Ah, the lack of internet definitely slows me down on here, but then when I do connect... it's SO SLOW. Don't worry though, life's been pretty slow too. Life in the world of Lauren is generally pretty slow from about mid-January to the end of February.. some might call me a hermit, but I'd like to refer to it as a natural response: hibernation. ;) 

This lack of social interaction has actually proved useful in a few ways, I'm on my way to be rid of things before I move back to the land of the free this spring... I've read some good reads: Cecilia Ahern is an entertaining Irish chick-lit author, The Time Traveler's Wife is better as a novel than it is as a movie, and Brennan Manning's book The Ragamuffin Gospel. Is undeniably amazing. 

That's my life as of now in a nut shell. If you're reading this you should probably take five minutes and send me some snail mail. ;) K, thanks. Ciao.

quick update!

And here I am again, a prisoner of the time!

Lots of exciting things have happenend in the last few weeks. I'll expand on that in a moment. I often feel as though I'm just updating everyone; sending a play-by-play over the big blue. I'll be honest... Yuck! That isn't interesting! Not that I'm 'blogging' to entertain, mostly it's to unload and to 'free my mind'. ;)

I've been realizing more and more lately how incredibly blessed I am and how impeccable God's timing is. I have had times of despair and longing for a different life or a different place or role in life, but right here in this moment I'm able to see His hand on every instant in my life and be oh, so very thankful. :)

You may know this already, but I'll share it anyway, I've decided to pursue nutrition next fall by studying in Denver, Colorado. I'll be reuniting with two of my dear friends and former roommates. I can only imagine (not to mention DAYDREAM) of the adventures the future holds!

After Thanksgiving we all prepare for the next holiday, right? Well, let's be honest, Christmas is a pretty big deal. And that, my friends, is UNIVERSAL. I am delighted to tell you I was able to enjoy the Montreux Christmas Market in Montreux, Switzerland (surely one of the most beautiful places on earth!) It was so lovely! There were so many vendors, but they weren't obnoxious vendors like you might find at a fair or something... they were Swiss and adorable. They all had the typical Swiss wooden A-frame house characteristics. There were pastries created as snowmen and Saint Nick, there were soaps and lotions, there were vendors selling fur slippers and hats, some people were selling beautiful handmade bags and totes, there were beautiful french decorations, custom-made family boards... the list could go on for a long time! Then there was the FOOD. Oh. My. Goodness. It was all so beautiful and ABUNDANT! My friend, Alberta, took me and we sat down and enjoyed a huge plate of potatoes with 'lardons' (aka: bits of bacon or pork fat) and lots of butter and I couldn't resist a bowl of CREAMY homemade mac 'n cheese. Needless to say, that wasn't the best way to handle the market! I desperately wanted a nap!! As you'lll see with the pictures though, it's a mighty good thing I didn't take a nap - the sunset over the lake was incredible. Montreux is this phenomenal place where you're seated at the edge of Lake Geneva and just across the Lake are the Swiss Alps. The mountains just explode out of the water and are so extremely majestic, they're breathtaking. If only you could have been there to enjoy it too!

I was able to fly home for Christmas for a few weeks! My flights were for the most part uneventful... long, but smooth. I got home after my 24 hours of travel and reunited with my parents. We ended up staying in a hotel downtown Des Moines as I had plans to celebrate Aedan's birthday (the boy I care for), their family is from Altoona and they were having a party the day after I landed. We stayed at the Embassy Suites and it was lovely and wonderful. I was delusional after traveling for so many hours and didn't notice anything unusual (other than everyone around me was speaking English!) The next morning I was enjoying my continental breakfast when I looked up and had to take a DOUBLE TAKE. Leif was standing right there! It was so special to have him and Ashley and Aidan there to welcome me home! It's true, I cried. Aidan hadn't forgotten me at all. He came right up to me and gave me hugs and kisses, we played and sang and had a jolly 'ol time while everyone finished their breakfasts.

One of my favorite dishes from the region I currently live in is called "Tartiflette". It's brilliant, and in the Savoie region it's inexpensive as well. Potatoes, butter, onions, garlic, fatty meat, bread, salad and good wine... doesn't it sound great?! Well, I thought it'd be nice to have some of my 'homies' over and treat them to a nice French dinner. Ah, I live for these moments! It was so much fun! Caitlin and Katelin came over a bit early and [thankfully] were able to help get things ready. We rocked out to Michael Bublé and Bob Marley and the Wailers -- not exactly French, but that's what I do in France! Haha. It was really perfect, well, I would have made it last longer, but all things considered, it was a really great night.

Okay, enough for now! On to packing! Pictures to come!

when your internet oasis lands at mickey d's...

Okay, super behind! Lots to cover and not much time to cover it! Haha. Let's see... it's been since... the first of November... hmm... well, a lot's happened since then! Seems like ages ago!

