After

The procedure went well yesterday.  I was quite nervous about it.  I wasn’t completely under, I was awake, but I couldn’t feel anything.  I remember a few things but for the most part I was out of it.  It didn’t start hurting until I got home.  I have kept ice packs on, which I’m sure has helped.  But the thing that has hurt the most is swallowing.  It’s so much worse than I expected.  Hopefully I’ll heal up quickly.  I have been trying to drink lots today, water and vitamin waters and juices.  The only things I was able to eat were apple sauce, yogurt, and broth.  I tried to eat some mashed up potato but couldn’t do it.  So far this whole wisdom teeth removal hasn’t been too much fun.  At least it’s no where near as bad as the pilonidal cyst or staph infections and all that came with those.  I know this too will pass, it will just take time.  I just hope this pain while swallowing goes away soon, it’s horrible.  But I can’t complain because I know it could be worse.

~Sarah

Wisdom Teeth

Tomorrow I am getting my wisdom teeth out.  And I’m actually really nervous about it.  I shouldn’t be, considering all the other things I’ve been through.  But I am nervous.  The way this dentist does it, is a way called conscious sedation.  I just took a pill, before bedtime, and then I will take three more tomorrow before my appointment.  And supposedly that puts me out of it, but I will still be awake.  The dentist said that most people don’t remember anything afterwards at all, but during the procedure you are awake and when he says turn your head to the left or something, you can do it.  I wish I could be completely out, but that is kind of excessive for just getting your wisdom teeth out.  So this is the way it will go, and I know everything will be fine afterwards.  But right now, and I’m sure up through the procedure, I am very nervous about it.  I know everything will be okay.  I just have to remember all that I went through during 2008 and know that if I could get through all that, than this will be a piece of cake.  So 3:00 tomorrow the surgery will take place, hopefully all will go well! 

~Sarah

I’m not that great with this whole blogging thing…

So It’s been almost two months since I’ve written anything, and I wish I was better at updating this.  I’m not even sure anyone checks this anymore.  Last time I wrote something, we were still in school.  I was trying to get through the crazy semester. Well, we got through it, and with pretty decent grades.  Cory did very well and I did much better than I thought.  I was so nervous about checking grades, but they ended up alright.  I’m glad that semester is over, although we both enjoyed it and learned so much.  It was exhausting and I had never been so ready for a break. 

We came to my house after the semester ended.  And then the next week my family and Cory and I went on a family vacation to California.  The trip was amazing.  It was wonderful to get to experience some of the west coast with Cory.  We saw some absolutely breathtaking sights.  We rented an r.v. and so we were able to drive around to different places and just stay in campsites each night.  We flew into San Jose and stayed in a hotel the first night.  Then we drove the next morning, stopped at the Santa Cruz boardwalk, everyone except mom and I rode one of the oldest wooden roller coasters.  It was a quick stop, but it was neat.  It was like an all year round carnival on the coast.  After that we drove a little more to the Monterey Bay Aquarium.  It was a really cool aquarium that was right on the water.  Then we drove to Big Sur.  We were in a great campground surrounded by amazing redwood trees.  We stayed two nights there.  We had campfires, hiked, ended up horseback riding to the coast.  It was a really neat place and the trees were amazing.  After Big Sur we went to Sequoia.  We stayed at a campground one night that was at Three Rivers, and the site was right on the river.  It was a neat campground, even though we weren’t there very long.  We got up early the next morning and drove to Seqouia where we saw some awesome Sequoia trees.  It was incredible how large they were.  We saw General Grant tree and walked around for a bit.  Then we drove to Yosemite.  The drive on Highway 1 was unbelievable.  You are right on the edge of cliffs, driving parallel to the ocean.  We stopped a couple times, looked at the elephant seals, walked down to the coast, stopped to see the amazing views.  It was a drive that can definitely make you sick with all the twists and turns and driving along cliffs, but it was awesome.  The views were spectacular.  We drove through Yosemite, just to see the area a bit.  Words cannot describe the breathtaking views and scenery.  Driving out of the tunnel to see the amazing “tunnel view” was incredible.  Pictures don’t do justice.  We went down to the Yosemite village to meet up with some friends.  One of my dad’s best friends from high school and his wife and son met us there to go along with our hike up Half Dome.  So after talking and catching up for a bit we drove back out of the park to the campground.  We stayed there for two nights. 

