Avett Brothers

Last night my brother and some friends left for Ashville, North Carolina for an Avett Brothers concert tonight. Words cannot convey my jealousy. The Avett Brothers (pronounced ay-vett) are my favorite band at the moment. If you haven't heard of them, I feel sorry for you. Allow me to enlighten you:

Aren't they amazing? Three guys, two of them brothers (Seth and Scott), all string instruments (a banjo, a guitar and a cello)  with a foot drum that they take turns using occasionally. It's awesome. I love them. So now you can understand how one would be jealous when their brother look off for an Avett Brothers concert in Ashville of all places. It's ridiculous. So there, that's my post. And let me leave you with one last statement: I and love and you.

With love for Him.

Yours truly,

SD

My viewpoint on Christmas

Christmas is not a holiday of "stuff". It is not about the gifts, it is not about the food. Christmas is not focused on the decorations or the size of the tree. It is not about what you wear or which Christmas Eve service you go to. 

Christmas is about two things: giving and thanking.

GIVING: We give to others because Christ gave His all for us. As Christians our goal is to be like Christ. Christ gave so we give. Don't focus on what you're getting but on what you're giving. Be excited that others get to enjoy the presents you gave them. Christmas has turned into a season of splurging for ourselves. We say, "Oh, it's Christmas, it's the 'big' present of the year, so I better ask for something really big." We forget what we are giving and put all our focus on what we're getting. Christ gave Himself and in return, we need to give Him our lives.

THANKING: We need to thank God for humbling Himself to be born on this earth. He was the Most High King; lavished in riches and glory in heaven. He gave it all up to be born here and be a nobody; a mere carpenter's son. Then eventually, those he loved most betrayed Him. They chose a thief over their King and begged for Him to be crucified. But that's another story. The point is, Christ gave up all of his glory to save us and we need to thank Him. He is our humble King. 

I want you to try something. Tomorrow morning, before you wake everyone up and tear into your presents, take a moment or two to thank God and give Him the honor He deserves. Acknowledge who He is and realize how blessed you are to have so many wonderful things waiting for you, wrapped in colorful paper. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVqqj1v-ZBU

With love for the Most High King.

Yours truly,

SD

A new year?

So I've been thinking lately about New Year's. I've almost gone a year without drinking soda (on purpose, that is. There were two incidents where I was unaware that there was soda in a drink before it was too late, but that doesn't count) and so now that I've realized you actually can follow through on a New Year's Resolution, I'm wondering what my next one will be. Then, while in church today, the idea hit me, and here it is:


I believe my New Year's Resolution for 2011 will be to journal every day of my life for a year. But not just any journal, a prayer-like journal; a journal that records all of my spiritual happenings. This would include prayers to God, messages from God, all of my highs, lows, and fears; my complaints, my rejoices, my anger, my thankfulness, my doubt, and everything in between that I know will come. I'm thinking most of my entries will be prayers to God, just out of habit. I think it will really help me get consistent with my quiet times. I mean, who wants to write down "Never actually did my quiet time today, so nothing really happened. Thanks God, bye." every other day? I mean, that's how I feel. Also, I have never (and I mean NEVER) finished a journal. EVER. So this will be like killing two birds with one stone. :)

But how cool would it be to kill THREE birds with one stone? Talk about skill. What if I also read the whole Bible in a year? Two of my friends are reading through the Bible, they could encourage me. I know it sounds like a heavy load but imagine what I could learn from it! I could have myself so disciplined by 2012! Besides, if you think of it all like a story, it makes it a whole lot more interesting. :) I'll think and pray about it. But give me your opinion!


So.... what will be YOUR New Year's Resolution? Will you follow through?


With love for Him.


Yours truly,
SD

p.s. I thought I'd try black font this time. What do you think? White or black? Or another color?

Photos that inpsire me

No, I did not take these. Sadly, all of my photos are on an SD card and we've lost our little thingie that transfers the pictures from an SD to your computer. And also, I've shot about everything in, around, and through my house so it's getting old. I need somewhere else to go. Anyway, these are just photos I found online so enjoy!

