Summertime was at its best this morning. I woke up early to sunshine pouring through my window, and couldn't help but display a toothy grin. I love mornings like that.
I took my hammock down to my favorite spot in Radford, where there is an incredible view of the river and the mountains. As I sat there in my hammock, listening to all the birds chirping, the breeze in the air, and the river trickling, I couldn't help but think about what an incredible Creator we have.
He didn't have to make everything so beautiful, but He chose to. He didn't have to make the birds sing so beautifully, or the sunrises so breathtaking. No one forced Him to make the little forest animals so interesting and entertaining for me to watch as I sat there this morning, or made Him make the sun glisten on the river like He did. But He chose to. He chose to give us a breathtaking, beautiful creation to enjoy, and I am endlessly amazed by this. I never want to take it for granted...it's incredible to me that He loves us so much, despite our flaws, that He chooses to give us so many simple things to enjoy each and every day!
Hammocking and reading have been two of my favorite ways to relax lately. I know that when fall semester starts, my schedule is going to get pretty crazy, so I try to cherish every free moment I have now. I'm in the middle of the Harry Potter books, and am completely hooked. Thanks, Brandon!
Next Monday, I leave for vacation with my family. I am so excited about it. I can't wait to spend time with them, and soak up some sunshine on the beach for a week. And then next Sunday, it's back to work for me. Vacation never seems to last long enough!
Good thing I'm going back to a job I really love. When I'm not cashiering at work, my job is to basically stand at the front door and tell people hello as they come in. And as deathly boring as it sounds, (and yes, sometimes it definitely is!) it has actually been opening my eyes a bit. I actually pay attention to the people that come through the door..I notice if they're smiling or frowning, if they looks joyous or saddened, and even if they look as if they want to say hello back to me or not. Regardless, I always give them a smile. As silly as it sounds, I know that for some of them, it may be the only one they get that day. It breaks my heart how many people I see come and go that just look like they are so burdened and without joy. Some won't even look up from the ground to say hello and I feel sad for them. I pray for them as they walk by.
Sounds so silly, but most days, I love my part-time job :)
Even though my schedule is going to be a million times more crammed, I'm looking forward to school starting back. I'm anticipating the new classes, the new pencils and notebooks (weird, but I LOVE new school supplies), new friendships, new activities, and even the new challenges. Each year that I've spent in college has kind of had an overlying theme, and I am excited to see what my junior year holds in store for me! Freshman year was all about finding out who I wanted to be as a person, what path I wanted to take, and what I wanted to define me. Sophomore year taught me a lot about what I wanted to spend my time pursuing, what I was passionate about, the fact that every difficult situation has a purpose, and that whatever I do, I need to do it wholeheartedly. What life defining lessons might I learn this year? :)
I guess that's going to be it for now. It's starting to rain outside, and I'm going to be completely cliche and curl up in my favorite blanket with some hot chocolate and a book.
Until next time...
Lauren
"Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord, and not for men."
Colossians 3:23
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Saturday, July 3, 2010
The times, they are changing
Hello, strangers! It's been an eternity since I updated my blog, so I figured it deserved a nice little update. I can't really sum up the 4 months that I haven't been blogging, but I'll try to give some highlights!
Spring semester flew by! 5 months of classes honestly only seemed like about 2. I swear, it's true what they say about time passing by quicker when you start to get older. So..how about 10 sentences to sum up spring semester?
1. My grades were awesome.
2. No all nighters!
3. Terrible eating habits.
4. I passed one of my most important nutrition certification tests. Oh the irony of #3 and #4.
5. New and wonderful friendships within my major.
6. I started dating the most incredible guy I have ever run across.
7. I got a new job that I LOVE.
8. I went on a book shopping spree and spent a whole paycheck on books alone.
9. I talked myself out of 2 speeding tickets.
10. I grew a lot closer with my family.
That is just a small portion of what happened during spring semester! All in all, it was pretty great.
Summer didn't really begin for me until a couple of weeks ago. I had to start taking anatomy as soon I got out of class from spring. It was the most difficult 5 weeks of my life, by far. This class, unlike spring semester, included tons of all nighters, lots of tears, and plenty of times where I would have loved to have just given up. However, I ended up sticking it out, and made an A in the class. I'm pretty proud of that!
Since my class ended, things have been amazing. I love summer. One of my favorite feelings in the world is waking up in the morning, and realizing all over again that it's summer, and I can do whatever I want with my day. I have been working a couple days a week, but I love my job so I don't really mind going!
