let's resolve : : February '13 and March '13 results + April '13

So I didn't actually have a March resolutions post because (1) I thought it'd be easier to do these at the beginnings of the month and (2) I completely forgot about it at the middle of the month.  Just wanted to make that clear.

1. Memorize 1 Corinthians 2, go over chapter 1, and memorize verses with my Sunday school class.  I still haven't gotten chapter 2 down; for some reason I just cannot get it through my skull.  Hopefully this month will see better results.  Chapter 1 seems pretty cemented in my head, though.  I haven't been great about memorizing verses with my class, but not a complete flop.

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2. Just drink water.  I did alright with this challenge.  There were days, especially these past couple (I've been sick), where I drank stuff other than water, but on the whole I did alright.  I actually like drinking water now--that's enough of a result for me!

3. Pack my lunches for school.  I've been doing really well with this and feel like I'm definitely saving money.

4. Go to a monster truck rally.  Didn't do this one; maybe sometime soon.

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5. Figure out my summer plans.  Surprisingly, yes.  Contrary to what I had planned before, I'll be staying home this summer, taking five summer classes and working (I got a job as a cashier at Walmart this week!).  I had hoped to go on a mission trip or something like that, and maybe I will go to Mexico for a week or two, but for now this seems to be what the Lord has planned.  The reasons behind all this is that I'm (hopefully) going to be transferring to NMSU this fall, so I'm trying to knock a bunch more classes out of the way and save enough money to buy a car.  God is good.

For April:

1. Memorize 1 Corinthians 2.  Time to get this bad boy out of the way.

2. Develop a steady schedule for getting my homework done and register for summer classes.  With starting a new job, figuring out how to transfer, and getting ready to take five 12-week classes, I need some balance.  Nothing like a schedule to give me that!

3. Do great on my science presentation.  I have to give a presentation a week from Tuesday, and I have no idea what I'm doing.  Time to pull myself together.

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4. Finish reading two books.  I'm having a hard time finding time to read, so I want to be more intentional with my free time and get some good reading in.  Right now I'm reading The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer--it's a fantastic book, go read it!

5. Write to my Compassion children.  Please continue to pray for Djamsel; I haven't heard anything about the status of the center he goes to and I'm a bit concerned.  I might try and call this week to see if I can figure anything out.

apologies aren't accepted here

I got a letter the other day from my little girl, Majoie, who I sponsor through Compassion International.  Her letters are very scripted--she's only six years old--so my favorite part of her letters is usually at the end where she asks me a question.  This time she asked, "When are you coming to Togo?"  If only she knew how much I long to come and meet her!

I also got a letter from my correspondence child, Cristian, several days ago.  He's fifteen years old, and I really enjoy his letters because he's much older and actually answers my questions.  We actually have conversations!  He is so encouraging to me in my faith, always sending me verses and telling me he's praying for me.  I just love getting letters from all of them.

Chloe asked me to tell her what my science teacher looks like.  When I told her his skin is about the same shade as mine, she automatically took that to mean that he is actually my twin brother and my mom left him at the hospital when "we" were born.  Not sure where Rachel fits into that picture...

Chloe was pretending to read a book we had lying around about marriage, and she told me: "Oh, you know what the book says?  It says that about six months after you get married, you get a baby sometimes!"  Then she told me that the book also said that "right after you kiss [at your wedding] you feel like you're married."

"If I ever get a Chihuahua, I'm going to name it 'Ouchie-Wa-Wa'."

She has this thing lately where, every time I say something's wrong with my physically, she has to go tell our mom.  "Chloe, I have a hang nail."  "Let me go tell Mama!"  "I don't feel very well."  "Mama!!!"  "My eye looks a little red."  Mama has to know.  It's a bit annoying--I have to constantly be in perfect health now. 

