Again long time no post!

Well, I have waited so long between postings again. But I have a good reason because I have been busy looking for a new job! I really feel like my heart is with preschoolers with special needs. So that led me to quit my job in the Birmingham metro area and begin to look for another one. I have an interview next week in south Alabama and I am excited (and nervous!). I keep reminding myself that God orders my steps and if that is where I am spposed to be it will work out. If not, there is another job out there for me. I have also applied for a preschool special education job in my hometown in north Alabama. I am waiting for a screening interview with them. I know that God will work it all out and I am working hard on trusting Him daily. :)

Long Time No Post

I have been so busy with school that I have not had time to update. My sister had sweet baby Ally Elizabeth on September 2 at 6:05 pm. She weighed 7 lb 5 oz and was 20 inches long. I have seen her about 4 times since her birth and she is just precious! I will post pictures when I get my computer working. It has been at Best Buy so much lately and it is so frustrating not having my own computer. I have come close to throwing it out the window several times! :) Anyways, I will write more when I post pictures of Ally and the baby shower that I hosted in July for my sister.

Rick and Bubba

I got to go sit in a "Golden Ticket" seat and watch/listen to Rick and Bubba on my 29th birthday! This started last fall when I thought it would be fun to try and go for my dad's 60th birthday. Well, that did not work out, but we got tickets for my birthday! My parents came down and got up early to go with me. It was so much fun and they are hilarious. They come over during the breaks to talk to the guests. We went to Brio for dinner and I had the lasagna, only ate about half! We also stayed at Ross Bridge here in Birmingham! I love that place and cannot wait to go back! The next day we went to downtown Homewood did some shopping and ate lunch at O'Carrs. I heart their chicken salad and fruit plate!

Trip to Austin!

I have been so busy! I hope to post every day to "catch up." I went to Austin for my summer "vacation." I left Birmingham on June 25th and came back on July 4th. I had a great visit with several friends! I stayed with one of my former co-workers. She had a her 4th girl in December and she is precious! Her sisters are all a big help to their mom. We went swimming in a city pool that I never went to when I lived there. Then, we went to lunch at Waterloo Ice House and I had chicken soft tacos. They were good, not as great as Chuy's, but good. Speaking of Chuy's, they are opening one in Nashville close to Cool Springs! I am SO excited because Tennessee is a lot closer than Texas! :) I cannot wait to go and eat some creamy jalepeno ranch with tortilla chips! On Wednesday July 1st, I left Austin to head to Dallas. The 3 years I lived in Texas, I never once went to Dallas. I visited other major cities there, but never Dallas. I decided to stay at the Westin Dallas Galleria. I knew I would want to shop and did not want to have to drive all over Dallas! I had a great time shopping and got several things at a store called Lush. I love that store! I also got some baby clothes for my future niece at the Pumkin Patch. Such a cute store. Then, Thursday morning I enjoyed having breakfast from La Madeleine out by the pool. I wanted to go swimming, but my suit was in my car. I really enjoyed the Westin and am going to stay there if when I go back to Dallas! I made it to my grandparents house in Mississippi on Thursday evening. My parents came in to Pearl and we celebrated the 4th with them. I told my friends in Texas that Austin is going to be my vacation spot each summer! I LOVE Texas and all that it has to offer!!!

Update

Hello to the 2 people that might be reading this blog! ;) I got to see my sister this past weekend and got to feel baby girl kick. It was AMAZING! God is great and I cannot wait to meet baby girl! I am so excited for my sister and brother-in-law.....they are going to be great parents! I am also hosting a baby shower for her in Auburn and am trying to finish planning and getting all that figured out!

I am planning my trip to Austin to visit old friends. I am leaving next week and will be back after the 4th. I am staying with a friend out there that I used to work with. She had a baby in December and I am excited to meet their 4th baby girl. On my way there, I might get to see my friend A and her 2 kids. They are 2 years old and 10 months old. I cannot wait to eat some Tex-Mex and see old friends!

I am enjoying my summer and have most all of my school stuff in my new classroom. I have not set up anything yet, but at least I have all my stuff out of the apartment!

~Lauren

School's out for Summer!

I completed my 7th year of teaching about 1 week ago! Next year I am going to be at a new school and teaching a different age group. I am a little nervous about this because I have been teaching 3-5 year olds for so long. However, I know that God is guiding my steps and there is a purpose for me teaching another grade/age!

I have already spent a week in my hometown and got to attend my cousin's high school graduation. She is going to school at Auburn and I am SO excited for her....she made the right choice! :)

This week I am having lunch with church friends and am going to my new school to meet with the principal about my kiddos next year. Pray that it goes well!

Wanted To Do This For a While...

Hello! I have wanted to start a blog since late last summer after becoming addicted to several very popular ones.

Let me tell y'all a little about myself! I was born and raised in north Alabama and my parents still live there. I have one younger sister who is married and lives in Auburn. After graduating from Auburn University (WAR EAGLE!!!), I moved to the Atlanta area to teach preschool special education. I taught there for 2 years and decided I wanted to move to Texas to attend grad school at UT in Austin. So, I moved over 1000 miles from my family and friends to the "country of Texas!" Once I got there I chose not to go to grad school because it was so big and overwhelming, plus I got involved with a church plant there and between teaching and church, no time for school! After 3 years of living in Texas and making some great friends, I chose to move back to Alabama to be closer to my family! Some days I really miss Texas (and Tex-Mex!), but I believe that it was the right time to move back home. I am glad to be closer to my family. God has always guided my steps and I trust that he will continue to do just that each and every day!