Hello world.

My mom is taking a trip to the keys this weekend, so I'll be at my dads until some time next week. It's a shame I didn't get to see Scotto's family yesterday. This week has been a little rough for me with school and college applications and a countless number of other things. But I'm confident I'll be able to make it through. I just have to take things one step at a time. One breath at a time.

Change is on the horizon.
Do you see it rising?

I have come to the quiet realization that....

God is holding my hand in every step I take.
It's a good feeling.

I thought I had been running towards God alone all this time, but I was so wrong. He was already here with me running the race with me, holding on to my hand and never letting go.

He is the source.
He is the path.
He is the destination.

Alpha and Omega.
The beginning and the end.

And everything in between.

What I want to do for the rest of my life.

walkinginchrist., originally uploaded by NianaMarie.

Yesterday was the most fun I've had in a very long time. I had my first semi-official photoshoot with Sofie and Andrew and the shots all turned out SO great. This was one of my favorites. You can view the rest of the pictures here! Enjoy!

Please go have a look and let me know what you think!

I'm sorry.

Questioning.

I love to question my life. I always find myself feeling comfortable in a situation, and then one question is raised that shakes my world completely. I love it. For example, tonight I was asking myself whether I am actively seeking God's glory, or if I'm just going through the motions and waiting for God to show me what He's got. Granted, things are never going to go on according to my agenda; it's all up to Him. But am I presenting my situations in life, my circumstances to God and saying, "Here, it's Yours. Make it a miracle!"? If I'm not, I'm only holding myself back from seeing what God can truly do. Here God. Here's my life. Make it Your miracle.

I had dinner with Scotto's family tonight. They really are some of the most amazing people I know. I don't know what I'd do without them. Next time I'm over, we're having a little game night type thing. It should be fun! And, I've got one thing checked off my list of things to do this week. I dropped off Chris' hoodie. He'll be able to stay warm for the winter now. :)

I worked on college application stuff today too.

I'm doing quite well.

:)

This is my lunch table.

Andrew: So, I was at church one day and the priest was telling us this thing that we do before confession and...
Laurel: Wait!--you're catholic?!
Andrew: Yeahh...
Laurel: *HIGH FIVE!!* I hate catholics!!!


Granted, she was kidding.
But it was still hilarious.
It's a good thing both of them are really open-minded and comfortable with that kind of stuff.

Hush baby, don't you cry for me.

This weekend has been SO incredible! All week my days have been filled with excitement and life. It seems to be never-ending! Friday night I went to babysit Brian Carlton’s girls and had more fun with them than I had in a really long time. We ate pizza and played Sorry… I haven’t played that game in years! They managed to get me to play dress up with them, and they did my hair and we danced around to Camp Rock songs for a good 20 minutes. It was the most adorable thing. Homecoming Saturday was far more fun than I expected it to be. I made some awesome friends and got to spend some time with amazing people that I haven’t been able to spend time with in a very long while. I feel like life is finally beginning to come together. I don’t think my world could be more perfect right now. (Save for the C I have in history right now.) Things are really looking up. :)

As far as music goes, I've been listening to nothing but John Mayer, A Denver Mile, Matt Hires, etc. lately. (And Hillsong of course, but I'm always listening to them.) But I broke my acoustic streak today. Burden of a Day will be playing at Journey Fest with a few other bands like Regret and Forgive Again and Patriarchs so I’m pretty excited about that. Josh Coleman and I will be heading up there to Brooksville, possibly with Kaleb and Sara as well. It should be a good time. :)

Why do I end every paragraph with a smiley face?
I’m too happy sometimes.

Hopefully I'll be able to have dinner at the Scotto's again this week. I love that family SO MUCH! They are honestly so fun to be around. Even if I don't get to have dinner with them, I have to stop by there sometime so they can send Chris his hoodie. I've held on to it for almost a week now and he needs it. :P

So, here's my list of things to do this week:

• Get my history grade up to a B.
• Drop off Scotto's hoodie.
• Get my RETREAT money in!!
• Pray for Moe's to call me back. (I need a job terribly)

Sounds like a good week to me! Retreat this weekend is going to be simply amazing. I get to leave with the band early, so that will be a new experience for me. I cannot wait to see the wonderful things God does in Apex and Emerge. It will be one of the most life-changing moments some of these kids have ever experienced. I'm pumped. For life.

With one voice we'll sing.

Today was interesting. This whole week has been interesting. Spirit week is always interesting. I wish I had pictures of all the great outfits I saw. Monday was Disney day, so I dressed up as Esmeralda from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Some people recognized me right away, but apparently that movie was a bit less liked than all the typical Disney princess tales. Today was probably the most fun day this week. For class day it's a tradition for seniors to dress like Tacky Tourists, and it's beautiful. People walk around the halls with inflatable rafts and intertubes, in the commons area this morning people were sitting around the senior stage in beach chairs just hanging out. It was priceless. You can never go wrong as a tacky tourist. :)

The weather seems to be getting nicer every day. This morning I walked out in my ridiculous khaki shorts and had to hurry to my car because of how cold it was. It was spectacular! And the chill returned tonight as the sun was setting. I love to see the passing of the seasons.

I am feeling really good about where this year is heading. I seem to really be getting a handle on school. My grades now are better than they have been in a long time, and I've been looking at a few other colleges aside from Southeastern that I'm planning to apply to. What's the harm in broadening your horizons a little bit?

God is working miracle after miracle.
Keep your eyes open or you might miss one.