Delighted to Meet You!

Simply Sarah

Readers come. They splash. To be open, real, vulnerable. Life laid bare for people to wade through unseen in this land of blog. This place, my story, only a puddle. But if someone accidentally steps in, joy splashing on their boots, and walks away carrying the footprints ... then this place has served a purpose of glory, step by step ...

When I started to type instead of simply pen, a momma on the mission field, I never quite envisioned what might happen. I've been joyfully splashing ever since. New friends, it is a joy to meet you. But who am I? Who is the woman sitting in front of this computer screen, sharing her life, lessons learned?

Me in a nutshell ... think yummy cashew.

Spontaneous princess, learning to be all that God made me to be and all that my prince hubby deserves. A pillar (wobbly at times) to uplift and encourage as he pours into the nations. A model of God's love in my family armed with hugs, tickle wrestling and nose nuzzles.

Crazy and passionate warrior princess. Jeans and t-shirt gal that speaks God's Word and radically believes everything that it says. Think polka dot storm trooper armed with a serious weapon.

Arrow sharpener for the nations. Completely sold out on reaching an entire generation for Jesus. If you sit with me, you'll catch my fire passion to equip children today to reach the nations. Lived it, Seen it, Believe it, Teaching it.

Encourage wildly. Hug, Praise loud. Forgive even louder. Dance crazy. Choose joy. Blow bubble snakes. Snuggle. Ooze grace. Smell like cantaloupe. Simply Sarah.

And now my friends, would you take a moment, in the rush, in the mayhem of busy schedules and time ticking away, to introduce yourself to me. In the busy of life, I have come to realize, relationships dwindle and wither. To stop the blur of life whizzed by, to cultivate relationship, even here in this puddle of grace.

A name, a note, a tidbit of your life tucked into the comments. And across this unseen land of blog I can offer a hug (because in real flesh life, that is exactly what I would do)

To Capture a Rose

My first feeble attempts ... opening of a rose, opening of oneself

I learned of the gift before the day ever arrived. Panic crept in my heart. Fear has a way of choking love right out of a moment. I asked, begged, pleaded, for him to return to the store. Return his lavish gift of love. Deep down, I felt unworthy.

A rose on the bud, refusing to blossom.

Tears came. He held me and held strong amidst the torrent of my emotions. Straight into my eyes, I saw his desire to give his best and feed my dreams.

A rose in need of rain, to wash away the mundane, the dirt clinging to the beauty within.

I turned away. Took my case to a higher authority, my Abba. He knows the foolishness of such a wasted expense. He would understand, turn my loves heart back down the right path of wisdom and frugality. He would change the decision. He decided instead to change me.

A rose who preferred the thorns to the beauty all around.

The sweet gentle whisper of His Word. The same words I bathe in daily, soaking in deep.

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." - Proverbs 31:1

A rose whose soil had been sown with the nutrients, soaking in deep and impacting the bloom.

I closed my mouth. Surrendered the fight. When the day arrived, I opened the package. I had not known the contents, only the monetary value. The tears came, accepting the love and joy that came with the gift. A gift to a wife of value. A gift to spur her need to create and capture the every day.

A rose captured with my gift.

Knowing me

Knowing me. 13 years of life, crumpled together in glorious reality of day to day. Who I was, at 20 when a ring forever changed my now, I did not know. Somehow he saw and chose to believe in who I would become.

Bending on knee, asking for my heart, declaring his love for the first time, washing me in the Word. My prince, has 13 years slipped through our eyes together. You have seen the best and worst in me, no masks. Knowing me more intimately and profoundly than any other.

My knowing little of marriage and wife wisdom, you devoured crunchy rice and failed culinary masterpieces. Battling in prayer, you upheld me when I could no longer stand. Huts of distant lands, you took my hand. Holding me when fear stole my breath. Caring for the delicate blossom of me as it emerged on the vine.

Can it be, possible to love with intensity matched only by his. Wrapped in his arms, dreams intertwining with mine. I blush still to this day. His eyes alone can capture mine and hold me in a state of thankfulness mixed with anticipation of what lies ahead.

Dream into Reality

A dream kept my eyes shut. Holding lids tight to dream just a minute more, hoping to never forget. Sara, the princess and my love, the prince. We met in the village, both clothed in disguise under the watchful eye of our King.

As the sun kissed my morning, I rubbed sleep from my eyes. The dream lingered, mingled into reality. I live in this dream, under the watchful eye of our King.

When I met my Ryan, I saw him for the prince he was destined to be in God’s kingdom. He saw the King’s princess in my eyes. Yet we were clothed in disguise, the rags of the world that covered our royalty.

Over the past 12 years, we have walked together on the road to His castle. Tattered rags haves been stripped away and replaced with royal garments, humility, love, compassion, and grace.

Walking the road to a new land, we found shelter in a castle provided by His hand. A time of restoration and transformation. The tattered rags of worn love thread bare from years of ministry and toil. My prince's gaze turned my heart no more. Simply look away, pretend.

Guides along our trail, met us, walked with us, tears upon their cheeks, seeing what we could be. We battled when our armor clinked in dusty squeaks. The music of romance no longer heard in the echo chamber of our life. We learned to listen again and hear His love song.

The season passed. My prince's eyes changed. I cannot explain. Love flooded over me from his heart when he looks past what I have become, only seeing the princess once again. Time, healing, dancing in his gaze once again. Beauty warped by fear vanishing in acceptance.

Trusting. Hearing the melody. Delight. My eyes changed as well. My royal dreams, with eyes opened and closed. Dreams becoming reality in the light.

Sweet Spunky Tomatoes

My Sweet Tomato Love and I

Jicama, kidney beans, spinach and hot fudge sundaes, the ingredients for a scrumptious date. Since returning to the US and allowing God to transform our marriage, dates have once again appeared on our menu. Tonight, we decided to splurge and get spunky.

We headed to Sweet Tomatoes, and threw in a twist. Walking through the salad bar with every fresh ingredient you could imagine from lettuce to blue cheese crumbles, we handed our plates over to each other. Tonight, I chose the food for my love and he chose for me. The only rule, no helping or hinting.

He created a salad filled with my favorites and a few that I wouldn't normally choose (broccoli isn't my fave). Then off to the made from scratch soup/muffin/pasta/pizza bar! My mouth is still watering. We laughed as we would fill each other's drinks with new creations. We smiled as we learned how much we really knew each other's tastes. And yes, there were a few silly gestures or bowls of steamed veggies that appeared on his plate. My sweet tomato hubby and I discovered some new favorites together as creative guesses can lead to tasty treats.

We would love some more fun, cost effective, and creative ideas for our dates. What are your most memorable dates, or maybe even ones that you would love to see us go on? I'm all ears.