The other night Chloe gathered all of us to have a tea party at the table.  She'd watched the American Girl movie "Felicity" and wanted to recreate it.  She was making sure we were all very proper, and I accidentally added cream to my tea without realizing that she was the one who was supposed to do it.  She looked at me aghast and I said, "My apologies."  She lifted her nose primly and replied, "I'm sorry, but apologies aren't accepted at this tea party."

let's resolve : : November '12

Lately I've been thinking about the resolutions I made for 2012, and wondering if I'd actually accomplished any of them.  I'm planning on making a separate post on how I did on each of those at the end of December, but I got an idea from this blog to set five goals each month for me to accomplish.  I think it'll be good motivation for me.  I'm going to call it the "Let's Resolve" series.  Resolve may be a bit of a strong word for some of these goals, but it helps remind me of Jonathan Edwards and the seriousness he had about his goals in life.  Some of these goals may be quirky or funny, but some may also be very serious and weighty.  I want to have a driven mindset for those certain goals.  Each post will be somewhere in the middle of the month since that's when today just happens to be.  So, here are my goals for November 2012!

1. Get a job.  I have been unemployed since I finished my summer at Glorieta and, to be honest, I've loved it.  I really don't like working and have loved having so much freetime, but it's time for me to start being a responsible adult again and get back into the workforce.  The only problem is, no one seems to be hiring these days!  But I know God will provide the perfect job for me, in his timing. :)

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2. Make a craft.  I really want to make a bunch of cheap, cute presents for my friends this Christmas, and I found an awesome tutorial that was exactly what I'm looking for.  I'll make sure to post about it once I actually make something!

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3. Cook something.  A dessert, a meal for my family, anything.  Much as I loathe cooking, it's a necessary part of life that I need to get used to!

4. Write Christmas letters to all of my Compassion children.  I've sent money for their Christmas gifts already, but I want Djamsel, Majoie, and Cristian to know through my words how much I love them and wish I could personally be with them for the holidays!

5. Finish memorizing 1 Corinthians 1.  I've been working on this chapter for about a month now, but not as hard as I should have been.  I'm going to do my best to finish it within the next month, and move on to chapter 2!

I think I'm really going to enjoy setting goals for myself each month!  I already had a really great time coming up with these.

How do you like my new layout and blog name?  I love it so far. :)

20 random posts : : five random things that make me happy

This is number 5 in my 20 random posts.  As a side note, since I skipped number 4 (how you met your spouse/significant other), I'm going to make up another one towards the end so there are actually 20 of these posts, instead of 19.  Also, I found another list like this for 30 things to blog about over the course of a month, so I'm really excited to do that once I finish up this series!

Five Random Things That Make Me Happy :D

1. Getting letters from my Compassion sponsor children. I appreciate how it says "message from your sponsor child" right on the outside of the envelope so you don't have to guess and then be disappointed when it's actually a bill or something else.

2. When my hair actually kind of curls.  I have a lot of curl, but when I brush my hair it just poofs most of the time. :)

3. Getting a test out of the way.  Hopefully I get a good grade, but the more important thing is that it's over and done with. :)

4. Weddings.  I'm such a sop when it comes to romance, so weddings definitely make me happy.

5. Finding a really good quote that makes me think and inspires me.

20 random posts : : my greatest challenge

So this is number 5 in my 20 random posts series: my greatest challenge.  I lead such a difficult, persecuted and suffering life, it was hard to narrow it down... Ha!  God is so incredibly good for me.

" far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think"

Ephesians 3:20

I would have to say that my greatest challenge right now would be in being content with where God has me.  As I go through my classes and look for a job, I have to admit, I want to be out of here!  I want to be in India already, teaching kids at an orphanage and ministering to people in true need!  My desire is to be a few years down the road, finished with my degree, on the mission field.  But I guess I'll always struggle with that: once I'm in India, I'll want to get married, and then I'll want children, and then I'll want grandchildren!  I'll always struggle with trusting God's purpose with my placement in the world.

