So what all happened in 2012?
I was thinking about this all today, since tomorrow is the last day of 2012. Well, by the time I finish writing this, it will probably be the last day of the year.
So, I'm a list person. This year was crazy...in a good way :) Here's what stood out to me this year (the first 20 I could think of):
1. I went to Hawaii for the first time.
2. My niece was born.
3. I learned American Sign Language.
4. I ran my first 5K.
5. I became a leader in CRU.
6. I learned that I can live without someone I thought I never could.
7. I found a church that I actually love.
8. Might have helped save someone's life.
9. Went swing dancing.
10. Learned how to paddle board in Maui.
11. Went snorkeling for the first time.
12. Got up close with a sea turtle in Oahu.
13. Moved into my first apartment.
14. Got all A's in my classes.
15. I went on an airplane all by myself for the first time.
16. I got my first car.
17. Went to my first college basketball and volleyball games, gymnastics meets.
18. Became a Belieber ;)
19. Read the entire Hunger Games series in less than a week.
20. Met people that I know I'll never forget and got closer to people I know I'm lucky to have in my life. :)
...and now it's 12:12am. Last day of 2012. Like I said, this year was crazy. So many firsts and a couple of lasts. This year, I really learned about myself and what I am capable of. This was a year of discovery and a year of healing. I experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, but I still think this year was awesome. I traveled to places I've never been and some of the coolest things happened when I was there. God revealed himself to me so much throughout this year and I seriously can't wait to see what he will do in my life in 2013.
:)
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
The Auntie Diaries
I HAVE A NIECE NOW!!!
that is all. okay, bye!
HA just kidding...I have to gush about her now!
She is seriously SO beautiful. I just couldn't stop staring at her when I first saw her. I've taken care of a lot of babies before, but I've never seen such a pretty baby girl in my life. I know a lot of people say that about their babies, but seriously. She has me completely wrapped around her little finger. Everyone calls me the baby hog now because I'll literally just sit there and talk to her for a half hour. I just can't handle how perfect she is! And she looks just like her brother...they are seriously the most precious kids ever. I'm so lucky to be their auntie!!
okay that's enough. Just know that she is absolutely beautiful. :)
I'm so happy God chose us to be her family. Feeling super blessed today :)
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Holding Out for a Hero
"I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong, he's gotta be fast"
I know I'm young. And I've loved before. Everyone says to just keep waiting, that he's out there somewhere. That I'll meet someone who will treat me right.
I've been alone for almost a year and a half. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of great things about being single. I've loved having no expectations. I've loved discovering who I am without being attached to someone else. I've loved finding my worth in Christ rather than in someone else.
But I've always been the girl that wanted to fall in love when she was really young. I wanted that love story where the 2 young crazy kids fell in love and stayed together for the rest of their lives. But you don't really have control over your love story. When it happens, it happens.
Like I said, I've loved before. I've been in love. He knows who he is. So I know what it's like to give your heart to someone else; I'm not some naive little girl who only sees love as a fairytale and is blind to its reality. I guess that's what will make my next relationship so much better. I'm not as stupid as I was before; I know things won't be perfect all the time. It will be hard, but I know neither of us will give up or leave.
Since the end of that relationship, I have gone on a couple of dates. I've met a lot of guys that I could see myself with too. I even gave a few of them a chance. But what I've learned from these dates is that you can't compromise yourself or your beliefs for a guy. I have to have a guy who is completely in love with Christ. Sure, I could've had something really cool with some of those other guys. But we weren't quite on the same page in what we believed. For example, there was this guy that I really did like and every time we would talk, I would do that stupid girl thing where I would imagine the rest of our lives together. But he wasn't like me. He didn't live the way I lived, he didn't believe in what I believed in.
So I'm holding out for a hero.
I'm sure he's out there somewhere. Maybe he's out with his friends tonight or maybe he's at home with his family, I don't know. But I know God is preparing someone for me, who was made just for me. These days, there's so many guys out there that just take away the hope in ever finding love again. Whether it's those frat boys on the bus who just can't stop talking about those girls they slept with the night before or even that one boy you've had a crush on who doesn't seem to notice when you've gone out of your way to show him you care.
But I have faith he's out there. I have faith that God will make everything work out when he wants them to. I have faith that my time waiting isn't time wasted. I have faith God will show me a man who makes me realize why none of these other relationships or dates ever worked out.
Words cannot describe how much I want to meet this guy. I can't wait to be able to look back at my worrying and just completely laugh. I can't wait.
I have faith in God's timing and that he's going to bring me my soul mate someday. On days like today, where I've spent my whole day in places that brought back memories of when I was in love, I hold on to this and that God will always take care of me.
God knows what he's doing.
