why i blog.

So you have a blog? Cool. What, so you like post pictures online and stuff? Write about your recent trip to California. That's awesome. Sweet. 

I've had this conversation numerous times. I usually just smile and nod. I mean, I like taking and uploading pictures & telling people about my trips with the rest of them,

BUT.

This little blog has been going on for over a year now, and I hope that with its existence you have maybe experienced with me something more than little pictures & all that jazz. 

My vision and my hope for this particular blog is to get you to laugh and enjoy where you are right now. Regardless of your circumstances, amongst all the chaos of life in its imperfect state, and in your imperfect state. Finding the beauty in that.

I want this to be a place where you can come knowing you are not alone in your mommy imperfections. I hope that in your day full of dishes piled up, screaming kids, smelly hair and burnt dinners that you could maybe, just maybe laugh at yourself. --I make fun of myself ALL. THE. TIME. and I find that these little imperfections and mishaps (that occur quite frequently) are simply, part of my charm (or so I like to tell myself)..

There is something to be said about being open and allowing yourself to be human. Enjoying where you are, striving to be better all the time. BUT knowing that even if this mom looks/seems way more put together than you and what not.. even she has hard days. Her kids have pooped on her at one point or another too. (JK..but for reals) We are all in this poopy mess of being moms together!

The main way I pray that God is using my blog is by getting us to a place where we can see that no matter what it is that you may be struggling with, God can use you. He can use you right now as you are in this moment. Don't wait till you have it all together, because you never will. (That's just the hard truth my friends)

You have a voice that needs to be heard. Someone needs to hear what you have to say. They need to hear your story. You could be used to set someone free for Gods glory. Think about it. It's pretty amazing stuff.

So...That is, mainly why I blog.


To show that your value remains infinite no matter where you are or no matter how messy your life is. Let your pain,& imperfections humble you so you can minister to others. This is what the word speaks of when it says- What the enemy means for harm God can turn around for His glory.


The enemy wants you to remain silent. He wants you ashamed of yourself. Jesus, wants you to know that you are redeemed and justified by Him alone. HIM. ALONE. How you fall short is null and void. Christ has spoken on your behalf. Truly knowing this WILL break the cycle of sin in your life. SHAME will keep you bound to sin. That's why the word says there is NOW NO condemnation in Christ. This will set the captives free.


Its powerful stuff. 


You are beyond valuable, never let anyone LIE to you and tell you different. Messy life and all, you are chosen to make a difference!


Love,
Sarah

21 day challenge..

One of my new favorite bloggers, (Summer at Le Musings of Moi) sparked this grand idea.

I am so guilty of saying- I should really do this, or that and then a few days later my compulsive nature tosses that goal right out the window. Most of you can relate, am I right?

I figured if I vowed on my little blog here I would be more apt to, you know to follow through with said goal. 

February 5th marks day 1 of 21 to give up Starbucks. I know, I know, my last blog was an ode to the place, but nevertheless my bank account will thank me (and in turn so will my husband.) SO here is to 21 days of sacrifice that will be well worth it.

I would say on average I spend 5 bucks a day at sbux. So I will have saved 105 dollars in 21 days.

Okay now I wanna challenge you to bite the bullet, and give something up for the next 21 days. What's it going to be? You can surely sacrifice anything for 21 days!

Let's do this.

XO

Sarah 

Starbucks date?

What is it about Starbucks that makes you wanna pour your heart out all over? Is it the atmosphere, the comfy chairs, and the Ingrid Michaelson songs they play in the background? 


Whatever it is, Starbucks does it for me. 

I love a good coffee date, although coffee isn't really my thing. I'm a tea girl all. the. way. (Venti iced 1 pump classic green tea to be exact.)

 Lets say today we met up at Sbux to talk life, you would witness me w/o any makeup in my yoga pants hair in a top knot. Cause that's just the kind of morning I had.. I would however put on a bra just for you! Bc I'm considerate like that..

I would probably wanna talk about Joya bc she is in the stage right now that I don't want to end. The stage where, even at her naughtiest I still wanna squeeze her cute cheeks and give her a kiss. 

I would tell you that my husband caught me being a complete dork doing the running man in our room when I thought no one was watching...We collapsed on the floor we laughed so hard..


Also, I'm on a health kick right now, so you'd hear about all that. Like how this coming up week will be my fourth consecutive week at yoga. There was a teensy tiny bit of bribery involved, my teacher is giving away a free one hour massage.. but I have already noticed a difference in the way I feel, so massage or no massage I'm a happy camper. I am also trying (but failing miserably) to become gluten free. I <3 carbs!


Then I would wanna talk about you! What is God doing in your life right now?


  I wanna hear from you! 




XO
Sarah

don't worry. it's just high school!

Sometimes life can become overwhelming. I think most of us can attest to this statement. The what ifs are usually the things that plague me. It seems nothing is certain.

Ups and downs. Highs and lows. I get motion sickness by the mere thought of it.

In all honestly, I can be a major stress ball. You might never know this, unless you are extremely close to me. I have become GREAT at hiding it through out the years.. I was a born worrier. I come from quite the lineage of fearful peeps, come to find out. It seems danger lurks behind every corner. That risks are rarely full of reward, and you should always play it safe, or you will end up robbed by a little old lady on a motorized scooter.. This is the thinking that I began to challenge lately...or years ago (change takes time!)

