"I look up to the mountains--

does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!

He will not let you stumble;
the one who watches over you
will not slumber.
Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never slumbers or sleeps.

The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon at night.

The Lord keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
The Lord keeps watch over you as
you come and go,
both now and forever.

Psalm 121:1-8

laurenthevampireslayer signing off...

I Left My Heart in the Netherlands

I cannot believe that it has been an entire year since I embarked on one of the most special and amazing adventures that I have been on (yet). It seems like it was only yesterday but it also seems like it was more like 100 years ago. Anticipating the trip, I was dreaming of Belgium and I was highly prepared to have my heart stolen by the little country, but just like usual, things don't always seem to go as we plan them in our minds. Now, don't get me wrong here...I adored Belgium, it was entirely too cute for words...I just never realized the strength of the pull that the Netherlands would have on my heart. I really should have known, because ever since I studied those first few Dutch paintings, I was hooked. Maybe it was because many of these Dutch painters that I admire worked out of Belgium that had me off kilter. Either way, the cities of the Netherlands latched onto my heart and soul and they have yet to loosen their grasp!

I've just been reading about a couple of my favorite painters on this beautiful Saturday morning, and it's caused my heart to long to go back. To explore ever little town and hamlet. Every beautiful gothic and baroque cathedral. Every canal. Every cobblestone street. Every museum and gallery. I just must return. I loved it too much. And hopefully one day I will have a reason or an opportunity to do so. I can only hope and pray for this, for now.

Until then....I can only dream, and read about, and long for it.

ALS IK KAN

laurenthevampireslayer dreaming away...

So What If I Don't...

"WIPE PROPERLY"

ahhhhhh, I miss ole Chris Farley. That was one funny dude.

Well, just killing some time before I head to Hammond for wedding festivities. I think this next month is gonna be pretty chill, especially since there is.......nothing really going on :/

I think I kind of need that, though. I can catch up on some much needed me-time :)

I'm not sure where we are going to eat for dinner tonight....but I'm already starving!

And I really want a pickle.

So, I shall leave you thusly, with my random pickle craving!

laurenthevampireslayer singing off...

Who's Got Two Thumbs and is Miserably Failing Her Blogging Challenge?

THIS GIRL!

Yeah that's pretty much it.

I'm ready for Easter!

laurenthevampireslayer signing off...

Dear Universe,

Pretty please,

just let me have an entire day

to sit at home

and read Game of Thrones.

That is all.

Oh.

And a husband would be nice, too.

Cool.

Cool, cool, cool.

Love your biggest admirer,

laurenthevampireslayer

brainspurts

One may think that a beautiful warm day would make one never want to leave South Louisiana, but for some reason today's beautiful weather made me extremely excited to move! I'm still very nervous about everything--money, finding a job, finding a place to live, being in the extreme cold :/--but it also makes me very excited! I've never done anything like this and I have always wanted to. It kind of feels similar to the time leading up to my 6-week jaunt in Europe...something I had wanted to do for so many, many years, so it was scary and exciting and quite unbelievable leading up to it. And it was the most amazing experience ever! So...I'm hoping this will be similar. I have been praying so much about this and for the most part I have been feeling really good about it, but there is always that little tinge in the back of my mind reminding me about how many times these types of things have fallen through for me. So I have been having to push very hard at these stupid little tinges, because it is just freaking time to push past all of that and go for it. I just really can't wait to start looking for a job and get some things rolling! If only I can get through April! Oh boring, boring April, how you taunt me!

On another note, I have started counting calories and trying to be a lot healthier so that has been pretty fun! It's so funny how anytime you decide to go on a diet, there are always those several people that make you feel like you are being unhealthy for cutting back so much. I guess people just don't get that you aren't going to lose any weight by just barely watching what you eat. Like, chill out and just let me try to be healthier. Jeesh! But, yeah, I am feeling good! Now let's see if I can lose some weight before Hannah's wedding and Disney! I LOVE THE SPRING!

Ok so there are some feelings and thoughts and leaves that have been floating through my head lately.

