.about the blog.

i'm not quite sure how to start my very first blog post.. i feel all coy and shy..like a little kid on stage in a Christmas program.. 

but really, i shouldn't feel all this pressure from  myself.. i mean, lets be honest.. i know my only readers are my sweet husband & 3 or 4 friends..and maybe some late night creepers roving the internet. 

anyways..let me just get this all out in the open so you won't have to guess what this blog will mostly (ish) be about. 

1: me. the real me. not the 'me' i want people to think of me as. in my opinion, things like Facebook and Instagram are super neat, you can meet incredible people (like i have) they can draw people together, you see cool pictures and make sweet friends..but there's a part missing from them. i know it's easy for me to form opinions about people from what i SEE about them...those things may or may not be accurate..you know? although i consider myself somewhat of a private person, there's only so much that pictures& statuses can tell.. well, incase you ever wonder. i'll try to make this blog be about the real "elgee22", "lauragafken", "Laura Groom Gafken"... oh great..now that i've exposed all my social outlets to everyone and their brothers..none of your brothers are creeps right?

2: my hubsband.. now listen.. i'm not a huge fan of when girls "brag" about their husbands 

a) it's annoying 

b) usually they say..things that aren't impressive at all. things that they should be doing as husbands. as grownups. 

c)when i was single, i used to hide people who did that from fb..still do.. 

d) i don't feel deserving of drew enough to "brag" about him and how lucky i am to have him.

BUT- i do love to share his sweet spirit, the lessons he teaches me, the constant encouragement he gives me. I think that it's precious and a special, integral part of my life. i also think it's crucial for other girls to realize what they should hold out for. that there is a boy/man out there who won't ignore those text messages even when he's with all his guy friends {esp.when his wife is a panicky freak who imagines that all non-responders are dead}, a boy who copies Bible verses on to paper towels in the morning to reassure your confidence about an upcoming nursing test, a boy who prays for you & with you, a boy who encourages you branching out and FINALLY finding your "style"..even if you look back and see that you really looked hideous- he thought you looked beautiful, a boy who doesn't lose his temper even when you ask 20 times after a social encounter with friends, "was i weird? did i say weird things? did i act funny?",  a boy who puts you first..it was only by the grace of GOd that i met this boy & was able to fall in love with him and share life with him. and, if there is NOT that person, then girls should know not to settle for anything less, it just means GOd has a better plan for them & expects them to trust that HE knows best. because really. he does : ) 

3: our life.. we were married june 10, 2011.. our first move away from Hawaii & family (my family- drew's family is back on the mainland) is approaching in less than a month.. i mean, why else would i be sitting here writing a blog? there's so SO much to do around the house..good thing i'm married to someone who is not. a procrastinator.

i know GOd has adventures in store for us. they might be happy. they might be sad. they may be trying. they may be super easy. regardless- i'm excited because i know that HE's in charge.. drew & i have always said we didn't want a "normal" life.. so here we go!

4: lessons i learn. there have been so many moments in my life- particularly within the last 4 years of living in Hawaii- that i've gotten those life changing revelations. the kind that suddenly hit you while you're making the 35 minute commute back home. in your old jeep wrangler. through the mountains. in the dark. after late night nursing class..i could kick myself for not writing them down.. now look...i just sound stupid because i can't remember what most of them are.. i promise. they were good ones too.  

5: things i love..pretty broad. pretty self explanatory

6: style posts.. if i dare. i follow some pretty cute ladies & am inspired by them regularly to create my own looks. it may sound petty..but i've come a long way- i never felt i had my own "look"..i always felt like i was trying too hard to pull off certain "looks"..now, thanks to drew, my sister & marie- i feel ok with wearing the things that i do..like pink cheetah pants..and old lady sweaters..and esp. my hippie headbands. proof that even tho i am a soldier- being in the army doesn't define who i am. it represents values that i uphold and a duty to my country that i am proud of, i am still very much an individual.

7: i hope i can be an encouragement to you. as a reader. not that i am aiming to please everyone- but i believe that words are to be used as gifts to each other. they are so powerful. they can tear people down so easily! being someone who reads into words (like text messages..ie..wait..there wasn't a smiley face..does this mean that they feel upset with me? no. that's stupid laura. but wait...{dig up text from several days ago}..there! there's a smiley face!..why not now?) jk.. i really am not THAT paranoid. really. : ) :D :P but i do put a heck of alot of smileys in my texts. shoot me.. anyways, being like that makes me realize the power of words even more clearly. it can be bad. but hopefully GOd uses it for good through me!

8: things i create

9: memories {past&present} of my family. funny. sweet. happy moments.

10: things that GOd teaches me..granted, this can be a super huge portion..but you know those times when GOd really wants you to hear something specific- and finally- when you need it most, you DO get it.. it clicks..you hear it.. it hits you. and you see. JUST. how big GOd is. 

11: i promise that not all posts will be this verbose..i just got carried away.. a teensy.