Life in the ... Lane

My life has been pretty good. I have nothing to complain about. I just need to organize, organize, organize. I started a cake decorating class this past Monday. I plan to put up a new blog on my cake decorating adventures. I have no idea how to get the word about my blog, and if anyone actually reads it. Any suggestions? Haha, that's funny to ask an unknown audience.
That's all for now.
Lauren

My Life in a Nutshell

It's finally October... It feels like I've been waiting forever! I have so many goals for this month. Me and goals aren't best friends... But we've been working on our relationship. I am working on a letter for a friend, but I think what I will tell my friend in the letter, I can inform my blog readers how the world of Lauren is going.
I seem to be making my life purposefully busy. My schedule is busy enough. Monday nights in the month of October will be Cake Decorating at Michael's. (Gossip Girl is DVRd) Tuesday nights is 90210 and Melrose Place. Wednesday nights I have church. (Glee and America's Next Top Model on the Tube) Thursdays two choirs and there's the great shows of Vampire Diaries and TOP MODEL (mi favorito).
On Fridays, I volunteer at "The Table" and I handout backpacks at Clinton Elementary!
I have picked up or rekindled some hobbies -- sewing, knitting, crocheting, and cake decorating. I'm excited for my class!!
I decided to join an online book club. This month is Vanity Fair. It's a huge book, but I realized we had it on the shelf.
It's getting late and The Vampire Dates is getting good.

Night,
Lauren-- The Grumpy Toast

Musings

It's interesting to listen to students and what their weekends entailed. I am schocked that they don't remember huge chunks and how it was the "best weekend ever."
I had the "best weekend ever." I didn't have to go downtown or to the hottest party, I didn't have to spend oodles of money or travel all around the city. I spent my time with a good friend at the Lincoln Brewster Concert, volunteered at my church for Angel Food, and just relaxed at home. I loved every minute of it.
I'm so glad God has changed my life and my vision for my life.
Praise be to God!

Welcome Autumn

Fall is officially here! Autumn is my favorite season. I love the how the trees change colors, how the air turns crisp, and how I get to wear sweatshirts and sweaters. I love having an excuse to bake, drink hot apple cider, and to breathe in the wonderful smells of autumn. Life has been slow as of late; I'm enjoying this lull, the calm before the storm.

I feel recently that God is listening and answering my prayers, but I feel like he is a million miles away. I know that these things happen and I love talking with Him, but I don't appreciate the distance.

I am glad I had a reason to revive my blog and a reason to exercise my writing skills. They are a quite rusty.

My newest passion has been crafting/sewing/knitting/crocheting. I always seem to want to craft when the weather gets colder. At the moment I'm working on my sisters presents for her 12th birthday. I decided to give her 12 gifts. Not all of them are big and some I will make. I bought materials to make her a bag for her music books.

But, I need to stop procrastinating and get ready for work.

More later...

The Grumpy Toast

The Strong Life Test for Women

Day 1: Lincoln, NE to Rapid City, SD

Wow, can't believe it's been a whole day. It was a great trip. Everyone was in a pretty good mood. Between singing Michael Jackson songs, stopping and seeing the beautiful landscape of South Dakota. Visited this petrified forest place (dive) but it was good. Also, there were too many cows everywhere. As a new vegetarian I didn't appreciate why they were fattening themselves in the pasture. The pictures are from Chamberlain, SD. The video is also from Chamberlain. Now I'm watching an encore of MICHAEL JACKSON Memorial... CIAO!

God Put A Smile Upon (My) Face

I heard the news yesterday. I had received the position at Americorps. I was excited. Almost too stunned to actually believe it had happened. All of my prayers and patience had worked. Or more importantly, God's hand had been upon it.

This morning at 8am, I had my final interview and I filled out paper work for two hours. It was long, it was tedious, but it is now done. There is so much to to do to work for the Government.

I'm estatic about the position. But I realize that haze for next year has been pushed forward and I now have a whole year somewhat planned out for me. Now I will only need to worry about getting my grant-writing class done, and studying for the GRE. I'm rather excited that I now have a plan for the Fall, but I realize that it will be like nothing I have ever experienced.

To God be the glory!

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

“I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1 (NIV)

I love this verse because it reminds me that God hears our cries and our desires. He is always there. It’s up to me to believe that He will answer my prayers. In James 5, the second half talks about of the prayer of Faith. Basically if we back our prayers with faith, God feels the sincerity of our hearts.

I don’t like waiting. I never have. Right now, I am waiting to hear whether I made it into the Americorps Vista program. I’m not exactly sure when I will find out, but until then, I need to trust God that He has everything under control. If I don’t get in, I won’t be discouraged; I will just be looking for another job. The problem is that I am only planning on working in Lincoln for a year, and then I will be off for Graduate school. This coming year is a haze; I’m not use to that, because I have always had school to look forward too. But now I’m done at least for now.

I’m sitting. What do I mean by sitting? I mean I’m sitting instead of worrying about what is next. I’m listening for God and what he has to say.

I’m waiting. I’m not going to be frantically running things in my head, but just patiently wait for the outcome of my situation.

I’m wishing. I can wish, ok I’m going to change that word to pray. I’m praying for God’s Will to be revealed whatever the outcome is.

As I sit, wait, and pray, I am thankful for everything God has provided for me!

The Art of Business

I love to stay busy. Texting a friend the other day, I told her that my life, after my college graduation, has been boring, because I haven't been busy. I love being busy! Every minute of the day, I feel I need to be doing something constructive, or my idea of constructive. I have been trying to stay busy, I just finished my Americorps application. I have have a list of 25 books to read this summer and I've already finished 2 of these books. I am also studying for the GRE. I've even started working out again to fill my day.

But, there are things that I could be doing that I haven't. Looking for another job, as both of my current jobs are looking gloomier and gloomier. I also need to write thank-you notes for my graduation. I had been really good at receiving something, and right away writing my heartfelt thanks for whatever I had received. I could be cleaning my room which needs re-organizing and maybe even some pitching of things I horde.

Maybe my idea of busy is making sure I'm doing the things I want to do. That doesn't sound right. That sounds more like selfishness. I'm selfish. Admitting it is the first step. But, I need to not just admit, but commit to the fact that I have priorities that I have decided are unimportant because I just don't want to do them. I think if I were to get these things accomplished, I wouldn't have this dreading feeling in the pit of my stomach that I should be doing something.

That's it! That's the feeling. The feeling that I should be doing something because I'm supposed to be doing something. Since I have always put off something or another, I wonder what it feels like to truly have nothing to do? Have put this feeling upon myself? Have I made my life feel lacking just because I haven't put my sheep in the right pasture?

If I can commit to getting these priorities done, I definetely feel accomplished rather than always waiting for that next thing to take my mind of important matters.

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 (NASB)

Life after Graduation

Life after Graduation:

less stressful

more time to relax

more work hours available

more responsibility

time for studying for the GRE

being able to read

ahhh... breath of fresh air