Still Breathing....

Hello! Surprised to see me? So am I. ;) For the most part, an entire year has gone buy in a blink. I've had alot going on and no time for blogging....and several complaints about that last part. Right now Ezra is sleeping and I have a list of things I planned to get done BUT I got to thinking yesterday.... I realized that I've been trying to juggle the whole disciple, wife, mom, sister, friend, youth pastor, woman, thing- and, somehow, I feel like all I've really accomplished is alot of wheel spinning. Well, I mean, I've been raising our little man- Who, by the way, just turned one! (unbelievable)

(photo credits to Barrie Taylor Photography)

...and all of life's other demands. Still, I was thinking about it yesterday and I realized I haven't been doing anything "creative" lately. Nothing that fufills my need to make SOMETHING. So, as the list of things to get done grows, I find myself logging back into blogger to put a little part of me out there. What have I been up to? Let's see if I can give you the quicky run down... (in no particular order)

I spent a short stint of time trying to help with getting our church website updated. Which, for me, included getting the blog for our youth ministry going. But....I have to confess I've been almost as bad about updating that- as I've been updating this! (judge me. haha)

I started selling thirty-one bags. I LOVE the bags- but I don't really sell them...I basically just use my bags and when people ask me about them I tell them how they can order from me. (I would never get a cadillac, if I were selling Mary Kay!)


We took our students to camp and had a BLAST!

We (FINALLY) finished our floors at the house.

We went for a visit to Florida (on Father's Day)

And....I'm sure....a bunch of other stuff! Actually, those were just things we've done since summer started! ...My mind is suddenly blank because since I logged on I've had 3 phone calls, 5 different people text, 2 google chat conversations, and added several items to my list of to-do's! So, for the sake of feeling like I accomplished one thing I wanted to get done while Ezra is still asleep, I will wrap up this post- by saying....life is crazy and I'm pretty sure it won't be slowing down. So, I'll just make a commitment to try and start posting more regularly again and carve out the time to "just do it"!

And if YOU aren't doing anything to feed the hungers God PUT IN YOU- then I encourage YOU to start doing more of what you love too!

So, dear reader, count your blessings and have a MaRVeLoUs MonDaY!!!

Ezra...

That smile could brighten any day. :)

Sorry I've dissapeared! Been busy working on the new house and a million other projects!

I hope you're all having a great week!!!

TMI

Warning: do not read if the concept of nursing freaks you out!
So, Ezra is coming up on 3 weeks now and I'm on 3 weeks of pumping....pumping every meal because he can't "latch on". I've been really adamant about giving him milk instead of formula because I believe in all the benefits, but it has been EXHAUSTING! Going through the regular routine -all night of waking up to feed him, change him, & get him back to sleep is enough, but having to pump once he is down- and clean bottles and flanges is kinda pushing it- don't you think? Never-the-less I have persevered...with minimal melt-downs. ;) BUT I don't always have enough milk for him (that boy can eat!) So, we've had to supplement with formula some of the time. This really bothered me- to the point where I've cried over it...multiple times. (Blame all those pregnancy hormones!)
Anyway, yesterday Bobby & I were talking about whether or not we should make using formula as a supplement into a regular habit for when we are "out & about" so that I don't have to feel trapped if I don't have enough pre-pumped. I was thinking about it while getting ready and I was totally flustered when, suddenly, I thought of a twitter account that cracks me up (& puts things back into perspective) called #firstworldpains. It's all things we complain about (as if they were real problems) because we live in a first world country.
For example:
"My laptop feels too warm on my knees when I use it in bed..."
"I drank all the soda and now the only thing in my house to drink is water"
"I just got toothpaste on my clean clothes"
"I can't go out in public without makeup on"
"I had to make 2 trips to my car to get all of my groceries out"
"One time I had to pay for a small fry at McDonalds with all pennies"
"The person ahead of me in line at subway ordered for five people"
"I finished all my popcorn before the movie even started"
"Twitter is over capacity"
"there is a fly in my room"
"A bird pooped on my car"
"there's a 30 miute wait for a table at my favorite restaurant"
"this weather is really ruining my weekend plans"
"the refridgerator is full but theres nothing to eat"
"that guy just took my parking spot"
"I look terrible in these pictures I'm tagged in"
"I will never have enough money"
"this orange juice has pulp in it"
"I only get 3 bars of cell service in my apartment"
"getting 10 hours of sleep & still being tired"
"When you like a status on facebook, then getting a notification everytime someone else likes or comments on it."

