Unexpected Surprises

Before we get to far into the story, the surprise is not a bundle of joy but is still something to be joyous over. Wednesday night, Alex and I finally got to go out with some friends of ours since all of us got married (about a year, WOW!). We had a great time just hanging out like we use to and getting to be with friends was such a breath of fresh air. After visiting we still had to stop by Alex's sisters house to drop off something for Deer hunting for the weekend. On the way home Alex and I saw a house that was going up for aution Novemeber 22nd. Even though we are not looking for a home and are fine with our apartment God has given us, we were naturally curious. It was cute with a huge back yard. Very charming. We both liked it and thought we could at least check out the auction but weren't too serious about it all.

The next morning, we decided to have our date time that morning since Alex would be gone all weekend for Gun Season's opening day. So we went to Rick's for breakfast and then we went to look at the house again; to see what it looks like in the daytime. We fell a litle more in love with the amazing potential this home had. We had both always wanted a fixer upper or something we can update while making it our own. While we were really just "dreaming" the owner drove by and stopped to see what we were up to. We told him we were taking a look around and he then gladly offered to let us see the inside while talking to us about the house and the situation of the home.....

This is were it gets good but I have to leave this "to be continued" due to needing to get things setup for Night of Worship, I will finish the rest later on tonight.

TEASER....think of the Movie "UP"...yea it's really Good. God is the best :-)

P.S.

Here is a link to the house on GoogleMap

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=1442+old+wire+rd,+fayetteville,+ar&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=27.561629,36.210937&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=1442+Old+Wire+Rd,+Fayetteville,+Washington,+Arkansas+72703&ll=36.081465,-94.146137&spn=0,359.991159&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A&layer=c&cbll=36.081547,-94.146116&panoid=0RmvA_1RXtC6y4pKbxKUlA&cbp=12,99.28,,0,3.53

One more thing about 30 & To close.....

I found this speed limit sign on the Internet when I typed in "30 + images". It sums up how I feel about my birthday and where my life is going.

If you look at age as speed limits: when you are a child, you are poking along at speeds of 10, 15, 20 miles per hour. You are still getting used to the car, learning how to drive and getting comfortable with what speeds you can handle.

Still at a cautious speed. Even in your twenties, you are still learning who you are and what you’re suppose to do with your life!

But with your 30’s, it seems that you are really starting to gain some speed now. The momentum is picking up and you are really getting somewhere! You are doing more; mostly due to having more confidence in what you can do and go through.

I loved my twenties. There was a lot I experienced (from deep valleys of hurts to amazing mountain tops of JOY). My twenties gave me a world of Memories and got me here, where I am today. But 30’s feel like they have a lot in store for me and are going to be super adventurous. So, I say this next thing with great excitement,

“My 30’s hold the Best of the Best that has yet to come!”

Today I'm 30!

Last night was my last night in my twenties. I wen to bed as 29 and woke 30. For Months now people have asked me, " are you scared", "do you feel older", "well 30 isn't that bad".... I never really felt any of that 30. In fact, I have never really felt any different about any other birthday. I always have seen birthdays as just another day except you get a cake with your name on it. And age, well it's just a number. Half the time when people ask me my age, I have to sit and think for a moment. (that's not a sign of getting "OLD"). Sincerely, I was trying to remember my age because I always feel younger than "my number". Like this year I would think 26ish but really it was 29.

Birthdays are a lot of fun! I look forward to see who truly cares enough to remember and send me birthday wishes. My mom will make me my favorite dessert and then there will be a family get-together. That is what I enjoy!

However this year was a little different. I wanted to do something special or unique to remember the day: like a party or something. But that didn't work out. Then i was going to go to a friends wedding but a phone call took longer, lost track of time and didn't get to go. Then I was going to hang out with a group from the ministry but it again a "no-go". Alex was working so not even a date with my hubby. It was my last night as 2o-something and I wanted to do something to give the 20 a proper "thanks and farwell" but nothing was working out.

