rocking out to Disc 6

Sun-roof open. volume UP.
DISC 6 in my CD changer.

That's what happens on days like today,
no baby in the car (she was at MDO),
just me and the open road.
well, not really the open road.
But just me, LOUD music and God.

If you're one of those people who yell and honk at cars who have their music too loud,
go ahead... I wont hear you.

Sometimes mommy just needs to clear her head.
Of the anxieties, worries, and thoughts that come daily in and out,
sometimes so loud they beat in my ears like a drum.

Tired of the (annoying) Yo Gabba Gabba songs in my head.
"Yo Gabba huh?!" If you don't have young kids, you don't know this show.
But if you do, you know what I mean when I say my name is Sarah, and I like to dance.

Tired of the attacks and pokes by Satan trying to make me live in fear.
Tired of the lies he tries to make me believe about myself, my life, my family, about God.



(this video is simple but amazing to me.
It reminds me of the way God's presence colors our otherwise blank existence...
very moving, play it twice, and close your eyes and listen the second time.)


Most people wouldn't peg me for a "rocker" if you will, and Im not.
But when Im alone and need my head and my thoughts to just BE...
sometimes I just rock out in my car.
to Disc 6: Flyleaf.
the perfect way to get it all out.

Flyleaf is an ahhhhmazing band.
They love Jesus, but they are hardcore.
We have spent some time with the band through mutual friends,
and their hearts are for real about Jesus and about touching His people.

The words to their songs are so moving, so real,
and the way she sings them just swallows you up.
If you havent heard Flyleaf before, go find them NOW.

And don't be afraid to turn your volume up and rock out a bit.
It truly is healing and cathartic,
especially if its out of your music comfort zone.
seriously, just trust me.
Let yourself just BE. With the music and the words, and God.

And next time you pull up close to a car bumping its bass,
dont just assume its a gangster listening to rap.
It might just be a mommy who needs to rock out for a minute.



teaching her LOVE...

its been one of those days where she has melted my heart with every look.
(well, mostly....she IS a toddler!)


God's been prompting me today about how I pray for my little girl,
and how I show Jesus to her.
Its something I've had some conversations with the Lord about for a while now...
He is trying to teach me how to mother her heart
and to love her like the princess she is.
(HIS princess!)
Even from this tender age, I want her to see what God's love is like,
and I want to show her what loving Him looks like.


i LOVE this picture...
if you look close you can see her smiling behind the giant paci!

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
all your soul,
and all your strength.
And commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you.
Repeat them again and again to your children.
Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road,
when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.
Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders
Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."
Dueteronomy 6:5

I so desire to teach and show my girl about how much Jesus loves her.
I know that to do that, I need to understand more about how much he loves me.


So thankful to be a daughter of His,
and the mommy of His daughter.

the man of my dreams

Thats what I found as I walked into the bathroom after loading a sleepy baby out of the car and into her bed for a nap today. I had been holding it all the way home and was rushing in to the bathroom, but the little pink post-it on the mirror caught my eye and stopped me in my tracks.

He's so good to me, my husband.
He had to leave town today for work and left while Abigail and I were out.
What a treasure to come back to a little bitty love note on my mirror.
sigh. my heart is beating fast even as I think about how it
totally threw me off and made me melt.
(not to mention it made me forget how bad I needed to pee) :)


Several minutes later I went into the bedroom and found this on my nightstand...
seriously? oh my goodness.
I've never really bragged on my hubby before on this blog, but Im going to take this chance to do so if you don't mind. I want to share with you just a tiny glimpse about him,
and about his heart, and about his love for me.

He loves people well.
and anyone who knows him knows that they can call him for anything,
and that he follows through.
He understands and demonstrates grace like no one I've ever known.
He would tell you its because he's been given grace too and that he knows it changes lives.

He works hard. For many years we have not had a steady paycheck (well, what the world calls "steady" anyways), and have been completely reliant on the provision of the Lord. not an easy thing, especially for a man.
But he's always been obedient to the Lord's calling and direction, even if it meant leaving jobs or ending potential business ventures that could have been "successful".
Its been an honor to walk a life of faith with this man.

My husband has taught me the difference between religion and having a relationship with Jesus, two totally different things.
And he's been patient with my black-and-white understanding of God and has helped me see how colorful my relationship with the Lord can be.
I love learning about the Kingdom from my husband.
He always points me to Jesus and to truth.

and let me just tell you how much he loves his little girl.
i mean, completely SMITTEN!!

(i thought it couldn't get sweeter and then I found this on Abigail's little table)

We have both been in awe of the JOY we have been given through our precious Abigail.
Her name means "The Joy of the Father", and that she is.
Of her earthly and her Heavenly father.
I've never seen him so giddy and we talk every night about how in love with her we are.
I dont know who lights up more when Dada comes in the room, him or her!
He is such a good daddy and has been such a display of unconditional love to our daughter already.
I cant wait to see them grow up together.