And no, none of these are photoshopped or anything like that. I checked. (except maybe that tree one up there, I couldn't figure out if he was or not). I think they're beautiful. I am easily inspired by nature (though not as intensely as did a few months ago) so these are lovely. :) I have recently gotten a new notebook and I plan to bring it with me everywhere in case I happened to be blessed enough to see something like one of these pictures (^) and get inspired to write something. I hope you enjoyed them!


"Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." - 1 Peter 2:11-12

With love for Him.

Yours truly,

SD

Constant Reminders

It's the hardest thing to really, really like someone and still try to follow God (not as in staying a Christian, but as in giving Him your 100% devotion). Maybe it's just because I'm a girl and we tend to be over-dramatic about boys. Maybe it's because I'm not as close to God at the moment as I could be. Either way, it's hard to overcome it.  "Delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." - Psalm 37:4. I know that, but it's harder than it sounds. It's difficult to put your dating future in the hands of God when you have your heart set on this one person. I mean if God called me to another country right now I'd say, "Heck yeah!" And would not worry about not being able to talk to this person. And it's not even that I'm afraid I won't be able to date him, because I doubt he even likes me. I just enjoy fantasizing about it. I guess the true difficulty is the fact that he distracts me from God. God seems less important because He doesn't make me feel the same way that my crush does. But that is so NOT true! It's awful because I talk to my crush and get sad because I can't see him (he lives far away and doesn't go to my school) and then I go and see the Bible verse I posted a few minutes ago and feel sad because I failed to consider God in all this. Guys and God are the two hardest things to mix. I think it's very important for Christ to be all over every aspect of my life but when it comes to boys... man, it always gets me. 

And then, on top of all of this conflict, Satan tries to make it worse by making me feel bad that I like the boy. He makes me think that God is disappointed in me because I haven't mastered the art of bringing Him into every aspect of my life. But the truth is, God knows I'm imperfect. I can't be perfect. He forgives me before it even happens. God won't be disappointed because you sin. He just wants you to get up and keep trying. Don't listen to anyone except His voice because God isn't a God of standards and strictness. He's the God of compassion, comfort, patience and guidance. He is wisdom, power, courage and love. 

Sorry for all this deep stuff again. This truly is the best place for me to express my problems. If you've made it this far, thanks for reading and pray that you won't have as hard of a time as I'm having!

With love for Him.

Yours truly,

SD

Enter the story. You are free to conspire.

I saw this video today and I thought it was really, really cool. I am ready to enter the story, are you? Imagine what this could do; bring together families, help our fellow mankind, keep in perspective what Christmas is truly about (I'll write lots about that later). Watch it and please tell me what you think. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Evl9GYD48c&feature=related

Think about it. Are you ready to enter the story?

With love for Him.

Yours truly,

SD

Homecoming, coming home, eggs.

So this weekend I went to Heritage's homecoming with Elzabe as my date (if you do not know, Heritage is my ex-school and Elzabe is my white South African babe). It was fun and I had a ball pretending like I could dance. I just moved my hips, raised my hands when everyone else did, and if all else failed I just swayed with the music. Hahaha it was funny. I probably looked like a total idiot but oh well, that's the past and I can't change it.

But one thing that I realized at homecoming was that I still really, really, really like this guy. What code name should I give him? Hm.... how about.... Duck. Yeah, let's go with Duck. Just roll with it, guys. So I realized that I still superdy duperdy like Duck and that he hasn't changed a bit. He is still the same, old, anything-but-normal Duck. And I still loved it all; everything from the bell bottom pants and platform shoes he wore to a formal dance, to the way he danced like an idiot to "Tik Toc" and didn't care. Yeah he got sweaty and gross, but I still thought he looked as close to perfect as I'll ever find. Most wouldn't find him attractive, but what most don't understand is that his cuteness comes from the inside (how sappy!). It's his personality that makes him so attractive, in my opinion at least. And it just about broke my heart when he pretty much avoided me the whole time at homecoming. There were two seats empty right in front of me at dinner before the dance and Elzabe even said "Hey! Duck, come sit over here!" But he chose to sit on the completely opposite end. Then heaven forbid he even acknowledge me while dancing. It was really sad for me but I tucked it away and chose to have fun dancing. ;) 

