Daybook- February 16

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 (10:11pm), a car just passed by

I am thinking- I am exhausted

I am thankful for- the fantastic week I've had so far! Curry application submitted, Prof. Stolz agreed to be my History major advisor, beautiful days, I've done a decent amount of homework and I've been with great friends :)

I am wearing- my pink Virginia tshirt (the one that Katie S. is obsessed with because it's so soft)

I am creating- not much at the moment, hoping to do a kaleidocycle soon

I am going- to bed ASAP

I am reading- a ton of stuff for class

I am hoping- that I officially get into Curry!! :)

I am hearing- the random assortment of noises that come with living in a hall with 28 other girls

A few plans for the rest of the week- reading for class, lots of sleep to recover, finish the History major application, Semester at Sea application

Picture- Still working on figuring out how to upload pictures. My iPhoto is currently being annoying and won't let me publish to Facebook, nor can I figure out how to find the file for photos on my Mac without dragging the picture to the desktop, which functions but I'd like to figure out how it's supposed to work.

Daybook- February 8

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 right around 5pm and the sun is still up (it was 5pm when I wrote this- it took awhile before I got back to the computer and was able to figure out putting in a picture- it's now around 9:30pm)! It's creating beautiful patterns in the clouds as well :) For the girl who doesn't do well in the fall with the slowly-decreasing amount of sun, January-June is the most hopeful time of the year :)

I am thinking- not too much

I am thankful for- how my illness has forced me to get plenty of rest

I am wearing- a purple long-sleeved hooded shirt with a tie-dyed tank top underneath and brown pants :)

I am creating- not much at the moment

I am going- to the Runk Green Room soon for Hereford's Chinese New Year Celebration. It feels weird to not go to Tuesday Supper for two weeks in a row.

I am reading- a ton of stuff for class

I am hoping- I'm not quite sure: I don't particularly want the doctor to confirm that I do actually have mono but I also want the diagnosis so I can have an explanation for what's been wrong with me for the last ten days

I am hearing- the random assortment of noises that come with living in a hall with 28 other girls. In just the past few minutes, I have heard Kathryn talking, Maryam laughing (she is loud!), and multiple doors opening and closing.

A few plans for the rest of the week- reading for class, lots of sleep to recover, Curry School of Education and Semester at Sea applications, History major declaration form

Picture- Still working on figuring out how to upload pictures. My iPhoto is currently being annoying and won't let me publish to Facebook, nor can I figure out how to find the file for photos on my Mac without dragging the picture to the desktop, which functions but I'd like to figure out how it's supposed to work.

Daybook-February 1

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 and rainy outside- a lovely 10:32pm

I am thinking- that I definitely want to write more for this blog than just these daybooks and about how much I don't like being sick.

I am thankful for- the period of rest that I forced myself to have away from Tuesday Supper today. While I didn't get too much done, I have felt more relaxed, which I think is helping me kick this cold/sore throat I got on Saturday night.

I am wearing- my 2nd year class of 2013 long-sleeved t-shirt, jeans and my yellow sneakers

I am creating- not much at the moment. Hopefully I will get to finish the flowers over the weekend.

I am going- to bed asap

I am reading- Blessed are the Bored in Spirit by Mark Hart (for the second time), the Gospel of Luke, class readings

I am hoping- that I finally get over my sickness tonight

I am hearing- not too much, other than the Netflix playing on another screen

A few plans for the rest of the week- reading for class, lots of sleep to recover, Curry School of Education and Semester at Sea applications, History major declaration form, Women's Leadership Development Program on Saturday (and brunch with Vanessa :) ), maybe the Opera Viva show, possibly the UVa Art Museum

Picture- The picture up there is 11 months old to the day from the Learning Mass (or whatever it's called) last spring semester (March 1). I'm not so good at uploading my pictures right away.

Daybook- January 25th

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- the sky outside is just beginning to lighten and there are a surprising number of cars driving by at 7:06 in the morning.

I am thinking- that I definitely want to write more for this blog than just these daybooks.

I am thankful for- the fact that my classes are awesome this semester (except for my current journal group for math, but that will change come February 23 :) ).

I am wearing- my pink and white striped fruit pajamas that my Aunt gave me a few years ago

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

I am going- to breakfast in the dining hall (Runk!) in a few minutes and to the Curry School of Education's info session later today (assuming I can actually find it this time :) )

I am reading- Blessed are the Bored in Spirit by Mark Hart, Gospel of Luke, class readings

I am hoping- that I get to see my friends and CSM Sisters soon

I am hearing- not too much, given that it is just after 7am and I live in a college dorm (knowing my dormmates, a few of them probably went to bed just a few hours ago)

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 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.