**I'm on a roll**

"starbucks mispelled my name on my coffee"
"still finding sand in my car 2 weeks after going to the beach"
"I asked for no pickles"
"A closet full of clothes, nothing to wear"
"I spent all morning straightening my hair, & now it's raining"
"It's way too hot out"
"My stainless steel appliances get smudged to easily"
"I can't decide where I want to eat for dinner"
"I'm dissatisfied with the square footage of my adequate and affordable housing"
"I left my phone at home"
"My conditioner always runs out before my shampoo"
"My stomache hurts because I ate too much"


...I read this article in the New York Times the other day about the drought going on in Somalia. These Somalis are fleeing to Kenya as refugees in order to survive; and the path to get there is lined with the bodies of those who didn't make it. There was a quote at the begining of the article that really hit me. "By the time they get here, many can barely stand or talk or swallow. Some mothers have even shown up with the bodies of shriveled babies strapped to their backs."

...so....I'm upset about giving my son formula!? I'm sure that any one of those mother's would give their right arm to have the option of giving their starving babies formula when they couldn't give them milk! I'm sure they would've given anything to keep their babies alive.
After reading that, I realized that "I'm having a hard time with pumping so I have to give my baby formula" is TOTALLY a #firstworldpain !!!
So, I'm not going to complain about all of the options there are for feeding Ezra because I don't want to be "that guy". I want to live a life of gratitude for all that God's given us and where He has put us!

What about you? Are you complaining about things that would be considered a first world pain? Let's make a commitment to be more THANKFUL for what we have. What do ya say?! :)

I hope you're all having a MaRvElOuS MoNdAy!!!

Oh yeah...I have a blog.

Will I ever get back to daily blogging? Who knows! BUT there is much to tell...and very little time to tell it...Ezra's starting to scrunch his face in his sleep which means he will wake up soon and MUST be fed IMMIDIATELY...or things get ugly. ;)

Which brings me to my first fact: Ezra is here!

6/29/11 - 10lb. 3 oz. - Lots of hair! haha

Things have been pretty wild around here since then...no sleep, lots of pumping (TMI), lots of eating, an extra trip to the hospital a week later for me (which is a whole other post- in itself!), & a bit of cabin fever... but all so worth it! :)

In other news, I'm missing our Garage students! Youth has been going great and so has the summer internship- I'm just jealous I've had to be MIA. (insert fun group picture here...bc I don't have one right now. haha) But I will be rejoining them this week and I can't wait!

I'm lacking pics because Bobby, in an effort to be a mult-tasker, was: holding Ezra, using the Mac, and drinking coffee all at once...the coffee and the Mac didn't mix well. BUT better to spill hot coffee on the Mac than on Ezra, right?!....crazy boys.

There's some other news too....some that isn't as fun or exciting. News that has been pretty difficult for me to swallow....

Right around the time that Ezra was being delivered one of our Garage students was in a fatal car accident...

At first no one told me. I'd just been through surgery and what a roller coaster of emotions etc. It wasn't until around 5AM the next morning that I found out. Bobby had been trying to keep me from using my phone to get online and I didn't know why. Finally, I insisted he hand it to me and before he did, he explained what had happened and why they didn't think they should tell me right away. I cried....and felt like someone made a huge mistake because that was impossible...then I cried some more. The next few days were a huge mixture of emotions. Students and friends from church came to visit and our conversations were a mixture of excitement over Ezra and sadness over Sarah. The schedule for Bobby was between the hospital and the memorial -and the hospital and the funeral. All the while I was in the hospital, feeling very disconnected. The truth is, I don't know that I've fully realized that it's reality yet- because I still haven't been anywhere that I normally see Sarah....

Since she passed I've been reading all the sweet things people have written on her facebook wall and spent time talking to God about why things like this happen... The bottom line is we really aren't promised tomorrow and we aren't promised that things will stay the same...

My OB (who is a christian) heard about the accident and knew Sarah was part of our church family. She came to the hospital to see me and asked how I was coping with everything and I told her how it's such a strange feeling having Ezra and being in the hospital- and not being there for all of this with Sarah. She looked at me and said "You're part in this is not to be at everything. You're part is here with Ezra...and being a reminder that though now is a time of mourning for many and things seem hard- there will still be beautiful and joyous times ahead. That's your (& Ezra's) role in this."

