iPhone Photos

Some photos from the past few weeks. Forgive the poor guality!

How Duke and Moby spent most of the move.

More pictures of our beautiful shower are coming soon.

Our super laid back and perfect Thanksgiving with my Dad.
Thankful to the moon and back for these two amazing men.

Oh yeah, I have a blog.

After nearly six weeks of Ray living in Oklahoma working and me staying in Texas (and traveling to OK on the weekends), we finally closed on our house in Shawnee and moved in last Saturday!
The last two months have been long, short and crazy all at the same time.
We feel so incredibly blessed to be here in Shawnee, at First Baptist and in our own home.
I have never been so loved on and cared for by a congregation. Our church family without a doubt has the spiritual gift of hospitality and love.

The house is almost completely in order, minus Abigail's room, which I hope to have finished in the next week or so. It's hard to believe that we are a mere 5 weeks from meeting Abby.
I'll be surprised if she makes it that long though.
Thus far I've gained 23 pounds and it's possible she's all 23 pounds!
Not really, but my short torso has little-to-no room left and it's quite clear she's getting very uncomfortable.

Ready to pop?
I vote yes.

I hope to get pictures of the house and incredible shower the ladies of
FBC blessed us with up soon.

We truly have so much to be thankful for.
It's overwhelming.

Leaving church

You wouldn't think much was going on, due to the horrendous lack of blog

posts, but that is oh so untrue.

Over the last several months we have been walking through what can only be described as the most emotionally bipolar season of ministry; leaving church.

Mertens, Texas, a town of 125 (we lost about 25 elderly in the last census, as they were sure the government was going to use the information to spy on them). How in the world can you fall so deeply in love with a town of 125? I'm not sure, but it happened. I love this place. It's my home. It's the place where Ray and I spent the first three years of our new life together, figuring each other out and learning how to be married. It's the place where we've endured some of the hardest and most sorrowful days of our life.

It's the place where we were molded into ministers.

It's our home.

We knew this day would come.

My middle sister, Melissa, is a military wife. She knew what she was getting into. She understood that she was forfeiting the right, the choice and the freedom to decide where she lives and when she moves. She has a piece of art work hanging near her front door that reads,

"Home is where the Army sends us."

It's the same.

We knew that, we understood.

Following a call into vocational church ministry you forfeit choosing how, when and where you will go. You listen for the voice of God and watch for his direction and leading. And then, you go where God says go, trusting.

Sunday, September 11th, Ray was overwhelmingly and with great excitement called as pastor of First Baptist Church Shawnee, Oklahoma. In the church's 120 year history, no incoming pastor has ever received such a high vote (we're talking 99.7ish% which, non-baptist friends, is huge).

This process has been long and emotional. When we live life together with people so closely and you can't tell them this massive thing that's in the making, it's painful. Half the time you want to be excited, the other half you're sad and all the while you feel like you're cheating on your church. Sounds odd, but it's true. You feel like you're cheating on them and feel sick about the break-up you know is in the near future.

Faith.

Without complete faith that this is where God is leading us, and trusting that God will take care of all the details (i.e. finding a home), I'm positive this move would be impossible. It dawned on me a few weeks ago that I've lived in the same 3 hour radius for the last 22 years. My parents have just moved back home (about 45 mins from us), and I'm quickly approaching the 3rd trimester of our first successful pregnancy and we're moving?! To Oklahoma????? And here I've been trying in vain to get us to Colorado or San Francisco.

Nevertheless, God has been faithful to fill me with unending and very unsarah-like peace through this process. Doors have not merely opened, but have been blown down and cleared away so that we might not have any confusion concerning if we should walk through them or not. It is clear that God has been preparing Shawnee for a very new and different kind of pastor (With a history of older men with PHDs, a 27 year old and his 25 year old wife is quite daring). Although I do not know the plans God has for Mertens, I trust that just as God has been preparing us to leave, God has been readying someone else to come. We spent the majority of the day yesterday in people's homes and offices and on the side of a dirt road as a massive fire was put out, sharing the news. Not surprisingly we were overwhelmed with love and support. The people of Mertens continue to be so good to us.

So here we go. I'm gonna be an Okie.

(I'll be 29 weeks pregnant our first Sunday)

Time to pack.

September 6, 2008

Aside from the decision to follow Christ,

3 years ago today,

I made the best decision of my life.

I married this guy.

