Studio Sara-Anne

So Thankful

One of the studies I've been doing over the last few weeks is on HOPE, and this morning, is probably the first moring that I have a true sense of that. I am so hopful for things to come. I know that even in the midst of uncertanity with my son's health and uncertainity about jobs, and uncertainity about schools and such, I really believe today (and that may change) that God is in total control.

I'm so excited about my weekend. I have everything packed and ready to go. I have my classes ready to teach and all organized and I have all my paper, pictures all matched. I just found out that they are going to have a massage therapist there for us and we each can have 30 min. So I signed up for 2 15 min massages. YEA!

My daughter cracks me up. She woke me up this morning with her own handmade card (which was awesome) and her own hand made envelope. She does such great work.

Micah was so sweet this morning on the way to school. We have this silly game in our family that we play (thanks to Chris) it's called Supper Hero 20 questions. So obviously Micah and Daddy have the drop on me. But Micah so wants me to play and so on the way to school we did. We start out with questions like "Justice League or Marvel?" " Do they wear a cape?" "Can they fly?" well I actually guessed "Flash" and Micah said "GOOD JOB MOM! YOU ACTUALLY GOT IT! I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN PLAY SUPERHERO 20 QUESTIONS!!!" He was so proud of me. Fun.

Smell update: Well I think I finally defunktified my bathroom. I washed down the walls, the vanity, really scrubbed behind the toilet, washed the shower curtian and the liner. And I walked in this morning and no smell!! whoo hoo. So tell me this...why can't boys (big and small) aim??? I just don't understand...it's a huge hole that they have to get it in, if it was the size of a paper cup, well then I could understand, but come on.

Have a great day and weekend! hopefully I'll have lots to share on Monday.

So my new favorite thing to eat...(I'm back on the wagon...the dieting wagon that is) my friend introduced me to it...and it is yummy!!!! You take oranges, cut them up, put loads of cinnimon on them and a little bit of brown sugar. I use Brown Splenda...you can eat these either cold or warmed up. OH MY GOSH!!! so good.

On a lighter note

I can't handle anymore drama for a while. Whew!

So in the last 3 days I have been stranded two times at night in a not safe place with my car. The first was the tire thing, and then my car died on the side of 540 in rush hour and my cell didn't have any charge left. I had just enough to call Chris and say "I'm stranded on 540 near Capital" Thankfully he found me, we had my car towed and it's the alternator...say good bye to $350.

So I got all my stuff ready for this weekend. I found these adorable trash cans (mini) and I painted on them....Sara-Anne's Scrap Crap. I did one for the friends I'm going with. They are really cute.

I hate it when I go to AC Moore with a coupon and can't find anything over $5 to buy it on. They had all their paper marked down. Loaded up on Bazzill...like I needed more of that.

Micah has some more tests this weekend. Praying for some peace and answers.

Starting next week, I have 4 photo shoots a week. WOW! Kind of nervous about some of them, not about the actual shoot, but more dealing with my new camera and lighting issues.

Got a new lens in the mail today. I got a really good deal on a zoom lens, so I'm excited about that.

Makaley spent some time with a girlfriend of mine and got into her makeup drawer...such the girly girl.

Okay...this may sound crazy...but have you ever walked into a room (in your house) and smelled something funky? Chris is always amazed at my sense of smell...but there is something that doesn't smell very good in one of our bathrooms. I have scoured it over and over again and still that smell is there. I 've changed cleaners, used baking soda...but it's driving me crazy. Chris can't smell it but it's there.

We are going to start small groups next week. I'm excited about it. We are not sure about the topic, but it will be great to be in a weekly group with accountablity, fellowship and study.

Okay everyone, be very blessed today! I'm excited to see what the Lord is going to do.

So I have heard from some of you who thought that I was adding fuel to the fire by posting the e-mail that I recieved. That wasn't my intent. My intent was to see if others thought that I was off base by how I felt about the whole situation. I don't want to make things worse. I was just so floored this morning and frankly really ticked off.

Thank you for your encouragement, I'm sorry if I offended anyone. As you know, this blog has always been there to encourage people, not to hurt. I'm truly sorry. I didn't use wise judgement when I did that.