I'm a sleepy grandma now, so I'm gonna go read and fall asleep.

kbye

laurenthevampireslayer signing off...

"Liv & Lern": A Motto for Life

Whoopsie-woo. Didn't have time to blog this weekend...I was too busy livin' life!

I am so blessed to have such an amazing BFF. I mean, seriously. And don't get me wrong my cuzzies are amazing and will always be my BFFs but there is always that one person who feels like family but isn't....a brotha from anotha motha, if you will. And for me that is Miss Olivia Fuller.

She's the best. And you wish that you had a best frand like her.

But seriously, it is so nice to have a close friend that is going through similar struggles and also through similar happies as you. Someone who you can tell about the extremely weird feelings and hopes (for things like an attractive Dutch/British/German-long haired-tall-muscled-musician-Viking man named Ezra that loves Disney and plans for the life of her future man-child, Edgard) that you have and who will either share them with you or appreciate them and not think you are completely insane (or think you are completely insane but love you for it). I am just so thrilled that God put this lady in my life with similar morals and beliefs so that I wouldn't have to bear certain burdens on my own. And it has helped me immensely and hopefully will continue to do so if we are so blessed as to get to share a bachelorette pad together! It's great having a friend that makes you feel more confident about yourself, someone who is inspired by you and inspiring to you, and someone who will completely nerd out with you at...any....time. *sigh*, now just to find a male version! hardy-har.

For realz, guys...you need to find yourself a Liv of your own. It's a must-have for life!

So that's that.


PS...I'm so excited to go to Disney with a whole gang of best fraaaaaaaannnndddssss!

laurenthevampireslayer signing off a little mushily...

Don't Worry, Baby

I think that my challenge for this year will be not to worry. I believe that this year is going to be a turning point in my life and, for me, that brings along many fears and anxieties. But I refuse to let them overwhelm me like they usually do. I feel like I have already made a little progress in regards to this. Right now, I'm at the point where I'm not worried about the future....but I am. If you know what I mean there. I don't worry about it when I am not thinking about it, but when I start to think about it in detail is when the worry sets in. I need to get to the point where I am just not worried about the future...to the point where I have complete faith that God is going to provide for me when I need provision and that he will not let me fall and be completely mangled when I take that huge leap off of that metaphorical cliff. I know that He will always be there for me, but it can be so easy for me to let doubts creep in. Well those doubts better look out because I've a stock-load of bob-ombs in my brain just ready to be tossed at them and to explode them in a timely manner. I ain't playin' this year. Change WILL happen. And I WILL move forward with my life. No Ifs, Ands, or Buts.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:6-7

So there is my positive post for the month. What does that grant me...liiiike  5 or 6 depressing posts?

Naw, I'm kidding.

I'm just excited about this year! Any year that includes going to Disney World just can't be a bad year. It's a mathematical certainty.

I sure do wish that I wouldn't have taken that hour and a half nap this afternoon. Because I need to go to bed so that I can be all bright and bushy-tailed in the morning and annoy everyone at work!

Well I guess I will go ahead and start my pre-bedtime rituals even though I am not completely tired yet.

And if I don't see you tomorrow...Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening, and Good Night :)

Ciao.

laurenthevampireslayer signing off with a positive vibe and an optimistic outlook on life...

So This is the New Year

For me, there are some days that are filled with anxious feelings of excitement as each minute passes by. For the whole day. And I have no idea why. It happens every once in a while...usually when I am anticipating something, an event, a trip, or just a change. It's like my heart is exploding over and over again in response to the endless possibilities that the future could or could not bring. It's a really weird feeling. And a really exciting feeling. The only problem is that things don't always work out the way that I want them to. I mean, they have a way of really just not working out at all. Just because I have these feelings doesn't mean that something is going to go right for me. 

But I am hoping that this year will be different. 

I am hoping that things begin to happen and that moments fly by so quickly until all of a sudden everything stops and calms down---and my life has completely changed all around me. 

All of this to say....that this year, I'm forcing myself to expect big things to happen. 

Because everybody's gotta have their year, right?

laurenthevampireslayer signing off...