You're Gonna Wanna Come...

God sometimes gives me great revelations or breakthoughs...in the bathtub. It may have something to do with the fact that it's one of the only rooms that I can LOCK everyone else OUT. Here's what happened last night...


I've mentioned before that I happen to love my tiny town...and the tiny-towns folks. I was thinking about all the different faces I'd seen today...wondering what was really going on in their lives...wondering how many of them need hope, or a friend to talk to. Praying for God to bring them across my path, and for the courage and discernment to know what to say and how to say it.

Ben and I spend lot's of time wondering how to get people through the doors of our tiny church. We know, ultimately, it's God who brings them...what I mean, is figuring out what it is God wants us to do in His plan for bringing them. Much of our first two years here has been spent just getting to know people...and trying to show them we're not as weird as they may think we are (ok, we are weird...but ya know what I mean.) The more I get to know people...the more I love this tiny town...and the more I want them to come to our church...not for the mere fact of attending church...but because I know they'll encounter Jesus...and I know how He changed my life...and how He can change theirs. That's all.


All of this, led me to the "Top 10 Reasons" people in my tiny town should come to our church...be prepared, these are highly spiritual reasons.


10 - We have orange pews. Who else has orange pews?!? They're quite comfy, and I'm pretty sure, eventually, that particular shade of orange is going to be a rockin color again.

9 - We have "First" in the name of our church...which means we were first, and obviously, First implies best. *wink, wink*

8 - If you live in tiny-town....we are totally within walking distance from every.single. house.

7 - We are the only church in town with a parking lot.

6 - You are free to drink coffee or pop or whatever (non-alcoholic) drink you would like to during Sunday School.

5 - If you even have a smidgen of musical talent, you will be the super-star of our worship team...ok, so we don't really have a "worship team" yet because we need some more people who can sing...but still...

4 - You can sit in the same pew & same spot every Sunday. Consistency people, consistency.

3 - The Pastor is very attractive. Ok, scratch that one...that one's just for me ;)

2 - There are so many kids, that your children being naughty in church will not even be noticed!

1 - Those of us already there, consider ourselves to be "the chief of sinners," saved by His grace...I promise you'll fit.

Seriously, I should have made it a top 20 list, because there's so much more! HA! Love this little church...love the people in it, and love this tiny-town!

It seems that my mind is totally preoccupied with the terrible loss that Steven Curtis Chapman and his family are experiencing. It's hard for me to wrap my mind around. It does remind me that life is so full of great joy and terrible pain...and time is no guarantee...I need to love those around me today, because I don't know what tomorrow holds.

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It Is That Bad...

I'm having one of those weeks, where I have a bunch of stuff that needs to get done...and I haven't fully completed any of it. I start one project, and instead of completing it, I get distracted by something else...which is what this post is going to be...distracting.

I give you...the dining room wall:See those lovely spots? I did that. Our walls our textured (because they're really old and texture hides cracks) so when the boys, throw stuff at them or fall into them, the paint rubs off leaving white scuff marks all over the place. I decided to fix them...with the WRONG color of paint. Apparently I have a little obsession with the mocha/gingerbread color...5 different gallons of it in the basement, none matching this wall. Where is the paint?!? I've driven myself nuts trying to find it...now I will have to re-paint the entire ROOM. Nice going, Sarah. I could kick myself.

Next: The desk in our home-office:

What you can't see, is the four other canvas baskets filled with more papers that are begging to be filed/shredded. The problem is...the computer...evil little Dell is sitting right there on THAT desk. I start sorting, and then I hear the blogs calling me...or those dang Webkinz games (but I don't want to discuss that.)

And, in case I've deceived you all with the magical abilities that the flash of a camera has on softening flaws...I give you me, in all my scuzziness. No make-up, hair hasn't been washed in 2 days...TWO days...don't worry...I'm FOR SURE getting in the shower after I get this posted. Seriously, ya'll should be feeling pretty darn good about yourselves right now, am I right!?!

When I logged on this morning I found some sweet, sweet comments from a new blog friend, Jodie. She was commenting on this post. She wrote that she "bet's my scuzzy isn't that bad." So sweet of her. So wish she was right :)

Let's all praise God today for shampoo, and make-up...and flash photography! (Although I am SO PROUD of myself for FINALLY figuring out how to turn off the flash on my camera!! WOO HOO! Go me.)

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Who From Our Do

I feel there's something you should know. I am a DVR freak. For those of you who may not have experienced this amazing machine, let me explain to you (in very technical terms) what it does.



It records (very simply) TV programs. It pauses live TV. It enables me to watch TV without commercials. WITHOUT COMMERCIALS. I adore it. If you don't have one...you need one. Think of all that precious time you'll save, not watching commercials! Seriously, go get one...now. (Unless you don't watch TV...then you probably don't need one)



One of the programs I record and watch, fairly regularly is Joyce Meyer. She speaks my language...direct and to the point. Joyce and I have some minor disagreements on a few (doctrinal) things, but it has not gotten in the way of our TV friendship. Last night, as I watched, much of the stuff she said really resonated, and I can't get it out of my head. Guess what that means?!? Bullet points.

• We have to separate our "Who" from our "Do." Who we are is not based on what we do. Our "do" is sometimes going to be good, and sometimes it's not...it doesn't change our "who." Sure, we want to do what's right, to show our love for Him, but in our humanness we will fail...a lot...do not be deceived that God's love for you changes because of your "do." His love for you is because of your "who." (OK, her explanation was better, but you get the point)


• God asks us to do certain stuff, that seems hard, like FORGIVE, for OUR benefit. Everything He requires of us, is because He loves us...it is for our GOOD.


