Sarasparks11's Weblog

My Excuse= COLLEGE

sarasparks11 — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 01:56:36 +0000

I do still love blogging Okay, soo it’s definately been a really long time since i’ve written! And my main reason is collleeege homework & studying is taking over my LIFE. I heard how hard and consuming it would be, but now I actually am experiencing it. : ) Let’s just say homework is never-ending. Well, i’m going to Collin College- the Spring Creek campus. I’m taking US history, College Algebra, Psychology, and English. 3 of which are with one of my best friends, Jamey, and about 3 people from Allen in every class. Grade 13 i like to say! Doesn’t bother me too much, it makes it more comfortable. I’ve enjoyed Psychology the most. Lately, we’ve been learning about different lab experiments that have been done, like a shock generator that shocks someone in the other room if they didn’t get a question correct, while the “teacher” is sitting behind them telling them to keep going. (The person on the other end isn’t actually being shocked.) What they found is the man/woman doing the shocking felt that they had to obey the higher authority sitting behind them telling them to continue. I thought it was interesting that even though they had all the right to just say no and get up and leave the experiment, they continued. So that tells us.. other people control our decisions haha

What else has been going on.. well I’m missing my friends of course but haven’t had too much time to worry about that! I’ve been blessed to be the 7th grade girl small group leader this year, which is super excittingg!! The Back2School Retreat was a blast for the kids I could tell. Since Ken Freeman stood directly infront of me and my little 7th graders, I KNOW they were paying attention the whole time! He really touched the kids that night and I love hearing him speak. And of course, Nick Thurmand was awesome!! The whole weekend was great, I got to spend a lot of time with 3 of the girls I will have this year, they are so sweet and i’m looking forward to watching them grow. The Scavenger hunt we did Saturday was wonderfully planned by my boyfriend, Andrew Miller, and I was proud to know how to spell his middle name and know his Xbox Live name! ; ) And getting a lot of free donuts from KrispyCreme, because supposably someone called in 100 dozen donuts that morning! It was fun.

Life is good. I have a few things im looking forward to like the plano balloon festival next weekend and the weekend after that.. the State Fair begins!!

I’m determined to start writing again, so I will!

Sisterhood of the Traveling Eight!

sarasparks11 — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 09:43:22 +0000

My seven best friends Now & Forever

It’s the people who hug you & never want to let go, the people who you haven’t seen for months, but nothing has changed at all, the people who give to you more than you give to them, the people that truly understand who you are, the people who you cry about, the people who you live for, the people in your photographs that have light genuinely shining through their eyes & their smile, the people that take your breath away.

I’ve known some since I was 8.. and met a few just 4 years ago, but we’ve grown so much together. I can’t believe the time is actually here.. College? already! I’ve broke down and cried a few times in the past week, because all summer I knew I had more and more time to spend with my best friends..but it seems like the time has completely flashed before my eyes. I now have a few days. I’m used to seeing every one of them just about every single day during the school year..but high schools over and they’re all leaving except Jamey and Paige. Jamey and I are taking every class together except one at QuadC Spring Creek(soo excited!), while Paige goes to QuadC in McKinney. It’s so tough, especially for myself, because I have such a hard time saying good bye to anyone I love.

We went to see Sisterhood of Traveling Pants on opening night, all 8 of us! Which takes a week in advance to get all 8 of us together, but it’s soo worth it!! It was an ammazing girly movie! It’s funny in the movie how different they are but they’re still best friends and I think thats’s a lot like us. Jamey, Mallory and I cried throughout the movie..and Kels slept. lol I love all of them so much for different reasons! Tuesday night, we had a girls night sleepover, the last one before college! We danced, made videos, ate candy, talked about how our lives could change, about how our college lives would be, and made a regular midnight run to, our favorite place… McDonalds!! I can’t express how sad I am inside.. I know my life has to change at some point, but I don’t feel like i’m ready to let go yet. Friends have always been sooo important to me, and I’ve given them all that I have and I’ve always had a close group of friends that I did everything with. I don’t know if I’ve gone through anything as hard as this, and I’ve tried my hardest not to dwell on it too much. I don’t know how I’m going to make it without them.. but I guess we will see..

