The Driver's License Saga of LurlynnCrochet

                                                       





















                                                                       (Photo Credit)
So, I'm almost 20 years old and I just got my driver's license. Yes, you heard right, almost 20. I know, most people go on their 16th birthday, but I just didn't like to drive. I'd get nervous. I'd have something akin to a panic attack, but not nearly that severe. I just wasn't comfortable behind the wheel. The only person I was comfortable with was my neighbor, Lacey. Yes, my neightbor was my driver's ed teacher :-)

So, about 2 months ago I decided it was time for me to be a big girl and get my license! And that is what I attempted to do last week. The key word being "attempted."

Where we live, you get there in the morning, and the first 5 people who get there for a road test will be tested that morning. Well, I was number 5. So when she called my number, Daddy and I went in and gave her the needed information and signed the needed forms, got my picture taken, and then we had 2 hours before I could take my road test.

The coffee shop where Rodge and I work is walking distance from the Driver's License office, so Daddy and I went there for some breakfast and coffee. All the regulars were asking why I wasn't working and I informed them that I was about to taking my driver's test. I had half of my small town cheering me on!

The road test was going great! I was confident. The lady conducting the test is super nice. Everything was going great!

Then it came time for the 3-point turn.

Cue the "I'm-so-much-like-Anne Shirley-that-I-can't-do-something-this-big-without-something-going-wrong" bell. Yeah. She asked me to do the 3-point and that part of my brain just flat-lined. I couldn't remember anything! I did something like a 3-point, but not exactly like one. So I had to do it again! I was in reverse...

 Then I heard the "bump!"

I asked the test administrator, "Do I get out now? Do I pull over to the side? What do you want me to do?"
   "Pull over to the side of the road and we'll see what you hit, sweetie," she instructed me. It didn't take long to see that I had knocked over a mail box!

I had to call my dad, but I was already in tears! So I handed her the phone, realizing that Daddy had forgotten his cell phone at home! So, we called my boss, she was freaking out (not realizing that I had just hit a mail box, she thought I was hurt)! By the time Daddy and Rodge had gotten there the police officer was there as well. We had to call the police incase the mail box owner wanted to file a report. I was still in tears. Daddy was so sweet and the first thing he did was give me a hug and tell me that it was ok.

We got in touch with the home owner and thankfully he didn't want to file a report since Daddy said he'd repair the mail box. That was a HUGE relief to me!!!! Do you know how embarrassing it would be to have that on my record?

The testing administrator gave me a hug and told me to come back soon! My Daddy was so sweet! The mail box was taken care of before I even got off work that day!

After that whole fiasco I went back to work. There were flowers there but I wasn't really paying that much attention to them, and my boss said they were for me. I looked at the card and almost started crying again! (Moma ordered those that morning before I took the test). I was sniffing, trying not to cry, and then my boss almost started crying (she doesn't cry easily)! I was like, "You can't start crying because if you do I will too!!!" *sighs* Sometimes it's hard working with a bunch of hormonal women!

The rest of the day went pretty smoothly, nobody made fun of me, a lot of people encouraged me to go back and try again. And that's just what I did :-)

As of Tuesday LurlynnCrochet has a driver's license! The night before Daddy took me and we practiced the 3-point about 10 times. When it came to that part of the test, I did it and did it well. The testing administrator even clapped for me:-)

You know what the Bible says about the angels in Heaven rejoicing when one sinner repents? Well that's what it felt like when I passed!

It was a good day:-)

PS. The news is on in the background and it said that if current drivers had to go back and take the test, about half of them would fail. Go figure!

LurlynnCrochet Goes to Church Camp!!!

Hey ya'll! I'll be at camp all next week! If I have time to do some blogging this weekend, I'll schedule some posts, but that isn't likely. Hope ya'll have a great week!

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Please Excuse Me While I Cry On Your Shoulder...

While writing yesterday's post I started thinking about my brother. I don't know why, but I just did. I was thinking about how excited I was that he will be graduating from highschool on June 5th and how I wanted to post video of his graduation on the blog for friends and family that wouldn't be able to come and for readers who have never been to a homeschool graduation. And how excited I was that he'll be going to East Tennessee School of Preaching in a little over two months. And then it hit me...

He'll be leaving in a little over two months.

Cue the tears. Yeah, I'm an emotional person. I laugh easily, and in this case I cry easily.

Seriously, I am so excited that he's going! I've encouraged him to be a preacher for a few years, but he just wasn't interested. And lo and behold, he announced to us after attending Polishing the Pulpit that he wanted to attend East Tennessee. He's starting a new chapter in his life. He's growing up! I'm so excited! He's spreading his wings and leaving the nest and I couldn't be more proud!

