Monday, May 30, 2011

family.fun.memories

Awesome day spent with family today.

We hosted an impromptu picnic this
afternoon with {most} of my family.
I was busy preparing things so I didn't get a chance to take pics.


Later we gathered at the pond with the Bylers.

Fun memories were made today...






Friday, May 27, 2011

watching and waiting

We've been watching and waiting here at the Byler homestead.

A sweet robin decided to build her nest in my wreath.
We took it down 4 times before realizing
she was determined to make her home on our front door.

It's been fun watching her and checking the nest each morning.
{not so fun cleaning up all the bird poo she leaves on the step}






We've also been watching our strawberry patch.
We filled our first container this morning!
Yum.




Now we are just waiting for Pecker and friends to lay some eggs :)

Enjoy the breeze this morning!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

back in the game

It's been a while since I've written
{really written}.

I've been silent not only on my blog but in general.

This last year has been hard.
Nothing totally devastating has happened but
a lot of little things have definitely taken their toll on my spirit.

As I've been pondering and praying this past week,
I've realized I have let my guard down.

Have you ever come through a season of life
where God was just totally moving?
You witnessed miracles! Received answers to prayer after prayer.
You felt passionate and on fire,
wanting to tell every person you encountered
about the love of Christ!

I was just in that place!
I was taking part in street ministry,
I was praying for random people at the grocery store!
I witnessed healing after healing!
I WAS ON FIRE!

What happened?

There are days I hardly feel like going to church
let alone doing street ministry.
There are days I wonder how in the world can I lead worship
when I can't sing the songs with the authority and passion I once had.

What happened?
I got comfortable.
I got lazy.
I got busy.

As soon as my guard came down,
the enemy was quick to attack.
It doesn't take much for the enemy to grab hold of us.
He knows our weaknesses,
he knows what distracts us.
And he's sneaky.
I didn't realize just how close he had gotten.

But it has become quite clear he is here and he is on a mission.
He is determined to steal my joy.
He is determined to kill my passion for Christ.
And he is determined to destroy my marriage, my ministry, my focus.

He loves that my focus is on Sarah, not Jesus.
He loves that I'm so caught up in my own problems
that I'm not gonna stop and pray for someone else's.
He loves that he has stolen my joy as I lead worship
and has replaced it with fear and anxiety.

But God is good.
He has been stirring my heart.
He has reminded me that he is still moving!
He is still doing miracles!
He is still answering prayers!
He is still healing the sick!
And he still wants to use me.

He's just waiting for me to jump back into the game!

I'm ready.

Awaken my heart Lord.
Fill me with a passion for you.
Light a fire in my soul.
Strengthen me for the battle.
Silence the enemy.
Speak your truth to my spirit.
Show me your heart.


This is not only my prayer for myself but my prayer for you.


























Tuesday, May 10, 2011

brutal honesty

What a gorgeous day.
This weather has really lifted my spirits
{the weather and my chandelier;)}.

I was laying on my lounge chair this afternoon
hoping to get a little color
as I enjoyed the warmth of the sun on my face.

I'm just coming out of the baby blues,
I'm still adjusting to three kiddos,
and I'm not happy what so ever about my 'new' body.

As I laid in the sun
I was feeling really good.
Better than I've felt in a while.
And then..

"Why do you have that big pimple in your mustache?" - Ruby

I haven't had time to fit a waxing in but rest assured I called and I'm going tomorrow.

Sigh.

Gotta love the innocent honesty of children.
Or not.



Monday, May 9, 2011

country fabulous

My new chandelier.
You have no idea the joy it brings to my heart
every time I walk by it.
:)


{and check out the sun shining through the bay window. gorgeous.}


Monday, May 2, 2011

dining room. pecker. ruined clothes.

Drum roll please....
The dining room is finished!
{actually there is some detail work left
but it's good enough to share some photos}


Our little 'snack' hutch
Remember the green paint?
3 coats later...
and I love it.


The built in corner cupboard.
Again, love.



The bay window.
This thing was a mother to paint.
And although you can't see the wonderful paint job
just look at the view
we get to enjoy during dinner.



The front of our home.
We totally love this house.
It feels like home.
It is the perfect home for us.
I feel like I'm living in a sweet little {er, big}
farm house -- totally me.

Speaking of farms..Meet Pecker.
Our sweet little girls have named
one of our chickens, Pecker.
Oh dear.
Today Ruby came running inside
screaming and I mean screaming,
"PECKERS OUT! PECKERS OUT!"

What the neighbors must think.


So there is a peek of our progress!
Andy and I were so thrilled with the finished dining room.
We were smiling, high fiving
And then..
we realized our dryer ruined 3 loads
YES 3 LOADS of laundry.
I didn't know if I should cry,
kick the dryer or
go sit in the dining room and enjoy our accomplishment
and worry about the dryer {and all our ruined clothes} tomorrow.

I'll cry tomorrow.
:)