Sometimes...

Sometimes I start a post five different times because what I thought I wanted to write about ends up sounding dumb.  Or boring.  Or both.  

Today is one of those days.

Sometimes they get too wordy, and I lose my train of thought along the way.  Hate when that happens.  Sometimes, what God is teaching me is so personal and gut wrenching to me, that my limited vocabulary and writing skills (laziness) do it no justice and so I choose silence.

I'm a "so you get the gist of it" kinda blogger.  Not big on details.  Or grammar *cough*  So, in true Sarah form, here's my life:  The Gist it anyways.

In a few short weeks, we will have been in tiny town for five years.  It's got us reflecting on our time here thus far.  Five years ago we came into full time ministry with so much excitement.  We hadn't a clue what we were doing, and we knew it.  Calling on God for His wisdom and assistance was simple.  Without a doubt we needed His help.

And then somehow, as it always seems to happen in my life, I settled in.  Familiarized myself with this ministry thing.  With the community.  With routine.  And called it good.

Turns out, as it always does, that my standard of good is not even close to what God has planned.  Why do I so easily settle for my pathetic version of good?   Oh, the list of reasons is quite long...I'll spare you.

At a friends recommendation, I picked up a book recently.  It took just a few pages before that feeling of "oh this book is talking directly to me" hit.    For some reason, somewhere in the process of "settling in" I also unconsciously decide that I can handle things on my own.  The "I got this!" attitude.  Without even realizing it, I had viewed ministry as a job like any other.  You know,  the experienced worker trains the newbie and before long, the newbie is no longer an idiot and can actually do the job on their own.  Simple.  Except...in ministry, without God, I'll always always always be  the idiot.  

When your husband is a pastor, it is not his job.  It is your life.

I don't mean that negatively.  I mean that ministering to people is a way of life.  No clocking in and clocking out.  You're always on.  Pretty much like parenting.   And, it really is a good thing.  It's what God has called Ben and I to.  Together.  It is a privilege.  And a burden.  It's not something that very many people understand, I'm not sure I understand it yet myself.  What I do know, is that I need the Holy Spirit's leading and empowering to accomplish what He has planned.  

On my own, I have nothing to offer. I take that back, I do.... such things as apathy, annoyance, criticism, attitude, unforgiveness, harshness, loathing.  I could go on.  And on.  It's not pretty.  And it accomplishes nothing for Christ.  

At the end of the day, I want to be able to look back and see what God accomplished through me for that day.  That's where I'm at.  One day at a time.  

I wanna leave you with this quote:

It is true that God may have called you to be exactly where you are.  But it's absolutely vital to grasp that He didn't call you there so you could settle in and live out your life in comfort and superficial peace.  His purposes are not random or arbitrary.  If you are still alive on this planet, it's because He has something for you to do.  He placed us on this earth for purposes that He orchestrated long before we were born (Eph. 2:8-10).  Do you believe you exist not for your own pleasure but to help people know the love of Jesus and to come fully alive in Him?  If so, then that will shape how you live your life in the place where you are.

                   Francis Chan, Forgotten God

I want God to be shaping how I live each day...it's certain to look much different than my version.

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2015

Last night, during midweek church, Noah doodled this picture.  


It's his interpretation of the first day of school...five years from now.


2015.

Oh kid.  He cracks me up.  He's a stickler for details.  


However, what's up with my hair-do in five years!?!


It's the first time he's drawn my profile with boobs.  *sniff*  He's growing up.  Don't tell him I told you. *smile*

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They're Destined to be Car Salesmen...

As I write this, my boys are out in the front yard selling produce from their garden.

"Selling" involves walking up and down the sidewalk yelling "Produce for sale! Get your produce! First customer gets a free bouncy ball!"

Can you even believe that they haven't had one customer yet?!? I mean, who wouldn't want a free bouncy ball?

We do live in tiny town...so traffic is a little slow this time of day. However I'm sure the neighbors will be stopping by to shut them up show their support.

In the mean time, I have a to-do list a mile long.  First up:  Give Gus another bath.  It turns out, that Google (my source of information on any and everything) says that Hounds have a "distinct odor."  I can verify this to be true, it's distinctly smelly.

Bath time.  

Happy Thursday people, and if you'd be so kind, leave a comment and say hello.  Lately, I sorta feel like I'm just talking to myself...and I'm quite a bore.   Speak up and entertain me.

