Two Trips and One Decision

Hello everyone!

It's been a while since I've posted. I do this a lot, but I have some decisions I just need to talk about. Austin is still gone on the last month of his deployment (YAY! He's almost home!!!) so I can't talk to him about it. My parents...well, they've given me the "go" on whatever decision I make.

I have two programs I'm very interested in for next summer, 2015. I'm not too sure which to choose.

The first is a mission trip to Ireland. It's a back-packing mission trip where you spread the love of Jesus in remote areas where young people have never heard of Him before. It's crazy to think that there are people these days who haven't heard the name "Jesus" with technology and all this social media. It's a 30 day trip with two spots open. This goes through the IMB for students. The financial cost is what worries me, but I know if I'm supposed to go, God will provide. Just be praying for me on this one.

The second, I heard of it first, is a study abroad program in Ireland. Yes, BOTH are in Ireland, a place I'm dying to get to. I really need to get some credits in the summer and this seems like a fun way to do it. I've already talked with my advisor about it. I only get three credits, but the trip is covered by financial aid and when would I ever get the opportunity after college? It's also 30 days, in June. I've been praying on this one too. If I want to graduate on time, this would be a good option.

Honestly, I'm a little reluctant on both of these trips, any trips really. I'm scared of spending any time away in the summer because Austin will be home (hopefully!) and I don't wanna waste anytime away from him...which sounds silly. He's been gone almost a year though, so don't blame me! I miss the man.

Just please be praying for me on both of these trips. I'm really thinking about getting into missions and I want to kill my "traveling bug" before too many responsibilities of being grown-up (career, marriage, kids) pop up.

Thanks for reading! God bless.

Sarah<3  

Motivation

Lately, I've been needing some motivation...to do anything. To get up early. Go to work. Get my summer math class done...even to read my Bible. I don't know whats wrong with me. Summer blues? Gah. All I know is I have about a month and a half of break left and I'm wasting it loafing around.

I worked on my math class a little bit today...not nearly enough though. I'm about 30% done with it and I only have until about August to get it finished.
-I studied my Bible lesson.
-Then I did 30 squats and 20 tip-toe squats.

...but that's it.
Ugh. Blah. Bleh.

Any tips?

Have a blessed one,

Sarah

I've been away...

...for so long. And I apologize.

I'm not too sure where I left off, but for now, here's the news:

• I'm re-taking my EMT class. 
• I've been having an amazing summer! 
• Austin is still deployed, but we only have about 3 1/2 months to go! 
• I'm still working at Burger House.
• I'm about to leave for a mission trip in Alaska in about...two weeks. 

There's that. Now, my mission trip! I'm so, so excited to get going. I don't have everything yet, but I'm working on gathering everything. I'm hopefully going shopping tomorrow for some things I need. (It's my day off!) I need to get some jeans; my others don't fit anymore.

I'll be in Alaska for about eight days. I'm all confused on what to pack and what not to pack and how to pack. I get a carry on, and my personal bag. Then luggage is $25 each...and I get two bags of luggage I can take. The travel time will take all day. We're gonna have so many layovers and then the driving from the airport to Anchorage...then Kenai...I'm dreading the travel.
But I'm so, so ready to go.

I've been praying and trying to make sure I'm ready. I know God is going to work in this. I know He's going to work on me. I just want to be willing and ready to accept He has to give. I don't want to miss a thing and I don't want to mislead anyone while on the trip.

-taken from my globe. You can see Anchorage; we'll travel through there and Kenai; where we'll actually be serving.

 I've even sewed up some cute eye-masks for sleeping since its gong to be daylight while we're there!

It came out a bit small, but this is just my first try...

 I have to get ready to go to work, but I'll be sure to write again soon! Please be praying for this trip! God bless!

-Sarah

Can't Even

I just can't even describe how much I miss him right now...

Failure Is Sometimes God's Plan Too

Have you ever worked so hard on something, did your best, went above and beyond and yet it didn't work out? You failed?

It happened to me yesterday. I still can't believe it.