To combat this sort of thing, I usually try to figure out why God has me where I am now, and what I can do here and now that will minister to people.  For example, I think one of the reasons He has me here, going to school and working and living with my family, is so I can grow up and gain some life experience before I just go off on my own.  I mean, I'm only 19--I haven't really done much with my life yet!  I need time to grow in the Lord, to establish myself and solidify my faith, and to just prepare myself for what He'll have for me.

 Sorry for the terrible quality!

In terms of ministering to people here and now, I have my Compassion kids: Djamsel, Majoie, and Cristian.  The three of them are such incredible blessings in my life; everytime I look at their pictures on my wall, I'm just blown away that the Lord of the universe, who created these kids and can speak to them so much better than I can, has allowed me to reach out to them, even if in just some small way.

Overall, in struggling with contentment in God's plan, I just have to remind myself that He is God, I'm not, and He's in control.  I am learning to rest in Him

May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way.

2 Thessalonians 3:16

I wanted to share some of the music I've been worshipping to lately.  Enjoy!



I found this song a long time ago and just recently discovered it again. It is so beautiful!



I had heard this song before, but I guess they did a new recording of it recently, and I like it a lot more. I know I haven't done an Everyday's Thanksgiving post in ages, but this song reminds me anew of how much I have to be thankful for; 10,000 things to thank Him for shouldn't be difficult, let alone 1000!

20 random posts : : 20 random things about me

Awhile back, during my time at Glorieta, I found a list of 20 things to blog about, and I thought it'd be fun to do!  Here's the first one.

20 Random Things about Myself

1. I am a very picky eater.  I don't like cheese, eggs, bananas, alfredo sauce, jam, tuna, or tomatoes.  I could probably think of more, but I'll leave it at that.

2. I don't like to talk on the phone.

3. I'm not satisfied with anything less than straight A's.

4. I sponsor two children through Compassion International, Djamsel and Majoie, and have one correspondence child, Cristian.

5. One of my favorite movie series is Ice Age.

6. I'd like to get married in the Glorieta prayer garden. :)

7.19 is my favorite number, which is awesome, 'cause I'm turning 19 on the 24th!

8. My favorites authors include Elisabeth Elliot, Randy Alcorn, Amy Carmichael, Josh Harris, and C. S. Lewis.

9. My goal in life is to serve as a missionary in India, preferably working with children at an orphanage or school.

10. I really enjoy writing songs.  Over the past 4ish years, I've written about 60.

11. My favorite flowers are carnations, tulips, and poppies

12. I'm technically 5 feet, 7 3/4 inches, but I just say 5'8 because that's so much easier!


13. One of my favorite worship songs is "I Will Praise Him Still".

14. I have a beta fish named Titus, a lab named Sal, and a cat named Hilda.

15. I've never had my own room. (didn't have a pic for this one!)

16. I love origami figures.  I used to be able to do some, and I really want to learn again!

17. I really enjoy touring art galleries, especially if they're free (Santa Fe is awesome for this!).

18. I've always wanted a pet turtle. :)

19. I've never broken a bone.

20. My favorite chapstick is peach mango.

*most of the pics are from weheartit.com

Djamsel and Majoie

This is a post I have been dying to make for a few weeks now, but I had to wait for something to come in the mail.  And today it did!  Today I received my info packet on my new Compassion child, Majoie.  And so today I'm going to post about both of my Compassion children, Djamsel and Majoie.

I'm not sure why I haven't already done a post about Djamsel.  I never really thought about it until recently.

I started sponsoring Djamsel in April 2011.  I only had enough money for one month's sponsorship, and after about two months of looking for a job I hadn't had any luck.  However, I felt God was leading me to start a sponsorship, so I went onto the Compassion website to look for a child.

I really had no idea where to start.  At any one time, there are several thousand children waiting to be sponsored through Compassion.  Thankfully, there are ways you can narrow down the search, and I decided to specifically look at the children will mental or physical handicaps.  There were only about twenty of them, and I think I clicked on Djamsel's picture first.  The second I saw him, I knew I wanted to sponsor him.  He was the child for me.

