some things you should know

This past weekend we took a group of students to Springfield, MO for a conference. Overall the conference was great. there were a few highlights which are things that I think you should know.
1. Shaine Claiborne. (Yes, this is a pic of him making his own clothes)

If this name is unfamiliar to you then you must swiftly click here to learn about who this man is. one of His books, The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical, has been used as a tool of the Holy Spirit to encourage people to DO SOMETHING!

Check this out to see a list of other things you should maybe consider reading.

2. Family Force 5.

Again. If this name is unfamiliar to you and you love to dance and have a good time. DO NOT HESITATE TO CLICK HERE! I was the proud leader of a group who was not afraid to get their dance on! We had so much fun and we sweat like crazy people..."who is this unlikely group of 14-30+ year olds?" I asked myslef...

it is these people. Do they look like a crazy bunch of students, maybe not...but they are dancin fools, and I am proud to call them my kids.

3. Scott Erickson.

Do you know him? You should...Andrew and I met Scott and Holly two years ago at National Youth Workers Convention. We just chatted at their table for a few minutes...Scott had done some art for the book "The Gospel according to LOST" by Chris Seay. This intrigued us, since we love LOST. This year he collaborated with one of our favorite artists, Derek Webb on a project called Feedback. You are going to need to check this out. It is an instrumental electronic album based on the Lord's prayer. It is delicious. We had just gotten the album this year when we went back to NYWC and wanted to tell Scott what we thought of it...we went up and said "hey" and out of it grew 3 new friends...well we havent met the newest addition, little Anders, their 5 week old baby, but he was in Holly's belly, so it totally counts.

Anyway...Scott was there painting in worship. It is always a blessing watching the creative process...and Scott and my husband may be long lost brothers...they are really similar and so his company is fun for Andrew and me. Keep your eyes out for Scott...you will know him soon enough , and if you want to know him now...CLICK HERE!

Hopefully this has either been a confirmation of your awesomeness for knowing these people or has opened your eyes and heart for some new visual, mental, spiritual and audio inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by!

The Print is in!

Here it is! The print ya'll voted on! And Andrew holding it!

Thanks everyone!

Thanks

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for voting. I went with number 5, Cinque Terre.

Not a whole lot has happened in the last few days that I am ready to blog about, but here is one funny story so I don't just leave you hanging.

It has been really cold here. Last night, Andrew and I got home at like 9:00 and had to drag in the trash can and the recycle bins. The plastic handles were FREEZING. So we are already cold (we live too close to home for our car to even warm up) and now our hands are frozen. I hate being cold like this.
So we get inside and we are standing there and Andrew says. "My hands are freezing." I start to think about the warmest part of my body and it was my waist - due to layering and a coat. I take his hand and lift my shirt up a little on the side and try to put his hand on my side...(totally being silly)
He starts screaming and trying to pull away, "NO, I can't let you do this to yourself, you hate being cold, No! Don't do it, I can't let you!!"
At this point we are both cracking up and I am yelling and pulling his wrist, "I am willing to do this for you...I hate seeing you cold! Just let me!"
"Your willingness is enough, Don't do this to yourself!"

We can barely stand up we are laughing so hard and then he lets me put his hand on my side. at this point, his hand is FREEZING!!!!!!! So cold that I can't speak. I just put my head on his shoulder and squeeze my eyes shut (yes, this looked as weird as it sounds)!
He steps back after about 30 seconds and looks at me...then I say, "My side is so cold" (with a laugh, of course) So then the unthinkable happens. He lifts up his shirt to show his side and pushes it against my side that he just made freeze...and then he says. "Holy cow, Your Side is Cold!"
when that moment was over, we just laughed about how weird we are.
And I like to think that you are that weird too, you just don't tell people.
Thanks for stopping by.
Sarah

I need you to vote!!!

Our church has a missions auction each year and this year I decided to put a piece of my work in. So I donated an image printed on canvas, but now I have the hard job of decided which piece to blow up and print on canvas. So I decided to leave it in your hand. Friends and Family, Please Don't Leave me Hanging!!!
I need you to comment today and vote on the image that you would purchase to hang in your home! Majority rules...so I am really hoping more than one of you comment. And. if you read my blog and have commented before, I know you are out there...I will find you and ask you which one I should go with! Feel free to pick more than one and I will take the most popular. So here they are! (It will be 20x24)


1. ocean (minus the hand in the bottom left corner)
2. Italy, Piazza San Marco
3. Night Waves
4. Flying Italian Flag in Venice
5. Cinque Terre
6. Italian Country Side
7. Colorado Train Track
8. The other side of Vegas at night.
9. Wall Crawlers
10. Fountain at night
11. Light Instillation View 1
12. Light Instillation View 2
13. Wall tree
(will edit more vividly)
PLEASE VOTE!

Worship art

Below you will find two paintings that I did in the last week. What you are seeing is a new endeavor for me. It is my response to God's goodness spoken through song and message during a worship service. This first one is about God revealing himself to us by setting us free and breaking the chains/bondage of sin. Amen. I did this one during worship night at LUMY (our youth group) on Valentines day. I didn't have a camera, but I had my flip, so this video is of the painting I did in response to God showing up in places that we don't expect. The words on it are "Your love makes it worth it" and that is a line from one of the songs that the worship team at Life Christian Church in Lee's Summit led. the song was called "I Surrender". Our dear friends Elliot and Joy had us come down and speak/minister to their youth group on Wednesday night, 2-17-10. (ignore the talk in the background. we were deciding where to eat after youth)

This is something that I have seen people do, but I have never done it (till this week). I am excited to see how the Lord will use this new found gift and fun response to worship.

Thanks for stopping by!

Sarah

in the bedroom

Hello. I told you we may try a video blog today, and this is what we came up with.

I should note (my mom says) that there is a TV on the other side of the curtains that can be closed off! TV is not romantic!

these are the itso cubes and you can get them at Target.

Here is a suggestions.

This duvet set is from Target, totally gender neutral. The piping is yellow. So instead of painting the bedroom bright sunshiny yellow, go with a smokey grey. (and yes, you can do dark wood with grey!)

Add some elements/details of yellow, white, glass and silver and call it smokey hot!

check out Target for more

These vases are studly!!

Bud vases on the dresser would be so cute!

these are from Crate and Barrel...so great.
Shiny silver lamp with white shade would look amazing against a grey wall.

Funky art work, if you don't know anyone who is an artist check out Urban Outfitters.
cute yellow towel, or clothes hook...for a little funk.
this is the little door pull from target we put on the itso's.

Put it together and VIOLA! Remember it is good to have elements that are classy and elements that bring the personality into the room!

Hope this is inspiring!!

Love to you!

S