Spiritually Healthy

Ya'll, I love my flowers.  This morning I made my normal trek outside to check on my chickens, pigs, puppy dog (not really a puppy lol, but he's cute like a puppy), and of course, my flower garden. As I gazed upon the little faces of bright joy, a smile came upon me.  This year I wanted to plant ALL THE FLOWERS, which in actuality I didn't do, but I did gather quite a large amount of seeds that I planned to plant. Which is exactly what I did. I planted, watered and waited.  As my flowers began to pop up, it doesn't mater if I've planted this type before, I always become giddy with excitement. So when my flowers started to bloom, you can imagine how enraptured I was!  I've often wondered why flowers are such a happy place for me. Part of it is I think in my blood. Both sets of my grandparents were fantastic gardeners, and then of course my mom and dad grew lots of things when I was a child. So, I guess you could say that growing things is part of who I am. And I ...

Seasons come and go and this past week saw the end of one season. After almost three years of helping teach gymnastics, God has closed that door and I said goodbye to a bunch of precious children/coaches.  I've said it here before, but I absolutely love working with and teaching children. Throughout my life, the Lord has blessed me many opportunities to work alongside kids. Whether that was teaching Bible class, helping with gymnastics, volunteering at a summer camp, or simply baby-sitting, God has given me many moments where I have had the blessed opportunity to be a positive example in a child's life. There is a weight that comes with that though. Knowing that children watch by example is HUGE - at least to me. Every week when when class would start, I would try to remind myself that some of these kids don't have both sets of parents raising them, some of them don't attend a Bible-preaching church, and some of them come from terrible backgrounds. Keeping the thought o...

As I look back on the last five months of my life (really it has been longer than that, but I'll just go with the last five months), I see just how scary it as been for me to take risks.  What if something goes wrong? What if it doesn't work out? What if I get hurt? What if I can't move on?  Those questions (and more!) have been frequently coming to mind. I thought I was doing a good job at dispelling them, but it turns out I was letting them consume me with extra worry and fear.  I am not a daring adventurous kind of girl; I'm rather fond on my cocoon of safety. Why? Because it is predictable, and often times for me, predictable means safe. That's not always the case, but in my little head, I often justify it. I like to be secure and feel safe. But as life has thrown me a few curve balls, I have realized that these unexpected events come no matter what. So, what to do? I am a naturally anxious person and so surrendering that area to Lord is rather difficult for me....

Isn't there a phrase, "It's the little things in life"?  As the Lord continues to lead and guide me, I have come to see many many times over that life is mix of little blessings that add up and showcase how great our God truly is. Last week, I had a special friend visit me from out of town. Over the course of their stay we went all over and explored some of what Florida has to offer. Through our little adventures, I came to realize how special it is to simply be . Maybe this doesn't surprise you, but I can be a "go big or go home" type of person. While I think there are times that call for that, I also have learned that there is beauty and tranquility in the simplest of things. Such as: Listening to the rain, walking , discovering hidden gems, trying something new, talking, dreaming, laughing, embracing, and even silence.  Of course there are many more, but these stick out to me because they are fresh in my mind.  So as I savor these memories, not only d...

I will be turning 36 in two days.  If someone were to ask me at 26 where I saw myself 10 years from then, I would more than likely not have guessed to be sitting where I am currently sitting. What's the big deal about turning 36, you might ask? Well, it's really not that  big of a deal; age is  just a number, isn't it? True.  The past two and a half years of my life have been some of the most challenging for me emotionally, spiritually, and even mentally. The hopes and discouragements God has so lovingly placed before me were painful, and yet there was beauty and purpose in them. It's funny though how the Holy Spirit works in our hearts and how it is by God's grace and mercy that even in the midst of a heartbreaking disappointment, His purpose and glory shine through. Praise the Lord! He must increase and I must decrease, no? (John 3:30). So what's the big deal, Sarah? Well, I'm gonna shoot straight with ya'll - I have had a ton  of anxiety about turning...

Well, I experienced something that I never thought I would living in the state of Florida -  SNOW! This once a lifetime event happened this past week and I cannot even begin to tell you how exciting it was to experience. :) Please enjoy some pictures (I ended up taking WAY TOO many, lol):  My sisters, brother and I were so excited we ended up walking several miles up and down our back roads, taking it all in.  Growing up in New Hampshire, I wasn't unfamiliar with snow, it just isn't so common in this area of the Sunshine State! My hair actually froze and I loved it, LOL. I think one of the many things that I loved about this whole experience was the silence. I had forgotten just how peaceful the snow can be. The sounds of winter are rather magical. Never in a million years would I think that this would be my backyard! Such a simple, yet invigorating sight.  Our puppy Max was so happy to be able to run around in the snow! And while his paws were sore the next day, he ...