Greg Loves Sarah

So…The other day, I posted a list of TEN TO-DO’s for while I was “home home”. Out of the 10, 9 are officially accomplished. #3 was attempted – but was unsuccessful. When I went to walk through my yard in my bare feet, it was dark (if I remember right) and the ground was wet and the wet was a tad chillyish. So, we have to save #3 for another trip.

Here is my updated list: (Always feels SO GREAT scratching things off. OK, time to home home AGAIN so I can tackle more :-D heehee)

1) Hug my Mom (Did LOTS of this.)

2) Sit with my dad in the SAME recliner (Such a comfy place. I have a GREAT dad!)

3) Walk through my yard in my bare feet (Yet to be accomplished – but ATTEMPTED nonetheless)

4) Eat a home-cooked cajun meal (Done more than once – Wow, we eat WELL in South Louisiana :) )

5) Sit on our porch and read (I am in Chapter 4 of the Authentic Relationships book. SUCH a great book! No comment…I am determined this time to complete :) )

6) Enjoy a sunset over the field across the street :)

7) Get a hair-cut at Kristy’s Thanks, Kristy!

8 ) Explore the new section of River Ranch -Been wanting to do that for a while

9) Sleep in Loveliness :) :) :)

10) Take a deep breath and BE. :) Need to do this more – even in Big Sandy! :)

Enjoy some pics!

I LOVE MY MOM AND DAD!!!!!!!!!!!! I so enjoyed this visit home… I was missing it before I even left! :(

Malloo and me :) We had about 2 hrs to spend together on Saturday – Mel was passing through on her way from Aaron and Laura’s to Houston…. SO nice living betwixt Bogners and Bakers :)

So… a 7 1/2 mph speed limit. Hmmmmm :-P

Ok…These are called “Bubbies” or “Mochis”. Mel and I discovered these unusual treats at “Scoops” – a little local ice cream shop. We chose not to resist the temptation to experiment. :) They are like little balls of ice cream wrapped/coated in flavored rice flour. It’s sort of like having a little ice cream ball wrapped in something about the consistency of a twizzler. New to the pallet, but quite delicious :)

Me and Momma and Mel :)

Outside of a Community Coffee Cafe… One tall Mocha Mochassippi with an extra shot of espresso PLEASE :)

On my very short walk in the new section of River Ranch. Scratching #8 off of my list :)

And IN CASE you are wondering where Spring is…It is happily situated in South Louisiana. I found it :) The weather was GORGEOUS… The grass is turning a lovely spring green. The skies were clear. The sun was warm on my face. When Mel came by Saturday, she made a sweet observation: That the Lord always blesses us with lovely days. And He does…

I am living in East Texas. But I am a south Louisiana girl. :)

This morning I headed for Houston to spend a couple of days at Home #4 – the Bogners! I arrived this afternoon and am already enjoying a sweet time with sweet girls and their dear mom and dad! :)

Now…I think I am going to watch a late night movie with Mel…..

Laters!!! :)

Just because I think that, at my house, we have one of the COZIEST kitchens in the world…. :)

And these are blooming just outside the kitchen…lovely even at night :) …

There is no place like HOME HOME. **sigh**

First things first: I AM HOME HOME!!!!! and SO happy to be here! I was in need of a vacation…I needed a “home-fix” :) And here I am!

And now for a list of 10 THINGS that must be done while I am in Louisiana:

1) Hug my Mom

2) Sit with my dad in the SAME recliner

3) Walk through my yard in my bare feet

4) Eat a home-cooked cajun meal

5) Sit on our porch and read

6) Enjoy a sunset over the field across the street

7) Get a hair-cut at Kristy’s

8 ) Explore the new section of River Ranch

9) Sleep in

10) Take a deep breath and BE. :)

Yup! Sounds like a good list to me! :)

Have you ever had a bad case of the “If Only’s”? It’s a terrible affliction. A gal can have this disease of the heart with no outward evidences while inside she aches:

If only I were here… If only I were there… If only I were married… If only I had more friends… If only I could communicate better… If only more people understood… If only I was more diligent… If only I had more money… If only I had more time… If only I weren’t so tired… If only I had a different love language… If only I had a different personality… If only…if only I weren’t HUMAN…

If only [fill in the blank], THEN…everything would be different. THEN…everything would be better.

I’ve suffered from this affliction many times. It can sneak up on an unsuspecting girl in a moment and then hang on for dear life.

And every single time, the cure is the same. The answer is the same. The truth never changes.

The Cure: Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face.

The Answer: Christ is everything. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

The Truth: Life is in Christ. There is nothing good in me. His grace is sufficient. His strength is perfect.

The Lord says “Abide in Me.” He tells us that we will undergo pruning. He says that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments. And why? Because He is thinking of me…

“These things I have spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (John 15:11)

My joy. The God of all Creation is concerned for MY JOY. He desires it in me. He is glorified through MY JOY. He wants me to know His fullness, because He knows that in HIS FULLNESS, I will be complete and satisfied and content and whole and rested and……

“But Father, I am lonely. Father, I am afraid. Father, I am a mess with a capital ‘M’.”

Yesterday afternoon, I found a park in Tyler – me, my Bible, a warm mocha. Just for me, the grass was a refreshing spring green. Just for me, the sky was cloudless. Just for me, the temperature was in the 60’s. And just for me, decades ago, someone planted a tree for me to lean against in just the right spot.

And just for me (ok, for you too), the Lord left a Love Letter…He said:

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me (John 14:1)… And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter [Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby] that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. (John 14:16-18)…“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

My God shall supply all your need. Seems as though I am needing a lot these days. On the outside, I have no needs – not a one. But inside is a different story. I am finding with certainty that nothing but Christ alone satisfies. Anything else just leaves you…hungrier, emptier.

My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. What do you need today? What is your heart missing? Where are you looking to have your needs met?

Look to Christ, my friends. There is none other…

“Loneliness is your friend when it forces you to enjoy God’s friendship.”

What a Friend we have in Jesus…

I just wanted to take a moment to recommend the book “Authentic Relationships: Discover the Lost Art of ‘One Anothering'”by Wayne and Clay Jacobsen. I am currently reading this excellent book and heartily recommend it to y’all as well. “Authentic Relationships” is not a guy/girl/courtship book. It is about genuine, Christ-centered friendships and relationships with those Father allows to cross your path. “Authentic Relationships” will inspire you to love as Christ loved and to “one-another” others as we’ve been encouraged to do in Scripture.

I, for one, have been so encouraged by this book (My family read it together a while back and I’m reading it again.) Have you ever read something that was so RIGHT, that as you read it just *rang true* in your spirit? “Authentic Relationships” is like that. It is inspiring me to love as the Father has loved me. And I am only in chapter two (this time around). :)

If you’d like to learn more about it, e-mail me or call! I’ll read out loud to you if you’d like :) It’s available from Amazon or through www.lifestream.org

Y’all have a grand evening.

Loving Him, Sarah