Love,
Lauren
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11
I'm holding out for a hero 'til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong, he's gotta be fast"
I know I'm young. And I've loved before. Everyone says to just keep waiting, that he's out there somewhere. That I'll meet someone who will treat me right.
I've been alone for almost a year and a half. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of great things about being single. I've loved having no expectations. I've loved discovering who I am without being attached to someone else. I've loved finding my worth in Christ rather than in someone else.
But I've always been the girl that wanted to fall in love when she was really young. I wanted that love story where the 2 young crazy kids fell in love and stayed together for the rest of their lives. But you don't really have control over your love story. When it happens, it happens.
Like I said, I've loved before. I've been in love. He knows who he is. So I know what it's like to give your heart to someone else; I'm not some naive little girl who only sees love as a fairytale and is blind to its reality. I guess that's what will make my next relationship so much better. I'm not as stupid as I was before; I know things won't be perfect all the time. It will be hard, but I know neither of us will give up or leave.
Since the end of that relationship, I have gone on a couple of dates. I've met a lot of guys that I could see myself with too. I even gave a few of them a chance. But what I've learned from these dates is that you can't compromise yourself or your beliefs for a guy. I have to have a guy who is completely in love with Christ. Sure, I could've had something really cool with some of those other guys. But we weren't quite on the same page in what we believed. For example, there was this guy that I really did like and every time we would talk, I would do that stupid girl thing where I would imagine the rest of our lives together. But he wasn't like me. He didn't live the way I lived, he didn't believe in what I believed in.
So I'm holding out for a hero.
I'm sure he's out there somewhere. Maybe he's out with his friends tonight or maybe he's at home with his family, I don't know. But I know God is preparing someone for me, who was made just for me. These days, there's so many guys out there that just take away the hope in ever finding love again. Whether it's those frat boys on the bus who just can't stop talking about those girls they slept with the night before or even that one boy you've had a crush on who doesn't seem to notice when you've gone out of your way to show him you care.
But I have faith he's out there. I have faith that God will make everything work out when he wants them to. I have faith that my time waiting isn't time wasted. I have faith God will show me a man who makes me realize why none of these other relationships or dates ever worked out.
Words cannot describe how much I want to meet this guy. I can't wait to be able to look back at my worrying and just completely laugh. I can't wait.
I have faith in God's timing and that he's going to bring me my soul mate someday. On days like today, where I've spent my whole day in places that brought back memories of when I was in love, I hold on to this and that God will always take care of me.
God knows what he's doing.
Love,
Lauren
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11
Friday, December 14, 2012
Stay Beautiful.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Love is Enough
I haven't told very many people this, but before I chose to go into Nursing I wanted to be a writer. Not the type that sat at a desk all day writing about things they weren't passionate about, but the type that could captivate the attention and hearts of people she didn't even know. So that's kind of why I created this blog. I needed another outlet; another way to express everything that was going on in my mind.
People say I'm hard to get to know and that I'm hard to crack. And I'll let you in on a little secret...I don't do it on purpose. It's not at all because I'm afraid that once people really get to know me, they'll want to leave or anything like that. It's because I've had my heart broken and I don't just hand out the key to my heart to everyone I know anymore. I used to; I used to be easy to get to know and unafraid to be vulnerable. But I feel like once you give your heart to someone and they break it, you're never really go back to the way you were before.
Love is a crazy thing.
My first 3 semesters in college have taught me more than I could ever imagine. I mean, obviously I've learned a lot academically. I'm a complete nerd now, you can ask me anything about anatomy or microbiology and I can probably give you the answer. However, I have never been so convinced that I am exactly where I'm supposed to be. Besides school, I've learned how to love; that no matter what, love is just enough. God has showed me this past semester that I've been blessed with the gift of loving people and seeing the good in them. I would sit on the bus, look around at all the people, and just think how beautiful and unique each person was. I'd always wonder what storm they were going through or how much a small gesture of kindness would affect them.
Love means the world to me. I believe it is one of the most powerful things out there. If my God is love (which He definitely IS), then it proves that it is the most powerful thing we are given on Earth. I truly believe that loving others and showing them you care is the most important thing.
Midway through the last semester, loving people began to feel like such a burden suddenly. I'm not the type to love half-heartedly. When you're my friend, I will literally do anything for you. It's because I love my friends and they mean so much to me. But sometimes, loving so much causes you to have higher expectations. And this caused problems for me. I began questioning my friendships and if my friends would go the extra mile for me like I would for them.
But I learned that no matter what, God's love is most definitely more than enough for me. He loves me perfectly and is never conditional in His love. He loves me regardless of anything I do. He sent his perfect Son onto this disgusting Earth so that He could die for everyone; for a girl who would not exist for another 2000 years. IT'S SO CRAZY. So when I feel like my friends let me down or that I'm not good enough, I remember that His love is beyond enough. Even if I was the only person on this Earth, He would still send His Son to die for me and my sins in a heartbeat.
