Happy Birthday Week!

My family celebrated five birthday's this week! It's like Christmas in July. My birthday is the 21st. My dad, Curtis and my sister-in-law share the 22nd! And mom's birthday is the 25th. It is so fun and I love that Curtis and I are a day apart.

When Curtis and I first became friends, I thought he was lying about his birthday for a long time. For years, I would never celebrate his birthday. It wasn't until I saw it on his drivers license that I believed him. Poor guy! It's his own fault because he's always joking around!

Anyway, all these birthdays and not one picture! Sad. But, Curtis and I went to The Orient Express in downtown Vinings. We used to go there all the time when we dated. It was great! After, we went to Dairy Queen and split and blizzard. And yes, I begged/made Curtis sing "happy birthday" to me. It's not a birthday until someone sings to you. He's never serious, so it sounded like a gay, Marylin Monroe rendition. If only I had a video camera.

Tuesday he wanted a burger on the grill for his birthday dinner. Of all the things I could've cooked, I did not expect that request. But, they were great! I got a tiny little cake from Gabriel's -- chocolate with white icing...yummy!

We celebrated my dad and Donna's birthday Thursday night at mom and dad's with all the grandkids. Earlier that day, we took all the grandkids to The Aqarrium. It was fun for all of us! Below are some pics.

Last, but not least, we celebrated my sweet mom's birthday Friday night Aspen's. We got mom and dad a ipod! This should be interesting. I downloaded all their cd's onto it and gave them a tutorial. Surely, they can make it work! :) Anyway, it was a great week! I got some fabric for curtins and some chairs I'm getting recovered. VERY excited about that!! Pictures to come soon. But thanks for all the birthday wishes!!

Panama City Beach or Bust?

Last weekend, I was able to travel with Curtis on a business trip to Panama City Beach, Fla. His company is bidding work on the new international airport going in down there. (I know...international sounds a little over-stated, doesn't it?) Though, I'm not a big fan of the crowded beach, I jumped at the opportunity to get away together and get some beach time.

We stayed at a great little place called Carillon Beach Resort & Spa west of Panama City Beach. It is actually in an area called Carillon Beach. Below are the views from our room in the Inn and one of the four pools.

No doubt, the place we stayed was beautiful and less than a year old. Since the hurricane came through and wiped out a lot of the old places, there are a lot of new resorts. It's been a long time since I've been to PCB and the city officials have done a lot in an effort to turn the city around.

However, I wish I could sit in on one of the city planning meetings. After dinner the first night, Curtis and I decided to ride down Front Beach Road to check out all the changes. No, we didn't cruise the strip with the windows down and our music blaring some vulgar rap music. As tempting as it was, we decided to pass. But, all kidding aside, people are still cruising the strip!! I'm still a little shocked about that. But, back to the city "planning".

When you drive down the road you'll pass the nicest hotel, an all inclusive type, and right next door is "Inn Paradise Motel". I’m sorry, what? You have to do a double-take to be certain of what you're seeing. The thought crossed my mind, do people really want to pay $350 a night and vacation literally a few yards away from a motel flashing "vacancy" in neon pink??? From the looks of some of the places, I would be surprised if they didn't have hourly rates. And this is how it is down the entire road. You'll see a place that looks like a Westin and right next door is some hole-in-the-wall. It's bizarre!

Funny story... one night we went to eat at Bone Fish. It's a great seafood chain I first fell in love with when I lived in Orlando. It's kind of like a Houston's, but seafood style. It's nice, but not pretentious. Anyway, we were sitting at the bar waiting on our table and this late 50s man walks up next to me wearing a tank top (not a sleeve-less shirt -- a true, skinny tank top), his bathing suit and flip-flops and his hair in a pony tail. Clearly not the kind of place you come to straight off the beach. I know I stared...well, simply because I stare. I’m not ashamed to admit it and this drives Curtis crazy. People watching is the best pass-time. God made us ALL different – this is true – and I like to take it all in! I also couldn’t look away because it was like the record scratched on the player when he walked in. That's how out of sync it was. Bizarre.

