Out With the Old: Goodbye 2016!

Wow, well, I didn't expect it to be 11 months between blog posts.  This last year has been I-N-S-A-N-E.  When I left off, we were days away from becoming parents, and I was completely oblivious to what the rest of 2016 would bring for us.  Let's see if I can bring us up to speed here...

On February 15th (yes, I said February 15th, NOT 16th as was shared in my previous post), we welcomed our little “be-ritto,” Bennett Alexander.  He was born at 8:28 a.m., and weighed in at 8 pounds 11 ounces.  We all rested up just fine and returned home a few days later to begin our life as a family of three.   

The adjustment to parenthood (re:  HELLacious nursing experience, to hopefully be discussed here on the blog in a future post...) continued as the days warmed with the season.  I returned to work in May and Bennett began his (short-lived) adventure at daycare.  Meanwhile, Alex traded in a long season of travel with ULM Baseball for Daddy duties and home-games only.   

In June, Alex vacated his position with ULM.  Subsequently, I accepted a position with the V. (edited for privacy) Parish School Board, and thus began the process of relocating to south Louisiana.  Our home was promptly prepared for market and officially listed with an agent around mid-June.    My last day at work was July 8th.  We packed essentials and established a temporary residence at my parents' home.  Bennett enjoyed swimming in Gam and Pop’s pool, and spent many hours wearing his daddy out! 

I began my new position as an Early Interventionist/Kindergarten Special Education teacher at the end of July.  I participated in several staff development workshops in preparation for work within a Kindergarten “combo” (inclusion) class, featuring 17 students, six of which have developmental delays or other disabilities.  There are two teachers and two paraeducators serving within the classroom, and oh does it make for loads of fun!  

Bennett experienced his first airplane trip when he and Alex traveled to North Carolina to visit family and attend a friend’s wedding in September.  The boys had quite the adventure, which included sprints through the Dallas airport and a much-needed nap on the airplane afterwards.  Bennett even returned with a very special souvenir – his first tooth (at 7 months old)!  

With the start of football season this fall, Alex began freelance work with a local newspaper and nearby university.  He covered local high school games on Friday nights and spent Saturdays working for TV crews doing stats during home games for college games.  His favorite part of this new gig was experiencing the excitement that is high school football rivalries in the south.   

In October, our home in Monroe went under contract (exactly 4 months after) on the very same day an offer was made for their new home in south Louisiana.  Despite some last minute hiccups (re: very angry moments), we moved into our new home just before Thanksgiving. 

Bennett received exactly what he wanted for Christmas, his two front teeth (ha!), and we enjoyed celebrating in our very own space.  We hosted extended family for a game of Dirty Santa on New Year's Eve and spent New Year's Day at my aunt's.  Needless to say, we are (mostly) loving being near family and friends again and Bennett is a huge fan of his new stomping grounds, as he continues to master his crawling and climbing (but not sleeping) skills.

Looking ahead to 2017, we hope for a more peaceful and stable year.  We are excited to start planning Bennett's first birthday party, and my 30th is right around the corner, as well.  No doubt, Bennett will be walking, running, and jumping soon enough, and that’s plenty of activity to keep everyone busy!  

As far as blogging goes, I am hoping that I will be getting back in the saddle again now that things are sort of starting to settle down.  We still have zero decorations on the walls, as well as a patio and fence to build, all while working, taking classes, searching for jobs (Alex), and caring for Bennett...in other words, I'm not making any promises. However, I did just realize that I have two or three drafted posts that never published, so I'll try to share those before too long. 

And you...friends...I have missed you SO much.  That's one of the saddest parts about not writing for a year...missing all of you!  Please, share an update on how things are going with your family...I haven't been able to keep up with reading posts either, so I am totally in the dark here. 

What's up?!?
-Lauren

On my mind.

Alex is out at a Superbowl gathering with coworkers tonight, and I've been home doing laundry while catching up on the DVR.  There are tons of thoughts running through my mind, and while I really don't want my blog to turn in to all baby, all the time, I really just want to get some of it off my mind.  And, maybe some of you experienced ladies out there will have some wisdom to share, as well.

-This pregnancy has flown by, and for that I am grateful!  However, it's also really weird knowing that your life is about to change in huuuuge ways, but the "when" part is totally unknown.  This could be my last full week of work, or I may not even make it there tomorrow morning (very unlikely).  There's just no way to know and that's difficult to wrap my mind around!

