Well put

"God’s love takes us on journeys we do not wish to go, by roads we do not want to travel, to take us to places we do not want to leave." ~ Ashley Null

I stole this from my boy Steve Wood's FB page.  Going to be bold here and say that is the truth.  Almost every learning experience I have had as of late has been unwanted, unplanned, less than pleasant and a little scary.  But, the oddest part is that I wouldn't call a redo.  (I can't believe I'm saying that..)  I've learned a lot. More than I even know.  I have been learning a shiz ton about grace, truth and time.  And how they all work together.  (I happen to be co leading a study on it... so I have actually tried to apply it to myself and it has been a little harder than I once perceived).  But, it's real.  We need grace.  We need truth.  And time is a must.  Transformation isn't even a possibility unless it is powered by grace.  Truth (my least favorite) is necessary and basically gives us some direction.. And time.  It makes it happen.  You can't rush it.  We need it.  They all work together when you let them.  Are you a grace person? (If we hang a lot then you most likely are) Or are you more truth? (We probably don't see as much of each other.. but I'm working on it)  I think it would be real.ly cool to end up being a good mix of both.  How's that?  Good. That's what I'm shooting for.  That's all I've got for today.

Bring on the fall.  Get er done.

Get down on it,
SRS

Little chuckle for today

Backstreets Back

Welcome to today's ramblings... Eject now
I have been singing some old school backstreet boys all day.  And people, I have an announcement.  I think Sarah Sass is back.  Where have I been?  Many places.  Neither here nor there.  But, one things is for damn sure- I have not been myself.  This whole grief deal has been royally kicking my ass, but I feel different today. I'm not saying that its all over and I am back to normal.  Far from it.  I'm saying that I feel more myself today than I have in 8 months and I'll take it.  (this could be the lunch time mimosas talking)

I love this weather.  Colder.  Rainy.  Today I got to wear a long sleeve t shirt without sweating(although I spilled all over it at lunch..).  I got to cruise around in my new car (which I adore 100%).  I got to completely rock out to good music.  Windows down.  Seat warmer on.  New backwards hat.  Total bliss.  That my friends is the version of myself that I love.  I haven't felt myself in a long, long, long time.  I could feel it in the ole heart.  Hence why I was singing backstreets back...  Any who.  Just thought you should know.  I'm sure we could have a crash and burn sometime soon, but it's good to know the old self is still in there:)

I had another thought today.  I thought about how I love people.  Not in the sense of loving on people.  But in the sense of I just absolutely love the people I know.  Maybe not everyone all the time...  But, I have just been surprised/overwhelmed/thankful by people lately.  I don't know if it was because last week was my birthday or what.  I am 100% blessed to know the greatest people on the planet.  For real.  In our bible study we have been learning how we were made to be relational/in community.  I LOVE that.  I love that we get the chance to do that.  So thank you to the people.  I love you.  If I tackle you its out off pure joy.  Just walk it off.  Stay classy.

Clear eyes, full hearts,

SRS 

Confessions of a Shopaholic and some extras

Before we get started.  I have a nerdy confession.  You know when you are a little kid and you get a present you really like?  You kind of refuse to put it down.  You may even sleep in it?  Are you tracking with me here?  Yeah, well this girl, the self proclaimed shopaholic in prissy boot camp changed into pajamas last night to begin her 1 millionth episode of Gossip Girl (Prissiness transformation also includes tv shows).  While in my pj's I decided to leave my new, super cool, super stylish, super loved, super surprise present necklace on while watching gossip girl in my polar bear pjs.  I felt very posh..  I honestly kept staring at it because it really is cool.  (I'm pretty sure Serena on Gossip Girl would wear it...) Any who I woke up with it on today... hahah.  Yall may have created a monster...

Any ways, I have 2 nuggets for you today on this Thursday.  Here is the first one.  I LOVE THIS QUOTE.  I also think it is 100% true.  Roar on.

Here is #2.  I am an avid reader of Donald Miller's blogs.  I may also have an Internet crush on him.  My motto is always crush from a distance...  He wrote a blog today that basically validated many of my thoughts.  It's about not taking social cues from your peers and yada yada yada.  I have a lot of friends that are older than I am and for some reason never knew why except that they are all pretty much badasses and awesome. (Power to the moms)(And not moms) And they love me really well and hopefully that helps me to be a better person.  Don't get me wrong, I love all of my friends.  Sometimes slash lots of times its good to have older friends because they tend to give good advice.  Or honestly, they see the bigger picture and can subtly or not subtly help you to be the person that you or God wants you to be (Getting deep here..)  Sometimes the Donald just speaks my language.  I will leave you with two excerpts that I think are important.  You should check out his blog sometime. 

