And the Iphone tells the story of...

This last weekend/half of week, I got to spend some time in Portland. I spent the weekend with Emily doing wedding prep galore. On Sunday, we went to Solid Rock and I ran into some friends from Corvallis! :)

me, Emily, Sara, and Tina! <3 (the boys are not photographed)

Emily gets married in 8 days. EIGHT. {enter here squeals, jumping, and the big to-do pile} Then her and her hubs are moving across the country to Tennessee. I'm ganna miss this lady. We were so busy, I didn't get around to taking any pictures. I spent a majority of my time working on the Wedding Playlist. Really, I was just illegally downloading songs hardcore. Shhhh. Ladies and gentlemen, I don't think you understand what this tasks entails. I'll be honest with you: click, copy, paste, find song somewhere on hard drive, put into itunes, playlist. bam. NEXT. It took hours upon hours. BUT I'm so glad I could do it instead of the Bride.

The future Mr. & Mrs.

Monday evening, Brynn and I did a test run on Emily's wedding day makeup. I can't say any more than that, but it is going to be GREAT. Brynn and I went out to dinner with her Dad. YUM. We went to Chevy's and we delighted in cocktails and mexican food. Is there really anything better? Well, yeah, there is. But I really enjoyed my pina colada.
When we got home, we put on the Olympics. I gotta say, these people are so deserving to be there. They do some amazing stuff! While we were watching the Olympics, we laughed our booties off reading Damn You Auto Correct. Have you ever read it? You should. Pure hilariousness.

I don't know how we came up with this idea but Brynn had some extra fireworks she didn't use on the 4th of July, so we headed out into the church parking lot behind her apartment and let some loose. We we're having all sorts of fun and laughter, until we realized how late at night it was and we saw a cop car driving down the street. We picked up everything and ran inside. SO WORTH IT.

The next day, we headed to Salem. The birthplace of our beautiful friendship. I got a haircut and Brynn got a new piercing! I have been contemplating getting my nose pierced for nearly 2 years, and I almost did, but I chickened out. In my defense, I don't have ANY piercings at all. Not even my ears!

We went out for really good, but expensive BBQ. I put a napkin in my shirt. Yes, I was that person and I have no shame. It was worth it for every single fabulous bite of ribs. Ah, drooling just remembering how good it was. We then came home, put on the Olympics and did a puzzle. Don't judge us, it was a really hard one. We worked on it patiently for all 3 hours of the Olympics. 

We kept losing pieces, and then I realized they all somehow managed to land in the crotch of my sweatpants. Don't ask. I was (and still am) as confused as you to how they got there. We laughed hysterically.
Favorite moment of the night: Brynn goes "is it weird I like to eat..." And before she could finish her sentence I said, "no, most people eat..." and we died. Literally. If laughter could induce dying it would have happened that night. Love this girl so so much. AND I'm so beyond happy she is finally back in Oregon!

Lately, I've decided to take on the task of riding a bike. {large amounts of laughter here}Yes, I do not know how to ride a bike. So Greg and I walked downtown to Peak Sports so I could get correctly sized for a bike. They let us take the bikes out on a test drive. So we did, or really, Greg did. I went on a nice walk with my bike. I rode it for probably 0.5 seconds, if that. I attempted, and Greg laughed. After such a refreshing walk downtown, we stopped at The Beanery for blended chai, and then walked to central park. I played on the swings and went down the slide. I enjoyed acting like I was 5. What's better than that? Really.

Then we decided a swim would sound absolutely decadent. So we got Peter to go along with us, and we all went swimming. Did I mention I've been sick? Well I have. My life has revolved around this nasty cough that induces dry heaving and lack of breathing. Swimming? I didn't think that one through. But it was still a refreshing little dip. Later that evening, we went on a motorcycle ride since Greg sells the beloved bike today. We enjoyed a last ride on the beautiful red babe. Or, I did. I'm not really sure if Greg enjoyed it. I couldn't see where we were most of the time, so I was singing worship in my helmet while it was too windy for Greg to hear me. I live a really beautiful life and I am amazed at the many ways God answers my prayers, hears my every word, and blesses me with such wonderful people to love.

Your love is

Your love is strong-Jon Forman

This is my prayer.

Isaiah 43

Isaiah 43

¹ But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

source

² When you pass through the waters,

I will be with you;

and when you pass through the rivers,

they will not sweep over you.