Ray,

I promise to devote myself to prayer, to fix my eyes on Jesus and to love you with a love that is not self-seking, easily angered, and keeps no record of wrongs.

I will clothe myself with compassion, patience, kindness, humility and gentleness.

My love will always protect, always trust, always hope and always persevere.

I promise to forgive and to forbear.

This I promise, that our marriage may be a picture of the Love of Jesus.

I pledge you my faithfulness.

Finally . . .

We (of course) had a name picked out for a boy.

After months of dreaming, playing around with a hundred different possibilities, throwing those out and starting over again.

After much thought,

Abigail Hope Miller

will be joining our family around the New Year.

It's kind of a interesting story, how we came about her name. In the middle of the night about 7 weeks ago, during one of my (many) nightly trips to the loo, I was talking to her and out of no where called her Abigail. I was pretty shocked, considering that name was no where on our radar and to be quite honest, I didn't really like it. But after that incident, every time I spoke to her in my head, Abigail just came flying out of my thoughts. Slowly we began to like it and eventually fell in love with it.

Ray came up with Hope. We had been kicking around grace or joy, but were having a hard time feeling great about either. While studying for his sermon, the theme of Hope kept coming up. Ray began to think back on our journey and how the power of Hope has gotten us here, 23 weeks pregnant. He ran to house and said " how about Abigail Hope?"

Of course.

Hope.

The theme of our journey to parenthood.

Abigail Hope.

Abigail Hope, though our prayers for you are endless, our deepest prayer, desire and hope for you is that you may know the love of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

A Love that has no bounds.

We look forward to the future with ceaseless hope.

Lord, have mercy

Nancy Lindborg, an official with the U.S. government aid arm, told a congressional committee in Washington on Wednesday that the U.S. estimates that more than 29,000 children under the age of 5 have died in the last 90 days in southern Somalia.

As I sit down to dinner with my husband tonight, may I truly give praise and thanks to God for blessings I take for granted. Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

It's aaaaaaaaaaaa. . . . . .

GIRL!!!!!

We are so stinkin' excited and feel incredibly blessed.

Quick! You don't have much time!

Tomorrow we find out if baby Miller is a Boy or Girl!!!!!

It's been very exciting to hear what people in our community are thinking

(most are voting boy).

Sooo cast your vote!

And we will let you know tomorrow after the party!

Greater

Our God is greater

Our God is stronger

God you are higher than any other

Our God is Healer

Awesome and power

Our God, Our God.

As these words were sung with abandon and passion this morning at church, my heart was overwhelmed with joy, thankfulness, humility and gratitude. What a beautiful message and reminder. The song continues on saying:

And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us?

And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?

And if our God is for us then who could ever stop us?

And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?

What can stand against?

Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine life would bring me and Ray on such a journey. Although our first 2 1/2 years marriage have brought some of the most difficult and painful experiences we have ever walked through, the fires have always died and our God has always been faithful to bring healing and life from wounds and death. Our journey has not only bonded us as friends and partners in a powerful way, it has (more importantly) brought us to our knees at the throne of God. We have individually and as a couple come to know and trust God in a more honest and profound way than we ever thought possible.

Through our journey, we have had moments in which we were certain the weight of pain would surely crush and kill us. But our God is greater, stronger, healer, awesome and power. God did not abandon us to darkness and pain. God did not allow flames to consume us or the water overtake us. God suffered along side of us and now has quite literally made beauty from ashes and brought life from death.

Today we, with unending humility and even more gratefulness, begin the celebration of the passing of the first trimester and the beginning of the second.

Our journey to this day has forever impacted how we view the life of this little one. He/She is a gift from God and is God's alone.

As the year continues on and the season Advent comes, we will be waiting to celebrate not only the arrival of our savior but also the long awaited arrival of our son (or daughter).

To God be all the glory and praise.

Life Can Be Hard . . .

. . . hasn't been lately.

Counting Down

In 10 days, I'll be headed here:

To spend TWO weeks with this cute pregnant lady:

Can't. Wait.

Happy Birthday!

A very big Happy Birthday to my precious brother, Tim on this Memorial Day Weekend.

Tim, we love you greatly and are so thankful for you.

You are truly a great man of God and a fearless follower of Christ.

We know the men and women you care for in Afghanistan

deeply appreciate your service to them.

Thank you for serving our country with such courage and unwavering loyalty.

We love you. We miss you.

Come home soon.

Prayer

Please pray for my brother Tim, as he leaves tomorrow for Afghanistan.

