32 years and many more to go...

Today is my parents 32 year anniversary, or as my dad would say "32 years of me making your mother perfectly happy."  Just wanted to do a little shout out to them and thank them for who they are.  They have taught me so much about marriage just by their incredible example in their own marriage.  The number one thing I have learned, marriage is forever, bottom line.  There have been hard times, and great times, ridiculous times, and normal times, but always with the love for one another that is forever. It doesn't mean you LIKE each other all the time.  It doesn't mean that someone won't ever let you down.  It doesn't mean that you will be happy at all times.  It means committing to one person forever and vowing to love that person FOREVER.

Often we think that "rebelling" against cultural and going against the grain means "I'm never getting married," or "I'll be with whoever I want," or even "At least there's divorce..."  But all of those things are not against the cultural norms.  In fact, it is so strange that a couple would be together for 32 years that it is often a surprise and something to be congratulated.  Yes, it is something to be congratulated, but honestly, it shouldn't be.  Biblical marriage calls you to a lifetime commitment, not a "well at least I've got an out."  I am blessed to have parents that have made that commitment and taken it with the same seriousness that scripture calls us to.  What a beautiful picture of Christ's love to us.  We suck in every way, we run after everything else other than our relationship with Jesus, but Christ continues that relationship with us.

Thank you mom and dad for teaching me these things.  My husband and I are 3 and a half years and can't wait to be at that 32 year mark.

this one is free, you're welcome.

So you're on a junior high retreat.  You have "the room," if you're in youth ministry you know what I mean.  It's like all of your junior high girls have been doing shots of red bull or maybe even have just been injecting B vitamins into their veins.  Bottom line, they don't sleep, and there's nothing you can do...oh but wait.  I'm about to give you some incredible information that will put these crazy ladies out, no sleeping pills necessary.  

It was one of those late night talks. Their minds are reeling with ideas and thoughts and they are just FINALLY at that vulnerable moment where they ask things that wouldn't normally, but that they've always wonder.  Everybody is yelling and screaming and someone pipes up and says, "Sara, how do you feel about homosexual marraige?"  I proceed to go into what I think about it and what I think the Bible says about it and all that jazz...SILENCE.

I literally said, "Is that really how we're going to the end the night? Really?" No response, everyone was sound asleep.  So you're welcome.  Homosexuality...key subject to make jr. highers sleep.  Warning: this will NOT work for high schoolers.  

this is happening.

Well.  I'm terrible at blogging.  But alas, here I am again.  Attempt number 958, and by that I mean, it seems like I've blogged once a year over the past three years.  I think maybe because I didn't really have a goal in mind when it came to my actual blogging.  But I'm getting to that point where I'm starting to figure out what's going to happen on this blog.

1. I'm in youth ministry, so I hope to say some things on this blog that are helpful, encouraging, and/or make you laugh at the fact that I'm still doing this whole ministry thing.  As a female in ministry, it's hard, and we are a weird group of people so this blog will be used to let my other females in youth ministry say to themselves, "Yes, I can do this," or "No, I'm not cool, but that's ok."  So there's one of my goals.

2. I like to do creative things.  So I'll be sharing some of those creative things that I do.  And if anyone reading this wants me to make them something, I'll do that to.  For money of course (see point 1, I'm in youth ministry).

These are the envelopes I addressed for my friend Meghan's baby shower...Don't worry Penney, I did not reveal your address, you're welcome.

3. I love adventures, imagination, funny things,  and I'm a generally absurd person, so I'll be sharing some of those things too.  I'm also a wife, and probably not your standard "great wife" so you can just read those things to feel better about yourself.  Self deprecation is what makes people laugh the most right?

Lower your expectations, all 2 of you that might read this.  This might be one of a few, but I'm going to attempt to do this blogging thing.  If nothing else for my own personal therapy.  

So here goes 2012...well the end of it anyways.
Happy Fall.  And Go Nolz.  I have to say SOMETHING about football.  I am from the South after all.