I started to get a little down and started hearing these thoughts in my head "you have no friends bc you always work", "where is the excitement in your life", "I can't believe I'm all alone". WHERE WERE THESE THOUGHTS COMING FROM!? Satan was raining on my pre-birthday parade. I started to let him win when I decided to just go to bed. But before I laid down. I prayed,

"God, I know that these are LIES from Satan and he is only trying to ruin what can be a special memory for You and me. As I am Drawing Near to you these last couple of weeks, I feel we have gotten closer and closer. I understand the Amazement of my GOD and how You are ALWAYS my REFUGE just a little more each passing moment. Please help me to defeat this LIES. Help me to have peace and joy for in this special day."

Just about 20 minutes later Alex came home from work and said, "get dressed and let's go down to Dickson to see the BIKES and how much our tree has grown." "Baby, I'm already set for bed with my p.j's. lets just go to sleep", I replied. He persisted and got me up. We went and had a great time. But my favorite part was going to see OUR TREE!

You see, back in Oct. 5, 2007, it was the first time Alex and I got to hang out/talk. We had gone to a birthday party for a Rogers group (from the LIFE) that night and some people decided to go to Dickson for Bikes, Blues & BBQ. Alex and I get separated from the group and ended up in-front of a tree that was freshly planted in the sidewalk. We decided to stay there so we could find the group easier. Meanwhile, we got to know one another. It is where I first saw Alex for more than the gorgeous man he is. He was an amazing man of God with a passion like none other for God's people and WILL for his life. I don't know really how long we talked but the time was effortless. From there, the rest is history (ahhhhh).

The next BBBBQ that would come in 2008 we went back now being married and the tree had grown some but not much. But this year was the blessing of them all! The tree was so tall and bigger and fuller!

The tree was small and young and thin back in 2007. It was just planted and starting it's life. Then this tree survived the weather and elements (including the 2009 ice storm) and was still standing; as healthy as can be. The trunk was 3 times the diameter now. It was twice the height and was full of beautiful leaves. It was strong and sturdy. It even has some shade to it now.

Being the symbolic person I am, saw that tree as Alex and I's relationship. God had just brought us together and planted a seed in our hearts for one another and that tree was just starting off when we first stood there. But just like that tree, we had done so much to get where we are today. Alex and I had grown as one now and are stronger everyday as a family all due to the VAST GREATNESS of our GOD!

Earlier, I was telling you of my hard time with doing thing special as my last night in my Twenties and praying God to defeat Satans lies. Little did i know my LORD had been planning the ultimate Gift, and the answer to my prayers, 2 years ago when He introduced Alex to me and had the City of Fayetteville plant that Tree!

How great is our GOD! How AMAZINGLY LOVING is our GOD! How much does HE CARE for us, even in the smallest of things like a Birthday WISHES!

This morning my Draw Near quiet time was on "Deliverance & Answered Prayers" through Acts 12:1-17. How God delivered Peter from prison on behalf of Prayers lifted up to our LORD. I cried out to God and he delivered me from Satan into a blessing!

When we cry out to God, He does listen & Delivers us from all Evil!

Did you know your parents get older?

Have you ever noticed with each passing birthday, year after year, you parents secretly are getting older? Or how one day you just see them in a different way?

My dad played football and any other sports for decades and had 5 knee surgeries (on the same knee) between now and then. However he has always been so active, involved and on the go. He has been this focus to reckon with and never have I seen him physically week. Just the strong, big, former defensive tactic that towers over the majority of people; literally. I still see him exactly as I remember him at age 8 and definitely not as a man getting older. Today, at age 54, he had a knee replacement surgery and when he came back, it was the first time I saw him as a man getting older. What a weird feeling to see him in a different light. I still see him as that ageless man but today was the first time even noticed, that parents age too. Their bodies are as ageless as they are in our minds.

Love you daddy!

Musical chairs

Yesterday my parents treated the family to the Harry Potter movie and the dinner at Lennys. We decided to go to the 4:30 showing and to get there an hour before since it was such a popular movie and to make sure we all could sit together. Well that was not a line at all and then we started thinking we switch our tickets for the 3:30 showing. I was switching the tickets while my dad was asking if the show was full, when my mom walked up to see if the show was full all. Then when we got in it was "where do you think we should sit?" We change from one row to another and then it was where does everyone sit? Once we where finally done with musical chairs, everyone had to go to the bathroom.

