Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad....and other things too...

Today my mom and dad have been married for 39 years! Quite the feat, if you ask me. The years haven't been carefree or without challenges, but the most important thing is that they have God in their relationship. If you truly have God as the center of your marriage no one can seperate the two of you! A cord of three strands cannot easily be broken. So, I am thankful that my parents have made it this far. I just cannot believe that in one more year it will be 40 years! I guess I have my work cut out for me now as far as getting something put together to celebrate their 40 years next year. I'm not sure what is gonna happen yet....any suggestions? Vow renewal? Family trip to Norway? Family cruise? (you see how I'm incorporating the entire family? we're here too! lol)
I dunno, what do y'all think?

Anyway, congratulations mom and dad! I am proud to say that my parents have made it this far and they will make it even further! They aren't a part of a negative statistic!!! They made it through the empty nest too!!!! Yay!!! Now if I could only get the grandchildren thing working better...hmmmm.......did you hear that God? ;) I think He's gettin' sick of me! LOL, that's not true! (hooray for that)


So, I was reading an article from Conceive magazine about this new book coming out called "Making Babies: A Proven 3-Month Program For Maximum Fertility". They even had a preview of the first chapter! I must say that this book inspired me and I need a lot of that nowadays! I pretty much will take inspiration from wherever I can get it. I am expecting it in the mail sometime next week from Amazon.com. I will post more later about it as I start the "program".




Now, the other parts of my previous week...including today. It's been a hard one this week. I'm at this point that I don't really want to listen to other people's advice, but maybe my mom. Everyone says the same things to me. Here are some examples......"You need to take a trip and relax. Then it will happen!" or "You just need to stop trying. If you do that it will happen!" I think that one's my favorite....ever hear of the phrase "EASIER SAID THAN DONE"? Oh, I think there's more and they are so generic, but I know that everyone means well. I think what I need more than anything is your prayers. Taking advice from people who haven't had the challenges that we're going through is hard to take. Sorry about the brutal honesty that I'm hurling out today, but I have to be honest! It's not really encouraging to me. Prayers are encouraging...knowing that you care enough about me and my family to pray about our issues is the best thing you can do for me....in case you were wondering. Lift it up to God. Let me know that my concerns are your concerns....because I will always do the same for you!

I don't exactly know why we're going through this. I don't know why the same thing happened to my mom either. She only had the two of us, but she reeeeeally wanted more, God knew better. He always knows better, doesn't He? I'm just glad that I have my mom and her experiences. She knows exactly the pain that I'm going through. She knows the jealousy I feel and the discouragement every time another person I know announces their pregnancy. She knows it, she's been there! She had to go through it so she could help me! That's why God allowed it. Little did she know that she would have a daughter that would have to go through the same thing. Her experience gives me hope in that I know I will have a child or two or more one of these days. My mom was meant to be a mom. Mothering comes so naturally to her and she's good at it. I have been told by my friends that I will be a good mother because I tend to nurture everyone. People who need that kind of nurturing are just drawn to me and that's fine with me. God wouldn't have given me that gift if it wasn't meant to be used, right? He doesn't waste gifts, it's not His nature!

Well, those are my thoughts for today. Please pray for us. If you would like to see Matt and me become parents (and the Altman's become grandparents), please lift us up in your prayers. You all mean the world to us and if we can return the favor, just comment this post below or email me at sarahreed7880@gmail.com

Love y'all!
Sarah (mom in waiting)

I got tagged again.....I'm slow!

So, ya.....I got tagged again by none other than Heather (alisgravenil). She's just so on top of her bloggings and tagging other lowly bloggers who cannot keep up, but are trying! ;) So here goes on tag #2!

The assignment is to.....
1- Describe 10 things about myself that you might not know.

2- Tag seven rockin' blog buddies to do the same. (I don't know if I have 7 to tag, but I'll try my best!)

10 Things About Sarah That You Might Not Know

1) This might just be as OCD as I get, but when I use the paper towel dispensers in public bathrooms I like to reel it out seven times so that I rip on "8". I think it comes from my dancing because it just feels right to pull down 1-2-3-4-5-6-7 and then rip on 8! You can't exactly use 3/4 time when you're at the paper towel dispenser, it doesn't work!

2) If I could go anywhere in the world and money was not a problem I would go to Australia! I wouldn't go to surf, or to snorkel, but I would just like to take lots of pictures and go visit Hillsong Church!

