Music to my ears....

I listen to music... pretty much all the time. I listen all day at work... I listen when I am at home, in the car, cleaning. Whatever I am doing, usually music is on. I usually listen to Pandora Radio on my laptop or from my cellphone where I have created a variety of stations with everything from country, to pop, classic rock, and contemporary christian and praise. If you have never used Pandora before, it is amazing and you should try it!!! It is an Internet radio station that you type in a song, artist, or group and it will play their music plus music that is similar in topic, rhythm, beat, etc. So good! You can give songs thumbs up and thumbs down to tailor the station to your wants! Its very cool!

Anyways. One of the stations I created and listen to most is my Travis Cottrell station. Since I heard Travis perform at a Beth Moore Living Proof Live event a few years ago, I have been hooked! I have had the station long enough that it is pretty tailored to what I want and like. So I thought I would share some of the songs that have really hit home for me and remind and help me focus and praise my Lord. Some of these artists are incredibly talented and their song's lyrics are simply wonderful!



I thought I would post some song titles, artists, and the chorus of each song so you can see what I am talking about! Here are a few of my favorites (oh and they are not in order... just my favorites right now)

1. Point of Grace Heal the Wound

Chorus :
Heal the wound but leave the scar
A reminder of how merciful You are
I am broken, torn apart
Take the pieces of this heart
And heal the wound but leave the scar

2. Selah I will Sing of My Redeemer

Chorus:
I will sing of my Redeemer
Lift my voice to praise my Lord
Ransomed by His blood and mercy
I am His forevermore

3. Casting Crowns Somewhere in the Middle

Somewhere between my heart and my hands
Somewhere between my faith and my plans
Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves
Somewhere between a whisper and a roar
Somewhere between the altar and the door
Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more
Somewhere in the middle you'll find me


My favorites change regularly.... pretty much as often as the songs change. So. I will try to keep updating my blog with new good songs!

Bit of an update....

In the beginning of the summer I had so many plans and things to do with all the "free time" I was going to have away from school. Needless to say, much of those things have not gotten done but I have had one of the best summers of my life, if not the best summer of my life.

I spent most of June working on research stuff for work and studying for the LEED exam when I was not at work. June was also when we went to Blowing Rock for our annual family vacation. It was a great week of relaxing!!! The weather was spectacular. My dad had to be out of town for the first few days, so it was great for my mom and I to get some great mother/daughter time in. She and I did lots of things together, but one night for dinner, we went to my favorite restaurant of all time so that made it extra special! That night I also had one of the best meals I have ever had!!! At the end of the week, one of my great friends from grad school came up for the weekend. She is from Texas, so she had never been up to the mountains of the east coast. It was fun to go up on the Blue Ridge Parkway, see the Cone Manor, and of course eat at some of the great restaurants around town! One night we went all out and had dinner downtown at Bistro Roca and then went to Gamekeeper (my favorite restaurant mentioned above) for dessert and drinks. It was great to have her up there and a fun way to end my vacation!

After that week, I really had to buckle down and really cram for the LEED exam. Leading up to the exam I was really nervous as I had been taking practice exams and not doing very well. The night before the exam, I had studied all I knew to study and could recall the information, but still did not do well on the exam. When I crawled into bed, I prayed and told God it was up to him because I had done all I could do. The next day, I had a weird peace about the exam. I went, took it, and not only did I pass, but I got 100% on one of the sections!!! I am glad I studied for and took the exam, but it is one thing I am VERY happy to have behind me!

The next weekend was the weekend of the 4th of July. We celebrated the 4th with family and friends. We also celebrated my dad's 60th Birthday! It was a special day since it was not too long ago, his doctors said he probably would not make it that far!

After the 4th it was back to reality and back to work. I have thoroughly enjoyed working this summer. I only worked about 30-35 hours a week and with great people. It was a fun environment to work in and there was a real camaraderie amongst the group! While I was happy to be finishing work last week, it was also somewhat sad that this great group of people that I spent my days with was moving on. Luckily most will still be in Clemson for the school year with a few of the recent grads opening the next chapter of their lives!!

This week I am enjoying a few days at home in Columbia/at the lake house with my family as well as seeing Debbie and the kids. Thursday morning I will head back to Clemson to celebrate Lindsay's graduation. She has been such a great roommate, I hate to see her leave and move, but I am so happy and proud of all that she has accomplished!

Then, the big, unexpected trip of the summer, starts Monday. Monday I leave for EUROPE!!! I will only be gone about 10 days, but it will be a great trip and a great opportunity. I am going with Lindsay T, the friend of mine who came to the mountain house for part of our vacation. She was awarded a HUGE honor of an AIA/AAH Fellowship. So, some of the award covers travel for her to go study and do research. So, I am tagging along with her for the ride! We will spend half the trip in the UK and half the trip in the Netherlands. We will visit London and Oxford in the UK and then Deventer and Gronigen in the Netherlands. It should be a great, once-in-a-lifetime trip and I am super excited about it! I will be sure to do a post with pictures from our trip!

