::Visions of Sugarplums?::

Tis the season for sleigh bells, cookies, and my favorite .....Presents! But in all honesty, I hate to receive them. When I receive them I feel like a ball of awkwardness...I mean I never know how to react. But what I love about presents is creating, wrapping and giving them. I get this overwhelming rush as I craft and wrap a present. Seeing all of the glue, glitter, paper and fabric being thrown around in a creative fashion gives me a high like none other....it is totally my drug. And I am in the season of my addiction....Christmas Season! So as my roommates tolerate my 'Sarah's Workshop' that has invaded the living and dining room, I can't help but smile as the thoughts of ribbon and mod podge dance through my head.

::Another Year::

I believe I've finally reached that point. You 'older' folks know what I'm talking about, that point where age has no real purpose. It seems like time now time is irrelevant. I have come to accept this concept. I think that in the back of my mind whenever my day of birth rolls around I will always ponder the 'good ole days' when birthdays consisted of pool parties and sleepovers.

Even though, I am lamenting over what is the past, I am super excited for what is to come.

Let me share some of the highlights of this years celebration:

• My fab coworkers (including the bestie) really made me feel special with balloons, the cutest cupcakes, a 'stepped up' sash, and lovely presents.
• I felt genuinely loved by friends as they showered me with well wishes.
• A really wonderful guy took me out to my favorite restaurant (Red Robin...YUM), saw some spectacular Christmas lights, then let me pick a girly movie to watch back home. It was pretty great!

I'm a pretty blessed girl! So thankful for a wonderful set of friends to celebrate this time with me.

::Shutterfly...spreadin' the Christmas Cheer::

My family is spread out all over the states which causes the holidays to be a little less joyful. I've wanted to find a way to connect them someway to all of the changes happening in my life and Shutterfly is offering just that! Shutterfly has some great designs for Christmas and I can't wait to wait send out some cards that show pictures of friends, family and accomplishments!

One design that I am oogling over is this....

I'm a sucker for black and white photos and I think this design would look great with them.

So spread some cheer yourself and check out Shutterfly!

And if you are a blogger and want to share some love with your friends and family you can receive 50 free cards just by blogging about it! Shutterfly loves bloggers!

::The Art of Being Thankful::

So often we are so focused in what we are doing we tend to forget to look at the bigger picture. I've heard it explained the best with the forest and tree analogy. You know, some people focus on the trees instead of the whole forest. The analogy takes me immediately to the smell of fresh pine trees, which in turn reminds me of Christmas and the holidays.

I think the tree analogy is great when thinking about thankfulness. I believe that God wants us to be thankful for the trees and the forest. What I mean by that is God wants us to be thankful for the small individual things He has blessed us with but also the larger view.

So here are just a few on my list:

Trees:

Each one of my friends

My Family

My Church

A roof over my head

Forest:

Forgiveness

The beauty of nature

Perseverance

:: The Coming of Home::

As a new grad it is only proper that I attend my first Homecoming as an alumni. This year Student Activities and the other various departments that contribute to Homecoming did a great job. I must confess it is odd to not be a student and take part like I use to. I saddens my heart a little that I couldn't be stressed out, running around, and surviving only on coffee last week, but I have to remember that God has moved me to a new part in life.

Some of the highlights of the wonderful 2010 Homecoming week:

• Seeing my bestie (and her partner) win the title of Mr. and Ms. Spirit MBU! (See the wonderful photo above taken by the wonderful Nicole)
• Watching the community come together at the Fall Family Carnival
• Watching the Lady Spartans dominate in Basketball
• Seeing our incredible students rock it out at The Perk : The Event!

It was a great week full of some awesome spirit.

Peace, Love, and Spartan Spirit!

::Growing Up::

The theme of the past six months of my life has been "Growing Up" or what I like to consider "Becoming an Adult". I think during this time I have shed more tears, thrown hands up in the air with frustration, and learned the value of the advice of those older than me.

Just in the past week I bought short term life insurance and bought a car!

But on top of all of this God has really been upsetting my life, but in a totally awesome way! I know there is a reason why He has me here at my job and I believe it is so that I can encourage, love, and listen to the ladies around me. I don't think I've truly understood the mission field around me until now. To be intentional and see others in the wonderful eyes of my Savior, is exactly what I've been waiting for. It is what I have been made for. It's what you have been made for too!

::Magnificence in Middle School::

Today is my first day nannying two of the sweetest girls ever.

I got settled in my new room.

Got a tour of the house.

Met some of their friends.

Went to Panda Express for dinner.

Came back and got ready for bed.

It was that easy.

The ease is not what matters though. It's that God has placed me in this family to love on them. I'm so excited to see what makes both of these girls tick. To encourage. To wipe tears. To help.

Thank you God for blessing me by allowing me to be part of their lives.

::Too Many Great Things At Once::

I am blessed. And Glory goes all to God on this one, because if I do anything at all, it usually messes everything up.

As for just some of the blessings:

• I get to spend at least one more year at the university that I attended, but now I work there!
• I will also be starting a nannying position and getting to love and invest in some incredible middle school girls.
• Everyone should check out my professional blogging debut.. @ My First Apartment
• Life should be super interesting as now I have two awesome room mates, A and T.
• The school year is about to start! That means I get the opportunity to love a whole bunch of college students.
• I just became a member of The Journey . And I am stoked to start serving there!

Growing up is a scary, exhilarating, and liberating time. God is revealing things to me everday, from how selfish and sheltered I am to how to vulnerable I must become to be used by Him.

Peace, Love, and Coconuts!

::It's Official::

I am officially one of the worst bloggers ever. I have been neglecting this outlet in the worst of ways. But no longer. My life has started with a fresh slate.

In the last year...

• I graduated.
• Was in a relationship
• Was a Student Teacher
• Got a 'big girl' job
• and the newest thing....got my first apartment!

I can't even begin to explain how BLESSED I am. There have been great times and hard times, but seeing God's hand on it all is incredible.

I am terrified and renewed in this process, please keep on checking this blog for installments of the crazy life and times of a new college-grad, apartment-living, vulnerable-being young lady.