Wedding #5

Rayden has been in his fair share of weddings. He has been a groom, a groomsman, and a best man more times than we can count (he's only been a groom once, of course...it's those other positions that get repeated). He is now moving on in life to become the minister at weddings. The students we have served are getting older and they are falling in love. They are planning their big days and what an honor it is for us to be a part of them.

This weekend Rayden and I traveled to St. Louis for him to preform his 5th wedding. It was the wedding of Brad Price and Sheena Pifer. It was beautiful. It was outside. It was HOT! But, it was thoroughly wonderful. There really is no way to describe the honor we feel when we get to be a part of such a special day. It is part of why we do what we do. The other part, of course, is to honor God.

It was great to see so many familiar faces. Going back to Wentzville always feels like we are going home. What a fantastic place to begin ministry. The people there embraced us....as green as we were in ministry....and loved us like family. We were able to truly throw ourselves into ministry (we didn't have kids yet!). We loved the kids there as if they were our own. Brad and Sheena were no exception. In fact, Brad would definitely make our "top ten" favorite students of all times list. He was goofy, funny, fiercely loyal, headstrong, wild, and devoted to Rayden and God. Sheena was beautiful, feisty, honest, loyal, and devoted to her church and God.

They are so special to us. I am praying that God blesses their marriage and family with intimacy, strength, the ability to endure, open communication, love, joy, and companionship. May they shine brightly so that others might know the greatness of our God.

A boy after my own heart....

I have always known that this little man is amazing...

But today we had a conversation that comfirmed it.

Today I was going through the mail and throwing most of it away (what a load of junk that comes in the mail these days!). I was ripping things that were of a sensitive nature when Kaleb looked over and began watching me. When I started to rip a magazine subscription offer he hollered, "NO MOMMY! STOP!" He ran over pointed straight at the barcode and said, "Wait, you are about to tear up a coupon."

Maybe my coupon cutting is going a bit too far....or maybe I will raise 3 thrifty little children.

Service with a smile

These last months have been a roller coaster. Dealing with my mom's mental illness has been very difficult. I don't know how hard to push her and how much to help her with. I want her to be as independent as possible, but it's hard to know where to draw the line.

She has recently become very demanding of me. She expects me to drop everything and help her whenever she calls. She gets upset when I am unable or unwilling to do this.

Today was one of those days when she became frustrated with me. She needed toilet paper. And instead of driving to walmart to get some (.2 miles from her apartment) she called me and told me I needed to bring her some. Actually, to be more accurate....she called me 6 times to tell me that she needed some.

Finally, I told her to come over to our house and get some. She came and we all had lunch together. She then helped me with my bathroom renovation project for about a half hour. After that she grabbed her toilet paper and a glass of strawberry lemonade and left.

I was frustrated with her. I was beginning to feel mistreated and taken advantage of. That is, until my husband inspired me. He reminded me that I am never more like Christ than when I serve those who don't appreciate it.

Isn't that the truth? That's exactly what He did. He laid his life down knowing that there would be countless number of people who would never accept or appreciate His sacrifice. Praise the Lord that He served anyway. I am grateful for His sacrifice. I will strive to follow in His footsteps.

My mom may not appreciate the lengths to which I am traveling for her. And the reality is, she may never understand or value the sacrifices we are making. I am learning to be okay with that. I am learning to offer my heart, my time, my money, and my love without any expectation of gratitude.

It is my prayer that all of my circumstances serve to make me more like Christ. May it be so, Lord.

Nothing says summer...

Like homemade popsicles...
Perky ponytails...

swimming underwater....

Jumping into the pool (with goggles)...

and hours of fun outdoors.

A new kind of fishing

We went to Rayden's Aunt and Uncle's house a couple of weeks back for a fishing adventure. It was so much fun. We didn't fish in the "normal" way, Uncle Ron had us fishing using a remote control boat. He's really gotten into these boats. The kids really enjoyed themselves. They played with worms, watched Uncle Ron driving the boat, and squealed in delight as the fish got reeled in. At first, Kaleb was unsure of the worms and he screamed like a schoolgirl when Uncle Ron held one out in his direction. But after observing Aubri's fearlessness with the little wiggly creatures, he decided he could give it a try. Hopefully we'll get to do it again soon!

I'll try...

I'm learning a lot about myself. Dealing with my mom and her mental illness has taught me more about myself that I could have ever dreamed. Some of it I am thrilled about....other things make me cringe. But, praise the Lord that he is still working on me....thank you Jesus for not giving up on me!

Yesterday was a rough day....not in regards to MY mom....but in regards to dealing with Rayden's family. For whatever reason, things has been strained between us and them. It was really easy for me to just blame them and remain blameless in my own eyes. Yesterday, though, God blew the door wide open on my heart and let me know how ugly I was being.

The Lord help me see that I have put this wall up around my heart that allows me to keep people's love at bay. I think I have done that out of protection. I spent most of my growing up years feeling like I had to impress my mom....like I had to earn her love and favor. I simply wanted her to be proud of me, but she was very conservative in showing me how she felt. That broke my heart over and over. I guess I laid up a wall as a way of protecting myself from disappointing anyone and allowing her to hurt me any more.