All I know is that when I lay my head to rest at night I can honestly say that I have done whatever I could have done to help this situation. I have confronted those who I have had issues with and was turned away to talk about it further. I have apologized there really isn't anymore that I can do. So I leave it in the hands of the Lord. If he wants there to be reconcilliation (which is always His best among believers) then I am willing to do so, but I don't know what else I can do at this point.

I really do hope that I can learn from this and have better judgement in the future. Maybe not place too many expectations on new friendships. Of of these women said "you know, people handle things differently, there are some of us who can not deal with emotional stuff and they have to just shut it out, there are some who can never take healthy critisim, so you need to be wise when you share" Looking back...she had it right.

Well, life will go on. I will continue to strive to be what God wants me to be...that is the best wife, mother, friend, sister, child of God I can be. In one of my favorite songs Matt Redman writes "He gives and takes away, he gives and takes away, my heart will always say, Lord blessed be your name" And that is what I'm singing.

I really believe that all experiences we go through painful or not, help to shape us and mold us into better people. I believe that God will use this (all of it) to help in some way or another. So all I can do is be thankful and bless the Lord...eventhough I don't understand it all, I will bless His name.

Thanks for listening to my heart...
again, I'm sorry if I offended anyone.

Sara-Anne

Painted this in worship yesterday. Pastor R. was talking about the armor of God...it was the first time that I was really nervous doing this, but really felt the Lord doing the work.

Chris and I went out on Saturday night. A date night. It was such an experience. I found This Place a couple of days ago and thought, I have to take Chris here. Since living in England, he has been dying for some authentic "Fish & Chips" no one state side can seem to get it right. So in the paper there was this review on this place and we decided to try it out with the hopes that we would be able to sit and reminisce about England. We got there and the place was packed...this little tiny shop was packed with lines out the door and no where to sit. We decided that we would come back only to find that they ran out of fish!!! After talking with the hostess she said that you have to come right as they open and you will find the line around the parking lot. So we didn't get to have fish and chips, but we are pretty convinced that it must be pretty good for that kind of popularity. We ended up at a really nice Mediterranean place and enjoyed the nice atmosphere despite Chris being in a hoodie.

Makaley made the most amazing card for her grandmother last night. I meant to take a picture...I will post tomorrow. She amazes me. Micah started Basketball Saturday. He's on a team with 1-3rd graders...so needless to say he's not the tallest by far. I'm sure it will help him to grow though. Afterward, the coach recognizes the players for what the contribute and they get a "star" to put on their jersey. Micah got a white start which represented "most Christlike" he handed me the star and said "mom, I got the best one" I was thrilled that he acknoweldged that.

Caught up with a friend yesterday. She is one of the most encouraging people I know. Ususally at church I don't get to talk much with her becuase we are both so busy going here and there...but it was good yesterday, to really connect with her.

Speaking of friends...Reading this book Friendships of Women I'm reading it after my mentor recommended it to me after going through some very painful experiences with women "friends" recently. After talking with some other friends about this book, they too were interested, so we've set up a book club and are reading it and then getting together for dinner and discussion. I'm looking forward to it. Really hoping that it helps me put into perspective and how to decern true friends.

So my big thing at work is trying to find a replacement for my long time faithful assitant Kay, she's been wonderful. We have had a great working relationship and friendship as well. I'm really going to miss her. I had thought, that our part time Admin would want to move up and take the hours, but she doesn't so I'm really left trying to fill this position. Kay's last day is the 15th...so sad.

Blessings,
Sara-Anne

Why am I up?

Because I had a flat tire after the crop at Archivers. UGH! Oh well, Chris and the kids came and got me and all is wel.

I let Makaley sleep in my bed and she snuggled so close. It's great to have her home. In her sleepyness, she said 'mom, I love you" LOVE THAT

Heard from the doctor. Micah's tests all came back normal Praise God...so we are still left with a bit of mystery of what is going on with him. It could all go back to allergies!

Today was a big day for my blog. I had over 100 different visitors...can you believe it??? I can't believe that!!! It's amazing to me that people log onto the blog 4 and 5 times a day and some people stay on teh blog all day long...that is strange to me...it's like they are stalking my site. My parents have warned me about being careful about what I post...but really I just wonder why people read the same pages over and over again. I love the international readers...love seeing that I have someone from Austrailia reading or Bolivia...it's interesting to monitor the traffic and where they go.