Anyway, none of this is to say we didn't have a good time. It was great timing for us to just get away! I love traveling and road trips with Curtis. He is really the funniest person to be with. But, no offense if PCB is your beach of choice. I just don’t understand the logic of the city’s planning and layout. I guess going to St. George Island has spoiled us. You sit on the beach hundreds of yards from the nearest house and people.

Character: What's in a name?

Finding people with character is becoming harder and harder these days. Those that hold to a high moral standard or have integrity are slowly becoming a thing of the past and it grieves me deeply. But why? Why has this -- is this happening today in our world and even in me? Could it be, especially as believers, that we -- I -- have listened to the world of "why suffer, when you can..."far too long? And, by doing so, has our -- my -- salt has lost its saltiness?

Let's think about it. You don't have to look far to find people who are suffering. No doubt, an "amen" belongs here! I could rattle off a few of my own sufferings of late, but I'll spare you the pity party.

Instead, let's look at the world's definition of suffering and compare it to Christ's. Webster's dictionary defines suffering as: undergoing or feeling pain or distress; to sustain injury or loss; to undergo an experience, an action, a process, or condition; to tolerate or allow. Not too far fetched, regardless of your where you stand spiritually.

It's on the news, in the paper, online, in our churches, amongst our friends, in our families, and even in our own lives -- suffering! No one is exempt from the many forms of suffering. Whether it's a financial loss, the loss of a loved one, loneliness, poor health, loss of hopes and dreams or seeing a loved one lost in sin -- to be sure, suffering is a part of life and it is painful.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble." John 16:33

Jesus left no room for confusion! This life will have suffering. We, by simply being born into the divine order of God's plan, are being born into a time of trouble.

But what is the meaning of it all? Why is it necessary? It seems easier for people to keep jobs, stay financially stable, to have good health, marriages to stay together...the list goes on. But this wasn't God's plan for our lives. You might say, "Well, since the garden it has been God's plan. But, before that, suffering was never part of His plan for our lives." Yes and no. Yes, God created Adam and Eve perfect, in His own image. Sinless. Can you imagine? But did their sin surprise Him? Did He have to scramble to come up with a "Plan B: Now that Adam and Eve Have Sinned"? Certainly not. We serve a Sovereign, All-Knowing, All-Powerful God. He knew in the midst of creation that Adam and Eve would sin. So what did their sin accomplish for human-kind? A reliance on Jesus to save us from the captivity of sin and bring us back to a right relationship with God. That doesn't make us perfect -- just dependant on a Savior.

So back to the original question: what is the meaning of all this suffering?

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." Romans 5:3-5

Chuck Swindoll suggests character is the moral, ethical, and spiritual undergirding that rests on truth, that reinforces a life, and that resists the temptation to compromise. He goes on to say, "Character is found in people. Character resides in those who possess the image of God. (That's you and me, by the way. Gen.1:26-27) You can find the power of God in anything, but not the character." So what does this mean for us? If we are His -- the same capacities He possesses, we possess! His character can be transferred to our character -- though small and diminished in comparison-- there nevertheless. We don't have to just suffer. Through our suffering we can take on the very nature of Christ Jesus.

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10

This is all great stuff, but for me it still doesn't answer the question of why must we suffer?

Swindoll suggests, "Jesus learned obedience through the things He suffered. He never knew physical suffering or sorrow, but from birth on He was bruised for our transgression. He became a man of sorrow, acquainted with suffering, the chastisement for our peace was on Him. We exalt the suffering in Christ's life, yet we run from it in our own. Why? As believers, why would ever expect anything different than to suffer with Christ?"

"I have been crucified with Christ, therefore I [my life of wants and desires] no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith [even through suffering] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law [right living, works], Christ died for nothing!" Galatians 2:20

In God's mysterious plan in the development of our lives, He has a reason for hard times. It is essential for the development of character. If it could be done any other way, Jesus died for nothing!

