Think you know love?

So you know when you were in say, middle school or junior high and you would have the hugest crush on the kid in your band class? Ok, so maybe I was a band geek at one point... anyway, band class, math class, recess, who knows. But they were all you could think about at some points. Who cares about homework. You want to pass notes with your BFF or write in your slam book and giggle about Friday night's school dance or how he made a fool of himself in class just cause he knew it would make you laugh. Adorable, honest, innocent kiddy love and bubbly feelings. You just have to tell someone about it. Some people say it's when you get these feelings that you really know you're in love.

Where exactly am I going with this? Well, once again, I am sitting here trying to study but I can't get my mind wrapped around entropy and thermodynamics at the moment. I'm completely sidetracked by this awesome guy who keeps tapping me on the shoulder and flashing this handsome and loving smile. I know what you're thinking. "Since when did Lauren meet someone and why in the world has she not told me?!" Well here is where some of you will completely understand me and some of you will think I've gone off the deep end.

I haven't met a guy. It's the same guy that I've mentioned many times before and it's not just any guy. I've just been rediscovering God's honest and amazing love for me lately. For all of us. It's so crazy how much He just wants to sit with us and talk to us, His children. He's just sitting there waiting. I mean, it's enough that I'm just filled with giggly, happy feelings because I know someone loves me. Someone that will never leave me, never hurt me, is always there for me no matter the time of day. Many relationships come and go in a lifetime. Boyfriend A, B, and C may not have been right for you. They may have hurt you in more ways than one. Used up your time and efforts, your feelings. But God is there putting in time, efforts, and feelings. More than we could ever possibly contribute. For example, we sleep, He doesn't. What is He doing? Watching over us. He loves us like a parent, proud of us and making sure we've got everything we need, keeping us safe. He loves us like a friend, with a shoulder to cry on and a hand to lift us back up to our feet. He loves us a with a never ending passion to spend every minute together. I don't know of anyone else that loves me that much and it just amazes me.

Anyway, it's such a feeling that I can't describe and I had to try and tell someone about it.

:)

oh and I thought this was really cool....

Can't focus!

So I'm sitting in a coffee shop, drinking some coffee, and trying to study but it just isn't happening...and it's not just the crying toddler in the other room.

My family left this morning and after spending 4 and a half days with them nonstop it feels really weird to wake up to an empty dorm room and be by myself again. I think it's extra weird because even when I go home for breaks I usually end up working, hanging out with friends, and the parents work during the day so I really don't see them a whole bunch anyway. So this was an extra concentrated session of family time :) We had such a blast. I can't count the number of times I almost peed myself with laughter or the number of pictures we nabbed of dad's real smile. Vacation was filled with trips to New Orleans, the beach, lots of seafood and special mobile restaurants. We all probably put on a few pounds and I know I've probably obtained an addiction to coffee...again. The start of our trip was a little rough but that's probably just cause our family equilibrium was out of wack after being apart for so long. Soon enough it was a dandy ol' time and I can't wait till they come visit again! I miss them already.

So here I am, sitting with my computer, bio book, and coffee in front of me. A nice representation of my summer to come. Why didn't I take the AP Chem test in high school, again? ugh.

On another exciting note! This friday, I get to meet with some people for a possible worship team for the church I've been going to this summer. It is SO crazy how I've ended up where I am and how everything is just laid out ready for me. I can't wait to see what God's planned to happen next. I'm like one of those wind up toys, full of energy and momentum. God can just place me on the ground in the direction he wants me to go and ill be like BAM off to the races. haha.

So much excitement and plans. CANT FOCUS. Darn science requirements.

Spread some sunshine...

Post number 2!

This week my family is coming in town! I am so excited to be able to show them where I've lived the past two years on my own, the places I've worked, and the places I've discovered. My mom has only been here once and that was for Preview before freshman year and my dad has only been here to pick me up or drop me off freshman year. My sister has never seen Mobile. So this is going to be an extra special time to kind of showcase what I've accomplished. Is that silly?