Then, as I came home and was sitting here. I realized that I need to stop letting myself hurt because I never see Duck and that we hardly talk anymore. I need to ask God what His plan is for my guy. So I keep trying to pray that God will take away my pitiful sorrow and just fill me with peace and confidence that He will bring the right guy in my life at the right time. And for a short moment it will work but then I remember Duck and everything feels unstable again. Like I have to have this in my hands otherwise I might lose Duck. And the fact of the matter is, I might lose him. But I need to be ok with that because God may have someone ten times better just waiting for me. It's just so hard to imagine that that guy isn't Duck. So this is my current spiritual warfare. Between emotions and trusting God. It's harder than it sounds. Stupid girl stuff. : /

And then, when I feel like all hope might be lost, I am once again rescued by eggs. Yes, eggs. I love eggs so much. My personal favorite being and egg-in-the-hole. Its a piece of bread with a whole in it. You put it on a griddle with butter (yum) and then crack the egg in the hole. Then you cook it how you like it. I personally like my eggs runny. I mean I like them cooked but a little juice never hurts. Never hurts at all. Eggs are a very nice thing and I am blessed by God that can have a dozen of them in my fridge at all times. Yes, indeed, eggs are a miracle. :)

So that's my story. And my life. At the moment, anyhow. Thanksgiving is coming up and this is what I have to do to get ready:

Cook two batches of cornbread for the dressing

Make the cranberry sauce 

Make a maple, brown sugar pound cake

Clean

I like to cook. :) What about you? What are your Thanksgiving chores?

With love for Him.

Yours truly,

SD

Names

Here are some of my favorite names!

Boys:

Clay

Noah

Benjamin

Titus

Ara

Wade

Girls:

Rosalynn

Eloise

Evangeline (sp?)

Raquel

Elizabeth

Mary

Marilynn

 Margaret

Jasmine 

And here is the order of my children (or so I hope) and their names :)

Oldest: Clay

Next: Margaret

Next: Evageline

Next: Titus (call him Ty)

Youngest: Elizabeth (call her Beth)

And then I want to adopt one or two so add them and whatever their names are. ;) 

What about you? What are some of your favorite names and how many kids do you want to have? 

With love for Him.

Yours truly,

SD

Sunshine and a bucket list

A lot of my posts lately have been a bit gloomy because this is where I reflect on anything that's been bothering me. So I thought I'd spread some sunshine and make my life seem a little less morose. Let's see...

I need make a bucket list. This is a totally random topic that had virtually nothing to do with what I just said. But it hit me. I mean I've made ones before but I don't recall posting it on this blog. Now I know I'm not old nor do I have some kind of deathly cancer or illness, but you never know. So I take some precaution by being pro-active in the ways of bucket lists. Plus it's really fun to dream about the things you'll do. :) So here are some things I really hope to do before I die:

1.) Of course, go skydiving. 

2.) Live in a foreign country for a few months (or maybe a year) :) 

3.) Bring someone to Christ... that'd be amazing.

4.) Learn to speak at least two foreign languages fluently 

5.) Live somewhere utterly remote 

6.) Experience the city life 

7.) Learn to be good at photograpy

8.) Sell everything I have and give the money to charity

9.) Go buy this amazing hammock from Ten Thousand Villages 

10.) Walk the Great Wall of China

11.) Go visit an ex-concentration/death camp in Europe from WWII

12.) Live off the earth (maybe not for a very long time) ;)

13.) Learn sign language and have a conversation with a deaf person

14.) Publish one of my books (if I ever finish one!)

15.) Run a marathon

16.) Sleep on top of a mountain under the stars

17.) Get flexible 

18.) Stay awake for at least 24 hours

19.) Adopt a child or two 

20.) Restyle my room (I want it to be colorful and filled with different cultures and ethnics) 

There are many more but I'll stop there. :) Wow now I'm really inspired to go out and do things I never thought I could do. I feel empowered. Funny how easily I'm influenced, huh? **sigh of contentment** Today has been a good day. :)

Psalm 37:4 "Delight in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." 

