Back in New Hampshire

Josh and I had a wonderful time back in Pennsylvania. It reminds me of how much I miss it when we go back. Thanksgiving dinner with his family was wonderful - lots of amazing food. I was happy to hang out with Sue, Amanda and Kara quite a bit while we were back as well! I've never had a sister before, and it's certainly something to get used to - but I do enjoy it ever so much! I had fun at my mom's as well, Rigby was happy to run around in wide open fields. And thanksgiving dinner with my brother, Brandy and my Dad was fun as well! It's an adjustment, I'm sure... for my Dad to be living with my brother. I pray for him, that God would smile on him, provide an opportunity for a job, and that he would be able to find a place to live close to family and loved ones. Other readers - If you would also do me the favor of praying for my Dad, it would be greatly appreciated.

I'm hugely thankful for
1.) family, and friends.
2.) the rolling hills of pennsylvania
3.) the christmas season
4.) my wonderful husband whom I get to share my life with
5.) new scrubs! (haha)

That's all for now! Until next time, May God bless you, as he has been ever so kind to me.

Love, Sara

Thanksgiving

Josh and I are so excited to go home. Tomorrow, I just have work, and then Wednesday morning we're leaving first thing for Indiana, Pennsylvania. I have to say, I'm looking forward to the time away from work, the time with family and friends, the quality time with husband. Not to mention counting my blessings on Thanksgiving, because every day should be thanksgiving. One day out of the year doesn't cut it. We have so many things in this world to be thankful for, I do! I know I'm blessed beyond words. I'm thankful for home-cooked meals, for cleaning the apartment, the smell of candles burning all day long, for quilting projects, for afternoons reading in bed, for straightened hair before 12 in the afternoon. I'm thankful for Rigby, and Josh. I'm thankful for our apartment with beautiful hard-wood floors, I'm thankful for groceries gotten, I'm thankful that I have the self control to drink water instead of diet coke. I'm thankful for health - both mine and Josh's, and our families. I'm thankful that my grandfather has made it this far in life and that he was able to be at my wedding. I'm thankful for many many more things as well, but this post is just to name a few. I will do my best to find things to be thankful for in the midst of struggles, in the midst of bitterness, anger... and happiness. Give thanks always. That is my goal, that is my mission.

Amen!

Safe travels friends, and a very happy Thanksgiving!!

God provides

God provides the things you need, the things you want but don't really need and the things you've convinced yourself you would die without. Last night I was sent home early from work because we were over-staffed. I felt like I really needed to go home because I was so exhausted. Realistically, I could have stayed. Realistically? I could have picked up the shift today (but Rigby does have an appointment that she needs to go to.) I get myself into a mindset that I'm tired, I'm burned out, I'm exhausted, and ta-daaah! I feel tired, burned out, exhausted. I sleep the proper amount - actually probably more than the proper amount - basically every day. I have 3 days off a week, whether I pick up extra hours or not. I have rather relaxing days off. My ever-negative mindset will be the death of me, I swear it. I need to have hope - I need to trust in Christ, I need to remember the glory of salvation.

1 Peter 2:9-10 "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy."

If you take this to mean God's chosen ones, the one's he has chosen to save, it's enlightening, encouraging, uplifting! Remembering the days that I was not a Christian and what a deep dark depression I suffered from, and what an empty void that I felt and couldn't seem to fill. How much richer my life is now that God has saved me from condemnation. How much mercy I have experienced. May this be the first thing to enter my mind, not... "i'm tired". Lord, thank you for your amazing grace, your amazing mercy, and for choosing a sinner like me. I pray that you would remind me of these things when I get discouraged or complain. Thank you Lord. Amen.

Love, Sara

God, give me the strength...

I've been picking up a lot of hours at work recently due to the fact that Christmas is just around the corner, and we're trying to save up money for other reasons as well. I find myself rather exhausted. I find myself making up excuses for why I didn't clean the kitchen counters and vacuum the carpet, and sweep up Rigby hair. I find myself wanting to just sleep all day. But I also find that when I do just sleep all day, I feel awful - just as awful, if not more-so, than I did when I was simply exhausted. In James 5:13-16 it says "Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. ..... The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." Perhaps, as this scripture illuminates, I need to pray. Pray for strength, sing praises for blessings, pray for healing, pray for energy. It's easy to roam through the day, and get frustrated and exhausted, and then when I'm finally at my whit's end, I'll kneel in prayer. This isn't the way to do it though - Pray often! Give thanks, often!

Things to be thankful for:
1.) hot coffee
2.) my education, and the fact I can manage to pay off my loans without forbearance
3.) cookies for breakfast
4.) hot showers
5.) God's word, the holy bible - and that we have at least 6 in our apartment, easy access!

Shower, take Rigby for a walk, clean the apartment, make something wonderfully scrumptious for dinner, go to the gym, and cuddle with husband. What a wonderful day I have ahead of me.

Love, Sara

Day-Dreaming

Dear Lord, I am thankful for my wonderful husband, for my silly overly protective dog, for friends, best friends, old friends, family, for promise in the future, for having a secure job in this age and economy. I'm thankful for my pretty haircut. I'm thankful for being down to 125 lbs. I'm thankful for mushy gushy movies that make me happy inside. I'm thankful for words of encouragement in God's word. I'm thankful for growth.

For all of these things I am thankful for, but I do pray for guidance. I pray for stability. I pray for doors to be opened in Pittsburgh, if that is Your will, Lord. I pray for you, God, to smile on us in this time of instability. I pray that You would comfort us. Please, hear my prayers Lord.

Amen