Sunday, September 29, 2013

RAGNAR

it was hard, it was fun, it was doing more than i thought i could. it was running farther than i thought, on less sleep than i thought i would get.  it was miserable, it was hilarious... it was RAGNAR.

what a crazy thing for 12 people to jump in the car and drive 513 miles only to then run 196.2 more. what an adventure this weekend has been! run, drive, eat, ... sleep? repeat. from saratoga springs to lake placid, new york we ran.  on roads covered with orange, red, and yellow leaves. on bridges that stretched over lakes and rivers. passed boat houses and ferris wheels. up windy canyon roads, and next to cows. we ran and ran.

i ran at 5am for my last leg, which happened to be my hardest leg. as i began the run my team cheered me on and i ventured on the unknown road. soon, i was alone in the darkness. nothing but me, my headlamp, and my legs moving beneath me.  i started to feel scared and alone, and like a bear could pop out any minute and eat me.  good thing i had running shoes one and could run away hopefully... but as i started to feel more and more scared, i looked up at the sky and gasped to see the heavens were open. i have never in all my life seen so many bright, beautiful, stars. i felt so small, like i often do when i look at the stars, but i also felt empowered.  i was doing a hard thing, alone in the darkness. but with the stars as my guide, i knew i could do it. i wanted to prove i was strong and able. and so i ran. up hills, passed farms, for over an hour until finally my team came into view. i pushed on to the very end, and slapping that bracelet onto his wrist i smiled. i did it.

we ran across the finish line together and then celebrated with free massages and pizza. we had such a fun team! wahoos your daddy baby!!!




i am so glad that i decided to do ragnar. doing hard things is part of life, and overcoming them is when life is the sweetest. sweet as a getting in a hot tub that night to soothe my sore legs:)

layt was a champ while i was gone cleaning the whole apartment, studying hard, and even having time to be the sweetest husband in the world. we had the best reunion having missed each other terribly, and i got the prettiest bouquet a girl could ask for! life is good



Saturday, September 14, 2013

Dear Charlottesville

Dear Charlottesville,
Can it only be a month since we met? It is amazing to me that even though I have never been here before, it feel like home.. Charlottesville... with all of your humidity, green trees, amazing restaurants, kind people, historic landmarks, hidden nature walks, busy downtown... you have won my heart. I am so grateful to say that I love it here. People always ask, "So, do you guys like it here so far?" My answer is always a "Yes!" But it's more than a yes I like it here. It's yes I LOVE it here. Yes this place has taken me in and helped me get over homesickness. Yes, everyday when my husband trots off to law school and I am left alone, I anxiously await what I am going to explore that day. So thank you Charlottesville for providing me with a home away from home.  Can't wait to keep exploring and learning about you for the next three years!
Much love,
Lauren



Monday, September 9, 2013

our new home

We love our little apartment. It has been so fun to decorate and set up a place that is finally ours. It has been funny to realize we need things like: salt, a stapler, power strips, and you know, just other things that make homes run.  It has been fun being a homemaker for our little apartment for two. I have had my weak moments... i.e. when I spotted the first cockroach. I screamed, got back in bed under the covers and called my mom, bawling. Am I ready for this? This... life thing?? Sometimes I wonder. Setting up the place took a long time. Longer than either of us thought. We dined in the finest place in Charlottesville with a gourmet meal a couple times...


Yep that is a laundry basket as a table. HA! But it has come together quite nicely! We got a rug, a kitchen table, and da da da DAAA! A PIANO!
Isn't she beautiful?


We are located close to the Law School, and Layton can walk to school every day. Tucked in right next to soccer fields, tracks, and the heart of campus. Since graduating college I have felt a sad and weird feeling that I would not be going back to school this fall. For the first time in my life! It helps to be a part of a college campus, to walk Layton up some lunch and be around students, and be in the mighty Virginia student section for football games. But still I struggle with the fact that I am done with school. Could I really have graduated? Am I that old and grown up? Haha the answer to that one is no, being the youngin that I am. But that's life for ya. Ending phases and embracing new ones. Completing goals and setting new ones. Now I am in a new place, working a couple jobs and unsure of my future in education. This is the time to soul search and decide what I want to do... Master's Degree? We will see.
As for Layton, I could not be more proud of him. Working and studying so hard in Law School, which is BRUTAL. I cannot believe what they put these poor students through. But of course he is handling it like a champ. I love hearing about cases and rulings, and different subjects of law.  I also love taking care of that boy, fixing dinner, and making him get outside to take a break. It is hard to be apart so many hours of the day, somedays I think I deserve a law degree too! But luckily there are plenty of girls here who are in the same boat.  It is a fun time of life. Being married, but not really settled down. Not knowing where we will be for the summers, or after he graduates. Feeling like the sky is the limit in where we could go! As long as we are together, I know we can overcome anything.