to the glory {of the One who made you.}

this morning i was thinking about how frustrated + disappointed i’ve been over decisions made by people i care about.

& how rough my job feels when I’m dragging myself out of bed at 5 am, wondering if it will be a good or bad day at work.

& struggling to understand why a kind-hearted, Christian man just got diagnosed with terminal cancer.

so i listened to some new, uplifting steven curtis chapman music, then drove to quiktrip.

there, a man in front of me in line bought my drink, two packages of gum, & gummie worms.  i told him, “thank you so much, but you didn’t have to do that.” he said, “that’s the gorgeous thing. that i didn’t HAVE to do it.” even if i hadn’t been the one receiving this gift, i think i still would have been moved just by witnessing this + hearing these words.

i realized {while on the verge of tears} that God is in the small stuff. & i think He knew i needed to see Him work in my life today.

& although that man may never know how thankful i am for his generosity, i am sure glad i serve a God that makes Himself so apparent in the world around me.

it is hands down, the most incredible thing.

this is my evidence,

sarahjobell

battles + castles.

only a king would do anything to protect the kingdom.
{He left the comfort of His throne//to fight for victory.}

there You are.

i get so sick + tired.

of the critical.cynical.

harsh words. passive thought.

when it comes to You.

even Christians go through rough patches where God feels so distant.

or isn’t helping. providing. caring.

we have our scars + stories too.

but faith tells us that we know better…

God allows trials + hardships for good reason.

& i know better + enough. i don’t have to have proof or science to stay grounded.  & no, i am not living in a fantasy or lala land when i tell you faith IS enough. & yes that means i don’t have all the answers.

He will always be enough. my cup will overflow.

but still, it’s absolutely devastating to witness others divide themselves from Him.

push + tear Him away like tattered, dirty clothing.

i so desperately want to gather up their broken pieces + shards of glass

{not even a second thought whether it’s cutting my own hands},

& tell them “it’s never too late. His love runs so deep that He bled for you.”

He’s there + loving us like crazy,

sarahjobell

let the games begin.

if you haven't checked my pinterest yet, {you can here.}
let me fill you in on today's festivities::

can't wait to see the hunger games tonight!
sarahjobell

{You took} my heart.

today is not about “singles awareness” {in my opinion.}

let’s see the glass half-full, shall we?::

it’s about loving others.

loving yourself for who you are.

& even greater, God’s love for us that is an anchor holding steady.

He is constant.

& no one else could have a love like that.

He took my heart + i’ll never take it back,

sarahjobell

{love} defies odds.

love is like floating around.

love breaks through barriers.

love is not a piece of cake.

& love is not nonsense,

sarahjobell

every.love.

Oh, how wonderfully lovely is february.

february 10^th. Not so far away now.

celebrate everylove. {starbucks, this IS better than your christmas cup.}

{let’s love without limits… all.year.long.}

sarahjobell

love is {fearless+ endless}

i already know i will being seeing this on valentine’s day:: 

i cry when i watch this.

every.

single.

time.

sarahbell

{little} notes

yes! i changed my blog name FINALLY.

i've been tossing around some ideas in my noggin for awhile now + this title just fit.

perfectly.

you see, every now + then my husband leaves these cute little folded up notes in my lunchbox that i discover not long after opening my lunch. & it just helps me to get through the day when i read, i'm sorry, or  i love you, or  i can't wait to see you.

so, this just stuck with me.

sarahbell

+ be thankful

be silly. be honest. be kind.

- r.w. emerson

confession session {::kittens, specifically tabbies::}

be honest:: you don't know too many cat lovers out there. even if you are one, you are apart of a rare community! & although people have their reasons... let's face it! cats are the easier pets to take care of {unless you have a goldfish, i guess}. so it comes as no surprise that for a couple years now i have been melting over orange tabby kittens...

maybe this obsession came from "banjo the woodpile cat" getting lost in the city...

or perhaps it was tiger putting aside his ferocious tendencies to be friends with a mouse {sorry i wish i could've found the video!}...

either way, i think don bluth + i got it right. except for the fact that there are cats in america. fievel & his family found that out the hard way.

sarahbell

{utterly} oblivious

after a day of updating all my social networks,

i'm still quite enjoying having my head in the clouds

& being completely + utterly oblivious to any sort of reality or responsibility.

i'll just try to ignore those two little things a bit longer...

sarahbell

just a minute/ {the sorry excuse edition}

hello my dear followers + friends,

didn't want you lovelies to think i abandoned you.

can't promise i will be writing too much this month,

but it's a bloggy break well deserved + needed.

so i'll keep it simple for ya::

just got hitched. {!!!}

am now exhausted from all the stress.

spent four wonderful days on the plaza in kc with my husband.

spent the last two days flying/traveling.

am now sitting in a chair with the island breeze of belize blowing through the window.

life is good.

God is great.

& i am so incredibly blessed.

sarahbell

{apparently my new nickname because "jo" was some of my maiden name. & let's face it:: asbell is SO much better}.

one month + a few hours away

i can hardly believe it! may 30th i was writing on britton's wall saying, "just 2 months!". & i know these next few weeks will just fly by. i just pray that i will get in the right mindset so i can enjoy it, rather than stress about it.

because i know it will all come together.

& it will be lovely.

here's a peek into more ideas i will be incorporating into the wedding {enjoy!}::

i just have to remember God's hand is in my wedding plans, day + details,

sarahjo