Time for a Fun Post

If you saw ME riding in the back of a police car, what would you guess I had been arrested for?

I want AT LEAST 10 comments.

Sarah

Thankful Thursday

Hey, gang!

Today I'm thankful for my step-babies, Claudia Nicole and Camile Ann.

What a trying, difficult, testing, uneasy, yet learning, fun, loving, and bonding experience this has been for all of us! From their "home" in Pennsylvania to a new environment in Kansas; from no dad to 'Daddy's home!!!!'; from their mommy to 'our-step-mom-not-our-real-mom, Sarah'; from a 3-year-old brother to Maya and Gabriel; from lenient rules to, 'Did you wash your hands? Did you pick up your room? Are your clothes folded and put away?'...

these girls have faced a LOT in their short, 8 years of life...and they do a tremendous job of adapting to whatever is thrown their way.

I'm thankful that when I get a little rough, as I tend to do quite often, God gently taps me on the shoulder and reminds me that this is my once-a-year opportunity to pour out His love on these girls, to really love them and care for them and be a positive example for them.

Please pray for all of us and the remaining 2 weeks that we have left with the girls. We are finally all adjusted to the change and 'gelling' together, which is usually how it happens just in time to start getting bags packed to take them back home. I'm looking forward to these next couple of weeks and the chance to be the best stepmama I can be.

Big Love,
Sarah

Kate Needs a Miracle

I'm sure many of you remember me speaking of Kyrie, my friend's precious little girl who lost a strong battle to pediatric brain cancer. (If you don't recall any of this and are interested in reading Kyrie's blog, just visit www.kyriethome.blogspot.com)

Right now another precious little girl is fighting the same fight that Kyrie experienced. She needs your prayers. Her mom and dad need your prayers. They are weak, and they need my prayers and your prayers to carry them through this extremely painful time in their lives. Please don't just shrug this off as 'just another sick kid.' Please take time to look at her pictures and put yourself in her shoes, in her mom's shoes, in her dad's shoes, in the dr.'s shoes, in her siblings and grandparents and extended family's shoes...

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate/journal

Praying for another miracle,
Sarah

A Li'l Stressed :)

Have you ever been in a financial tough spot? I'm not talking, "dang, I'm a little low on cash so we better go to a matinee instead of the evening show." And, I'm not talking, "Man, I had to pay rent with this check so I can't go eat my usual Friday night chicken quesadillas!"

I'm speaking of literally being in a TOUGH SPOT...like...holy cow, I have enough to pay my tithe, and...that's it. No rent. No groceries. No electric bill. No phone bill. No prescriptions. No gas. No thing. Nothing. Period. Zilch. Nada.

One of my friends invited me to go swimming this week, and I said, "wow, thanks for the invite. I'd really love to go, but I have 4 kids, and I'm broke until payday." Her comment: "Sarah, geez, it's ONLY 50 cents!" lol some people can't even fathom what it really means to be 'broke.' I don't use the term unless it's literal.

So I've waited and waited and waited all week long for payday to get here...and now, I'm even more stressed out than before it got here!

All that to say this: I'm so very thankful and appreciative that I can just give all I have to God and trust in Him to take care of all the rest. All the bills, all the medicine, the food...whatever...it's all in His hands. Tonight, I frantically asked Sam, "what the heck are we going to do?!?!?!?!?!" He shrugged his shoulders and simply stated, "that's not for us to worry about. We'll pay tithe and trust God to take care of us these next 2 weeks." Wow. What a concept. Thanks, Sam.

As a result, I'm looking for either another part-time job, or a full-time job to help get our heads back above the water. Please be in prayer for our financial situation over these next few weeks; things are always tight during this month with the girls, especially with all the traveling involved.

God, thanks so much for Your faithfulness and restoration. Thanks for being my caretaker and protector. May I never forget who I belong to and who I serve.