 

"Instead of taking social cues from people your age, take cues from people ten and twenty years older than you."

 

"Because the sooner you can relate to their priorities, the sooner you’ll be ready for the next stage of your life. I’m in my late thirties but I’m more interested in hanging out with people who are retired. What’s it teaching me? It’s teaching me that what ultimately matters later in life are friendships, family and love. In matters of faith, what they value most is not theological debate, but closeness with Jesus and unity with other believers."

 

 

Stay cool,

Make some friends,

Lil fashionista

Confessions of a shopaholic wannabe

Shopping.  I have never been a fan unless it involved guns, fishing, hunting etc..  Until lately.  On stressful days I find myself perusing the Internet high way.  Sometimes just looking.  Sometimes I am dumping stuff in my online cart.  I let it sit there for days and then if I still have the urge, I pull that trigger.  It gives me some type of amazing satisfaction.  I'm sure that's how drugs work, but shopping is probably a better way to go.  Or, I could liken shopping to mimosas.  When you get a good mimosa going- there is just no better thing(Sometimes day drinking just does the trick).  I have been feeling the same way with shopping. (You probably think hell hath frozen over).  Today, on my lunch break I scooted downtown.  I had some errands to run on King St so I figured I would try my hand at actual live shopping.  It was beautiful out.  I was with a friend.  And it was fun.  Our time was limited, so I think that helped.  Mimosas would have made it even better, but I try to limit those to special occasions..

I got to make a special stop today too for a little bday surprise.  Just adding to my prissiness.  We are now at about 12% prissy, but on the rise...  So excited.  So here I am to say- I am giving shopping a second chance.. 

Sincerely,
the fashionista.

Clear Eyes Full Hearts

Per usual, I was talking with a friend today.  Some days, I have a lot of thoughts.  When I say a lot, you really have no idea what you are dealing with.  Rain Man.  Luckily this friend is in for the long haul and has amazing listening capacity.  So I was in the midst of processing/blabbing.  And a thought popped into my head.  (This is the problem- sometimes they come out of no where, un invited, and come right on in.)  Today was full of them.  Any way.  Proverbs 4:23, the guard your heart one.  This one keeps coming back to me.  So I think I'm going to pay attention to it.  I kept pushing it away, because frankly, I may be too good at guarding that thing.  It's a steel trap.  I like to keep it close.  Sometimes probably too close.  Fortunately/unfortunately I've not lent it to anyone.  It's ok.  It's important.  But, I think about my heart a lot.  Spiritually it is HUGE piece of the framework.  We are called to love and I don't want to be loving with a tainted heart.  I want to love people/God with all of my heart.  I pray that I would be kind hearted.  Good hearted.  Whole hearted.  Scripture (you can fact check me if need be, but I've checked) says it is where life starts (The Message).  So I totally get the whole guard your heart from the world, from people, from hurtful things etc. Don't throw your pearls to swine etc.

Here is something I thought about today.  We live in a fallen world.  I'm a sinner.  Even though I keep my heart close, I've let things into my heart that the Lord never intended to be there.  Hurtful things, hard things.  Things known and unknown.  We all have our junk.  There are things that I would love to cut right on out.  But sometimes I get stuck.  Sometimes I like to skip over some of the bad because I don't want to man up and deal.  Because it can be hard and let me be frank- it can hurt like hell.  (Maybe you do this sometimes?? please say yes.. so I'm on a 1 woman hot mess express..) There are things that I have let barge right on it and set up camp.  Hurt feelings, resentment, bitterness & disappointment.  But, I've also let in the good.  Love, trust, friendship, faithfulness, grief (the good kind).  Things that have grown my heart.  Today I realized that while guarding my heart, I may also be guarding it from letting those hard things out.  I wonder how cool it would be to trash the junk and guard a whole heart??  I want to have a heart of God.  I want to love people like God loves.  It's hard, but I think it's what he ultimately wants.  He wants us to be more Christ like.  That's having the eyes of God, the ears of God and the heart of God. 

