Perspective Oct 24-30

This is my happy face when I go to work.

Don't get me wrong. Somedays at work are incredibly hard. But I am so grateful for the experience and lessons the children teach me everyday.

For FHE we played Sorry. Now if you know me, I am very competitive when it comes to Sorry. If I don't win, I get a little upset. Nothing big. Just lots of kicking and screaming. 
It was crazy to me that some of the people I was with had never played this glorious game!

For my scripture study I have been using the Institute manual. Its amazing!! I was in Mosiah 4-8 and it talked a lot about how we are nothing without the Lord. We need to always remember the Atonement and that "The key to our greatness is to remember our nothingness without Christ and His Atonement." 

Sometimes all you need is a giant T-Rex to walk around campus.

One of my favorite things about Virginia are the Cardinals! There is one at work that is fascinated by car mirrors. It flies up and down and up and down. 

I love the fall. 

Yes. I really am posting more pictures of the sun and beautiful VA.

Seriously. Every night is beautiful. 

I think sometimes you just have to escape. And when you escape you need to do something crazy and fun. So I called up Catherine and Alex and we grabbed my camera and went on an adventure.

 

We mastered placing the camera on the car and using the timer to capture pictures of all three of us. 

This adventure was all on the parkway. I adore the parkway. There is something about looking out at the view that honestly does add perspective. It takes you out of your head for a minute.

I love these girls!

Something that has been a constant discussion with my friends as we drive to work is discouragement. Life never happens the way you plan. Things happen and sometimes they are really sad and kind of upsetting. Its part of life though. Its part of the test. But a quote form the Institute Manuel reminded me that "Discouragement is part of that test. Do not give up. That brilliant morning will come." 
We just have to stop. We need to pause and reflect. 

"Because when you stop and look around. life is pretty amazing."

Midterms, Homecoming, and Blessings Oct 17- 23

We hit the middle of the semester. 

CRAZY!

It felt like September flew, and October is taking forever.

I shared this picture on Instagram.

My friend Anna Taylor gave me the journal in the middle that says "Today is my Greatest adventure". The semester has consisted of tons of reading, studying, relief society, laughs, art, autumn, stress, confusion, and joy. I needed the reminder that everyday is a great adventure! What a blessing that is! 

I need to make that my daily moto:

Today is an adventure :)

Someone put a carved pumpkin by the stairs going down to the lofts. It was there for a few days before it got smashed and than someone put this little sign.

I arrived back from work to this pretty sight! Virginia's state saying is "Virginia is for lovers." I'm pretty positive its that because its impossible not to fall in love with it everyday. 

I love leaves. I think I say it every year. Crunching leaves are honestly some of the few of my favorite things. 

Like seriously. Look at those clouds and the light streaming on those trees.

Friday was our fall choir concert! I really enjoyed the songs we sang this semester. After the concert Travis was very kind to give me a blessing. A little bit ago I sat and talked to Jessica Rasmussen for over two hours. We talked about some of the things that were stressing me out, and she narrowed it down to three categories. As Travis gave me the blessing he addressed all three of those things. I hadn't told him anything. 
Everyone, THE PRIESTHOOD IS SO REAL.

We all headed to Cook out after. I believe this was my first time there all semester! I know! Its crazy! I am very grateful for everyone in this picture and how they consistently make me laugh.

Saturday my boss took us out to Lunch because we passed with zero violations on one of our Inspections. We went to this lovely restaurant in Lexington and the food was delicious! We than paraded around Lexington.

That night we went to the Volleyball game and than to go hear the Nashville Tribute Band. I love them! They have beautiful albums dedicated to Joseph Smith, Missionary work, and Jesus Christ. It was wonderful hearing them sing and testify of Jesus Christ. 

Than it was Homecoming! (Saturday was a crazy day!) Sarah and I almost didn't go to the dance, but we did and it turned out to be a lot of fun! They split it up into different decades. We hung out in the 80s and 90s the whole time. It was a blast!

Sunday was good! The Nashville Tribute band performed again that night. At one point they had all the missionaries that listened to their album on their mission come up and sing. They did this last time they were here and I was hoping they would do it again. Many tears were shed. It was awesome1 

I saw a quote this week that said:
"If you find yourself a bit irritated or overwhelmed, It's a sign that you're spending less time with God and more time with this world."

That really hit me. I felt like I was feeling very overwhelmed and short with people. But I also realized that yes. I was slacking on my scripture study and my time I was spending with my Heavenly Father. Its something that is so simple which makes it so easy not to do. But is so soo SO important. I am working on evaluating where my time is being spent and how to improve the time spent with my Heavenly Father and Redeemer Jesus Christ. 