He will be gone for an entire year.

While he's away, my beautiful sister will be growing and giving birth to their first child.

May God protect all who serve and be near to the families trying to press on while they're away.

Food for thought.

Hoping these both ruin and enlighten your day in the best possible way.

Birthday Explosion

A very Happy Birthday to my brother, Ryan!

Soon after Ryan's, the beautiful girl in his arms, Ms. Anniston, will be turning 2 years old!

One of my most favorite people in the world, and arguably one of best moms ever, will be celebrating her birthday tomorrow.

Happy Birthday sweet friend, you are loved.

This handsome man will be 27 next monday.

I round out the month o' brithdays the day before this years' celebration of Easter.

BUT

The most important birthday is coming at the end of October/ early November to these precious people . . .

That's right, we've got a niece or (I think) nephew on the way and I personally could not be more stinkin' excited.

Celiac Celebration!

This month marks one year of being fully and 100% gluten free! I cannot express how thankful we have been for my diagnosis and the amazing affect it has had in mine and Ray's life. So, in celebration of this one year anniversary here is a list of some of the greatest Celiac resources I have found:

Books~

Celiac Disease: A hidden Epidemic

The Gluten-Free Bible

Wheat free Worry Free

1,000 Gluten-Free Recipes

Babycakes

Cooking for Isaiah

Magazine - Living Without

Websites:

http://www.cookitallergyfree.com/

http://www.glutenfreeda.com/

http://gluten-free-blog.blogspot.com/

http://glutenfreegirl.com/

http://simplygluten-free.com/

http://www.simplysugarandglutenfree.com/

http://www.jensglutenfreeblog.com/mission/

http://www.glutenfreeforgood.com/blog/

Happy Reading!

Thirsty Thursday

Water: Weighty and Wanting By: Sarah Chisolm Miller

While it is easily seen that America is battling a very serious epidemic of obesity, another war is raging that is not so easily seen, known or addressed: the epidemic of chronic dehydration.

Though this may seem absurd at first, let’s review the quick facts.

· Water composes 70% of an adult body

· Your lungs and heart are 70.9% water

· Your muscles are 75% water

· Your liver, 75.3% water

· Your spleen, 77% water

· Most importantly, your brain is a whopping 83% water

The average adult eliminates an estimated 6 lbs. (2.5 liters) of water, daily! As we lose and eliminate this water through breathing, sweating, and trips to the restroom, we must be working to replenish the eliminated. Why? So glad you asked!!

Water plays an integral role in all biological processes and events. Without the appropriate amount of water, the systems in our body cannot work properly, which leads to the breakdown of our health.

Did you know . . .

· Water is the body’s main source of energy?

· Water generates electrical energy for our 1 trillion+ cells?

· Water transports and circulates our blood cells?

· Water is the glue that binds solid parts of the cell together?

· Water prevents damage to our DNA, meaning less disease?

· Water supercharges the power of our immune system?

· Water is used to transport all substances in the body?

· Water increases the body’s ability to absorb nutrients?

· Water enables our body to remove toxic waste?

(for a more comprehensive list, read Dr. F. Batmanghelidj’s Water: For healing, for health, for life)

Possible signs of dehydration

· Feeling thirsty! Careful, the feeling of thirst may be interpreted as hunger. Feeling hungry? Drink at least 8-ounces of water first, wait a few minutes and see if you are truly hungry or were actually thirsty.

· Fatigue without reason

· Feeling flushed

· Feeling unreasonably short-tempered

· Feeling anxious

· Feeling depressed

· Disturbed sleep

· Short attention span

· Quickly becoming angry

· Unreasonable impatience

· Craving for manufactured beverages

(source: Dr. F. Batmanghelidj’s Water: For healing, for health, for life)

Water’s role in preventing and healing illness

· Water aids in reducing rheumatoid pain in the joints.

· Water plays a major role in preventing constipation.

· Water helps to reduce the risks of heart attack and stroke.

· Water prevents clogging of arteries in the heart and brain.

· Water enables our body to cool and heat itself.

· Water has the ability to increase your attention span.

· Water helps reduce stress, anxiety and depression.

· Water gives our brain the power to think!

· Water reduces fatigue.

· Water brings restoration to sleep rhythms.

· Water is preventative in childhood ADHD.

· Water makes the skin smooth and fight the aging of skin.

· Water helps to prevent glaucoma.

· Water reduces pain associated with PMS.

