To Do List

I love lists!  Grocery lists, packing lists, supply lists, name lists, honey-do lists, any kind of list!  I always have a "to do" going on in some respect.  I just find the action of crossing things off refreshing.  I feel like I have accomplished something, made headway, gotten things done!  


The other night, I was reading my Bible and really looking at prayer.  I was reading all the prayer verses and of course the whole "pray without ceasing" came to mind.  So I found the verse (1 Thessalonians 5:14-22) and as I read it this time, God spoke a fresh word to me.  "This should be your to do list Sara.  These should be your goals everyday."  So here it is....the new and highly improved to do list....

-Warn those who are unruly 

-Comfort the fainthearted

-Uphold the weak

-Be patient with all 

-Pursue what is good for all

-Rejoice always

-Pray without ceasing

-In everything give thanks

-Do not quench the Spirit

-Do not despise prophecies

-Test all things

-Hold fast to what is good

-Abstain from every evil

This is a pretty tall order, but I am really trying to implement this into my daily life.  I know that shifting my priorities to God's to do list will help me to have a larger impact that any to do list I could come up with.  I will let you know how it goes.

Rainy Day Treat

You gotta love a lazy, rainy Saturday!  I had a bag of butterscotch chips sitting in my cabinet so I decided now would be a great time to whip my hubby up some yummy Butterscotch Chip Cookies!  He has been super sweet this week with me starting back to work and being under the weather.  I have been coming home and going straight to the bed with NyQuil.  I am so blessed to have him by my side!  So here we go...

I got out my ingredients (sans nuts...didn't have any on hand)

Got it all together

On the pan

In the oven

To the tummy....Happy Guy!

Here's the link to the recipe if you want to make your own rainy day treats!   http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,1910,156189-236193,00.html

Better Business

If you know me, you know I am not a tuber.  I do not enjoy floating in a river due to my fear of snakes and other strange creatures that inhabit said river.  However, because I am a loving wife and devoted youth leader :) I do go on one tubing trip a year.  We usually head to the standby Adventures Unlimited, but this year we heard about another place-Perdido Natural Adventures.  It's only 15 mins. from the church and 1/3rd the price!  We thought we would try it out.  
We pulled up to Fran's Country Grill to meet the bus to pick us up.  At this point-it's a little sketchy!  Fran's is a shack next to a truck repair shop in the middle of nowhere!  As we walked up to the bus I was expecting red-neck Bob to meet us.  Much to my surprise and delight we were greeted by Hannah and William.  Hannah is from Finland and has a marvelous accent!  William is the nicest guy!  They welcomed us and were so excited to have us with them.  We piled the kids in the bus with Mr. William and the leaders rode in "the SUV" -as Ms. Hannah called it-down to the river.  They were the most helpful and genuinely sweet people.  They got all the tubes, canoes, and kayaks down.  They loaded and tied the coolers into tubes for us, got all the kids flip-flops and shirts organized and back on the bus, and made sure everyone had applied sunscreen!  They sent us off with waves and no time limit.  Just have fun and they would be there when we were ready.  
Hannah and William took care of everything when we got back.  They got all the coolers out, put all the boats away, made sure the kids all had extra time to swing on the rope swing and that they all got the rights shoes and shirts.  This was the best service I have experienced anywhere in a long time!  We had a great day and the Lord blessed us by keeping the storm away until we were all safe in our cars.  
If you live in the Pensacola area I highly recommend Perdido Natural Adventures-great time, great location, great prices, and the sweetest people!  


 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' – Matthew 22:37-39

Better Blog

I wasn't able to check my blog updates until late this afternoon and when I did there were a ton!  As I scrolled through the plethora of coupon updates and free offers I was discouraged.  I just wanted to find something real, something to nourish my spirit not my wallet.  Surely someone had something profound to share that would touch my heart.  


I stopped myself and thought how outrageous that sounded.  Why am I going to a blog for encouragement and teaching?  Don't get me wrong, there are lots of great bloggers out there that often write from their hearts and touch mine, but I have 24 hour access to the greatest "blog" of all time.  So I did what I should have done in the first place...I got out my bible and read words straight from the father of my soul, the one who will always speak words of life to me, the source of my strength and joy.  I will be forever grateful and full of praise for my God who has moved mountains for me!  

“Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
John 4:13-14

My All-Star

I was listening to K-Love today and heard about their all-star contest.  Who is the most encouraging and influential person you know?  Tell them about that person and they could win a prize.  I immediately thought of my person and how what an amazing all-star they are.  So here is my 250 word entry about my All-Star!

My husband David is my encouraging and influential all-star because he plays so many positions with all his heart as, Pastor David.  He’s played many positions-the good, the bad, and the ugly.  I’ve seen him play janitor, scrubbing toilets and trashcans.  I seen him play maintenance man, screwing in light bulbs and fixing broken chairs.  I’ve seen him play lawn care man, sweating bullets to mow and pick up trash.  I’ve seen him play worship leader to children, teaching them to dance, sing, and raise up hands of praise for the Lord.  I’ve seen him play teacher to students who have never heard the words of Jesus and are desperate for the Living Water.  I’ve seen him play the hard role of protector for kids who are being abused.  I’ve seen him play the role of disciplinarian to those who are bullying others.  The most influential position I’ve seen him play is father.  God hasn’t yet given us our own children, but he has given us many spiritual children.  I’ve seen David step in and play the role of father to children of all ages who are physically, mentally, and emotionally fatherless.  I suppose the reason he’s an all-star is because he always plays his positions out of overflow!  His best position is as a disciple of Christ!  The Lord is his first priority everyday, and it influences everything he does and everyone he meets, especially me.

                     Wrestling is a dad's job!

Without Excuse

Praising God today just for who He is.

For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Romans 1:20

Warrior Man

This is a poem my Grandma (Sweetie) wrote about my Papa just before he passed away.  I couldn't be more proud of either of them!

Warrior Man


He was just a country boy-Small knowledge of the world-Slight of frame-Bright blue eyes-Coal black hair that curled


Finished high school when seventeen-Played baseball ran track-Won state medals-Silver and gold-Endurance he didn't lack


His dream was to be a farmer-But land was hard to find-He made a choice-His country called-Was young and in his prime


Traveled the world, sometimes alone-When fighting in two different wars-Korea, Viet Nam-Was hit by a bomb-Has mental and physical scars


Came back to the Bootheel to choose a wife-Soon had three kids in tow-All were beautiful-All were bright-These children he loved so


Had many medals to pin on his chest-Representing the best of the best-He did what he could-For America's good-Was A-One when put to the test


A soldier at dawn, a student at night-He finally had his degree-Promotions came fast-The die was cast-A college degree was the key


Finally retired after twenty four years-Was offered Bird-Colonel to stay-With kids in their teens-Who needed some roots-Retirement would be the best way


Taught school ten years, principal for two-Has finished his Masters at last-Job offers Middle East-Boston, D.C.-For him that time had passed


Truth and Justice, Honor and Courage-That's how he chose to live-To do what's right-With all his might-He had so much to give


To know him now, this gentle soul-Except for his biggest fan-The things he's done-You'd never know-He once was a "Warrior Man"!