I should be working...

But where's the fun in that? This week has been surprising busy. I'm the in throws of conducting interviews for a new position here. I've spent everyday running around trying to make sure that I've sent all the applicants their information, given the search committee the most updated resumes and most importantly making sure that my boss is happy. The latter, luckily, is the easiest.

To top off my uber busy week, I've been waking up at 5 am for prayer at 6. I've been meeting with Brittney and Amanda to participate in the "120" (120 hours of prayer) on campus. Did you know it's still dark at 6 am? Yeah, well it is.

But you know what, I'm really loving it all. There's something to be said for starting your morning off with an hour of prayer. It truly does a wonder for your soul. Granted, yesterday I was a little cranky. All the same, I've really seen God's grace during this time. And I've also had a renewed desire to pray more. The first day I thought "Man, this is gonna be rough", but now I'm thinking "Why haven't I been doing this all along?" It's really helped that I know Amanda and Brittney are depending on me to be there - gives me the push I need when I hear that alarm.

Plus, most importantly, I know I'm pleasing God. And frankly, that's been my goal all week. I want Him to receive the glory in all this. I want His name to be heard and for the students, staff and faculty to see Him move. That's what I've been praying for. And I know it'll happen. Because God will give us the desire of our hearts. And this is my desire.

What price am I worth?

Today on MySpace I found my old roommate from when I lived in San Antonio. I had tracked her down on Facebook last summer and thought I might look for her today on MySpace. I did. And then I requested her as a friend.

After I requested her as a friend I found myself "editing" my page. I changed a few things to seem cooler, funnier and more exciting, and thus becoming less "me" and more "hip and trendy". And then it dawned on me, why am I so afraid of what she thinks?

When this girl was my roommate I tried hard to live a life that would impress her. I spent more money then I earned, drank excessively, partied even more and lived a life outside of myself. When I found it hard to stay the course with my "new life" I broke down. All the lies I told were unraveling. My family wasn't rich like hers, my childhood wasn't great, and I wasn't popular like her normal friends. I was just me. And it ruined our friendship. While for a long time I placed the blame on her, about 2 years ago I realized it was my fault. Had I been true from the beginning she would have know me not the version of "Sarah" I wished her to see.

It makes me a little sad that part of me was/is so quick to change, but at least I realized it sooner. Who knows if she'll accept my request, but one thing is for sure; I have no reason to be ashamed of who I am.

They can't give me a ticket on God's day

Sundays for me normally consist of church, lunch, nap, dinner, church, sleep. Yesterday however, was completely different.

When Jonathan and I were leaving house church last night we encountered the strangest of strange. (Forgive me for all of those not familiar with the IC area, as I can't explain the story without all the street names).

As we're barreling down North Dodge, talking about family stuff, I yelled out "Jonathan, there's a man in the road!!". Jonathan slammed on his brakes and swerved into the other lane. As we passed the man, he yelled "Help me, help me!". Jonathan stopped the car, stuck his head out the window and asked if everything was okay. The guy said he was lost and needed to get to the hospital. Dressed in nothing but blue basketball shorts, sweating profusely, this guy was obviously not all together. Jonathan gets out of the car, as the guy runs up to him. Jonathan repeatedly tells the guy "Stay back, I don't know you, stay back!". As the guy gets up to the car, Jonathan gets his name "Matt". As Jonathan tells Matt we'll do what we can, but to stay back, Matt freaks out and starts running back toward I80.

Jonathan jumps back in the car, calls 911 and lets them know what's up. We turn the car around and start trailing "Matt". Jonathan's worried that he might get hit by a car, since it's so dark down that road, and I'm just, well, worried. As we get closer to him, I yelled "Oh my gosh, Jonathan, he's NAKED!" It turns out that somewhere along the 100 yards "Matt" had ran, he lost his shorts. Not a pleasent sight. Not at all.

So we sat in the car, trailing up the road after "Matt" flashing our brights to warn oncoming cars. Through all this Jonathan's back on the phone with 911, because now not only is "Matt" naked, he's nearly been hit by a driver, thrown a rock at another car, and staggering back and forth on the street yelling "Help me! Help me!".