If you've been reading, you know I'm on a quest (let's make it sound cooler then it is...) to become a paramedic. I'm currently (or was) enrolled in EMC 110 and was getting ready for my practicals and NREMT. Well, it's all changed.
I took a final yesterday that changed my whole timeline. It changed everything. I was just a couple of points away from getting the right score to participate in the practicals.
So I'm not getting certified this summer like I planned. I won't be an EMT this fall like I planned...
...and it's killing me.

I cried yesterday all the way home from class, up until bed, then when I woke up this morning. I just can't take it in. I worked, so, so hard this semester...for nothing? I neglected my friends and family, stayed home and studied, didn't participate in fun outings...I tried my very hardest and I still didn't make it. I prayed yesterday with my grandmother, and I realized something.

If I tried my very hardest and did everything I could, this must be God's plan. I wasn't meant to get certified this summer for some reason or another. I still don't get it, but I know God will show me the answer loud and clear and I'll know it when He does.
It's still hard to chew though. It's terrible, it's horrible...but I'm still trying to come to terms with how to thankful for what happened. I know there's an ultimate reason and God has protected me in some way...but its just so hard...because I worked so hard and I selfishly don't wanna let go of that.

I'm working on it though. Slowly.

I think another good cry and God's Word might help. Just please keep me in your prayers.

-Sarah 

Beautiful, gorgeous Kentucky River

Feeling very, very blessed to live where I do. God gave us something beautiful to enjoy...enjoy it!

-Sarah

SPRING!

And then there was Spring! Finally!

-Sarah

Miss him...

I just miss him so, so much.

- Sarah

A Dip

This is gonna seem bi-polar, but I just don't even want to go to my EMT class today.

I'm just...ashamed? Embarrassed? Mad at myself? All of those things and more.

I failed my trauma test and patient skills assessment Tuesday. The thing is, I know the information, so why didn't I apply it? The computer exam was really difficult. It was hard, at least for me it was. That tells me I need to do more reading or do something to remember everything better...re-read over a bunch of stuff.

I just...flopped on my skills assessment though. I got so nervous, and it was just my instructor Ben! I can't believe I just...I don't know. My mind kept going blank...and I kept forgetting what I had done and what I hadn't done. My patient had been beaten unconscious and so I put him on a BVM, and forgot to insert an oral adjunct, which could have taken care of his breathing problem and I wouldn't even have to put him on a BVM...and so, that was a critical criteria and it failed me. I got zero points.

My grade took a dip. It scares me. I only have a few weeks to get my grade back up.

...and now I get to check off on that same skills assessment. This time, it'll go on my record.

Please be praying for me!

Sarah

Second Ambulance Ride-Along!

Okay, so I had a great, but tiring, but GREAT day!

Why? Because I had my second day of ride-along time! I just love being on the ambulance! I don't know what it is. Even though all I've really done is take vitals, write patient reports for class and help with the stretchers...I still love it. And I love learning new things that the paramedics teach me while riding. I've learned so, so much!

Gaaaaahhhhhhh....I think I'm in love. I'm blessed.

I sat in the back (in the "captain's chair" or whatever...) and wrote out my patient care reports most of the time. They're really sloppy...and I didn't use military time (whoops!). I'm still not used to using it and it takes time for me to count up the time...lol.

This video is sideways, but it shows me riding in the back, trying to be all sneaky, because there's no way I wanted those cool paramedics to know the wannabe-EMT was taking videos in the back, :) (really, I was just trying to get some videos to send Austin...lol)

We were really busy today though. We left the station at about 7:45am and didn't get back until about 2:00pm. Then I had one last ride with another truck that was on first shift. I got 5/10 patient contacts! I'll get the rest next Monday...

I just love it all....but the paperwork. Yuck. I already don't like it...but I guess it must be done....

Just wanted to share my day with ya'll! I'm blessed! God has given me so much!

-Sarah

*SQUUUUE*

I'm going on my second ambulance ride along as an EMT student tomorrow morning. *SQUUUUEEEE*
Over and out. 