The following day was the big hike up Half Dome.  This was one of the hardest and most challenging things all of us had ever done.  I’m so glad Cory and I were able to do it together.  It was mentally and physically hard and exhausting.  It was about a 18 mile hike round trip, and it took us 12 hours.  I didn’t go up to the peak.  Once you get to one part you have to walk up the side up narrow steps with nothing around you but the open sky, and then you get to the next part which is cables.  And you climb up using the cables to the top.  I knew I wouldn’t be able to do it.  I was exhausted and I don’t like heights.  I would have gotten dizzy walking up those stairs seeing an 8,000 foot drop on either side of me.  I was so proud of Cory for trying.  He got farther up than I did.  But then it started storming.  It was so scary.  Lightning and thunder was going off around us and then it started raining and hailing.  It was crazy weather.  We started heading back down.  The rain stopped and the sky cleared up.  It was amazing how much easier is was going down than it was going up.  The hardest part about going down was the pressure it put on your knees.  My knees were hurting so bad.  And then your toes start hurting too, from them jamming into your shoes.  Anyway, when we all made it down, we were drenched in sweat and dirt and extremely sore.  We all slept so good that night, but the next day we were all completely sore. We drove back into the park though and went to the gift shop and looked at some more waterfalls and such.  Then we drove to San Francisco. 

We originally planned on spending three nights in Yosemite and two in San Francisco, but we decided to change it and have two in Yosemite and three in San Fran.  That first night, since we didn’t have a campsite, we stayed at my dad’s friend’s place (the one who hiked Half Dome with us).  They were so gracious to let us have the r.v. out front and some of us to sleep inside and to use their bathrooms and cooking us meals.  They were extremely hospitable and we were so thankful.  The next day we took his car, instead of the giant r.v., to the city.  We did the tour of Alcatraz, which was so cool!  And we walked around the city for a little bit.  We walked around Pier 39, drove down Lombard street, drove down the steepest street in the city, and just drove around and then we went back to his house, cleaned up, and drove out to the campsite.  This site was right on the coast.  We walked down to the water, which was freezing and then we watched the Magic game.  The following day we took a taxi back to the city.  We walked around Union Square and went into some stores.  Then we walked down to China Town.  We took the taxi back to the site.  We cleaned up and the next morning drove back to San Jose, dropped the r.v. off with the owner and went to the airport.  It was an amazing trip.  It was a lot of work though, and a whole lot of driving for my dad.  So it was a different kind of a vacation, but it was great to be able to see lots of different places. 

We got back to the house after midnight, and the next day Cory had to drive down to Montgomery to start work.  I’m going to put pictures from the trip up on facebook soon, but pictures really don’t do justice for some of the incredible landscapes and sceneries.  I’m just at home, trying to enjoy summer, trying to help around the house.  I have to get my wisdom teeth out at some point, and go to doctor and dentist appointments and all that.  In July I will head down to Orlando.  I’m sure the rest of the summer will fly by and before I know it, it will be fall semester.  But things are good.  Cory and I are reading a book together this summer, since we aren’t in the same area, and I’m excited about that.  Anyway, I know I say this a lot, but I’m going to try to get better at this blogging thing

~Sarah

Just some random thoughts…

Friday we had our second Greek test for the semester.  I have really struggled in Greek this semester and I wished I was a better student.  It takes a lot of time to devote to studying, and for me it takes a lot longer than other people to grasp something.  For someone else it may take only an hour to memorize the vocab and know the forms and endings and such, but for me it takes several hours.  I really studied hard for the test.  We have a quiz every week, but only a few tests throughout the semester.  I studied hard, but I still was so nervous going into it.  Going into that room makes me nervous or something.  I’m not sure what it is.  But I tend to confuse myself and question myself and get nervous.  I really psych myself out in that class.  Anyway, I tried my hardest on the test.  I did so much better than the last test.  But we’ll see how it went.  I don’t like disappointing myself, especially when it comes to school and academics, and I really don’t like disappointing my professors. 

