Daybook- January 18

I have seen this idea on a number of blogs that I have read and decided to try it out myself. The original idea comes from Peggy Hostetler at the Simple Woman's Daybook. http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Outside my window- it's dark outside, but I can see the street lamps and the Hereford laundry room

I am thinking- the spring semester starts tomorrow

I am thankful for- the fresh start that 2011 has given me (thank you God! :) )

I am wearing- a pale green fleece from Leland that my Aunt gave to my Mom for Christmas (Mom handed it over to me because she already has a fleece and didn't want a new one)

I am creating- continuing on the origami flowers that I started with Nancy (Hereford's principal) and Katy

I am going- to watch Princess Bride in Marjorie's room in 45 minutes

I am reading- Unplanned by Abby Johnson and Blessed are the Bored in Spirit by Mark Hart

I am hoping- for a fantastic start to this fresh new semester

I am hearing- the noise of my fan (it is January 18 and I have my desk fan at power level 2 out of 3 because it is so hot in Hereford- I don't even have the heat turned on in my room, it just is hot)

A few plans for the rest of the week- reading for class, finalizing my Fixed Commitment Calendar, creating my Semester Calendar, picking up all of my books at the Tuttle dorm mailroom, getting a great start to the new semester

Picture- I'm still working on figuring out how these blogs work. At least a picture is up there this time, if in a strange place.

Daybook- January 11

I have seen this idea on a number of blogs that I have read and decided to try it out myself. The original idea comes from Peggy Hostetler at the Simple Woman's Daybook. http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Outside my window- my usual sight outside of my Hereford window (Charlottesville hasn't gotten the snow that has been predicted unfortunately :( )

I am thankful for- the fresh start that 2011 has given me (thank you God! :) )

I am wearing- my hair in the only version of pigtails that my Mom allows (she banned the traditional style when I was in 10th grade) :)

I am creating- my Fixed Commitment Calendar for next semester

I am going- to class tomorrow and possibly Pita Pit for lunch :)

I am reading- Learning to Think Things Through (Gerald Nosich) for class and Blessed are the Bored in Spirit (Mark Hart) for personal reading

I am hoping- for a fantastic day tomorrow

I am hearing- noise in my hallway :( (it's J-Term, everything is supposed to be quiet, but plenty of my international hallmates stayed here over Christmas/New Years and they seem to have chosen today to come out of their quiet shells- as long as they don't scream in their phones at 4:30 in the morning in the hallway, I can deal with the slight amount of noise [which is nothing compared to what it will be when the first-years return next week for the start of the spring semester])

A few plans for the rest of the week- reading for class, my Plan of Action presentation and paper and my critical thinking paper for class, laundry, #1 ticket at Bodo's (on the list of things to do before you graduate- I have been #2 this week and #4 last semester, I will be #1! :) ), going home on Saturday for a few days

Normally these daybooks include pictures, but I am new to this experience and haven't mastered how to put in a picture yet.

Hello :)

Hi :)

I'm Lauren. I like to smile :) I'm 20 years old and a 2nd year at UVA. I am applying for the Curry School of Education for the 5-year Master's in Teaching program this February. I'm a cradle Catholic and proud of it. I love nothing more than my faith, my family and my friends. I have a Mom, a Dad and a younger brother Paul. My Mom has 2 sisters and my Dad has 4. I have 2 cousins on my Mom's side and 13 on my Dad's side. Hanging out with my Dad's side of the family is among my top 5 things to do, even though we only do it about once a year (getting to Chicago from Virginia is expensive). 25 loud, crazy, loving, Catholic Irish-Americans gathered together make for an interesting experience (I'm the oldest of the younger cousins- my 5 older cousins and all of my aunts and uncles are over 21 and spend their time drinking- I get to spend my time running around yelling for joy and playing tag and house with the littler ones [which I fully plan on doing even after my 21st birthday in June]). I also love to hang out with my CSM (Catholic Student Ministry at UVA) friends. While I probably spend too much time with them, I have some amazing memories with them, although one of my craziest college memories comes from being with my hallmates from last year when we jay-sprinted across Route 29 twice in the dark. I love my new dorm as well (Hereford) because it is a focused community dedicated to sustainability, multiculturalism and community outreach.

I started this blog really as an attempt to be an online journal for myself. I had possibly the worst year of my life in 2010 and am determined to start completely fresh in 2011. I am currently taking a January-Term class that is setting me on a much better path, a path for me to escape the bad memories of 2010 and move on to the bright future that I know God has planned for me. I want to document 2011 in all of its ups and downs. I want a record to remind myself of the good times when I have bad times. I want to hold myself accountable to goals I set and write down. I want to get an experience keeping a journal/writing about my life regularly, something I have done in periodic spurts in the past decade but nothing regularly (which I now regret). I basically follow several blogs already, so now I want to get the experience of writing one.