Back to work!!!

These last 3 weeks I have had a great vacation. Technically, I have been on vacation for 6 weeks but was working at Summer School part-time for 3 of those weeks. I have thoroughly enjoyed having this time off. I have been able to get so much done. This week I painted our bedroom. It is now a beautiful tan color. Along with painting I have also tried to make sense of our yard. It's apparent that the last tenets didn't take pride in the yard. So we are weekly trying to make it look like it should.


I think the greatest thing about the last couple of weeks has been the amount of time I have been able to spend with Joshua. Jareb is currently working a 9-5 job 5 days a week. This means Joshua and I have spent a great deal of time together. I can truly say I'm so blessed to have him in my life. He is such a joy to be around. God has really helped our relationship grow farther then I ever thought possible.


As I start another year of working at a school, I have to admit I'm nervous. I love what I do. I may not make much but what I get out of it is greater then a big paycheck. I'm going to be working with the same student...but a new teacher. I have come to love the teacher that I worked with last year. Hopefully this new teacher will have the same respect and support for me as I plan to have for her.



Until next time!

Sarah

Hope you enjoy this..let me know what you think.

Blessings,

Sarah

Farmers Market

Today we ventured to Denios which is a farmers market/flea market in Roseville. It was a lot of fun. I've started a diet that is pretty regimented. Lots of veggies and fruit. So we were able to get a ton of veggies and fruit that is locally grown and very fresh. Not to mention it was cheap. I really enjoy knowing that the produce that we buy is local. Growing up in Hughson we always had fruit stands and my mom would load up on fruit. I loved it. However, Elk Grove seems to only have one kind of fruit stand....strawberries. They are on every corner..ok not literally but close to it. So to be able to get all the yummy healthy food for my family, it was great. And you were able to barter with them. It was fun. I would totally recommend it.

I feel like there is so much to say about the last 3 months. Life has really changed...and I'm going to be honest. It is hard. We wanted to send out an email to friends and family but it seemed to get pushed back and back. So here I am. Writing about our journey and how I'm struggling to see God's plan for my family.

Most of you know that Jareb accepted a Pastor position in June '08. It was a small Southern Baptist church in Folsom (about 30 min from our house). I really thought that a year later we would be on the road to being a healthy growing church. However, God had different plans. After much prayer and long long conversations...LifeBridge Church closed it's doors in the beginning of February.

I think what has made it so hard for me was the way it ended. To know that we put a great deal of ourselves into this church and it wasn't enough. I hurt for Jareb. This was a huge step for him. And people were vicious. They say nasty lies and spread things that are just wrong. Those who we thought had our back...turned. It has been a long couple of months. We are struggling to understand what is next. Not to mention praying for a better job for Jareb...he has had to take anything because the job market sucks.

I'm sorry if this blog sounds so angry...I think I just needed to finally let it out. I know God has a plan..I just need to trust him to lead us.

Meet Clara! She is the new addition to our little family. We got her from a family that didn't want her anymore. Its hard to understand why not...but our gain! She is the sweetest thing. We think she is a cross between Black Lab and Border Collie.

We decided to go to a Dive-In movie a couple weeks ago. It was so much fun. Living in Hughson, we had one not too far from us. However, I never made it to a movie there. Well Jareb, Joshua and I piled in the car and headed off to see Madagascar 2 at the Bradshaw Drive-In. It was sooo much fun. We popped popcorn before we left and got some drinks. Then sat back and enjoyed the movie!

Settling

Getting settled in a new home is hard. At first it feels as if you are in some hotel on a long vacation. You don't really have spots yet for your belongings, but you know that you need to find a place for all your stuff. We have been in our new abode for about a month now, it's starting to feel like home. We hung our first picture the other day. It was nice to look up and see something that was ours hanging on the wall.

I have to admit, I'm having a hard time keeping up on the cleaning. It's wonderful to have the extra space...but cleaning it all is tough. We are truly blessed with the space. We have a cute back yard that we are working on. And we even added a dog to the family. Her name is Clara. She is the cutest dog. Clara is part lab and I think part Border Collie. She is great for our family. Even the cat is warming up to her.

Its really wonderful to look around a see how much we have to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Until Next Time

Moving

Well its official...we are MOVING!!!!

Jareb and I signed the papers and are packing boxes. We are staying in the Elk Grove area. There is a duplex that is just perfect for our little family! Although I'm really sad to say Good Bye to our little house and our amazing neighbors...its time. God is good. He had made this work out perfectly. Now if I can just get my booty in gear and pack pack pack.

I'll be getting in touch with all of you to let you know of our new address! Yay for us!

Sarah

Happenings

Rachel is off to Ireland! Its so excited to think about my little sister going to another country to study. I will miss her, but it will cool to communicate through web cams.

I have been back to work now for over a month. At first I really struggled. Is it a new school, new teacher, and a new student. His name is Ian and he is in first grade. It has been really hard adjusting to his personality, but even harder adjusting to the teacher's personality. She is really nice, but can be abrasive at times. If you know me, you know that I don't do well with blunt people. But I can honestly say it has been getting better. So I look forward to a interesting and challenging year. I'm ready!

Jareb has taken on the roll of Head Coach of Joshua's soccer team. He is so good. It amazes me how he is willing to go way out of his comfort zone to support and spend time with his son. Joshua love it. Jareb is definitly learning a thing or two about soccer!!

As far as life goes over all...things are good. We are in a place were God is doing A LOT! He has had us trust him in so many ways. But no matter what he has always provided. I'm so fortunate that I saw the light and turned towards him when I needed to. I can't even fathom what my life might be if I had continued down the worldly path I was on. I am truly humbled!

Back at Home

I had a great weekend! I was able to spend some time with friends that I haven't seen in a long time, celebrate Rach's birthday a bit early, and spend some well needed time with family.

Amanda Doerksen will soon be Amanda Burton! I'm so excited to have another friend get married! It was so good to catch up with her and Erin and enjoy her Bridal Shower. I'm so happy for her.

Then I got to spend some time with a old friend from church. Denise and I have known each other forever. She is awesome and I can't believe she is going to be having her first baby, Hannah. Denise seems so happy and little one should arrive in the next 2 weeks!!

Rachel will be turning 20! I can't believe it, its so crazy to think that my sister will be the same age I was when I got married. I'm extremely proud of her and everything she has done!

It was a great weekend. I miss Hughson and my family. It was good to spend time with my parents too. At one point my dad turned to me and said "its good to have you home, kid" Lol...love him.

However, it was equally good to come back to Jareb and sleep in my own bed. I am so fortunate to have an amazing group of people in my life!

Until Next Time!