When all you need is a little smile...

HEY SISTER!

So I've been thinking about you like crazy today... for no other reason than because I can :) I had to wake up super early for work this morning (something I don't usually love) so to get myself going and in a better mood about it all I reminisced our photoshoot with casey on the floor of your basement before going to bed, and the 80s workout video that next morning before getting ready for Adrianne's Iowa wedding. Like I said, it's random. But it definitely brought a smile to my face!

This week was a bit of a doozy for me - plenty of papers, tests, reading assignments, and a pretty demanding workload made for a not so loving-life me. Then I remembered how you chose to leave the country, the comfort of your community at home, your friends, and your American life, all to love on people every chance you get. You totally win on that one. Anyway, now that the week is behind me, I'm [finally] finding the time to put my feet up and relax tonight, I decided I'm well overdue for a little hello to you (yeah, that rhymed... :)

On the way home from work today I was listening to the radio and heard a little something about a study to find the most recognizable/happily addictive sounds. On the list were a few random things, like a sizzling steak (really?), the wedding song everybody but the fun people walk down the aisle to (no offense, but it's true.... it's also a classic), and the star spangled banner. But my favorite was the #1 most addicting sound to listen to: a baby's laughter. So, in honor of getting through my week, giving you a little extra lovin to spread around and because you just make me smile THIS MUCH, these are for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HttF5HVYtlQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXXm696UbKY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfjFY5f-r_s&feature=related

[I really hope those links work... otherwise, I'll send them again darnit!]

Love you to the moon and back,
LB

Encourage

Dearest Kelsey,

Oh, how I miss you. I did a little move the other day with my arms switch back and forth and had my legs bent at the knees and moved my shoulders just a tad and I went, “Oh, Kelsey Keizer.” And Lauren agreed. :) I’m glad you’ve rubbed off on me…or at least some of your mannerisms. Also, I've loved the Olympics. I haven't had a chance to watch too much of it (that's probably good for me so it doesn't become an idol!) but I'm thankful for getting to see some of it! I wish you were here. I remember when, at School Street, we watched the 2008 Summer Olympics :)

Now on to more important things...

I’ve told some people this, but I recently read through Hebrews. God was really doing some work in my heart because what I read clearly transferred over to how I live my life. And maybe you can do the same!

“See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:12-13

The way I read it was, if I don’t encourage not only myself through God’s word but to encourage others, then the devil can really infiltrate our thought life. This obviously is disastrous. The sin that Satan so desperately wants us to listen to are the lies like “No one really loves you” or “That person is so much better than you” or “Why does that guy/girl have that thing that you want.” Such lies! Geez! And we deal with this everyday. But thank God that He sent Jesus to pay for those lies that I so easily listen to and separates me from a relationship with Him that is now restored. However, I can combat it by encouraging myself through putting on the armor of God and by reading and through prayer and by being in fellowship. So instead of listening to that sin, reverse it by doing a little Philippians 4:8 action. Think about things that are: true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy.

And if we want to be the type of Christian that actually does what the Word says and not just be a hearer of the Word (James 1:22), we need to practice those objectives of thinking such things, not only of ourselves but of others.

Therefore, instead of the deceiving word of sin that the devil tempts us with, we need to know and believe and trust who each of us as brothers and sisters in Christ truly is and encourage one another by letting them know.

I’ve been trying to practice this once or twice every two or so weeks. Just write a little note of encouragement and exhortation to someone and let them know how they are appreciated and loved. It does wonders.

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. (ESV says ‘Outdo one another in showing honor.’) Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:9-12

I miss you and love you,

Katherine

Addiction

Seriously. This is an addiction.

I need an intervention.

My New Addiction

Thanks to you. I have a new addiction. Ellen. It's all your fault.

This is hilarious!

The Bachelor

The funniest blog on the bachelor. Ha!

CALLING ALL BACHELOR FANS

For those of you that watch the show we all love to hate, this list is for you. And for those even cooler people that read the Bachelor re-cap at www.ihategreenbeans.com, this is REALLY for you.

The Top Ten Most Memorable Moments from Monday night's show:

10. Jake saying, "This journey has been very lonely at times." Note to the pilot: YOU ARE DATING 25 WOMEN. You want lonely? Call Michelle.

9. Vienna being capable of reading. I don't even mean this mean, I just really was surprised that she read that Fantasy Suite invitation so clearly.

8. Ryan HIDING from the show. He was watching it with me for part of my Valentine's Day present lol and I kid you not, he was BURIED under the covers so many times because he said, "Erica- this is seriously PAINFUL to watch" in the most estranged voice ever lol.

7. Jake's necklace. Okay this is Week Two of Jake's Tribal Necklace. I'm not for sure it's his shout out to CBS that he could replace Jeff Probst or if he just really does think it's cool. This necklace serves as my own reminder that Jake really is a cheese ball and the kind of guy that I used to break up with and say, "You are just too nice for me... I need someone to make fun of me and you know... be clever."

6. "I HATE THIS SHOW I HATE THIS SHOW I HATE THIS SHOW" ...this what Ryan said every time Jake pulled a half naked girl in a hot tub and whispered, "I wanted this to be special just for you." The words "just for you" seem to lose some sentiment when your girl number 3 in the hot tub.

5. Did anyone else cringe at Jake's dance moves with Gia and the "accidental" touching of her chest lol? I hope Tenley didn't see that. I also wondered if Gia decided against NEVER taking off that necklace that became a bracelet?

4. I know ABC isn't calling me for episode titles, but if they were I would call this one: "Lays in Separate Bays." I guess Jake thought no one would care they were having sex with the same guy on the same island if he swooned each of them in a different bay. Classy, Jake.

3. The phone call from Ali. Please please please tell me ABC made her do that. That was so painful that I was literally getting embarrassed for her. As Jake clutched his forehead in despair, Ryan filled in Jake's thought process for me, "Oh man... what to do? Do I tell her to come back so I get some action from her too or will that seem too obvious and horrible of me? Is all of this even worth hearing her wailing again?"

2. JAKE POKING VIENNA WITH THAT SWORD. Okay, that is all I'm going to say about that moment and I will let your mind go wherever it wants with it. Ewwwwww.

1. The number one memorable moment from Monday night's Bachelor were these words that my boyfriend said to me before I went to bed: "I love you more than I hate The Bachelor." THIS MEANT MORE TO ME THAN HIM PROPOSING.

The Outrageous Love of God

Thought this was interesting. You can download it like a podcast.

Self Defense

I'm sending you this for your tram rides...