it's the holiday season...

Greetings, friends!

It's been so long, both in person and by blog. I have much to cram in here to update you on our Texan holiday festivities! Maybe you're all snuggled up in bed on this, the night before Christmas, waiting for sleep to come by scanning social media on your phone, despite what healthcare professionals say about your brain getting all wired up by the stimulation of technology. Ah well, stay awake a little longer with me!

We've had a whirlwind of a few weeks since Thanksgiving--but then, isn't that always the way? We did a lot of fun things, like enter a Decorate-Your-Patio contest at our apartment complex (we won 2nd place...highway robbery..and yes, I'm bitter...), checked out Six Flags, an antiques auction, SeaWorld (don't judge me), the Alamo, the Riverwalk at Christmas time--and a lot of that was over the course of just one weekend when my good friend Laura was here. I'm still tired thinking about it.

Lastly, there's some big news for those of you who know my story over the past few years, but I'll save that for the very end so you have to subject yourself to all the pictures first.

Let's start with our first auction! Travis and I have never been to an auction before, but in the middle of December we found ourselves in a room with antique dealers who were getting mint-condition mid-century modern furniture for a STEAL. It was maddening...until we got our very own steal on a GORGEOUS kitchen table. God's ways of providing for us continues to astound us in this journey.

 It's a tiger oak drop-leaf table with storage in the middle. So unique, sturdy, and gorgeous!

And with that, we no longer have to sit on the couch to eat.

Although we still like to from time to time...because we really like our couch, too.

Then some shenanigans at Six Flags in Fiesta, TX. It's so small, we like to call it "Three Flags." They had a neat little Christmas show called "The Majesty of Christmas." It was a little cheesy, granted, but it celebrated the birth of Jesus (you know, the actual reason for Christmas), so we appreciated that. And it incorporated live sheep, donkeys, and a camel, so we were pretty happy.

 

  

DAFFY!!!!!!!!! Much of my childhood was spent with this duck.

So, Travis heard about this patio contest at our complex, and I was all, "Eh." But he was really excited and had a plan, so off we went to the Dollar Tree for supplies. The vision? A giant snowman built out of paper. I added some more conceptual art, staging our furniture outside to look like it was Santa's little hang out in the North Pole. If you look closely, you can even see "marshmallows" in our mugs of "hot chocolate." I mean, COME ON!

The master designer, hard at work.

 Frosty, complete with 3D nose and arms!

 I MEAN, COME ON! THAT TOOK A LOT OF WORK, PEOPLE!

Anyway, that conceptual stuff probably lost us first place. (By the way, first place was a patio with a lot of colored lights. That's it. I'm not bitter.)

One of the definite highlights of this month was an impromptu visit from our friend, Laura. She's an avid cyclist, so she had the brilliant idea of renting bikes and exploring the city. I got to see so much more of San Antonio than I ever would have in one day. It really was spectacular.

 I'll be honest--riding bikes in the middle of a busy downtown area is a wee bit stressful.

But I got the hang of it eventually.

After exploring the city, I took Laura to one of our favorite spots--La Gloria.

Just so you have an idea of what the typical fare looks like in San Antonio. This is la glorious.

 

The best part of that day, and I don't think Laura will mind this, is when we came across a full-bred bull terrier puppy.

 

Guys, you have no idea what this did for my heart. Our dog, Elvis, was a bull terrier, and he made me a dog person, which is pretty wild considering my deep abiding love for cats. Elvis passed away about a month before we moved here, so every time I see a bull terrier, I get a little choked up for Travis' sake, who adored Elvis, and a bit for my own, too. Spending ten minutes with this puppy had me floating for the rest of the day.

 

Now, a question--have you ever celebrated Christmas with aquatic animals? No? I'm just going to go ahead and say, add that to your bucket list. Unless you stand against SeaWorld. In which case, again, please don't judge me.

 new favorite pose.

Sorry, but seeing a few gigantic Orca whales leap 10 stories out of the air
during "Joy to the World" is really something to behold.

 

We also met another celebrity:

 

 MENCHIE!!!!!!!
I KNOW HIM, I KNOW HIM!!!!!

Alright, enough tomfoolery. Let's get on to the big news.