But still, for me, this is bittersweet. We'll still be able to visit and hopefully visit often. I know that when we visit we'll still be able to blare our favorite music while riding in the "granny" car. I know that when we visit, I'll still get to listen to the songs he's written, and hear him sing in his amazing bass voice. I know that when we visit, he and I will be able to pile in my bed and watch movies on my laptop. I know that when we visit, we'll be able to have fun and hang out with our friends in the garage till way past midnight. I know that when we visit, we'll be able to argue about who is the better barista. I know that when we visit, we'll be able to eat chocolate chip cookies and cookie dough till we make ourselves sick. I know that when we visit, he'll lead the song that I request on singing nights at church. I know that when we visit, I'll be able to give him a detailed summary about the latest Karen Kingsbury book I'm reading. I know that when we visit, I'll be able to get a guy's perspective on whether or not the clothes I'm wearing are modest. I know that whe we visit, we'll be able to remember all the fun times we had growing up.

But still, it will be when we visit. It just won't be the same. He won't be right down the hall.

I'm the kind of person that likes to enjoy the season of life I'm in to the fullest, so that I may fully enjoy the next season when the time comes. But still, change can be bittersweet. Just because I might cry and seem sad doesn't mean I don't look forward to the future. Normally, if I can have a good cry or two or three or ten, I'm able to fully embrace what is coming around the bend. So, please excuse me while I cry on your shoulder and blow my nose into a tissue. I promise I'm fine.

Things are about to change around here, and I can't wait to see what God has in store.

Music Monday: "She Walked Away" by BarlowGirl

I listened to this song with my Moma today in the car. I've heard this song about a million times, and I know that Moma has too, but I wanted her to hear it again. This song reminds me of one of my cousins, for my blogging purposes her name will be Melody.

Melody was raised in a Christian family, and married a Christian young man. For a majority of her schooling years she was homeschooled. She and I were very close; people who didn't know we were cousins thought we were sisters. But, for some reason, 3 years ago she decided to walk away from her family and her faith. A few weekends ago I saw her for the first time in almost three years. She is now on good terms with her parents, brothers, and grandparents, but she still hasn't returned to her Heavenly Father. Every time I hear this song I can't help but think of her. I still love her and I still miss her and I still hope that one day she will decide to truly come home.

Melody, if you happen to be reading this, please know that I will always love you like a sister and please come Home.

PS. I just rememered this. Melody bought this cd for me when I was 15. Our family was sick with the flu and she wanted to cheer me up.

Making the Movies Jealous

Check out this marriage proposal!

I know nothing about this couple, but I find this incredibly sweet! I teared up a little bit while watching :'-)
I hope they have a blessed marriage!

Unconventional: Black Bold Bouquet Dress

It's about time for another Unconventional post! Just as an FYI, I try to use my Unconventional posts to encourage girls to go against the grain and try something different in living a godly lifestyle, mostly (but not only) pertaining to modest fashion choices.

This is what I wore to work today :-)

I was almost afraid that the patterned tennis shoes and hounds-tooth hat would be too much pattern, but I really like the way the outfit looks together.

I got this dress a few weekends ago at TJMaxx. I saw it and knew I had to try it on (the fact it was under 20 dollars helped things along too :-). I tried it on and it was a bit too short and a bit too sleeveless, but I thought about buying some fabric in a cooridinating color or pattern and making some adjustments. Well, today, I REALLY wanted to wear this! So I got my dark "dressy" denim pencil skirt and a tshirt, and this is what I got! My boss said that she loved how I layer things. I love the fact that I can work, bend, jump, etc. and remain covered!

See what I mean? :-)

This is my favorite out of all of them with my puppy, Gilbert Blythe. Can't believe he's already 13 weeks old!

Dress: TJMaxx

Skirt: Target

Shoes: Keds

Hat: Cracker Barrel

Don't be afraid to try something different. Wear that dress that's too short with a skirt underneath! Mix those patterns and you just might be pleased with the results! As always, if you don't like how it looks, then you don't have to wear it again :-)

"It Gets Better" But Does It Really?

Tonight, my family and I were watching "The Biggest Loser" together on NBC. We were all kinda doing our own thing while watching it. I was playing with my puppy, Rodge was on his laptop, my mom and dad had gone to tuck Grayson and Gavin into bed, and this commercial came on...

I was astounded. I know that NBC is friendly to the pro-homosexual agenda, but I have NEVER seen it so blatantly displayed on a commercial. On a television show, it's a little different. You're choosing to watch that show, know the contents. It doesn't make it any more "right." I'm not saying that at all. But a commercial? The show we were watching is generally a good show (in seasons in the past we have had to flip the channel, but I don't remember having that problem this season) and wasn't pushing that "agenda."