What does that have to do with anything? I mean, it's kind of the name of my blog my friend. I want to document everything related to love in my life. The highs, the lows, and everything in between.
Because of love, I can breathe. Love has inspired me. I'm currently a Pre-nursing student, getting ready to submit my Nursing School application in less than 3 months. I have dreams, dreams that literally help me get out of bed in the morning when classes are too tough or circumstances are too complicated.
I have 2 months to write the essay for my Nursing School application. Yesterday, I took my final exam for my Fall semester of college, drove home, sat down, then wrote my whole essay. I guess when you're inspired, you're inspired.
Why do I want to be a nurse, you ask? The answer is so simple.
I want to be the arms that welcome newborns into this world and I want to be the hand that comforts the dying. In a world where diseases are so complicated, outcomes are so uncertain, and single moments can determine someone's fate, I want to bring simplicity and strength.
That is my dream.
I want to love those I've never met before, show them the love Christ showed me thousands of years ago when He died for me. I want to live my faith out, not simply tell people what I think about God. So for the rest of my life, I will strive to love people with all my heart because I know Christ loves me with all of His.
This life is confusing, but I know everything will make sense eventually. God put me here for a reason and I know that His plans for me are greater than I could ever begin to imagine.
:) Lauren
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13
People say I'm hard to get to know and that I'm hard to crack. And I'll let you in on a little secret...I don't do it on purpose. It's not at all because I'm afraid that once people really get to know me, they'll want to leave or anything like that. It's because I've had my heart broken and I don't just hand out the key to my heart to everyone I know anymore. I used to; I used to be easy to get to know and unafraid to be vulnerable. But I feel like once you give your heart to someone and they break it, you're never really go back to the way you were before.
Love is a crazy thing.
My first 3 semesters in college have taught me more than I could ever imagine. I mean, obviously I've learned a lot academically. I'm a complete nerd now, you can ask me anything about anatomy or microbiology and I can probably give you the answer. However, I have never been so convinced that I am exactly where I'm supposed to be. Besides school, I've learned how to love; that no matter what, love is just enough. God has showed me this past semester that I've been blessed with the gift of loving people and seeing the good in them. I would sit on the bus, look around at all the people, and just think how beautiful and unique each person was. I'd always wonder what storm they were going through or how much a small gesture of kindness would affect them.
Love means the world to me. I believe it is one of the most powerful things out there. If my God is love (which He definitely IS), then it proves that it is the most powerful thing we are given on Earth. I truly believe that loving others and showing them you care is the most important thing.
Midway through the last semester, loving people began to feel like such a burden suddenly. I'm not the type to love half-heartedly. When you're my friend, I will literally do anything for you. It's because I love my friends and they mean so much to me. But sometimes, loving so much causes you to have higher expectations. And this caused problems for me. I began questioning my friendships and if my friends would go the extra mile for me like I would for them.
But I learned that no matter what, God's love is most definitely more than enough for me. He loves me perfectly and is never conditional in His love. He loves me regardless of anything I do. He sent his perfect Son onto this disgusting Earth so that He could die for everyone; for a girl who would not exist for another 2000 years. IT'S SO CRAZY. So when I feel like my friends let me down or that I'm not good enough, I remember that His love is beyond enough. Even if I was the only person on this Earth, He would still send His Son to die for me and my sins in a heartbeat.
What does that have to do with anything? I mean, it's kind of the name of my blog my friend. I want to document everything related to love in my life. The highs, the lows, and everything in between.
Because of love, I can breathe. Love has inspired me. I'm currently a Pre-nursing student, getting ready to submit my Nursing School application in less than 3 months. I have dreams, dreams that literally help me get out of bed in the morning when classes are too tough or circumstances are too complicated.
I have 2 months to write the essay for my Nursing School application. Yesterday, I took my final exam for my Fall semester of college, drove home, sat down, then wrote my whole essay. I guess when you're inspired, you're inspired.
Why do I want to be a nurse, you ask? The answer is so simple.
I want to be the arms that welcome newborns into this world and I want to be the hand that comforts the dying. In a world where diseases are so complicated, outcomes are so uncertain, and single moments can determine someone's fate, I want to bring simplicity and strength.
That is my dream.
I want to love those I've never met before, show them the love Christ showed me thousands of years ago when He died for me. I want to live my faith out, not simply tell people what I think about God. So for the rest of my life, I will strive to love people with all my heart because I know Christ loves me with all of His.
This life is confusing, but I know everything will make sense eventually. God put me here for a reason and I know that His plans for me are greater than I could ever begin to imagine.
:) Lauren
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13
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