october

This month is going to be nothing shy of amazing. I am looking forward to SO many things!

First of all, I found the bedding set that I have been eyeing for about 4 months now on sale. Like over 50% off, on sale. Sold. I knew it was a great start to the month. :)

Next, an entire weekend of just me and the boy. Very rare but now that we are done with livestock until Denver, it is much, much needed.  We are going to spend time on the couch, watching football, cuddling, laughing at with each other, making dinner, and going on a date!

Flying out to Baltimore for work! I will be out there for one week this month from Sunday - Friday.  Should be fun, great to meet other's in our company, spend 5 days at our Corporate Office, and just get "away."

Celebrate my niece Arlie's golden birthday on October 7th! Can she seriously be SEVEN?! Even if I'm hundreds of miles away, Aunt LoLo will celebrate.

That is...until they come to see me for 4 days!! My mom, sister-in-law, and nieces and nephew are going to make the trip to Des Moines to spend a long weekend with me over Arlie's fall break. EEEEEEEEEKKKK! Just a tad bit excited ;) 

Buy the perfect birthday gift for the Boy :) His birthday is November 1st so I am taking the entire month to figure out the most perfect gift.  Lord knows I'll still be shopping on the 31st.



As a very stressful September came to an end,

I had no idea that October would be so great.

Bring on the beautiful autumn weather in Des Moines!  

photo credit

alive

I apologize for the lack of blogging...

Over the last week, I've been in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, back to Illinois, back to Iowa, Nebraska, and back to Iowa. Shewww!

I promise to be back soon. :)

tomorrow...

...is my 21st day here.

I'm not counting, just thinking.  And realizing that every single night since I have been here, I have had something new to thank the Lord for.  Not saying that I don't thank Him regularly, but something about a HUGE life change makes you think about life and the things that matter most.

Since moving 436 miles from home, I've come to realize that there are so many things I love about this place that I now call home...

In no particular order.

1. My job. I am confident that this will be my career. And for many, many years to come.

2. The difference that it made in my relationship with my mom.  Although our relationship has always been extremely strong,  this move has truly made me realize how important she is in my life and that I need her every single day. Thanks Mom.

3. The sunset, weather, climate, this city as a whole.  I already know that I am going to enjoy the fall weather that has been soaking into Des Moines over the last couple days. This city has so many things to do and see and I am loving it.

4. The church that I've been going to.  It is seriously huge but feels so small.  Best message (and worship music!) I have heard in a very, very long time last Sunday.  It reminded me that when I feel like I have nothing, have no one, and won't make it... that I have everything I need, have someone by my side all the time, and will be just fine - God will always provide.    

5. My Iowa family.  They have made me feel loved and extremely blessed knowing that I can reach out to them anytime, for anything.

6. My co-workers.  Thee most amazing, well-rounded group of people I've ever met. End. Of. Story.

7. The boy. The decision to move to this place that I knew very little about was a lot easier to swallow knowing there is someone here that understands what I need and is willing to do anything he can to make sure I know he supports absolutely everything I do.  

8. The people.  They hold the door, they say please and thank you, they buy your lunch, they are never in a hurry.

9. Soft serve ice cream at the gas stations. (and if you know me, it is my absolute weakness!) Now that I think about it, it's a little weird but seriously... where else can you go and get an ice cream cone at the gas station? Any time you want and it's like a buck.

10. My mentor at work.  He's a pro in this business. I'm going to be successful because he is patient and wants me to succeed more than himself.

11.  Last but not least. Myself.  The Laura that lives in Iowa is different, and not a bad different.  I don't know how or why.  I don't have the slightest clue.  I just feel more like myself.  I am happy. I am content.  I am encouraged to make a difference and quit letting the small things affect the things that truly matter the most. I'm able to be myself and do the things for ME, instead of everyone else.

With all of the things that I have truly fallen in love
with over and over again in this place, 
I think I will finish unpacking the last box and 
finally make myself at home. :)  

home sweet home

I'm posting from MY bed (it's been 96 days since I laid in it!) in MY apartment! I'll post more about the move and provide some pics of the new city and the new place soon!!

For now... these are the sites I've enjoyed over the last week! :)

first week

I'm surviving my first week in Iowa at a new job with new co-workers in a completely new and huge city.

I've been in Iowa 5 days now and I can honestly say that my decision to come here has been validated. I love my job. I love my co-workers. I love being closer to the boy. I love Iowa. (well everything except the University of)

I am completely humbled by all of the love and support I've received. I have had co-workers take me to lunch daily and have some happy hours scheduled for next week. I was asked to play co-ed kickball (insert LOUD laugh here). I have had multiple people in Iowa ask me to hang out, go to dinner, etc. With the help of my peeps, I found the nearest Wal-Mart, Super Target, and Maurices (necessities ya know?). It's humbling. Plain and simple. Thank you to every person that has helped me get here.

