Chritmas, Characters & RITA!

I have said it once & I will say it a million times.. I LOVE Disney at Christmas. If you have never experienced it, please but it on your bucket list right now. It is so magical. Now if only it would get cold.. then it would truly feel like the North Pole. A couple weeks ago, I got to go to the Cast Preview of the "Very Merry Christmas Party" at Magic Kingdom. All the cast hid behind the castle and when all the guests were clear, we got to come out into the magic of Christmas. We came around the corner of the castle and immediately Christmas music was playing and the castle was all lit up! We got to see the Christmas show that takes place on the castle and the Christmas parade. I was acting like I was 7 years old. It was awesome and made me so excited about the holiday season!

Last week, RITA came to visit me! If you haven't caught on by now.. I have the best friends and family ever. We stayed in All Star Sports again and it was awesome. The first day she was here we went to Epcot for the last taste of the Food & Wine Festival. It was a BEAUTIFUL day! We also went to Magic Kingdom that night and she got to see "Wishes" (the fireworks show). She totally took all the Disney magic in and I loved it. The castle really is breathtaking. The highlight of the day was the "Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor". It has to be one of my favorite attractions- anyone who comes to visit me, I make do it. We were cracking up!! The next day I drove her around Fort Wilderness, which I was so glad I did because it wasn't what she pictured at all. It is an actual campground- like tents, RVs, cabins.. the whole shebang. And it's beautiful! Especially right now.. people are starting to put up their own Christmas decorations and it makes me so happy as I bike into work :) For lunch, I took her to my favorite restaurant in the Orlando area- Yellow Dog Eats. It is like gourmet bbq.. absolutely amazing! And Rita loved it so I am so glad we made the trip out there! During the evening, we went to Hollywood Studios and saw the Spectacle of Dancing lights. WOW WOW WOW-- I am obsessed. And Rita was the perfect person to take to go see it because she LOVES Christmas lights more than anyone I know. It really is amazing. My favorite is when the lights dance to "Carol of the Bells". It was even cold outside and we got a cup of coffee to drink.. perfection. That night, we went to Jellyrolls, the dueling piano bar on the Boardwalk, and it was so fun! Sarah met up with us and we had a great time. Rita even dedicated "Brown-Eyed Girl" to me for my birthday..too sweet! Lol. Speaking of birthdays, for breakfast the next morning, Rita & I celebrated our November birthdays together at Chef Mickey's! I have been wanting to eat there forever and it was the perfect time to go. It is a super yummy breakfast buffet and we got to meet the Fab 5 Disney characters! We had a blast! It was so sad to see Rita go, but wow- it was SO great having her here. It's something about people like her that brings out the real Lauren inside of me. Sorry to get poetic on yall but it's TRUE. Anyone who knows Rita knows that she her friendship is unparalleled. I am so lucky!

Work has been TIRING. Oh my goodness, my poor body.. For anyone who has ever worked at camp- yall know what it feels like for 10 weeks to go, go, go but my goodness.. here I am almost 6 months later basically doing camp at Disney World and I am exhausted. Today I have gotten some rest but I am definitely looking forward to that light at the end of the tunnel. None the less, I wouldn't trade my job for anything. It's a BLAST! Yall know I love to dance.. and my friend Tracy loves it just as much as I do! The other day on the pool deck we were having an hour long dance party and I would put on a song we didn't have a dance to just so we could have a "break" and go figure.. by the end of the song there would be a dance made up to it. The best is when we made up a dance to Glee's version of Heads Will Roll/Thriller. I am obsessed with that song (please go listen to it and try not the dance.. impossible). It was awesome. We even did it randomly a couple days later and by the end of it at least 20 people were applauding us. We were cracking up at ourselves. It was so fun! Yesterday, Tracy, Amanda, Sonya & I went character hunting. It was a blast. I got 23 autographs and took sooo many pictures. I don't know what comes over me, but I am such a flirt with the characters. It's hilarious. The best is when I saw one of the Green Army Men from Toy Story. He kept blowing me kisses and after I got his autograph, he looked closely at my ring finger, saw that I was single and started doing the single ladies dance with me. It was epic. For dinner, we ate at Prime Time cafe in Hollywood Studios and laughed so much. I love those girls and love the friends I have made here. God has definitely been good. I miss my family and friends a lot though back in Texas! Once, when a guest found out I was from Texas, she was like WHY did you leave?!? Haha. Texas really is the best.