Custom crib bedding from Etsy arrived this week!
It's not the fanciest, but I love it! 

-Baby is still measuring very much ahead of schedule size-wise, and now doctor is worried its head is positioned in a way that isn't conducive to vaginal delivery.  She's been preparing us for a while that we may end up in a induction/cesearan situation, but that's becoming more real with each passing week.  We'll have a check-up and seventh (!!!) ultrasound this coming Friday, and a decision may be made then about scheduling either one of those options (as early as 2/15...EEK!).  I really want my body to do this on its own so maybe if you feel so inclined to send up a few prayers for us....that would be great.

-So speaking of scheduling... Maybe I'm weird but I really want this birthing experience to be sacred between Alex and I.  I don't want family or friends to be hanging around the hospital or even there to meet baby immediately.  I don't want to feel rushed to progress any faster than my body and baby are ready, and I want to cherish those initial moments with our little family and no one else.  My mom has pressured me to let her in the delivery (to which I responded with a big fat NO), and while I think she has finally accepted my decision, everyone still expects to be notified as soon as I see the first signs of labor. I have no interest in alerting the masses and would really rather just tell people after it's all said and done.  Everyone (except Alex) is making me feel guilty about it but I feel super strongly about this...am I awful for feeling this way?

Jan. 28 - 36w6d
SO BIG!!

-On a related note, I also don't want people coming to visit and stay with us immediately either.  Again, maybe I'm naive, but there is one baby and two adults already...is it really necessary to have another (or more) adult around to care for one stinking infant?  I feel like that's ridiculous overkill and I realllyyyy don't understand why my mom and grandmother (Alex's mom too) are all eager-beaver about wanting to come stay with us.  It's especially weird to me as far as my mom is concerned because she is NOT a domestic person and I feel like it's totally pointless for her to plan on staying with us since she doesn't enjoy housework whatsoever.  And I won't even get started on the idea of a mother-in-law staying with us for any length of time either.  But again........maybe I'm a terrible person for feeling this way.  (Side note:  I have talked to Alex about employing Fiske's theory on How to Postpartum Like a Boss; I still don't think it requires extra adults in our house, especially since we don't have any other children to care for at the moment.)

-And if I hope for my body to bring things on naturally, then I'm open for (pleasant) suggestions on making that happen.  I keep saying I'm going to walk this thing out of me if I have to!  :)  Doc says I  made progress in one week that takes some several, so that's promising.  So walking and raspberry leaf tea (which, I know is only going to strengthen uterus and not actually bring on labor) are my mantras right now.  Yesterday, we walked 3 miles (of hills, thank you very much!) at a local park and let C.J. run around at the dog park while we were there. I was totally worn out afterwards, but no pain, no gain, they say!

I am IN LOVE with this onsie...even if baby comes after Feb. 9. 

-So if labor happens this week, we're looking at the possibility of being in the hospital for Ash Wednesday - how does that even work?  Thankfully, we're laboring at a Catholic hospital, but fasting is obviously out regardless, but can I still receive ashes?  Same for laboring over the weekend (re: communion).  And what about if it happens on a Friday (re: abstinence)?  Then there's postpartum too... I figure I can still manage meatless, but what about other Lenten observances?  Is it strange of me to even be thinking about these things?  Talk about bizarre brain functions over here....

Mmm...okay, I think that's enough for now.  There are probably several other "issues" running through my mind but I think I've unloaded enough for now.  Here's to hoping for a productive and peaceful week, on all accounts!

-Lauren

P.S.  I know for some this type of post can be uncomfortable, difficult, or just plain painful.  Please know that we recognize this and pray for those of you who may struggle with infertility (any variation thereof) and/or infant loss.  Our hearts go out to families affected by these struggles each and every day. 

Not So Brief Afterall

Hello, long lost friends.

I know it's been a while since my last post, but I just haven't had the time or energy to write.  I took off of work today and have been laying around (while doing laundry, showering, taming this mane of mine, etc...does that still count as laying around?) catching up on the DVR.  Before I head out to meet Alex for the baseball game, I thought I'd stop in and let you all know that I'm still alive.

However, it has been pretty tough around here - I want to say all the things, and nothing, all at once about that.  Instead, I'll compromise and try to be brief.