Big Love,
Sarah

Pillow Prayer

Those of you closest to me know that I have a difficult time facing nighttime. Ya know that little 7-year-old kid who dreads bedtime, and does everything he can possibly think of to keep from just settling in and being still?...I need a drink...I need to pee...I'm hot...I'm cold...I think I just heard something...I think I left a light on...I need a bedtime story...

well, that's SO me! :) I HATE bedtime. All day long, I dread going to sleep. I find myself wrestling with a million things, and quite honestly, it totally just wears me out until I finally don't have any other choice but to close my eyes and pass out.

Dominic has this sweet little prayer that he says every night when he goes to bed...some day I'll record him saying it and post it as an audioblog. And, although it's not the same one, I have a bedtime prayer, too! I found a dusty book on my shelf, and it's become my new best friend at bedtime. One of the prayers in this book really helped me realize that nighttime doesn't have to be such a struggle for me. It may not mean a thing to you, but I'd like to share it, anyway.

"Holy Guard of the Night Watch,
I relinquish myself to Your care. The day, crowded with demands, has wilted my strength. So, with gratitude, I lay my head upon my pillow.
Quiet my mind. Smooth from my brow the wrinkles that were knit by the concerns of the day.
Deliver me from rehashing that which, for now, cannot be altered. May Your comforting Spirit surround me with a sense of safety. In Your high intentions for me I find blessed relief.
God, who holds my yesterdays and who patrols my tomorrows, I trust in You tonight.
Amen."

Sweet Dreams,
Sarah

Being 7 Again

Hey, everyone! Just to shorten things up a bit...the trip to Indiana was long and boring, but the kids did great. Now we're one, big, happy family with Claudia and Camile home with us. Maya is on Cloud 9, learning new things every day from her big sisters, and Gabriel is...just Gabriel. :)

So I haven't been to a concert in a really long time, and this weekend, I went to two, both of which were tons of fun. Last night, Sam and I took the kids to the Newton festival, and thanks to one of Sam's friends who bought all of us festival buttons, we had an opportunity to see some of our favorite Christian bands, including Building 429, Decypher Down, and Superchick. (Thanks so much, Brian!!!)

Now, Friday night was a little different. Thanks to another friend of Sam's, I got free tix to see my all-time favorite boy band, NKOTB! When I heard they were coming to Wichita, I thought it was a little comical. But then I was like, "wait a minute...that was the very first concert my sister and I ever went to...how cool would it be to go with her again, now that we're 20 years older?!?!?!" So I asked Steph if she wanted to go with me, and after some giggles and a tiny hint of persuasion, she agreed. Unfortunately, she was sick Friday, so I ended up asking my cousin, Lita, to go with me.

We got there and laughed at the crowd...you could definitely tell who the 'older' fans were versus the younger, new fans. The opening acts were really awesome, first being the Jabbawockeez (I called 'em the Tonkawonkies lol), and second being Jesse McCartney. I was impressed by both.

And then the REAL show began. I completely felt like I was in 3rd grade again, especially when I heard, "Please don't go girrrrrrl....you would ruin my whole world..." lol

So pretty much the entire time Lita and I just kinda laughed back and forth with each other as we recognized each song...UNTIL...

I saw Donny (yes, I still know all their names lol) running thru the crowd touching everyone's hands...followed by Jordan, Danny, Jon, and lastly, Joe, who was surrounded by about 4 security guards. Little did I realize that right in front of where Lita and I were sitting, was a little mini-stage...and let me just say, at that point, I came to my feet, and my jaw dropped to the floor. The only thing missing was my high-pitched, little-girl scream, but I think I was so in shock to be that close that nothing would come out lol...it was so stinkin' awesome.

AND...I caught a beach ball they were throwin out to the audience, so I left with a free souvenir! :) Couldn't ask for anything better. I came home and was still flying high, and I cooled off Saturday morning by watching the old Step by Step VHS tape lol.

So all u girls who didn't go...u seriously missed it. Fifty years old, and they still got the right stuff! ;)

Peace,
Sarah