The Past Few Months

Well, it has been awhile since I have posted, SORRY!!! Life is crazy and amazing.  Here is what I have been doing for the past 2 and 1/2 months:

July 5- Leave Home...

A sad day, that I had dreaded for a long time. I cried maybe about halfway to Pine Cove. It's weird leaving home, knowing that it's not where you live anymore. The funny thing is, the dogs were the ones who got me going on the cry-fest. Ah man, those stupid dogs, I miss them a lot. Oh, and of course I miss my family, a ton. 

That day, I met my new family. Six amazing girls who challenged and encouraged me and continue to do so to this day. It was the most incredible and hardest experience thus far in my life. I learned so much about myself, the good, the bad and the absolutely horrifyingly ugly. They told us that throughout the year we would have moments of revelation when we would say, "Oh, I get why they made us do that." And yes, I have had quite a few of them. Man, I love those girls. 

July 13, July 20, July 27, and August 3-

These were the Sundays that we had to report back to Pine Cove by 1pm. These were some of the hardest days. They basically went, wake up, call parents and cry. I was so homesick and exhausted, but every week, God would pick me up and carry me through it. A great lesson about perseverance.

August 9-

Pine Cove OVER. Sad day. It was super hard saying goodbye to girls who I had poured my whole heart to, but no fear, we talk quite often.

August 12th-

Impact Camp in College Station. The hardest 3 days of my life. I missed my family, I missed my girls from Pine Cove and I felt so alone. (You will notice that a lot of my experiences have been hard and lonely, but the point of sharing them is to show you how wonderfully God has provided and grown me for His purposes.) I was exhausted emotionally and physically and was trying to process everything I had learned about PC. My word, it was overwhelming. Through those 3 days, I relied on the Lord in a way that I had never experienced. I had to pray that I would be strong and friendly and not just burst into tears, and the Lord was SO faithful and taught me about stamina and strength that only ONLY comes from Him.

August 15-

MOVE IN DAY!!! I finally got to see my parents after about 3 weeks, which was so great. I also got to finally meet my suitemates and move in with my wonderful roomie Kate (we had met over the summer on PC weekends, and we pretty much fell in love with each other :P). When I got to the Cambridge (where we live) it was wonderful, it felt like a place I could finally settle into. It was heaven on earth. 

August 25

SCHOOL STARTS!!! I was thrilled about school starting and to see what this college thing was truly all about. It was/is great. I love my classes and have met so many neat people.

PHEW>>> well, there is the catch up. I will try to stay updated from now on. 

With Love,

Lauren