Christmas Day

It's Christmas and I'm going to go over to Eric and Kathy's house shortly but I wanted to write a bit first. This year has been productive and also a time of learning... so much learning and growing! I have finished a major project, I have learned how to do something that I love and have a strong passion about, I have met new friends and become more involved with my church, and have grown in character as well. There were so many times of weakness that I could say over-road the good, but I will say that looking back: the good that came out of this year is far more valuable and amazing than anything bad that happened. God has blessed this year and I pray that he blesses next year even more. He has given me a job and responsiblilities that have encouraged and enticed me to be more mindful of responsibility- I have not yet found Mr. Right, but I am so much more willing to be picky and take Adriana's advice: '...it may just have to be a divine appointment, Laura- He has to set things up: stop trying to set it up yourself...' The ministry has started and will be official in January; School is done and my work is going to hire me; I have a car that runs and has not been in an accident; I am making enough money to live at the moment; I am learning how to not gossip or put down people who are being attacked; I am finding people that I love dearly to be my family, my group, my bosses at work, my leaders at work, etc. Thank you, God, for a perfect 2004- thank you for teaching me things and for loving me through my weaknesses- I pray that you continue to be next to me and bless this upcoming year- I pray that you can use my work and use my words to bless your name, and I pray that this divine appointment will be from you .... Thank you.

It's been a while

It's been a while since I have slowed down enough to write. I finally have graduated... I take the board exams in January... very excited about that. The Christmas party at Carol's was fun and the blind date ended up being a lot older than I had expected and totally not my type- he's into musicals and honestly, I have the smallest to none interest in anything like that. The party was fun- Carol has a gorgeous (and very huge) house- cute little dog (Mitsy) and many wonderful friends that I chatted with. Carol will be devistated when I tell her that I'm not going to call this guy back... his parents were so spectactular, though! (I went over to their house to hang out first- have a drink and got a full tour of thier house- beautiful! They are self made people who are honest, thoughtful and hospitable- so wonderful.
Work is going okay- I am talking with Tammy again although I really have no interest to ever hang out with her- we don't like the same places, I don't have any children, and there is an age gap of 9 years that we're dealing with. I don't want to go out again to those bars, so why would we hang out?
School was wonderful up until the very end- I will miss going every day, but I am looking forward to the future very much- I do have something on my mind however that involved two nights ago (I hung out with Josh) who told me that he loved me (YIKES) and I went out even though I have stopped going out all together becasue I love the new ministry (by the way- Rich and Liz have joined the leadership team with Zack and I) butI made a mistake that I am very concerned about- I pray that it all works out the way I am seriously hoping it will: I don't love JOsh and I don't love the fact that he told me that and I am angry that I got close to someone again and deceived them into thinking that they care about me that way- I can be so careless and reckless sometimes! These are actually people's lives that I'm dealing with- not recreational items. I have so far to go and so much to learn.
I saw a movie the other day (The Last Samauri) that really held my attention- the Japanese culture is so beautiful- their art, clothing, social graces, history, and everyday living amazes me- I would love to go there some day- just to meet and mingle with that culture would be such an experience!!