With love for Him.

Yours truly,

SD

Who am I?

Lately I've realized my biggest problem is being jealous and longing for the life of others. I see my old friends and their new styles and hobbies and lives and I want that. But I can't be them because I'm me. I'm floating around there somewhere in the middle and I don't know what my style is and the only hobby I know I have a passion for is writing. Am I making any sense? Here are some examples.

Two of my friends are amazing photographers. They are also the two of my friends that I'm most jealous of. They maintain their own unique style (clothing, hair, all of the physical things that define a person), one of them is amazing at playing the guitar (a hobby I used to love but haven't done for months so now I've forgotten), one is also another good writer (who seems to have much more inspiration than myself). I love photography, I love how you can deeply you can reach someone without uttering a sound. But whenever I try to take pictures they end up looking amateur, even with the very nice camera I use. I don't know what my style is. I just like what I like and hate what I hate. I'm a mix between a smug of indie, a hair of vintage, and everything else is just like cultural (like, from other countries, especially the Latin American culture. That's my favorite). But it's so hard to find clothes like that. 

Anyway... to get to the point, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I feel like I'm changing. Not only like, personality but taste-wise too; as in my style (how many times can I use that word in one blog entry?). It's different, I don't know many people who are like me. Which is good, I like to be unique and definitely not mainstream. But I feel like I'm undefined. I feel like I'm reaching a whole new chapter in my life and this new chapter is recreating a new me. And that's not bad. I'm still the same person with the same heart and spirit. It's just weird. I've never felt such a change in myself. I guess that's also why I'm jealous. My friends' lives look stable and fun, carefree and un-shifting. While to me, I'm still growing and figuring out what I'm being reincarnated into. Like a puppy growing into his feet. 

Maybe I'm just blowing everything out of proportion. You know I'm just writing my thoughts down as I go. This is how I think through things. But in the end, even when I feel like my identity has been stolen away from me, I can remember that my true definition lies within Christ. I am His child and if I delight in the Lord, He will give me the desires of my heart (Psalm 37:4). He is all I need and no matter who I am or who I'm around, He is the constant in this equation (cheesy metaphor? Yeah, I know...). 

So yeah... there you go. Have you gotten bored yet? Is there anyone out there who's listening? Am I sending the thoughts of my heart out into an empty void? Maybe so... but even if that's the case, this blog has helped me tremendously by getting me to sort out my thoughts.

Thanks for reading! :) Buenos noches! 

With love for Him.

Yours truly,

SD

Conversation

You know, my favorite times are when I'm in a quiet, empty house. When I can sit here without a time-limit, without a sense of time, and think. I think a lot, and sometimes the thought's aren't always good. But I try to think on things that please God. And I don't know if you ever get this feeling, but sometimes there are moments when I feel like God is calling me to sit and think quietly. It's normally when He has something to say. 

The other day I was very confused and thoughts and feelings were hitting me out of nowhere. I was lost in my mind and didn't know what to do. So I went back and tried to do a quiet time. I tried to find the answers in the Bible (because it has all the answers, right?) but my frantic flipping of pages wasn't doing anything. So I stopped and just prayed and then something awesome happened. I literally had a conversation with God. I talked, He talked. I asked, He answered. I wrote it down in my prayer journal and for some reason, I feel like I should share it with you guys. So here's what I wrote down as I talked with God.

How do you want me to live for you, Lord?

Do you remember how you were in 8th grade, Sarah? Do you remember? Yes, you do. Was it hard to see Me in your life then? Was I hidden in your lifestyle?

No.

No, I wasn't. That's all you have to do, Sarah. Give me your life. Surrender. Live for Me for real. Don't hold back. Give your whole life to Me. All of it.

But it was easier when surrounded by all of my godly friends.

People don't describe who you are, Sarah. Let Me describe you.

I will, but will it really work, Lord?

Are you doubting Me? Me, the One who is all-powerful? What a joke. I can make you influence the entire world just by following Me if I wanted to. Have faith, Sarah. Trust Me. Live for Me and only Me. 

