Thankful Thursday

I have a LOT to be thankful for today. I'm sure you do, too, so let's get to it.

This week has been craaaaaazy! My panic attacks have slightly heightened with the help of additional stress from work. I won't elaborate, but...WOW. Just when I think it can't get any crazier - it smacks me right in the face.

On Tuesday, we had a completely unexpected death in the family--my dad's cousin. She was only 50 - and had been doing absolutely fine. While we didn't see her but a handful of times throughout the year, she was always close to my dad and called him regularly to keep tabs on everyone.

Last night, I received a voicemail informing me that a sweet friend from church rolled his truck and was in the hospital.

In between work, kids, teaching my Hutch classes, and "life" happenings, I'm preparing for Steph's baby shower. The invitations that I sent to everyone stated a date/time of October 1 at 10:00 a.m. Unfortunately, the funeral is taking place at 10:00 a.m. on October 1. Sooo...I had to totally start from scratch and reschedule the baby shower. Now, as crazy as it is, we are skipping church on Sunday to have a party! lol

*sigh*

Tonight while I was washing Maya's hair, she wrapped her wet little arms around my neck, pulled me down close to her, kissed my forehead, wrinkled her little nose and simply said, "I love you, Mommy."

Today I'm thankful for my Maya and my Gus. I don't know how I ever made it without them.

Thank you, Jesus, for my sweet babies.

Be thankful today, and tell someone you love them...life as we know it can change in a split second.

xoxo,
Sarah

Friday Fall Festival 2011

Neither Maya nor Gabriel took a nap today. Needless to say, we had a rough start at the festival, but things brightened up as the night went on. Both rugrats LOVE the Go Gator, of course! And, they were especially pleased when spectators arrived - Nana, Papa, and even Pastor Bill! :)

Mommy even had to ride the Carousel - I swear, the older I get, the faster that thing goes! :)

Tomorrow's agenda: annual breakfast at Grandma's, followed by the parade and more festival fun!

xoxo,

Sarah

Rainbows Bright

Those of you closest to me are aware that mornings are NOT my strongpoint.
Today was a different story. I was a brand new person when I opened my front door to this:

And walked to my mom's looking at this:

And rode to work looking at this:

And God said, "This is the covenant between me and you and every living creature that is with you. I am putting my bow in the clouds as the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and a bow appears in them, I will remember my covenant between me and you and every living thing. Floods will never again destroy all life on the earth. When the bow appears in the clouds, I will see it and I will remember the covenant continues forever between me and every living thing on earth."

So God said to Noah, "The rainbow is a sign of the agreement that I made with all living things on the earth."

Genesis 9:8-17

Yep. THAT'S the Creator I serve.

xoxo,

Sarah

Thankful Thursday

"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music."

"Where words fail, music speaks."

"Music is what feelings sound like."

Guess what I'm thankful for, today? Yep, you got it. Music.

This has been a rather "heavy" week. Maybe it was the names of 9/11 victims being read aloud. Maybe it was the news of another baby facing a relapse of cancer. Maybe it was working all day, having evening meetings, and only seeing my babies long enough to put their pj's on, say a prayer, and kiss them goodnight. Maybe it was missing my grandma. Maybe it was preparing to walk in a benefit for another friend who can't kiss her baby goodnight because cancer took her life. Maybe it was Maya shedding big, sad, alligator tears because doesn't like preschool.

*BIIIIIG SIGH*

In the midst of everything going on, I have grown close to some powerful worship songs, especially a very prayerful one called Little Light. I love me some Audrey Assad.

With that said, will you do me a couple of favors? Come on, now...I don't ask often. ;)

1. Be thankful for something, today.

2. Find a few minutes to sit still, click on the link below, and pour your heart out to Jesus on behalf of Paxten, Kate, and anyone else that God lays on your heart.

Much love to you all.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92JevgM8RBw&feature=youtube_gdata_player

xoxo,
Sarah

Twilight Walk 2011

Sam, Maya, Gabriel, and I will be walking in the Kyrie Foundation's annual Twilight Walk.

You know how I posted earlier this week about the way VCHS Class of 2000 pulls for each other? Well, this is another prime example of why I'm proud of our group.

Sadly, we have a personal reason for walking this year, as we lost a sweet little boy in our family to pediatric brain cancer. If you are in the Wichita area, and are looking for something to do Saturday evening, come join us at Bishop Carroll!!! It's only $5 at the door, and all proceeds go to the Kyrie Foundation. Food & festivities begin at 5:00 p.m., and the walk begins at 7:15 p.m.

xoxo,

Sarah

Missing Her

Six months ago we circled 'round her bed
We cried and hugged, but not a word was said
The room was silent - hearts were full of grief
Our faith in Heaven was our sole relief

Some days we laugh and some days we just cry
We weren't expecting such a fast goodbye
She loved us all and wanted us to know
That she was tired, her soul was good to go

The coming weeks will bring a solemn mood
The fair, Fall Party, and Thanksgiving food
My dad might need some extra love this year
So hug him tight and he will feel her near

As holidays approach, it will be rough
Her candy, kitchen smell and other stuff
We all will miss her, and yes, that's okay
It helps us heal from pain we felt that day

This Thursday, Women's Ministry begins
I'd always count on her for laughs & grins
She very rarely griped like all the rest
Of course, her little "Pete" was just the best ;)

She's in my heart and with me all the time
And even closer when I hear bells chime
She showed me love that none can take away
I'm thankful that we'll meet again someday

~ I love you, Grandma ~

xoxo,
Sarah

*****Prayer Warriors: ACTIVATE!*****

There's something unique about living in a small town your entire life. The people...the relationships...the closeness. Of course, as with any group in society, there will always be the existence of those who cause dissension - gossip & jealousy will always come out to play at some point. But, with a strong, tight group of people, those unpleasant characteristics are either resolved or removed.

