why does graduating have to come with so many goodbyes?

life takes work

nothing in life comes easy. i'm just beginning to realize that. i'm realizing that if i want to really succeed, excel and grow in anything it takes a lot of work, pain, and effort. but it is soo worth it.
i can't just sit in front of my computer and say how much i love basketball-i have to work out, run, shoot, practice. i have to DO basketball to excel.
i can't just want to be an A student-i have to work, manage my time, complete assignments. i have to DO school to succeed.
i can't just say "i love you"-i have to pursue, serve, help. I have to DO love to grow.
and the list goes on.

but you know what? God didn't just say "i love you" he didn't just want me, he didn't just sit on his throne-he acted. he sent his son to conquer death, to pay the debt i could not pay. and he succeeded.

therefore
even though life takes work and the journey seems long and hard
"I can do all this through him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
because of Jesus i can do all things and only through Jesus can i do all things. He gives me the strength to run this race and by his grace i will finish strong.

i keep thinking it's March.

the end.

it's been awhile...

and i have a little time before i have to leave for my basketball game (and i'm done with school-whaaattt?!) so i thought i'd post about my recent day trip to NYC.
it was pretty awesome. I went with some of my dearest friends. I had never been before so it was pretty cool to see time square and the empire state building and such. I was amazed at how incredibly HUGE everything in time square is. i mean, it's really crazy. pictures and movies just can't do it justice.
here's a couple pictures:

we woke up at 4:30. no one should ever do that.period.

first glimpse

(i have to say i really love this one) :)

the barista lady spelled my name right without even asking!!! so exciting.

time square

this was our view from the top of the bus-going through the city at rush hour on our way home was like a roller coaster ride

on the way home

this is a little collage of our day :)

changed

So, I changed my blog background again :)
this time i REALLY love it.
it's so fresh and lovely.
what do you think?
i liked that other background...
but it was too something.
i got tired of it pretty quick.
so, anyway....that's pretty much
all i wanted to say. :)
oh, and i wanted to say
THANK YOU
for reading even if you
don't follow
or comment
or even really like it
thanks for reading. :)

countdown to christmas photography style (i did it!)

we had a wonderful Christmas eve with friends that we've known for (almost) longer than i can remember and with our church family at our first ever Christmas eve service! After everyone left and we'd eaten all the dessert we could handle it was quiet. here is a picture:

the stockings were hung by the chimney with care

 

and this Christmas day was simply marvelous. We spent it with my grandparents just like every year-it even flurried this morning! I think that counts for a white Christmas. :)

proof of the snow...not the most glamorous picture, but it was the only quick way to capture it. :)

I guess that's my picture for today. I don't really have one that is exactly right to post. it was just kind of a hang out in pjs, play the wii, enjoy company and yummy food kind of day. I hope you had a fabulous Christmas (or respective holiday :) and have a fabulous new year. :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

(pictures to come later :)

countdown to christmas photography style

December 23, 2011

presents-another instagram!

It's fun when you get this...

“phone call” a drabble of 100 words. (12.22.11)

“Hi, this is Sara”

nervous heart beat-i hate talking on the phone.

“Hi Sara, I'm a student at Framingham Sate University. Have you received a letter from us yet?”

at least she doesn't want me to ask the questions...could it be??

“No, not unless it came today”

heart beat accelerates, mind races

“Then let me be the first to tell you that you have been accepted to Framingham. You will be a commuter majoring in Elementary Education, does that sound right?”

mind races, voice is quivering. palms begin to sweat.

“Yes, thank you so much.”

and this mail:

YAY!

countdown to christmas photography style

more pictures!

sparklesss

mocha in a red mug

truffle making

poinsettia

pretty bow on the pointsettia

my mom's advent/countdown thingy (i can't remember what it's called :)

A Christmas Carol

countdown to christmas photography style....

Here are some more pictures....I don't think I have enough to catch up, but I promise I'll post more before Christmas day. :)

winter sky

my buttons. not exactly christmas, but hey, it's festive :)

my mom made these: chocolate and caramel covered pretzels. YUM.

little ornament my friend gave me. i can't even say how much i LOVE it. too cute.

ornament i like this one (but i'm gonna be hones, i took this last year. i tried to take a similar one this year but it was all blurry

other ornament, this one looks like a bubble during the day

i love this...

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awq90APEVgw&feature=player_embedded

(it's video and they're "shooting" each other-using cameras instead of guns :)

countdown to christmas photography style

some more pictures for the countdown:

my daily calendar...

tree decorating

star on the top

YUM

um this is a little wrong...the lilac plant is budding in december

on of my favorite ornaments

frost

countdown to christmas photography style

one more picture...i tried downloading more the other day but for some reason my computer wouldn't recognize my latest download...so anyway here is a picture i took on my dad's ipad. it's an instagram. i love it. :)

countdown to christmas photography style

this december i am going to try to take a picture everyday (or at least one for every day) that has something to do with christmas-lights, decorations, family, church, festivities, etc-and post it here. now, i can promise you now that i will not be posting every day-that's fact. but i will try to have a picture for everyday. :) so without further ado, here is my first.

today is my daddy's birthday....not exactly christmasy but it's festive. :)

roses are......pink!

this little rose was part of a larger bouquet but unfortunately he broke and thus got his own little vase. i think it's rather cute.
i received the bouquet from the music class i helped with (for kids ages 6-10, part of our home school co-op) after their little performance. i am biased but i think it might just have been one of the cutest things ever. so cute i might just spell it with a "q"
they were quute. so adorably quute.
...on another note-i am proud to say that i shot all of these in manual. :)

hAPpY tHaNKsGiViNg!!!!!

it's.......

11.11.11!!!!!!!

RAIN

It grows, bleeds, dies

it shines-

forever depth glimmering

bright lights reflecting, blinding,

going on forever.

The light signals “go”-

growing reaching surging

down into the

darkness

down into

uncertainty:

hope,

then the

harsh lights puncture the uncertain

surface-red blood glistening

down down down

.stop.

only relieved for a moment

by

a splash rippling the

surface of

uncertainty

and then there is death

yellow yellow yellow

reflections

thoughts

life

gone

down into that

uncertain road

one second

the difference between flying and falling
waking and sleeping
darkness and light
happy and sad
hungry and full
warm and cold
hatred and forgiveness
moving and stopping
blankness and words
color and emptyness
in and out
open and closed
life and death