· Dehydration causes sex hormone production to decrease.

· Drinking water regularly and in the proper amounts significantly aids in weight loss (flushes out all those nasty toxins)!

· Increasing your intake of water helps separate the sensations of thirst and hunger.

· Drinking water can help reduce the occurrence of morning sickness during pregnancy.

· Water helps prevent memory loss as we age.

· Water helps to reduce addictive urges

Suggestions for increasing your intake of water

· Upon rising (after greeting the new day with joy and visiting the restroom), immediately drink at least 8 ounces of water (drink up to a liter or two if you’d like/can) before consuming any food or other beverages. This will refresh your organs and wake up your body, as well as give you an extra boost of energy to start the day.

· Go through the day and simply forget to drink water? Set up a schedule and allocate specific times in your day as water breaks.

· Not around an area where water is always accessible? Prepare the water you’d like to drink before hand and take it with you. Or, like me, purchase a BPA free water bottle and make it your newest appendage (meaning, carry it with you everywhere, all the time)!

· Help yourself establish the habit for drinking just like hand washing. Every time you visit the restroom, wash your hands then go have a glass of water.

· Competitive? Set up a friendly competition with your spouse or roommate. See who can consistently drink 2.5 liters (the recommended daily amount according to the World Health Organization) of water a day for one week. The winner can receive a new water bottle or gift card to your local health foods store. You can also take this competition to the work place and help improve the health and working environment of everyone in your office!

(For more ideas on increasing your water consumption, refer to Christopher Vasey’s The Water Prescription: For health, Vitality and Rejuvenation)

Take a day or two and record everything you eat and drink. How much water are you replenishing your system with? Once you begin consuming the appropriate amount of water you will notice a difference in many areas of you life, especially with your nutrition. As your body is properly flushing out toxins and keeping your digestive juices at proper levels, your intestinal tract will be able to receive the nutrients you are consuming. Also, by consuming a good amount of water, you will stop eating excess food that is not needed, which can lead to weight loss. Whatever your reason or approach, drink water! It truly holds the power to heal.

Who's your best friend?

Ask her that,

And she'll say, "uncle ray ray!!"

Incredible father in the making?

I vote, yes.

Project Restoration

A sweet sweet blessing best friends late nights laughter hot tubs road trip

soulful conversations good wine building fences new church perfect biscuits

picnics good books fresh juice stillness beautiful mountains crystals

running new dogs singing hymns great gf food rest meditation b&b

scripture dark clear nights journaling tears surrender

horses hiking Santa Fe joy thanksgiving family prayer movies dancing

worship PEACE

I promise we didn't bring the dog to worship

God still Reigns

First: Hugh thanks to lauren for giving my space here some much much needed love.

Second: Ray and I just got home from a deeply restorative week,

which I'll post more on soon.

Third: (And most importantly) Yesterday we were shocked and heartbroken to learn of the death of pastor and friend of Ray's, Clint Dobson. We are mourning alongside all our friends and family in Christ at North Pointe and FBC Arlington. Please consider joining us as we pray for healing and peace, especially for Clint's beautiful wife, Laura.

No matter what tomorrow brings, may we still remember that God still reigns.

facelift time!

Hello everyone, this is Sarah's friend, Lauren :). While Sarah and Ray have skipped town to get some much deserved R&R, I have hijacked Sarah's blog to make a few facelifts so that this blog does justice to the beautiful words Sarah shares on it. So, if you could pardon the dust, I'd be very thankful!

Have a great day!

How can you say that?

I met a woman at a party tonight. I had heard of her. She had heard of me.

She told me she had been praying for us.

We've had a lot of people reminding us of their fervent and constant prayers these days, and we are grateful for those reminders.

The last year and a half has been the most difficult of our lives. We lost a child, then three months later another. In the same week I was diagnosed with Celiac, and though it has been an incredible and life saving discovery it was drastically life changing. Last September I woke up to find I could not move; it took eight weeks to figure out my endocrine system was on the brink of complete destruction. We have worked diligently to change our lives and revive my health. Thankfully God placed the perfect people and resources in our path to help us on this journey.

One month ago tomorrow, filled with terror and brimming with hope, we learned another child was on the way. As the weeks went on and my health was better than hoped or expected we slowly began to dream.

Our third child was received into the presence of God last monday.

