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A long, long time ago there once was a thing called Xanga. Anyone remember xanga? Xanga was an early blogging site and the home of my first blog posts. (Don't try to find them... I can't find it and even if you did all you'll read is inconsequential teenage thoughts). There was also a live journal... a blogger... notes on Facebook... I've been through my fair share of blogging sites and about three years ago I quit. 

I quit blogging. Why? Well the same reasons a lot of people quit a lot of things. Number one, it's time consuming. If you don't make something a priority, it will get pushed to the bottom of your mental list and you won't do it. Number two, I'm a recovering perfectionist and if I didn't feel like the content was good enough, I would reread it only to criticize my own work. Number three, it seemed like everyone else was doing it and I'm that annoying person who doesn't like doing things just because everyone else is.

But there's something inside of me that loves writing. I've always liked it. I used to write songs nonstop. I used to be constantly trying to write down or record song starters and ideas. I used to jot down blog ideas I had so I could revisit them later and flesh them out. And, to be honest, I'm not really that person anymore. A lot of people still think I am. And probably more accurately, that girl still exists somewhere, but I've put duct tape over her mouth for two or three years now. 

But this is 2017. It's January. And I'm a different person now. Not just because it's a new year - although I still love New Years and all it represents and how it makes us all feel like we have a clean slate to work with and a fresh canvas to paint. But I've also morphed into a completely different human than I was three years ago and I'm curious as to what she has to say. Ok, now I'm confusing myself by talking in third person.

My point is this year I'm writing. I'm writing blogs. I'm writing songs. I'm writing ideas. And it is far less important to me why I won't or can't and far more important to me to discover that part of myself again and see what's there. God's given me a voice for a reason and I don't think it was just for a young Lauren, I think it's for me, now, in this season.

So, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Lauren Iannatto. I only recently (two months and eight days ago) exchanged my last name for a brand new one. I'm married to the single most attractive man on this side of Heaven and I adore him and every part of who he is. I'm excited to blog a little bit about adventures in being a newlywed, but my heart beats for art of all kinds, the Word, current events, worship, discipleship, and mundane life. I work for the church I've attended the majority of my life and it is my community and my home. I spend most of my week investing in young women in college and planning and executing sets for various worship services. I love coffee, NPR, Disney, decorating my home, and laughing with my husband. 

Let's do this.