Week in Review And Some Links to Share

August 11, 2012 / Sara Vincent / Leave a comment

This week we wrapped up our first week back to school. It was a good week overall. Not perfect, but I’ll definitely take it.

Monday we enjoyed a leisurely last day of summer by sleeping in and spending the afternoon at the pool. Other than the water feeling like an ice bath, it was a wonderful way to wrap up the summer.

Yesterday I took the girls to the Nelson Art Gallery in Kansas City. We had a fun time walking around enjoying the incredible collection there and even toured the World’s Fair exhibit they have right now.

Last night I had a girls night out with Matt’s mom and the ladies on his side of the family. We enjoyed walking around Lawrence, laughing and taking in the gorgeous weather we are finally experiencing.

Today has been a leisurely day of computer work and relaxing. And tonight I’m looking forward to an evening out with my favorite man.

A friend on Facebook posted this great encouragement for the weary mom…here. Go check it out!

That’s it around here. A quiet week, but a good week. May the rest of your weekend be blessed!

For His Glory ~

~ Sara

Week In Review

May 18, 2012 / Sara Vincent / Leave a comment

Man, this week went fast and yet somehow Monday seems very long ago.

Monday my running buddy and I ran five miles! This should not really be celebratory news, but I/we haven’t run that far since October. We walked some of it, but it felt so good to break that five mile barrier again. Monday was also grocery day again. I need to get that bumped to another day of the week. Although it is nice to get out Monday morning and have it done. And Grace got her cast off Monday. (Woot!!!)

I was also very grumpy on Monday. I’m not sure why. It could have been the go-go-go again all day. It could have been early morning run. Or it could have just been a grumpy day.

Tuesday and Wednesday we cleaned the house. Wednesday we went to a choir picnic for Emma’s choir group.

Wednesday also brought some unexpected excitement to our lives. I was sitting at my computer that morning, going through emails when Matt calls to tell me that a house we bought a while back, had remodeled, and had sold (with the closing being only days away), was on fire. A neighbor had called him to let him know, as we had no other way of finding out. Investigations that day led to the conclusion that the fire was set intentionally, but by whom, no one knows at this point. I honestly spent Wednesday laughing about the whole thing. It was just so ridiculous! We’re not these crazy people who should have people trying to burn down properties we own. Such a completely random and bizarre incident! Thursday I was a little more disturbed by the whole thing as reality sank in a bit more. We are praying that the arsonist is caught quickly and that God would be glorified in this. Clearly, it wasn’t time for that house to sell yet!

Thursday morning we did some more garage saling. I am a long-avowed non-garage saler, but a friend has been baiting me with her great finds for most of a year now, so we’ve given it a try the past two weeks. The girls and I have had more fun together and we’ve found some great stuff. Yesterday’s big score was this chair for $10.

I may or may not paint it. I haven’t decided yet where it’s going to take up residence in the house, so we’ll see. The other big find was this hideous thing:

Our rule the past two weeks has been “No Toys”. I have made an exception both weeks, but they seem to understand that this is not an opportunity to collect more plastic junk. That said, when we drove by the house with this thing in the front yard, Ellie gasped and asked eagerly to go look. She was completely entranced. When I told her she could buy it (with her own money), you’d swear she just won the lottery – skipping and bouncing down the sidewalk; all the way home saying “This is a dream come true!”. They haven’t had any time yet to play with it, so I’m thinking I may have scored myself a very quiet Saturday morning tomorrow! Definitely worth a few bucks of her money!

This weekend is ballet recital. Quite possibly it will be the end of (or at least a long break in) an era for Grace. We are praying about everyone’s activities for next year and what we should all be doing with our time, but we’re all pretty sure Grace is ready for a break from ballet. This year was hard, mentally more than physically, and the schedule burned her (and us) out. It will be sad to see her stop, but it’s too large of a commitment both financially and time-wise to drag her to something she doesn’t love. Regardless of what next year holds, we are all looking forward to a break from regularly scheduled activities for a couple months!