When you walk through the fire,

you will not be burned;

the flames will not set you ablaze.

source

³ For I am the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your stead.

⁴ Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
nations in exchange for your life.

⁵ Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
I will bring your children from the east
and gather you from the west.

⁶ I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the ends of the earth—

⁷ everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made.”

⁸ Lead out those who have eyes but are blind,
who have ears but are deaf.

⁹ All the nations gather together
and the peoples assemble.
Which of their gods foretold this
and proclaimed to us the former things?

Let them bring in their witnesses to prove they were right,
so that others may hear and say, “It is true.”

¹⁰ “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD,
“and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor will there be one after me.

¹¹ I, even I, am the LORD,
and apart from me there is no savior.

¹² I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
I, and not some foreign god among you.
You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “that I am God.

 ¹³ Yes, and from ancient days I am he.
No one can deliver out of my hand.
When I act, who can reverse it?”

¹⁴ This is what the LORD says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“For your sake I will send to Babylon
and bring down as fugitives all the Babylonians,
   in the ships in which they took pride.

¹⁵ I am the LORD, your Holy One,
Israel’s Creator, your King.”

¹⁶ This is what the LORD says—
he who made a way through the sea,
a path through the mighty waters,

source

¹⁷ who drew out the chariots and horses,
the army and reinforcements together,
and they lay there, never to rise again,
extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:

¹⁸ “Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.

¹⁹ See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.

source

²⁰ The wild animals honor me,
the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,

 ²¹ the people I formed for myself
that they may proclaim my praise.

²² “Yet you have not called on me, Jacob,
you have not wearied yourselves for me, Israel.

²³ You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings,
nor honored me with your sacrifices.
I have not burdened you with grain offerings
nor wearied you with demands for incense.

²⁴ You have not bought any fragrant calamus for me,
or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices.
But you have burdened me with your sins
and wearied me with your offenses.

²⁵ “I, even I, am he who blots out
your transgressions, for my own sake,
and remembers your sins no more.

²⁶ Review the past for me,
let us argue the matter together;
state the case for your innocence.

²⁷ Your first father sinned;
those I sent to teach you rebelled against me.

²⁸ So I disgraced the dignitaries of your temple;
I consigned Jacob to destruction
   and Israel to scorn.

Believe

I love pinterest. These images make me smile, have hope, believe, and love. 

Looking For You

Every woman longs for a man like Noah. A man who is honest, faithful, and sincere. A man who puts her happiness above his own. Women get together, watch the Notebook and gawk at the love he has for Ally.
He is so sacrificial and giving. He is a hard worker. He doesn't have a lot of money, but he gives and gives for Ally. He redoes a house that him and Ally visited one night and does it all because of his love for her.

"The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds, and that's what you've given me. That's what I hope to give to you forever."

Every woman deserves to feel the way Ally feels around Noah. Every woman is a treasure, and should be treated as such by their man. The men of this world (especially Christian men) need to step up and fill the roles that are God-given for them to fill. 

 

From Loveology(give it a listen, you won't be disappointed):

Godly men are called to be-

1. A leader (spiritually, physically, emotionally)

2. A lover (patience, love, encouragement, gentleness) Women are like wine glasses, they are valuable.

3. Provider 

4. Protector (watch over, take care of and guard the woman) She needs to feel safe and comfortable. 

I pray daily for these men. They are called to high standards. As women, we are just waiting to be led, to be a support, and to love and encourage our brothers. We WANT to. We aren't looking for perfection or Prince Charming. We're just looking for you. 

Love, Sun, & Crafts

On Thursday, I went to a conference for young adults ages 18-28 called The Way Event//Love-ology. It was an amazing event all about relationships, marriage, femininity, masculinity, dating, sex, and love. The podcasts are available online, and you should definitely give a listen to them. They are pretty long and there are two days, however, so do it while cleaning, showering, driving, or cooking.

I took sooo many notes it is crazy! The whole event was absolutely beautiful to me. We gathered in an abandoned warehouse in Portland. It was cold, rainy, and not comfortable to say the least. There weren't enough chairs, so we sat on cold concrete. The "bathrooms" consisted of port-a-potties in the rain. I'm so glad  I have a small bladder and I got to experience them! All joking aside, the beauty of it to me is that we all had a desire to learn. We were all there because we want to learn about what God says about this things, what  Godly men and women look like.