Guys...I'm leading worship again. 

In answer to some big prayers, we found a church home in Texas. And with that church home has come an opportunity to step back into leading worship and serving on a team. For those who know my story, can we just raise our hands in awe of a God Who brings things full circle? I'm leading part of the Christmas Eve service tonight, and I am SO excited. 

Before we left, my good friend Lori gave me a bracelet off of her own wrist that says, "With God all things are possible," and she made me promise to wear it whenever I stepped back into worship. So here I am, making good on that.

I will wear it proudly tonight, in serious awe of all that God has done in my heart and in our lives over the past 18 months. He is truly to be praised.

Well, thanks for taking some time with me today. Merry Christmas, dear ones. I hope you have a lovely day celebrating the One Who gave Himself for us. My heart beats with yours tomorrow.

We love you all!
-Sarah

advent: what child is this?

A couple of days late on this one, but better late than not at all, I say. Gotta keep writing!

I tell you what, these Christmas carols move my heart. I was praying over something recently while one was playing, and it really was just perfect--O come, Emmanuel, into this situation.

This week's carol is more about the version than the actual song, although the song is fantastic. The version I found highlighted the third verse you'll see below, the lyrics of which I had never noticed. Good ol' MercyMe...I think they've gotten better and better over the years. And then, in researching a little bit more, I found another verse I didn't even know existed. Such treasures in the words of these carols!

I present: What Child is This.

What child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The babe, the son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spears shall pierce Him through,
The cross He bore for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king, to own Him.
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The babe, the Son of Mary.

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The babe, the son of Mary.

I hope you enjoy my favorite version!

let's catch up!

Alright you guys, let's get right down to business. I've got a lot to catch you up on, starting with Thanksgiving! Wait, no, let's start before that. 

Let's begin with this fortune we got in a cookie at our favorite Chinese restaurant:

Nothing happened "on next Tuesday," but I'll keep you posted in case they meant another Tuesday in the future.

Thanksgiving weekend was very different for us this year. We're away from all of our family, but that didn't stop us from cooking as if everyone were coming over. I'm talking five dishes here...and it turns out, I CAN cook a turkey! (I had serious doubts about my ability.) Proof:

 Roasted maple pecan bacon butternut squash, mashed potatoes, apple-bacon stuffing, sauteed green beans with fresh garlic, and herb-roasted turkey--all made from scratch. HUZZAH.

 I can't slice meat to save my life, so Trav had to step in.

And, let's be honest--I just like looking at him.

Before that, we had a snack we'd never heard of--Thanksgiving-flavored potato chips. What?! Seriously awesome. Trav's parents sent them to us as a surprise for the day.

Wickedly delicious.

The rest of our weekend was spent exploring. There is a really cool park nearby with hiking trails and wilderness to explore. I've never been anywhere like it. It was great to be outside in such beautiful weather!

 

 Beautiful!

 Cactus is to Texas as azaleas are to Summerville--they're everywhere.

 I conquered this land and claimed it for all future posterity. Do you think they'll mind?

 (insert comment about how handsome my husband is, followed by his supreme embarrassment.)

I've learned a few more things lately, too. 

 

1. You all have dopplegangers in Texas. I can't tell you how many times I've turned and thought, "Oh look, it's Tara--wait, nope, she's 1200 miles away." "Is that Adam?!? Oh wait, no. Impossible." It's a daily disappointment, quite frankly. I've also found the ethnically-diferent versions of a lot of you, as well. 

2. Did I mention I can cook a turkey? This deserves celebration.

3. I LOVE STREET TACOS AND ROASTED CORN. Trav and I agreed that the street corn we had was probably the single best thing we've eaten here so far. If you're ever in San Antonio, go to La Gloria. Then send me a gift certificate in appreciation for the awesomeness you experience. And you get to see these:

4. Christmas is even cozier in a small apartment.

 

 

5. Bingley just gets cuter and cuter.

Meowy Christmas, everybody!

 

advent: this is the Christ.

Greetings! Hope your Thanksgiving was grand. I'll tell you all about ours soon, but first, it's time for this week's Advent tune.