A few weeks ago (Holy Week, to be exact), I was sure that I was pregnant...as sure as sure can be without having a positive test.  It was the most ridiculously frustrating and confusing week that I can remember in a while.  Throughout it all, Alex was (mostly) out of the loop because I wanted to be able to surprise him with a fun reveal.  Thank goodness for sweet, patient, caring friends who listened and talked with me through the bizarre, insane week that it was.  I distinctly remember texting "Am I crazy?  Did I miss something (with my body)?  Did I sleep through a cycle? WHAT IS GOING ON?!?"  way too many times...Fast forward a (very loooooong) week and way too many tests (of various forms) later, sure enough it was not a pregnancy.  

To say that work is not going well for me would be a MAJOR understatement.  For the sake of protecting myself however, I can't say very much about that.  We really, desperately, even...need to get out of here.  Over two years into this and we have been more than ready to peel out for a very long time.  Again, more frustration, anger, hurt...the list goes on.

And while we're on the subject of struggles, I may as well mention that I am also still dealing with anxiety that began last August.  The last few weeks have actually been a little better in that department, but I fear this is something that is going to be a permanent fixture in my life moving forward.  It's annoying though because it inhibits my ability to do my job as well as I would like to, and I can't travel alone anymore.  ...This from the girl who used to travel all.the.time.  It's so weird to not be able to do something that was such a huge part of your life for many years.  So weird.

For whatever reason, finding answers these BIG issues is not in the cards for us right now.  I know we're not alone in struggles, but like I said before, perception is reality and that's what counts.  I'm not writing this to ask for pity or anything of the sort, but to explain my absence and ask that you keep us in your prayers.  Hopefully things will die down a little soon so I might have the chance to start writing again.

Until next time.
-Lauren

Putting the "Holy" in Holy Week

It's been a little quieter here the last week or so.  Last week was super busy at work (my head spins thinking about it), and the two posts that went out were pre-scheduled, so I've actually been more absent than it seems.  This week, my mind is otherwise occupied and thus this post serves to admit my absence and ask your patience/forgiveness.  But hey, it's Holy Week, so bare bones are expected, yes?

If you're the observing kind, I would gratefully accept any extra petitions you might offer up for me on behalf of a private intention.

"Unless there is a Good Friday in your life, there is no Easter Sunday."  - Fulton J. Sheen

For now, I think that's it.

Thanks, ya'll.
-Lauren

#s 11-15: Faith Category

I'm back for Round Three in updates for the category-by-category summary of my 20 in 14 goals list.  Click here for Goals 1-5 and Goals 6-10.

And here's the snapshot of Goals 11-15 (Faith Category):

Faith
11. Designate a person-a-day in prayer.
12. Rest in faith with practicing NFP as we TTC.
13. Receive the sacrament of reconciliation quarterly (at least).
14. Register as members of a church parish. 
15. Tithe to church (instead of non-profits) more regularly.

Overall, I think the items in this category went pretty well.  Excluding #12, the goals were very specific, and pretty typical of what would be considered S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-oriented).  Achieving these goals also didn't cost any money or require me to go outside of my comfort zone (except maybe #13).  So let's break them down:

11. Designate a person a day in prayer.  I'm really glad I included this one on my list, even if it did take longer than planned to implement.  (#oops) Click here to read a detailed summary of this experience.

12.  Rest in faith with practicing NFP as we TTC.  This is a bit of a touchy subject for us right now. Obviously we're not pregnant and we haven't moved forward with becoming a certified foster/adoptive home, but we have put thought and discussion into both.  I think one day I will write more on this topic, but for right now it just feels too personal and I'm not ready to talk about it here.  (Prayers are always welcome, however.)  Update (8/8/15):  Read here.

Designed by Kendra

13.  Receive the sacrament of reconciliation quarterly (at least).  I started out pretty well with this, and then sort of fell off the wagon.  Thinking back, I received the sacrament in March, June, September (I think), and November.  You'll notice that does include Lent, but not Advent.  One random weekend, the priest at our church gave absolution to everyone during his homily (I forget what the reason/occasion was), so that was unexpected.  But...then time totally got away from me and I didn't make to Confession during Advent.  Boo.  Now it's Lent again, so I need to make that happen sometime before Easter on April 5th...

Designed by Kendra

14. Register as members of a church parish.  I actually wrote about this back in April, asking for input on criteria for finding a "church home" (as I often hear Protestants refer to it).  Fast forward to today, we have settled on which local church will be home to us while we live here.  Mostly it came down to being located 3 minutes down the street versus almost 30, but that's neither here nor there.  These days we only attend other churches when the Mass times at our regular one don't work for our schedules.  Technically, we still haven't registered as members, but I keep telling myself to e-mail or call the office so we can figure out exactly how to go about doing that.  (A carryover for 2015, maybe?)