On Sunday, the weather was absolutely stunning. It was sunny and 62 degrees! (I know, that sounds freezing to some of you, but the warm sun was so perfect!) I got to wear shorts and a tank for the first time this year. I greatly enjoyed it! I planned to go to the park and read, but instead, I took advantage of the balcony at my apartment.

 I was praying about my desire to be a Godly woman and have God use me. God whispered to me, "Sarah, you already are a woman of me. Follow me. I am using you." It was such comfort to hear those words straight from my Father! I was reading the Psalms and I got such a sense of where I belong. I often question things and feel like I don't belong for one reason or another. God reassured my wandering heart and made me feel so comforted and safe.

  I was so excited about the warm weather. Summer is coming! :) Here is my outfit: 

Shorts: Charlotte Russe
White Tank: Target
Purple Vest: Ross
Sunglasses: H&M
Necklace: Forever 21

I've been helping my friend Dani organize and decorate her craft room. It was a big explosion when we first started, but I helped her create a place that was calming, inspiring, organized, and functional. I think it looks pretty good if you ask me!

These are cork squares covered with decorative fabric and ribbon and inspirational collages

White wire ribbon with card fronts attached with mini colored clothes-pins

These cute little jars hold Dani's ribbon

I made this jar for Dani to put scissors and pens or whatever on her desk

This wall is absolutely my favorite, We decorated the letters with ripped up paper and mod-podged it. I did the R, A, T, and half of the E. 

There are some star lights over the window and a desk where Dani can work! Yay! The bin holds all her fabric, paper, and miscellaneous things. 

The room turned out really great! We didn't really have a color scheme when we started, but as it went along, it all unfolded perfectly. Dani loves color and I'm so glad I could help her make this space perfect for her. She has a shop on Etsy and makes some of the cutest things I've ever seen! Not to mention, I got to craft and organize with a good friend. Perfection.

Christians

I've had it with Christians pretending and thinking they are better than everyone else. Everyone is a sinner. Jesus died for everyone. And all sins are equal-from murder to a white lie.

 Romans 3:23, "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" 

I believe in God, but I am tired of associating with people like this. There are real problems in the world and you are hung up on who said what, who did what, and blah blah blah. That is not our purpose. That is not why we are on the earth. 

"I like your Christ, I do not like you Christians. You Christians are so unlike your Christ." -Mahatma Gandhi

Stop being judgmental. Stop gossiping. Act like Christ. After all, Christ-ians should be Christ followers. How are we ever going to save the world for God's glory if we aren't imitating Christ? 

Love.  

 source

**I'm too passionate to really put any more words into this for now. 

Love = Sex?

In a world dominated by culture one has to ask, does love = sex? It seems like every single romantic movie has some sort of sex involved in it. Sometimes, even with partners who aren't "in love."

Today, in my Sociology class we were asked, "When is the next time you and your significant other are going to have sex?" First of all, this whole lecture was based on dating, sex, attraction, and culture's involvement. I've got to say, it really got me thinking. Why is it assumed that if you are a college aged student you are automatically drinking, doing drugs, and sleeping around? I just don't quite understand where this stigma came from.
I guess I am not the norm. I must be the out-group. (Yeah, a Sociology term). I recently re-watched a super cute movie called "Play the Game." The plot consists of a grandson and grandpa who try to teach each other strategies with dating, and of course, the bedroom.

But it seems culture has taken this idea of love = sex and adapted it to, if it's broken, replace it. So much for love. With divorce rates being so high, you have to wonder why people are so quick to abandon relationships that are not working. We live in a consumer culture. When something breaks, we buy another one. We hardly ever fix it anymore. This principle is now seen implemented in relationships. 

This does not make sense for me. I don't think love = sex. Like the cute nursery rhyme said, "first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage." And the bible gives us very clear lines of exactly what love is. Just the word "love" appears 314 times in the bible (according to answers.com).

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

 To Christians, this is our battlefield. We are called to be in the world, but not OF the world (2 Corinthians 10:3). We are battling Satan, and of course a culture filled with things of which we do not agree. That does not mean to hide away in your christian bubble, but rather, step out in faith, and make a difference in this world. 

The light will outshine the darkness.