I get back the night before school starts, so I will have to hit the ground running and ready for the crazy semester that lays ahead. I have faith that it will be a good semester and that I will be prepared and ready for whatever comes my way! I am excited of all that is happening right now in my life. I can honestly say that I am happier than ever before and just excited about life!

Here are several pictures from all the adventures!!!

Last night at the lake... gotta love the sunsets off the dock!

Sarah Boyd on Saturday night! She is almost walking and is now9 months old!

Laura, LEED AP

Yay! I just finished (well about an hour ago) taking the LEED Exam. It is a crazy exam that has way too information to know/memorize for it. BUT I am happy to say, I passed the exam and I am now, officially, a LEED Accredited Professional! I am very happy to have that one behind me!!!

Sarah Boyd's Baptism

A few weeks ago we celebrated Sarah Boyd's baptism. It was a wonderful day full of family and friends. She was baptized by one of the pastors at the church my mom, dad, sister, and I are members at. The pastor who baptized her grew up at our church and is only a year older than my sister, so it was special that someone we have known for so long... probably 20+ years. After the service, everyone was invited back to my sister's house for brunch. My sister cooked shrimp and Grits (and kielbasa for those who did not eat shrimp), asparagus, a salad, and then cake and french silk pies for dessert. I would guess that close to 40 or 50 people where there. It was great to see how many people were there to support Sarah Boyd and to be there as she grows and gets older. Here are a few pictures from the day! (Thanks to family friend Linday Heyward who took pictures of the day!)

Mr and Mrs Rice....

Saturday April 4, 2009, 6pm.

Do you know what that is?

That is when my best friend became Mrs. Channing Hefner Rice, beloved wife of Mr. R. Blake Rice Jr.

Growing up, my sister and I were raised with two other girls, Channing and Megan. Our parents began sharing a nanny before Channing and I were even an inkling in our mothers eyes. Megan is about a year younger than my sister, but since my mom took a year off with her, they both needed a nanny about the same time. Plus, since Megan was adopted and my parents thought they could not have any more children, the Hamm's and Hefner's decided it would be best for the two "big girls" to share a nanny so they would always have each other. Well, about 3 years later, "the babies", which we are still affectionately called, were born. Channing is about 4 months older than me, but she did come 3 months early. The 4 of us grew up together. We are more like sisters and than just friends. We love each other unconditionally and share a special bond.

This weekend Channing married an amazing man who we have gotten to know well over the past 6 years. It is very clear how much he loves her and is devoted to her. We are so happy for both of them and cant wait to see their love grow more and more over the many years to come!

Channing and Blake- We love you and we hope your honeymoon is wonderful! Blake, we are so happy you have joined the family, and Channing- there is no better man for you than Blake!

Love, Lolly


PS... I know I have to include pictures! Channing was absolutely beautiful!!! (She always is, but her wedding was so spectacular!) The wedding was at Port Royal in Hilton Head. The ceremony was on the croquet lawn and then the reception was at the clubhouse that over looks the croquet lawn and golf course. It was gorgeous and then weather was perfect!

The Croquet Lawn where the ceremony took place. The wedding was at

6, so the sun was just starting to set as the ceremony was going on,

so the lighting was spectacular!

My mom and the Mother of the Bride (aka Ms. Lana) before the ceremony.

My mom and Sarah Boyd before the ceremony. SB is wearing the dress Channing gave her for Christmas to wear to the wedding! She also gave her the tights and a cute pair of shoes, but the shoes were too big!

Mr. and Mrs. R. Blake Rice, Jr. coming up to the club house...

Yay! They did it!

The Horne Family just after the service. My bro-in-law, Chad, my sister, Kristen, and my niece Sarah Boyd!

Blake, Channing, my sister and Ms. Linda. Ms. Linda the wonderful lady who took care of the 4 of us! She is still an active part of our lives, for which we are all grateful!

Leaving for their honeymoon.. well sort of. They spent the night in HHI and then left for their honeymoon the next morning!

Totally Blessed

I have nothing to say, but that I am totally blessed. I have a family who loves me unconditionally, better friends that I deserve or could ask for, a life that I love, I working towards living my dream. God is Good and has totally blessed me!

Life

I have not gotten on here in a while to update... but life is Grand. School is going well and I got to spend last weekend in Columbia for a bridal shower for one of my best friend's and then got to spend ALL day Monday with my niece. Needless to say, I am sooooo totally in love with her! I thought I would put some pictures here for EVERYONE to see just how precious she is!

Tummy Time

Hanging out in the crib my Bro-in-law made her.... I had just stripped her down to her sweet pink diaper because she had a projectile episode on me and her. So I was changing her clothes....She just looked so sweet i had to take a picture! She did get frustrated when her animal got stuck to the Velcro of her cloth diaper. She made some funny faces trying to get it loose!

Our little photo shoot in the front yard. She smiles all the time except when she is chewing on her fingers because she is getting her first tooth!

Smiley baby!

Grandpa Steve is totally in love and came over while I was watching her to see her. They were singing and talking to each other here!