Long Time, No Blog!

Hello family and friends, it has been quite some time since I have last sent out an update/posting...since before Thanksgiving in fact...so of course, things have happened...

I have taken some time over the past few weeks trying to play catch up...So if you want to, have fun and browse, otherwise, I just want you all to know that I hope you are well!

Just for a quick update, I am having the best semester of my career. My students are respectful, honorable, enjoyable, and best of all, quiet! Although, I did have to threaten today to my last block class that they did not want to meet Ms. D from the fall semester. They got quiet pretty quickly, I guess I built a reputation for myself last semester...the teacher who yelled a lot! :)

Since school is going well, I find that I am much more at ease and at peace this semester. I am staying busy as always with school, Collaborators, apostolate, sports leagues, catching up with friends, visits home, trying to consistently run, and working on spiritual resolutions.

To my family, I miss you dearly. To my friends across the country, I hope all is going well!

Love to you all,

Lauren

My Godsons

God is good not only because He has blessed me with two handsome Godsons, but also because their birthdays are close together, so I can't forget them! (Just kidding!)

Happy Birthday to Ben, my eldest! (March 7th)

Happy 1st Birthday to Issac, my youngest! (March 10th)

I love you two!

Lenten Reflections

Here are just a few [random] passages that have struck me this Lenten Season. I find myself often reflecting on how much God loves us, and yet how much I fail to recognize His Love (or take it for granted), and His will in my life, and how much Joy I can have knowing that He is mine and I am His. This is true for all of us. Remember, let yourself be loved and known by Him who died so that we may live.

"Nothing is ever quite what we anticipated. There is the interplay of circumstances on our desires. It makes known to us what is God's will for us; and so we give up in our desires what does not fit in with God's plan for us, content to do as He wishes."

~Father Bede Jarrett, O.P.

"With my thoughts, feelings, emotions, and passion, I was constantly away from the place where God had chosen to make home. Coming home and staying there where God dwells, listening to the voice of truth and love, that was, indeed, the journey I most feared because I knew that God was a jealous lover who wanted every part of me and all the time. When would I be ready to accept that kind of love?...God showed me the way...to return home and to look for God where God can be found--in my own inner sanctuary."

~ Henri J.M. Nouwen, The Return of the Prodigal Son

"

To those who turn to him today, Jesus continues to offer healing and strength. I encourage all of you to place your trust in him, and to bring before him your hopes and your needs, for yourselves and for your loved ones. May the Lord grant your prayers and pour out upon all of you his abundant blessings."

~Pope Benedict, following Angelus on 2.15.09

“For now I just want you to be with me and discover that…I am good, and I desire only what is best for you. You cannot find that through guilt or condemnation or coercion, only through a relationship of love. And I love you.”

~The Shack

"The New Testament has lots to say about self-denial, but not about self-denial as an end in itself. We are told to deny ourselves and to take up our crosses in order that we may follow Christ; and nearly every description of what we shall ultimately find if we do so contains an appeal to desire. ... Indeed, if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires, not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about...when infinite joy is offered us... We are far too easily pleased."

~The Weight of Glory, C.S. Lewis

Sasha and Chris' Wedding

The day had finally arrived! Sasha and Chris got married! We had a wonderful weekend of fun! Sasha was gorgeous and Chris was handsome with excitement!

[For those who don't know, Sasha and I went to high school together, but became reacquainted my last year at KU upon her arrival to Lawrence. God is good!]

Sasha and Chris' wedding provided an opportunity for my two worlds to collide. Here is a picture of Sasha and my high school friends who made it in town for the wedding!

St. John Bosco, Pray for us!

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Conrad!

Sasha's Bachelorette

Sasha was soon to be getting married, so of course we needed to celebrate! We started off the evening with a happy hour at a local wine bar, we then migrated to adoration to spend some time with her and our friends before the Blessed Sacrament. We prayed in thanksgiving for her relationship with Chris and for their marriage and family. This then was followed by an evening of fun and conversation back at my place where two of my friends set up a lovely array of Sasha's favorite things! Here are a few pics of the evening...


enough said...

Promises

As I have been alluding to within previous posts, my formal commitment to the Collaborators of Your Joy, as a promised Family member the Apostles of the Interior Life, came to fruition on January 1st, on the Solemity of Mary Mother of God . This was a great day of joy and peace. A day that offered the opportunity to formally commit my life to prayer and zeal for souls. A day to share with family and friends, and a time of thanksgiving to God for placing me on this journey in life.

I know I have many reflections from this day, but to be completely honest, there has been no notable change in what I have felt or what I have experienced other than I know that I received a grace for commiting to this promise, and I hope to see the fruit of it within my prayer, within my relationships, and within my intimate relationship with Christ.

I want to thank you all for your prayers and support. Please continue to ask me questions about what this promise means in my life. I have found that it seems so natural that I often do not share about it. So please, if you are curious, just ask!

One of the greatest moments this day was sharing this with my mom, dad, stepmom, stepdad, grandma, my two aunts, and uncle who traveled their way westward. To those of you who could not make it, you were certainly there in spirit!

Congratulations to my fellow AVI Family members. It is my joy and honor to share this journey and experience with each one of you!

Fr. Steve Sotiroff

Promises of the Family of the Apostles of the Interior Life (AVI)

January 1, 2009

St. James Academy, Lenexa, KS

Some of the Apostles of the Interior Life

Our supporters

Sr. Susan, first Apostle of the Interior Life

Dad and I

Newly Promised with the Apostles

Some of the women in my small group

My Wichita friends, Aubrey and Jessica

My aunt and Godmother, Aunt Robyn

Mom and I


Mi Familia! Mom, Aunt Lynn, Aunt Robyn, Uncle Paul, Tom, and Grandma


My role model who knows all :)



Francine, thanks for being an amazing photographer! I am sorry I did not get a picture with you!


God Bless!

New Year's 2009

This is the second year that I brought in the new year with the young adults at the New Year's eve bash. This year the dance and evening was held in an art loft in the art district of Kansas City. The night was filled with dancing, conversations, drinks and celebration. Although New Year's is probably one of my least favorite "holidays" of the year, I really enjoy celebrating with this crowd!

Sasha and Carrie, our awesome organizers!

The dancing

The conversation

Sarah, Katie, and me

Mitzi, me, and Sarah

Anne Marie and me

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

This was a unique year for Christmas. It crept upon me quickly and so I did not quite feel the Christmas spirit, but it was a beautiful Christmas regardless. As a I previously shared, my Grandpa Carmody passed away the Monday (Dec. 22nd) before Christmas. Though Christmas day was different without him, we all knew he was celebrating with us in Spirit and having the best Christmas of his life, with Jesus Christ! So to honor grandpa, all of the grandchildren received harmonicas! That was sure a beautiful arrangement of music played at once :)

The start of many Christmas meals shared with my family...I celebrated Christmas over several days....in fact, on six different occassions! But it is a great way to spend time with family and friends and to celebrate the birth of Christ.

Dinner at Mom and Tom's Christmas Eve

Christmas Showbiz: Every year we have a "poem" contest. Here was our contribution.

Over the holidays I spent time with all of my siblings, my aunts, uncles, cousin, neices, nephew, grandparents, and friends...

Rylie

Nathan

Ashley

Robyn with Ashley

Lori with sleeping Rylie

Ami and Scott

Dad and Francine

Then there was a little wii action...I only wish I could post the video footage!

Then to end the time in St. Louis, I went out to breakfast with some of my old friends from high school...my dear kirkwood girls!