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  

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

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 

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

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

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

 

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

Immersed Challenge Update

I've made a decision, because I can't write on here everyday like I want-I simply don't have the time or resources-I've decided that I will pick one day a week to recap on what I've read. I think that would be easier on me, and it wouldn't be spamming up my posts every day with my challenge.

I think Friday might make a good day for this. Saturday I'm usually working, and Sunday I'm at church. So Friday sounds good.

So far, I've read Genesis 7. I'm to the flood. So, I've been thinking all day on how I should update all this. I still haven't made up my mind. I'll give a quick update either tomorrow, or Sunday if I have time, then I'll start posting about The Immersed Challenge on Fridays. Right now, I've gotta start to work.

Ciao!
Make it a blessing,

Sarah

P.S. I HAVE A VERY SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST: a very dear family friend of ours had their house burn down yesterday on Thanksgiving. I just want to ask that you all be praying for them. I can't imagine that happening to me....thanks! Have a great weekend! I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving! 

Prayer Request

I'm in a situation and I'm not sure what to do about it and it's putting me in a really bad mood because I can't get it out of my head. I know, I'm letting the devil win. I've prayed about this; it's going to be okay, but I can't stop worrying.
Pray for me please. This mood won't go away, and I'm about to go to work. I need God's strength 'cause I know I can't do this alone.

Make it a blessing, and thank you,

Sarah