So my e-mail flyer was a huge success. Within 4 hours I have every weekend booked with the sessions I need. 3 maternity, 1 newborn (only 1 week old) 3 babies, 3 different sets of siblings. I'm excited. From the e-blast, I also booked one regular session. Can't wait.

Found a place that I can rent different lens to "try" out before hand. That is so cool to me. Very in expensive. So before I drop $400 on a lens...I can try it out for a week for $15. Can't beat that.

Looking forward to my trip next weekend. Loaded up on supplies at the store. I've really weeded down so I'm trying only to bring "page kits"

Okay, it's 1:32am and I'm still awake...maybe that large venti gingerbread late should have waited.

So we have this woman who comes to every Friday night crop. Each Friday night she spends at least $350. In a month she spends over $1500 in our store alone...not to mention online and other stores. I figured out today a lot of what she does. So it's kind of chilly, she decided she didn't want to walk to her car for her Quick Cutz revolution and decided to purchase another one. She left her sissors at home and purchased another pair. She has every die cutter known to man...in someways it's so sad. I think at times, I'm way too excessive with my supplies and have tried to only get things that I know I will use. But then I look at this lady and I think..I'm doing good.

Okay, off to bed. Micah has his first Basketball game tomorrow

Have a great weekend.

A Bunch of Randomness

Well we pulled through M's tests. He was very frightened, trying so hard to be brave, but they gave him an oral seditive and then proceeded with the tube down his throat and IV's and such. He so well. We had some more scary news yesterday regarding my dear son, trying to figure out where it all fits in this puzzle. I'm so thankful for his doctor who is concerned and thorough.

Darling Daughter comes back tonight. She really doesn't want to. She's having a great time there. So glad that she enjoys her grandparents, but I'm ready to have her home with me. She announced on the way to church on Sunday to her grandfather "Poppy, you and Nona are my grandparents and Mimi and Pop-Pop are Micahs" I think that is so funny.

The first e-mail marekting blast for Sara Anne Photography went out.

I have realized that I need a few more photo sessions (for variety) before my website is ready to go live. So I'm taking February to do those. Anyone interested, please let me know~

So here's my encouragement for today...I know so many people are going through really rough times, and I read this scripture and wanted to encourage YOU!

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corth. 4: 8-9

These are such strong verses. Some days, we aren't sure we could say that I'm sure. Our burdens seem too heavy. they weigh us down. Things happen in our lives and we definatley feel crushed, abandoned, and even in despair---so why didn't these Christians? Becuase they had irrepressible hope. In the midst of darknest circumstances, their hearts were lifted. Why? Because hope floats...it has a buoyance to lift us out of our troubles if we let. In contrast, despair sinks. It's heavy. It has no air inside it. It feels like you are trying to swim with a bowling ball. You feel like at any minuite you might drown under the weight of your circumstances.

Maybe the most beautiful thing about hope is that it has no respecter of circumstances. Real hope has very little to do with what is going on around us. But we continue to things it does. We believe, If only our circumstances would change. It doesn't work that way. Time and again I've seen people who have no reason to hope, floating on hope's uplifting support, keeping their heads way above water. I have a couple of friends who seem to always live hope!. Hope will lift, despair will drag down depending on what we hold in our hearts.

I want to live a life with HOPE!!!

Have a great weekend!

Please Pray

If you pray, I'm asking that you lift up the following needs:

1. My brother in law who is 36 years old, was diagnoised with stage 3 colon cancer back in the summer. He's been undergoing treatments of chemo and seems to be in very high spirits. He also is in the middle of a bitter divorce and just found out on Friday that he lost his job. My heart is so heavy for him, I can't imagine, the anxiety of all the medical stuff and insurance issues, not to mention the overwhelming costs involved. Thankfully, he has developed a relationship with the Lord in the recent months, but as most of you know, just because you bear the name of Christ, doesn't mean life is easy. Please pray for provision for him and his two young children and for complete healing.