But... I can't to that, it's too hard with time and everything.

What are you doing now? You could be studying but you chose  to come to Me. Let this be a daily discipline. If I'm important enough, you'll do it.

So can this be like an experiment?

No, this is a way of life. This is the only way to a real life. Life in Me.

Ok. I will. But please take away my doubts. Give me confidence, peace and joy that you're speaking to me so clearly. 

What do you have to lose? You'll certainly never lose Me. I know you'll fail at some point but I'll be there to help you along. I'll shower you with blessings while on this journey. It will be quite an adventure. You will see amazing things. 

I love you, Lord. I am so unworthy.

I love you too and that's enough. You're my princess and my child. Rest in My arms.

**after a while of silence**

Let me not worry about what I look like or how much I weigh.

Again, you are my princess, Sarah, and you're beautiful. 

This is amazing.

I am always here for you. I always have something to tell you. I'm always whispering in your ear. Just listen...

I will choose to listen every day. I will choose to hear you constantly.

Good. Go, now, and work and I will be with you always.

It was an amazing experience. I had not had such a peaceful time with God in a long time. I could hear His voice so clearly in my head. I don't know if you've ever experienced something like that before but they are special moments. You can sense the Spirit. It was awesome. :D 

Anyway... that was something I felt like I needed to share. I love you guys!

With love for Him.

Yours truly,

SD

Poems

I Love Fall

The change of seasons has come again,

Of chilling winds and falling leaves,

When hickory nuts  cascade from all the trees.

When the mild South begins to give way,

To the frigid months headed our way.

Some mourn this time,

Kissing goodbye to the warmth of sunshine.

But I welcome it with open arms,

For it’s a lazy time with no alarms.

Thanksgiving comes but once a year,

And Christmas, too, don’t lose the cheer!

I love to snuggle up, all nice and toasty,

And I love to watch the turkey roasting.

All in all what I love the most,

Is being in the peaceful woods and not on the humid coast.

Cold

My toes are cold, my nose is red,

I’d love to be all warm in bed!

I have goosebumps, my hands are numb,

Come keep me warm and snuggle, hun?

My eyes are watery, and I haven’t chosen,

Which is colder… Oh! My ears are frozen!

But I choose to sit out here in the cold,

Because I love the chill and I will withhold.

They call me crazy all the time,

I guess that’s why I made this rhyme. 

Hope you enjoyed! Sorry I haven't been able to write about my life lately but I hope to get to that soon! :) Thanks!

With love for Him.

Yours truly,

SD

Rain

Today after school as I was sitting mindlessly on Facebook, I heard a roar from outside. "Is that rain?" I hollered to my mother in the living room. "Yep." She replied. I walked into the room she was in and stared out the large windows at millions of gallons of water falling from the sky. As Mom tried to find the weather channel, I said, "Be right back." and slipped outside. There, standing in front of my car in the garage, barely shielded from the rain, I witnessed liquid pound from the heavens with such a force I've never seen. It was amazing. I knew God was trying to show me something. His power. His marvelous strength and wrath. I smiled and looked up and the gray above from which the rain fell. Awestruck. For some reason the power of this rainstorm spoke to me. And then, as soon as it came, it left; leaving my driveway and yard drenched and strewn with leaves. 

I stepped out into the wetness and my feet felt the cool water. I heard millions of little pitter-patters of drops falling from the trees. I saw the long slap of concrete leading to the road laden with gold leaves. I looked around silently noting all the little details left over from the rain. Leaves, water, freshness. And ever since I had stepped outside I had been quietly singing to myself, "You makes things new, You are making me new". This made me smile again. I kinda walked in a little circle then looked up and saw the sun shining brilliantly through the clouds and trees. The light was golden and hopeful. I walked up my driveway toward it and stared. God showing me His glory. I stood like a little girl being shown all the treasure in the world. Innocent. Amazed. Then I turned and looked back at the messy driveway and yard behind me. Suddenly it looked beautiful. Like perfectly placed chaos. Such contrast mixed together painted beauty. The dazzling yellow leaves hung above me and lie below me. The tree trunks were dark from wetness. The air was moist. Everything wet. Everything beautiful. Everything screaming God. It was all proclaiming who He is. It all cried out, including my own heart, "You make things new, You are making me new". 