-Sarah

Musings...

I'm sooo tired. I wish I could figure out how to get into bed earlier. It just seems to never happen...(probably due to the fact that my work has now started closing at ten every night and on my days off I have college classes....the latest at which ends at ten).

Blah. But this stretches onto the real purpose of this post: I wanna get back into working out. Well, I work out...on occasion. I want a routine though. I wanna stick to it.

More to come on this...I'm just musing right now...G'night!

Sarah

My Passion: Training to be an EMT

“The courage of exploring myself was nothing compared to the courage of actually doing the EMT course, ... As a writer, the concept of self-revelation is not new. The problem was getting through the depression and anxiety and doing something unheard of for me: becoming an EMT. Writing about self-revelation is gravy.” - Michael Stern

 

I only really decided to pursue becoming a Flight Paramedic/PA/Wilderness Medic a year ago. Thinking about it, sure. I always had, but I'm acting on it now. I'm at Eastern Kentucky University, an Emergency Medical Care Major (Paramedic/Science Bachelor's Degree) and currently only a couple of months away from getting my first certification; the basic EMT Certification. 

 

This class is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I have to constantly stay in my book (every day, every night before bed) or I'll fall behind and like a sick Discovery documentary, be devoured by the gruesome skills tests and module exams. Not only do you have to memorize e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g; you have to think on it. You have to act on it. Make calls that don't get your patients killed. 

 

"Remember, we save our patients; we do not kill them." 

 

I can't tell you how many times my instructor has cadenced this over the semester. Not only do you need to know the medicine, you need to know the medicine. What counteracts it? What contradicts it? Will it kill your patient? How fast does it start working? Will it be effective in this time frame? Can you give a patient on blood thinners Nitro? Does your patient have an allergy to this medication? 

Which leads me into...your patient. 

You have to communicate with them. Get their history. Get their name. Age. SAMPLE. OPQRST. Events leading up to your call. Family. Is your patient stressed? Lost their job recently? Deep in debt? A passed love one? What is their mental status? Are they suicidal? Could they become so? Have violent tendencies? A smoker? A drinker? 

Then you have skills to learn. Not only do you have head-knowledge. You have hands-on knowledge. Skills to check off on. Skills your Instructor or their assistants have to check you off on. You have to keep in practice with this skills or you will loose them. I have to constantly re-check myself on my blood-pressure cuff. I think I have bad-hearing as it is, and it's hard to hear that pulse, even with a stethoscope. (Which, I may need to go get my hearing re-checked.) 

 

 

 (No, That is NOT a legit-skills-assessment sheet. I wish it was.)

 

Though this is the hardest thing I've done...I love all of it. It's worth it. I'm going to have a job (God-willing) that I love. 

 

" Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on."

-Steve Jobs

 

I'm going to be partaking in my first ambulance shift this Monday as part of my class. Before the end of the semester I have to get 10 patient contacts and log in 24 hours of time. I have been given three dates to do this on and if I need additional days I can get them. The team that's hosting me is only about 20 minutes away, so it's not bad at all. 

I'm really excited! I honestly can't wait! 

 

Hope you all enjoyed this! I just wanted to give you all a better look into my schooling and my passion ;)

Have a blessed day! 

 

Sarah

Care Package: Love Vs Distance

Hello! I meant to post this a week or two ago but I just never got to it! (It was on the facebook page if you've checked that out recently).

It's my second care package! I think it came out adorably!

I got this idea from Pinterest! Well, I have a whole Care Package Board that you can check out if any of you other ladies (or men) want some ideas! I've kinda gone care package crazy! I don't want to overload Austin though...so I've slowed down.

I just loaded this care package with:

• Beef Jerky
• Mini-Cookies
• Sunflower Seeds
• Chips
• Other Junk Food
• Gum
• Toothbrush
• Screen Wipes (for his laptop and glasses)
• PC Gamer magazine 

I'm sure I put more in there...but I forgot everything I put in there, lol. You can get a good idea from the picture. I get a lot of my things from the Dollar Tree to fill up the box so I don't have to put any filler. 
I know he'll love it (or I hope he does!). My only worry is that he'll want to keep all of the boxes I send because I decorate them and he's...sentimental like that.
gah, i love hiiiim...
I think my next package is going to be a Gym one...or a motivational one...he's been going to the gym a lot.