Should we treat homosexual people badly? No! Honestly, Christians should be treating them kindly, because we are Christians! What kind of picture of Christ would we be presenting if we acted harshly towards homosexual people? Am I saying that we should condone their lifestyle? No! But think about it for a second. When a parent disciplines a child, is that parent being loving or hateful? The parent is being loving! Even though it might not seem loving on the "outside" the parent is doing the best thing for that child.

But what I think doesn't really matter. What really matters is what God says in the Bible...

Romans 1:18-31

¹⁸ The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ¹⁹ since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
 ²¹ For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools ²³ and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
 ²⁴ Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. ²⁵ They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
 ²⁶ Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. ²⁷ In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
 ²⁸ Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. ²⁹ They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, ³⁰ slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; ³¹ they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. ³² Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

I Corinthians 6: 9-11

9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men^{[a] 10} nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

John 8:1-11

¹ but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.    ² At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. ³ The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group ⁴ and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵ In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” ⁶ They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
   But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. ⁷ When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” ⁸ Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
   ⁹ At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was  left, with the woman still standing there. ¹⁰ Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
   ¹¹ “No one, sir,” she said.
   “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Notice the last verse of this passage. Read it again and think about it for a moment. First Jesus did the loving thing; He didn't condemn her. He didn't say, "Woman, you're not even fit to be called a woman! You're a filthy pig! They caught you in the act of your sin! You aren't fit to be in My presence! I am sinless and don't want to be tainted by you. Leave now!!!!" No! He was loving, and kind. Like a loving father would be to a child who has disobeyed. He hated the sin but loved the sinner.

I Peter 3:15

¹⁵ But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

It's obvious from these verses that God views sexual immorality as sin. It is also obvious that no one is without sin. Does that mean that we should let sin slide right in front of us, without saying anything to the friend who is sinning? No! That would be the most unloving thing that we could do! Because, if the sin isn't repented of, that person will not inherit the kingdom of God. It's that simple. And honestly, that's the most unloving thing that we could do for that person.

One more thing to think about. We are all sinners. Christ died for all of us. No sin is too big for Him to erase. We as Christians, need to examine ourselves. Is there an on going sin that we need to get rid of? If someone comes to you and points out an area of sin, or an area where we could use growth, are we thankful for that being pointed out?

I am not a perfect person. I need to work on being kind and having a kind attitude towards people who are "open" about sexual sin. Just wanted to share what I was thinking about tonight...

From what I know from scripture, I'm convinced that if we live a life of continual sin (no matter what the sin is), it doesn't get better.
PS. Here are a few more verses pertaining to sexual immorality
Leviticus 20:10
Matthew 5:32
Matthew 15:19
Matthew 19:9
Mark 7:21
John 8:41
Acts 15:20
Acts 21:25
Romans 13:3
I Corinthians 5
I Corinthians 6:9-20
I Corinthians 7:1-3
I Corinthians 10:8
I Corinthians 5:19-21
Ephesians 5:3
Colossians 3:5

*Loving* Floral Fedora

I saw this floral fedora in the most recent issue of All*You magazine. Would you believe that is came from Kmart??!! And it's only $6.99!!! I think I'll be getting this soon. Would ya'll wear this? What kind of hats are ya'll wearing this summer?

Why and How I've Monetized LurlynnCrochet and How You Can Help :-)



                                    (photo credit)

Ya'll may have noticed the recent addition of ads and an Amazon affiliate store to my blog. No, I'm not an infomercial-holic! I'm just wanting to make better use of the possibilities that come with blogging. One of those possibilities is making a little bit of money. This is not a get-rich-quick scheme! It's works more along the lines of slow-and-steady-wins-the-race. Google places ads on the blog, people view the blog, and the Google gives me a little compensation for those views and a bit more compensation when viewers click on the ad. The Amazon Affiliate store works a little differently. I choose different items from Amazon to go in the store, and when people purchase items from the store, I get a percetage of the sale.

I haven't become money hungry or anything like that. But I will be starting college soon, so any little bit helps! I already have a part-time job, so this is just a little something extra.

How you can help out:

1. Follow the blog. The more readers, the more page-views, the more compensation from Google.
2. Tell your friends about the blog.
3. If there is an ad you find interesting, click on it.
4. Purchase items from the Amazon Affiliate store. If there is something on Amazon that you are planning on buying and it  isn't in my store, send me an email with the product link and I'll add it.

Royal Wedding Cinderella Spoof

This is just too funny!

HELP!!!!

I could really use some help from my more experienced blogging friends! I'm trying to figure out how to get my Amazon Affiliate Store to show up on the tab at the top of my blog, but I just can't figure it out! I'd be thankful for any help ya'll could offer :-)

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to my mom, Stacey and to all you moms out there!

Crochet For Pets

I was recently in Petsmart shopping for my new puppy. While browsing I found these adorable Martha Stewart crocheted pet toys and I just had to share :-)

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These have inspired me to make some toys for Gilbert :-) What's inspiring you today?