This week, I am staying in Ames near the Iowa State campus (Thanks Em for letting me crash on your couch, eat dinner with you, and watch Honey Boo Boo on your TV.) My apartment will be ready to move into on Saturday. It's a 1 bedroom that is going to cost me my right arm, leg, and lung but it's mine. And I'm going to finally call it home. Oh, and my apt has internet and cable included since the boy told me he wouldn't come to Des Moines to hang out if he just had to sit and stare at me all weekend. :)

The boy's aunt and uncle are being SO generous and are going to Indiana this weekend for a reunion and offered to pick up some of my stuff. Special shout out to them, my mom, and my brother D who are going to help me out and get all of my crap packed and here this weekend. You guys ROCK!

I hate moving but I'm looking forward to getting everything in it's place.

And since I know you're all concerned with my well-being, after seeing this last weekend,

YES - A pony in the back of a truck! (I mean, is this real freaking life??)

I can honestly say that the transition

from Indiana to Iowa

has been entertaining and everything I imagined it to be. :)

Thanks for following my journey.

home

Today is the day... Am I ready for it?

Yes. Well maybe. Ugh. I don't know. I hope so. I really, really hope so.

When I cross the Iowa state line, I'm not turning around and coming "home."

This is home.

I got everything on my to-do list accomplished even this:
12. Say a few goodbyes.

The hardest one. The one thing that I avoided like the plague. I hate goodbyes. I hate sad things. I hate getting emotional (though I do it all too often). I hate it. I'm pretty sure I said "see ya later" quite a few times.

Regardless of the emotions, the tears, and every thought that has crossed my mind since saying "I accept the offer!", I'm excited to start this brand new chapter. I know it will be filled with a new career, a new city, new friends...

...and date nights with this guy now that we will both call Iowa home.

Don't be fooled though, I'll always be an Indiana girl. :)

surprise

I was SO surprised last night by the most amazing friends in the world.

I planned on meeting a friend at Harry's to say goodbye and when I got there, there were many of my closest friends there.  My mom even showed up. :)

I don't know what else to say but thank you. You all continuously amaze me with your friendship.  I would not be who I am today with out each of you and without the encouragement of every single one of you - I would not be going to Iowa. 

 I don't know what I did to deserve
the-most-amazing-friends-in-the-world but I thank God every day because of it.

 

I love you all.

emotions

Excited. Anxious. Nervous. Overwhelmed. Surprised. Blessed. Thankful. 
The emotions that have taken over me during the last week while I have come to the realization that I'm moving away (in 49 hours to be exact) from the only place I've ever called home. 

Excited. For a new beginning.  A chance to start over. To follow my dreams.

Anxious.  To be working for a company that appreciates me and genuinely cares about my personal and professional success.

Nervous.  26 years ago, I started in a place with about 800 people. College took me to a place with 30,000. Next up, 210,000. That's a lot of strangers. :)

Overwhelmed.  I'm a planner. Let's be real.

Surprised.  It all happened very quickly.  My first correspondence with this amazing company was only a month ago. 

Blessed. By the good Lord for an opportunity that fits my personality to a t and will allow me to reach for and exceed my potential and grow while doing something I am passionate about.

Thankful. For: God - After all, He is the one that answered this prayer. My family - who serve as my rocks and my biggest support system. My friends - who have encouraged me and supported my decisions no. matter. what. The Boy - who has supported me from the very beginning and has made me laugh when I wanted to cry during this process. And last but not least, my support system in Iowa, who have helped me determine that this truly is the perfect place for me.

Des Moines, I can't wait to call you home.

brady

Although I didn't get to post this yesterday because I spent the weekend in Iowa trying to find a place to live, I couldn't forget this guy!

Happy 2nd Birthday Brady!

Aunt LoLo loves you!

five days

Who needs a to-do list anyways?  oh, that's right... I do! 

If you would have asked me 2 weeks ago what my to-do list constisted of, I would have probably shrugged my shoulders and sipped on my wine... but here I am now still sipping wine trying to get it together!  

I have 5 days left in Indiana - yes, FIVE.

packing is a lot easier with a glass of merlot :)

So here it is...

1. Accept offer for the opportunity I've been waiting a long, long time for.
2. Submit my 2-week notice.
3. Doctor's appointment to get a recommendation for an endocronologist in Iowa
4. Finishing packing. Shoes, clothes, a ginormous tote of hair products, my stock in Bath and Body Works, and Jewelry that filled a 14 gallon Rubbermaid tote. 
5. Find a place to live. Minor detail, ya know. Ok but really. I'm going to find a place this weekend. I must.
6. Get a few last minute things to take with me.
7. Finalize any paperwork for the new job.
8. Get my nephew Brady a birthday gift - he's 2 on the 19th!
9. Grab dinner with a couple friends.
10. Go through storage and some boxes at my mom's.
11. Clean out the trunk of my car. This will take the entire 5 days, alone. :)
12. Say a few goodbyes.
13. Visit Harry's. You know, that local estabilishment was my second home while I was at Purdue so it's only fair to say goodbye to him as well.
14. Oh, and work 4 more 8+ hour days at my current job.

Prayers are apprecaited over the next couple of days as I tackle this to-do list,

especially number 12. 

welcome

Thank you for stopping by my blog! I can't promise that it will be entertaining or that every post will be full of awesome adventures and anything interesting for that matter but I can promise that it will be real, full of emotion, and a look into the life of a country girl turned city girl in the matter of a few short weeks! :)



this view will be replaced with the des moines sky line.