Have a blessed day!

Sarah

"If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Just a little motivation for your day. Thank you Jesus! With you, I have nothing to fear!

Just Getting By

When we have something to look forward to or something we're waiting for, we seem to hold our breath and float through life until that approximate time. Then we wake up and make the most of it!

That's what I've been doing. Since this deployment started, I've just been getting by. I've noticed it in my grades, my home life and just...everything. I've been forgetting things, putting things off, spending time alone, and just...not caring, about anything, unless it involves Austin or sending care packages or....whatever.
I'm sick of it.

I shouldn't be wasting this time of my life just waiting. I'm not really doing anything. I've just been...here.

God doesn't want me wasting my life. Austin wouldn't want me sitting around doing nothing. And me...I'm tired of not doing anything. I feel like I haven't done a thing since he's been gone. It makes me sick...

I mean, I've been in college, but I haven't been doing like I should. I haven't been studying like I usually would...and even when I do...I haven't retained the information. Work is...well, work. I feel like I never want to be there. I don't even care if I go...and I have bills to pay.

I just need...Jesus. I need direction. I need to pray. I need to get in His Word more. I need to make myself, though I shouldn't have to. I should want to read more and learn more about my Savior...
I don't know. Just please be praying for me. I want this...whatever I'm in to go away.

Sarah

Coffee Care Package

My Coffee Care Package

If you are following my blog, you know my hunny-bunny is currently off on deployment. (You can read about him and us here.)
Well, I sent my first care package last week!!! I'm super-excited for him to get it. It's a coffee care package since he loves coffee so much and I know they don't get it so often on the ship.

I included:

- 2 packs of coffee cups w/lids
- 5 packs of instant coffee (different roasts and flavors)
- 1 pack of his favorite Dunkin Donuts coffee (you have to brew it though)
- 1 box of organic sugar-cane sugar-packets
- 1 can of coffee creamer
- 1 can of Folgers instant coffee
- different packs of tea
- 1 box of hot cocoa mix
- "10 reasons why coffee is good for you" (the EMT in me couldn't resist)
- a home-printed and written card with kisses on the inside
- a list of what I put in
- decorated the box with pictures and cute quotes

  

I think he'll love it! I really hope he gets the chance to brew his Dunkin Donuts coffee! 

Enjoy making your own Coffee Care Package and be sure to look out for more I'll be posting on here!

Have a blessed day! 

Sarah

Student Blues...

Salutations everyone...

Feeling: like poo. but a little excited. #confused
Enjoying: the heat coming from the fireplace behind me.
Reading: the "Switch Girl" manga.
Dreaming: of better grades and ACLS calls...
Gathering: materials to make a nerdy care-package with ;)
Realizing: bacon tastes best when you leave it fatty #yum #breakfast
Hoping: my travels to Cincy today are not deterred by this snow
Missing: warm weather, bright blue skies and the sun! Waiting for this snow and cold weather to disappear. And my hunny-boo-boo.
Discovering: dark chocolate is amazing. I'm eating all my profit. I'm going to be funding my Alaskan Mission Team all by myself.
Loving: life and learning to love myself.
Trying: my best not to get down about my recent exam results. but it's really hard. #emtstudent #ugh

Okay, like you all have caught glimpses of already, I'm a bit down. I've been spending every spare minute, every spare second to study for this big exam in my EMT class for the last couple of weeks. I even skipped the class before my EMT one to do a little review.
And I failed. I FAILED my exam. Failed it. With a whopping 52%.
I'm a little discouraged and a lotta troubled.  
I just don't understand it.

I've been studying...and that's all done to waste. I had a couple of moments when I even considered dropping the class. If I can't do this, how am I supposed to do my job? How am I supposed to save people if  I can't pass a simple 100-question multiple-choice test?
Ughhhhh...I don't wanna think about it anymore. It makes me sad.

