Corn Mazes...and Gene Kelly =D

Happy Saturday to you all! Midterms are over, and these crazy past two weeks have come to an end. Today my family and I are going to a corn maze, so I'm looking forward to just enjoying the day without studying too much. =D Since I don't have that much more to say, I found this fun video of Gene Kelly tap-dancing on rollerskates. That's right, rollerskates. I think that man could do anything. So, I thought I would share it with those of you who enjoy his films. =)

Just for Fun

Ok, I'm supposed to be studying for midterms, but I'm looking at period drama clips on youtube instead. =D Ella recommended Bleak House, and after watching the series last weekend, I can see why. It is definitely very long, but the story line is so interesting it's hard to stop watching!
So...I'm going to post a video that you can watch if you like. The video shows the four proposals Esther had in the movie, and honestly I think Mr. Guppy's two proposals are hilarious (especially the first, just because he was so awkward). If you want, leave a comment and tell me which proposal you think is the best. =) People who have already watched the movie will probably be able to make more sense out of the scenes, but even if you haven't, watch and tell me what you think. Have fun!

Alrighty, back to studying for me.

P.S. Oh, and you might want to turn my music off at the bottom of my blog.

Life in the Dental Hygiene Program...and more randomness

Rush. Stress. Study. More Stress. Tests. Teeth, teeth, and more teeth!!!

Ok, I think you get the point. This is what my life has been like for the last month. I knew beforehand how it would be in this program, but there is just SO much information I'm learning that my head is spinning when I come home. But I got throught the first month, so I know I can get through the rest of the semester. I am learning a lot of really interesting things in my classes, and I love being with the same people all the time. I'm getting to know everyone and make some good friends, and get this, there's one student in my class who was a dentist in Russia! He's the only guy in the class, but he's funny and makes all of us girls laugh when we're feeling stressed about anything. Also, I met one girl in the class who was homeschooled! I was really excited about that because she is the first homescooler I've met at the college, and it's great having that connection with her. There is sooo much more I could tell you, but I won't bore you with the nitty gritty details.

I do want to ask prayer for something specific in my own life. Before I started the program, I knew my devotion time would become more of a challenge for me to keep up, and I was so sure that I wouldn't let that happen. But it has happened...in the rush of getting to school every morning and studying and reading my textbooks, devotions have been becoming a lower priority. I know I need to be disciplined in this area, and I need to pray more about it. I just feel afraid that my heart will get harder if I keep letting the problem continue. As I get involved in the program and become better friends with the new people I'm meeting, I see how easy it is to depend less on God and more on myself. But the reality of the matter is is that God has been taking me each step of the way, even when I don't realize it. So I need to remember to always give the glory to Him, because it's very easy for me to become prideful.

As I'm typing this, I'm looking at our calender, which has a peaceful picture of mountains and the beautiful colors of autumn on the trees. Ever wish you could just jump into one of those pictures and escape life for a little while? I do-I'd love to stay there during this whole upcoming week actually. =) You know what I also love about this picture? It has this beautiful verse from the Psalms which says that God alone is my rock and my salvation. Just like those mountains, He is constant and can not be moved. Even though I haven't been very constant to Him, all along He has been there for me. It puts me to shame just thinking about it as I'm typing these words. My heart is so fickle--one minute it's burning with a passion for the Lord, and the next it's lukewarm and apathetic. I want to change this, but I know it's going to take time and a lot of prayer!

So there it is--a brief overview of my life this past month, and a prayer request. I want to share some pictures that were taken pretty recently. It's a mish-mash of photos taken from our trip to VA Beach and others from my home. I haven't had the opportunity to take as many pictures lately, and I miss having the liberty to pick up my camera and just snap away. Now I am only at liberty to study...oh, and blog occasionally. =) Enjoy the pictures!

Goodbye, Summer!

Oh dear, what happened to that longer update I was going to give all of you? I can't believe I am starting dental hygiene classes tomorrow! I am very nervous because I have some tough courses, so I appreciate your prayers if anyone still reads this blog! I never did post my summer pictures--I feel like a very bad blogger. I know I really need to catch up with some of your blogs. I hope you all had a fantastic summer...today really felt like a beautiful fall day here, so I hope you were able to enjoy it too! I miss the summer already though; it felt way too fast. =(

*Hopefully* I will stay true to my word and update more frequently, even though I'll be really busy. Thanks for bearing with me!

Love in Christ,

Sara

Writers Block

It seems like I've had so much I want to say on here, but as soon as I sit down, my mind goes completely blank! I thought I would have so much time during the summer to really spend time on this blog, but I really failed at that, didn't I? Lord willing I'll be posting something longer very soon! Tell me about your summer- doing anything exciting? Oh, and if you have time, go to The Girl Inside if you're interested in finding out about a good book to read.

Pressing Forward

A dear sister in Christ introduced this song to me, and I was so encouraged by the beautiful lyrics and its message of hope! Please be inspired by it as well- this is for all of you who have been struggling through those long valleys.

It's been a hard year
But I'm climbing out of the rubble
These lessons are hard
Healing changes are subtle
But every day it's

Less like tearing, more like building
Less like captive, more like willing
Less like breakdown, more like surrender
Less like haunting, more like remember

And I feel You here
And You're picking up the pieces
Forever faithful
It seemed out of my hands, a bad situation
But You are able
And in Your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars and more like
Character

Less like a prison, more like my room
It's less like a casket, more like a womb
Less like dying, more like transcending
Less like fear, less like an ending

And I feel You here
And You're picking up the pieces
Forever faithful
It seemed out of my hands, a bad situation
But You are able
And in Your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars

Just a little while ago
I couldn't feel the power or the hope
I couldn't cope, I couldn't feel a thing
Just a little while back
I was desperate, broken, laid out, hoping
You would come

And I need You
And I want You here
And I feel You

And I know You're here
And You're picking up the pieces
Forever faithful
It seemed out of my hands, a bad, bad situation
But You are able

And in Your hands the pain and hurt
Look less like scars

And more like
Character

~Sara Groves

"I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."~Philippians 3:14