sarah elizabeth lowe

Parker and I were given an amazing gift to have a couple in our life, Joe and Kim, that we call our spiritual parents.

They have been a huge part of our lives for about 15 years now.

We even met each other at their house, where they hosted youth to worship and pray every friday night while I was in high school.

I could go on and on about the incredible impact they have had on us, as individuals and as a married couple.

This weekend, we get to go home to celebrate Joe's 60th birthday.

But it's not going to be just a birthday party.

It is going to be an amazing night full of worship and testimony about the impact Joe has made in so many lives.

(I am crying as I write this, just reflecting on how my life has been touched.)

One of the ways he touched me most was that he facilitated a love and desire in me

to WORSHIP God.

To EXPERIENCE His presence, to be ministered to through Spirit and Truth, and a worshipful heart.

Joe gave us a legacy of worship, and for that I am forever grateful.

Now we get to pass this on to our children.

One thing I learned from Joe and Kim, well from the Lord through Joe and Kim,

was that there is FREEDOM to worship Jesus however He led me.

That it didn't look like religious duty or rote meditation.

It was not something that was expected of me or something that could be taught in a lesson.

But that it was a way, through song and prayer, to MEET with Jesus.

To know Him better, to taste His presence closely and sweetly.

Worship and meeting together in this group at Joe and Kim's house taught me that there was more to God.

That He is a sweet, gentle, caring, loving Father who loves to draw near to ME as I draw near to Him.

There are so many ways to worship God...art, music, dance, writing, teaching...and on and on.

One of my favorite ways to worship is through music and song.

That is something I learned from Joe and Kim.

I have learned that when I stop and worship...as I GIVE to Him...

HE gives back to me.

Their willingness to simply step back and let the Lord move in the lives of those that were meeting in their home was such a gift.

It allowed for the Holy Spirit to move and speak and touch us.

And it facilitated a desire for more of His presence.

I pray that I will be able to facilitate this same desire in my own children.

That they would know the deep goodness and character of God by meeting with Him,

by learning His Truth, by interceeding for each other,

and by honoring Him through worship.

"For a time is coming - and indeed it is here now - when true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way.

For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and in Truth."

John 4:23-24

Not only did Joe and Kim teach us the things of the Lord,

but they have loved us, counseled us, supported us, cried with us.

Joe married us, and also spoke at Parker's Dad's funeral.

He has walked though business decisions with Parker, and has encouraged me in my blogging.

He is an amazing man of God who I love deeply and dearly.

We pray that that our children will also be blessed with spiritual family who walk closely with them.

Thank you Joe and Kim for the gift you have given us.

You have not only blessed us, but now Abigail and Bethany get to taste what we have tasted because you were obedient to the Lord's calling.

I cant wait to share more with y'all next week about the celebration...

it's going to be powerful. Have a great weekend!

Seems that this might become a regular thing.

when I don't really have a "topic" in mind or on my heart to blog about...

just sharing a few thoughts while the babes are asleep. :)

1. so excited for the 4th! Looking into our plan for the day right now. We will probably go to a parade that morning, and then that evening we will head to our city park for free food, live bands, bounce house, and fireworks! woohoo!

(and don't forget the watermelon!)

2. also excited for the 4th because it is Bethany's half-birthday!

SIX months old!! can you believe it? I can't.

oh my goodness I feel like she was just being born like yesterday. time definitely flies even faster with number two.

She is growing, uses her excersaucer, rolls all over the place, and is super close to sitting for more than a few seconds! I fall in love with my tiny peanut more every day!

3. I am working through in my heart about what it looks like to really be listening to HIM each day.

It seems as if He needs to remind me of this in a new way with each season of life.

Lately, He has led me to listen to messages online, and also just to spend time worshipping to music.

He is speaking and showing up, and I'm so glad.

4. about worship: it has been VITAL for me lately. seriously.

When Bethany wakes up about 6:30-ish, I have been bringing her to bed with us and turning worship music on on my phone while we all just lay there until Abigail wakes up, usually around 7. Bethany loves it, and I swear it makes a HUGE difference in how we start the day.

5. potty training. OH potty training. Abigail WAS trained for a while, then got a tummy virus and it all went out the window.

(or down the toilet I should say?!). :)

so here we are again...she is SO ready, and pretty much takes herself to the potty every time she has to go.

(with the expectation of a marshmallow each time she tee-tees in the big girl potty. duh.)

We're about to do hard-core-dont-leave-your-house training again this week, just to try and seal the deal, so...here's to hoping I won't step in any poop this week as my two year old is running to the bathroom.

(yes, that did happen last week. ick.)

6. I am so thankful for some of my bloggy bff's who keep me laughing just about every day through our group text messages.

We are also a group who prays for each other, and for that, I feel so blessed.

Also, its pretty awesome to leave your phone for a while and come back to 54, yes 54, texts.

#truestory

I LOVE you ladies...you know who you are! :)

7. I started training this week for a triathlon. It's not my first, but its been like 4 years. ahh!

So here goes. September, here I come!

Watching The Tour De France, my FAV sporting event to watch, is giving me lots of motivation since it started this week.

8. On that note, I am about 1.5 lbs away from my goal weight, and am hoping to do a post about it soon! I am hopeful I will reach my goal by Wednesday the 4th, because that will be 6 months since baby.

I am thankful for the way cutting sugar out/down has changed my life...and not just my weight, but my life!

But as you might know from my instagram pics, I'm def far from perfect in my eating.

(Nutella, anyone?)

9. In a few weeks, we will be going to Dallas to celebrate the 60th birthday of our spiritual father, Joe. We cannot wait!! It is going to be a huge night of blessing, testimony, and just experiencing the presence of God, as people share about the impact Joe has had in their lives.

We are beyond blessed to have him and his wife, Kim, in ours.

(and we even met at their house!)

Can't wait to post about it.

10. My mother-in-law is leaving soon for an Alaskan cruise.

I'm jealous. that's all. :)

(so excited for you Jan!)

Y'all have a blessed day!!!

Thanks for listening to me.