On another note, I'm going to Cincy (OH) with my sister to get our book "The Undead Pool" (the new book in the amazing Hollows Series) signed the amazing author Kim Harrison! We went last year too, so I'm way excited about it this year! I wish I'd gotten a t-shirt to wear though...
Oh well!
Ciao guys! I gotta go get ready! Make today a blessing,

Sarah

 

Introductions and the Dreaded "D"

Introductions are in order. Especially since you're going to be hearing a lot about this young man for the next, say, eight months. Or nine months. Or ten months...
-considering he's going to be on deployment for about that length of time or longer.
-considering he's a very, very big part of my life.
-considering he's the God-given-love of my very short, but blessed life.

Yes. His name is Austin. Aust. Austi-boo.
-actually, to you all, he's just Austin. He's MY Austi-boo. 

Please, try not to let the awesome-ness blind you. I know it can be overwhelming.

 You can actually read all about him and us and our relationship here.
It's my old blog called "Winging It". I switched over to this one because I feel like I was putting our relationship in priority over my relationship with Jesus Christ. Which is just a no-no. 

Austin and I met in high school; my junior year and his senior year. My best friend introduced us and we just immediately clicked and pretty soon we were inseparable. We talked all the time, and I found an amazing friend in Austin...and an amazing boyfriend a couple of weeks later when he asked me on a date to a football game. 
We dated all up until it was time for Austin to go to college, which was about a year later. We went on a date that turned into, well, Austin telling me it was better and easier if we just didn't date anymore. That between him being in college, only seeing me on the weekends, and me being a senior in high school, that it just wouldn't work. So, we ended things. I had, however, began going to their church and found myself still going on most Sundays. I never saw Austin however...
...I still loved him though, and I often asked about him when talking to his parents on Sundays. He'd joined the ROTC program over at EKU and was doing well; coming home on some weekends. It had been months at this point and still no sign of Austin...
...Until one day my senior year, when I got a text in art class. It was Austin. He asked if it was okay if he picked me up from school and if we could hang out. I told him "yes". He picked me up and we drove around town and finally back to his house where he told me he still loved me and had missed me. Austin had dumped me though, and I was hurt. He had hurt me. I still loved him though and suddenly he became part of my life again. We saw each other on and off on weekends for the next couple of weeks...
...Then I learned that Austin wasn't doing so well in college. When his mom told me he had signed into the Marines, my world crashed down. I didn't know how to react. Austin and I had finally started mending our relationship, though neither of us was sure what that was yet. Neither of us had used the "girlfriend/boyfriend" term for the other...it was complicated....
...then Austin left for Basic Training. Like a dedicated not-exactly-girlfriend, I wrote him a letter everyday. On days that I missed a letter, I would bundle it with the next day's one. It was so easy...I found I could convey the words I couldn't say to him through writing. That I loved him so much. That I missed him. That all I wanted was him home. That I couldn't wait to see him. During this time, I graduated high school...and then Austin, graduated from Basic and earned the title: Marine. Then Austin's family and I were on our way to Parris Island for the ceremony...
...And it was the most amazing thing I had ever seen. Never had I been so proud of anyone else in my entire life. I cried when I saw him run by for the first time. It was so emotional. Titles like "dating" didn't matter. We loved each other, and that's what mattered. However, what we found after graduation was a timid, awkward, love. We weren't sure how to take the other...

Parris Island, Graduation.

  ...then he was gone to SOI. I didn't see him for another couple of months with little communication over texting and phone calls. Then he came in for Easter. He left. We went to see him. We came home. And then....
...My first semester of college, I packed up my bags and I flew over to North Carolina myself and went to see my boyfriend. It was the best decision I ever made. It changed something.
Somewhere throughout the calls, the texts, and the not-long-enough-visits, we had evolved into something deeper then just...I don't know. It was God-given. He had and has a plan for us. 
Ever since, it hasn't been smooth-sailing, but it's been something...amazing. I've come to realize that there isn't any other man I want to spend my life with. He's become my rock. My soul-mate. I was made to love him, if only for right now. God-willing, I get to stay with this man forever. 

