I mean it!

Billy and I are going to a marriage small group on Sunday nights.
I am hosting a young married women's small group on Wednesday nights.

Needless to say, I've been getting my learn on!

The biggest thing that I have been learning is being intentional.  Whether it is in my marriage, my walk with God, my relationship with my friends, I often am a participant but not necessarily "meaning it" specifically.

How do I go from being an unintentional wife and friend to an intentional one?

Ask myself questions.  Measure my decisions.  

Am I doing things to serve my husband?  Am I praying for him specifically... for his job, for his ministry?  Am I paying attention to what makes him feel loved and then doing them?

Am I meeting with friends and girls just to get to know them on a deeper level?  Is it important to me to love them as Christ loves them?  Do people trust me not just because of my character, but because of my consistency?

Am I taking time to seek God on a daily basis?  Am I bringing my burdens and questions before Him, or am I checking things off of my list?  Am I journaling what He is teaching me?  Do I surround myself with people that hold me accountable?

What kind of questions do you ask yourself?

I know that this is more serious.  But I wouldn't be real with you, my friends, if I couldn't say that God has been putting this on my heart, and it means so much to share it with you!

Things I should do...

I should iron...  Sometimes, when I look in my closet, I go, "I don't have anything to wear!" because half of it needs to be ironed.  Don't get me wrong, I am a great iron-er.  I just feel like it is an extra hassle.  I often find myself using this amazing stuff:

I should take my vitamins... I really should.  I am just very forgetful when it comes to consistently taking them.  Mom, please don't be reading this.  It's terrible, I know.  When I am tired at 3 in the afternoon, I remember.  But not in the morning.  Maybe if I took my vitamins, I wouldn't be so forgetful.  It's such a vicious cycle, this vitamin thing.

I should drink less Starbucks... It would save money.  I may lose weight.  But when my husband says, "You pay for the atmosphere," he's right.  I don't think he means it in a positive way, but I do.  I adore the atmosphere.  Maybe I should start getting waters or something and just go sit.  I just don't know if they'd like me as much.  I wouldn't even like me as much.

Lovely Mondays... I'm Back!

I'm linking up today to Carissa's blog for the first time in a while!

1. I decided to make today casual monday.  I almost ironed and coiffed, and then I thought, no!  I want to wear a t-shirt.  So I did.  It's a free country.  Maybe tomorrow I will make more of an effort, but let me tell you, I am super comfy.

2. One of my best friends, Chelsie, from ...love, chelsie, needs our prayers!  She is in the hospital with some kidney issues, and it has not been the easiest thing.  If you think about it, swing over to her blog and leave her a lovely message!

3. Today, I'm getting a new phone.  Even though I looked and looked at iPhones, I just couldn't get myself to do it.  I decided on a Droid, but I'm not sure which one yet.  Do you know what this means, though?  I can read all of your blogs on the go! Yay!



4. My hurting hubby is having to wear one of these:

Poor thing!  He loves it though.  It makes his twenty-something self look like he's dressing up as a baby boomer. 

5. I'm so glad to be back.  I have missed you all so so so much!

I'm Still Alive!

Hello, World.  I've missed you.
I promise I have many good reasons to have been gone.  It has been QUITE the ride the last few weeks.

First, my grandfather had cancer in his kidney.  He had surgery, and it is all gone, but it was quite time and emotion consuming.  We are SO thankful that he is alright, but he is still recovering.

I have also started classes.  Though I feel like this is my easiest semester so far, I also feel like I am the busiest I have been so far.  I have to remind myself to breathe (not literally, but you know).

To add to that, my husband has sprained a muscle in his back.  It is not a fun thing.  Thankfully he is healing slowly, but slowly is the key word.  I never realized how helpful he was around the house and just in general until he couldn't help.  I'm so thankful for him.  I know more than anything, he's ready to get back on his feet.

Beyond that, I have been designing a few semi-professional websites (not blogs) that have taken my internet time.

Also, (I know, you're getting worn out, too), I have started small group again with an amazing group of young married women.  That is not a negative thing, but it does add to the busy-ness.  It has been so great so far.

Well, I'm sure you are just ready for me to get on with it.  Hopefully, I'm truly back.  I feel as if I've gotten my second emotional and spiritual wind, and I've been re-inspired to blog.  I might even re-design myself.  Actually, I probably will.

Last, but not least, the winner of the giveaway (from a few weeks ago... sorry!) is Cait from The Blessed Life!  Yay!  Cait, to claim your prize, please email me at sarahannsbonmot@gmail.com!

Thank you for your patience, sweet friends.
I'm back now!

A Better Perspective

I'm linking up with Natalie's Blessing Box today.

• I'm so blessed to have a full ride to school.  Though it's been wearing me out lately, it was a God-given gift, and I am thankful.
• I'm blessed to have the room for guests to stay.  We are having a lovely lady stay with us this week, and I love that God has given us the availability to house people!
• I'm blessed to have a husband who loves me and stands by me in my certain, um, crazy times.  
• I'm blessed to be able to see and breathe, though allergies in the blessed Carolina are a slight hindrance.

Thanks, Natalie, for the reminder to remember our blessings.  It puts a much better spin on life!

Go join up if you haven't already!

Giveaway!

If you were here for my first giveaway, this may look a bit familiar.
However, this awesome organization, NightLight International, has come out with an entirely new line, and I couldn't wait  to share it with you all!

If you don't know about NightLight, they help bring hope to sexually enslaved victims in Thailand and the US.  They are a nonprofit organization that also has a jewelry business attached.  They help girls get out of prostitution and sexual slavery by giving them jobs in this jewelry company.
The girls make, design, and learn how to sell the jewelry.  It's such an amazing cause, and the peices are just divine!

Today, I'm giving away your choice of one of these:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

To win:

Blog about this giveaway (1)
Comment that you are a follower (1)
Tell me your favorite peice on NightLightInternational.com (1)
Blog about an organization that you like (3)

That's 6 chances!

The giveaway closes next Friday, September 10!

Oh, Lady!

One of my friends, Baillie, always says "Oh my Lady!" in place of "Oh my gosh/goodness/etc."

Well, today, I feel like saying, "Oh my Lady..."  literally.

Sometimes, being a lady is a hard thing.  Don't get me wrong, I adore womanhood, but sometimes, I just get tired.  I get tired of makeup, of hair (and I have lots and lots of it!), and of that monthly reminder that I'm going to act over the top, cry at a commercial, cry when I'm making dinner, and, well, cry when I get caught at a red light.

Sometimes, I feel like nobody understands.  Sometimes, I feel out of control.

Until I get a dozen roses.  Or, until I can connect and empathize with somebody emotionally.  Or, when I meet with a friend for coffee and find a great level of camaraderie.

Or, until I see this commercial...

Thank goodness we're not alone.