So that's where I am today.  And whether you know it or not, maybe that's where you are.  So here is what I will do.  Starting today, I pray that you and I both would know the heart of God more and more each day.  I pray that He would (gently) show us some things that he would like to take from our hearts.  The things not of Him.  Things we have believed about our selves or each other that are not of Him.  I pray that He would help us to be more like Him.  I pray that we would love Him whole heartedly.  That we would love each other with the heart of God.  And that we would fully know the heart of God and that we could wrap our heads and our hearts around just how much we are loved.  Keep in mind- this is a struggle of mine.  But, I want to guard a clean heart.  And I want you to as well.  When I do let people in my heart, I want to let them into the heart of God.

In the words of my all time favorites,
Clear eyes, Full hearts,
SRS

Read Proverbs 4:23:)

Belated, but still Incredible

Mumford and Sons.  I've tried to remain low key about this.  But, alas I cannot.  The reason I have wanted to remain low key is that I flat out just want to brag.  Solid self here.  The week leading up to it I kept seeing posts about people seeing the Mumford posse and I kept thinking "you know not what you are missing..."  I'm all glad for these friends to see them.  And here comes the but.  BUT, I was dealt an amazing hand by a dear friend.  Gentlemen of the Road Stopover: St. Augustine.  4 shows in the USA.  Lots of bands and 2 days of music.  Yes. Please.  And here begins one of the most magical times ever.

Thursday we headed out on a delightful road trip south.  This friend and I trip together well.  Talking is never an issue... plus some Mumford jamming.  I should also mention that an hour before we rolled out- I GOT A CAR.  THAT SEEMS TO BE GOOD.  MIRACLE.  END THAT SHIZZY CHAPTER.  So we headed south.  Got there, got settled and waited for it to be Friday.  Or at least I did.  I wanted to sleep next to the tickets. Still was not sure this was all real. 

Friday came.  We ventured in to St. Augustine.  Very cool.  The whole town was decorated with Mumford stuff.  City hall had huge mustaches plastered and store front windows were decorated.  We even went to the hotel where our pals the Mumfords were staying.  We walked around.  Ate a glorious lunch at the Floridian (where I ranted about side salads) and then headed to the field.  I'll just say- it was hot as shit.  There said it..  We chilled under a tree for a bit.  I'll admit my 27 yr old self was exhausted.  My feet were killing, they had turned black with dirt and my moral was dropping.  But, my veteran friend said it was time to move.  So we began our dissent into the crowd.  I had no idea we were on a mission to the front. After much moving and scooching we made it.  We found some nice people to stand in front of...  And so began the music.  So cool.  By the time the last band, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and their cult band took the stage, we were basically 3rd row.  Pretty sweet.  We rolled out right before 11 pm and headed to City Hall.  We got to then watch Del McCoury and his band play.  SOOOOOO Cool.  The fiddler and another banjo player from Mumford came out and played as well.  I think we rolled out around 1 am.. I'm not sure.  I can't even remember the drive home or walking back into the hotel... Due to exhaustion.  Just so we are clear.

Saturday. Game plan discussed.  Headed into town.  We got through the gates and it was like James Bond.  I went one way.  She went the other.  We were in desperate need of a shady spot to basically camp all day.  We found our tree and set up camp.  Only 9 hours until Mumford.  Game on.  Of course, I immediately fell asleep...  I was awakened by a new favorite band, Bears Den.  Check them out.  AMAZING.  I think I had a crush on all of them.  Then my next favorite came, Half moon run.  So cool.  There were some other bands in between here and there.  At about 6 we made our move.  We packed up camp and headed into the gauntlet.  I am too passive at this stage of the game.  Thank God my friend is much bolder.  We calmly made our way into the mass of 30,000 people.  We watched The Vaccines and moved on.  Then the surprise guest came on.  JOHN FOGERTY.  From CCR.  AMAZING.  His house band?  MUMFORD AND SONS.  AWESOME.  I did not want it to end.  Loved seeing Marcus on the drums and Winston on guitar.  Plus the others:)  SOOOO Cool.  Then came show time.  The Mumfords came back on after a short break and blew my mind.  I wanted to cry the ENTIRE time.  Every song was incredible.  The covers, the originals.  Everything.  I still can't believe I saw them so close.  I couldn't even drink beer all day in fear of screwing something up and not being able to fully take it all in... Priorities people.  They covered I'm on fire, Come Together and an awesome accapella spiritual.  When they sang Below my Feet I thought that I was going to combust.  I'm still on a high apparently...  I am 100% sucked in.  Gentlemen of the Road Stopovers are AMAZING.  Sorry I'm not sorry.  IT WAS INCREDIBLE.