Anyway, these last few weeks of school are going to be CRAZY!  There is so much to do for every class.  I really am going to try hard to end well.  It’s going to be hard, and it will take so much time to get it all done.  But Cory and I keep encouraging each other that we can do it!  Tomorrow we have a disputatio (debate) for Christian Doctrine over the atonement.  It will be interesting.  I’m nervous about it, but as long as all the teams clearly establish their appointed viewpoints, it will be good.  The disputatios are a really neat way to learn about different ways of thinkings and different ideas the church has had to deal with. 

My heart was truly blessed at church this morning.  Pastor Ben talked about Nehemiah and his heart as a great leader.  We went over Nehemiah 1, and dove into his prayer.  It was a convicting and encouraging and humbling message.  It was a really wonderful message. 

Oh, and since the house in Florida closed last week, my parents were able to close on the house in Tennessee on Friday!  Yay!  It’s so wonderful how the Lord provides!  It’s been quite a journey, having to move again in February after moving to Tennessee in August, but it all works out in the end, doesn’t it?  And it’s all good!

Well, I’ll be off to the library soon, just working on stuff in my dorm now.  It’s going to be a great week, because, as Cory likes to say and remind us,  :)  He is risen! 

~Sarah

Darlene Deobler Rose’s Testimony

Cory and I are in a class this semester called Contemporary Christian Life and Practice.  It has been a wonderful course, full of practical, Biblical ways of living the Christian life and all that that entails.  When we were on the topic of suffering we were supposed to listen to this mp3 of Darlene Rose’s testimony.  This is about an hour and 17 minutes long, but I urge everyone to find time to listen to it.  Her powerful testimony will help see how much we have to be grateful for and how spoiled we are.  We have no right to complain about anything we go through or any situation we are in.  I doubt any of us have ever been in a situation like Darlene was in, and yet she had such a better attitude and Christlike spirit than anyone I’ve ever known, or in this case listened to.  I hope you find the time to listen to this or buy her book called “Evidence Not Seen.”  Please take the time to listen to her story.  I hope to have such an intimate relationship with my Lord as she did, where I can hear His voice and know His gentle voice, be so grateful for everything and hide the Word in my heart.  You cannot listen to her testimony and not be changed, unless your heart is so hardened by your pride and selfishness.  Anyway, I’m so grateful to have been told of this incredible woman of the Lord and will continue to share her with others.  Our God is amazing.  We are never alone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9k5WuqIuSQ

~Sarah

Registering for classes

Well registration for classes for the fall starts on Monday, so Cory and I have spent hours and hours trying to figure everything out.  I don’t think people realize how hard it is transferring.  And it is not likely that in transferring you will finish in two years.  We’ve figured out that we are going to have a completely full schedule for our senior year.  And its not just full, but overloaded.  But we are pretty sure we will be able to graduate in May of 2010, which is awesome.  We will just have to persevere through the rest of this semester and then next year.  It’s going to be hard, that’s for sure.  16 credits is the recommended max and anything over that you have to fill out special paperwork and go to the registrar to get approved.  I had to do that for this semester, and it’s been very hard.  So we’ll just have to see how next year goes. 

~Sarah

The House Closed!

Hallelujah, God is good!  Our house in Florida closed yesterday!  I am so very thankful that this burden has been lifted off of my parents.  It is such an answer to prayer and such a relief.  My whole family is so grateful to everyone who was so faithful to consistently pray for the house to sell.  It was an encouragement to hear that people were praying.  Thank you to everyone who has been praying.  And thank you for rejoicing with us.  This is such an awesome thing that has happened.  My family has constantly been reminded, through all the trials we have been through together, that our God is good and He reigns and He holds us in His mighty hands and He knows the perfect timing for all things.  I am thankful for our trials.  I am thankful for everything the Lord has shown my family through this house situation.  And He continues to bring my family closer and closer together.  Whatever we face next, whenever that is, we will be more ready for it.  Praise the good Lord for allowing the house to sell and the closing to go smoothly!  Praise God! 