On the topic of accomplishments...what would you consider an accomplishment? I kinda sat here and pondered that for a while while listening to some Nelo (if you haven't heard of them I highly suggest you Youtube 'em) and kind of came up with a few different things. One of the lines in the song currently playing went a little somethin like this:

"Well I was thinking that I would touch the sky

And spread the sunshine all around-
I can open up these clouds
I’ve been crazy for a couple days
But with the sunshine all aroundI feel open to a new kind of day"

At another point the lyrics talk about walking "in your own kind of rain." I think one of my biggest accomplishments would be the person I've become, or at least the person I'm becoming because I'm definitely not done yet. It's important to take each day and make it a new day. Set goals or plan crazy trips. Just go for it. Walk your own path and do what you want. Don't follow trends, don't care what everyone else is doing. How did I reach this realization these past two years? Mostly through my friends which is what I would consider another amazing

accomplishment.

The friendships I have made while living here are some forever friendships. Maybe not the kind of idealistic BFFLS!! friendships we all adorned with friendship necklaces in middle school but some much stronger kind of friendships. The ones that are always there for you for encouragement, or to catch you and remind you who you really are and what you are worth. The kind of friends that yeah, you might lose touch for a little while after you take a new road to a new chapter in life, but you could definitely meet up for morning coffee and pick up where you left off. The kind of morning coffee where you'll talk for hours and somehow it turns i

nto evening coffee. I've met some really inspirational women that I'll b

e sure to never forget. I can only hope to be that kind of friend and inspiration right back.

Of course there are those late nights I spent studying my butt off to get good grades, the extra curricular activities I've dedicated a lot of my time to, and the jobs I've taken on along with my 18 hour semesters...these are also some great, yet obvious accomplishments. Things I can put on a resume or list off on a grad school application. But my greatest accomplishments so far would have to be learning to be myself and letting myself be whatever I'm inspired to be and forming those friendships that will last a lifetime. It's nice to feel like I've grown on my own and have embraced what life has thrown at me.

I can't wait to see my family! :)

ps. spread some sunshine.

What's to come...

It's kind of crazy to think about... Where you were about 6 years ago. I was just starting out high school and had a blog on that old fashioned Xanga site. I blogged about boy issues, family issues, what I did for the day, the tests I had study for, and other common teenage interests. I have changed so much since then. Even now, I look at my hands typing away and see a bracelet on my left hand. The bracelet that has been on my wrist since February when I went to Nicaragua. I look out my window and see a gorgeous view of the campus that I never even knew existed six years ago. What is the one thing that hasn't changed? Besides my name? My God being right at my side. He has remained at my side this whole time. My whole existence. It might sound cheesy to some, but it's a companionship that has truly kept me going. The crazy thing is that He's known everything I would do, everywhere I would go, everyone I would meet and the relationships I would form with the people around me...He's known and will always know and He still loves me. No matter how far I may have drifted from time to time. My junior year of high school I loved Him with so much of me. My freshman year of college, I did not love Him any less but I hardly went to church, didn't read the Word, didn't pray, or set aside any time to spend with Him. But He was still there, ready to carry me when I needed Him most. I know now I am basically rambling but I guess the main thing is that wherever He goes, I go.

He brought me to this amazing place in life. My passion for worship has been rekindled, or at least some big huge logs have been tossed into the fire. I can't stop getting excited about how the Lord has gotten me to where I am and where I am going next. All the plans he has for my life. What am I going to end up doing job wise? Where will I end up after I graduate college? A husband? A family? What other countries will He send me to? I know Nicaragua was only the first and I am so excited to see what's next.

Wherever you are in life right now, just take a moment to think on how you got there. I would bet my life savings (which isn't very much, but anyhow...) that you had no idea or intention of getting there so many years ago. Think of all you've accomplished, all the people you have met and loved, the paths your feet have walked, and the paths you've crossed. Now. Think of what's to come.