I’m still trying to finish up Chandler and Ellie’s room. Hopefully by the end of next week now I can post some pictures. However, I did do a really fun project a couple of months ago that I never shared. For years I’ve had French memo boards in our front hall for pictures and Christmas cards and such, but the boards were overflowing and also looking very tired so I tried to think of something different. Enter, an old wood door from our basement:

It’s old and worn and completely imperfect. It has old, rusty hardware on it, and for years I’ve been trying to figure out something fun to do with it. Well, with the help of some nails, wire, and my husband, it has been transformed into my awesome picture hanging thing. 🙂

(My incredibly narrow and dark hallway makes it very difficult to get a good picture.)

Well, that’s our lives this week. We’re loving summer already and the flexibility it provides. May your weekend be wonderful and filled with time to enjoy your Creator.

For His Glory ~

~ Sara

Week In Review

May 4, 2012 / Sara Vincent / 1 Comment

So we’ve been busy around here this week and last – painting and baking and enjoying less school.

Last Saturday we set up Chandler, Ellie, and Amania’s new-to-them beds. The room already looks better with real beds, rather than just mattresses on frames. Now we are working on “art”, bulletin boards, and remaining furniture. I will post pictures when the room is finished, which will hopefully be this month.

Monday we grocery shopped for what seemed like the entire day. I guess that’s what happens when you have a family of six and you skip a week. Grace also got her massive cast cut down to a “short arm” cast which made her quite happy. The whole darn thing comes off May 14. I think I’m as excited as she is.

Tuesday we drove over to KC and visited Deanna Rose Farmstead. Such a sweet little place, and free on weekdays. The morning started out stormy and dark, but the rains stopped just as we got there and we enjoyed some beautiful sunshine the rest of the day.

Wednesday and Thursday we had a baking fest here. Six loaves of bread. Four batches of granola. Oreo truffles. Mini egg casseroles. Couscous dip. Banana pancakes. No bake freezer granola bars. Five ingredient granola bars. And now I’m sufficiently burnt out on baking again. 🙂 Everything we made was pretty tasty. The five ingredient bars need more peanut butter and/or honey as they don’t stick together at all. And the mini egg casseroles were too much work for what is essentially one meal for my family. I think next time I will just make a regular breakfast casserole and portion it out for the freezer.

Out of my own curiosity to see the difference it might make and to see how do-able it is on a long-term basis, I am trying to transition us to a “real foods” diet this summer. I have a little more time to be in the kitchen and it’s so much easier to find good produce this time of year. If it works well, we will hopefully be in enough of a routine with it by fall that it won’t all unravel when school starts back up.

I mentioned last week that I am not a perfectionist. Neither am I a legalist (at least I try not to be). And I’m definitely not one when it comes to food. As soon as someone says I cannot have something I really enjoy, it suddenly becomes all I think about. So, I find it easier to just enjoy certain foods from time to time and eat as nutritiously as I can the rest of the time. I also find that the healthier I eat on a regular basis, the less I crave the unhealthy stuff. That said, we will still eat out at Mexican restaurants and enjoy ice cream cones this summer. I will just do my best to make sure the majority of our food is “real food”.

Today is the girls’ last day of Friday classes. As much as we love love love Friday classes, it’s always nice when they are over for a bit.

I learned something about us this week. I have come to the conclusion that we all do well with “flexible structure” to our day. I have tried time and again to give us a real schedule, with times for this and that. Every single time it fails and I end up incredibly frustrated. What does work for us is a good To Do list with a start time and an end time. For whatever reason, most of us here function really well with that type of structure and challenge, but crumble under set-in-stone times for everything.

I’m not quite sure what the weekend holds. Perhaps some small painting projects. We will definitely be celebrating Cinco de Mayo this weekend, what with our latent Mexican heritage and all. (Surely we have some roots we don’t know about….how else can you explain our passion for chips and salsa?) Regardless, I’m looking forward to relaxing and enjoying time with the fam. Hope your weekend is great as well!

