New BLOG!

I did it! The new blog is up and running! And there's a giveaway!

Check out Simply Lauren @ www.thesimplylaurenblog.blogspot.com

Have a wonderful 2014! Happy New Year!

it's officially coming

the new blog...
it's officially coming! i'm launching it on... you guessed it... Jan 1st.

there's still a lot to do for it to be ready, but i'm ready to share with you what i've been working on!
i have so many papers of plans bent with use and transportation with ideas and dreams for the new blog.

there will also be a giveaway on Ren Was Here to get the word out! more to come soon...

follow me on instagram to see how the progress is coming a long and my frequent sharing on my daily life!

busy

i love this time of year. but i hate how busy it gets. Still need to get quite a few Christmas gifts and i'm running out of time and money. 

the most stressful time of the year.

giving it all to Jesus!

moments of glory

I've had some great moments if glory. 

Even when I'm at my lowest, He always shows up. Even when I feel so alone, He is there. And I'm not saying it in that cliche way, but in a tangible way, God has been revealing Himself. Sometimes I get lost in the chaos that is life. And I realize that's not what it is about. 

"It's about being who I created you to be." - God

can we talk for a minute?

i've been in Arizona for 127 days.

i have lots of things to be grateful about.

a new car
a place to love
a fantastic job
family all together

but there is one area that i'm forever having a hard time.
i've written many a posts and seem to get no where.

the care and keeping of friends.
i haven't met anyone at the church i've been attending, but i still feel called to go there.
work friends are on and off. sometimes their on, but most of the time, i don't even get a response from them.

the only thing i can think to do, is to give it to God. i can't make people like me, talk to me, or hang out with me. but i do know the Giver of Good Gifts.

127 days is a short amount of time if you really think about it.

christmas music is my favorite.

christmas music is my favorite.

it stinks when you think you're out of a funk, but you realize you've just been able to hide it for awhile. my birthday last week helped.

i realized today that i'm just as lonely as my first day in arizona. i realized today that a certain problem that i thought had gotten better is eating away at me. i realized today that i'm lonely. i realized today i have made friends, but i feel like i'm at the point of bugging most of them. i realized today that i'm not enjoying things or reaching out as much.

you know those shows and movies where the characters just need to dance out a problem. meredith grey always seemed to feel better after she had danced out her problems. i always laughed and thought she was silly. but as i was feeling quite down, i cranked up my christmas music in my ear buds and just jammed out to "sleigh ride." and you know what? i felt better. i truly didn't care who saw me. and i truly felt my problems dissolve. even if it was for a few minutes.

they say it's always darkest before the dawn.

create.

i have all these wonderful ideas swirling through my head. i'm excited about the blog launch.

i have a lot of projects stacked up and i feel that i've stopped consuming and have been consumed.

i feel like i was back in college, except take school and switch it with work and take my blog and switch with my jobs back in school. my life outside of school/work was a sliver of my existence.

i'm being swallowed up.

i enjoy so many things, but i haven't had the pleasure of purely enjoying them as of late.

i'm behind on my devotions and bible reading.
i haven't journaled this week.
i'm not done with that blanket i'm crocheting.
my books are collecting dust.

this saturday, i bid to work some OT. i didn't get the bid, i think that's a beautiful sign. a sign for me to take a holiday.

i'm taking a holiday this saturday. i'm going to rise early, pack all my "writing" gear, pack my reading books, my devotions, and my art stuff and travel to the heart of phoenix. to one of my favorite coffee shops. i'm not going to worry about paleo, or anyone or anything for that matter. i'm going to have much needed "me time."

sometimes that's needed. i'll be able to work on the new blog. read and hopefully finish a book. work on some journaling and future planning. and make sure i'm getting the rest and me time i need to keep functioning without giving up or burning out.

how do you take or get your "me" time in?

on being 27

this has been a pretty fantastic week!

i'm not 27 and i don't feel any different, just more special!

this was a great birthday.

simple, calm, and special.

i keep using that word, but that's how i feel!

i don't think i really took any photos on my birthday. 

but here are my birthday goodies!

From top left to bottom: scrap-booking cards, birthday cards, Practical Paleo cookbook, leather jacket, leather journal ESV Bible, Amazon Kindle gift card, Rifle Paper Co notebooks from target, statement necklace, Starbucks gift card. (not pictured: vera bradley wallet/phone holder)

I have such wonderful family and friends!

Have a wonderful weekend

27 before 28

I didn't post 26 before 27 because I wasn't blogging at the time due to my schedule in YWAM.

But I'm excited for this years list.

It's varied, it's long, but it's actually doable. One of them I can cross off sometime this month!

1. launch my new blog
2. document my 27th year with project life
3. journal at least once a week
4. read through the bible
5. visit the grand canyon
6. sew at least one piece of clothing (really, how long have i had this on a list)
7. learn at least 20 songs on guitar 
8. learn to speak basic french
9. learn to speak basic spanish
10. grow out my hair
11. move into my own place
12. have daily quiet times with God
13. go on spontaneous road trip
14. spend more time baking
15. write more letters
16. find a craft and hone in on my skills
17. find a place to volunteer
18. exercise my singing voice in some capacity
19. visit one major city outside of phoenix
20. explore phoenix
21. get involved with a local church
22. find a community/set of friends
23. learn to extend grace and forgiveness
24. begin to dream big
25. start walking again
26. learn at least 10 crochet stitches
27. go to disney land

on being 26

this is my last weekend as a 26 year old.

this may seem small, but i'm saying goodbye to my mid-twenties and embracing the late ones.

i've done so many things this past year.

• moved to a new state
• got a new job
• bought a car
• went to cambodia
• graduated YWAM
• lived with all 5 members of my family (again)

but i'm excited to see what 27 will bring.

there will be more hard moments.

but i'm ready, 27 - BRING IT ON!