I told Alex, now he knows where I get it when I'm like that!

1 Year of Marriage Down and Looking forward to the Next 50 PLUS

Sunday was our first year anniversary! The first year flew by and I have to say it was a great First Year. I was thinking back on all the things we did, what new things we tried and new memories we made, lessons we learned and here a few things I came up with:

• Becoming Mrs. SEC (Sarah Elizabeth Constien)
• Buying our first Car together
• Getting kicked out of our Hotel on our Honeymoon night due to Fire alarms (long and funny story)
• Leading a Mission Trip of 20 Singles in their 20's after being married 5 days and then going on our Honeymoon (completely a God Thing!)
• Going to Jamaica together
• Scuba Diving for the first time together and first time in Open Waters (seeing a nerf shark, albino flounder, lobster & more)
• Zip Lining through a Rainforest TreeTop
• Kayaking in the Ocean
• Couples Massage
• Making all of those Returns & Exchanges of Gifts (two full 4-Runners worth & me not allowed to make returns to Wal-mart for a whole year! lol)
• Cutting all of my hair off and your mo-hawk for Turkey Bowl
• Your Christmas Tree Costume for leaders Christmas Party!
• Learning to Fly Fish
• Going on hikes together
• Our First Christmas together
• Playing t
  he ICE together, staying at my parents during the storm of January 2009. Praying I wouldn't lose you when you were rewiring the house for the generator :-)
• Learning you are a great and messy Cook
• Leading a small group together
• Learning you will vacuum and mop if I will clean the toilets
• Learning to how to combine two people's schedules (school + ministry) - (that's on going)
• Skiing together at Winter Park and partly losing each other in a mini blizzard
• Guatemala Summer Mission Trip of 2009 (enough said)
• Dancing in Antigua to live band
• Going Canoeing together for the First time (great times)
• A Weekend to Remember Get-a-way
• Going to our First Midnight Movie ever (Transformers II)
• Our First year Anniversary Adventure to the big LR
• Going to Wild River Country and being Kids together
• Riding a bikes along the river and seeing Deer along the way
• Brunch at the Clinton Museum
• Falling more in love with Alex every day and how he still takes my breath away every time he kisses me.
• Experiencing what a great listener you are
• Finding my one True Love ( my husband, Alex) He stretches me in ways that make me a better person.

It's truly has been a year for the Books and I can't take God enough for allowing us such a blessing. It has not only be wonderful to finally experience the joy of marriage but it has been a hug Faith builder in my relationship with my God. Seeing how He answered my prayers for years and years and when my Lord answered, He went beyond what I dreamed! Thanks a bunches to my one and only Heavenly Abba!

So much has happened in almost a month. Alex and I took a group of 20 and 30 yr olds to an orphanage just outside of Guatemala City earlier this month. We went to panel some dorms but mostly to love on the children. Our theme versus was in Matt. 19. When people brought the children to Jesus for Him to touch them and bless them, He did just that. He loved on them, blessing them and nothing more; which was even more of a blessing to everyone on the team. Then for our day off we went to Antigua for half a day. The picture here is when the team ate at Posada de Don Rodrigo where Alex and I got to waltz with live musicians!

Alex and I continue to learn mo

re and more of the do and don't when leading a mission trip as a couple. I'm sure that God has a great plan of are all of the knowledge we are gaining. And we are already putting that to use again. We are currently working on another trip we are leading in December so please be in prayer for that. (more details to come).

And another thing we a

re working on is getting Alex through school and not having to work. So part of cutting back we

dropped our cable (TV). Now considering we have only been without any cable at all for almost 24 hours now, we have really enjoyed it. More to come on that.

And lastly (definitely my favorite!) We are coming quickly on our 1 year Wedding Anniversary! Yes that's right, we will have bee

n married for a WHOLE Year on July 5th! The first year went so fast and was so much fun! I lo

ve the memories we had this year (like scuba diving in Jamaica, Skiing at Winter Park, p

ancakes on Saturday morning, riding our bikes to Walmart & the movies for a date, learn

ing to share holidays with two sets of parents, waltzing in Antigua, and so much more)

I'm completely excited about Year #2 will hold for us!!!