Now, four and a half years later, Austin and I face our first deployment together. The dreaded "D" word. The thing no military girlfriend/spouse/whatever wants to mention, much less experience. Though there's really no way to do so, I haven't ever really truly prepared myself for it. It seems like just yesterday he was graduating from Parris Island...and now he's on a ship in the middle of the ocean, and will be for eight months or longer. 
Hence, the funk I've been in this week. And last week. 
I know God has His hands on him. Austin will be fine and come home safe and sound just like he's supposed to...It's just the thought of him being halfway across the world...I know this and still. It's killing me. I want him home so bad. But I've been trying my best not to dwell on it. 

"Don't count the days, make the days count." 

 And so, please bare through with me on this. Be praying with me. I'm working on a bucketlist of things to do while he's gone to help. I'm really concentrating on other things, or well, I'm trying to...I just keep finding myself wondering how he's doing and if he's okay...I don't know. I just miss him I guess.

Make it a blessing, I'm going to bed,

Sarah

Prayer Request

Prayer please. That's all I'm asking for. 

Sarah

School Blues

Hello Everyone~

I'm feeling a whole lot better today. The sick-flu-thing I had going on seems to have finally dissipated. It's my day off work and my full day in classes, however, my morning and afternoon classes have been canceled, so I've been sitting around studying patient assessments and finishing up algebra equations...(and writing really long, run-on-sentences)...

My head is spinning with words like "tachycardia" and "pulse paradoxus". The sad thing is, everything just isn't sticking like it should be. All of this studying, re-writing, and just...everything...isn't helping me. I don't understand why. I'm only taking in maybe 40% of the information I'm reading. I had my first exam two days ago and I made a low "B". Which while that isn't bad, at all, it isn't great. It isn't what I need to be referred to the high-demand job I'm wanting. It was just luck that I made a "B" at all...I didn't really know half of the information on that test like I should have.

I should. These are people's lives that I'm going to be dealing with...I need to KNOW this information right off the top of my head, not just learn it and forget it. I can't afford to.

Just please be praying that if it's in God's will that I have this job that I do better in my studies. That I'm knowledgeable and able to remember the information I'm given. It's really discouraging. This whole "deployment thing" isn't helping.

Let today be a blessing,

Sarah

Flu Season: Remedies and Tips to Keep the Bug Away

Oh, don't you just love the flu season? I don't.

I'm as sick as can be and I have been since Saturday night. It's miserable. I feel like I have the flu, a cold and bronchitis all rolled up into one. I wasn't even able to go to my two morning classes Tuesday (my late EMT one was canceled due to weather, praise Jesus!)
I've been watching all of my family and friends get sick, and just Friday evening I was bragging about how I hadn't caught a bug yet. Well, it came back and bit me on my lower posterior plane.

-aha, the joys of being an EMT student. Med-term-talk. You're all gonna love me for the next couple of months. 

source link

Well I didn't take any precautions to ward off this terrible-flu-like-monster...but I wanted to keep you all, my readers, safe from this vile being! However, I didn't really have time to come up and research all the amazing and helpful ways to keep the flu-bug away, so I went to Pinterest.
-and there was much rejoicing.

The Little Natural Cottage has some great tips on how to keep the flu away during flu season here:

How To Stay Well During The Flu Season

The Wild Mint Shop has a bunch of remedies for after you've caught a cold or the flu. I've yet to try any of these, but I'll let you know what I find out! 

You can find them here:
Natural Remedies For Flu and Cold Season

The Paleo Mama has a great elixir for any cold or flu! I think I'm defienently gonna make this if I don't get feeling any better soon! You can find it here:

Soothing Elixir For Flu & Cold Season 

Here's a cough remedy from Greg's Kitchen that you can make, use and put away for later to get rid of any of those nasty coughs! You can find it here:

Greg's Cough Remedy

For all the little ones, I found this on babble. You can find the article here:

Kick A Toddler Cold/Flu In The Butt

For keeping healthy before you catch a bug and keeping the bug away, Premeditated Left Overs presents:

4 Tips For Staying Healthy Though Cold/Flu Season

Home DIY Hub has a winter tonic to sqaush all signs of a cold or flu!