Anyways God is always molding us and shaping us for His glory right?! Thank you Jesus. One day as I sat worrying about something very petty, he gave me an analogy/vision/revelation that I thought was worth sharing.

I had this image in my head that replayed itself. I came home from school one day all emotional about all the drama of being "the new girl". My world was over, one of the "popular" girls said something mean to me in gym class in front of everyone! Gasp! How would I ever recover?! My mom looked me in the eye and said  "Oh Sarah, It's just High School."


Right now you might be wondering what relevance this has to this blog entry. But I know God gave me this vision to reveal to me the BIG picture in life, which is eternity..with Him. The one who fulfills us, loves us completely, will wipe every tear from our eye. We'll know no more heartbreak, have no more sickness etc.. pure peace. Sounds lovely, doesn't it?

The word says In James 4:14 that this life is like a vapor, you appear for a little while and vanish. After spending 4 years in High School, having been graduated for 9 years (Oh em gee I'm getting old).. I look back at my life, and High School seems like it was a vapor. How is it that at one time, I was so consumed with it?? Why didn't I just enjoy it instead of worrying all the time? I know what God was showing me, was that one day in eternity, I will look back at this life and ask myself.."Gosh why did I worry all the time? God YOU are so much bigger!"-- ETERNITY is INFINITELY bigger than this life that we are so consumed by. Take chances, DO not take life too seriously. LOVE even if it means getting hurt or rejected, and be what God created you to be. Pay the nay sayers absolutely no mind.. & Let the chips fall where they may knowing that this life is-- JUST High School compared to eternity w/ Jesus.

When things seem overwhelming and it seems like God is MIA on vacation (probably in Maui wearing a Tommy Bahama shirt singing karaoke or something) be confident that, just because something didn't go the way you deemed in your mind to be right, doesn't mean He wasn't in the midst of it. There is a lot of heartache in this world, but take heart bc he has overcome it, and if that's where your faith lies you will overcome it too. Rise above the trouble setting your eyes on Him the author and finisher of your faith(Hebrews 12:2).

Truth is we'll never know why a lot of bad things happen, and that is okay. It bothers me, but it's okay. Because what we do know for certain is that God is ever present, and always has a great ending to this somewhat unpredictable and tumultuous life, and that is where our mind should be. That is where our hope should lie and where our treasures should be stored.

Ramble Ramble...Life Lately

Happy New Year lovelies! Thanks for sticking with me, since my posts have practically been non existent for the past, what was it, two months?? I guess the Holiday hustle got the best of me or something..(or something is probably the more likely cause.)

Anywhoo..Lately we have been busy enjoying life, family, friends and this Ahhmazing 70 degree weather. Our days have consisted of the Phoenix Zoo, the park, date nights, bike rides, you know the usual. It feels extremely nice to break out my good ol' rainbows and head out to the goodness of an AZ winter. Makes me remember why it is we stick around here. Remind me of this once I start complaining again in June, would you?

Anyways here is a look at life lately instagrammed ;)

Wishing you all the best year you've ever experienced in 2012!! :)!! I pray that you would see all the good that I know God has in store for each and every one of you!!!

Romans 15:13

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Mommy Confessions

Have you ever thought to yourself, surely I must be the only mom who has ever felt this way... Or if any other mom knew I just did that, I wouldn't be invited to play group next week..Well I'm here to tell you that you're probably not alone.

I used to think I was a mommy reject with all of my quirks, until I got a little more open with some other mommas out there and then realized, Okay I am pretty normal. Well kind of. 

For example my daughter Joya and I color together a lot, well sometimes she likes to reach over to my picture and give it her own little personal touch..cute right? Some might think so, not me..nope not at all. I think I must be harboring some type of resentment from kindergarten or something... I mean this innocent little gesture irritates me like nothing else. Of course I smile and kindly direct her little hand back onto her paper (geez little girl don't waste my flavor)..but anyways I remember thinking I was nuts for this until I met my friend Alexa who also has a daughter Joya's age, and guess what the same thing drives her nuts!  I then mentioned it to my mom and what do you know..I used to drive her nuts the same way, ahh the memories.

Ok a couple more weird mom things I am guilty of:

1.eggos for dinner

2.Not liking the park (don't write me hate mail)

3.Bribing obedience w/ candy in public settings..

4.Telling her that when it rains Jesus is crying bc you were naughty. (totally kidding on that one)

 Okay now 'fess up..you know you serve eggos for dinner sometimes..

i'm turning into my mother.

I've heard it said before that there's a certain defining moment when you know for sure, that you are becoming your mother.

In this case my defining moment would have to be the really randomly awesome songs I make up while cleaning the house as of late. They usually go something like this.

"Hey Laund-da-rey you're a cleaning mystery. I will invent disposable clothes (that r recycle friendly) and then you'll be history.."

Okay don't judge me or my mom.. we just sing about everything we do. It's genetic. My grandma does it too.

Also I have become quite the water advocate. My mom always says "You don't want to be a wilted flower!" and now anytime anyone is complaining about a headache, hangnail etc-- I know the answer!

"You're dehydrated and need to drink 8 large glasses of water a day! That will fix your hangnail issues I'm sure..."

Not to mention that you need more fiber in your diet!... and sugar is the devil!! (even though we eat a lot of it, we still claim it to be evil..do as we say, not as we do..)

Anyways here is my cute mom that I am slowly but surely morphing into...