I went this last week to get my driver’s license renewed. After the lady took my picture…she looked at my old one…then new one and said…”Wow…these look exactly the same…you haven’t changed.” The first picture was taken 10 years ago…and you can’t judge a book by its cover. I’m not the same… I did lose 50 lbs after Lauren died… I think my face is slimmer in the second photo…and I’m sure you could see more wrinkles if the picture was bigger. But I have changed… a lot…but mostly in ways you can’t see.
You never know…by looking on the outside…what is going on….on the inside. You can’t always look at someone and see their pain…their loneliness…their fear…their frustration…their sadness.
The next day after getting my license renewed…a video was posted on my Facebook page. A video a cousin’s son, who we call a nephew, had made….it’s beautiful…it’s touching…it’s his journey….
http://animoto.com/play/DpDImHnkD6KRi4tdM0MtQg
….of love…of loss…of finding his way back.
Lauren loved Spencer and his 3 brothers…and felt like they were her brothers…and they treated her like a sister…lol. She loved Darie, their Mother, and felt like she was a second Mom and good friend to her too. We are so proud of Spencer and the young man he is growing into…his faith is strong. He made this video for one of his college classes, he works part time…and has found his way back in life.
You can’t judge a book by it’s cover…you have to look on the inside…to really see what is going on.
Lauren Alston Foundation ~ LAF 
Awesome post Suzanne, thanks for shaing the video! We miss Lauren everyday too and I wish she were still here!
A number of years ago when my mother was losing a long battle with cancer and my daughter was into drugs and other things that were detrimental to her health and her future, a co-worker of mine looked at me one day and said, “You must have the perfect life. You look so happy all the time.” I really didn’t know what to say. Of course my mind was crying and laughing all at the same time. Crying because the the two most important women in my life were in a downward spiral. Laughing because I was so good at keeping secrets, I guess.
You can’t judge a book by it’s cover. So true.
Thank you for sharing Spencers video. How very encouraging to see that he has walked in darkness and has, by Gods grace, turned to the Light!!! And I am so grateful he included pictures of my dear friend, present spirit in my life, Lauren. May seek to rejoice in such positive efforts!!! Grannie Joy
I really enjoyed the video. It was very powerful. Love to you and your family
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