I Am Back

I am back in America and I haven't really slept since Tuesday night. Only, Tuesday night South Africa time, so add 7 hours. Yeah, I need sleep.

The trip was amazing. Africa... wow.

But currently, my head hitting the pillow will be amazing.

Africa is Tomorrow

I am leaving for Africa tomorrow. I am trying to make this a quick post because Ollie is sleeping in a kennel in my room and she is looking at me with sad kitty eyes. The faster I am, the quicker I will be able to turn my lamp off and she can get settled. Anyway, Africa is tomorrow. I would say that I am excited and I would say that I am scared. But, I don't really know. I am not really feeling much right now. I know it will be an adventure. I hope it will be life-changing.

Your prayers are always appreciated.

Emails are also welcomed. So, you know, I can feel loved when I get back home. [andralauren@gmail.com]

God Bless,
Andra Lauren

I Wish I Had a Picture

That is actually taken using a camera instead of just my phone, but my camera is packed away (actually, it is just in my purse, I'm too lazy to take it out). I have decided to name my new kitten...

Drumroll, please.


Olive Oyl. (And "Ollie" for short.)

Now our pets are Mack, Alle, and Ollie. Or, for their full names: Mackinac Gadget, Alle-oop (ha, ha, yeah I am not really sure either), and Olive Oyl.

I Will Be a Cat Lady When I Grow Up

This little kitten walked into our backyard yesterday. Well, her mother might have left her overnight. She has a hurt back leg, so we don't know what we are going to do, but we have taken the little kitty in and she will be part of our family. Our other cat isn't too happy, but she will have to get over it. I am still trying to think of a name... any suggestions?

I Know You Will Miss Me

Throwback Thursday (Wee 'Lil Fro)

Why, yes, I did have a little afro when I was a kid.

Throwback Thursday, y'all.

Putting the Phone Down

My name is Annie and I have an addiction. I use it every day. I fall asleep by it. I wake up and look at it. I carry it into the living room when my family watches TV. I check it many, many times a day. I have a phone addiction.

I have a phone addiction, yes, it is true. My phone is almost like an appendage. I never leave the house without it and I usually never even walk around the house without holding it (alright, that's only sometimes true). I don't text that much, but I always have my phone.

Krista said that I should be able to still text in Africa (we leave in yikes, three days!). However, I am pretty sure Pastor said to either not take our cell phones or that we will leave them in the van before we enter the airport, because we won't need our phones. So, I am really trying to tell myself that I just won't have my cell phone. Krista said she was going to find a way to take her phone and that it was one of her concerns. I know that if I took my phone, it isn't like I would be using it when my attention needed to be elsewhere. You know, like on a service or to the people.

"Aim to take as little as possible, and you’ll still probably take too much. If you find yourself always behind a shutter button, try leaving behind your camera. If you take an hour primping every morning, leave behind those gel bottles and hair dryer. If minute-by-minute communication is your breath, consider leaving behind the iPhone and the laptop." -Christine Jeske [source]

Africa is already making me step out of my comfort zone, perhaps I should think of it as a time to grow closer to God, and not closer to my cell phone. It isn't going to be easy being without my phone for ten days. But, here's the thing: I can survive without my cellphone. It will be alright. I would love to text people and be in communication with people, let them know what's going on, or let them know how much I feel out of place. I would love to. I have a feeling that I am not supposed to bring my cellphone. And not just because Pastor was like, "You don't need to bring your cell phones." But because I think God wants me to get rid of some of the noise around me.

This post must make it so clear that I am a 21st century American teenager.

I Will Not Be Moved