3) I don't have a favorite food. There isn't just one food that I would say is my favorite to eat all of the time. I like to try new things and I don't discriminate. However, there are a few foods that I will NEVER eat.....salmon (bad Norway memories), escargot (it's friggin' snails people, come on!), cow tongue (somewhere there's a cow trying to lick its baby and it can't,what a stupid thing to eat!), pork rinds (fried pork skin, blech!), frog legs (I may hate frogs, but I don't want to get back at them by eating their legs)....there might be more, but that's all I can think of right now!

4) I have a problem with people being in my "personal space". For example: For some reason whenever I'm at the grocery store the person next in line has to always stand withing a pinkie's reach from me. To avoid this, I try to put my shopping basket between myself and the freak whose invading my territory. I don't understand why they have to be so close to me, there's so much room for them far away from me! Listen! If I don't know you, but somehow I can manage to guess the perfume you're wearing, the size of your shirt and smell what you've had for dinner on your breath, then you're too dang close, back off! Phew!

5) My favorite place to be is Dallas, TX. I want to live there more than anything! I know a lot of texans in my neck of the woods don't particularly like the Dallas area, or the traffic, or even the people there, but somehow I feel right at home! It really has everything there and fun things happen there! If you've lived in San Antonio for a while and are used to having certain things available to you like a good deli, a bagel shop or even a bakery where you can just stop in anytime and have the best danish known to man, then Dallas is really like a Godsend! It isn't just one city either, there are oodles of other suburban areas like Grapevine, Southlake, Irving, etc. that have a lot to offer. It's a great place and I hope to live there one day :)

6) I do not like the number 6. I associate it with the devil and I just do not like it.

7) I lack confidence in my talents. I'm not exactly sure why, but I know that I am very aware of what others think of me. I know I've said I don't care what others think about me and I don't, but I do. I just want everyone to like what I do and how I do it whatever it may be. Perfectionist much? Sometimes......

8) I make the best mashed potatoes! I've been making Thanksgiving dinner with my mom since I was about 10 or 11 years old and she taught me how to make mashed potatoes and many other things. My mom is a great cook and baker! So is my dad too! And my husband....

9) I cannot cross my eyes completely. I have one eye that's nearsighted and one that's farsighted. I do wear glasses for reading and such. I don't need them for driving. You would think that I'd be more blind than I am, but my left eye is much stronger than the other, so it overcompensates for the lame right eyeball. Oh ya, I also have astigmatism!

10) I'm addicted to sweet tea, body waxing, pedicures, massages, Jason Mraz, The Office, So You Think You Can Dance, Sex and the City, the city of Austin.....and many, many more things!

And now for the tagging......

Dani
Mom
Elizabeth Winston-Williams
Jana
Michelle

sjr

New Blog

I have been looking (unsuccessfully) for a journal that I would be able to write letters to my unborn child(ren). There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about my future children, who they're going to be, when they're going to get here, etc. My friend, Jen, recommended to me that I start writing to my children. I want them to know how much they were loved and wanted. I want them to know that their mommy thought of them every single day and prayed for them and longed to hold them. So, I've decided that I'm going to start a journaling blog just for them. If you'd like to read it you can. The address is loveletterstoourkids.blogspot.com

Enjoy!

SJReed

A long time ago......

.....I was tagged to post something on my blog by Heather. I have actually been tagged twice by her, but this is the first time I've been able to accomplish the first tag. Don't worry Heather, I will be sure to get to the second tag in say......3 months! Ha!

Here is my assignment (If I so choose...and I do!)

The Picture Tells the Story
So here are the rules...
* Open my first photo folder
* Scroll down to the 10th photo
* Post that photo and story on my blog
* Tag five friends to do the same

Um, ya.....I kinda tweaked it a lil' to suit my current situation a little better because I don't have access to all my photos at the moment. Here's the picture....



This photo is from exactly 10 years ago this month. I didn't actually realize that until I was thinking of when it was taken, so I guess I didn't choose the picture, but the picture chose me?! This is from my first year as a counselor for the Ballet Magnificat! Summer Dance Intensive. The others in the picture are Elyn Vanderende, Heather Partington, Angel Hilemon and two others that if I thought for a very long time would possibly remember their names too. We were all counselors for the Caldwell dorm on the Belhaven College campus. I cannot remember how many girls I was in charge of that year, but they were the younger girls since I was only 18, going on 19, it was appropriate for me to have them. I remember that I had Jessica Perham in my group....the first day we had small group time we were introducing ourselves to each other and she said her full name very quickly. The girls thought she had said her name was "Clara Para"....lol! (her name is Jessica Claire Perham) hahaha....this got them laughing and it gave her a nickname. Angel (bending in the front of the picture) was like the mother hen to all of us girls. I remember always meeting up in her room before we went anywhere and fun stuff like that. I was dating Mike, my ex, and I think I spent more time being concerned with him than with what my "campers" were up to. Not that I'm proud of the previous sentence, it actually makes me upset that I was so blind to what was going on around me. You do live and learn though, that's what your 20's are for....hahahaha! Which brings me to my next point, I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL THIS DECADE IS OVER!!!! I'm really looking forward to my 30's.