I thought that was all the love notes, but when she woke from her nap and needed a new diaper...this is what I found on the changing table.

(another sigh.) I am in awe of what God has given me in my husband.
If we were sitting down to share our story with you, we would tell you that it hasn't been an easy road. Our almost 8 years of marriage have taken us though a lot of what we call fire (because we know it is refining us), and yet we are still standing.
I just have to share a few more things about him.... :)

He has stood beside me through 6 (yes, 6) surgeries and countless health issues.
(glad to report we are both healthy today)

He has been obedient to what the Lord is telling us about our marriage and our journey of faith.
He has stuck it out when marriage has been hard, and it has been.

He has loved my family so well.
He loves my friends well too, and they love him.

He never fails to minister God's love and truth to me,
even when I am fighting what he has to say.

He has stood by me though pregnancy and delivery and
through the sleepless adjustment to motherhood.
He held my hand through our miscarriage, I couldn't have held it together without him.

He spoke with grace at his father's funeral 18 months ago,
and shared the love of Christ despite his grief.
He has mourned his father's loss with a hope that is amazing,
because he understands the hope that we have been given in Jesus.
He is such an example to me.

He is a very real person, and will speak truth to you like it needs to be said.
He loves well, because he is loved by a Father in Heaven that changed his life.

Thankful for my pink post-its today...
"I love you too, Parker Lowe"




This was the lovely in my day, to get some more lovely, head over here:
Photobucket

heavy hearted

Seems like this week I have heard so many stories of loss and of grief.
These seasons are difficult, and honestly they just down-right suck.
But they challenge me.

My verse-of-the-day today from my iPhone app is Colossians 3:2...
"Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things."

Think on HIM, on His plan, His glory, His joy, His peace, His comfort, His grace, His understanding, His desires, His value.
They are much better than our own plan, our own glory, our own understanding, our own desires.

Its so hard to think on those things when the fire comes.

We cannot always see what He's doing.
He may reveal it in that moment, or maybe later, or maybe never.
(pause for a deep breath)

But there is one certain thing. One thing I know (I know that I know that I know):

GOD IS GOOD.

Its His nature, His character.
(in other words, its how He rolls).

This week my sister-in-law lost her dad very unexpectedly.
From something that, in the world's eyes, should not have happened.
This was my brother's father-in-law, grandfather to their 3 kids,
and a performer loved by many people.
He knew Jesus, so He is now free and singing in Heaven.
But it sucks.

It has brought up a lot of emotion for Parker and I as we toil through the memory of losing Parker's dad (my father-in-law) so suddenly 18 months ago.
Again from something that, in the world's eyes, should not have happened.
He also is free and playing guitar with Jesus now.
But it sucks.

BUT... Its not through the world's eyes that God
makes His plan for us.

Its not though the world's eyes that He loves us.


Its through His heart, His Kingdom, His Son Jesus.

In these times, I am sad. But I know in my heart that God is Good.
It takes more than just believing IN Him, we must BELIEVE Him.
Believe what He says. Believe His character,
that He KNOWS, that He LOVES, and that He is GOOD.


Lord, will you remind us today that this is not our home. If we are yours, then this is all temporary.
Touch us God. Touch those we love that are hurting and walking through fire and trial. May they know your character better. Give us strength to believe you.
Reveal your goodness and your peace.







pizza at home!

So this is not a beautiful fancy recipe like so many of you amazing bloggy ladies post all the time...but I just had to share it bc its
my new favorite little d-i-y meal!
Some friends out of town made this for us when we visited
them recently and I LOVE it now!
(thanks J&C!)

I think people often forget that homemade pizza is an option,
because there are so many yummy pizza places around.
But this is a way you can make it more your own,
(and maybe a little healthier too)!
...and its way more fun than tipping the pizza guy at your door.

super quick and easy...here ya go:

pizza sauce and crust (I use whole wheat to make a it a little better for ya)

fresh toppings of your choice...
I used fresh mozzerella, fresh basil, tomatoes, pineapples, and pepperoni.
Other fun toppings we've used are grilled chicken and fresh bell pepper slices.
(be creative - is YOUR pizza and its not 2 bucks for every extra topping!)

spread your sauce on, put the cheese on 1st, and then add your toppings!
put in the oven at 450 (or whatever your crust says), bake for 10 minutes...

and EnJoY!!!
goes great with a Ceasar salad....and a glass of wine of course. :)

Well, thats all! simple, right? thats how I roll.

one more idea: we recently had 4 other couples over for dinner, and I set up a "Pizza Bar". I pre-cut a bunch of fresh toppings and put them in bowls, and set out a crust and sauce for each couple to make and split their own pizza.
it was a hit :)

Hope yall can enjoy a homemade pizza soon!
Happy Wednesday, love yall!


P.S. it blesses me a lot to know that so many of you actually read what I have to say...I love your comments and I love having new "followers" (scroll down to the bottom of the blog to become a follower!) Thanks for sharing life with me!