Things that make me happy...

• Getting to enjoy our old Sunday night homemade popcorn tradition with my family (minus Deborah) last night.
• Sewing with Sarah at CityCraft (although, I'm sure we could create a lounge night that rivals the fun we had tonight...it would most definitely include a Katie dance party).
• Playing Words With Friends on my iPhone.  It's like scrabble...and you play against your friends (I know, that part was obvious).  I think I have about nine games going right now...it's so addicting.  I love it.  Even when I lose.
• Enjoying my evenings and relishing the fact that I don't have to study...it's glorious!
• Making people's Christmas presents.  I love it.  I love sewing and I love giving homemade gifts.  
• Decorating for Christmas with my family. It is kind of a chore, but it makes me happy too.
• Signing my parents up for Facebook.  Yes, it's true.  They are there.  It's hilarious. 
  

Let it snow...

I love the snow.  I got such a great surprise when I woke up this morning and the snow was falling.  I loved reading that Erin experienced equal joy.  We put up the Christmas decorations and just enjoyed watching the snow fall. 

Christmas Card Pictures

Always tend to turn to drama in our family. 

Tonight it was my turn to be the dramatic one. 

I didn't realize until later tonight when we got the pictures off the camera that the shirt I was wearing totally washed me out.  I looked a little like a vampire.  Or something.  It wasn't pretty. 

Picking a picture of a group is never easy. 

 If only I was a dog...then pictures of me would always be cute...like Callie!

Full Days

My days are full of things other than the blog...

walks with mom

cooking with family

sitting out by the back porch fire pit

trips to the fabric store

sewing some Christmas presents

seeing The Blind Side (I really liked it, by the way)

eating wonderful mexican food

I'm not ready to go back to the real world yet...thankful I have a couple of more days at home!

Scenes from Thanksgiving

Giving Thanks

I'm so glad Thanksgiving is here.  I love this holiday.  It's one of my favorites.  We all know I love the food.  I love that the family is together.  I love the laid back nature of the holiday.  I love being home.  And really, I have so much to be thankful for.  My family, my friends, my job, my church, my small group girls, I have a roof over my head, I always have food, and more opportunities than I can even count to do what I want to do with my life. 

So for the rest of the week I will be enjoying time with my family in Amarillo.  Tomorrow I will make dressing and we will eat a wonderful meal together.  And I will try and remember that I am lucky to be able to do so.  I'm so thankful that I get to be here and enjoy the holiday!

For the Good

At the recommendation of Kristie, I have been listening to the new Shane & Shane album.  I really like it.  One song in particular, For the Good, has lyrics that just seem to be hitting me right where I am.  Particularly words like, "we like to take the blessing from You, shall we not take the trouble to, You are working all things out." I love how the theme of this song lines right up with what I've been learning in my own life in this year and what I've been teaching my girls in 1 Peter about suffering and the things that we will walk through when we choose to follow Christ.  There's no guarantee that it will be easy.  I know I've written about it before, but I love how amidst the hard times and the suffering God is there.  Calling us closer.  Making us more like him.  And teaching us about obedience.  I really like it and I apparently love reinforcement of the things the Lord is doing in my life in the form of song.

For The Good - Shane And Shane


When darkness is surrounding me
by Your Spirit, Lord help me sing
that You are working all things out
Lord, I really need to hear you speak
Remind me in the waiting
that You are working all things out

For the good of those
who are called by You
for the good of those
who are in Love with You
That's why we sing

Holy God of light
I lay down my life
Holy is the Lord
Even in the storm be glorified

We like to take the blessing from You
Shall we not take the trouble too
You are working all things out
We like to take prosperity
Shall we not take the suffering
You are working all things out

Holy are you Lord
even in the storm
be glorified
Worthy of affection

Sewing as it Relates to Life

Guest blog by Lisa (as dictated to Sarah from the sewing machine).

Shout out to Pam! Tonight we made grocery cart covers - which are really just blankets with holes.  Sarah was having a difficult time finding a happy heart as she has had a difficult week with her test, which is fully understandable.  Sarah made a mistake.  And it's okay.  Sometimes we all have difficulty accepting our mistakes.  While we can claim responsibility for them, sometimes it is difficult to see life change in the midst of hardship, but it is the hard things that refine us.

An example of this is Sarah - who had a difficult night with the bobbin.  Sarah, who is admittedly a perfectionist, became frustrated with her stitches and had to undo them, causing her great distress and loss of bobbin thread. [insert commentary from Sarah: I hate seam rippers...with a passion]. Not wanting to see my friend in pain, I came alongside her to devise a plan for reconstruction sans the hated seam ripper.

