A Little Loco

In December, Billy and I decided that I needed to cut down on my time at work so that I wouldn't be so stressed.  It's been wonderful, but, being the crazy achievement needer (not really a word) that I am, I have just packed the time that I freed up.  Between designing, studying, having small group, meeting with people, and making an effort to lose weight (cause now I'm up to TWENTY pounds off), I have hardly had time to even think about my own blog.  It's so terribly sad!  I miss you all so much!

That's why I have decided to take this moment, in between blog designing and watching The Biggest Loser in the background (I cry every single time I watch this), to bring you in to my living room.  I wish we could all have an ice-cream party and catch up.  My life has been a little crazy, and I've been an emotional roller-coaster lately, but I'm so happy, and I'm so blessed.

If we were meeting for coffee, I'd tell you that the verse that I've been really focusing on in our life right now is:

I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.    -Revelation 3:8

I would encourage you to take some time this week to take a breath and realize how blessed you are!  You are all blessings to my life even when I can't be here as much as I'd love!

PS - Look, friends!  I wasn't going to share this, but I just can't help it!  I've now lost 20lbs! Thank you for all of your support!

My New Favorite

Since I've been losing weight, I've really had to pick and choose which desserts I eat.  Surprisingly, I haven't felt like I've missed out.  Instead, my eyes have been opened to all the desserts I had been missing out on.  My newest favorite is from Carrabbas.  It's a cannoli and it's delectable. I ate two just last weekend, and they were on different occasions.  They make my mouth so so happy!

 

Sometimes, limiting yourself is the most rewarding because it teaches you what a real reward is.  And let me tell you, I plan to reward myself again and again with this delicious cylinder of happiness!

I'm Sorry

When I was younger, I used to apologize all of the time for any small thing.  I would forget to close the refrigerator door, and I'd apologize.  I'd bump into someone's arm, and I'd give them a double dose of "Sorry."  My dad once gave me a lecture on the unnecessary amount of times I let the word slip out of my mouth.  It was an security blanket for me.  If I said I was sorry, people would see just how sweet and unassuming I was.  Everyone knows that a sorry person is a nice person.

The problem is, I wasn't really sorry.

It's not that I never meant it, but I rarely did.  I don't think I knew the value of saying sorry until I grew up in age and grew up in Christ.  I always said it, because, well, it made me look good, and I was sure that nobody saw through my insecurity and repetition.  I probably needed to say sorry as much as I did, but I also needed to mean it.

I thought that meaning my apologies would have to be coupled with my admittance of failure, of missing the bar, of being just plain wrong.

I was right.

However, as I've gotten closer to Jesus, I've realized that the awful thing I thought I was avoiding is not in any way shape or form awful at all.  Who was I to think I could even attempt to have it all together?  Shame on me!  And if anyone didn't see through my disguises, shame on them, too!  If I could not express my failures and recognize my need to repent, not only do I cause myself and the people around me a disservice, I completely ruin the picture of what Jesus did on the Cross.  In empty apologies, I ignored the fact that I could in no way, shape, or form, measure up to where I was supposed to be.

Recently, I've made an extra effort to say sorry when I botch things up... with my husband, with my friends, with my small group, and with my God.  And honestly, I feel weight lifting off of my shoulders with each recognition of my failure, because I wasn't meant to do it alone.  Everytime I allow myself to be imperfect, I recognize Who's strength I'm leaning on.

Each time [God] said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.  -2 Corinthians 12:9

It's The Little Things

Yesterday, at 2:40, one of my favorite friends in the whole world had her sweet baby boy!  Thank you guys for anticipating this with me! I've missed you this week as I've been with her enjoying the whole process!

Tomorrow, I'm going to be posting which organization will be getting all of the proceeds from Bon Blog Designs!  Can't wait to share with you all! Thanks for having such a positive response to that post!

The Heart of It All

Well, as promised, today I'm sharing a bit of my heart on Bon Blog Designs and the changes I'm making.