I've always been proud of my VCHS graduating class. Class of 2000. Yes, we were crazy. Yes, we were rebels. Yes, we were partiers. Yes, we were...you name it. BUT - in the end, we always took care of our own...and we still do. No matter what.

I can't say that I have really gone out of my way to keep in touch with my classmates. A quick smile at the grocery store is pretty much all I offer. But when someone is hurt, sick, or facing a giant, our gang rallies together. And right now, two of our friends are being lifted up in prayer as they watch their baby girl fight for her life against a word I strongly HATE - leukemia.

Oh, how I would LOVE to sit down and talk to them...comfort them, and take away their pain. But, I can't. And, neither can you. What we CAN do is fight WITH them, using a Powerful Weapon that CAN completely heal their child. Will you join me?

I will never, ever doubt the power of prayer. Those of you who knew my "little brother," Uzzie and saw him in that hospital bed after his leukemia relapsed in 2003 will remember that he was done. His life, as we knew it, was over. Dr. Rosen spoke the words that all of the mamas and daddies in his office fear, "I'm sorry, Sarah. There is nothing left to do." Little did he know that my Jesus had something left to do!

The nurse gave me a card for the funeral home that was ready to provide services to us - for free. I took it home, picked up the phone, and started calling any and every number that came to my mind. I activated my awesome team of prayer warriors, and the rest is a miracle that I - and many of you - watched unfold before your very own eyes. *shivering* To this day, I get goosebumps talking about it.

SO...to my prayer warriors, once again, it's time. Right now. ACTIVATE.

xoxo,

Sarah

Alright, God...You know the heavy hearts, and You've heard the countless cries on behalf of Your child, Paxten. God, I'm not asking for Your help - I'm begging for Your healing. We don't request it - we implore it. You rescued Joseph from a pit. You protected Daniel from the lions. You brought Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego out of the fiery furnace. You protected the Hebrew children from death. You heard Sarah's prayers. You took away the doubts of Thomas. You healed Uzzie...and now, will You do it again? I pray that in the strong, holy name of Jesus, you will touch Paxten's little body and destroy every cancer cell raging within her. That little girl is covered with the blood of Jesus, and no form of disease can plague her. Protect her - mentally, physically, & emotionally. Spare her from the many side effects of treatment. For Blake - may he be a ROCK for his family, and may he seek Your face in his times of heartache and weariness. For Libby - may she find in You the strength to continue this fight and comfort her baby girl as only a mama can. As a mama and daddy, they are tired. They are worn. They are weary. They are heartbroken. God, shelter them - and the grandparents, the aunts, the uncles, the cousins - from the magnitude of what they face. Give them clarity, wisdom, peace and persistence. Despite the horrors of thinking of what lies ahead, continue to remind them of Your deep love for that little girl. May they remember that NOTHING will not first pass thru Your hands...and where they are going, Your angels are already there. When it's all said and done, I pray that each of us remember that this is ALL for Your name's sake. YOU make us. YOU lead us. YOU restore us. YOU are with us. YOUR rod and YOUR staff comfort us. YOU prepare the table. YOU anoint our heads. It's ALL about YOU. You're the King -- and we're not. May we continually seek You and live at the foot of the cross.

Remember...

Sedgwick County residents - and anywhere else, for that matter - are asked to participate in a national moment of remembrance this Sunday at 12:00 p.m. CDT (1:00 p.m. EDT). Americans across the United States will cease all activities to ring bells, sound sirens, blow whistles, and take a moment to remember the past and prepare for the future.

The events of September 11, 2001 forever changed the landscape of a U.S. city, took the lives of nearly 3,000 Americans, and reshaped the manner in which we now defend our freedom. Ten years later, those events serve as reminders that we cannot allow fear to run our lives, but instead work to be prepared to live in our new reality.

It wasn't your imagination. They did it, they meant it, and others like them are still out there.

Stayin' Alive

I have been spending much more "face" time with the family, which explains my lack of activity here. I offer no apologies. The weather has been gorgeous, and I even got to play some tennis - yay!! (Although, I'm not sure what happened to my partner...we couldn't even make it past 2 volleys without him completely missing the ball or slamming it over the fence. Hmmm...tennis, anyone?)

I get home at 5:30, supper is cleaned up by 6:30, we play until 7, bathtime until 7:30, then stories, prayers, and goodnight kisses at 8:00. Then, everyone is wide awake with happy smiles at 6:30 a.m. (Sam is somewhat awake with no smiles at 3:30 a.m. lol)

I will try to get some pics posted tonight. Until next time...

xoxo,
Sarah