Djamsel lives in Indonesia with his family.  The sight in his left eye is defective, as you can see from his picture.  He's nine years old.

It took about six months for me to get my first letter from Djamsel.  I'd already written to him two or three times.  I was ecstatic to finally hear from him, and since then I've gotten several more letters.  He calls me "mama Sarah". ;D

I have been sponsoring Majoie for exactly one week today.  Once again, beginning her sponsorship was a matter of trusting in God to provide, and I know He will.

This time around, though I considered sponsoring another handicapped child like Djamsel, I instead decided to look at the children who had been waiting the longest for sponsors.  The first child to come up was Majoie, and I just fell in love with her.  She had been waiting for a sponsor for 257 days.

I finally got Majoie's sponsorship packet today (yay!).  She lives in Togo with her family, and she's five years old.  I can't wait to get my first letter from her!

So that pretty much sums up my sponsorship stories for now.  I hope you enjoyed reading them, and I'll continue to update on Djamsel and Majoie when anything happens.

weekdate #002

1. Saturday was Chloe's first soccer game!  It was freezing and so windy, but she had a blast, and so did we!  I already posted a bunch of pictures, so I wanted to do some video now.  Chloe's the one in the green with the pigtail braids. :)

2. So often I forget what a huge blessing my church family is, but I was really reminded of it today as some of the women gathered together to pray for a woman having surgery this week.  What a blessing the body of Christ is!

3. My dad's sermon yesterday was amazing.  I always enjoy hearing him preach, but yesterday he was talking about joy (one of my favorite topics), and also about how envy and discontent can steal your joy away.  I was really convicted, but also really encouraged as I was reminded of God's sovereignty and how we find our joy in it.

4. On Tuesday Rachel and I went to see Titanic in 3D with some friends.  I personally don't like the movie--it's sad and also completely based on infatuation--but I had a good time hanging out with Morgan and Corey.

On this first pic I accidentally totally cut Morgan off, but we got it right on the second one. :)

5. Today I've been listening to Piano and Rain.  Goodness gracious, is there anything more relaxing?

6. Friday night my family and I went to the birthday party of a man at our church.  It was so much fun!  We laughed so much.

7. I've been taking Chloe on a bunch of walks because the weather's been so nice.  We get to talking about a wide range of subjects.

8. I have my first finals next week, and soon I'll be done with my first year of college!  It's honestly unbelievable.  It's gone by so fast.

These last two are killing me...can't think of anything!

9. Saturday night I went to a classical concert with Rachel for her school assignment.  I had to go to one with her before and it was awful because I almost fell asleep (classical music can be really exhausting).  However, this concert was a lot better because they didn't dim the lights and it was shorter.  I actually enjoyed some of the music!  Although I still think the best thing about classical concerts is when they're tuning their instruments; I think that sounds better than the actual songs.

10. This week I made the decision to sponsor another child through Compassion.  Her name is Majoie, and she's five years old.  I'll try to do a complete post about her and Djamsel once I get her information packet.  I'm just so excited to learn more about her!

Everyday's Thanksgiving, Part #34

I'm thankful for:

0661. my own cell phone!  I love my phone, even if I don't often have opportunity to use it.  I hardly ever have to charge it, either; it's been at two bars for about three days now.

0662. how even Chloe encourages me to witness to people

0663. and how she talks about Daddy's sermons.  It's amazing how much she remembers.

0664. this music video.  I love the creativity of this band, Walk Off the Earth.

0665. it's been so nice and warm here lately

0666. my second exam in my math class was a take-home!  Hurray!

0667. meeting awesome Christian people at the most random places

0668. walking to the mailbox with Chloe

0669. that my best friend hasn't spoken to me for a few days because she's getting to spend some time with her sister. :)

0670. "Discipline: The Glad Surrender" by Elisabeth Elliot.