2. Some of you know what has been happening with my dear son. Over the last 3 months we have been experiencing some random blacking out, vomiting, and headaches. he has endured a series of lab tests last week and tomorrow will be having his MRI and EEG. I just learned that they will sedate him for these tests and will also have the die test which is a bit invasive. He has been such a trooper and was a bit nervous about this, but thankfully, his little friend Sarah just had one and she was able to talk to him about it, and his uncle (mentioned above) use to sell MRI equipment and he too talked to him. This morning, I heard him talking to his Pop-pop about how he would be on this table that would automatically put him into this tube and he would have earphones with music which he thought was cool. Of course I'm nervous, but I know that God is the creator of every single cell that makes up his body and He is in total control.

Hope everyone is doing well in the place that the Lord has you.

Sara-Anne

Thankful Tuesdays

Thank you to all of you who have e-mailed me wondering where I've been. I'm still amazed that people who I don't know and have never met, read this blog daily and through it have begun a connection with me and my family. Thank you.

For a long, restful weekend with my hubby and Micah (Makaley is at the beach with her Nona and Poppy)

For my in-laws who are so willing to help when we need it

For my job, realizing again today how fragile things can be in the work force

For my new camera...I'm loving it and the classes I'm taking...learning so much

For Micah's new teacher. Love her!

My husband, I'm continually amazed at the heart that he has.

My new bedroom suite (making our room a haven). It's beautfiul!

The cold weather, I love it. Wish we had more snow, but I love the cold.

The things the Lord continues to show me through friends, church, and personal study. Grow me Lord!

Taking a Break

I'm taking a little break from blogging. I'll fill you in later.

Random Thoughts

This weekend was good.

As I posted yesterday, I got quite a bit of scrapping done which was good for me. I'm working hard and being more dilegent in scrapping. I've started a new system which has been very freeing for me. I'll post more tomorrow with pictures as well.

Still running a fever, have been now for over 3 weeks. Kind of tired of it and feel like it's really wearing my body down. Waiting to hear about health coverage so I can figure out what is going on.

Took the kids to a new park on Saturday, it was so much fun...they ran and jumped and I chased them and there was a couple of great playgrounds. Then we stopped by Rita's on the way home...which completed the trip. I use to take my kids to the park nearly every day when I wasn't working, I just don't get a chance to do it as much. So it was fun to spend time with them, just me and them. I was a bit frustrated with Micah because we have made it a rule that he can only play video games on the weekends, and that he can only play his Nintendo DS on the way home from school on the weekdays. Well, during our time at the park, Micah shouts out.."Mom, can I go get my DS and sit on that bench and play it" AHHHHH!!! It's very frustrating to me, I want my children to be active and to run and play and be outside. I know that he loves video games and I don't mind it with moderation, but I just couldn't believe it, that with the opportunity to play at this new park, that after a while, he wanted his video game. I question whether it's because I restrict him so much during the week??? I don't know, still praying for wisdom on this one.

My assisstant at work just resigned. I'm so bummed about it. She really worked well and was a great asset to this office.

So, I've been feeling lately that we have been under attack. During the month of December, Chris and I did a lot of ministry, we were both given the opportunity to give our testimonies and to share what the Lord was doing in our lives. I was really bold about what the Lord was teaching me through giving and how I felt that my faith was being stretched and that God was faithful. So I feel like the Lord wants to take us to a new level in that faith and that we are under attack because we have used it so much as a witness to God's love and faithfulness. My car is not doing well, I broke a tooth, I haven't been feeling well, Chris has had a harder time finding jobs due to the fact that there are a few local schools tracked out and those teachers are taking the sub jobs. So all in all, at a place when I feel like our prayer life and faithfulness needs to buckle down and be in things for the long haul.

I went to church yesterday and the series that Pastor is starting is on Spiritual Warfare. It was good to get refreshed on the fact that we do have an enemy who wants to see us defeated and wants to see us turn our backs on the things of the Lord. Do you know that in the middle of that sermon, right when he started talking about the fact that satan wants to kill and destroy us... there was a power surge and all the lights, sound, Power point, etc went dark??? the generator kicked in, with minimal lighting and Pastor finished his sermon. I feel even more convicted that I need to buckle down and fight this battle on my knees...we are going to daily put on the armour of God with our children each morning on the way to school. I think this will be a great lesson for them and us.

Made our reservations for Great Wolf Lodge very excited about our mini get away.

the big news is that I'm getting ready to launch

Hoping the website will go live this week.

Have a Blessed Monday