Home for the Holidays

Don't you like the title? Very original. Not that I've actually traveled home for the holidays. I've just pretty much stayed here and we don't go anywhere special. But it does mean that I get to stay here a lot more than when I have school. Pretty much this is the time of year when we have healthy doses of family time. By the time spring semestr starts, we'll all be tired of one another. Just kidding. I hope.

Speaking of which, I went yesterday to meet the teacher I will be doing my student teaching with. Y'all, she is just precious to me already! She had never met me and wasn't expecting me, but before I could get my full name out of my mouth, she grabbed me up into the biggest hug. They were finishing up their Christmas party and I got to go around and play and talk with the kids. It was great. I cannot wait to start. More on this as it pans out.

As for everything else, school came to a close for me last Friday. All A's. It was nothign short of a miracle from God. That last month or so got to me. I don't know if I've ever been so stressed and anxious in my life. Honestly, as a result of all of that, I'm sad to say it cut into my spiritual life. I still love church and my Lord most of all, but I was pretty much burnt out and still sort of am. Not to sound like I'm griping, but it's been hard because all the other adults helping me with the youth have pretty much quit. Not to say that some others haven't stepped up, but no one that is quite there as much as the ones were before. And something else that has gotten me down is that there are no other young adults that come consistently. Literally, I'm the only one. My other two best friends ( a guy and a girl) literally haven't been in over a month. One is a recluse (literally) who can't see why she has to come to church to worship God. She needs prayer because she doesn't get out of her house for a week at a time and has no social interaction with anybody. My other friend is getting married in March, and quite frankly it scaes me that he can't commit to come to church while he single. What's going to happen when he gets married?

Hopefully I can spend this time getting closer to Him. I know that I am always happier whenever we have a great relationship, but I'm not goign to lie on here and say that we're doing great. We've been better, and I know it's my fault. It's so easy to act like you've got it all together spiritually on a blog when in real life it is in shambles, and when I started this I told myself that I wouldn't do that. Honesty hurts sometimes, but cn also be very freeing. :)

Hope y'all are doing great!

~Sarah

Exausted

Guys, life is exausting. It seems as much as I want to get on here and as much as it uplifts me, life just gets in the way. I hate it. Satan's definitely been around. I know things could be a lot worse than they are and my problems are very minute, but goodness life just seems chaotic right now. Deadlines, full time practicum, teaching youth is just all wearing me out. I need a break. Not from church or teaching the youth, which I love, but goodness it's just one thing after the other lately.

God has definitely been giving me a very good lesson to learn about gossiping. Ladies, it is not a good thing. The way I've seen it used these past few weeks make it seem like an addiction, which partly is true. I've seen people use it and be demeaning or just out of pure fun. Not to say that I'm perfect in this category, but it is not right to talk about a student and their actions or lack of intelligence in front of them. That is just wrong. Let me get off my soapbox.

It's easy sometimes when life gets in the way to overlook the blessings God has given you. My cousin that broke her ankle went back to the doctor today. He said the surgery and healign has gone GREAT and much better than expected. The bone is still alive, which is a miracle! SHe sent me picture messages on my phone of pics of her foot, and y'all, you can't even tell the difference between her foot and leg. It's that swollen. Please contine to keep her in yor prayers because she is still in a lot of pain.

How are you doing? :)

~Sarah

To Do or..Wait to Do

Hi guys. It's been a busy, long , hectic week. I could go on with the adjectives on this one. I won't bore you however.

First off, I have a big prayer request. My cousin, 17 years old, had broke her ankle. Now, this might not seem big, but she's a gymnast. And not just a gymnast, but one who is currently the level 10 National YMCA gymnast. So yes, it is a big deal, especially when her doctor told her she might not be able to do gymnastics again. Please keep her in your prayers. She truly loves the Lord, so pray that this doesn't hinder her walk with Him.

Ok, on to my decision I have to make. As you know, I will be graduating in May (*woopwoop!*). By the way, I just got my student teaching placement. 1st grade. I'm sooo happy. Anywho, I am not sure where the Lord is really leading me. I know I want to start off teaching. That is a definite. It's just, I don't know what to do afterwards. Does God want me to do this for the rest of my life? I haven't received a clear answer on this yet. Something I've been looking in to is a Masters in Religion with the concentration on Biblical studies from Liberty University. Y'all, I am so stinkin' excited about the prospect of actually getting a Bible degree. I would love to jump right in after I graduate with my bachelors. However, I know the practical thing to do is to go ahead and get my degree in education. I mean, if I stay in it, I do need it. But I hate the thought of more education classes. I do not like them and am not learning anything from them. Any comments on this type of thing are welcome. :)

So...I guess what I am saying is that right now I am really not sure where the Lord is leading me. I know what my heart wants, I know what my head is telling me, but I don't know the most impotant thing...where does He want and need me to be?

~Sarah

Christian T-Shirt...Misunderstood and Offended

3So, I have a question for you. What do you think about wearing Christain t-shirts? I, for one, and all for it. However, as I was wearing one today, many things I haven't thought of came to my mind. Many people think the are doing people a favor and telling others about Jesus by wearing a t-shirt that professes the Christian faith. And, yes, it does sometimes. However, I realized, how would it look to an unbeliever if a person that was wearing a Christian shirt was gossping about things, or talking about how hey partied all weekend, or any other kind of thing like that? Yes,I know how no one is perfect, not even Christians. But this just struck me today. When I'm wearing a t-shirt that professes Jesus being my Savior, I sure as better be acting like I should. He is not one to offend or fool around with. So...what's your opinion or thoughts on this?