...and FINALLY- a shout out to my brother ANDREW because he turns 21 this weekend. I SO wish I was there to celebrate with you and can't wait for you to come to Disney World to celebrate! I am going to make you wear a birthday button :) Also, I am so proud of him for getting a job! He is such a sweet guy and I am lucky to have him as my brother.

Cast Preview!

"The Lord Himself goes before you & will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." - Deut. 31:8 Thank you LORD.

All my love,
Lauren <3

Mrs. Cain!!!

Last Thursday morning I boarded a plane to TEXAS! Oh, I love Texas. I got to go home for a very special occasion- Courtney got married! Stop right there.. before I go any further I must tell yall about Courtney. We met when we were 17 and became instant friends. She was as much of a blessing to my life then as she is now. I can easily recall the endless conversations we have shared focused on the Lord; who He is and who we are in light of Him. I have never had a friend who I am so close to spiritually- this is why Court & myself are soul sisters :) Simply put, the way she lives her life challenges me. It is a beautiful thing.. iron sharpens iron. Freshman year, we loaded up the trucks and drove to College Station, Texas where we be roommates in Dunn 413. The one dorm in the commons that didn't get new furniture that year and was filled with boys the year prior.. perfect. That was one of the best years of my life- I won't bore yall with all the stories that came from that dorm room but just know it was the best. Court had it in her mind that she would be single forever (I knew it wouldn't be true because she was too beautiful, fun and God-loving for a smart boy to not snatch up). I remember telling her that if she changed her mind one day it would be okay and we would all support her. And I am so glad she did. The marriage of her & Matt is so of the Lord and was incredible to witness. What a sweet couple that will impact the kingdom of the Lord for such good. She had a giant wedding party-14 of us! It was so fun being with her and celebrating all weekend. The night before we took a stretch limo out to a hawaiian nail bar in Dallas to get manis and pedis! So perfect for Court. The ceremony was wonderful and glorified the Lord in every way. Seeing Courtney smile ear to ear down the aisle was priceless. I was so blessed to be a part of it. The reception rocked- you get a room full of Aggies, dancing and desserts and the rest of history. So fun! It was good to see so many familiar faces too :) It is always hard leaving- gosh, I am such a crier. A lot of yall know that already, lol. For as much as I love traveling and adventure, I get so torn between people and places and saying goodbyes is one of my biggest weaknesses. I need a permanent airport buddy because I am such a mess- that is one thing I never like doing alone.

I can't believe I only have 2 months left in my program! Work yesterday was craziness. Halloween at the Fort. Best Disney Halloween ever though. The best part was the "Cart Parade". At the Fort, people drive golf carts around and decorate them insanely for holidays. Halloween is the epitome of that. I wish I could have taken pictures but there was a Tow Mater, a giant Alice in Wonderland table set, Peter Pan boat (complete with characters on board) and more. My job was to block the traffic while the parade started and then I got to be the last cart of the parade. It was AWESOME. People were cheering for me, taking my picture, etc.. I don't know why they got a kick out of me being at the end but they did. Lol. After work, I stayed and hung out at the campfire with Aly. Forrest, Amanda and Tracy were working so that made it super fun! We roasted marshmallows and even went trick or treating at some of the campsites. I felt like a kid again. So awesome. In the past week I have also seen Hanson & Boyz II Men concerts at Epcot. Amazing. First of all, I LOVE concerts and second of all- they were free. Boyz II Men was awesome because someone got engaged and then they threw out roses to the crowd.. and who doesn't love a little R&B in their life?! This week Sarah's family is coming in town and I get to start training people. Woohoo! RITA comes next week and I am PUMPED! All Start Sports: Part 2. Get excited.

All my love,
Lauren :)