Living Water

EDDIE'S HOME!!

2011-01-09T02:49:00.001+01:00

I was able to meet him out on the flight line. When I got there, he didn't come off the jet. When we asked where he was, the crew didn't know who CPT Eddie Ballew was! No worries, he was on the next jet due later that afternoon.

These were the flowers he sent for missing our anniversary, so beautiful!

The puppies love their daddy!

The big news... we are having a baby!! Little Ballew is due July 18th. I've been really sick, but the Lord is my strength! We thank God for all that He has blessed us with.

2010-10-13T00:36:00.002+02:00

Marathon Complete! We ran the Wichita, KS marathon and it was an amazing accomplishment. To do something like this with Eddie is so special. We also want to thank our good friend Kevin White for taking on the challenge with us!

All Settled In!

2010-05-08T00:50:00.007+02:00

Our newest addition to the Ballew family, Nelly! This is when she was 10 weeks, she is now 4 1/2 months! Our friend Lisa works at a Vet office and Nelly was brought in from wandering the streets and starving. We adopted her the next day, it was meant to be!

She loves her Eddie!

I love coming home to her snuggles! I am working at Via Christi in Wichita and love my job. We are also really enjoying our new home in Derby, please come for a visit!

One day it was quiet, too quiet...I couldn't find Nelly anywhere.

She had made a nest on the love seat and fell asleep in the sun. She's not always this peaceful, don't be fooled!

This is Kora! She is coming to live with us this summer when Tim and Kim go off to school at OU!! We can't wait to adopt her, she's such a sweet dog. She here's for the weekend to see how her and Nelly get along.

Looks like they are doing ok! This was just for a moment, they went back to playing right after! We are thankful for all the love God has provided for our new home! Hope to see you soon!

OUR FINAL MONTHS IN EUROPE

2009-07-15T08:33:00.029+02:00

Our last chance to go to Oktoberfest in Munchen (Munich) Germany! We sat at a German table in the Haufbrau tent and prosted beers and ate soft pretzels. It was so much fun!

Eddie's parents came for Christmas so we went to Strasbourg, France for some gluwein.

Eddie's dad had always wanted to visit the cathedral in Cologne, Germany. So, we decided to climb to the top of it! Cologne is a beautiful city and had a pretty good steak house, too!

For Valentines Day we went to France and started out in the city of Amboise. We visited the Chateau de Chenonceau, Eddie had built a replica in high school for his French class. It was even more beutiful then he imagined.

We went to the Louvre and toured the museum. We had been there before, but had never been to this exhibit. This is a part of Darius' Temple (read Daniel 6, the Lion's Den!)

Then Eddie surprised me with a romantic cruise down the Siene River. It goes all the way through Paris. The dinner was amazing and the Paris sites at night were so beautiful. This was a memory maker!

We ended our French tour at Disneyland Paris! We spent the whole day and still did not see it all.

Our next adventure was to meet Eric and Holly in Rome, Italy. They were on their honeymoon and had just come from Kenya, Africa! We started out in Pisa, and then went to Florence. Florence is one of our favorite cities.

We finally made it to Rome to see Holly and Eric. We went around together and Eddie and I saw places in Rome we had never seen before. Such as the catacombs and Peter and Paul's jail cell. It was wonderful spending time with them.

We knew Rome was old, but this is cool. Here is one of the only proofs that the Menorah from the Ark of the Covenant was brought here, it is depicted in the carving on the gate that entered into Roman and Domitian territory.

Eddie and I finally got our couple photo in front of the Trevi fountain. This is a famous engagment spot!

After Holly and Eric left, Eddie and I went to Ancient Ostia, Imperial Rome's seaport. Where I'm standing is where the ancient Jews met during pagan times to worship.

We met Steve and Donna and their boys, Daniel and Chris for another Kaiserslautern soccer game. Luis is in the goal!

My parents and my brother came to visit (Matt's first trip)! We started in London and took a cruise down The Thames river.

Then off to Ireland and our cottage by the Cliffs of Moher.

The majestic Blarney castle, we all had to kiss the Blarney Stone.

And of course some baileys at the local pub! Ireland is one of our favorite trips. We might have to all go back for a couple more guiness.