I love yall more than anything, with all of my HEART.

The Babysitting Life!

sarasparks11 — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 09:12:01 +0000

Wow.. do I looove babysitting at 7 am, four days a week. just kidding, it’s not thaat bad. The mornings consist of watching ten episodes of cartoons like spongebob, and myself trying not to fall asleep on the big warm couch cause it’s so early. (I probably just need more sleep). They don’t like to play very much.. the boys are just glued to their DS’s, while me and the little girl play Barbie’s and dolls. Which I love! lol They aren’t very active kids if you know what I mean, it’s hard to handle sometimes. I mean, I try to get them up! I’m used to babysitting kid’s and being on-the-go every second with a new game or another jump in the pool. This has been a little different though. But on the positive side, sometimes they catch me off guard big time, and it’s not the first time they’ve asked me about God! I’ve learnt to be on my toes. Every day. Today, around 12:30 we all 4 piled in the car for lunch at McDonald’s! On the drive, I heard the boys talking in the back quietly then the oldest Jake asked “Would God ever cover the world with darkness?” And I said Well, he has the power to do that…but he wouldn’t ever.” Then they started talking about Pokemon. Little while later, I hear Jake say “Jared! God can do anything!!….. he has a.. God sword!” Haha I loved it. I know they’re so curious, but the family doesn’t go to church. I try to talk to them though.. It’s interesting.

Well, I paid my college tuition today. YAY!! I’m so excitied! Everythings done…except finding my books, hopefully in good condition- used! August is going to FLY BY it looks like! Now.. if it could only get cooler outside. I’m So beyond ready for winter…and I NEVER say that during summertime.

I LOVE my Kenny Chesney.. and I especially love this song!

Daddy how does this thing fly?
A hundred other where’s and why’s
You really don’t know but we try
Thank God for Kids

When you look down in those trustin eyes
That look to you, you realize
Its love that you can’t buy
Thank God for Kids

Thank God for there’s magic for a while
A special kind of sunshine in a smile
Do you ever stop to think? or wonder why?
The nearest thing to Heaven is a child

When you get down on your knees tonight
To thank the Lord for his guiding light
And pray they turn out right
Thank God for Kids
Thank God for Kids

my beautiful children.. memories

Exciting weekend!

sarasparks11 — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:17:36 +0000

Well, Friday I went to the Ft. Worth Zoo! Andy, Joe, Austin, Adam and I left at about one, and it was SO HOT, but I loved it anyway. :] Andy didn’t enjoy it as much because he started feeling sick. He wanted Joe and I to make the video for church on Sunday so we ran to get some goofy zoo hats! We made two, and saw some huge snakes and crocodiles!! Then, ran back to get Andy to get out of there! That night we played Broomball at the Stonebriar Mall’s ice skating rink! I fell flat on my face at one point when I went to swing for the ball. My right cheek is still a little bruised. Saturday! I got to have an amazing day shoppin with my mom!! I love our shopping saturdays, even though I probably spent more than I should have. eh. Steak & Shake for lunch and Starbucks later just remind me of shopping. I love it. After getting home at about 6, my friend Jamey came over and we went to see Journey to the Center of the Earth in 3d…okay and it’s amazing!! It’s a good movie for anyone. We had a over-due girl’s night sleepover together, since she’s the only close friend of mine staying here for collin college. I don’t want August 18th to come, even though I know it’s so soon, I ‘m going to be pretty much a wreck!! I woke up to find my friend, Mallory had come over after I fell asleep, so I was really happy to see her! After church Sunday morning, Andy running out of gas & having to make a few trips to get more, we finally got to spend the whole day together! A trip to IKEA(piece of heaven!), watching about 50 episodes of Friends, and then having Rach, Jaime, Shelby & Joe over for the famous GAME NIGHT! We played Disney Scene It and Music Scene It, both soo much fun! After that Andy and I watched Transformers!! I’d never seen it and it was way more than I expected! It held my attention from beginning to end.. so that’s a good sign!