How was your day today? Oct 10-16

Tuesday was the schools temple day. I didn't want to miss work, thats one reason we went to the temple on Saturday. There was a lot of service going on around campus. I helped weed outside the lofts. I then went out to lunch, stopped at Food Lion, and then went to work! :) 

I woke up at 2:30am to 22 text messages from one Emma Atwood. I adore her. She is one of the strongest, funniest, determined people I know. I wish everyone could meet her!

The fog has appeared!

This popped up on my facebook feed from a year ago. I love this post from Kadee!

I was having one of those 'eh' days on Thursday. I went to work and was absently playing in the sand box when one of my little boys said, "Miss Lauren, How was your day today?"

Tears sprung to my eyes. In the words of Kadee, "Christ works through little kids too". It is so true. I needed that simple question. I needed to know that even a little three year old could be aware of me. I love those kids.

SVU got a new friend!

hehe. My friend Anna who I work with, told me that it remind her of one of our kids at work and it totally does!! He just flings himself around, exactly like this green guy!

PIZZA. Some days you just need Pizza. 

My family came on Saturday!! I picked up my Dad on Saturday morning and we met Camille and Mom in Lexington. We ate at Pronto's and just laughed and laughed. I love families and inside jokes. We went to the SVU football game where the weather was beautiful! We took naps and went to dinner at JJ's! Yum! Afterwords we went to the Shenanigans show. Thank you family for spending a very SVU Saturday with me!

 

 

Sunday as a Relief Society Presidency we talked about friendship and how that is what Visiting Teaching is. President Thomas S. Monson said, "Every day of our lives we are given opportunities to show love and kindness to those around us." Show kindness! Do Visiting Teaching! Its super important!

Also, I realized I failed to talk about General Conference a few weeks ago. Wasn't it great? Conference is amazing. I thought Women's session was incredibly powerful. We were definitely told how important it is to have a bedrock foundation in this very perilous time. I loved the talk on Charity. Charity is so important in a world full of hate. Again, always be kind!

It happens in a Flash! Oct 2-Oct 9

Pause. Take a second to enjoy the clouds and the sunset.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD! I love you!

I found a little friend on the way to breakfast.

*******

On this episode of "The Adorableness of Children":

"The sun is tickling me today."

"I went fish picking!"

"My water well broke when I went to the beach. It hurt my feelings."

"Can you pretend your a dog?"

"You can take a nap! Its been a lucky day!"

"Would you like to come to my house on Christmas Day?"

I LOVE THEM

*******

Here is Kaylee's little hello. This is what you get for leaving your phone at the table while you go get food.

Tuesday was a very important day. Flash Season Three Started. The dilemma came when I realized I wouldn't be able to stream it till Wednesday. So I called Will and Camille and the skyped me in to watch the first episode. It was so worth it!

 

Virginia.

My life at Montessori consists of children and mulch. Mulch is everywhere!

This made my day.

This year is the first time we have an actual men's volleyball team. They had a scrimmage game against a team that was essentially a D1 school. They won every set! I was sitting in the seats right on the court and it was a party! A new tradition started at our sporting events. Two words. Animal Onesies. It is hilarious. We have 4 cows running around giving the teams volleyballs, giraffes and other animals cheering in the crowd. Its super entertaining.

 

Opera Roanoke puts on quite a bit of shows. Turns out that students get in free. Our main music professor was one of the leads in South Pacific. A ton of SVU students decided to go support him! It was a fun adventure in the car, consisting of a lot of dancing to Camp Rock. 

The show was.... good.... Its an interesting show in general. The orchestra sounded awesome and so did Professor Hansen. But overall, not my favorite.

Saturday was temple day!!!!! AHH! Sarah and I left bright and early and drove to DC. I love the temple. It amazes me how the world just stops, as it should when you are in the Lord's house. 

 

We walked around the visitors center and there is a statue of Christ when he is resurrected. I stared at the wounds in his hands and feet and I was so grateful. I was so grateful for my Savior and what he did for me. I loved that peace I felt and all I wanted to do was crawl in a ball at Christ's feet and live and relish in that peace. That's when I realized I can do that. Christ is calling to me, and to all of us, to come and feel his peace and to come to him and be strengthened and healed at his feet.

We went to Cafe Rio, Old Navy, and the Garfields house. Three of my favorite places! It was a much needed adventure.

If anyone discovers a way to mail me Cafe Rio, I would not complain.

Quote from Sarah, "You love Sundays."

That is a fact! I just love Sundays! I hope you do to!