0671. my beta fish, Titus

0672. how my Compassion child, Djamsel, writes to me and calls me "mama Sarah". :D

0673. prayer meetings at my church

0674. getting caught up on math homework (I was SO behind!)

0675. homeschool conventions

0676. Tylenol

0677. unique ways to reach out to people

0678. green clothes for St. Patrick's day

0679. I like coffee now! (although it's kind of pointless since caffeine doesn't do anything for me, but it still tastes good)

0680. the World War II era

Everyday's Thanksgiving, Part #33

I'm thankful for:

0641. a fantastically relaxing spring break.  It's been awesome.

0642. spring is here!

0643. mending clothes

0644. The Piano Guys

0645. and specifically, this incredible song covered by them

0646.a biography of Oswald Chambers

0647. meeting great customers at work

0648. being able to go outside more often in the fresh air now that it's warmer

0649. St. Patrick's Day!

0650. filling up notebooks with notes from sermons

0651. having been given the opportunity to play guitar

0652. being able to write to my Compassion child

0653. going to see movies with my family

0654. Coldstone Creamery

0655. cool new restaurants to try out

0656. playgrounds

0657. getting ahead in my schoolwork over spring break

0658. a new cell phone!

0659. Chloe starting soccer in a few weeks

0660. cleats

* photos from weheartit.com

"I'm starving"

I know I don't normally just write, but there's something I've been wanting to post about for awhile, and I finally got around to it tonight.

Throughout the past year, as I have gotten a job and actually had money, I've learned what a blessing it is to give it away.  I've seen that God will provide for every need even if it feels like He's led you to give more than you ought to.  I think I've especially seen this through sponsoring a little boy through Compassion International.  I began to sponsor him before I had a job, trusting that God would provide for me to provide for him, and He did.

As I have given more of my finances away to those who are less fortunate, I've realized how blessed I truly am.  I've become more and more aware of some of my extravagant habits, and even how some of the words I speak are completely inappropriate for one who is truly concerned about providing for "the least of these" in God's kingdom.

One particular phrase that I've found harder and harder to hear as I become more sensitized to the needs of the less fortunate is "I'm starving."

I say: "I haven't eaten in four hours, so I'm starving."

A child in a third world country says: "I haven't eaten in four days, so I'm starving."

As we become more and more like Christ, I think it obviously follows that we become more and more like Him in His speech.  I really don't think Jesus walked around on earth commenting on how He was "starving" while He cared for those who truly were.  He thanked His Father for what was provided, and didn't worry about it the rest of the time.

For those of us "who [have] been given much, much will be required" (Luke 12:48).  I want to encourage you to give some of your money away.  It's really hard at first, but I think we as believers have to get rid of the notion that the money we have is ours.  It isn't. It's His.

The food we have, or don't have, is His too.  Next time you're tempted to say "I'm starving" (and we all know we say it, about ten times a day!), try saying "I'm hungry" or just keep your mouth shut and wait patiently until you can eat.  In all likelihood, none of us will ever really be starving.  So why say we are?  Instead, we should focus on those who really are in need, and ask God for ways we can help them.

“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

Matthew 25:34-40

Today is...

...a momentous day.  I've done my first guest post for another blog! (!!!)

Two weeks ago Compassion International posted a request for sponsors to submit possible entries for their blog.  So, half an hour before I headed off to Regeneration, I typed up an article and emailed it to them with the hope they'd publish, but not really thinking they would...

But they did!  As of today, you can read my post on their blog.  It's not anything incredible, but it is exciting for me, so I hope you'll go check it out and tell me what you think!  You can read it here.

I have but one passion--it is He, it is He alone.  The world is the field, and the field is the world; and henceforth that country shall be my home where I can be most used in winning souls for Christ.

-- Count Nikolaus Ludwig Von Zinzendorf