The beginning of the end

When I was little, we read a book called "The Very Last First Time." Its a cute book about a little Eskimo girl who goes and searches for Mussels when the tide is out. She knows as she is setting off on her adventure that she will never do it again for the first time. I have been feeling kind of like this. Except I am beginning the end.

Tomorrow I start the last semester of my Undergraduate education. It is exciting - I am looking forward to completing my degree. It is sad - I do not want to stop learning. And although I know that I will continue learning after school, I can't help but think I will never do it again (at least for the first time). I thank the Lord for the amazing gift of learning, and I pray I will never stop.

We had a great weekend! It was a great mixture of productivity - both inside the house and out - resting together and having fun. There were lattes, steaks, burritos and Oreos. There was alone time and friend time. And there was AMAZING weather. Saturday the high was in the 60s, we opened all the windows and smiled as the fresh breezes wandered through the house. It was wonderful to wake up on Sunday morning and not want to get out of the warm cocoon of bed. Fall is coming - and we are excited.

I posted my spring school schedule on the blog, here is my fall schedule:

(You can click on it to make it bigger) Color coded - as always.... it is a very sectioned off schedule - I think it will work out well. So this next week we will be getting into our fall routine. Brad's schedule is still much more simple than mine - he works 7-3:30 and has small group and Awana with me on Tue and Wed evenings. It is so great to be able to head to work/school together in the morning! And most days I am able to go home with Brad too - with Monday and Fridays being the exceptions.

It is amazing to me that every year - about this time - the great hymn, "Great is Thy Faithfulness" is sung at a service I am attending. Most notably, I remember singing it in Fall 2006 when I first came to Moody. We sang it again yesterday at church - what a great reminder that throughout all of our life, God is faithful. He does not change. Through every season. Through every adventure or trial. He is faithful.

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been thou forever will be.

Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided;
great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

I hope you are reminded of God's amazing faithfulness today - may you have strength for today and a bright hope for tomorrow.

Love,

Sarah

A little birdie has something to say...

I have a new friend in the Dining Room!

Brad found this beautiful buffet at the Salvation Army accross the street from our house! After e-mailing me pictures of it (I was at work) he bought it - a guy from Salvation Army even helped him carry it home - up all three flights of stairs - what a nice guy! We are thrilled.

It is exactly what we wanted to help store our china and glassware - I was even able to fit a bunch of decorating/candle stuff in it too! :) Isn't it beautiful?

And for $60 - how can you go wrong?

Before and After - Alley Lamp

Before

During

After

Cost: $16 for shade and spray paint

I LOVE IT!

Lancaster, PA

Brad and I, along with three friends, left Chicago last Thursday and headed to Pennsylvania. We were headed for Lititz, where my dear friend Linsey lives and got married this last Saturday.

We arrived Thursday evening and Brad dropped us ladies off in downtown Lancaster (which is much more advanced than we had anticipated - we were expecting horses and buggies, but they have public transportation...) We met up with Linsey and her sister, Brittany and went and painted pottery for Lins' bachelorette party. Linsey picked out the pieces and colors she wanted and then all of us got to get dirty and be creative. Kim painted a candle holder, Miriam a honey jar, Zoe a sugar dish, Brittany a large serving bowl, Linsey a vase and Me a pitcher. It was so much fun making pretty pieces for Linsey's new home.

Friday was busy with wedding preparations and decorating. Brad and I ran a bunch of last minute errands for the Zimmerman family - it was fun helping out at a wedding and not stressing about planning it ourselves! Lancaster is such a beautiful area! Rolling hills, little farm houses and of course, who couldn't be intrigued by the amish and their simple lifestyle. We also got to see Linsey and Joel's new home - it is so fun to have a friend who is experiencing the same things, marriage and home ownership! I only wish we lived closer to each other!

Saturday morning, the ladies and I reported for duty at 7 am to get our hair done. The wedding was at 11 am. It was a beautiful ceremony and reception- I was honored to be involved in Linsey and Joel's special day. I don't have any pictures from the wedding - but when some are posted on facebook, I'll make sure to put some up.

Saturday evening, Brad and I went out on a date - it was really nice, after a few days of constant contact with others and helping out, to get away and spend some time with each other. We found a cute restaurant in Lancaster that was on a river. We sat outside and enjoyed the quiet.

These were cool tiki torches set up around the deck of the restaurant - sadly they were not flaming.

My handsome man.

Me :)

Here is the back of my hair - it looked great! Linsey's new mom-in-law is a beautician, she and a few of the ladies at her salon did the bridal parties hair.

It was a really fun trip, we are happy to be home - 24 hours in the car over the course of 4 days is not that fun, but thankfully the car brought us safely home. Oh and we got to have Chick-fil-a and Sonic over the course of the trip - so fun!

Wanna be my Caddy?

A few Saturdays ago, Jenny, Brandon, Brad and I all went golfing!

Jenny and I driving our golf cart.

Brandon - silly as always. :)

Brad, practicing his swing

Brad and Brandon in their golf cart.

Brad has applied for a few Mystery Shops* at golf courses, he hasn't been accepted for most of them, but a few weeks ago, he was asked to go to Sugar Creek Golf Course with three other friends so he could analyze the service and condition at the course.

We played 9 holes. Brad against Sarah/Jenny/Brandon's best ball. Brad, of course, won.... for those of you who don't know, he played golf in high school.

I was recently given a set of golf clubs from the family I babysit for - THANKS PAMELA!!! - so hopefully Brad and I will be able to get out a few more times this summer/fall to play. There is a golf course two blocks north of our house.....

* Mystery Shopping is a service that analyzes/critiques how a business is doing (i.e.. customer service, cleanliness of grounds/building, quality of service rendered). Brad has been picking up a few jobs whenever he gets time and making a bit of extra spending money. Usually the business reimburses you for a pre determined amount of money and pays between $10-$15. In the case of the golf course - they reimbursed us for the game and $20 of money spent in the club house.

Our Chloe Cat

I was looking through pictures the other day and was shocked to see how our kitty has grown - when you witness growth on a day to day basis, I don't think you notice it as much.

Chloe last summer,


Chloe this summer,


She does love that laundry basket....