Make Your Own Winter Tonic Medicine 

Those are just a few links that I've found! You can find tons and tons more with your own internet search. :) 

Of course, you can keep in mind the simple ways to keep the flu/cold away:

• Wash your hands regularly
• Sneeze into your arm and away from anyone or anything that anyone might touch
• Keep your hands away from your face, seriously
• At the first sign of sickness, start taking medicine
• Take vitamins when you hear about someone close to you being sick
• Exercise, it'll boost your immune system
• Get the sleep and rest your body needs
• Keep a healthy diet 

Keep to these tips and you should avoid taking part in the flu season all together! In the meantime I'm gonna take a nap...I have to go to work today or I'm not gonna have a paycheck. So, I'm forcing myself to go...ugh.

Everyone, have a blessed day! 

Sarah

Beautiful, Gorgeous Kentucky

I realize that most of you reading this, if anyone does, probably do not live in Kentucky. Well, I just wanna take a moment to tell and show you, that it's absolutely beautiful. It's gorgeous. I'm in love with where I live.
I wanna travel and I see everywhere, but in the end, I wanna come back to my amazing little state, Kentucky.
So I'll be starting posts featuring photography of all the blessings that Kentucky has to offer.

Sorry for the terrible quality of this photo; I had to take it with my phone (which is a StraightTalk brand) and it doesn't have the best camera. I had stopped on a bridge on my way home to get this. It's the Kentucky River, frozen over. I feel bad for all the little fish...

In a Funk

Good morning!

So, I've kinda-sorta-really been in a funk. It hasn't really gone away, but it's gotten better. 
Everyday is a blessing. Everything God puts in my life happens for a reason and is a blessing. Every trial He puts in my path is a blessing because He knows I'm strong enough to make it through and He'll be with me every step of the way...even when I falter and I feel like I don't have the strength to go on.
He leads, guides and directs me on the right path.

Right now, I'm facing one of the biggest trials I've ever had to go through. This is so hard. I know there will be an amazing output, even bigger then I could imagine, but still, right now it still hurts. And that's okay.

I just want to ask that you all be praying, not only for me but everyone involved. I'll have to explain in more detail later...I've got to get to my class and I don't want to mess up my makeup, :)

Let today be a blessing,

Sarah

 

Snow Day!

Afternoon everyone! If you're in Kentucky or some of the surrounding states, I hope that you're enjoying the snow! Everyone be careful though! The tempatures are outrageous and the roads are terrible! Praying for safe travels and everyone stuck in this weather.

Well, I have a day off work and a snow day, so I'm stuck inside. Be looking for a good update and some updates on the blog template. I'm thinking of spazzing up the look of the site ;)

Until then, be safe and have a blessed day!

Sarah

The First Week

...and I'm worn out. I had my first week back in my classes...and I'm utterly and completely tired-worn-out-and-ALMOST-overwhelmed. I'm so glad I'm just taking 12 hours of classes. Between my Lifetime Wellness class and my EMC 101 class, I'm beat. I have so much reading to do in my EMC class...and then the required hours I have to work out in my wellness class...gah. Okay, maybe I'm just whining. I can do this. I know I can.
I just got a little discouraged last night. I'm not very strong. I mean, I don't have any muscle at all. I'm all...wimpy. I was working on my "picking up patients on an ambulance stretcher" skill sheet and I had the posture wrong, my hands placed wrong, my arms weren't tucked in enough and my back wasn't straight enough. It was terrible. I did okay without a person on the stretcher...but then when the person got on, and they were more weight then I could handle, the paramedic student working with me had to talk me through the whole thing. We practiced over and over. I still have to work on it.
Please, please, please pray for me. These are people's lives.