"It is doubtful that God can use anyone greatly until He has wounded him deeply." A.W. Tozer

Lord, help me to stop fighting the suffering you bring in my life so that I, too, may gain proven character. You never promised a life free of suffering, but you promised to be with us -- Jehovah Shammah.

"I pray that our of his glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge -- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be all the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!" Ephesians 3:16-21

Livin' on island time...

For the last four years, we've been blessed enough to get to vacation at St. George Island, Fla. with Curtis' family -- a long-standing tradition I'm happy to be a part of. It is always a week of much needed rest and relaxation. I feel so close to God at the beach. Anway, this year, I was invited to go for girls week and my mom was able to go...something we haven't really ever done without everyone else in my family coming too. It was good mother/daughter time.

Those two weeks were great! I love this beach for a lot of great reasons: we get to bring our beloved dog, Lilly; it is so quiet there; and it isn't commercialized -- everything is local. God was really showing off while we were there. We serve a BIG God and every little detail is in His hand. The beauty of His creation shows the extent of His power and glory and we definitely saw it on display!

I hope you enjoy...

This is all the girls and one little guy after dinner one night in Cape San Blas...heaven on earth. I really believe that if heaven has a beach (which I hope it does) the sand with be just like Cape San Blas. It was as white as sugar, so fine and soft -- BEAUTIFUL! Pictured is Carrie, Curtis' sister; Elizabeth, his mom; Nathan, his nephew; Hannah, his neice; Wanda, Curtis' grandmother's best friend, my mom and me.

The first night the guys arrived, we got to see a sea turtle momma come onto shore and lay her little eggs! Can you believe it? These little turtles were/are endangered and are highly protected on the island. They go through quite a bit for their little babies. First, they drag themselves ashore, trudge through the sand, dig a hole about 12 inches deep (I think), lay their eggs, cover the hole, and head back to sea. Below are pictures of her tracks and mommas headed back to sea.

As if seeing momma turtle wasn't enough, one morning Curtis screamed "there's a water spout over the ocean!! Bring the camera!" Sure enough, there was! It was a storm out on the ocean and it wasn't even raining at our house.

Well, we stood long enough and a second spout formed. It was awesome! Many people might say, "isn't nature great?" No, isn't God great!! There is nothing He doesn't control down to the smallest detail. Why do I ever worry?!?!














Other than this one morning, we had the best weather! It was sunny, warm and we had a great breeze all day -- key to making a beach trip enjoyable. During the day, Curtis did a lot of fishing from the beach. He mainly caught catfish, but has caught a pompano before.

Lilly loves the beach too! There is endless digging, fetching her ball and floating with me and Curtis out in the ocean. Yes, that's right, she loves to float. Whenever we go out in the ocean she worries. So, everytime she ends up swimming out to us and we put her on our float. It's quite a sight and I wish I had a picture of it. I think Curtis' mom does and if so I'll post it.

We go into Apalachicola while we're there. It is the cutest little one-light town! They have the best food and shopping. It's on the bay and Apalachicola is known world-wide, I'm told, for their oysters. I'll take their word for it, but Curtis and his dad love them. While we were in town we stopped at this little soda shoppe for ice cream and old fashioned sodas.

This picture is a good example of what it's like around the bay. It is really a beautiful site with all the birds and the natural surroundings. Quite peaceful.

The day before we left Curtis, his dad and brother-in-law Brian took a fishing trip out of Carabelle. They had a quite a little adventure. Which is understandable because the guide is a UGA grad. He threatened to charge them more for having a Tech grad on board. Curtis felt right at home with the "boat divided".

Here he is throwing a net out to catch bait. They had to continue catching live bait for their hooks. But once they had some, the guys caught lots of fish, including: Spanish mackrel, lady fish and sharks!

Here is Curtis with one of the many sharks he caught.

His face is the picture above is so relieved! Apparently, sharks are big fighters when you real them in.