Anyway, there's my assignment. It's not too deep, but I think it's fun to look at that picture and reminisce. And now for the tagging....

Mom, Eawinstonwilliams, Daniella, Jana and Michelle

All y'all have been tagged. You have your assignment.....GO!

???

I usually have something on my mind to blog about, but right now I am at a loss for words. I am happy and contented with my life right now. I guess I could write about what I've been up to for the past few days? Would y'all out in "blogland" like that? Alrighty......

I think I will start with Tuesday, June 9th.....my mom arrived in Texas while I was hard at work getting my Tuesday night classes ready for their recital. It was her 60th birthday, very exciting! My mom doesn't exactly look like she's 60 either which is great news for me! ;)

On Wednesday (6/10) I went to work, like usual, and later on that evening we went out to eat for my mom's birthday at her favorite tex-mex restaurant here, Pappasito's......pretty dang good food I might add! They sang a ridiculous birthday song, made her wear a sombrero and we got free sopapillas (if you don't know what those are....omg, you need to google them and find somewhere that sells them.....yum yummy yum yum yum).

So, that was Wednesday.....on to Thursday (6/11)....I went to work, then I rested for a bit at home before I went to the dreaded last rehearsal for Ballet 3 before the dress rehearsal/recital....it was good, but it was also very bad! I think both Tracie (owner of Ballet NB) and I were very stressed out this year with the whole swine flu breakout and the time that we lost for rehearsing their dances and stuff, that we went into this last class with our fists and jaws clenched. No joke, we really were wound up pretty tightly! Yikes! I will definitely give our girls kudos because they worked very hard for us and they put up with a lot that night.

Friday (6/12) I went to work and left at 3:00. I got my stuff together and headed out to TLU in Seguin (no, not sequin!)for the dress rehearsal.....Well, we started a little after 5:00 and got behind because of a music snafu! (i hate music snafu's they are the worst) Tracie and I didn't leave the auditorium until 11:00 that evening. When I got home I gathered my thoughts for the next day and then crashed in my bed.

Saturday (6/13) Shower? Check! Target for last minute details? Check!! Starbucks for a pick-me-up even though I would probably have heartburn later??? Check!!! We had a last minute dress rehearsal with the older girls at 11:00 and I don't know, but they could definitely feel our stress still, but we made it through. Recital started at 1:00, not on the dot, but close enough. Our recitals are a lot different than OTDC where as we do "demo's" here which shows the level system. I hate demo's with a passion because I feel that the class' recital dance is a reflection on what they've been learning for the past "dance year". Anyway, it is a waste of time (in my opinion) because it just takes waaaaay too long!!!!!! The recital progressed on as smooth as it could, but we didn't actually finish until 3:30-ish.....ugh! That was one long effing recital! Things will change next year, so help me God, they will change!

After recital was over I collected my weary body, my mom and my hubby and we head out to Bucee's in Luling, TX!












Need I say more? The place is worth visiting even if you aren't on a road trip! I just love all their Texas-y nick-nacks and jerky and ice cold dill pickles and fudge and beaver nuggets! Ahhhhh.....it's more fun than you and your grandmother could handle...lol! And the bathrooms really are as clean as advertised! Everyone gets their own stall and there are lysol wipes in there and air freshener....I don't feel like anyone is listening to me pee! I can do my business with confidence and ease! ;)

Back to Luling....I thought it would be nice to go a little further into Luling and visit one of the top 50 bbq joints in Texas, so we did. Luling is also the watermelon thumping capitol of Texas (maybe even the world?) and it is a hick, Deliverance-esque town. Hence the picture seen below and myself posing with a potential "thump queen" poster....





We ate at Luling Bar-B-Q and headed out after a somewhat scary time at their "farmer's market".....never again! Matt decided to head back to I-10 to get back home and then I decided to take a different route that would take us to I-35 via San Marcos, TX. I have never been that way before so I thought it would be fun to have an adventure with my mom! We passed by several "redneck yards of the week" and the "town pool", tons of random cemeteries and such. Those of you who live in Texas or have been here you know that the speed limits can change at any given time, but for the most part are actually posted with visible signs. Well, on our lil' joy ride I got pulled over and received a speeding ticket from one of the "redneck" police officers. I got caught in an effing speed trap in redneck usa!!!!! I was so mad! We were having the best time poking fun at everyone that we didn't notice the speed and we didn't see any posted speed limit signs (God's honest truth, there weren't any!). Whatever! Now I have to go back to that po-dunk town and visit the judge and beg for mercy....mer!

