"Where are you going on your honeymoon?"

Prior to our wedding, many of you asked, "Where are you going on your honeymoon?"  My response was, "I don't know."  

Paul planned our entire honeymoon and picked a beautiful, quiet place in Jamaica.  He revealed our destination the night after our wedding.  We spent a week in Jamaica, flew back to VA, and then drove my car to CA. 
The two weeks were filled with glimpses of our Creator in nature and everything "good" he has created. 

"made of honor"

My sister, Bekah, was the maid of honor at our wedding.  During our childhood years we weren't always close.  Let's just say, our personalities are quite different.  However, in the past 5 years, we've grown from sisters to great friends.  

She has been a faithful listener and support during my relationship with Paul.  Three years of long distance dating, followed by a year in a new place weren't easy.  

I arrived in VA in early June to spend a few weeks at home and finish preparing for the wedding.  I was greeted by Bekah at the airport.  When I walked into my room, she had filled it with flowers and a card welcoming me home. Though she's in a season of transition, she wholly celebrated my marriage to Paul and was a key person in preparing and planning details. She was beautiful on our wedding day!

So, I just want to take a few moments to honor her, by sharing some of what I admire about her:

     A few years ago, we did a Bible Study together.  It referenced the "wilderness road."  Since then, it's an analogy we've talked about repeatedly.  God's brought us both to and through seasons of uncertainty, whether professionally, relationally, location-ally, etc. We know that though our paths look different, an unknown bend is common ground.

     Bekah is a person of determination.  When she decides she wants to do something, she goes for it without looking back.  Her path has guided her to many different locations, jobs, and circumstances, yet she has not wavered in her faith and love for Jesus.  Whether, it's a season of solitude while hiking the entire Appalachian Trail, or a season of being surrounded by the retail world, she remains true to who God has created her to be.

     She relates to God as Creator and has a gift for representing his creation in photography. She's taken some amazing pictures along her path.  You can see them by following the link to her blog: Gracefully Bound.

      No matter what her next season brings, she'll use it for growth.  I look forward to walking along with her as God builds, refines, and uses her precious life for His glory.
     

"I do"

There's so much I could say about June 30th, but I don't even know where to begin. 

Many, many of you played an important role in celebrating our marriage and contributing to our wedding.  We were honored to have your presence, service, and/or prayers for the day.  

Our photographer has a sampling of pictures on his facebook page: Paul and Sarah

If you are interested in seeing the whole album, email me, and I'll give you the link and password. 

Thank you for your continued prayers as we build our marriage and home!  Stay tuned for more pictures of our honeymoon and cross country drive. 

"It's all good"

Not long ago, I flew home to spend a few weeks in my hometown with family and friends.  This season is full of "good" and excitement.  There have been frequent reminders that God gives perfect, purposeful gifts to his children.  

gifts of: time, family, friendship, love, encouragement, joy, and infinitely more.  

Over the years, I believed God gives these things, but his timing is what leaves me in awe.

Shortly after I arrived home I sat down with three dear friends.  These three ladies and I formed friendships 6 years ago when we started meeting at Panera for "girls' nights."  We've laughed and cried together as we walked God's paths for our lives.  Over the years our discussions included: singleness, desire for children, pregnancy, home buying, finances, job changes, etc.   As I sat on the floor of one of their homes, I was speechless over God's goodness and faithfulness.  In the background were 2 sons cooing and a daughter eagerly awaiting a new game of "duck, duck, goose."  Amazing....

I was able to go out of town with my family to celebrate my dad's birthday and Father's day.  There's nothing like a hike to the heights to remind you of God's sovereignty over creation.

Time with my grandpa is always a treasure.  In just a week, he'll lead Paul and me in our vows as we commit our lives to each other.  Grandpa and I put our heads together and with the help of his trusty copy machine, gigantic scissors, and 1962 clip art (really his binder has the dates on it), we created a "one-of-a-kind" booklet for him to use during the wedding service.

While these moments have been special, there are abundant blessings in dailiness of being back where my roots began.

• lunch dates with my dad
• a room filled with flowers from my sister
• chats by the pool with dear friends
• dropping in the country store where I used to work
• wedding planning with friends and family, who are WAY better at it than me
• program making with my mom and Roanoke "aunt"
• mowing the yard on dad's big orange tractor
• visiting Ellie

In the midst of all this good, I miss my man.  Paul's still in CA preparing our future home.  These past few weeks have helped me remember what it was like to date long distance and I'm glad that season is over. His family and friends will visit Virginia for the first time and a week from right now we'll be rehearsing our wedding with many people who have walked through life encouraging us.  Then, on Saturday, we'll be joined by even more of you.  Thanks for your support and thank you for your prayers!

 

finished :)

In Tanzania "finished" is the word you hear when the item you are shopping for is out of stock.  Nevermind, that it may be out of stock for the next several months.  However, tonight I am happy to report that finished in this post just means "finished", as in "complete."

 
You may remember the quilts Jenna and I started last April/May while we were wrapping up our time in Tanzania.  As my time there drew to a close, I scrambled around trying to complete the quilt.  However, God only intended for me to sew the squares together.  The remaining stitches were intended for another season.


 





I brought the top of the quilt home to the states in hopes that I could finish it one day.  The few quotes I received for finishing it were $200-300.  Without a job, it would have to wait.  However, God planned ahead, as he always does, to grant this desire of my heart.  Shortly after moving to CA, I began attending a women's Bible Study.  Little did I know that my new sisters in Christ were avid quilters.  I eagerly brought my quilt to CA after Christmas.  In March, Kathy and I met at a local quilt shop and used their machine (rent free) one Saturday.  

After this, all that was left to do was hand stitch the binding on the edge.  This past weekend I sewed the last stitch of my first quilt!  It will forever serve as a reminder of God's faithfulness to complete in one season, what he began in another.  His stitches don't always seem to make sense, but they create a beautiful work.

updates

So much is happening and each time I take pictures, thinking I'll record it on my blog, more time goes by.  So...here's a picture update in the midst of wrapping up a school year, finishing a house, studying for a test, preparing for marriage, etc.  

First Grade Team at the Sacramento Zoo

West Coast Girls' Night Out

Living Room walls are finished :)

Kitchen in progress

Bedroom walls are finished

 

a flood

This is Melissa's second time faithfully helping me pack!

I've started several blog posts since my last one and haven't been able to fully express the lessons I'm learning and their applications.  Growth continues to be a theme throughout this season.  The past few months have been full, yet wonderful.  Paul continues to work on preparing a home for us after our wedding, while I work with so many of you on wedding details.  We've continued our premarital counseling and can hardly believe there's only one session left!  My African quilt is almost complete (stay tuned for pictures of that). An early Spring Break, exposed me to an unseasonably warm VA weather. The week was full of packing all of my "stuff" (which I've been without for almost 2 years) into cubes to ship out to CA.   On Friday they arrived.  Here are a few pictures to catch you up! 

The cubes arrive and the packers are ready!

This family is amazing!  You should see the way they move furniture!

Last night of packing in Virginia

They arrive in CA in front of Paul's house!

These next pictures don't do justice to show how so many of you flooded Paul and I with love and joy as we prepare for marriage. The camera came out too late to capture all of you, but your faces are etched in my mind.  It was a gift to celebrate with sisters who have encouraged me and prayed for me.  Thank you!

Country Corner Crew!

Emilie, my friend, wedding decorator, and "question of the week" asker.

Lynsey and Sarah, my Panera prayer sisters

Bekah and Melissa, encouragers and listeners

My sister and maid of honor