and willingly align ourselves with God's will. Only there will His power shine through us and we'll find freedom. The battle for truth is difficult, but it's what creates an inner beauty that radiates to everyone around you. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZXYXx13qz54rFFwcb4YqB4Cdsywm44f-Pj3XvuBpsSZAHu4dlEjY78x0kTKllNrl9KTxfIrAv6P7m2NSY6qLGnxqAQL9E-bzS3o73RlvYBrIoEtBqqFnHQ_jmAPEUHMuNonskPW7EXM/s1600/25262_414285609807_513969807_5126272_8366745_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZXYXx13qz54rFFwcb4YqB4Cdsywm44f-Pj3XvuBpsSZAHu4dlEjY78x0kTKllNrl9KTxfIrAv6P7m2NSY6qLGnxqAQL9E-bzS3o73RlvYBrIoEtBqqFnHQ_jmAPEUHMuNonskPW7EXM/s320/25262_414285609807_513969807_5126272_8366745_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562468913635024402" /></a>Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-74545821263378779412011-01-03T08:15:00.000-08:002011-01-03T08:15:23.089-08:00Hidden YearsMost people have heard the quote "All of life is a stage" and to a certain degree, it's true. But what we tend to forget is that in everyone's life there is a phenomenon called <em>Hidden Years</em>. They are the days, months and even years when we aren't being seen and praised for our accomplishments and talents. The times when we work behind the scene without recognition, and the times when we are growing and stretching beyond our wildest dreams. <br /><br />God has a special plan for hidden years. I came to understand this after looking back at my teen years when I was hidden away from society, deeply in pain, yet growing in my knowledge of Christ. I didn't understand at the time what was occurring or why nothing made sense. I wrestled endlessly with God, asking why He had allowed the pain to happen and why I was so lonely and unable to connect with people. <br /><br />The answer was so simplistic, and to this day I still marvel at it. <em>I hid you away so that you would <strong>later</strong> be seen better. I silenced your voice so that <strong>later</strong> you would be heard louder. I allowed depression so that <strong>later</strong>, you could feel true joy. You didn't talk <strong>then</strong>, so that you would have something to talk about<strong> now</strong>.</em><br /><br />Wow. But it's true. Because I was so quiet as a child, the fact that I am now a speaker and able to socialize makes my story that much more powerful. I have had countless conversations with others who have or are struggling with social anxiety and am able to connect on an empathetic level. I have been blown away by God's mercy and the fact that, while I don't control my life--He does. And He happens to know what's best for me!<br /><br /><strong>"You are complete in Him" - Colossians 2:10</strong><br /><br />I tend to get caught up in the details of life--the faults, the failures, the tiny imperfections that each one of us has. All the while, missing the greatest joy--the big picture of saving grace that makes us <span style="font-weight:bold;">whole</span>. <br /><br />Embrace the fact that God has a plan far beyond what you can see today and you'll find beauty you never dreamed existed!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JVeNUeugWgVMQo5aYBYswMwNWn7HoJtLjwVH30Xi04mhzP4KEAW87tGScUf6us12WXgeWgwR06XaoBMe1eGqxsrYUEEM6cNrgfgUZ_pmXEoGe8wKB0bo1ccuJuc_rSJPK754cmNPMw0/s1600/l_ef279e7f91d97317a749e16ab6331bc1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5JVeNUeugWgVMQo5aYBYswMwNWn7HoJtLjwVH30Xi04mhzP4KEAW87tGScUf6us12WXgeWgwR06XaoBMe1eGqxsrYUEEM6cNrgfgUZ_pmXEoGe8wKB0bo1ccuJuc_rSJPK754cmNPMw0/s320/l_ef279e7f91d97317a749e16ab6331bc1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557992000373605826" /></a>Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-25752043184217901882010-12-26T22:26:00.000-08:002010-12-27T11:15:56.199-08:00Just Like Mary"Then the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God." (Luke 1:30)<br /><br />I feel a special connection with Mary. <br /><br />She was young and given a blind command to take the humble position of a vessel for world changing. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"I am waiting in a silent prayer. I am frightened by the load I bear."</span><br /><br />I can understand how she felt. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"In a world as cold as stone, must I walk this path alone? Be with me now."</span><br /><br />While my experience is vastly different than a young woman given the task of raising the Son of God, I have been given a task that requires my life and unknown sacrifices along the way. I too feel like an unworthy, frightened girl who isn't quite sure what to do. The fear and sheer weight of moving forward at lightening speed into a future that people frowned upon are not strange realities to me either. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">"Do you wonder, as you watch my face, if a wiser one should have had my place? But I offer all I am, for the mercy of Your plan. Help me be strong."