This resembles life in many ways.  1. When pain happens we want to fix it ourselves. 2. While fixing it can seem like a temporary solution, it is often unnecessary to fix it "in isolation" as Brother Wagner would say.  Clearly the need for community was demonstrated.  Together Sarah and I discovered that we could just cut off the offensive seam, beginning anew. 3.  Q: How many things in our lives should we see as mistakes and use community to repair?

Sarah elected me to do the sewing as she was mad at my machine [which had a problem, it was not her fault].  When discussing having a happy heart and fixing our mistakes without yelling at the seam ripper, Sarah commented on how bad this year has been, to which I dutifully commiserated with.  Because, bloggers, if you don't know, Sarah's had a crappy year.

Side note: my sewing machine has a range of speeds from turtle to rabbit.  Because apparently numbers or the words slow to fast are not appropriate for the average user's intelligence.  Whilst making a bobbin where the "bunny" speed was used I resumed sewing with the presser unknowingly set on the "bunny" speed, which is alarmingly speedy.  Without lightening-like sewing abilities, the "bunny" speed is impossible for the average sewer.

Sarah, my sewing friend, who I invited over one because I enjoy being around her and two, she excels at reading directions, is in self-denial about her sewing skills.  Because of her issues with the seam ripper and previously mentioned comments regarding mistakes, community, and repairing things in our lives, I have asked Sarah to attempt a project fully sewn on the "bunny" speed, which she is afraid to do because of the lack of control.  Then the conversation turned to how much our lives being out of control, perhaps seemingly unfixable, could all be part of a pattern.

And with that, I will make another bobbin await Sarah's "bunny" project.

Stayed tuned for another post from Lisa dealing with not needing to use scrap fabric on the "bunny project" but instead just going for it, as it relates to my life.

The Music of Christmas

I tend to fall in the category of people who like to wait until after Thanksgiving to pull out the Christmas music.  I'm a rule follower.  Always have been, probably always will be.  I also like to think that Thanksgiving deserves a spot all it's own.  But I do LOVE Christmas music. And in the spirit of list-making that I've been lately, here are some of my favorite Christmas albums.  Yes, some of them are cheesy, but just embrace it.  It's Christmas!

• Amy Grant, Home for Christmas
• Point of Grace, A Christmas Story
• Jars of Clay, Christmas Songs
• Sarah McLachlan, Wintersong
• Steven Curtis Chapman, Music of Christmas

What are the favorites in your collection?  I always love finding new, fun Christmas music!

Highlights

• Test is over!!  As always, I'm not sure how it went.  There were five parts, three of them being multiple choice.  The second part I was sure I was going to fail.  Other than that it was pretty good.  
• My wonderful parents got me a hotel room last night (my test was over in Fort Worth).  I had a wonderful night relaxing, studying, and enjoying the peace and quiet (and maybe watching the Project Runway finale before I fell asleep last night).  
• It hasn't hit me yet that I don't have to study tomorrow.
• I had a great time with friends and my sister at Gloria's tonight. I don't have pictures, hopefully I can get the group picture from Karla and stick it in here later.
• Tomorrow I plan on sleeping in, watching 90210 on Soap Net (I know, quality), going for a long walk/run at White Rock, relaxing, and going to church. 
• I could not be more excited about heading home for Thanksgiving.  
• Today my parents and sister Deborah are at a dear family friend's wedding in Estes Park, Colorado.  I am so sad I couldn't be there.  I hope they took lots of wonderful pictures.  
• And today has involved a whirlwind of emotions - anxiousness, determination, relief, hope, exhaustion, frustration, and again can I say relief!!
• And now I'm off to sleep.  Tomorrow is a new day!
  

Rosa's

Rosa's...will you please move to Dallas?  I know Fort Worth is close, but not close enough.  And I love you so.  If you've never been to Rosa's, if you're ever anywhere near one, you should go.  It's like Taco Cabana, but so much better.  Maybe I'll have to have some over Thanksgiving!

Why oh Why with some Encouragement

Please, please, please go read this blog post.  It made me laugh out loud.  More than once.

It's about the things that come up when you start typing "why..." in google.  I'm sure that google does it for the humor, or something like that.  but I find it amusing.

One another note, I love my community group.  Yes, I've said it before. Tonight they spent part of our evening praying for me and for my test Saturday and reading scripture over me.  I just happen to think they are the greatest.  They are a huge part of the support that has gotten me through this year.  I walked into community group feeling super weary and exhausted and left feeling energized and encouraged.  I love you girls!

