your story's not over.

i pray for that girl i once knew.

that good girl.

the girl with an unchangeable heart.

that didn’t have to rely on a boy.

with a faith you couldn’t break,

brimming with integrity,

secure in herself.

you’re still that girl.

to keep the world spinning.

“now some point the finger + let ignorance linger

if they’d look in the mirror they’d find,

that ever since the beginning to keep the world spinning

it takes all kinds of kinds.”

My kind is::

watching disney channel movies. never completely devoted to a workout routine. still consuming gushers fruit snacks + applesauce out of the pouch.  cooing at kittens.  willing to go cross-country for a concert. lover of pretty pastel dresses.

& you know, i’m ok with that,

sarahjobell

relive the magic.

dear little girl,

you’re in your twenties. or close to it. Or maybe long past it. but that doesn’t mean you HAVE to be a grown up. nothing is wrong with watching disney movies + listening to boy bands. & whose to judge you for blowing bubbles & continually chowing down on dunkaroos//lunchables//poptarts? age should never hold you back from the puddle that is just begging you to jump in it, from the tree that would have a great view from the top if you climbed it. & being 30 or 40 doesn’t mean you can no longer ride the carousel or wear a sparkly dress.

so believe in fairytales.

make a wish.

dream impossible things.

because innocence + purity are so very beautiful.

& that’s what makes you absolutely lovely.

sarahjobell

a treasure {to Me.}

but my daughter you are worth it all,

even my Son’s own life I gave for you.

I choose you my princess and in you I delight,

for you make my heart sing with praises.

I look upon you and I see your heart

and I weep for I see your beauty.

I made you in my image and you are a treasure to Me.

finer than the rarest gold or the largest diamonds.

you move my heart in crazy ways.

conviction + grace

oh you got a fire + it’s burning in the rain

thought that it went out, but it’s burning just the same

& you don’t look back, not for anything

‘cause if you love someone, you love them all the same.

you know what i don’t get? love that supposedly we, as humans, have for one another {or lack thereof.} it’s selfish, judgmental, + critical. i read an article the other day about this victoria’s secret model that quit because of her beliefs. the reactions + comments some people wrote were harsh + cruel. i guess it’s ok for us to gossip about a young christian woman {who obviously realized an error she made} + put her down simply because she is in the spotlight? or because she’s pretty + thin?

God forbid YOU make a mistake, feel convicted about it, & have it shoved back in your face by others. that’s not love. i find it so refreshing that she recognized the veil being pulled over her eyes. & that is why there's forgiveness + a second chance. GRACE. we may not deserve it, but that’s why His hands took the nails.

what if i share my brokenness?

what if you share how you feel?

& what if we weren’t afraid of this crazy mess?

what if we were real?

sarahjobell

ease {the ache}

some things you can’t disguise.

{so give your heart a break.}

winsomeness + worth

& you ask yourself

"who do i wanna be?"

do i wanna throw away the key

& invent a whole new me?

i don't wanna be no one

but me.

rushing {in}

the end {of it all}

i wanna be in Your arms.

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

{what you} see

i am perfectly imperfect.

& i'm ok with that.

{natural} tendencies

“If you think about human nature,

our favorite pair of shoes are the ones we bought yesterday,

our favorite thing is the newest thing that we have,

and if you think about the thing we’ve seen the most and for the longest period of time,

is our reflection in the mirror,

so obviously,

that’s going to be our least favorite thing.”

-Taylor Swift

{playing} dress up

I hear the justification time and time again, "Halloween is the one day out of the year that adult/teenage girls alike can get away with dressing skimpily." Of course, a term other than "skimpily" was used. Instead of a costume with more coverage, some opt for the short/more revealing version of the same character. What has me going over the edge is that {clearly} it's just getting worse. Even little girl costumes.

And honestly, it's about time you heard the truth. Even if it hurts to hear it. But why am I doing all the talking? Here's something I came across from a friend who posted on facebook. And mind you, {although she will remain nameless} she is a mother which makes it all the more important for young women to hear this::

"Dear females, please have some self-respect and don't dress like a strumpet for Halloween. You will certainly attract attention, but it's neither the kind you really want nor is it from the caliber of male that you deserve. *and now the soapbox has been put away*."

And I'm not just picking on girls either! Boys really should be careful what they wear as well. Costumes seem to be getting more racy and violent/gory-looking for the males. Holy-moly! Remember men/women, what you wear is seen not only by your peers, but parents and younger children WHO LOOK UP TO YOU!

So, maybe it's time to be a grown-up and realize that self-expression does not necessarily mean to downgrade and objectify yourself.

with that said, have a happy and safe halloween!

sarahjo

p.s. To those who I offended:: please remember that my blog is not here to please all people. I'm not afraid to step on toes. Therefore, I will not apologize. Especially when it comes to immodesty.

the best {feeling}

I love days off.

No makeup, plain white t-shirt.

These are the days I feel the most beautiful.

The most like myself.

sarahjo

{who decides?}

I've always loved Everlife. This is just one more reason. Because no one can honestly say that they don't look in the mirror and critique themselves. More to come on this issue. I'm pretty passionate about it.

{sorry the video sounds so horrible}

sarahjo