It was a majestic moment. It was as if the heavens were opened and I was revealed true beauty. God's beauty. And then, all at once, I was content. Perfectly, abundantly, endlessly content. It didn't matter what happened next. It didn't matter who or what was going to walk into my life at any second. God was in control and He made that known to me. And that is one of the most comforting facts known to man. 

Now I know I may seem way too dramatic about this all, but God isn't simple. He is intricate and brilliant and dramatic and complex. He makes little things awesome. And bland things savory. He is an amazing God.

With love for Him.

Yours truly,

SD

The rest of my thoughts

Sorry about that, guys. I had to get off very abruptly and didn't have time to close or anything. So anyway, back to where we were.... let me think out loud for a second. I explained my missing a friend, I discussing my extreme case of writer's block, so... that leaves me at... my thoughts today.

Today, I think, will be a good day. The only homework I have left to do is studying for a Geo test and I woke up singing Beloved by Tenth Avenue North in my head. It's rainy but that's ok because I love the rain. :) The leaves all around my house are either a rustic, dirty-looking yellow (beautiful if you ask me) or a dark, deep red with a slight hint of brown coming through. It's like a color wonder-land. If only the weather would get cooler! I am ready for chilly days and frigid nights. I ready to see the huge water bowl for our outside animals freeze over in the morning and I'm ready to anticipate snow even though it rarely comes. But we have a long time to wait for that. 

I'm also excited for this summer. I am going to Puerto Rico!!! This is the first time my church has gone on World Changers and it be to such an exotic place. Lately they've gone to Alaska, Brunswick, GA and places like that. But this isn't a state of America, it's a territory. That's way different. Haha ;) I need to get good at speaking Spanish so that I can impress the people we're working for. 

Oh, and if you don't know what World Changers is, it's when you go (normally with your church) to some place (like I said, it varies) and work for the people there. Commonly you would do roofing or painting or something like that. So, it's like construction. And you get food and lodging usually from a church at your location. The people always appreciate it and it can be a great way to reach out and share Christ. I'm super excited. :)

So... yeah. That's just about it. My thoughts are a lot more cheerful today than they were yesterday. :) Guess that's a good thing. Thank you, Jesus. :) 

With love for Him.

Yours truly,

SD

It's been awhile...

I've been having thoughts lately. Lots of thoughts. I decided I needed to write them out somewhere and since I've never been able to keep a journal in my life, I thought, why not share it with you? So here we go.

Recently (as in, since just a few minutes ago) I realized a really miss this person from my old school. Let's call him... Dud. Yes, Dud. Just go with it. Anyway, Dud used to always make my day, everyday. Even if I only went to school three days a week, things he'd post as statuses on Facebook would make me laugh. Something about him is different. He's a dork. A huge dork. But he's a genuine dork. A genuine dork with a genuine heart. And ever since the very beginning, I could tell there was something different about him. Even when everyone was talking about how weird he was, I knew there was something there, though I kept that to myself. And now, I see him posting inside jokes and pictures from costume parties at the school, and it gets me down thinking that I'm not there to laugh at him anymore. I'm not there to watch him to stupid stuff and say the most random, and funny things you'd ever hear. And I guess that's just the way it is. I mean I'm not depressed and I'll move on very soon, but I'll also still miss Dud. I guess that'll be ok. 

Another thought is this nagging question that has been torturing me lately: Why can't I write? I've been trying to think of something to write about but I forget or am completely un-inspired. It worries me. Writing is my stress-reliever, my comfort zone. No matter what school I go to or who I hang out with, I can always write. But I'm losing my touch. I haven't written in... oh, weeks if not months. It's awful. But then there's school, and tons of ROC meetings and then I'm just plain tired and feel like doing nothing.

Thoughts to be continued later... 

(sorry for the suspense)

With love for Him.

Yours truly,

SD