Here is Curtis with one of the Spanish mackrel he caught. Apparently when he was realing it in, a shark swam up and bit the tail of the mackrel. They had to beat it of with the pole of the net!

Here is Brian, Curtis' brother-in-law with his Spanish mackrel. To the right is Jefferson, Curtis' dad, with one of his many sharks. Rumor has it, he kept the sharks busy!

Towards the end of the two weeks, we did our traditional "beach pictures" with the whole family. We dressed each of our families in a color. I find it so funny that Lilly and I match. Ha! I didn't even plan that. Lilly has more collars than any one dog could ever need or want. It just so happens that her beach collar is teal. Well, I put on a teal necklace without even thinking. But, it's how it should be because Lilly doesn't actually know that she's a dog. So, I'm sure she thought it was perfectly normal.

**Notice the matching necklaces....or collars. Tre' Chic!

Speaking of, we often tell Lilly that she's a model. We are madly in love with our dog, in case that wasn't completley clear. She actually did make a modeling debut on Up Country Inc., the website where we buy her collars. But, back to the story...when we got to the place where we decided to do pictures, she went right up the dune and started struting her stuff. It was a "Lilly moment" and the pictures turned out great! Loving a dog this much makes one wonder how much more we'll love our own flesh and blood.


Here are some other pictures from the beach weeks... it was a great time. I look forward to going back...soon and very soon!

I love sea gulls! Maybe Finding Nemo got to me, but I feel they have so much character. "Mine! Mine! Mine!"

O, Praise Him

Turn your ear

To Heaven and hear

The noise inside

The sound of angels

The sound of angels songs

And all this for a King

We could join and sing"All to Christ the King!"
How constant How divine

This song of ours will rise

Oh, how constantHow divine

This love of ours will rise

Will rise...
O praise Him!O praise Him!

He is Holy!He is Holy, yeah!

Turn your gaze

To Heaven and raise

A joyous noise

Oh, the sound of salvation come

The sound of rescued ones

And all this for a king

Angles join to sing"All for Christ the King!"


Everything glorious
The day is brighter here with You

The night is lighter than its hue

Would lead me to believe

Which leads me to believe

You make everything glorious

You make everything glorious

You make everything glorious

And I am Yours

What does that make me?

My eyes are small but they have seen

The beauty of enormous things

Which leads me to believe

There's light enough to see that

You make everything glorious

You make everything glorious

You make everything glorious

And I am Yours

From glory to glory

You are glorious

You are glorious

From glory to glory

You are glorious

You are glorious

God's Plans

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the Lord, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

Jeremiah 29:11-14


I love these verses of scripture. They are such a word of encouragement to me no matter what circumstance I might be in! Isn’t it great to know that when we seek the Lord with all our heart we will find Him!

Well, I often think of this verse when I think about my friend Leigh and her children. For those of you that may not know, right after Curtis and I got married I helped Leigh and her husband with their two kids while she battled cancer. April 9 marked Leigh’s one year anniversary of her Homecoming and long-awaited healing.

I am thrilled for her that she is finally through with her suffering here on earth and her faith is now sight, but my heart continues to break for those little babies left behind without their mommy. As I said in an earlier post, I believe the Bible is without error – it is whole truth. As hard as these circumstances are, this is part of God’s plan for Lauren, now 5 years old, and Owen, now 2 ½ years old, -- God is sovereign -- and He will use this to prosper them – to give them a hope and a future.

This is hard to understand. After all, it was God who designed a family to have a father and a mother. What’s more, the role of the mother is that to nurture and raise her children. So what gives? The promise I find in this scripture for all of us – including Lauren and Owen – is this: when we call upon the Lord and pray to Him, He hears us; when we seek Him (His nature and His will for our lives) we will find it. But, when our lives are consumed by knowing Him, His will for our lives and reflecting Him to others – He will bring us back from our “captivity”.

