Well I realized it's been way too long since I wrote so hoping this helps. Since my last post many good things have come about which by now most of you will know. We've had a lot better weather. I'm talking fabulous weekends full of sunshine and although storms can be fun to watch they are not fun to walk through and I don't know about you but I for one have had enough storms for one year. I'm ready for the sunshine now.
The really great news is that through terrible times and unimaginable nightmares you find yourself somehow walking through it seems that God always brings about more life and more goodness despite what's been lost. We are expecting our newest addition to our family this November and we are very excited for this. Plus Shay is at a stage right now where this mama ;) sees how good it will be for her to already be learning to "share" and "play nicely with others" and "not hit". So as our work is definately cut out for us I am looking forward to having more to our family! Let the adventures begin! Our family is growing.
Our debt is also decreasing! We made a very tough decision last month to sell our SUV. We had an opportunity to be done with payments and used this to get closer to our goal of being almost debt free. We are so excited! 1 studentl loan down, 1 car loan scratched off the list, and besides our house 2012 is looking great to become more debt free than ever before. Thank you God!
So that is my update on the upside for now. Have a fantastic weekend!
Thanks for reading!
~Sarah
Friday, April 27, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Tips for torrential downpour days:
Tip #1: Instead of looking at the umbrella before leaving your car actually grab it and use it!
Tip#2: If you must eat lunch out try and pick a place that has a drive thru window to avoid yet again being pelted by sideways rain. But if you can't then it's a must to pick your favorite yummy warm food:)
Tip#3: When the rain lets up would be a good time to do your running of errands rather than the most inopportune of times during previously mentioned- sideways rain and 100mph winds (or so it feels).
Tip#4: Use both hands when driving in this torrential downpour despite how adventurous you may feel splashing through the "high water" signed areas one-handed at 45+mph;) you can indeed lose control and be swept off the road into a chocolate brown sea of mystery and if there are no other Ford's around to pull you out of this mess...well then...don't expect the passing Prius to do so...you will be stuck my friend.
Tip#5: this should really be mentioned as tip#1 advising that before you leave the house for the day make sure to throw something into your slow cooker so that you don't have to even think about making dinner after you wade back in from the day. We will be having Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings and this is the first time using this recipe.
Tip#6: If you don't have to leave the house this is an excellent time to listen to the storm outside while spring cleaning inside. This way when or if we should ever see the sun shine again you can actually get outside to enjoy it rather than have a list of To-Do's waiting for you.
Tip#7: If you really need more ideas of how to spend a rainy day;) then bake something like yummy delicious cinnamon rolls or get rid of clothes you haven't warn in over a year and donate them to a family who could use them. Conquering either of these events leaves you feeling very accomplished and gives your house a great smell or has you feeling freer (is that even a word) with more closet space and less clutter. Oh how I need to de-clutter right after I bake!
Tip#8: Attempt at least a 30 minute workout of some kind even if that is just breaking a sweat over cleaning a bathtub or mopping a floor :) If you would like any suggestions for an excruciating, wonderful, good time try out the Insanity workout. We started this in my house but with flu/cold season that wouldn't leave us alone we fell a little behind.
Tip#9: Change your sheets....or maybe I'm turning this into my to-do list :0) but tell me what is better than clean, good smelling sheets to crawl into bed to and fall asleep to the rain.
Tip#10: If you are single, enjoy your You-time, grab your favorite blanket and get lost in a good book or the new episode of The Missing with Ashley Judd on tonight at 8pm.
If you are married enjoy your family, maybe still grab that favorite blanket and start reading a good book together or snuggle to the new episode of The Missing :) .....then again if you're not in a snuggling mood and need you time refer to the first suggestion for You-time.
Whatever your day looks like and whatever you do just make sure to tell someone you love them... and thank someone for what they've given to you.
Thank you for reading and for your patience as I'm completely having fun with being new to blogging and have no idea what I'm doing but determined to learn all I can and enjoy it along the way :)
Have a blessed day
~Sarah
Tip#2: If you must eat lunch out try and pick a place that has a drive thru window to avoid yet again being pelted by sideways rain. But if you can't then it's a must to pick your favorite yummy warm food:)
Tip#3: When the rain lets up would be a good time to do your running of errands rather than the most inopportune of times during previously mentioned- sideways rain and 100mph winds (or so it feels).
Tip#4: Use both hands when driving in this torrential downpour despite how adventurous you may feel splashing through the "high water" signed areas one-handed at 45+mph;) you can indeed lose control and be swept off the road into a chocolate brown sea of mystery and if there are no other Ford's around to pull you out of this mess...well then...don't expect the passing Prius to do so...you will be stuck my friend.
Tip#5: this should really be mentioned as tip#1 advising that before you leave the house for the day make sure to throw something into your slow cooker so that you don't have to even think about making dinner after you wade back in from the day. We will be having Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings and this is the first time using this recipe.
Tip#6: If you don't have to leave the house this is an excellent time to listen to the storm outside while spring cleaning inside. This way when or if we should ever see the sun shine again you can actually get outside to enjoy it rather than have a list of To-Do's waiting for you.
Tip#7: If you really need more ideas of how to spend a rainy day;) then bake something like yummy delicious cinnamon rolls or get rid of clothes you haven't warn in over a year and donate them to a family who could use them. Conquering either of these events leaves you feeling very accomplished and gives your house a great smell or has you feeling freer (is that even a word) with more closet space and less clutter. Oh how I need to de-clutter right after I bake!