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The View I Love the Most

The other night, probably close to 9:00, I stepped out our front door to let Gus out.  I happened to turn around and get a glimpse of my home from the outside, with the lights all on, curtains open.  And it made me smile.


For a moment, I got to look in on my life, and its a good view.


Sure, it involves some chaos and mayhem.  Smelliness.  Imperfections.   All of which make it pretty great.

And then it reminded me of a country song.  Because I can pretty much come up with a country song for every memory I have...they just work like that.





And like it says...I see what beautiful is about
                          when I'm looking in...not when I'm looking out.
I'll never beat the view, of my front porch looking in.

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Garden Party

Lucy and I went to her first Garden Party yesterday.  

Hosted by her Great Aunt Di...who happens to have the most beautiful flowers.

Lucy enjoyed herself.

Can you tell?

We decorated a hat.  Ben's sister, Rebecca modeled it for us.  I know, I know, you all want one now.

We got our pictures taken.  This is Lucy and I with my sister-in-law, Mary Lou.  And as I look at this picture, I realize that I forgot to tell Lou how cute her top is.  Isn't it cute?!?

Most of these picture are courtesy of my friend Beth...let's face it, the pictures I take are not nearly this good. I'm fooling no one.

The End

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Too Hot To Trot

I apologize, but you'll have to humor me and tilt your head counter-clockwise in order to see the picture in the proper postion that I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET BLOGGER TO DO!

Grrrrrr.  Anyways.

Little Miss Lucy asked me if I would be so kind as to publicly thank Miss Amy Beth (oh yes, the famous one from Ministry so Fabulous) for the adorable onsie she's wearing this day.  She simply adores it, and so does her momma.

too HOT to TROT!

 Thank You Amy Beth!!

I adore Amy Beth.  I can't remember how I stumbled on her blog (ages ago) but I loved her from the first moment.  I know many of you read her as well, and you, like myself, are probably pretty certain that you're on her bff blog friend list...because she's just sweet enough to make all of us think that.  :)

I want her to move to Iowa and marry my brother Ryan.  And then we can be sisters.  Now if only I can talk the two of them into my plan of perfection....

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Gus

I'd like you to meet the newest member of our family.  


Gus.

Gus is a five year old Basset Hound.  Last Saturday we stopped by a local pet rescue open house in a nearby town.  


It was sort of love at first sight.  

He is mellow.  Mellow yellow.  Whatever that means, I just like that it rhymes.  

Back to Gus.  He has quite the story, and I love a good story.  Gus had an elderly owner who needed to be hospitalized.  No one in the family could take him, so he was sent to a "kill" shelter.  (That's what the pet rescue place called it, when they put them to sleep when they aren't adopted.)

Someone from the pet rescue place found him and saved him and then he went to a foster home.  And now...he's with us.  Doing this:

God bless a lazy dog.  He's adjusting so well considering all he's gone through recently.  I've wanted a Basset Hound named Gus, for as long as I can remember.  Their laid back personality and adorable body shape sucked me right in.

Some things I've learned about Gus since Saturday:

1. He is the messiest eater I've ever seen.  I put a rug under his food and water bowl and still there is water and dog food bits all over the kitchen floor.  My Haan steam mop and I have rekindled our best-friendship.
2. He barely barks.  But when he does, it is l-o-u-d .  He only does it when he know's were leaving him.  I think it's part of adjusting.
3. He always looks depressed.  Even when he's wagging his tail, his eyes and ears look sad.  It's adorable.
4. The door bell can ring, and he doesn't even care!  YAY!
5. He cannot be left to roam the house while we are out.  I made this mistake only once.  I came home to my garbage dumped all over the kitchen and him sleeping in Noah's bed.  Both no-no's.
6. Now, we are going to try the dog crate while we are away. :)
7. I purchased extra fabric refresher.  I really love the Up & Up Target brand.  It has a white bottle with orange sprayer and it's by the Febreze stuff.  I think it smells even better!!  Plus, the bottle is way cuter.  ;)
8. He fits with us.  The boys adore him.  He sheds a lot, and I don't even care.  The vacuum and I are already very close.
9. Watching him go up and down our steep stairs is quite entertaining.  I'll video it sometime for your viewing pleasure.
10. I'm glad I'm not one of the ones in our family that has to pooper scoop.

Welcome to the family Gus.

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