Just because it's funny.  (source)

15.  Tithe to the church (instead of nonprofits) more regularly.  Can I just say that I LOVE tithing?!  (Ok, maybe I'm weird?)  It's so fun to decide where to give our money too each month.  At certain times of the year, it's even more exciting to know I am supporting friends or family who have a particular cause/event that is close to their hearts.  I have gotten better about dividing the funds evenly between church and other organizations, even if that sometimes means everything goes to the church or other organization one particular month, and switches the next time.  I don't know what else to say except that I truly do get giddy feelings when writing those checks every month.  #callmeaweirdoifyouwant  :)

(source)

So there you have it, folks!  I committed to recapping 20 in 14 and it will happen!
-Lauren

#11: A Person a Day

"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about." - Wendy Mass

It's true, right?  No matter how similar your situation may be to mine, my experience and yours are totally different.  It's easy to fall into the pattern of offering advice to every person you meet, or to feel like you should be coping better with *insert situation* because so-and-so experienced the same struggle and is doing so much better than you are.  False.

"...everyone is fighting a battle you know nothing about."  Let that sink in for a minute.

The first (and one might argue, most important) way to be a better friend/spouse/employee/sibling/child is to pray - pray hard, and pray often.  For a while I have wanted to be more intentional - more specific - with my prayers.  The only idea I had on how to get better at doing that was to designate a person/group of people/specific need in prayer each day.  And to hold myself accountable, I wanted to sit down with a calendar and write something down for each day of the year.

Anyone want to guess how that worked out?  Yeah...2014 came and went and it never happened.

Cue Lent 2015 when Rosie shared her paper chain concept.  Aha - that's it!  What the perfect way and time to implement this goal I planned over a year ago.

It took us a few days (after Ash Wednesday) to sit down and write down our intentions, then assemble the chain, but we did it!  And sometimes we have to double up (re: my husband travels a lot for work) on reading the strips, but it's working and I love it.  Our prayers are so much more intentional (read: mature) than they were before and I really hope we can find a way to continue the concept long after the Lenten season ends.

Excuse the cat food and catnip-filled sock.

I'd certainly be interested in hearing how others keep the habit of making specific, intentional prayers happen in their lives.  Let me know if you have any ideas, tips, or suggestions!

-Lauren

#s 6-10: Relationships Category

I'm back for Round Two in updates for the category-by-category summary of my 20 in 14 goals list.  For Goals 1-5, click here.

And here's the snapshot of Goals 6-10 (Relationships Category):

Relationships
6. Keep a one-line-a-day journal.
7. Respond to e-mails more frequently.
8. Make an effort to reinvest in old friendships.
9. Host a girls' weekend.
10. Become a volunteer.

So how did it go?  Of all the categories on my list, I feel this one fared the worst.  Overall, I am feeling really disconnected from people these days, and it's been quite a struggle to find ways to feel loved, supported, or encouraged by people other than my husband.  For this reason, I truly mean it when I say that I have enjoyed "meeting" those of you in blogland.

6. Keep a one-line-a-day journal.  This one was really fun, and I'm glad I included it on the list.  Click here to read a detailed summary of this experience.

Victoria and Dawn, June 2014

7. Respond to e-mails more frequently.  Other than e-mails for work and those coming in response to comments I leave on other blogs, I really haven't been receiving as many e-mails (also, texts/Facebook messages, etc).  Messages related to my Jamberry business have also dropped off dramatically, but that's better left for another day.  For this simple reason, I don't have very many "outstanding" messages to contend with.  Overall, I'd still say I put off responding immediately because it generally means I'll take better care with crafting my thoughts in response to said messages.  Vague, much?

Reconnecting with Megan and Richie, July 2014

8.  Make an effort to reinvest in old friendships.  I think I started off the year doing pretty well with this; I sent several hand written cards, made regular phone calls to catch up with girlfriends, and even had a few daily Voxer  buddies. (Don't know about Voxer?  Check it out - heck, send me a message because I love that thing!)  As the year went on, these efforts fell by the wayside, on others' parts, and mine too.  A huge part of this probably has to do with some struggles I'm dealing with emotionally.  When I made this goal, I hoped that if I committed to making the effort then I might be able to work through some of those struggles and find myself happier in the long run.  I hate to say it, but I feel more disconnected than ever and I don't know if I actually want to make the effort right now.