So, that was Saturday....big day full of ups and downs. Sunday (6/14) was fantastic though! We woke up and went to church at Oak Hills Church in SA. Max Lucado is the pastor there and it's just all around a really great church!





Those were pictures from Christmas Eve last year and here's another for funsies!



Can you say special?

Anyways, we went to Oak Hills for a very specific reason.....Shannon Wexelberg (who I have mentioned in several previous blogs) was going to be there leading worship and Bruce Bowen (from the SA Spurs) was going to be speaking. Although I support our Spurs I wasn't there for Bruce....I was there to participate in worship our Lord with one of my favorite singer/songwriters!



I got to meet her, speak with her, hug her and take a picture with her!!!! I don't have those pictures yet, but as soon as I do they will be up here for sure! That was definitely the highlight of my weekend. I will post more on that later also as this blog has become the longest in the history or blog-dom!

Peace out!
SJR

I promised that I would post this...enjoy!

A Good Conversation

I had a really great conversation with a great friend today. We talked about what I've been going through as far as babies and stuff like that. We also talked about what was going on in her life as well like how we both have "pity parties" when things aren't going as "planned" in our lives, etc. etc. We got on the subject of my conversation with Matt yesterday....we were talking about our future with children and such. We were discussing our options as far as would we pursue IVF if it came down to it, or would we go directly to adoption....stuff like that. As I'm sure y'all know that this whole fertility thing is a touchy issue with me, but I'm learning to deal with it and roll with the punches....but our conversation sparked kind of a small pity party and I said out loud "Why me? Why is God doing this to me? Why is He taking His time and won't just give us a baby already? Why does He ALWAYS do this to me? Why do I have to wait for everything???" That accompanied with tears lasted for a bit and finally I shut up. As soon as I did I listened for something, I don't know why, but I just sat there I heard a voice say to me "You asked to be my vessel, that's why you are waiting and I am waiting too". Wow! It's true though, I did ask Him to dwell in me. I did ask to be His vessel. I asked this over six years ago, but He reminded me of it just yesterday. I told God that I would do WHATEVER IT TAKES no matter what He needed to do in me. And I told Him I would wait....and boy, am I waiting or what!? When it all boils down to it, I am His. His will is my will. I want what He wants. And I will wait as longs as it takes as long as He is there with me every step of the way. I know He'll be there.

I was also "challenged" by my dear friend that maybe it isn't just my time that He's waiting for, but He is waiting for my future child's time as well. She reminded me that if we look at the good examples of the Bible like Moses, David, or even Hannah we see that they were placed into the world at a very precise time in the world to do very specific things. So, maybe this isn't just about me? What???!!! How can that be? (just kidding)But it makes perfect sense, doesn't it? In the book of Esther she was challenged by Mordecai (her cousin) to plead with King Xerxes (her husband) to get rid of Haman and eventually save her people (the Jews). Even though she was queen she would be risking her life to even approach the king without prior consent, obviously she would be frightened and hesitant to go to his chambers. Not to mention if he didn't accept her into his presence she could have been killed as well as her people. Anyway, "Mordy" spoke these words to her "Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” Can I get another wow?! Or perhaps an amen (and really..lol)?!! That phrase doesn't just apply to her being queen back then, but to all of us today.

We are always asking God "why"..... Why haven't I been promoted? Why am I not married yet? Why is my marriage/relationship falling apart? Why don't we have any kids yet? Why are my kids rebelling? Why? And yet God still says to us, "Who knows if perhaps this is happening to you now for such a time as this?" God may not be finished with where He has you right now, but just know that He has already prepared what is going to happen. He is shaping and transforming your life and your heart for what He has already prepared for you to do. All we have to do is wait. That isn't always the easy thing to do, but in the end IT WILL ALWAYS BE WORTH IT!

For me, I am still waiting on what He is doing. Let me rephrase that a little, we are waiting (Matt, God and me) on what is coming next. Maybe a baby? Whether we get pregnant naturally or we become parents through adoption I know without a doubt that it is all lined up for us. I feel that God is turning my heart toward adoption even more and He is softening my heart to these children who don't have parents. I know that He knows what is going to happen and I have peace in my heart that He is preparing not just Matt and me, but that He is also making our future child(ren) ready as well.

Don't worry about what you cannot see right now because your new season is coming, He is on the way and He is never late! (Hebrews 11:1)

SJR