ready

I don't know about all you all but I am pretty ready for these kinds of activities

I want summer to come so bad it hurts.

let's talk about love

:my love is my weight. it carries me wherever i go: Augustine

The world moves for love. It kneels before it in awe. [Edward Walker]

love.is.a.verb.

A coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it is the prerogative of the brave.
Mahatma Gandhi

All you need is love.
John Lennon & Paul McCartney

  How on earth are you ever going to explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon as first love?
Albert Einstein

If you judge people, you have no time to love them.

Mother Teresa

If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you.
Winnie the Pooh

Love is trembling happiness.
Khalil Gibran  

Love... it surrounds every being and extends slowly to embrace all that shall be.
Khalil Gibran

A life without love is like a year without summer.
-- Swedish Proverb

I love love.

And I love you.

Happy Valentine's Day 

xoxo

well.

We've talked about this before, guys. But I'm not really sure you took me seriously.

As you probably know, I am most definitely not a domestic person. I loathe vacuuming, the decor in my room right now is half mine and half my brother's, and my cooking list consists of toast, eggs (fried. or scrambled if you really want to get fancy.), and this banana bread. But if it were a competition for domestic goddess, I would win on that banana bread alone. This bread is my home slice, my other half, the yin to my yang, the Mary Kate to my Ashley, the x to my o, the thing that says, "hey, Lauren, life isn't so bad when you've got me around".

You get the picture.

Now go- and make your life complete.

lemonade waterfalls

remember that mean trick?

Right now I'm banging my head against the wall trying to study for my NSCA CPT (Certified Personal Trainer) exam at the end of the month. It's pretty dull work, people. But sometimes I run across funny stuff, like this:

Water "Fluid intake is a nonissue for some and an obsession for others. Some carry water with them and quaff so much that frequent trips to the bathroom are in order. Others seem to shun water almost entirely, leaving to question how they can remain upright."

Who uses the word quaff?? I think it's even funnier that they use such a funny word for such a funny topic. I really hope the guy who wrote this part laughed out loud when he got done and gave himself a pat on the back. Quaff. Hilarious.

Hope you're having a happy Wednesday!

official

By some very large miracle BYU decided I had done enough and let me graduate. My diploma came in the mail last week making the whole thing OFFICIAL. **cue huge sigh of relief**


As I pulled it out of the envelope and held it in my hands, I was surprised at how much pride I felt having this single piece of paper. It's funny that one little piece of paper can mean so much- especially to the person whose name is on it. It was very unexpected to have so much emotion and memories flood over me, but it felt right. That one sheet of paper was all it took- that's really all I needed. 

 I learned volumes about myself, my Savior, humility, the incredible patience and love of my wonderful parents, how to work hard and how to bite some pretty large bullets, how to work with others, the importance of being an honest and upright woman, oh and a little bit about exercise science. BYU was one heck of a ride. Even though I am so happy to be done I am grateful for every minute that I was there.

Fact: I am in love with this book.

"Read it and laugh. Read it and learn. Read it and be glad you 

are human." 

Minneapolis Tribune

Miss miss

I miss being called Laureen.

I miss playing shootings and telling stories on the front porch with these boogers.

I miss really really good fruit.

I miss the sun and the heat.

I miss my bed net.

I miss Oscar.

I miss dark skin and bright colors.

I miss drumming in the streets.

I miss thinking "that is absolutely ridiculous" at least five times a day.

I miss every day being an adventure.

I miss Africa.

I just got a ton of pictures printed from my summer in Ghana and look at all 200+ of them kind of a lot now. Needless to say- I'm feeling a little Ghana-sick.