The Itch

Sometimes, I get the itch to do something wild.  Well, out of the ordinary.  My "wild" would be not going to school and following a schedule.  Today I have the itch to:

1.  Visit the small bookstore down the road!  It's privately owned, and in a tiny, adorable old house, but never open when I'm free (evenings and Sunday afternoons).

2.  Ride a bike in Downtown Charleston.  If you have never been there, you must visit.  It's just gorgeous and charming and I wish I were there today.

3.  Cook a super-gourmet 5-course meal for a bunch of people.

4.  Write something inspiring.  Maybe on a typewriter.

  

Is anyone else obsessed with these?  So vintage and adorable.

5.  Read poetry at a coffee house.  I have always wanted to try this.  Seriously, how cool and chic would that be?!

6. Go for a run.  If you know me, you know that I don't run, but today, I hear the birds chirping, and I think that if I did run, today would be great.

7.  Redecorate my living-room.  I love the way it looks now, but I also love change.  I love shopping at Target and Pier 1 for super cute pillows and frames and throws... If I had money, this would probably really happen today.

Today, I'm in love with this look (don't be fooled, my living room could never look like this):

(credit)

I won't do any of these things today - I have real life other plans - but wouldn't it be lovely!!??

Heart-to-Heart #1

I have had this awesome opportunity to have led small groups for girls for over 5 years now, which means that I've met a lot of girls.  I have found that there are some issues and thoughts that so many girls and women have, and that has led me to do a lot of studying on them.  Well, I thought I would share what I have learned.  I don't know if this will last, but if I run across something in my quiet time that reminds me of this, I'll do another "blog-isode" and we'll just see how it goes.  

Here's #1!  It might apply to you and/or somebody you know, and it might not.  But enjoy!

Dear Girl with Daddy Problems: 
I've met you way more often than I should.  I wish there were less of you out there!  Daddy's should not hurt you.  Daddy's should not leave your family.  Daddy's should not take their own lives.  And Daddy's should never ever ignore their little girls or not show up to things.  But sometimes it happens, and then you are left to deal with a life scarred by a man that you did not even choose.

I have talked to a lot of you.  I have heard awful things that break my heart over and over again.  I have heard you be open with your knowledge of how this has affected your relationships and your self confidence.  And sometimes, I don't know how to help.  Scratch that... a lot of times, I don't know how to help.

But there is someone who does.  There God wants to be the Father to the fatherless, but we have to let him.  This isn't always easy, especially if we have a lot of hurt inside.

First, I want you to know that God knows it hurts.  And I can tell you from experience that it is good for you to recognize that it hurts, too.  One of my favorite songs is Tenth Avenue North's "Hold My Heart" because it sings about going to God with broken hearts and knowing that he is the only answer.  And that is what he wants from you (Psalm 51 talks about being a broken sacrifice).  Don't try to patch it up or tape it together.  He is not blind to your heart's brokenness, and he wants it just like it is.

Also, I need you to know that God can heal you.  He wants to heal you and make you whole again, and it is possible.  In fact, God can use this in you.  I bet that this letter would be more effective if it came from one of you!  You can reach people and you can decide that you and your family will be different.  What an amazing opportunity!!

The biggest thing that I see in many of you (not all) is a feeling that you are not good enough.  You want somebody to love you, especially if you are scarred by thinking that the one person who should've loved you, didn't.  You put everything in a boyfriend or husband because he is a man that gives you worth.  You don't go after your dreams because your dad never told you that you were capable.  You settle.  But this is not how it has to be.  You are capable through Christ.  He is the Father to the fatherless, and he thinks that you are beautiful, gorgeous, and worth every minute of his time.  And he just adores the way you are, and he gave you big dreams.  Most of all, he wants to hold your heart, and help you realize just how valuable you are to him.

I want to be there to hold your hand.  Every single one of you.  This problem makes me so angry.  And it makes God angry.  He hates when innocent children are hurt.  And he wants to pick you up and give you a Daddy that is better than you thought you could have.  He wants to whisper in your ear that he loves you and believes in you.  He wants to give you the confidence that you feel was taken from you.  The best thing about the confidence he gives, though, is that it comes from a never-ending source, one that no earthly father could provide anyway.