For His Glory ~

~ Sara

Catching Up and Giving Thanks

March 28, 2012March 28, 2012 / Sara Vincent / Leave a comment

This morning we sit quiet. Two middle girls are gone for standardized testing. The youngest, she’s not old enough to test yet. The oldest, she rests still, nursing a broken arm today. And I am thankful for this week. An unplanned Spring Break that our minds, souls, and bodies needed. Nothing planned. Just quiet, semi-structured days. And I marvel at how much this has ministered to my home schooling heart; I, who typically does not take a spring break, and how well my girls have responded to the break. Five weeks remain when we return. The end is near. 🙂

So, the broken arm… Our second born has been begging to go to the skate park. She got a skate board for Christmas and apparently our driveway isn’t exciting enough. So, last night, on a beautiful spring evening, we ate dinner early and loaded up. When we arrived, the child who had begged to go wouldn’t even get her skate board out because there were some teenagers there and she was embarrassed. (She won’t admit that, but that’s what happened. I know, because I would have been the exact same way. Some teenagers still make me self-conscious. 😉 ) But the first and third born children, they snapped on their roller blades and went for it. And we weren’t even there five minutes and Matt comes over to me helping Grace hold her arm and no one’s crying or even seems upset, but the wrist, it looks strange. And he says, “I think her arm is broken.” Three hours, increasing pain, a trip to the ER, and some x-rays later, she was home with a splint, and feeling pretty slap-happy thanks to Tylenol-3. Today she will rest and lay low; perhaps we all will, and tomorrow we will see what the orthopedist has to say.

This morning as I was getting ready it just intrigued me that God knew this was going to happen last night. He knew we would only be at that park five minutes before she fell. And I just find it so interesting. I’m not upset about the arm or the expense or the inconvenience. I feel bad for Grace, but these things happen. But I am waiting expectantly for God to show me the purpose of this, the why. I know He will. Nothing is by chance; He allowed it for a reason.

It was sweet to see the other girls so concerned and compassionate. One would have thought we were going to a funeral for all the tears the youngest shed. And the third-born cut loose a scarf she had been knitting in the truck for her grandmother and gave it to Grace to use as a sling. And Emma was concerned, she just showed it differently, through cautious questions and worried expressions.

I am thankful this week and this morning my heart feels full, in spite last night’s events. There are so many things on my to do list, but the slowing down is a gift to us all. God is so good.

1684. a new day

1685. IBESR case number

1686. lunch out with a sweet friend

1687. Haiti girl’s 5th birthday

1688. Skype and her smile and shy nod

1689. grease burns

1690. “Hot & Ready” pizza

1691. just going to bed

1692. looming project finished

1693. sunshine!

1694. Miracle cream for burns

1695. Bradford pear blossoms falling like snow

1696. sunshine and afternoon prayers on the porch

1697. fine arts competition

1698. girls who use their gifts and one who stretches herself

1699. friends, Sol Cantina, and a Jayhawk win

1700. quiet Saturday to rest at home

1701. day of rest that was actually restful

1702. watching the Jayhawks with my favorite people

1703. Final Four bound!

1704. wonderful end to a wonderful day

1705. the smell of spring

1706. walking to the park

1707. “Father May I” and charades with the girls

1708. a quiet day at home

1709. eating dinner outside

1710. girls excited to paint the playhouse

1711. oldest child’s broken wrist

1712. compassionate, merciful sisters

1713. precious friends for all of us

A friend posted this on Facebook recently:

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'” – C.S. Lewis

This year has been long and I wear it on my sleeve and share it with the world and I thank all of you for being such precious friends to me through prayers and encouragement and hanging in. I am blessed by the encouragement I receive from so many for simply sharing my heart and what God is doing in this broken life. He is merciful and you all are so kind. Thank you.