This wall, though, has caused lots of problems for me with Rayden's mom. She very liberally offers unconditional love and acceptance. This was so foreign to me. At first it scared me and overwhelmed me. Later it just frustrated me. Yesterday I so clearly heard the Lord saying, "Sarah, you are breaking her heart just like your mom broke yours. You are making her earn your acceptance instead of freely offering it." OUCH!

I have repented. I have made a phone call to Jerry and asked for forgiveness. I am praising the Lord that he is making my heart look more like his. I know that this battle to tear down this wall (and keep it down) is not over. My heart doesn't really know how to accept her love and lavish pride in me. But what I told her on the phone last night is that I want to start trying. And that is the truth of my life....I WILL TRY.

I love Ephesians 5:10. It says, "Try and discern what it pleasing to the Lord." It's freeing to me that the Bible doesn't say, "just do it." It says, "try". I can do that. I can try. That's what I ask my kids to do.....TRY. If they can do it....so can I. Will you commit with me to try try and see what pleases the Lord?

"The new Proverbs 31 Woman"

Rayden looks upon my new obsession with amazement and wonder. I think he's a bit confused about how excited I get over all this couponing. However, he's thrilled with the results. He calls it, "the new Proverbs 31 woman". Since I stay home and don't earn money regularly (I teach at KDO, but that is pretty minimal) I have to find other ways to save money. I knew marrying a pastor sort of locked us in to a certain tax bracket. Especially as a youth pastor. I praise the Lord daily that I am able to stay home with my kids....and I am willing to make any amount of financial sacrifices to make that possible for a long time to come. There is no greater joy to me than to get to spend hours upon end with my kids. I think this joy is becoming increasingly precious to me as I comtemplate sending Kaleb to Kindergarten in just 2 short months.

Anyway....I digress....

The point of this post was to show you my new purchase. I did a large shopping trip to Walmart the other day. I brought my grandma along and she just giggled as we hunted up and down for the deals that matched my coupons. I think I have her hooked now as well. This week my purchase included:

2 boxes of Bagelfuls (which by the way are SUPER yummy)

Coppertone Sunscreen

Listerine

2 Reach toothbrushes

tabasco sauce

4 Bic Soliel razors

30 dentec flossers

Secret deoderant

Taco Bell Dinner kit

Kraft Ranch dressing

Fruit chillers popsicles

2 country time strawberry lemonade (nothing says summer like a cold glass of lemonade)

30 Nexcare bandaids

Before coupons and tax my total was 43.54. After coupons and tax I paid $20.99! Isn't that amazing. That's pretty much like paying for the razors, Listerine, and sunscreen and getting everything else for free! I am having so much fun. If you want to join me in the fun, head over to www.hip2save.blogspot.com and start shopping!

Toot Toot

I very rarely toot my own horn, but pardon me for a moment....TOOT TOOT! I had another very successful coupon trip to Target. Let me share with you the details. I got all of the following items for $5.89 after tax! It's no joke! And I didn't even have a coupon for the Colgate toothpaste....we just needed it (and it accounted for $3.19 of the bill. Here are the incredible deals I got:

Kraft BBQ Sauce- after $1 coupon....total price is $44 cents
Degree men's deodorant- after two coupons....total price is FREE
Degree woman's fine fragrance deodorant- after 2 coupons...total price is 75 cents
Dry Idea deodorant- after sale and coupon....total price is 24 cents
Crystal Light to go packets (3)- after coupon....total price is FREE

Can you believe it? I am having so much fun!

sprinkler fun

I think Memphis repells spring weather. It seems as though we get about 4 nice days in between winter and summer. Those 4 days have come and gone, and now it is HOT. We normally spend hours upon end in our swimming pool, but currently it is more of a lake than a pool (our filters needed replaced and we ordered them on ebay....please, Lord, let them arrive soon!). So, to beat the heat...sans a swimming pool....we got out the sprinkler. The boys were in love with it....they were karate chopping the beams of water, taking drinks, and jumping over the streams. Aubri liked it alright...but only from the safety of her daddy's arms. And it's a good thing that her daddy is such a good sport. He ran through the frigid water about a hunderd times...all while I stood behind the safety of the camera lens.

our first official sleepover

The boys have certainly slept other places than our home. They have even stayed there without us. Mostly, they have spent time with grammy and grandad while Rayden and I were on youth trips. Recently, though, they stayed with friends of ours while we drove to Oklahoma for Gran's funeral. This was their first taste of what a sleepover is. And let me tell you....they were bit by the sleepover bug. They ask all the time if their buddy Luke can spend the night.

Well, the opportunity presented itself for Luke to stay with us while his little brother was having surgery on his ears and nose. We had a blast. We made chocolate pudding together, watched a movie, and then crawled in bed....only to hear them giggling for about the next hour or so. I'm not sure we are ready to try this with all our friends yet, but Luke is certainly welcome anytime.