Miscarriage is an odd yet raw and real pain. It's the loss of possibilities and dreams. For us each experience has been different. This past week can be described as shockingly sober. Though you know it's possible, you never think it's going to happen again and again. Sobering in the realization that it is possible we will never be able to personally bring created life into this world. You simply never think that's going to happen. Not to you.

The woman I met tonight asked me how I was doing, to which I honestly responded, "I'm good." Confused, doubting and sure I was just trying to be polite she said, "really?" "How in the world can you say that?"

I can say that because God has radically changed me.

This is not the road I would have chosen. These are not experiences I would wish on anyone. Yet, through the events of the last 18 months I have learned more about who I am and who God is than ever before.

At the top of my blog is the statement "love deeply, live lightly." These trials have shown me how to live lightly. There is gracious, powerful freedom in holding lightly, in keeping your palms unclenched, your mind open and your heart willing. Heretic or not (depending on what you believe about God), I believe God was just as shocked on Monday as me and Ray. I don't believe our struggles are brought on, created or ordained by God. But I do, with all my being, believe in the truth that God will never abandon us, and that God has the ability to make beautiful things out of the dust (to steal a line from gungor).

Sweet freedom can be found in coming to the life-orienting realization that nothing is ours.

Nothing.

Not even our own bodies.

They are gifts. They are tools. They are sometimes flawed and will always waste away. So, why spend precious energy, focus, frustration and time trying to hold with a tight and controlling grip to things, places, people and dreams that are not our own? There is freedom in walking alongside God fully surrendered to the understanding and truth that nothing is our own.

I did not truly believe in this freedom until now.

Sure, (if you're anything like me) there is a fair amount of terror and paralyzing fear you must surrender to and walk through in order to get to this freedom. I mean come on, we're American Christains . . . masters of "being in control," right? Wrong.

Our precious friends and family have been an incredible community to us. Some are ready to wage war with God. Many keep saying "it's not fair." Most are simply willing to sit and be.

Yet, as I prepare to sleep and again wake to an unexpected reality this is what I've realized . . .

I am entitled to nothing and nothing I own is truly mine. Walking in freedom, though it is freedom I must surrender to, makes me more alive and more of who God created me to be than walking in fear with fists clinched tight.

Finally and above all, I have realized how deeply the truth of God penetrates and propels my life.

And the truth is that God is good.

God has been good.

God will be good.

God is still good.

No matter what comes. No matter what goes.

God is good.

the best

Without a doubt the best, most delicious, most amazing gf blog we have found to date.

I. Am. In. Love.

Ray has already made the vegan banana cinnamon french toast. yummmmmy.

Also, gf friends, I hope you are already planning to make it to this years expo!! In the spring it will be held in beautiful Chicago and in the fall, the not so beautiful but amazing Dallas.

Check out the events and presenters . . . . it's going to be incredible!

http://gfafexpo.com/

Quote of the Day

Nature is man's healer, because nature is man.

Deepak Chopra, M.D.

Quantum Healing

Soo Good Saturday

Things that I find soo good today!

Tazo Refresh Green Tea

Yoga with Seane Corn

On my purple mugger hugger mat

A Cuddly Puppy

And a date, with this handsome guy

Going Deeper

Have you been looking for material to aid you in going deeper in spiritual practices this year? Are you looking to train your soul in the Jesus Way without feeling overwhelmed or unequipped (which usually leads to false guilt and procrastination)? Please allow me to highly recommend a resource:

The Good and Beautiful God

By James Bryan Smith

This book was brought to my attention by the director of Spiritual Formation at Truett (my former boss). During the years of study at Truett, students are places in covenant groups which are meant to help give support through the ups and downs of school and to be a place we were can grow spiritually, in community. This semester students will have the opportunity to go through this book together as a group.

I began reading this week and Ray has joined me in the journey. It is insightful, calm and encouraging. At the end of each of the nine chapters, readers are given a "soul-training" exercise for the week, in which they are encouraged to intentionally look for God in places and through practices. You know what the first "soul-training," exercise is? Sleep. That's right, sleep. James Bryan Smith talks about the importance of rest, how God made it to be a natural part of our worldly rhythm and how we have (over time) begun to neglect this important spiritual practice. Now, that's not scary or daunting. Sleep, rest, be filled with energy and see how that affects you. Simple, yes?

It is highly encouraged by the author to work through these practices and chapters with another person; a spouse or roommate. Yet it can be just as effectively used as an individual.

No matter the material you are using, I pray we all take time today to be still and know The Good and Beautiful God.