So, as I think about beautiful Sarah and I think about my sweet little Ezra: I'm reminded that life changes in a flash. And I want to remind YOU not to take any of it for granted.

Tell the people that you love- that you love them. Treat others with kindness. Don't waste your time. Share Jesus at every chance you get. Be thankful for everyday and don't take anyone or anything for granted.

Sarah was a smart, beautiful, & VERY talented girl. A natural leader. A CRACK-UP to talk to!

She was the reigning queen of "chubby bunny" at the Garage. :) 

She was a part of our church family and she will be missed.

I didn't intend to be so long- but that's what's been going on in the Sasser house...and would you look at that: little Ezra is such a good boy, he slept just long enough for me to type it all out. Now, I'd better get going or he will put me in a choke hold! (you think I'm joking?) ;)



I hope you're all having a Fantastic Friday!!!

Ezra Mania

So, everyone keeps asking me why I haven't been posting and I have to say....one reason or another?
As some of you know, Ezra's due date was originally May 24th and at our (supposedly) 17 week ultrasound they moved it back to July 3rd! (six weeks is a LONG time to wait when you're the size of a house!) As we moved along my belly measurements were closer to the origional due date...no one know what to think! We finally had another ultrasound last week and he is measuring BETWEEN the 2 dates. (Am I on a hidden camera show?) BUT, in addition to all that info, on Mother's Day I had to go to Labor and delivery for some monitoring etc. because..."stuff' was happening. (I'll spare you the details) I got to go home but basically Ezra is already in position and my body is in the pre-labor stages. SO, when we had the ultrasound- instead of getting a better idea of when the little man will make his debut, my Dr. said "well, let's try and keep him in there until the end of the month and the we'll just let it play out!" um....what? So, we have no due date....just a list of restrictions.  ...It's pretty crazy...
So, needless to say I'm getting majorly antsy. Yes, God is in control- but LORD, can we get this show on the road?

I say that- but really his nursery won't be setup until next week when my mother-in-law gets here with his crib and dresser- so it's probably for the best but twiddling my thumbs, in the mean time, is not very entertaining ;)

Anyway, enough ranting....
Let's do a product of the day! (drum roll please)

ERASE PASTE!

Ok, let me start by saying that I have a hard time paying full price for most things. AND I've never had to use foundation or concealer but since being pregnant and NEVER sleeping through the night- I've definitely had my fair share of puffy and/or dark undereyes. So, remembering seeing one of the makeup girls at Sephora use this on a friend and it having MAGIC results- I thought I'd give it a shot. Let me tell you (you can probably find it cheaper by searching th internet but I didn't bother) this little tub cost me $26 at Sephora BUT you use the TINIEST scrape of it to fully cover both eyes- so it lasts forever! AND it works WONDERS! So, does it seem a little pricey? Yes- but don't be fooled- this is one product I would now gladly shell out the cash for! The very first day I used it to cover my sleepy eyes I had several people tell me how nice I looked...and nothing had changed but the bags under my eyes. (amazing what looking AWAKE can do!) SO, that's my reccomendation for today. I love that stuff :)

Anyway, gotta run- but I hope you all have a WoNdErFuL WeEkEnD!!!!

scary breakfast

 This morning I had a bowl of cheerios for breakfast, accompanied by some REALLY good (organic) strawberries I bought at the store yesterday.  Bobby and I are not completely organic people. (I'm a work in progress, people!) :) We DO, however, make it a point to always use organic milk, chicken, and eggs. (all things that are otherwise pumped full of ALOT of stuff that you really shouldn't ingest) Lately, I've been trying to learn what fruits would be worth spending a little bit extra on because not all organic fruit are created equal. Anyway, I'm getting off track....where was I? I bought organic strawberries. ha! I LOVE strawberries- on or with pretty much anything. So, I'm all about the giant strawberries that you can find at the store- because bigger is better, right? But what on earth are they putting in those strawberries (that we're eating) that make them so GINORMOUS? When bobby saw the organic strawberries in the fridge his response was "Why do those strawberries look funny?" You know why they looked funny to him? Organic strawberries are about half the size of those monster strawberries (or LESS!). American produce: bigger, better, faster. hhhmmm.....that's really starting to gross me out lately. Look at just about any organic piece of produce vs. the other stuff....the other stuff is usually significantly bigger....now ask yourself this (as I think about the obesity and disease problem we have in the states) Do we really believe that old saying: "YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT"?.....