Scrapbook pages for Kara's wedding book, July 2014

9. Host a girls' weekend.  Unless travel fork work counts (which it doesn't!), this definitely did not happen.  Back in August, I experienced my first panic attack, and that has resulted in my lack of desire or ability to do any kind of independent traveling. People are busy and getting a bunch of folks together for any length of time is really difficult at this stage of life.  A girl's weekend would be super fun (and much needed), but I just don't think it would work for me to coordinate something like that right now.  But hey - if a bunch of you show up on my doorstep next Friday night, I'll crack open a bottle of wine and we'll dig out the chick flicks...come on!

Having a ball with Jessie, August 2014

10.  Become a volunteer.  This got added to this list (again) in an effort to become more involved with the local community, hoping to build some friendships.  I was also required to start volunteering as part of my annual performance evaluation at work.  Well, as all things have gone for life here in this locale, I didn't find success in becoming a community volunteer (in the way they wanted me to) or in making new friends.  BUT, I did find a way to volunteer (and enjoy it) with Alex's work, and you can read all about it here.

Hosting Victoria and Seth, October 2014

Aaaaaaand now that we're all depressed reading about my lameness, here's a small a pick-me-up:

source

Happy Mardi Gras, everyone!  Do something fun, eat all the food, and celebrate to you heart's content!
-Lauren

Perception is Reality

I have a confession.  I've basically been avoiding this place like the plague for a few weeks now.  I wanted to post, and have been thinking about it but every time I decided to sit down and write, something else came up, or I just didn't feel like it.  It's been kind of a roller coaster of emotions for me lately, and that's never fun to write about in what is supposed to be a fun, upbeat type of place.

A little over a month ago, I posted an update about the results of my bloodwork, telling about the latest plan for having an MRI to assess the situation.  After having to reschedule, I was able to complete the MRI on Friday, August 8th, and received a call the following Wednesday from a nurse saying there was a cancellation for the next morning and the doctor wanted me to come in to discuss the results.  I was scheduled to be at a meeting an hour and a half away that Thursday, BUT...when you get that kind of call, you do what you have to do to be there.

Thankfully, Alex was able to rearrange things at work to come along in case the news was something really big.  As it turned out, I have a microadenoma on my pituitary, which is a really long way of saying that I have a benign tumor growing in my brain (on the organ that produces hormones and regulates body systems).  The "micro" (small) and "benign" (non-cancerous) parts are good, but the tumor itself is causing my pituitary to overproduce the hormone prolactin, which prevents me from ovulating, and therefore having amenorrhea (missed/irregular periods).  AHA - it all makes sense!

Anyway, I was prescribed 1.25 mg of bromocriptine, which is supposed to slow or halt the growth of the tumor, (hopefully) resulting in the resumption of ovulation and regular menstruation.  Due to some extreme warnings listed on the medication, I started taking it on a Friday night, with plans to go easy on myself over the course of the weekend.  I was scheduled to attend a conference in New Orleans starting that Tuesday and figured I could work my way back to normal activity by then.

To make a long story short(er), I experienced a panic attack while driving to New Orleans the night before the conference.  I'm calling it a panic attack, because it's the best way to describe what I experienced based on what I learned after it all happened.  All I can say is that it was the most terrifying experience and I hoped I'd never feel that way ever again.  If my friend and her husband hadn't been just 15 minutes away at the time, I'm not certain I wouldn't have been found on the side of the road unconscious...or worse.

Thanks to a team of really generous folks, several people stepped in to help me get to the conference, retrieve my car, and get both me and the car safely back home (5+ hours away) at the end of the week.  I chalked the situation up to the medicine and unfamiliar driving territory, thinking I was out of the woods and would be fine from then on.

However, exactly 10 days later, I experienced yet another panic attack.  For some reason (more familiar area, closer to an area where I could pull off, daytime, something else?), this "spell" was not as severe as the first one.  I did have to call in reinforcements once again, and was practically terrified to drive, as a result.  I even had Alex come with me to practice driving to West Monroe a few days later, and though I made it there...I didn't feel like I could drive home, so he took over after that.