I'm praying for you.  I'm going to write a book dedicated to you one day.  And I'm going to prove to you that there is a way to get over this.

Love,
Me.

If you have a situation like this, I was being serious, and I would like to write a book on this one day.  It is a big problem that I know God cares about.  If you would like to share, please don't hesitate to comment or email me at sarahannrogers09@gmail.com!  Thank you!

When I grow up...

I find myself watching a movie or a show or reading a book about people with cool (or at least I think so) jobs.  I always think, When I grow up, I am going to do that!  I know that sounds silly, but I seriously love the idea of so many things!  Here are a few that I have seen recently that I would like to try one day:

Fanciful Florist

I saw Love Happens the other day, and Jennifer Aniston plays a florist with the most adorable little shop and logo.  She knew all of these flower names, and she had a box with notes that she'd photocopied that touched her (that people sent to one another).  It was such a dreamy job.  I would forget that I hated botany class and have extensive allergies anytime I walk in a 1-mile radius of a blooming flower.  It could be magical.

Awkward-but-Cute Bookstore Owner

You got it!  Just like Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail.  I would read children's books to them, and I would know every book personally.  If you come to my small group, you know how I feel about books. I love them and they love me back.  They were my friends when I had none.  And I would spread that joy everywhere if I could.

BitterSweet Cake Decorator

I adore this book.  The heroine is a cake decorator that moves to a cabin in the mountains and learns all about life.  I would do that.  With Billy, of course.  I would love to know how to decorate cakes and be super creative.  I'm not really, in that area, but I won't show a picture of the last cake I decorated... A little bit embarrassing.

Your Highness

Ok.  So this will never happen, but a girl can dream, right?  In this book, a woman becomes a modern-day princess and falls in love with the prince she had an arranged marriage in.

This is the perfect career, except I don't know that I would want to be a Queen... Just Princess forever.

Advice Columnist

I don't want to be Dear Abby, exactly.  And I don't want my own star (though I have to admit, it's awesome that she got one for what she does!!).  But I would love to be an advice columnist for a young women's magazine.

Except I really really would love to do this in real life.  Really!

Am I the only one?  Does anyone else have dreams that aren't really what they want to do... 

but kind of?!

Sunday! Yay!

This is coming a bit late because I am stuck right in the middle of a take-home Shakespeare midterm due on Tuesday.  Yes, I know you are all jealous of this opportunity, but I am the one who gets to spend hours poring over iambic pentameter and renditions of wars and plots and magic and men starving women to get submission.  Yep, it's super exciting.  I can't wait to finish this so that I can return.  That's why I am not rambling!
Remember, if you do your sentence, link up in a comment.  Thanks!

Today's Sentence:

What we feed our flesh determines how healthy we are; we should think of our spirit the same way.

Decidedly Thankful

I got this great idea from my friend Melissa's blog.  I am stealing it because it's great, and I need to learn to be more positive and follow this verse:

Things I wish I had time for right now:

1. Writing consistently each day.
2. Working out at the YMCA because they have awesome classes.
3. Meeting with more girls one-on-one, especially my small group girls.
4. Reading my lovely Christian Romance books.
5. Cleaning and organizing more efficiently.

Things I am thankful for right now:

1. The opportunity to meet with the girls I do meet with and how much God's teaching me.
2. My husband and his laid back attitude that balances me when I'm not-so-relaxed or even not-so-nice.
3. The classes I'm taking that are increasing my knowledge about writing.
4. My mom, who has become more of a best friend and confidant than ever before.
5. The ability and opportunity to do any ministry, even if it does take up our time.  It's amazing to pour out and empty yourself and even be weak enough to lean on God.  He is strongest then.

Thanks, Melissa, for this great idea!

Also, any South Carolinian readers, please enter Alexa Chloe's giveaway!  

Anyone would be lucky to do an awesome photoshoot with her!