- I'm pretty sure it was the second of November that Jacob came to visit. We then left on the fourth for Athens, Greece. What a crazy city!? :) Pictures are so helpful when trying to remember details:

The parthenon is the most important and characteristic monument of ancient greek culture. It's dedicated to the patron goddess of Athens; Athena Parthenos. It was really beautiful. The Acropolis is kind of a plateau with these incredible ancient monuments and the view of all of Athens AND the Sarconic Coast!

the beautiful greek flag! flying high!

Here's a photo of the Areopagus (Mars Hill), like most city-state institutions, continued to function in Roman times. It was HERE that the Apostle Paul delivered his famous speech about the identity of "the Unknown God." (Acts 17)

We made our way to Gylfada while we were in Greece. Athens was beautiful, but crazy chaotic and the Athens Marathon was happening that day, so we decided to get some fresh air and go to the coast. :)

Jacob's from Oregon, where there's no sales tax, and was kind enough to pick up a camera for me! I spent our time in Athens practicing... well, I still am trying to get it down, but yeah.

I would TOTALLY recommend anyone traveling to Athens staying at Pagration Hostel. It was super affordable, clean and friendly! The people who were staying there were so great.

And our last day there we managed to make our way to the Olympic Stadium of 1896.

- Thanksgiving was pretty good. I was so relieved to feel at home and part of the family I work for. I stayed with them Thanksgiving evening and we had a nice family meal. It was so nice to feel comfortable and like I was part of a family for the day. Thanksgiving is a terrible day to feel like an orphan.

-And as I sit here at McDonald's I'm reminded of the reality that I don't have any internet or phone connection at my apartment anymore. As liberating as it is, it's kind of annoying at the same time. McDonald's is not my favorite place in the world and it's the closest location of wi-fi I know of.

That's all for now... more later. Perhaps from home!

I simply cannot wait to have time to LIVE! These 11 or 12 hour days are for the birds!

visitors!!

I'm overwhelmed. So, what where do I go when things get to be too much? That's right, denial. Mmmmhmmm... and here I sit blogging away as if the world wasn't whizzing past me at a zillion miles a minute. :)

*Sunday was the first of November and what does that mean for me so far away from home and comfort and familiarity? Exactly. Break out the Christmas music!!! (The countdown is officially at 45 days until I get to see my beloveds in the beautiful land of Iowa.

I've just enjoyed my first episode of the new reality of my life. It's entitled, The Revolving Door. (Name courtesy of Doug.) It takes place at my apartment and it's got lots of incredible characters who take temporary residency here in Ferney-Voltaire, France... conmigo! (<-- wrong language.) The first stars of the show were Doug and Tricia.

...I only met Tricia a year ago, we worked together at Kitchen Collage in Des Moines. She's so wonderful. :) She and her friend Doug came to explore Switzerland for 10 days or so. They had an AMAZING time exploring and hiking around central Switzerland. Their photos were absolutely breathtaking and apparently didn't even do justice! Here are some photos of us celebrating Tricia's birthday in Montreux at the château de Chillon:

 ^Who would have thought we'd find PALM TREES near the Alps?!

We also took a trip to Gruyères, Switzerland where we all enjoyed our first experience with raclette, a Swiss dish meaning 'with all the trimmings'.

Tomorrow I head to the airport to pickup my friend, 'Rhino' (some call him Jacob). Needless to say, with a name like Rhino, Aedan's super duper excited to meet him. He'll also be here or in Europe for about two weeks. We leave for Athens on Friday for a long weekend.

Aedan asked me today if there was a baby in my tummy. Talk about a shot to the ego. I mean, I've gained weight while being over here, but c'mon kid. Gosh. I found out later they'd been talking about his aunt who's expecting and how there's a baby in her tummy and Aedan just thinks that's the coolest thing in the world. He's so excited to have a new baby cousin.

Then there's Chloë. She was just sitting there eating her breakfast when she reached over to give me a hug and said, "I don't want you to go to your apartment, just stay here all weekend." O man. Then last week she was giving me a hug when she said, "I just love you so much."

Alright, that's about all I've got for now. Sorry for the complete and utter RANDOMNESS and for the lack of interesting information and ideas. Next time should be better! ;)

the flat

How in the world does anyone keep up with a blog?!?! Time just keeps passing by without informing me I'm missing out! Bah!

I can't recall all that's gone on since I last posted anything on here... but currently I've got photos of my sweet apartment. Thanks to my wonderful Hannah, I've been mulling over the thoughts of what it means to make and have your home as a sanctuary. A place you WANT to go home to. A place where you're able to RELAX and leave your troubles outside the door. :) A place where you can SIT and just BE. A place where you can really focus on things that are more important than what's 'going on'. A place where you can cook and bake and be at home. A place where you can walk around looking like a fool. :) Here are the photos I'd promised weeks ago:

The lovely living room looks out over Mount Blanc... and the Geneva International Airport. ;)

Kitchen and Laundry. :) Probably my favorite room.

