Things Lately

Life has been totally crazy lately. The school year has come to a close and summer school at ECU has started up. We finished all of our VCM staff meetings last week. I only have a few more projects to complete before I can move into partnership development gear! I actually did my scrapbook today in Greensboro!

I finally found an apartment!!! I will be living in a one bedroom at Melbourne Park. Now to pack and figure out all of the furniture. I have furniture at home that I love that was my grandmother's. It is old school cane furniture, and will be really pretty once it is repainted and reupholstered. But that will have to wait until this summer or when I can get to it! I'm thinking blue couches. I think black and white patterned pillows and green accents would be pretty...........

(Not exactly this color blue but love some of these ideas.)

Anyway, on with everything else going on. In a few days I fly to Austin, TX for a staff summit. I am excited to see Elissa and stay in the hotel with her, Kristen, & Mona! Then I'll be staying a few days to see Lindsey and Bryan in Dallas! I am so excited for this whole week! The people, the food!!! I have never been to Texas and Lindsey has wanted me to come since I was a freshman in college so it's about time!

Then when I get back to NC it's more packing and moving into Melbourne. (P.S. I told myself I wasn't going to spend any money on dishes right now, but I found some really pretty white dishes at Pier One for half off! I couldn't leave the store without them!)

Then a week later I go to Baja, Mexico for my first real mission trip!!! (I went in high school with youth group but I wasn't saved then.) So I am so excited about going to another nation, getting completely out of my comfort zone and spreading the Gospel & doing some building projects!

Whew! I am really excited about everything coming up, but a little exhausted at the same time just thinking about everything! I know the Lord will work it all out! He already has! This Friday the last of my money came in for Baja! Now just believing God for $300 more dollars to reimburse me for the plane ticket!

I'm about to put myself to bed so I can rest up for the next few weeks! :)

On the hunt for more music, I found this guy and I really like his voice and this song: God of Our Yesterday by Chris McClarney.

Here are the lyrics:

When we were in the darkest night
And wondered if our eyes would ever see the light
You were there, Lord
When we were in the stormy gale
And wondered if we'd ever live in peace again
You were there, Lord
You were there in the struggle
You were there in the fight
You were there all the time

We praise You - the God of our yesterdays
We praise You - the God who is here today
We praise You - our God as tomorrow comes

So whatever lies ahead
Whatever roads our grateful hearts will come to tread
You'll be there, Lord
We will fix our eyes on You
And know that there is grace enough to see us through
You'll be there, Lord
You'll be there in the struggle
You'll be there in the fight
You'll be there all the time

We praise You - the God of our yesterdays
We praise You - the God who is here today
We praise You - our God as tomorrow comes
We thank you - for grace in our yesterdays
We thank you - for peace in our hearts
We thank you - for joy, as tomorrow comes
We will trust you, God

You're always closer than we know
Always more involved and in control
We will trust our lives to You -
The One who was and is and is to come

Ps. I'm not sure who wrote the song but love the Chris McClarney version!

Suggestions Please!

I am need a little "umph" to my quiet times. Today I looked on amazon at books and cds. It amazes me that I spend money on food and movies but always think Christian books and cds are sooo expensive. (Sad I know.) So this weekend when I get my finances aka tax refund all straightened out, I will be buying some new Christian resources! I am so excited.
Here is what I plan on getting:
The Lies Women Believe and the companion guide (I used mine in college so much the pages are coming out! Love this book and it really is a must have)
Why Not Women
Crazy Love

CDS:
Bethany Dillon, Stop and Listen
I want a Laura Woodley cd but can't find where to buy one, I'm too old school for downloading mp3s!

Any suggestions for anymore books or cds??

40 Days Without Kelly's Korner and Counting!

So I used to read Kelly's Korner all the time! I loved that blog and even read her mom's blog. In all honesty, my love for her blog started by just wanting to read about a lady who has gotten all of the things my heart longs for and to hear her story.

I felt like the Lord was telling me to fast Kelly's Korner during our Break Through 40 fast. I can tell you that every day I really did not fast, I was just not reading the blog. Some days I really did fast, though I'm not even sure I know that number.

During the "fast" what I felt like the Lord was saying to enjoy my life, enjoy the things I do have, while I'm waiting for the things I do want. You know what, I'm happier, I don't think about the things I don't have as much. I realized I really do enjoy my life and am glad to have this season to really pour out to the VCM girls. No I'm not perfect and my life isn't but I enjoy it and It's fun because I can enjoy it with Him! I feel like the relationships I do have have gotten stronger. I also feel like I am way more productive! Most importantly I feel like my relationship with Him is stronger and I feel way more peace in my life!