I hope you're enjoying the journey as I share some of my favorite Christmas songs that talk about the coming of Christ. I am certainly enjoying talking about some great music and Spirit-infused lyrics that remind us of Emmanuel, God with us, right here and now in the mess of our lives.

This one is a lesser known hymn, originally written by Martin Luther. I tried performing it once on a Christmas Eve service, but the lyrics are a bit lofty to understand just by hearing once, so I don't think it landed well. Hopefully you'll see why I love it after you take some time with the words. 

good news from heaven the angels bring,
glad tidings to the earth they sing
to us this day a child is given
to crown us with the joy of heaven

this is the Christ, our God and Lord
who in all need shall aid afford
He will himself our Savior be
and from our sins will set us free

all hail, thou noble Guest this morn
whose love did not the sinner scorn
in my distress Thou come’st to me
what thanks shall I return to Thee?

were earth a thousand times as fair
beset with gold and jewels rare
she yet were far too poor to be
a narrow cradle, Lord, for Thee...

praise God upon His heavenly throne
who gave to us His only Son
for this His hosts on joyful wing
a blest New Year of mercy sing.

this is the Christ, our God and Lord
who in all need shall aid afford
He will himself our Savior be
and from our sins will set us free.

Here's the version that introduced me to this song--I give you Sandra McCracken. So lovely. Talk to you soon.

 

advent: midnight clear.

The theme of Advent is hope, if you ask me. Hope is my heartbeat. As long as Jesus is somewhere in the picture, there is hope. Doesn't matter how bad the situation is, He's seen - and dealt with - worse. 
"Look now, for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing. Oh rest beside your weary road and hear the angels sing!"

It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heavens all gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

O ye beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.

For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace, their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.

The standard melody of this song is just beautiful. But one of my favorite alternate versions is by, of course, the incomparable Sara Groves. Performing this with my friends Ryan and Johanne remains one of my favorite memories from the Christmas season. Enjoy!

 

cowboys and couches.

Houston, we are approaching...normalcy.

We are slowly settling into a rhythm of work, home, church and social life. Less exploring and more routine, which isn't necessarily bad. We've found a church family...and I had my very first social outings this week--a coffee date with a real person, and a painting class with another real person! It was very exciting. (Thanks, Bre and Sarah!)

We did have a mini adventure last week when we went to a year-round farmer's market in a really cool district of town. Here are some random pictures of our beautiful fall day...by the way, we have discovered that autumn lasts about a week here. We had some gorgeous days where we thought, "Oh wow, the leaves will start changing now!" And the next day, it was in the 40s. And rainy. For a week. So...welcome, winter?
Anyway, I digress. Pictures!

We also had our first outing to Shepler's, the cowboy superstore. Wall-to-wall boots, hats, and every kind of leather clothing you can imagine (that doesn't belong on a Harley Davidson, that is). It really was a wonderland, and we discovered that I might have a true cowboy on my hands.

I think he could be a pretty cute rancher.

In other exciting news, San Antonio got its first Menchie's. We were ecstatic, especially because it's about .25 miles from our home. Here is Trav's celebratory stance at the grand opening:

Menchie's now has a Cinnabon flavor that is knock-your-socks-off good. We're in trouble.

We also met our first full-bred bull terrier since our beloved Elvis passed away. I cried right there at the street corner as Travis bonded with this sweet pup. Truly one of the greatest dog breeds ever.

I've taken to Christmas crafting lately. Trying my hand at some homemade coffee sleeves! I'd show you some pics, but as some of you might be receiving them for Christmas, I can't go ruining the surprise. But just so you know, they're pretty cute.

And, of course, your weekly Bingley pic. Here he is, conked out and way too fat. I sure love him though. I keep telling Travis we need to get Mr. Bingley a kitty-brother so that he'll run around more and lose some of those kibble pounds, but so far it's a no-go.

And the final bit of news...WE GOT A COUCH!!!!! We've been sitting in our Adirondack chairs for the past eight weeks, but our generous parents offered to help us furnish our apartment for Christmas. Yes, I realize we're only halfway through November, but when you find a deal on a couch like this, you don't wait.

Thanks, parents!! The three of us are much more comfortable now.