For His Glory ~

~ Sara

Week in Review

December 30, 2011 / Sara Vincent / Leave a comment

It’s the end of the week, the end of the month, the end of another year. A recap seems appropriate, but I’m not prepared to review the whole year…maybe next week. 🙂 For now, a recap on this week since I’ve been an absentee blogger anyway.

Christmas was delightful with so much to be thankful for. Most of all, three days of resting and relaxing and enjoying time with my favorite people.

Much of this week, like much of this month, has been filled with computer updates. I upgraded the OS on my Mac on Tuesday and have been trouble-shooting ever since. I’ve honestly been praying about what God’s purpose is with all of my technology troubles this month. I don’t really have any answers yet, but I’m sure it will all come to light eventually. For now, Molly Mac is in the shop as I am DONE trying to fix her and DONE mooching off of helpful friends. Lord willing, she will be up and running properly again soon and we can start 2012 off with updated, smooth-running computer gadgets.

Haiti travel teams are preparing to leave starting next week. The Enemy is on the prowl and we can all feel his attacks. He is defeated and we take comfort in that fact. In the meantime, though, he sure tries to make things hard for those of us “on the ground”.

Tonight I get to take my beloved out to celebrate his birthday. Joy! He turned that magical age of 35 on Tuesday, which means we are officially old enough to adopt from Haiti! 🙂

Matt always seems to get the short end of the celebration stick. A birthday two days after Christmas is hard for me to get used to, even after 13 years of celebrating together. Maybe – hopefully! – one of these years I’ll get my act together and do it up right. 🙂

I am beyond blessed to get to celebrate another year with my love. God has used him in so many ways in my life to change me. I say it all the time, but I cannot imagine doing this life without him and I’m so thankful for the journeys God has led us through and into and I am eager to see what the next year brings. God is so good and life following Him is never boring! Thanks, Matt, for walking this road with me, for leading us all as we follow God. Happy (belated) birthday, my love!

That’s it for us here. I wish you all a wonderful New Year!

For His Glory ~

~ Sara

How My Eyes Were Opened To Contentment Today

December 9, 2011March 27, 2013 / Sara Vincent / Leave a comment

This week has been one of those weeks. A week when I wrestle old demons. This one born of temperament stubbornly resurfaces on a regular basis. That old foe Discouragement he shows up when lists grow long and things go undone and it seems I will never get it right. And how is it the Christmas season only seems to accentuate my inadequacies?

Last night I slumped off to sleep. Heavy. Weary. Burdened. I awoke this morning much the same. With coffee in hand and Bible in my lap, I curled up on the couch with lamp and Christmas tree light to illuminate and asked, cried nearly, “Lord, I need to hear from you today.” And in only following along on my Bible-In-A-Year plan, today is Romans 8.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (v. 1)

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (v. 18)

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. (v. 26)

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can beagainst us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (vv. 31-32)

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (v. 37)

And the verse from Streams today…

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17)

And from Jesus Calling, yesterday’s reading…

“Your needs and My riches are a perfect fit. I never meant for you to be self-sufficient. Instead, I designed you to need Me not only for daily bread but also for fulfillment of deep yearnings. I carefully crafted your longings and feelings of incompleteness to point you to Me.”

Oh, and Ann, from yesterday, with her words on disappointment and how it’s all about praise, not perfection.

And after all of this I stood in the shower, thanking Him for hearing me and answering me so quickly and for His great love toward me. And He continues to speak, to minister. And I realize that it is not this season or our schedules that are the problem. It is my expectation. I want something I cannot have right now. I want slow, but that is not the season we are in. With four active children, a business, ministry, and more, this is not the season for slow and we will all be much happier if I would just stop fighting it and embrace the crazy a little more. We are making memories and doing good things and all of this can be a blessing if I can change my perspective and be myself a blessing to my family by being fully here in the crazy and being joyful in the midst of it.