Since then, the doctor agreed to allow me to decrease my dosage to 1/4 of a pill. (I was already taking 1/2 of the 2.5 mg pill, which is the smallest it comes in.)  I also managed to drive two and from work every day this week, which is a 30 minute drive, and no small feat for someone dealing with this degree of anxiety.  Fortunately, I became more confident and secure with each passing day.  I don't know if it was the decreased dosage or my ability to cope with sense of fear and anxiousness, but I'm grateful that I can at least participate in my typical routine.

I will say I asked Alex to meet me at a gas station about 10 minutes from home yesterday because severe thunderstorms caused my feelings of anxiousness to increase to the point that I didn't feel safe driving anymore....but by the time he got there, I had recovered enough to make the drive for myself with him following in the vehicle behind me.  For those of you who have never experienced anything like this, it really is hard to describe.  It's not just fear, it's the body's physical response as well.  I'm talking about a sense of impending doom, loss of control, dizziness, heart-racing, tingling hands, shortness of breath, nausea...the list goes on.  It's just awful, and I would never wish those feelings on anyone.

So thinking about writing about this has been very difficult for me.  In fact, I can feel the tears welling up as I read over what I have written here.  To some degree, I'm embarrassed, and feel like I'm crazy for even making this out to be as big as I have.  Is it psychological?  Maybe.  Is there maybe some PTSD left over from the first experience?  Maybe?  How do I fix it?  I don't know.

I do know this is something I won't be able to "fix" overnight, and it may take quite a while to work through.  It's frustrating because I have spent so much time on the road over the years, driving myself from wherever I was living at the time, home for holidays, summers, to see friends, you name it.  The thought of not being able to hop in the car and drive home for the weekend, or to help Alex make the 14 hour drive east to visit his parents...that's just totally unfair.  What about the countless days I have to travel for work, much less the times I'm supposed to be transporting kids in my car?  How's that going to work?  I just don't know.

If you're still reading, thanks for your patience; I know this was a long one.  I'd really appreciate it if you kept me in your prayers and just remember..."perception is reality."  No matter what this is, it's real for me.  Acknowledge my feelings, be patient, and let me know that it's all going to be okay...

Thanks.
-Lauren

Sh*tty City

Excuse my French.  Sorry, but that's how we currently feel about the good 'ole "Monroe Funroe."  Really, it's our frustration coming out after so many months of living here and feeling like the area has little to nothing for a young professional couple such as ourselves. 

As you all know, Alex and I moved to this area without any real connection to it.  For him, it was a step up professionally, and at a good time personally.  For me, it wasn't necessarily a choice, but one that had its promises.  Promises to bring us together forever, and promises to put me closer to home without putting me too far from my "home away from home."  For us, it was an answered prayer. 

However, to grow as a couple and flourish as individuals, we really do need the city we live in to be more than just a place to lay our heads at night.  We need to feel like this house, this neighborhood, and this city is "home," even if just for a season.  There needs to be some sort of tie to the community and it's people.  To put it simply, we need to have a life here. 

For months, we have tried to make Monroe our home.  When I say we have tried, I mean we.have.tried.  We've made efforts to turn acquaintances into friends by asking them over to our home, trying to coordinate outings, and even eluding to interest in their existing plans with others.  When we ran out of options with people we may have known previously, we looked to coworkers, and even tried to find outside groups to join in hopes of finding success there. 

At this point, we feel like we've exhausted our options.  Co-workers, neighbors, church, and community recreation (sports) leagues have not panned out like we hoped they would.  We continue to rack our brains for new and creative ideas in trying to meet people, yet we keep coming up short.  Just today, Alex told me he's ready to give up because people always seem to bail on us or our efforts fall short no matter what we do. 

I'm worried that we'll "check out" eventually and then become more jaded about this area than we already are.  Truthfully, we miss our friends and while it's nice to be in touch with those we love, it's not the same for them to be so far away when all we really want to do is have a (guys) poker night or (girls) sleepover.  In fact, the other day, I inadvertantly found myself in touchy waters when trying to have a nice girl-talk conversation with someone whom I probably haven't earned that level of friendship-status.  (Yeah, it wasn't pretty.  Insert foot in mouth...)

So anyway, instead of a pitty party, I plead for help, blog-readers.  Please offer your suggestions or tips for meeting and making friends in new places.  It might be helpful to note that this city doesn't offer community recreation leagues (can you believe that?!), nor does our church have any sort of group for young adults.  Like I said, we tried.  ...So yeah, what's a girl (and guy) to do? 

-Lauren