I have been designing for about a year now, and I just love it.  It is a great outlet of creativity, and I get to know some awesome bloggers so well.  I love having the opportunity to help others and see their vision for their blogs.  Plus, I just feel as if I'm having a blast every time, and that makes it all worth it.

The other day, however, I was reading this lovely lady's blog and some of the organizations that she has on there, and I mentioned to Billy, "I wish I could start a business that just helped fight a cause."  Immediately, I felt God screaming into my head: "You already have a business."  And, then, not immediately, I prayed about it.  I talked to Billy about it.  He prayed about it.  We didn't need to take all of that time to think and pray; we pretty much knew what the next step was.

Also, oddly enough, I didn't have to think very hard about where to send the money.  I actually am not revealing that yet.  I'm still communicating with the organization, but hopefully by Wednesday, I'll be able to share with you all where the proceeds from Bon Blog Designs are all going.

I don't think that my consistent readers would be very surprised because you all know where my heart's at.  I'm more surprised that we haven't chosen to do this earlier.  I'm excited to share more about where the money's going.  Just know that it has something to do with Anti-Slavery and Prostitution.  (Again, who's surprised?!)

Total Eclipse of the Heart

When I was younger, and my dad was a missionary, we used to do street ministry, and one of the dramas was to the song of "Total Eclipse of the Heart"... I almost titled this post "Turn Around," but I just couldn't do it without thinking of that awful eighties song.  Some of you might love it, but hearing it 5600 times every summer makes your realize JUST how awful it really is.

That was entirely random and has nothing to do with this post.

I feel as if I'm always blogging about change.  I've had a change of heart, I've changed my mind, etc.  Every few weeks, I feel like change is coming around.  Now, I don't know if this is just my personality looking ahead to something new and getting excited about what's to come.  It might be.  Really, though, I think I should just blame life.  And I say, Thank God for Change.  I don't know, I just think that a consistent realization that I need to grow or mold in an area is good, it's right, and it's just a tiny bit exhausting.

Well, again, recently, I've been feeling more change coming on.  Obviously, life just happens, and big things change it.  And the change has been lots of that, but it's also been lots of my heart and my mind.

First, a life thing:  one of my very best friends, who I threw the baby shower for, is due TODAY!  I know that her life is about to change, and I feel as if our lives are about to get just a little bit sweeter because of this new life.  Not to mention, now, even my husband has baby fever, which he told me very strongly last night ("I want one, Sarah.  I want one really bad."  It was so cute that I didn't even correct his grammar to "badly").

 

I totally didn't watermark this picture.  No time.  If you'd like to steal it, go ahead.

Also, I've been losing weight.  I bet ya'll didn't even know.  But I've been working incredibly hard and so far, I've lost a good amount.  I've lost almost all of the happy marriage weight I put on and my jeans are fitting.  Sorry, no pictures here. 

Most recently, however, I've had a huge burden on my heart for a big change coming up with Bon Blog Designs.  I'm not quite ready to share, but I ask that you would join with me in prayer as I take the next few steps, and then definitely share with you all on Monday what's been going on.  Don't worry, nothing bad.  Also, I've been having more business than ever really, and that's thanks to all of you guys for spreading the word.  You're so lovely, and I can't wait to share it with you.

Make My Day

I have had a weird past few days not feeling so well.  I had a migraine I thought was going to make me throw up.  I have been weirdly busy and unproductive because of being so weird.
However, I am trying extra hard to be somewhat positive right now.
Something that just made it easier:

The guy I just walked by on the way to the coffee shop. I kind of barely know him, but I know overall, he's pretty nice.  I waved at him, trying to be nice (because I'm in a cranky mood, right now, nice is an effort), so I waved. 

Me: waves
Him: Hey, Sarah, right?
Me: Yep! Hi.
Him: Hey, I talked to your husband for a good ten minutes last night.
Me: Yeah, cool.
Him: Yeah... He really, really loves you.

And then we walked away. 

Thank you, random guy, of reminding me how blessed I am. 

PS - I really, really love my husband too...