Time for a breath

You may not care, but I'm going to tell you anyway. Besides, if you are reading this I assume you care a little bit. First of all, I passed my test on Friday! I was able I take it in the morning and celebrate that evening with my ward's annual vegetable derby. It is one of our favorite traditions and we look forward to it every year. Blake took second place using a yucca root. Second, I am being released (insert dramatic fist pump!) from being the ward choir accompanist. Happy day. Does this mean I still have to go sing in the choir? We'll see :)


 I will officially be released after Easter as I committed to perform that Sunday. I was able to go to dinner with Mandy on Saturday! She was in town for a work expo and I was so nice to see her. Sometimes you just need to talk with and old friend. It was the perfect evening spent at downtown Disney.

 I have two weeks until my next semester starts. I loving school but this break couldn't be better in timing.

forever friends

these beautiful ladies have a special place in my heart.

each one of them.

together, we have been through all sorts of things.

and, together, we will continue to go through life.

even though we may not always live close--

i can count on them for anything.

everyone deserves at least one friend they can call anytime,

one that would drive 700+ miles to visit you,

a friend that, even though you haven't seen each other in 1.5 yrs, loves you just the same.

someone who helps you study or one that can make you laugh when all you want to do is cry.

lucky me--i have many!

i love all of you girls!

miss you like crazy.

come visit, ok?

{katie i swiped this picture. it is a great one!}

together

photo via

the clouds reached across the sky, trying to catch me in their whispy grasp.

i turned the other way and ran as fast as i could--

until i reached you.

you said we would face them together.

they grew angry and dark, growling and taunting us.

but the sun was on our side,

and we walked away victors.

hand in hand.

together.

happy v-day blaker

enjoy the now

photo via

note to self:

amid the stress and tears,

there is beauty in the now.

if you need help remembering,

notice the sun coming through the blinds

as you lie in bed before the alarm goes off.

with the windows rolled down, listen to the wind

wisper through the palm tree and the tips of your fingers.

feel your heart pound and the sweat run down your face as you run.

love the time you have to study. after all, you only have a year and a half left to go.

take a deep breath before your test. say a prayer. smile as you take the paper.

what do you do to relax and finish all you need to do?

learning to say no

i, like most people in my cutlure, have a problem of saying "yes".

even if means i give up my time to make dinner.

or eat dinner.

or work out.

or study for my extrememly important test coming up.

i'm not sure why i continue to say "yes".

it always brings me to tears.

lots and lots of tears.

so, instead of being roped into playing pinochle with

a friend and her 93 year old grandfather,

or playing the organ

 (wth=what the heck. i have NEVER played the organ in my life!)

on sunday,

or being called as the ward choir pianist,

which i can't commit to anyway because of clinicals

my answer will now be "no".

let me practice a little bit.

"Laura, would you teach the lesson for me this week?"

no.

"Could you speak at a fireside on sunday?"

no.

no.no.no.no.no.

(sigh)

p.s. sorry blake. "NO" also means no more tears. 

1.28.12

saturday should have been a study day--

a day to catch up on reading and a test or two.

what did i do instead?

why go to the beach, of course.

{thank goodness Blake finally had a saturday off!}

january+california=bliss

p.s. are you on instagram?

you should be.

follow me @ laugawood

Sometimes it's hard

photo via

Sometimes it's hard to understand things, to imagine them.

Events in history seem to be stories from a familiar book.

Those who have gone before us seem like characters from a fairytale.

Sometimes it's hard to give them the respect or admiraiton they deserve.

They were alive and breathing, heart pumping, muscles flexing, minds racing, hands touching.

Hands touching my hands.

Heart loving my heart.

Mind wondering about my mind.

Now my mind searches in the far away corners.

Looks in the faces of strangers in a crowd.

Unrecognizable--so what am I looking for?

A certain something, of course.

Sometimes it's hard to understand why.

Or how.

Or when.

Sometimes it's hard to know that they know more than you will know.

Sometimes it's hard to look in their faces and not feel anger and jealousy.

Sometimes it's hard to think about not thinking about it. 

Sometimes it's hard.

think and thank

"Years ago in LA, an old woman walked into the ER.

Doctor gave me orders to start an IV.

As I was looking for a vein to start it,

I couldn't help but notice some numbers tatooed on her forearm.

'Why would an old lady have numbers tatooed on her arm?'

For a moment I stopped, realizing who she was, what she was--

what those numbers were, what they meant.

'It's ok honey', she said, 'It was a long time ago. I'm fine now'."

photo via

story by my lab professor

homework

it's hard to focus on oxygenation and acid-base balances

when your backyard looks like this:

ok people--i need study tips.

what do you do to focus?

December 2011

i know, i know.

it's late--really late.

but i simply could not update my blog while spending time with our families in Utah.

so here is a quick recap of our December.

-i studied and passed my Pharmacology final {my first final at WGU!}

-tried to clean, shop and pack for our trip to Utah

-Blake and i celebrated our {can you believe it?} 2 year anniversary

 we take turns planning it each year

{this year was my year} 

so, i sent Blake a formal invitation to dinner at a surprise location 

with instructions to "dress up".

{dress up as in business casual. Blake hates dressing up but i insisted}

i had him drive us to South Coast Plaza where we went to dinner at Seasons 52.

{please hit up this restaurant if you come to OC}

every meal there is under 475 calories, is super healthy, and delicious!

this is the only picture we took in December. 

sad, i know. but i'll be better at taking pictures this year.

Utah Trip:

-shopping

-family

-lots of food

-BYU basketball

-cold cold COLD

-Huntsville, sleigh ride, Stanta

-family

-Christmas Day

-Mario

-chasing niece and nephews

-helicopters

-bowling

-family

-24 hour flu

-Nerts with Katie, Jeff, Mandy and Kevin

-breakfast with the Stokers

-gluten free everything!

we were spoiled in so many ways.

except there was no snow aka NO SNOWBOARDING.

did it ruin my trip.....almost.

Utah, we'll be back in about 6 months. 

please don't have snow then.