Ps. i was going to try to find a picture of them, not by going on her blog, but found this blog post about them, it pretty much sums things things up: http://www.startyourfamily.com/2009/04/from-the-nicu-to-home-kelly-stamps-on-motherhood

Savannah, GA

So I love Savannah. I read a book, my favorite book a few years back called Savannah from Savannah. For some reason, reading the book sparked an interest in me for this city I have never even stepped foot in. Ever since I have wanted to visit and have daydreams of me living there with a cute fluffy puppy and a diamond ring on a very important finger!

Well anyway, with all that said. Tonight I started out working on my newsletter, which quickly lead me to looking up fabric (I use images of fabric I find online for my backdrops and heading, every time fearing I might be committing a crime by using some one's designed fabric for free...).

Then I started googling decorating ideas and after a while found myself at Coastal Living, which I love, and then found I fell in love with, Jane Coslick. So naturally I followed the links and looked her up. She designs and restores old dilapidated cottages in GA. You know what, she lives in Savannah. I think I'm on to something! :)

Just thought it would be fun!

This was an email from Jenn, and I just thought it would be fun to put up here! :)

Copy and paste and place an (x) by all the things you've done and remove the (x) from the ones you have not. Then send it to your friends (including me). This is for your entire life!
( ) Drove a semi truck
( ) Owned a horse
( ) Been on a cruise
( ) Gone on a blind date
(X ) Skipped school
( ) Watched someone die
( ) Been to Canada
(X ) Been to Mexico
( ) Been to San Francisco
( X ) Been to Washington , DC
( ) Been to Las Vegas
(X) Climbed up a lighthouse
( X ) Cried yourself to sleep
( )Seen the cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C.
( X ) Played cops and robbers
( X ) Flown a plane or helicopter - in a plane
( ) Watched grandchildren grow –
( ) Recently colored with crayons
( ) Been to the Kentucky Derby
( ) Been to Key West
( ) Been to a rodeo
( X ) Sang karaoke
( ) Paid for a meal with coins only?
( X ) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't?
( X ) Made prank phone calls
( ) Laughed until some beverage came out of your nose.
( X ) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
( ) Danced naked in the rain
( X ) Written a letter to Santa Claus
( ) Been kissed under the mistletoe
( ) Watched the sunrise with someone you care about
( ) Seen the green flash at sunset
( X ) Blown bubbles
( X ) Gone ice-skating
( ) Owned a convertible
( ) Shot a gun
( X ) Been to New York City
( X ) Been to England
( ) Swam in the Pacific Ocean (just put my toes in it!)
( X ) Swam in the Atlantic Ocean
( X ) Went to a movie by yourself
( ) Owned a stick shift vehicle
( ) Went skinny dipping
1. Any nickname(s) Laura J, LJ, Little Lee Lee, Little Bit
2. Mother's name ? Sara
3. Body Piercings? one hole in each ear lobe
4. How much do you love your job? I am blessed to have one and yes I love it!
5. Birthplace? Greensboro, NC
6. Ever been to Hawaii? no
9. Ever been on TV? N)
10. Ever steal any traffic signs? No
11. Ever been in a car accident? Yes
12. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4
13. Favorite number? 4
14. Favorite movie? too many (Home Alone, Beauty and the Beast)
15. Favorite holiday? Christmas
16. Favorite dessert? ice cream
17. Favorite food? pizza... Brixx Pizza
18. Favorite day of the week? Monday, my day off :)
19. Favorite smell? clean clothes out of the dryer and gardenias
20. How do you relax? Read, watch TV, nap
21. How do you see yourself in 10 years? hopefully married with children
22. Farthest place you will send this message? Texas and PA!
23. Who will respond to this the fastest? No idea!!!
24. Who will be the last person to respond? No idea!

Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving came and went! I love the holiday and had a wonderful time at home with family in Greensboro. This year I had a little cold so just felt worn out and out of it. I think just going and going has sort of caught up to me! But I did have a great time and as always, staying at my parents house is wonderful and relaxing. Sadly, I didn't take any pictures.

One thing I did do was plan, organize, and collect things for our Christmas decorations at church in Greenville. I am helping with the decorations this year and am so excited! I even cut down trees for the occasion!! (yes, that's right!). My Aunt Janette and I walked in the wood out at Memaw and Da's house and cut down about 10 cedar trees. (It really wasn't hard, J had a hand saw.) Then friends from Greenville, Mark and Pam came by and loaded them in their minivan to Gvegas!! I also collected some things from Memaw and Da's house. My favorite was going through Memaw's Christmas decorations for myself and for church. I have a lot of Christmas decorations for a single girl! I even left one Tupperware box in Greensboro!

I will post pictures later of the sanctuary and my loaded up car (actually borrowed my mom's jeep and it is and was filled to the brim!).

Probably the highlight of the weekend was spending time with my parents, sister, family, and friends. Gala (my mom's friend) and Suzanne (a childhood friend) came by Friday night. It was good to see them. They used to live in Greensboro, now they live in Atlanta. They told lots of funny stories and as always, laughed really hard!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!!