Tip#8: Attempt at least a 30 minute workout of some kind even if that is just breaking a sweat over cleaning a bathtub or mopping a floor :) If you would like any suggestions for an excruciating, wonderful, good time try out the Insanity workout. We started this in my house but with flu/cold season that wouldn't leave us alone we fell a little behind.
Tip#9: Change your sheets....or maybe I'm turning this into my to-do list :0) but tell me what is better than clean, good smelling sheets to crawl into bed to and fall asleep to the rain.
Tip#10: If you are single, enjoy your You-time, grab your favorite blanket and get lost in a good book or the new episode of The Missing with Ashley Judd on tonight at 8pm.
If you are married enjoy your family, maybe still grab that favorite blanket and start reading a good book together or snuggle to the new episode of The Missing :) .....then again if you're not in a snuggling mood and need you time refer to the first suggestion for You-time.
Whatever your day looks like and whatever you do just make sure to tell someone you love them... and thank someone for what they've given to you.
Thank you for reading and for your patience as I'm completely having fun with being new to blogging and have no idea what I'm doing but determined to learn all I can and enjoy it along the way :)
Have a blessed day
~Sarah
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
How It Began
"Mommy can you rewind Pinnochio? I want to watch it again pleeeaaasse..." My mom was busy with dishes and making dinner and thought it strange that I want to watch the movie over again but she granted my wishes knowing it would occupy me long enough to finish with her duties. "Mommy I want Jesus in my heart, will you help me?" "Sarah what made you decide you want Jesus in your heart now?" said my mother. "I don't want to end up like Pinnochio in the whale's tummy. I want Jesus in my heart to protect me" replied my 4 year old self. Trying to not laugh too noticeably since this was indeed a serious matter to save me from any future of being eaten by whales my sweet mom said "Well then let's pray together and ask Jesus to come into your heart and be with you always. Repeat after me honey....Dear Jesus..." and in the softest little voice, determined to keep up with this very important prayer I repeated my mother's words and that was the first time I experienced faith into life.
There are those moments in life where the darkness is all you can see, where the waves keep crashing over you and all you are hoping for is the split second to come where the sun peaks above the horizon again.....the waves calm and peace is completely surrounding you. The moment that you anticipate every morning when you wake up or in the midst of every storm that comes your way. You have no promise or surity, just the faith that says "The sun will rise again and the waves will calm".
My absolute favorite verse and probably so because it has been my lighthouse throughout life this promise...this constant. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen Hebrews 11:1 We cannot see the sun before it rises but we have faith that it will rise and we will see the next morning. We cannot feel the light breeze or peace, but instead the heavy winds slapping and rain pouring down in storms and yet we somehow know...we hold to faith... that soon the storm will calm and soon we will have peace again.
Many other moments have happened since that first one that continued showing me faith that was spun right up into my life like a beautiful web. Watching as my father walked out of our lives and has chosen to have nothing to do with us, the faith that rose up in knowing that I have a heavenly father who loves me more than I can ever imagine and feeling that love on a daily basis. Watching as my friend-my mother in law took her last breath and walked into the arms of love, how beautiful that moment truly was even in the sadness of saying goodbye. Watching as my mother's eyes danced that last day together only to suddenly have lost her so fast just hours later. In each moment the sun has always risen the very next day and I have faith that it will continue to.
This life I have been given is nothing more than a pure gift. Where I have been blessed with my amazing husband who leads and loves like a strong tower over me and where I have the love of a beautiful child who calls me "Mama". This is a comprise of my passions, thoughts, fears, hopes and stories...all real... faith into life moments.
Thanks for reading and be blessed~
~Sarah Renee'
There are those moments in life where the darkness is all you can see, where the waves keep crashing over you and all you are hoping for is the split second to come where the sun peaks above the horizon again.....the waves calm and peace is completely surrounding you. The moment that you anticipate every morning when you wake up or in the midst of every storm that comes your way. You have no promise or surity, just the faith that says "The sun will rise again and the waves will calm".
My absolute favorite verse and probably so because it has been my lighthouse throughout life this promise...this constant. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen Hebrews 11:1 We cannot see the sun before it rises but we have faith that it will rise and we will see the next morning. We cannot feel the light breeze or peace, but instead the heavy winds slapping and rain pouring down in storms and yet we somehow know...we hold to faith... that soon the storm will calm and soon we will have peace again.
Many other moments have happened since that first one that continued showing me faith that was spun right up into my life like a beautiful web. Watching as my father walked out of our lives and has chosen to have nothing to do with us, the faith that rose up in knowing that I have a heavenly father who loves me more than I can ever imagine and feeling that love on a daily basis. Watching as my friend-my mother in law took her last breath and walked into the arms of love, how beautiful that moment truly was even in the sadness of saying goodbye. Watching as my mother's eyes danced that last day together only to suddenly have lost her so fast just hours later. In each moment the sun has always risen the very next day and I have faith that it will continue to.
This life I have been given is nothing more than a pure gift. Where I have been blessed with my amazing husband who leads and loves like a strong tower over me and where I have the love of a beautiful child who calls me "Mama". This is a comprise of my passions, thoughts, fears, hopes and stories...all real... faith into life moments.
Thanks for reading and be blessed~
~Sarah Renee'
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