On the way home, I had my ipod on shuffle.  The Needtobreathe song that came on didn't hit me until it got to the chorus and these words came at me, "Lift up your head, look out the window, 'cause it's almost over now."  And I feel like that's true.  Saturday is almost here, and I'm facing it with optimism that this is the end. 

Almost there!

Random Thoughts on Dressing

I am sitting on my couch.  I have dressing in the oven for a work Thanksgiving potluck tomorrow. 

How on earth is it already Thanksgiving? I'm pretty sure just yesterday I was sitting here doing the same thing for last year's potluck.

Making dressing makes me think of Mama.  She taught me how to make it.  It was the thing we made together every Thanksgiving since I decided I wanted to learn how. 

Growing up my mom would let us choose our meal for our birthday dinner.  You could almost always bet that I would pick turkey and dressing.  I was quite a pain of a little child.  But I guess no more difficult than Deborah's fried quail.  I mean, someone had to go out and kill those!

Oh, dressing.  Thanksgiving.  Fall.  The Holidays.  I love it all.

This could change my life...

Okay, so maybe that's a little dramatic, but seriously.  I just switched from the old editor to the "Updated Editor" in the blogger settings and I think I really like it.  Not exactly what I should be messing around with right now, but it looks like it's going to make pictures easier to upload and move around, and THERE IS AN UNDO BUTTON! (it's the little things in life).  And it's pretty.  Because that's what really matters. The only thing I can't seem to find is the spell check, and that could definitely be an issue. Anyway, if you're a blogger, you might want to check it out!

Just so like me.

This semester with my high school small group girls we are studying 1 Peter. I have absolutely loved digging into this book. Teaching and coming up with small group lessons every week would be what I consider the most challenging part of leading these girls. It's not my area of gifting.

So, last week, as I'm preparing for small group, it hits me. Kyle (my college pastor) went through 1 Peter verse by verse for a whole semester while I was in college. I have a journal full of in depth notes just on this book. Are you kidding me?! Really? I could have had a little help along the way with this whole teaching thing?

Some might say (or have said) that it's probably been good for me to have not realized I had it and had to struggle through on my own. And I know it's true. Out of the comfort zone is always a good place to be, but I will say that I have been super thankful for that little 1 Peter journal from my college days the last couple of weeks. I have been slammed with studying, and it has been wonderful to pull some knowledge from one of my favorite teachers that I have ever sat under.

So there you have it, another scatter-brained Sarah moment!

Things I'm Looking Forward To...

• First, and probably most obviously, my test being finished. Five days in case anyone is counting.
• And Gloria's with friends the night after my test!
  
• Thanksgiving with my family. I'm so excited to be home with everyone.
• Going to lounge night at CityCraft with the girls. I haven't even been to the store yet, but I hear it's amazing.
• Along the same lines, I am very much looking forward to working on all the homemade Christmas gift ideas I have floating around in my head!! There are so many different things I would LOVE to be working on right now. It's taking all my willpower to study and not bust out my sewing machine!
  
• The photography class that I signed up for in December!
  
• Ski trip with my high school girls. I know I have at least a couple of my girls going and it should be a blast!
• And the tour of families Christmas vacation. Actual Christmas with my grandparents and Dad's side of the family. The day after Christmas with all of Mama's siblings and their families (an annual tradition that we haven't gotten to be a part of in quite a few years), and then New Year's weekend with my immediate family.
  

I'm looking forward to all of these things. They are keeping me going as I push through five more days of studying.

New(ish) Music

I always love to hear what other people are listening to. I just love music. I love how fun it is and how a certain song can link to a certain memory. I just love music. So, here is some of the music that I've recently purchased.

1. Sara Watkins, Sara Watkins


2. You Deliver Me, Selah
3. The Outsiders, Needtobreathe

4. Fiction Family, Fiction Family

5. Church Music, David Crowder Band

6. Love, Save the Empty, Erin McCarley

What are you listening to that you love right now?

We Heart Yogurt

I love all the yogurt places that are popping up everywhere. I love the self serve and all the fun toppings. Apparently the famous Pinkberry opened in Dallas this weekend...hopefully I'll get to go try it out soon! I took one of my small group girls to her first self-serve trendy yogurt place Wednesday before small group. Apparently, they have some strange rule about camera's and people taking pictures inside. Not sure what that's about. So, Taylor was really excited, so we took a couple of pictures of the experience, before we got in trouble, of course!