I have been relaxing a lot, which is new for me. I always feel like I have to be on the go, doing something, getting something accomplished. But I have been learning this summer that sitting back and relaxing is just as important. I have had some incredible time with the Lord by simply doing this. :) I've been doing a lot of reading too, which is exciting. I'm about to break down and start the Harry Potter series (yes..like years after everyone already jumped on that train..haha but my boyfriend has convinced me that they are incredible) so I am definitely looking forward to that.
I have been getting to spend more time at home this summer, which is definitely great. My family is so incredible, and I miss them so much when I'm away at school. Over the past two and a half years of being in Radford away from them, I have learned to value each one of them so much more, and every minute spent with them is so precious.
I guess the downside of spending time in the town where I grew up is all the negativity that surrounds me with memories of high school. Those years were very far from the best of my life, and when I'm away at college, I don't seem to think of them that much. But it seems as soon as I drive into this town, I'm surrounded by the hurtful memories, the broken friendships, the bad choices, tears, and labels of my high school days. It's nice to know that since then, my life has changed in more ways than I ever thought possible, and that Christ in me has made me into a beautiful girl, redeemed from every choice she made in high school, and washed white as snow :)
Something that has been pretty significant in my life as well lately is my incredible boyfriend. We have been friends for almost a year now, and finally decided to started dating during spring semester. It's the first long distance relationship I have ever been in, and the distance is certainly not easy at all. But I find every single day that it's by far worth it. God has been writing such a beautiful love story for us so far, and I wake up every morning and smile because of what He has in store for us. It is so awesome to be able to seek Christ together, hand in hand, with the same goal, to glorify Him. I have been so incredibly blessed with Brandon, and am so excited to see what the Lord has in store for us! He is so wonderful, and makes me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world.
I was able to spend a week with Brandon and his awesome family in Tennessee this past week at their family reunion. It was so great. Highlights of the week? Just to name a few:
Meeting some really awesome people!
Game night with new friends from Cookeville, and learning the art of "Things"
Goodwilling together (one of our favorite activities. hahaha)
Going to a waterpark called Nashville Shores.
Brandon and I playing with all the sweet sweet children every day :)
Playing on the playground together. (isn't it great to be able to still be kids at 21?)
Playing music together (also one of our favorite activities)
Finally seeing I Love You Man, and laughing until I almost peed myself.
Smiling so much all week long that my face hurt at night when I went to sleep :) Isn't that that greatest feeling?
It was such a fun week, and saying goodbye to Tennessee and all these amazing people was one of the hardest things I've had to do in a while. Saying goodbye to Brandon is always heartbreaking, but I know that the Lord is so good to us every single day, and provides ways for us to keep our relationship strong even while we are apart.
I guess that's about all that has been happening so far this summer! During the next 2 months of summer I plan on working a couple days a week, relaxing, reading a lot, spending time with my family and friends, going on vacation with my parents and brother, going to Carolina Point to visit Brandon, having him up to visit me for a week in August, moving into my new apartment, and trying to get in some volunteer hours somewhere for my major! :)
Sounds pretty great to me.
I am also being very prayerful about a decision that I have been wrestling with for the past year. I have been thinking of transferring schools for a while now, and the thought has become quite prominent in my mind lately. Although I have many great memories and friends at Radford, I keep feeling that maybe it's just not where I'm supposed to be. I know that no college is going to be perfect, but over and over again throughout this past year, I have just been faced with the reality that maybe Radford just isn't the place for me. I have been considering a few different possibilities that stretch all the way from other schools in Virginia, to schools in Georgia and Tennessee. I am quite possibly the worst decision maker ever, so I am just trying to put everything in God's hands and trust that His plan is SO much better for me than my own could ever be! I am going to keep praying over this decision throughout fall semester, and see where it brings me!
I guess that is going to have to bring this lovely update to an end! I will try to get better about updates, and blogging in general for that matter :) hehe
I am a lucky girl.
I love my life.
Every minute of it.
Until next time...
Spring semester flew by! 5 months of classes honestly only seemed like about 2. I swear, it's true what they say about time passing by quicker when you start to get older. So..how about 10 sentences to sum up spring semester?
1. My grades were awesome.
2. No all nighters!
3. Terrible eating habits.
4. I passed one of my most important nutrition certification tests. Oh the irony of #3 and #4.
5. New and wonderful friendships within my major.
6. I started dating the most incredible guy I have ever run across.
7. I got a new job that I LOVE.
8. I went on a book shopping spree and spent a whole paycheck on books alone.
9. I talked myself out of 2 speeding tickets.
10. I grew a lot closer with my family.
That is just a small portion of what happened during spring semester! All in all, it was pretty great.