And finally, in case you missed it over Halloween, I found the way into my coworkers' hearts: dancing like an idiot. Enjoy my "cat lady" rocking out to some Michael Jackson...and have a wonderful week!

advent: o come, Emmanuel.

The November chill is setting in around here. It's been cold, wet and cloudy, and I don't remember the last time I've seen the sun. Needless to say, my pajamas have been getting a lot more wear lately! Mr. Bingley has been enjoying the extra cuddle time, too. 

I'm missing the sunshine, for sure, but staying inside, crafting and making winter comfort food isn't too shabby. And yes, Christmas music is playing at least some of the time. Because it can be nasty and gloomy and depressing outside, but being reminded of the hope of Christ inside balances the scale pretty well.

Another one of my favorite Christmas hymns is O Come, O Come Emmanuel. I have always loved this one for the promise it presents--Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel. It seems dark and impossible now, but none of that scares away Jesus. He walks right into the midst of the dirt and saves us all.

And yes, while this song is talking about the actual nation of Israel, who was (and some of them still are) waiting for the Messiah to come and save them at the time of Jesus' birth, I believe it is just as timely for us, here and now. Will you try something with me? And it may be a little corny, but go with me for a minute. Put your name wherever you see "Israel," and see how that hits your heart. It may bring the very hope you need in your situation.

"Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O ______."

He will come to you. In your broken marriage, in your loneliness, in your financial despair, in your hopelessness. He will come.

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.




I dreamed of doing an acapella version of this during my worship leading days. It's still on my bucket list...until now, let us be satisfied with this piece of glory:

honor thy father.

I interrupt your normal blog programming to bring you this...

Can I geek out for a second? I adore musical theater. Like, A-D-O-R-E it. My heart beats faster, I get irrationally excited, I weep...and that's just from watching it. Don't get me started on actually performing.

So I just finished watching the 25th Anniversary of the Phantom of the Opera on Netflix, and all of these symptoms of my adoration were in full effect, especially the weeping. I know, freakish. But hear me out--what got me emotional was not the show itself, but what came after.

After the performance, they brought out Andrew Lloyd Weber, who wrote the music, as well as the original London cast from 25 years ago, and they honored them. Then came the original Christine (Sara Brightman, anyone?). Michael Crawford, the most famous Phantom, was there too, honored and included though he sadly no longer sings.

And then, as a surprise, they brought out Colm Wilkinson, the original Jean Val Jean from Les Miserables. This guy has been an icon of musical theater and vocal excellence for over 30 years. I was about to jump out of my pajamas from excitement. He, along with some other men who have played the part of the Phantom in previous runs, performed a few key numbers from the show. Of course, the audience went nuts. Including me. In my living room.

So you've got these powerhouses on the stage, basking in the glory from people who remember, people who know their contribution to theater as a whole. And what does Colm Wilkinson, the best of them all, do? He pulls out the new Phantom lead, and makes sure that guy gets another standing ovation. He literally pushes the new guy out in front of him and gives him the spotlight that he enjoyed for so long.

What I saw during this whole spectacle was an example of legacy and honor. The legacy passed down by the blood, sweat and tears of great and talented people who gave the world their level best and made an impact their generation--and all the ones following. The honoring of those who came before, and the passing of that same honor to the ones following after.

A culture of honor...isn't that what God's Kingdom looks like? Honoring those who went before in faith. Passing the torch and honoring those who come up behind through our investment, our love, our cheering them on.

To see this exemplified in a culture that can so easily be all about the applause and the fame made my heart want to burst. It inspires me to make honor my goal when interacting with others, and espeically behind their backs. May honor be what marks us. May we honor those who look like us, those who don't, those we agree with, and those we definitely don't. May we honor others whether we are being watched or not. May we give up the fame so many seek and hand the glory to God and others, so that we may receive recognition from God Himself.

Ok. You can go back to what you were doing now.

advent: I Heard the Bells

I love the Christmas season. The colors, the decoration, the contagious excitement, the food--what's not to like? And even though Thanksgiving, which is also fabulous, hasn't rolled around yet, let's admit it--the Christmas songs are already playing in a lot of our houses.