Take note of Elvis keeping everything in line over on the microwave. He's a keeper.

Pictures of my Aidan boy all over to make me smile. :)

WIDE OPEN windows in the summer.

Showa un gowa.

...and, of course, the WC.

More later. I'm pooped.

'It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.'

While my parents and I were in Montreux a few weeks ago, my dad pointed out in the Château de Chillon a door called 'the eye of the needle' or 'the needle's eye' and we got to talking about the passage in Mark.

"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle,

than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God" (Mark 10:25)

So, I took this picture and decided to do a little investigating.

Not a super picture, by any means, but you get the idea.

So, here's what I've learned: (I was going to put it all in my own words, but it's so clear here that I've just copied and pasted the key information. To find the whole story go to http://www.eyeoftheneedle.net/Church%20Traditions/eye_of_a_needle.htm .)

Most Christians realize that the Gospels weren't originally written in English. Some think they were written in Latin, most believe they were first written in Greek. Very possibly though, some if not all were written in the language of Yeshua and His followers, Estrangelo Aramaic. This language was all but forgotten until about a hundred years ago, which is why few students are familiar with it. Dr. George Lamsa, who has written extensively about the language and in his book entitled "Gospel Light" clarifies for us the probable meaning of Yeshua's words concerning the eye of a needle. I will quote from page 167.

"The Aramaic word gamla means camel, a large rope and a beam. The meaning of the word is determined by its context. If the word riding or burden occurs then gamla means a camel, but when the eye of a needle is mentioned gamla more correctly means a rope. There is no connection anywhere in Aramaic speech or literature between camel and needle, but there is a definite connection between rope and needle."

Most English versions of the Gospels came from Greek texts by translators who may have known nothing about Aramaic. Thus "camel" would have been translated instead of "rope". It takes little effort to imagine Yeshua, while walking along the sea coast, pointing to a rope and saying, "It is easier for a camel [a gamla, a rope] to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God".
 Now let us venture beyond which was actually spoken by the Lord. Let us consider, in the context, what our Lord was meaning by His illustration. His context has to do with entering the kingdom of GOD. In the previous chapter He had warned that "if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire". Then a few verses before the one we are studying, He said, "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein". We all know the eagerness and excitement children have for learning. What parent hasn't tired of hearing their child ask, "but why"? If we are to discover that hidden kingdom of GOD, we also must not only remove from us anything that may offend, but also we must with childlike meekness ask to receive answers and knock so as to have doors opened unto us.


As we continue reading the record in Mark's gospel we come to our verse in question. A wealthy man had come to Yeshua seeking what he must do to "inherit eternal life". After hearing Yeshua's response, Mark wrote that the man "was sad at that saying, and went away grieved". He was sad and he was grieved because Yeshua's response was not the answer he had hoped for. He didn't realize that greater wealth then he had ever dreamed of could be his if he accepted Yeshua's answer. This man was as the seed sown amongst thorns. He was acquainted with accumulating "great possessions" but he was not acquainted with laying up "treasure in heaven". He may have known "the commandments" but he didn't know the Word of GOD.


It is interesting that before Yeshua gave him his answer, the Scripture says that Yeshua "loved him". That is always why the word is sown. That is why the word is sent. But too often it is rejected. Yeshua wasn't desiring to deprive this rich man of his wealth. Yeshua was showing him the way into the kingdom of GOD. Yeshua was offering him treasures vastly superior to any that moth and rust could corrupt. Thus, three times, as if trying to drive the point home to His disciples, Yeshua said, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God...how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God...It is easier for a camel [rope] to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God". For Yeshua to declare this warning three times, speaks loudly to those who have ears to hear. The desire for riches is not to be underestimated in its ability to deceive and divert one from the narrow way that leads unto life.


Many people living in the Bible lands at the time when the Gospels were written, erroneously believed that all wealth was a blessing from GOD. If one was poor, then the people believed that he must surely be cursed by GOD, but if one was rich he must surely be blessed by GOD. This is why the disciples "were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?" (Mark 10:26). They thought that if the rich found it difficult to enter the kingdom of GOD, what chance did the rest of them have? Much of Yeshua's teaching endeavored to correct the false assumption that wealth is always a blessing from GOD. The truth is more the other way. Usually the pursuit of wealth insulates us from the workings of GOD in our lives. It can choke the word sown in our hearts and rob us of eternal treasures our heavenly Father desires for us to obtain. Hence, it is difficult (not impossible) for a rich man to enter the kingdom of GOD. Many stumble at this and are sad and go away grieved, having found no answer that pleases them. A few however are willing to set aside secondary pursuits and seek with all their heart to know HIM who knew them "before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4).

Mark 8:35,36 "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it;

but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"