All in all, it was a great weekend. I get to pick up my high school yearbook this morning… and I’m really really excited!! For some reason I love yearbooks.. probably because i’m obsessed with pictures. hah

I Left My Heart In Mexico

sarasparks11 — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 04:23:34 +0000

MY FIRST BLOG!! YAY I’m so excited.

So, we got back from Mexico two days ago and I’m still missing it. The farther we drove home, the sadder I felt because I wish I could have done more for them. I walked in my house yesterday at 3 and just noticed how many pointless things I had in my house that I don’t need. If everyone wouldn’t buy all these little things.. we could house every family in Acuna! Don’t get my wrong, I’m so extremly thankful for everything I have been blessed with, but It still makes me sad to think about what they are doing this very second. I hope everyone knows how lucky we are to have this life. I keep listening to All We Need Is You by Charlie Hall over and over and over. “Rich or poor God I want you more than anything that glitters in this world”. Nothing can glitter more than God and anyone can give their heart to him. It’s such a pretty song. & just explains how even though they’re so poor, all they need is God.. and they have everything.. and it’s awesome cause they knew that.

I learnt and grew spiritualy so much every day by being there. I felt things I had never felt before, and honestly I can’t even describe it even now. I remember the first day, everyone getting a little frustrated that they couldnt say everything that they wanted to say to the children because of the language barrier we had. We soon realized though that it didn’t even matter. All they wanted was unconditional love, and I know every one of us had our heart on our sleeve the whole week. The kids were all so loveable and had smiles on their faces when they saw us walk in the room. I’ve never worshiped and sang so much last week, it was so amazing. Day, afternoon, and night, it was constant and I loved it. One night, when we went back to Acuna for a church service I saw God work in a wonderful way! Josh went to the front not really knowing what he was going to have to sing. A woman from the front row, who spoke no english, walked up and grabbed the mic. she began singing and Josh started playing that song on the guitar, then he would sing right at teh note she left off at. It was amazing how they both knew what part the song was at. Also! I saw my love, Andy, lead about 20 kids to accept Jesus Christ in a prayer. He did it Perfectly!! I was so excited for him. :) Josh said something last week while we were all singing outside that I keep thinking about. He said there’s so many different ways to feel God, sometimes through nature, worship, love for people, scripture.. and that’s so true. I see God in every sunset that I go craaazy about and have to take a picture of! And I loove all kinds of people. I love listening to stories and trying to connect with them. Also, that night it was Andy, Josh, Will, Jaime, Hunter and I who were outside and at the end we decided to pray in a circle. Hunter is going into 7th grade and he had been telling me earlier in the week how he was scared to pray outloud, and actually I was in the exact position as he was. I’d never prayed outloud with people.. and honestly, I didn’t know why I was so nervous and throughout the beginning of the week I kept getting upset as to why I couldn’t just do it when someone asked me to or when I felt I wanted to. Andy talked to me and helped me understand it’s whenever I was ready I would be able to. That night though, we all started to pray and after the first person we were all crying. I prayed outloud, and I was so happy. Then, Hunter was last and there was silence then he said “Is it my turn?” and Jaime and I completely lost it, we started crying our eyes out and he said the most amazing prayer. It was a perfect moment. One of the highlights of the week.

Anyways, the week was INCREDIBLE for so many reasons. All the people were soo passionate about God and about their families even though they didn’t have very much at all. They were content. I know we changed lives and I really hope that they remember what they learnt and the kids read their bibles. I thought my relationship with God had grown a lot at Wild Week a month ago, but I have come to find out I was so wrong! God really worked in me this week and made me stronger and placed, me and every one who went, more and more love into our hearts to give to the children. It wouldn’t have been what it was without his presence in us.

Fire’s on the side of the road, dogs on every corner, the HUGE fun hill, speed bumps, swimming in the lake in Del Rio, shopping, the pet deers, intense hammock riding with jaime as the boys almost flipped us, the water fight!, chocolate pudding… loved it all.

I gave her a half of a heart necklace.I have the half that says Best and she has Friends. It was the best feeling EVER when I pulled it out and put it around her neck, she jumped and latched onto me. It was amazing!

The three girls I gave jewerly to.