When the first cop arrived on the scene, it seemed as though "Matt" was going to be under control quickly. "Matt" leans up against the cop car, as the cop handcuffs him. In a split second, "Matt" turns around and lunges at the cop. The cop threw him down and traps him between the road and his knee. "Matt's" yelling and screaming, saying that he's hurt and needs to go see his sister 'Sarah' in the hospital. The cop asks "Matt" a series of questions:

"What's your name?" "John".
"John, what's your last name?" "Mayer".
"OK, John Mayer. When's your birthday?" "I don't know."
"John have you used drugs tonight?" "Yes."
"What kind of drugs?" "I don't know."

Then "Matt-John" begins saying how he is "going to kill someone" and asks the cop "am I gonna shoot you in the head?". Finally two other cops pulled up and Jonathan and I left.

I was shaking the whole way home. I have never, ever seen anything like this in my life. The whole scene was straight out of COPS. When we got back home, Jonathan just held me and prayed. I was so freaked out, because things could have been so much worse than what happened. I can't even imagine had I been there on my own without Jonathan to take care of me. God really protected us in such a huge way.

Between the crazed knife pulling man at the mall (that's another crazy story!!) and last night, I'm beginning to think this could only happen to Jonathan and I.

RAGBRAI pictures

Here are some pictures of Jonathan and I from our RAGBRAI experience.




In this one we had just started. 6 miles in, only 41 more to go!












We got really excited when we found out that there is a Windham, Iowa.











Here I am after the infamous Cosgrove Hill. By this point I was exhausted. I'm soaking wet because after the top of the hill some boys are spraying all the cyclists. I got off my bike, walked over to them and let them drench me.









And Jonathan after the Cosgrove Hill. If it weren't for him pushing me the last 10 miles, I'm not sure I would have made it!









I really had such a great time, I want to try again next year. Now, I know I'm crazy! :)

Anniversary Extravaganza 2006!

Last year for during our honeymoon, Jonathan and I called the time "Honeymoon Extravaganza 2005", since we were on vacation for 2 wonderful weeks. This past weekend we celebrated our 1 year anniversary, dubbed "Anniversary Extravaganza 2006." I'm liking this trend and think every year we should have a party like attitude to celebrate our relationship and what God has done in our lives.

Friday we kicked our anniversary off with a bang. Actually with a bike. We rode in RAGBRAI from Marengo to Coralville. Ahh, RAGBRAI. We rode a glorious 47 miles in blistering heat for 7 1/2 hours. Did I mention that Jonathan and I are crazy?! Well, we are. And the best part of our ride was the "rolling hills". Everyone told us the ride was pretty much flat with the exception of one large hill. WRONG! Jonathan calculated that we rode what was equivilant of going up hill for 10 miles. And the "one large hill" was actually Iowa's steepest incline (so we were told). By the time we were back in IC we had some pretty sweet tan lines, and some very sore bottoms!

Saturday we drove to Des Moines for Dexter and Kelsey Jacobs wedding. It was a real blessing to go to a wedding during our anniversary. Dan performed the ceremony and spoke on Ephesians 5:22-33. I almost laughed when he gave the reference, because Jonathan and I had just been discussing (for over a week) on the husband/wife role. So many times I find myself following after myself and not Jonathan. And each time whatever I planned our whatever I did seems to get me in trouble some how. But when I just submit and follow Jonathan, life seems to be a breeze. Interesting.... At any rate, God used that message to only confirm what Jonathan has been saying for days, and it really made me realize the need to follow and not lead.

After the wedding we drove to Pella, where we stayed in a bed and breakfast. Pella is a nice sleepy town, and the time alone with my hubby was nice. We went to dinner, rented a movie and just talked about how amazing God has been over this last year. We have been so blessed in our marriage, with more growth in one year than either of us expected, and it's all because of God. And we like it that way. At one point we just started praying thanking Christ for being in control and that we would always live and life and marriage that put Him first and at the head.

All in all it was a fabulous weekend. And once we get settled in to the Abdos this week I'll post pictures of RAGBRAI.