On the the story. Well, I wore my "Relationship Not Religion" shirt today. Now, I bought this shirt at a conference that basically changed my life this past summer. Needless to say, it sums me up and is very special to me. Yet, someone totally offended me today about it.ight in the middle of math, when we were working in partners, my math teacher came over and said he liked it and asked where I got it from. I told him a yout hevangelism conference, and that threw him off and turned him off at the same time. Ya'll he totally took one of my favorite t-shirts and twisted around the meaning. I don't know how to say this, and I hope I don't offend anyone because I don't mean to, but this is a man who professes to be agnostic and ...well...has a boyfriend. Now do you get what he thought it meant? Basically that relationships (ANY kind I guess he was meaning if you get my point) is more important that religion. And that religion shouldn't govern your lives. I think. I could be wrong. But this offended me. I DO NOT want anyone to think of me that way. I do not defend or support that belief at all. I was thinking about wearing a blatant Chrisitan t-shirt to his next class to show my belief, but what do you think?

~Sarah

In a Rush

Yes, I am sitting here in Books-A-Million. And Yes, I am suppose to be doing my homework, which I am so far behind on doing. But I miss writing on here and haven't in forever, so here it goes.

I'm back (duh!) from Washington D.C. I have never been so glad to be back home. The students I had on my group, well most of them, were not very respectful and did not want to listen to me. WHich was bad, because I was basically their mama for a week in a strange city. Now, if I was 10, I would have listened carefully to the adult, because I would have bee nworried I would have gotten lost. Not these kids. *sigh* I love my home. I am NOT a city girl. Gotta have my cow pastures and rivers.

One thing I desperately missed suring this week was having my alone time with Him. I mean, I did each day, but not as long or a personal as I am used to. This trip was exausting, both mentally and physically. By the time it was time for me to go to bed, I had absolutely no energy. And I am not in the best mood when I get up at 4:30 in the morning. Just...no. So I definintely missed that.

I hve made up for it by listening to some sermons on the radio. I listened to one yesterday that blew my mind. The pastor was talking about things that scientists have just not discovered that are supported in scripture. For example, that the earth is round, or the events of the water cycle, or that the planets revolve around the sun and the sun is not stationary. It is moving, slowly, but moving. Now, how cool is that?! This is something thatI definintely want to research more.

Time to study. Talk to y'all soon!

Love in Him,

Sarah

Randomness List

Umm...hi. Yes, I'm the girl who hardly ever gets to post anymore. I blame school. With all the time I spend on the computer for school, it doesn't seem like much of a relaxation thing anymore. However, I feel like posting. So I am. Here it goes.

1) First thing I have been meaning badly to post about is the movie Fireproof! I went to go see it the Monday after it came out with my grandparents (free ticket wooo!). And again that Friday to take my best friend. It was great both times. From the middle on, I could hear sniffles all around the theater. Yes, I shed a few tears (very unusual for me!), but people around me were boohooing. Ya'll, this movie is the bomb (and yes, I know that hardly anybody uses that word anymore, but I used it alot in middle school. It fits here). I pray it will be used to minister to people's lives and marriages. God can do amazing things, and really did with the people that put this movie together. I urge yout ogo see it if you haven't already!

2) I, yes me, have managed to make a 96, 93 and a 100 on the three big projects I have turned in. So excited, especially about the math grade, 93. It's a hard class that does not have anythign to do with what I will be teaching. And the other grades are from a teacher who grades very strictly on, gasp, grammar. I know, hard to imagine by reading this that I am a great grammar person, but I can deal.

3) During my 4 hour break tomorrow, I have no homework. Do you know what this means? Yep, a whole couple of uninterrupted hours at Books a Million without having to study for anything. Ya'll, it's a blessing from God. He must love me.

4) Did I mention I'm leaving Saturday for Washington DC? And did I mention it's absolutely free for me? So excited here.

5) I got some new pants from New York & Co. You should go buy some. They are the best ever. And half off too! My new favorite store.

6) If you have time, please pray for my church. Some people are down about things that are happening, but I am so excited about what God has put into my mom and I's mind to do. Word of advice, you get what you put into church. If you put in little, you get little, so don't complain. If you try and do your best, you will get alot out of it. God is doing amazing things here. I'm sure I'll have more on this as the time goes by.

I think that's it. If I think of anythign else, I'll be back. I'm pretty boring lately. Still blaming it on school.

Love in Christ,

~Sarah

I've been tagged

Okay, now I've got to give you 7 facts about myself, all because of Ashley (just kidding, love ya!). I'll try and make them interesting.

1) I'm pretty short. Like 5'1" short. But I like it. I just hope my future husband isn't 7 feet tall.

2) I don't like the cold. I only want it to be cold from Halloween until New Years. After that, I'm all ready to head to the beach!

3) I have a younger brother (17) and sister(10) who are growing up WAY TOO FAST. I mean, if they're that old, it only makes me older! I love them to death and hope they hold fast to the Lord their whole life.

4) I absolutely hate writing and making grammar and punctuation mistakes. I know I do whenever I don't proofread, but it totally grates on my nerves. Even in high school writing notes I was the one who never abbreviated and hated those who wrote out b4 or l8r. Sister here doesn't do that!

5) I was talking with a professor yesterday, and she had to ask where I lived. Why? Because I had a totally strong southern accent. Which was quite funny because the friend I was with is usually the one who gets called for that.

6) I'm going to Washington DC next weekend for a week. So excited here! It's with the People 2 People organization. If you are plannign on being a teacher, you can go be a facilatator. And it's completely free lodging, air fares, food, etc. All I'm taking is for souvenirs.

7) I'm am so excited about fall finally being here! Like, you just don't understand. Seriously, I've already been playing Christmas music. And bought some Pumpkin Spice room spray from Bath & Body Works.

Now, to spread the love, I'm going to tag Jamey!