~Sarah

Easter!!!

It’s been a great weekend at home.  I have truly enjoyed being around my family these past couple of years more than ever.  Through all the trials we have been through, we have become so much closer.  I appreciate my parents and my family so much.  They mean the world to me.  I love being able to spend time at home.  This weekend has been great.  We watched a couple movies, Slumdog Millionaire (so good!) and Yes Man (some funny parts).  We went to Amy’s track meet, did some schoolwork, relaxed, and tried to plan out a family vacation for the summer.  We had a wonderful supper with some friends and the family today.  But we definitely missed Chip!  There was a powerful message of Jesus’ saving, redemptive grace and the hope we have in Him…some extraordinary testimonies were shared in a neat and powerful way.  God has been teaching me a lot this weekend, through many different things.  Overall it’s been a wonderful weekend.  We will head back to school soon.  And now it’s the home stretch….about 6 more weeks.  It’s going to be tough.  I’m ready for this semester to be over, even though we’ve been learning so much.  It’s been great…just really hard.

~Sarah

another break

Tomorrow we have off of school because of Good Friday.  I think it is very appropriate to have tomorrow off as we celebrate the Easter weekend.  And I am looking forward to another break.  Even though we just had spring break a couple weeks ago, it is good to have another break.  I guess that shows how crazy this semester has been if I’m ready for another break already.  This has been a very hard semester.  And even though it is technically a break this weekend, Cory and I have so much schoolwork and studying to be doing, we will definitely be busy.  But about six more weeks of school.  We sign up for fall classes next week.  And that is another thing we have to work on this weekend, is our class schedules.  So anyway, we both want to finish well and push through the end of this semester.  It’s been hard and challenging.

~Sarah

It’s Been Awhile

Well the last time I signed on and wrote an update on here was during Jan. term.  So that alone should tell you how busy life has been recently.  It would take a long time to write about everything that has gone on since January, so I’ll just say, things have been really crazy, but overall good.  This spring semester has been very overwhelming at times and very hard, but I have enjoyed the classes and all that we are learning.  I am taking 19 credit hours this semester so taking so much has taken a toll on me.  Spring break provided a much needed break from school.  Cory and I went down to Florida and spent some great time with his family and we got to see some friends as well.  We had a wonderful time out at Bay Hill one day.  It was just a wonderful break.  Now we are back in the swing of things at school.  We get out May 22nd, which is later than most schools, but that is because we have a term in January, like a summer term, that we can come to, so spring semester doesn’t start till February.  This has been a really hard and challenging semester.  It has taken a lot out of me.  Classes are really demanding.  But I applied to be an R.A. next year, my senior year, and I found out on Friday that I got one of the open spots!  I’m so excited!  I know it’s going to be a challenge, but I’m really so thrilled to have this opportunity.  There were so many amazing girls that applied, and so few spots, I’m not sure why I was chosen over others, but I know God has a purpose and plan.  It will be quite a wonderful year next year!  Also, in these next few days I am going to make a final decision about summer plans.  I have two options, both things I would love to do, so it’s hard having to decide between them.  My heart is torn, but a decision will be made in the next couple of days.  Wherever the Lord wants me, I know I will be.  I want to be faithful to His calling.  And I’m excited about this summer, no matter what path I choose.  So about six more weeks of this semester.  And this week is a short week, it will be nice to celebrate Easter with my family, we all wish Chip could be out here though.  Cory and I both want to finish out this semester strong.  Oh yeah…the closing on our house in Florida is a week from today, the 13th.  Please pray for that to all go through!  Once that house closes, my parents will close on the house they are in up here.  So these next couples days and weeks are full of decisions and such.  It should interesting.  The past weekend Cory and I helped out with a disciple now at a local church.  It was such a blessing.  It was really different than what we have been a part of in the past, but that was definitely a refreshing and good thing.  Both of our hearts were refreshed and blessed from this weekend.  A few more weeks of this spring semester and then Cory and I will be seniors!  Crazy! 

I’m going to try to update more often…

~Sarah