And my heart is lighter as I realize all of this and I know all of those things that can weigh heavy will get finished and Christmas will be wonderful because it is not about how much I was able to do in preparation for the holiday but about being fully present to worship the One who came to ransom me and about pointing their hearts (the girls’ hearts) toward that same One. It’s about setting a tone that makes them want more of Him. And with a little more than two weeks left til Christmas, that is my prayer. These things on my lists, they still need to be done. But they can be done with a light heart when done out of love for Him and for others rather than a love for my own sense of accomplishment.

God is good to hear the cries of this broken vessel. He is merciful to continue to remove the burdens I keep picking back up. He is worthy of my love and worship. He is good and He is the reason for the hope that I have and the joy of this season. May His name be praised.

For His Glory ~

~ Sara

Week in Review

November 18, 2011 / Sara Vincent / 2 Comments

It’s the end of the day at the end of the week. I’ve been quiet here again this week. Practicing the proverb “where words are many, folly abounds”. Actually, practicing not being that, hopefully. My ears and emotions are tired, but I want to set my heart on the good. I want to remember what I read on Ann’s page this week, “That which I refuse to thank Christ for, I refuse to believe Christ can redeem.” I believe He will redeem this season. He will make beauty from ashes, good from hard times. Trusting that is the only thing that gets me through some of the days lately.

Today the girls and I spent the afternoon making the house look like this:

I love my house at Christmas; it almost seems to have been built for the season. (Well, except for how drafty it is.) And while this blessedly long fall means it doesn’t really feel like the Christmas season yet, at least we’re ready! 😉

Tomorrow Matt and I will go do some Christmas shopping. Alone. Together. #bliss

I have to say that I am feeling totally ahead of the game, even though I’m really not. But some gifts are purchased and about half of the Christmas cards have been ordered and it’s not even Thanksgiving. It’s been several years since I’ve been this prepared. In fact, I’m guessing it’s been six years, since that’s how long ago I had a baby due during the holidays.

Anyway, that’s it for me. Life is good even when it’s hard and I want to be thankful for it all.

For His Glory ~

~ Sara

Update Week: On Life and Lice

October 21, 2011October 21, 2011 / Sara Vincent / Leave a comment

It feels as though the past three and a half weeks have been lived in survival mode. Between race training and head picking, it’s been all I could do to keep us all afloat. However, as of yesterday, it is with great joy and relief that I can now say We are lice free!!! 🙂

In the midst of just trying to keep things going, projects like Thirty for 30 have taken a bit of a back seat. Matt has tried to do it at least a couple of nights a week, but I’ve had to take that time to do things like laundry, check school, or sleep. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks we’ll be able to get back into the swing of some of those “hard stops” we have been trying to implement.

I’ve been asking God for the past few weeks the why of head lice. We’ve had them once before and, while I hope to never ever ever do this again, I have been able both times to find the gift in them. The first time, head lice forced us to stop. We had been going at what seemed like a break-neck pace and suddenly, that all came to a screeching halt. And, while inconvenient, it was definitely a gift.

This time I feel like God has shown me my own sin, my own idolatry. He revealed to me that I had taken something good, something beneficial – the concept of a schedule and routine – and made it into an idol. I was seeking so hard after something predictable that I could control that I had stopped trusting Him for the strength for each day, each moment.

I still love and crave routine and schedule. I believe we were made for it and I know we all do better with it. But I realize that it is not the schedule that will save us, nor will some ideal of a methodical, predictable life. In the midst of running a small business, home education, life with kids, adoption, being involved with church and ministry, no matter how hard I try our life is going to be somewhat crazy and trying to force us to fit into a box we weren’t made for is only going to frustrate everyone and keep us from modeling our Savior to each other and those around us.

I am prayerful that as we move into the holiday season over the next few weeks that we will be able to slow down, to enjoy the season and consider its weight and worth. But I also know that these years are fleeting and fighting the fullness of time will only leave us all empty. So more than anything, I pray that God gives the grace to enjoy each moment, to soak up the wonder of it, and to savor the glory and peace He gives each day. Because He is more than enough to meet all our needs.

For His Glory ~

~ Sara