So, anyway, my breakfast was yummy and not nearly as scary as it could be. ;) I don't know how that turned into such a rant! Onto more randomness....

I miss my little nieces and nephews! You met them in an earlier POST but here are a few recent pics of some of the growing kiddies

Little Sarai who now walks...and, apparently, plays Wii!

Torren...who has gone through puberty ;)

...& The twins, who turned 3 and partied it up Toy Story style!

Life is flying! I have a million pics of my lil ones I'd love to post- but I think I'd better hop off here and start living my day out (outside the screen). You go and do the same! :)

Have a WoNdErFuL WeDnEsDaY!!!

merry go 'round....and 'round

I'm sure you've heard or read these verses from Ecclesiastes before:

 "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace." Eccl. 3:1-8

Sometimes life can feel like a merry go round. It doesn't really take much effort to get caught in a rut or sink into a spot (even if it's one we don't want to be in ) and stay there...whether we are comfortable there or not. BUT when we read that verse in Ecclesiastes it's very clear that God works our lives in seasons, not perpetual....ANYTHING. (though, I've learned that we tend to go through the same tests or seasons when we just don't seem to be learning what God is trying to show us. yikes!) ;)

I know that not all of my readers are women and that this applies to both sexes but can I just say that as a woman- it can be SO easy to get into a new season...a DIFFERENT season and suddenly become caught up. I know that for me I've been in a major rut: Bobby and I celebrated our one year wedding anniversary by moving to a whole new state- where we know hardly anyone, starting new jobs, making less money, taking a new ministry position, leaving all of our friends, going through some MAJOR body changes because- oh yeah- we're pregnant and getting ready for a totally new guy to turn our world upside down. It's ALOT! 

                  ...especially when I list it all out like that

BUT Hebrews 12 says "...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, ...Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

It's telling us to LET GO of the things that are hindering us and what so EASILY entangles us. (takes us captive) See, I could...and, honestly, WAS letting myself get caught up in the whirlwind of all of these new things and tasks and instead of looking at it as an adventure or a new season it was starting to look like....a mess! So, I found myself at a crossroads. I can either get all wrapped up in all of it and be stuck in a merry go round OR I can step back to take a look at things and begin to DE-CLUTTER. 


What are you giving your attention/time to? It's easy to put your time with the Lord on the back burner, (NEVER a good idea) to put your YOU time on the back burner, to put your spouse or kids or family etc. on the back burner, your home on the back burner, or a whole pile of etc's on the back burner because you've got so much on your plate! 
IF YOU DON'T TAKE THE TIME TO PRIORITIZE AND DE-CLUTTER YOU WILL BURN YOURSELF OUT! I know I'm getting preachy but you can stop reading if it's not for you ;)
We need to realize that the truth of WHATEVER merry go round you might be on- is that God gives us the GRACE for EVERY season! 
Instead of being frustrated that I'm pregnant and therefore always sick or exhausted (so it would seem) I can get excited about this amazing gift that's on his way! I can REJOICE when I think about the new season coming! It may be a totally different ball game- being a mom and committing more time to family and home when I may be more inclined to spend all of my time at the church working on a project or with a student or any of the things that I have always found so fulfilling BUT God reminds me that there is NO season in my life where He can't use me for His glory. In fact, it’s when we realize the beauty and power of being comfortable in the season that we are in, that we become the most effective in our walk with Him. I may be in a seemingly crazy season of life. I may not have any clothes that fit me in my 6 month pregnant body, I may be exhausted, and having to work really hard at trying to be quiet and listen for direction from the Lord on how to make these transitions.... but what if it is in THIS season that God has His biggest plans set out for me!
Don't forget that He uses it ALL for His glory. ...Just a friendly reminder from your crazy blogger friend. I hope that whatever season you are in: you'll learn to listen for His voice and that you too will see it's ALL part of a beautiful Master plan....

Hope you're having a TeRrIfIc TuEsDaY!!!!