Okay, I think I've blogged enough, that it's time to share my Instagram account! Yes!
Being the picture-lover that I am, you know I have to have one. I use it very, very often.

If you want to find me (or follow me!) my username is: slhallphotography
Or the link is here: http://instagram.com/slhallphotography

And I should have a button on the side panel of my blog...I'm getting that up in a second.

Thanks for listening, and I hope ya'll have the best, blessed day!

Sarah

Prayer Request

This weekend has just been really hard. It's been a really emotional time for my boyfriend, his family and I. I'm just asking that you all be in prayer for us. This is just the beginning of a long road.

Thank you all so much, and I'm sorry, my next post will be longer and less cryptic,

Sarah

(Late) New Year's Resolutions

Good Morning! It's been a while...
...and so first and foremost I want to apologize. For being away so long, and for turning my back on my commitment to this blog. It's supposed to be helping me grow, in the Lord, in His word, and in myself, and I'm completely...not doing that. I've been failing lately.

It's a new year now though. I want to start off different, if even a little late.

 Sorry this is EIGHT days late, but the love of my life is in on leave before he deploys so I've been a bit distracted...from everything really (I'm finally coming out of it...) ((he'll be gone by the end of the week))

:(

Anywho! New Year's Resolutions! 

1) Live This Year Completely And Utterly For The Lord, Jesus Christ

2) Read The Whole Bible By The End Of This Year (I'm getting there!)

3) Save As Many Lost As Possible And Be A Better Witness

 Okay, these three are biggies and should be to any follower of Christ out there. We are meant to serve Jesus, hear and read His Word, and save the lost! I haven't been doing a very good job at any of this! I could do better. I should do better! It's my job! We get so lost in this temporary world...we forget why God made us.

4) Get A New Car

I love my Monty. I've had him for the past couple of years now. He's my big, red baby...with a busted headlight, dented door, non-working interior light, non-working speed-gauge, cracked windshield, and very loud muffler. He gets me from here to there and I'm blessed to even have a working vehicle that can do that. He's my first car (1998 Mitsubishi Montero Sport) and he was (is) a good one. If in God's will, I'll get a new one when my tax-return comes in. 

5) Become An EMT/Get On An Ambulance Crew

I'm so, so close! Only a few more months and I'll be an EMT after this semester, willing I pass the major exam afterwards! Then I have to find an ambulance team to take me in...So much closer to my dream job! 

6) Declare My Major 

Paramedic Science. Yes. I hate math, I hate science, but I'm gonna do it. Pre-med requirements here I come! 

7) Travel To THREE New Places (At least!) 

I love traveling, but I don't do it enough. With Austin (my Marine-man and boyfriend) being gone for at least eight months sometime this year, I can use the money I usually save up to see him to go traveling somewhere new! I don't know where yet, I've yet to make that list! I've got one place down though: Alaska. I'm going on a mission trip with my church in July for about two weeks! I can't wait! 

8) Get A New Camera 

My old Fuji Film is wearing out! And the specs aren't completely up to what I need with my little photography business I've got starting. I've had my baby since I was twelve...I need a new camera. 

9) Survive. This. Deployment.

I'm not gonna go in-depth in this...yet. You'll hear all about it later, I'm sure. I still need to introduce my hunny-boo-boo in a post at some point. I'll get to it.   

10) Go Natural and All-Organic As Possible 

This should speak for itself! Everything they put in food and such is so...gross and bad for you! I'll go more in-depth in this later too! 

11) Go All Year Without Dying My Hair

I've went the past seven months without dying my hair. I can do this! 

12) Start Exercising/Eating Better

Everyone puts this one down. I'm really hoping I can keep to it. I know I can do the "eating better" easily...it's the exercising I'm worried about.

13) Get A Tattoo That Means Something

A meaningful tattoo...not just something that I like. Something that declares my love for Jesus! 

Okay, now let's all hope I can keep to these! I have a lot to really keep to and start doing. Cheer me on! Anyone else's list look like mine?