ebb + flow

a friend's facebook post can be enough to

inspire + swell up emotions on a very difficult subject.

death.

in her words, it was an absolutely precious moment between her + a patient.

it was beautiful.

they spoke of heaven + it's intricate details.

it was human kindness in its most raw form.

and the patient himself is so childlike + innocent.

something beyond admirable.

it further pulled another dear friend of mine::

"i just can't help think how precious he is- how we ebb + flow with the crap of this life + sometimes i wonder if i died here + now would i go to heaven? it's not like that for {said patient} + others like him- jesus said only those that become like little children will enter heaven. and he is just that."

death isn't a pretty experience for most people. most of time it is sudden or horrible suffering. we know what's waiting for this patient on the other side. and for me, it brings hope.

sarahjo

{}

the fragments + pinpricks

even after people apologize, they can break your heart.

not necessarily in half.

but little pieces.

more like fragments.

and you start to question whether you should trust to tell them anything.

ever.

again.

you had a hope in them.

+ then comes the pinprick.

it's unfair.

but i still love her anyways.

sarahjo

{Lord, give me Your arms to love

+ reach

+ hold

those who don't want to love me back.}

the friday {florida} five

as i prepare to wrap up this vacation, i start to ponder moving here. permanently. and i just LOVE that i've gotten to a point in my life that it's actually a possibility. i am comforted in knowing the unknown. i can taste it, it's so darn close!

anyways, in the realm of florida, here are some tid bits i've learned::

#1 my hair turns into a curly, blonde, mostly frizzy version of its former self. wild, to say the least.

#2 seagulls are the rats of the sky {as britton calls them} and also may get referred to as "the nasty" {my lovable nickname i gave them}.

#3 unfortunately, the people here are some the worst drivers {i'm convinced} in the country. honking, changing lanes without blinkers { + at only a moment's notice}, and high speed car wrecks are quite typical around here.

#4 biking is the way of transportation! seriously. although the traffic may have you on the edge, the weather, scenery + climbing gas prices will have you itching to opt for a bike ride to the beach!

#5 sand is your backyard. not grass. you live down here and you might as well get used to salt, sweat + sand. 24/7.

it's been a blast + i really don't wanna come home,

sarahjo

just {slightly} excited!

holy high school musical!

zac efron the lead in 'the lucky one'???

oh yeah, i think i can deal with that... :)

sarahjo

{something} so sweet

oh, good gracious...

i can't listen to this song without tearing up.

or having a huge grin on my face.

makes me long for summer + sundresses + car rides with the windows down on a dirt road...

+ honeysuckle,

sarahjo

inside + out

not even a week ago, i had the pleasure of working with one of the sweetest nursing students ever. her name was Heather. she was so helpful and eager to learn, just all around incredible personality and so good with my patients!

shortly into working with Heather, i noticed a burn scar on her neck and it kind of threw me off because i had not seen it right away. of course i never said a word to her about it.

my shift ended.

Heather + i parted ways.

just yesterday, i was logging onto my email account on the Hillcrest website, and what do ya know! up pops Heather's face on the homepage! i immediately click on it + watch this video::

Heather's story touched me so much that i just had to share it with you too.

she is a beautiful girl, inside + out.

i hope i get the chance to see her soon + tell her that,

sarahjo

an echo + a cry

through many sleepless nights you have still kept a strong heart.

{i sang this song very loudly today,

praying + worshipping our God that is in complete control

of you + your families' earthquake.}

for my beautiful, dear friend trudging through a muddied mess...

love you always Emiko,

sarahjo

wonderful + terrifying

"you can never really know someone completely.

that's why it's the most terrifying thing in the world,

really taking someone on faith,

hoping they'll take you on faith too.

it's such a precarious balance,

it's a wonder we do it at all."

- a great + terrible beauty

charming {key} compilations

i have a slight obsession with keys. mainly decor + jewelry. and now photography! always reminds me of the secret garden...

i would love to just start a collection

+ hang them on the wall!

the {great} outdoors

i braced myself as i started watching 127 hours. just hoping that i wouldn't have to turn it off. what i found in the end is that past all the gruesome + bloody images, it was completely heartbreaking. no one should ever be so selfish + prideful that they go somewhere by themselves, and especially not tell anyone...

and, {surprisingly} it inspired me. i thought maybe it would deter me from wanting to go on my hiking adventures ever again... but instead i started to make a list in my head of places i want to take my next adventures. and i would love to go where Aron hiked in the canyons, too. ::

#1. the bottom of the grand canyon

#2. {finish} long's peak... although not this summer... so sad.

#3. blue john canyon in utah... my gosh it's beautiful.

so maybe registering at backwoods is a good idea,

sarahjo

sail {away}

come, my love, we have oceans to sail.

{a hard} investment

had the best conversation the other day.

about love and who we choose to give love to.

you know what my conclusion was?

that love is easy to give away to those who make it simple to love them.

it's complicated and HARD when we have to step outside

our little box,

our close-knit group of friends,

our bubble of Christian acquaintances,

and choose to get to know someone that we may have NOTHING in common with.

someone that's extremely difficult to get along with.

a person that needs to be shown love...

more than friends we hold so tightly to who already know Christ.

i guarantee that if you + i start investing in that person's life and conversing continuously,

we have the ability to affect CHANGE.

think about it,

sarahjo

love + possibilities

you find your faith has been lost and shaken

you take back what's been taken

get on your knees and dig down deep

you can do what you think is impossible.

keep on believing,

don't give in

it'll come and make you whole again.

it always will,

it always does.

love is unstoppable.

{oh the} irony

"isn't it ironic?

we ignore the ones who adore us,

adore the ones who ignore us,

love the ones who hurt us,

and hurt the ones that love us."

{little} hearts

hmmm. i'm needing this right about now...

{too} much

this is how i've been feeling these days...

ZERO motivation/productivity.

ugh... 5 AM is coming way too soon.

sarahjo

{ps. returned to my original template with a little revamp! hope you like it! how i've missed it so...}

{oh} joy!

::reasons to get excited about march::

#1. i'm going to my first concert of the year this weekend {rascal flatts!}

#2. siesta key for springbreak {coming up rather quickly... eek!}

#3. i get to pick up my wedding dress... it's {finally} HERE!

so many good things to look forward to,

sarahjo

{slightly} hopeful

dear March,

please be good to me.

hoping for {permanent} warm weather + occasional raindrops,

sarahjo