Returning Home Aug 5-28

I love coming home to Virginia.

The Trees.

The Humidity.

Virginia.

I LOVE IT!

Its so funny to compare the beginning of each year here at SVU.

Freshman Year:

I was so scared. I was anxious to be out here on my own and nervous for classes to start and making new friends. Everything was new. After the first week I was great! I loved Buena Vista, I loved the school, I loved the people. It was fantastic!

Sophomore Year:

I was grateful beyond belief to be returning as an RA. The second training started we all clicked and were friends for life. I adore those people. After the first week I loved my girls who I hadn't met yet, already had a breakdown because of someone who hurt me, but still smiled as I realized I lived in Buena Vista.

Junior Year:

This year is very different. I had such a crazy year last year that led to a summer of rebuilding myself. It was a cool experience and a challenging one. I arrived back on campus knowing some things had to change. Knowing I was stronger. I didn't have my girls names already memorized, I was behind on contacting them, It took me forever unpacked. But I feel so good. I feel more confident. And I smiled from ear to ear as the bell on campus chimes and the train whistle blows.

The RA group this year is extremely different than last year. We were all strong last year but together as a group we were a power house! We were meant to be RA's so we could be friends with each other. A lot of us went through similar trials and were able to uplift and help each other constantly.

This year we are all strong individuals. And we kind of keep it that way. We are much more divided. Its not bad. Just different.

Look at my beautiful VA.

 

As an RA we have to make name tags for the doors in our hall. In the Lofts we usually pick a theme for the hall. I wanted to make it very me. SO I picked envelopes. I adore hand written letters and everything old. I think they turned out really cute!

I got a job at Woods Creek Montessori. I am in charge of the 1-2 year olds. We had a training and then went out to eat. I am so grateful I get to work with these girls! They are the sweetest people with the brightest spirits. I adore them. I also get greeted everyday by 7 1-2 year olds giving me a hug. It is amazing. I definitely think I can work there.

RA training went well. It was a lot of the same trainings I already knew but it was good. Our theme for this training was the Olympics. We played a ton of minute to win it games and some other challenges. My favorite was our synchronized swimming routines. HAHA! They were the best.

 

Okay the Olympics! Heck yes! The first week back I basically lived at Jared's house and we screamed and yelled and cheered on those Swimmers! Another RA named Stockton is the biggest fan I have ever seen. I only ever want to watch the olympics with him. So funny!

We have done a lot more service projects this year and I love it! We helped move a ton of furniture in the carriage town houses and cleaned up an amphitheater near the lofts. 

 

First Pizza of the year. It was delicious!

A gelato and adventure around Lexington was much needed! I love these people. So much fun! 

 

 

We also had to go to Cave Mountain Lake! 

 

This is Sarah and Kaylee. Its funny to watch them, as new RA's, try and navigate the Res Life ways. I just remember it all being so new and exciting and nerve racking! 

We went bowling as a Res Life staff. Kind of crazy and all sorts of tricks took place.

We watched a lot of olympics at a lot of different places. Jared's house, Reva's house, and Jonzzeys. After one night Catherine, John John and I played Jenga. I am horrible at that game! We kept playing with different arrangements to start out with. 

So I have had one giant problem. Its annoying and hard to deal with.

BUG BITES!

This is just on one side. I think I had like 45!

One day I got a text from Reva telling me that someone was going to be in the lobby of the lofts to say hi. I headed up to the lofts and my friend Bryson surprised me!!!!! I knew him my freshman year and he went on a mission. He had to return home early for medical reasons and now he is back. 

A few months ago West Virginia experienced some sever flooding. I was able to go up there with a small group of Students Saturday to help out. We helped gut out a church. I was in the group hammering and pulling nails out of wood. It was an adventure! The other group had to put on suits and crawl underneath the church to lay a tarp or something. Our bus driver Bob was out side helping our group. He was giving us a ton of good pointers and he even complimented my hammering skills. Thats right. Those few episodes of Bob The Builder I watched really paid off.

 



This building was their main hub. They have donations everywhere and people answering phone calls. They fed us delicious tacos for lunch and were grateful for our help.
 
After we ate, my group was still out pulling nails! At one point towards the end it started to pour rain. Amelia and I stayed to finish the board we were on and I could not stop laughing.



Conversation on the phone at 6pm Saturday night:
Me: Hello?
Jake: Lauren Lambert! Its Jake McMahon.
(We catch up for a minute. Establish yes I am in 4th ward. and He tells me how crazy it is because Bishop is in India and the other counsellor is gone with Soccer. Finally I said..)
Me: Jake. Do you need me to speak tomorrow?

So yup! With 14 hours till church I prepared a talk. What was amazing is that I had this feeling all day that I was going to have to speak so I already had a topic in mind! In the words of Bryson, "Thank Goodness for the Spirit!" 

A rainy Sunday.


Jake told me on the phone that they owed me big time. I kindly told him that I always accept chocolate. Later that night they called me and showed up with cookies!

Reva pointed out that we looked like we could be in some Fall clothing collection. So of course we had to take model photographs. 

I hung up a whole bunch of photographs from last year. It reminds me that even though it was the hardest year yet, there was still so many happy moments with some of the most amazing people.


Catherine and I went walking by the river one night. I just sat there and marveled that this is where I live.
 


Bugs in VA are probably the one thing that is not my favorite. This year, ants have been the biggest problem in all the resident halls.


Supportin my amazing soccer girls!


We had check in which was actually really calm. I had to leave half way through to go to work which was a little crazy, but over all it was a very chill experience this year compared to last. 
Also, I finally got a tag with my name on it!

I adore my job. That is all. :)