But it's observing the Advent of Christ that gets me teary-eyed and choked up. That's the true source of the joy of this season. The promise of peace, the hope of redemption, the birth of the King Who came to save us all. As soon as I hear my favorite songs celebrating what Jesus came to do, my heart swells and the tears come.

Here's one of my favorites. Take time to look at these lyrics, and think about how they apply to the world today. I think it carries hope that we desperately need.

I heard the bells on Christmas Day 
Their old familiar carols play, 
And wild and sweet the words repeat 
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head: 
"There is no peace on earth," I said, 
"For hate is strong and mocks the song 
Of peace on earth, good will to men." 

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep: 
"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep; 
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, 
With peace on earth, good will to men." 

Till, ringing singing, on its way, 
The world revolved from night to day, 
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime, 
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

God is not dead, nor doth He sleep. Can I get an "Amen"?!

Here's my favorite version of this song by Jane Monheit. Enjoy!


What are your favorite songs of this season?

the ostrich, the zebra, and my monkey toes.

One of the many things Travis and I share in common is a love for animals. Whether the thing is wild or domestic, in our minds, each one loves his life and is a "good boy." So when we heard about the drive-through Wildlife Safari in New Braunfels, it was a no-brainer: we had to go.

We spent three hours at this place! It had an actual miniature zoo that you could walk around to see monkeys, lemurs, and exotic birds, and a petting zoo (which was just a field with goats, but still fun nonetheless).

 That's a smart boy right there.

The real entertainment came with the driving portion, of course. At the gate, they give you a bag of food with little bits of kibble that you can throw on the ground for the animals. You ride through the course with your windows down, and these wild animals come right up to your car to eat the food. Pretty amazing concept.

About 75% of the animals consisted of every breed of antelope you never knew existed. I gave up trying to identify any of them, but they sure were pretty.

 ?

 ???

 Longhorns! Finally, something I recognize.

 Ummm...

????????

The landscape was awe-inspiring, too. We didn't know Texas would be so green!

Now, there were two main rules at this place, and they posted them frequently throughout so you wouldn't forget: DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS WITH YOUR HANDS, and DO NOT GET OUT OF YOUR CAR FOR ANY REASON. We broke both of these, but it wasn't our fault--it was this guy's!

I don't have the pictures to show what went down here...it all went happened so fast.

First, ostriches are terrifying. Imagine this face...

...about six inches away from you.

He knew the drill with the car windows. To him, they were clearly magical portals from which he could expect treats. Before I knew it, his head was inside our car, looking for the grub. I was too scared at first to let him eat from my hand, so I held the bag out to him, thinking that he would just take what he wanted and move along. Instead, he picked up the bag with his massive beak, pulled it out of the car, and dropped it on the ground.

Travis got a little frustrated at this point, understandably because it was all the food we had. Now I had to figure out how to fix this problem. The ostrich had lost interest in the food, which I supposed was spoiled in his mind now that it was on the ground, and he was looking in the other direction. Slowly I opened our car door, and...

Let me pause so I can tell you about my toes. I have exceptionally long, narrow, dexterous toes that can pick up all sorts of things--used dryer sheets, laundry, keys--anything that's been dropped and I don't feel like bending over to grab. I've wondered what the point of having such monkey-like toes might be, and on this day, my monkey toes found their purpose.

...I ever so carefully stuck my foot out of the car door, grabbed the edge of the paper bag with them, and pulled my foot, and the food, back into the car.

Good thing I did it quickly, because that ostrich had his head back in the car in a matter of seconds. I let him eat out of my hand and we got out of there.

Finally, the zebras.

The zebras are the main event, y'all. I obviously have no idea what the wild ones are really like, but these guys have personalities that are similar to horses: mischievous, funny, friendly, always hungry. I'll let the pictures do the talking:

See what I mean? Mischievous. And awesome.

Here's a video of Travis, the Zebra-whisperer, communicating with wild animal. And afterward, the chaos when multiple zebras wanted our attention at the same time.

Then we journeyed back home to our own wild kingdom...

Mr. Bingley's not a fan of the gecko.

Just for giggles, check out this clip from one of our favorite comedians, Jim Breuer, as he describes a similar (but crazier) drive-through safari in New Jersey:


Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!