• When someone hurts us, and we harbor unforgiveness, we often expect that person (and everyone else) to repay us for that debt. But truthfully, they can never repay us. No matter how much we try to collect from them, they can't give us back what was taken. *deep breath* Only God can bring restoration where something was taken away.

There's more...but this is what I'm thinking on today...

Happy Tuesday, Friends!

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Just Do It For Me...

What better to talk about on a Monday than poop?!? I hate potty training. Despise it. I am bad at it. My kids are bad at it. Jake is almost 3...in our house, that means it's that time...the battle is oh-so-on.

We have one bathroom in our house...upstairs. We have one lazy toddler who has decided that it's easier to poop in his diaper DOWNSTAIRS than to have to go UPSTAIRS to sit on the potty. I feel his pain...after all, I'm the one who almost moved her coffee pot to the office...I'm not in denial, I know where he gets his laziness from ;) BUT, I am the mommy. Mommy is tired, and not to mention grossed out by changing the diapers of an almost 3 year old.

Here's my bright idea. We keep his diapers, upstairs in his room. I'm now making him (rather than me) go upstairs to retrieve his own diaper when he needs to be changed, in hopes that he will start to decide that it really would be easier to just go on the potty. Great idea...if my child were not so stinking STUBBORN!

Here's the scenario all day long...

Jake: "I poopy"

Me: "Go upstairs and get a diaper"

Jake: "No, you do it"

Me: "If you want to be changed, you go get the diaper"

Jake: (talking to the dog) "Odie, you do it" (no response from Odie)

Jake: to Eli "Eli, you do it" when this doesn't work, he goes back to me....

It takes around a billion times of this conversation before he eventually heads upstairs and comes down with a diaper. Every. Single. Time. *silent scream*

I have read, watched, you name it, a ton of different stuff on potty training...what I really want, is for you to just take him away and bring him back when he is potty trained. Is that too much to ask?

(I should note...that if there happen to be any weirdos out there (with no sense of humor) reading this...I do Not actually want you to take my child away...ya never know :)

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We Met at TJ MAX

Yesterday, my mom watched the kids for awhile so my sister and I could go shopping...with NO KIDS!!

We went to TJ MAX because I had a lovely gift card burning a whole in my pocket. That's where I met this lovely- shiny- perfect- shade of green- had my name all over it- purse!

I have to share it with you...so that you to may bask in its cuteness. I'm all about sharing the love. Here it is, my friends....Here. It. IS...

Hmmm...glad I could share something so spiritual with you on this Lord's Day. Maybe I should've saved this for tomorrow... *smiles!*

Happy Sunday!

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Is There Another Word For Random?

So far this Saturday morning I have managed to consume (inhale) two pieces of cake and 1/2 a pot of coffee for breakfast. All while trying to figure out the wonderful world of Webkinz. Oh you heard me right. We got Noah one for his birthday...he's been wanting one...and I had no idea how in-depth caring for a stuffed animal could be! Two hours of my life is now gone...thanks to our new friend, "Bucky", the "B&W Cheeky Dog." (really, I'm not making this stuff up, that's really the description this dog came with!)



This was the first of the three birthday parties Noah will have. Our families are both large, so we have to split up the parties...mine, Ben's, and my dad. Last night we had my dad and siblings over for supper. It went really well. I am praying that the Holy Spirit would help me know how to lavish love on my dad in a way that he can feel it or receive it, because it may look much different that what I think. I was reading in Philippians this morning, and came across this verse that really spoke to me...

Philippians 1:19 "I am going to keep on being glad, for I know that as you pray for me, and as the Holy Spirit helps me, this is all going to turn out for my good."

I keep reading and re-reading your comments from this. They bless me over and over. Now, if I could just figure out how to over-come my computer idiotness and learn how to print them off...baby steps....baby steps.

Enjoy your Saturday!

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Before and After...Again

I have to say a HUGE thanks to my friend, Shell, who made the amazing header! Doesn't it look fabulous!?! Getting it loaded was a big pain in the butt (for her...I gave up after 2 seconds.) She's super talented...and preggo right now and so stinking cute! I love her. You should probably go tell her thank you for saving you from looking at my generic header for ONE MORE DAY!

Ya'll know I LOVE a good before & after theme. It probably explains why I feel the need to watch any sort of make-over show, or buy any magazine that has before & after shots...there's just something about it...the transformation inspires me.


So, I've been talking about my first born here and here, oh yeah, and here. Today he turns 7. I will (of course) spend the day reminiscing about the day of his birth. I've already looked through the photo album, twice. I will spare you the details, except to say (again) that he was 9lbs 13 oz, I was induced, pushed for a hour and a half and had a 4th degree tear (for those of you who've had this, I can feel your empathy...for those who haven't, don't worry, I won't describe it for you.) He was perfect. He was my first. He made me a mom...and my love for him cannot be put into words.




So, my friends, you deserve before & after shots.

Before:

After:

Time really does go so, so fast. I want to remember every little detail of him...like his cute little smile with teeth missing all over the place. In seven more years he will be 14...excuse me while I go bawl....ok, really I'm fine :) I know, in my head, that Noah was not given to me so that I could keep him...he was given to me by the Lord for me to love, and train. To help him become a man of God, so that he could grow....UP...but my heart wants to keep him small....just for awhile longer...Happy Birthday precious boy.

This is totally off the subject, BUT, this morning, I actually contemplated moving the coffee-maker to the desk in the office. I mean, really, who says the coffee-maker HAS to go in the kitchen?!? There's room on the desk...and it would save me about 17 steps each way...we're talking 34 steps each time I need a refill! (and yes, I actually had to write 17+17 on paper to add it.) I think this is genius. Pure genius.

Happy Friday, friends!!!

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