Summer didn't really begin for me until a couple of weeks ago. I had to start taking anatomy as soon I got out of class from spring. It was the most difficult 5 weeks of my life, by far. This class, unlike spring semester, included tons of all nighters, lots of tears, and plenty of times where I would have loved to have just given up. However, I ended up sticking it out, and made an A in the class. I'm pretty proud of that!
Since my class ended, things have been amazing. I love summer. One of my favorite feelings in the world is waking up in the morning, and realizing all over again that it's summer, and I can do whatever I want with my day. I have been working a couple days a week, but I love my job so I don't really mind going!
I have been relaxing a lot, which is new for me. I always feel like I have to be on the go, doing something, getting something accomplished. But I have been learning this summer that sitting back and relaxing is just as important. I have had some incredible time with the Lord by simply doing this. :) I've been doing a lot of reading too, which is exciting. I'm about to break down and start the Harry Potter series (yes..like years after everyone already jumped on that train..haha but my boyfriend has convinced me that they are incredible) so I am definitely looking forward to that.
I have been getting to spend more time at home this summer, which is definitely great. My family is so incredible, and I miss them so much when I'm away at school. Over the past two and a half years of being in Radford away from them, I have learned to value each one of them so much more, and every minute spent with them is so precious.
I guess the downside of spending time in the town where I grew up is all the negativity that surrounds me with memories of high school. Those years were very far from the best of my life, and when I'm away at college, I don't seem to think of them that much. But it seems as soon as I drive into this town, I'm surrounded by the hurtful memories, the broken friendships, the bad choices, tears, and labels of my high school days. It's nice to know that since then, my life has changed in more ways than I ever thought possible, and that Christ in me has made me into a beautiful girl, redeemed from every choice she made in high school, and washed white as snow :)
Something that has been pretty significant in my life as well lately is my incredible boyfriend. We have been friends for almost a year now, and finally decided to started dating during spring semester. It's the first long distance relationship I have ever been in, and the distance is certainly not easy at all. But I find every single day that it's by far worth it. God has been writing such a beautiful love story for us so far, and I wake up every morning and smile because of what He has in store for us. It is so awesome to be able to seek Christ together, hand in hand, with the same goal, to glorify Him. I have been so incredibly blessed with Brandon, and am so excited to see what the Lord has in store for us! He is so wonderful, and makes me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world.
I was able to spend a week with Brandon and his awesome family in Tennessee this past week at their family reunion. It was so great. Highlights of the week? Just to name a few:
Meeting some really awesome people!
Game night with new friends from Cookeville, and learning the art of "Things"
Goodwilling together (one of our favorite activities. hahaha)
Going to a waterpark called Nashville Shores.
Brandon and I playing with all the sweet sweet children every day :)
Playing on the playground together. (isn't it great to be able to still be kids at 21?)
Playing music together (also one of our favorite activities)
Finally seeing I Love You Man, and laughing until I almost peed myself.
Smiling so much all week long that my face hurt at night when I went to sleep :) Isn't that that greatest feeling?
It was such a fun week, and saying goodbye to Tennessee and all these amazing people was one of the hardest things I've had to do in a while. Saying goodbye to Brandon is always heartbreaking, but I know that the Lord is so good to us every single day, and provides ways for us to keep our relationship strong even while we are apart.
I guess that's about all that has been happening so far this summer! During the next 2 months of summer I plan on working a couple days a week, relaxing, reading a lot, spending time with my family and friends, going on vacation with my parents and brother, going to Carolina Point to visit Brandon, having him up to visit me for a week in August, moving into my new apartment, and trying to get in some volunteer hours somewhere for my major! :)
Sounds pretty great to me.
I am also being very prayerful about a decision that I have been wrestling with for the past year. I have been thinking of transferring schools for a while now, and the thought has become quite prominent in my mind lately. Although I have many great memories and friends at Radford, I keep feeling that maybe it's just not where I'm supposed to be. I know that no college is going to be perfect, but over and over again throughout this past year, I have just been faced with the reality that maybe Radford just isn't the place for me. I have been considering a few different possibilities that stretch all the way from other schools in Virginia, to schools in Georgia and Tennessee. I am quite possibly the worst decision maker ever, so I am just trying to put everything in God's hands and trust that His plan is SO much better for me than my own could ever be! I am going to keep praying over this decision throughout fall semester, and see where it brings me!
I guess that is going to have to bring this lovely update to an end! I will try to get better about updates, and blogging in general for that matter :) hehe
I am a lucky girl.
I love my life.
Every minute of it.
Until next time...
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