This is my prayer for these two children: that they may know Whose they are and develop a strong desire to serve Him – even while they are young. Certainly this won’t bring their sweet mother back. That’s not what God is promising. He’s promising His peace, His comfort, His strength to get through the circumstances of life. He promises to bring us out of the captivity of striving within ourselves and drowning in our circumstances. He is the ability to live above circumstances.

If you would, please pray for Lauren and Owen – especially the week of June 16-20. They will be going to VBS at my church and learning the names of God. What an answer to prayer! They will learn He is Jehovah – Or (the Lord is light and provides direction for His people), Yahweh (the Unchanging One), Jehovah Shammah (the Lord is there), and Jehovah Shalom (the Lord is peace and brings comfort).


They can always use prayer though. (Can't we all!) Lauren also suffers from Cystic Fybrosis -- a disease that currently doesn't have a cure. Lauren also starts kindergarten this fall. Though she looks normal -- the loss of her mother and having CF makes her pretty different from most kids.

Even more reasons for them to learn this at this point in their life. God is there to show them His plans for their life, He will never change, He is always with them to bring you peace and comfort! What a BIG God!

A Woman of Noble Character

A mother plays such an important role in the lives of her children. I am so thankful to God, who in His sovereign plan, gave me my mom. She is such a rock in our family and her faith is one to aspire to. I heard Dr. David Jeremiah read this poem last week and it perfectly sums up my mom.

You painted no Madonna’s on chapel walls in Rome
But with a touch diviner, you lived on in your home
You built no great cathedrals that centuries applaud
But with a grace exquisite, your life cathedraled God

Throughout my life I always knew my mother loved me, but I was more aware of her love for God and her desire to serve Him. When I read about the Proverbs 31 woman, I immediately think of my mom. But the verse that best describes her is Proverbs 31:26, “She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue.”

What a great mother! What a strong faith! What a mighty God!

Stupid Sheep

I have become convinced that I am that stupid sheep I keep reading about in scripture. Sadly, this was a conclusion that I came to rather easily – merely through a surface-look on my life. My husband would probably be happy to confirm this truth.

Let me explain. Over these last few months, I have been blessed to have some great time of communion with the Lord. When I spend time in the Word, the Holy Spirit speaks and I am filled up. When I spend time in prayer, I feel His presence. If you asked me, “Sarah, do you trust God with all your heart?” I would answer “Yes!” But, my actions and thoughts speak something altogether different.

I still fret over the details of life. I pray and still I worry. I “give” the Lord the desires of my heart; yet, my thoughts are still anxious. As L.B. Cowman wrote in Streams in the Desert “Why do I run to this person or that person, when God is so near and will hear my faintest call? Why do I sit down to plot my own course and make my own plans? Why don’t I immediately place myself and my burdens on the Lord? Straight ahead is the best way to run, so why don’t I run directly to the living God?”

As I write this, I still can't explain why I do it. Oh, if only this sanctification process was immediate! I look forward to the day when my faith is sight. I must learn to trust and obey now. Trust and obey. No questions, no worries. Just trust and obey. God either is who the Bible says He is or He is not. No in between. His ways are perfect. His timing is perfect. His plans for us are perfect. Therefore, I must trust and obey. Walk where He leads, completely trusting because His motives are perfect.

“My situation is urgent, and I cannot see how I will ever be delivered. Yet this is not my concern, for He who made the promise will find a way to keep it. My part is simply to obey His commands, not to direct His ways. I am His servant, not His advisor. I call upon Him and He will deliver me.” Charles H. Spurgeon

Gulp! Lord, make this true in my life that I would trust, not advise. That I would obey, not direct Your ways. Advising and directing the Lord – what a silly thought, right? But I am guilty of this very sin. Giving things to Him, yet still holding on. Praying my will, my desire – rather than His will be done. Trusting, yet still scheming. Stupid sheep.

Thank you Lord for Your patience while you make my rough places smooth!

**These pictures of compliments of my dear sheep, Laura. This picture was taken of us at our last Bible study meeting! :)