Support

I apologize for yesterday's extreme downer of a post. I'm working my way out of the pre-test funk...slowly. It's still lingering today, but I'm fighting it a little harder. Let's just say my resolve was worn down by the end of yesterday. I'm know I've mentioned on here a time or two about how wonderful my mom is. I'm a big fan. This morning she sent me the most encouraging email. An email saying how she was praying for me and the specific scripture she was praying over me and talking about how they are there to support me. It made me so thankful for my family and friends who have walked with me through this year. My mom said something in her email about this year being a battle...I don't think I could have put it a better way. So thank you...all of you who have supported me. I love you and I am so thankful for you. I know for a fact that I am well loved and supported. Here's the verses my mom included in her email.

May He grant you your heart's desire, and fulfill all your purpose. We will sing for joy over your victory and in the name of our God we will set up our banners. May the Lord fulfill all your petitions. He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand; some boast in chariots and some in horses but we will boast in the name of the Lord our God. Psalm 20: 4-7

I love the truth from these verses that the victory will be the Lord's. It is so obvious to me through everything that's happened this year that I can do nothing in my own strength. When (I'm fighting the urge to say "if" there) I pass this test, I will boast in my God, because it is through His strength that I will have passed.

Side note: I am taking a Final Review class tomorrow. I got an email from the teacher saying it would last from "8:30 am - 7pm +". That plus sign scares me just a little! So if you think about it, say a prayer for my sanity! :)

How many ways can I say tired?!

Because that's what I am right now. And be warned - positive Sarah has left the building right now. I'm sure she'll return soon, but for the moment I am tired and exhausted and so ready for this test to be over. Every day that I study is a reminder of how many times I've failed. I realize this isn't rational, but it's how I'm feeling today. So, tomorrow I'll return with a more upbeat post, but for now, this is all I have left.

Typical Wednesday Night

Tonight was a pretty typical Wednesday night. As I'm sure you know, I spend my Wednesday nights with a wonderful group of sophomore girls. Tonight, I picked one of them up from school after work, and we grabbed some dinner. Then we grabbed another one of the girls and headed down to small group. I usually spend the first 15-20 minutes just listening to the girls catch up. They all go to different schools, and they don't see each other much. It's usually pretty funny and entertaining to listen to some of these conversations. Then we do the highs and the lows of our week, have a lesson, prayer requests and are on our way. Sometimes I pull out something a little creative. The girls tend to really like that. They (one in particular) have been begging for a craft all semester. So tonight, I (kind of) appeased her. Just a little rock reminder of the lesson we had tonight. They turned out pretty cute.

And apparently crafting took it right out of them...

Tail End

I'm at a lost for what to post today. I'm tired. My brain is fried from studying, so again, I will resort to self humiliation. There was this one summer a few years back. We went to the lake all the time. Truth be told, I've already blogged about this particular day, I just left out a couple of important details. So, here we go:

Julia was there...

She practiced her wake boarding skills...

I learned how to ski...

And then, after a successful day with no injuries...this happened.

And my dear friend and roommate decided it would be better to grab the camera than to actually help me! :) And did I mention how nasty that water was?!

I find it funny that I didn't post this way back then, because I actually find it quite humorous now...I guess I wasn't quite ready for my tail end to make its blog debut!

Pizza & Quality Time

I spent a couple of hours last night with some of my favorite girls. We hadn't seen each other in FAR too long, so we met up at Michelle's place for some homemade pizza and catching up. Michelle, of course, came through with amazing pizza. The girl can cook. I love these girls and just how much time with them is refreshing. I am so thankful for some friendships that started our freshman year at Baylor...I can't imagine life without them!

Cowboy Up!

Last night I spent the evening with some of my favorite high school girls all dressed up in our best western outfits for our ranch party, The Draw. Last year we headed out to Kaufman on a ton of yellow school buses. This year, The Draw was conveniently located about five minutes from my house. It was a fun evening of watching my girls two-step and line dance, dancing with them to Miley's Party in the U.S.A. and anything Taylor Swift, and hanging out with friends. I love how our student ministries staff works really hard to have events that are cool enough for kids to bring their friends to and really have fun and enjoy them, and I think they do a consistently great job!

Bode & Braun getting ready to welcome kids.

Rachel, me, and Katie (we adopted her for the evening)

Lisa with Braun/Jefe/Paco...whatever you want to call him.

Let the dancing begin!

Community group minus Jen & Caryn. (Katie, Karla, me & Sarah)

Rachel & Tori - these girls LOVE to dance!

Rachel & Maddie - making up hand motions to songs can get extremely silly!

I'm not even sure...but I love Katie in the background!

Cute Siblings! Rachel & Aaron and Davis & Maddie