Ann Voskamp's book... 1000 gifts

A dare to live fully, right where you are... is the tag-line of the book. So, as I always have since high school, I accept the dare. This blog was remade to be me giving thanks to God in order to help me think positively and be more grateful for the things I already have in life. After reading this book, it helps me to realize that a.) I'm not the only person who struggles with pessimistic tendencies, and b.) it's not as easy as it sounds to turn your thinking around in a day. Either way, I'm going to try, try again, and do my best to be changing. A pastor at TCC in Dubois once said that Earth is not the goal, you will never be "changed" here on earth, but the goal is to be changing in preparation for Heaven. So, here we go.

1.) I am thankful that work called and cancelled me this morning.

2.) for hot coffee that awakens

3.) for snuggles with husband

4.) for the leaves, orange, and red, and yellow

5.) for smell of baking goodies

Lord, You have blessed me beyond my wildest dreams already in this life, with a wonderful husband, a good job, the knowledge and will-power to make it through school (couldn't have done that on my own!) Living in such a wonderful city with such wonderful neighbors and landlords... The fact that we can walk to a place like White's park every day and take in the beauty of your creations, geese, seagulls, blue heron, changing of trees, children playing, running, laughing. I'm very thankful that we can live in an apartment like this, and that we make ends meet every month. I know others who have to work harder than I, and have difficulty making rent and bills at the end of the month. Lord, I pray that you would provide for families struggling, I pray that you would be with my Dad as he transitions, make this an easy move for him, make him open to your will, and comfort him, Lord. Forgive me for doubting you when I prayed for that before. Forgive me for not doing my best at work the other night, and thank you for convicting me of it, moving me, rustling within me to change. All these things, I thank you Lord. Amen

Love, Sara

enlightening trip home...

Josh and I went home over the weekend for two purposes, to see my grandfather (whose health is failing), and to clean out my things from my father's house (he's selling the house). Neither of these things were positive emotionally for me. I was feeling a lot of stress building up to going home, and then even the first day and a half we were there stress stress stress, but I realized somewhere along the way that it's not the end of the world, and ultimately I was trying harder to please people than to please God. God always redirects me when I get in too deep to see my way out. When I hit rock bottom, he lifts me up. When it all seems hopeless, he gives me hope. There is more to life than work and cleaning. There is time for family and loved ones. There is time to have hobbies - to read and quilt, and take Rigby for runs, and exercise, eat right. There is more to life than the day-to-day stuff. I was fixated on "when will we have a house", and "will we be moving back to Pittsburgh for sure" and "Josh is never able to spend time with me because of all his homework" (which is inaccurate) and wasn't thinking about how wonderful this time in our lives is. We're making a foundation for our future. There are bright lights, I just have to get better about opening my eyes. The season's changing - it's October! My favorite month of the year, it's going to be Josh's Birthday soon - how exciting! I finally have a nicer schedule with more than just one day off at a time! We're not desperately struggling with finances! We have a squeaky clean apartment right now! I'm almost done with one of the books I've been wanting to read for over a month! and have 3 more already on the list. I found a new quilting book when I was cleaning things out of my room. I haven't quilted anything for a while! Maybe it's time to get back into that. So, as always, I'll close with prayer. Lord, you are so good to me. You give me a hopeful heart, you give my life purpose and meaning. You bless me, over and over and I don't deserve it. I pray that you would be with my Dad. I pray that you would help him find a job and make a transition from the house easy and without difficulty. I pray that you would be with my mom and my grandpa. Give my mom strength and energy to care for my grandfather, give her comfort. Give my grandfather strength to help my mom, but most of all, if he has not found you, I pray that he would. I pray that you would show yourself to him, and let him know what it really means to give your life to Christ. I pray for Josh - I pray that he would have the energy and dedication to complete all of his work for this week. I pray that you would guide him through law school. I also pray that you would open doors for us in Pittsburgh, so that we can move closesr to home - if it be your will, Lord. Thank you for all your blessings Lord. In your name I pray, Amen.

Love, Sara