</span><br /><br />The task before me incorporates twenty-two years of experiences, both positive and negative that vary from a lot of people's my age. The trials have been many, and often I found myself asking "Why, God? Why me?" But the answer would remain the same. <span style="font-style:italic;">I made you different--I am preparing you for things that are so much more than you could ever plan.</span><br /><br />As painful as it is, I regret very little about my past, because every shattered piece of glass on the floor was one more experience I can now relate to. <br /><br />The task is overwhelming for two young women (my amazing business partner and I) as we set out to change the world by shining the light of hope in the Bay Area. It is a daunting thing to reach our hands out into the darkness and offer a lifeline to drowning teens around us. <br /><br />It is easy to feel unprepared, inexperienced and thoroughly not ready for such a huge weight upon us. But God isn't giving us the option to say no. He called us to a monumental task, and we have no choice but to go forward. I keep asking why I have been chosen to be a part of this great plan. Why not someone older, stronger, more outgoing and virtuous than me? Wouldn't they be better for such a job? <br /><br />But regardless of my doubts, I keep researching, dreaming, and taking steps forward. I am not perfect, nor the ideal example of humility, but for some reason, God saw fit to place me in this role. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">I was chosen for such a time as this.</span><br /><br />Our time is now. His time is now. Change is coming, and though I so often question if I'm the right girl for such a job, He hasn't taken back the call. That is not the change. The change lies within my heart, as I seek God's comfort and strength and set out on a journey into the treacherous unknown. It will be difficult. It won't be safe. But that's the part that keeps us seeking and searching for wisdom and truth. That's where the success is found--in being wholeheartedly willing to be the vessel, and dedicated to following the call, even when it is desperately beyond our human understanding. <br /><br />Lyrics from "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song)" by Amy Grant<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouBIowv8qS9T11d-GZt_RpiwMuPDl2DGseXlwgDA7eKPcI1yGdL1sLp_YDvFnvz0DQcX9kq_W-_2gTsTeAN55ReX3IcoB-QU2prdtX4Ll4rypQCSofMUr0F0Z3tvqR_-qsLR3pKTNaD8/s1600/6160_121545839807_513969807_2971888_2497601_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhouBIowv8qS9T11d-GZt_RpiwMuPDl2DGseXlwgDA7eKPcI1yGdL1sLp_YDvFnvz0DQcX9kq_W-_2gTsTeAN55ReX3IcoB-QU2prdtX4Ll4rypQCSofMUr0F0Z3tvqR_-qsLR3pKTNaD8/s320/6160_121545839807_513969807_2971888_2497601_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5555411374718236786" /></a>Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656113790011616239.post-8136874017248142052010-12-01T09:24:00.001-08:002010-12-01T09:42:06.976-08:00Waiting Out the PainI woke up this morning to a shooting pain that I can do nothing about. Every couple of months this happens as an accompaniment to my chronic illness. Again I found myself whining to God, <span style="font-style:italic;">Why does this happen to me? Why now? I am already too stressed this week, I don't need THIS! I can't do this!</span><br /><br />Nothing. <br /><br />Eventually I grew tired of whining and started asking better questions. <span style="font-style:italic;">Okay, fine. Why is this pain here now? What purpose does it hold in my life right now? What do you want to teach me through this?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."(1 Thessalonians 5:18)<br /> <br />"For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:11-13)</span><br /><br />God is a patient parent, but He does not reward whining. He is attentive to His children's cries, but He instructs us to that fateful word: trust. He wants our complete and ultimate trust that He, the giver of all good things, has enough power to give us strength and victory. <br /><br />In the meantime, my lesson is to accept that life is full of setbacks, challenges and disappointments, but if I take His hand and believe deliverance is on the other side, the wait through the pain is more than worth it. <br /><br />This week is my test. Who will I put my faith in? Myself? Medicine? Or the God who wants so much more for me than what I've settled for?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0N0AuTnA3kBRT2sztKZEkwkW9mDWyejL2sJT8ft_7Fz4FBeYhx3t72oOY57PXf8Lcfygy1d61Za63PfcKC3jz8rdAAidhlYU-Q0XfCcnXG5uXtmkCrA3oJDGwH2Yq8lwoqC5aCYa3e0/s1600/6160_121541734807_513969807_2971846_2951818_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp0N0AuTnA3kBRT2sztKZEkwkW9mDWyejL2sJT8ft_7Fz4FBeYhx3t72oOY57PXf8Lcfygy1d61Za63PfcKC3jz8rdAAidhlYU-Q0XfCcnXG5uXtmkCrA3oJDGwH2Yq8lwoqC5aCYa3e0/s320/6160_121541734807_513969807_2971846_2951818_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545770191214592850" /></a>Laura Noellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11310708300613141219noreply@blogger.com4