For Eddie's birthday we decided to go and celebrate with Hollands queen. Queen's day and Eddie's birthday are both April 30th. We went to the ice bar and can you believe it, it was freezing! Our noses were ice cold, but it was fun sipping from an ice glass.

We then went to Keukenhof Gardens to see the tulips.

Congratulations Eddie and Brian. They both recieved their Masters from OU!

Our latest adventure took us by train to Berlin! We went down to Checkpoint Charlie and read about how the people used to live, not that long ago. Here Eddie is on the East side and I'm on the West side.

Brandenburg Gate, the gate to Germany.

We then took a cruise boat to Tallinn, Estonia and visited the old town.

We also stopped by this Russian Orthodx Church, with it's many symbols, both religious and political.

This antique store was full of character. Eddie, remember the tea pot!

We took a moment on our way back to the boat. I loved this boat and I recommend it to everyone. It's Vision of the Seas from Royal Caribbean. Eddie won in the bingo game and we both enjoyed the gym and free nightly shows. Our favorite was the Beatles Band, they were perfect!

Then it was off to St. Petersburg, Russia. I couldn't beleive we were in Russia! It was so much fun, but too much to see in only one day. This is the Peter and Pauls Cathedral, the tallest building in St. Petersburg.

Hilarious! No skiing through the fortress!

One of the red rostral columns used to navigate the ships on the Neva River (St Petersburg's main highway.)

Rembrandt's last painting, left just short of finishing, is here in the Hermitage or Winter Palace. It is of the Prodigal Son.

This church was built to impress as it memorilizes Emperor Alexander II's assassination. It's called the Church of our Savior on Spilled Blood. The pleasantness of Russia!

We ended our trip in Stockholm, Sweden. It is made of 14 islands called Archipelagos. Don't worry, I can't say that either!

Good ol Scandinavian trolls, this one let me sit right down next to him. He pinched my nose first.

Here is the home of the King and Queen of Sweden.

This ended our trips in Europe. Now we are off to Wichita, Kansas! We'll miss Europe, but I can't wait to be closer to all of you! See you soon! Love, Eddie and Sarah

Our Honeymoon in Tahiti, I wanna go back!

2009-04-22T07:37:00.017+02:00

We started on the black sands of Tahiti!

We then flew to our garden bungalow on the island of Morea. Eddie and I took the canoe out on the bay to this little island. We made a good team!

We rented this crazy vespa and rode around the island and up the mountain. Isn't he just too cute!

We then flew to the island of Bora Bora, where we fell in love with the scenery. Eddie and I have decided to move to a mootu ( a piece of land) here. First we must become famous and sell billions of dollars in makeup!

We ate at Bloody Mary's, where you leave your shoes at the door because the floor is sand! I guess this is where all the famous people eat when they come here (Jimmy Buffet, Kurt Russel and Goldie Hawn...), definitely for the food.

We then took a speed boat out to swim with some sharks. It was so much fun, and a little bit of a thrill. Sharks, are we crazy?!!

This is a little snap shot of our over-the-water bungalow. By far my favorite place in the world!

I caught Eddie sleeping on the beach, he looks happy.

We flew back to Tahiti and saw the largest sail boat in the world! We thought Eddie's dad would be impressed!

When back in California, we went to see Eric and Renee in Vallejo. There was a little surprise from my husband. He had gotten tickets to Spirit of the West Coast where we saw and met our favortie band, Jars of Clay!

We also saw Toby Mac, by far the best show we've seen. He won a grammy for best Christian album.

We finally made it to see Eddie's brother Eric. We also met up with Keegan and Becca for a picnic and then sparkling wine at Mumm's. I am so thankful for such a wonderful trip and lasting memories. Thank you Lord for these gifts, I will treasure them forever. Eddie, I love you so much and I am so lucky to be able to live this life with you!

July 19th 2008

2008-10-29T23:45:00.003+01:00

In the light of a king’s face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.
Proverbs 16:15

OUR WEDDING!

2008-09-29T07:58:00.002+02:00

My Pilot

2008-07-11T22:02:00.009+02:00

Our friends Tim and Andrea went with us to Heidelberg to take an engagement photo. You can see the castle and bridge in the background. We beat the rain and then had the best potatoe in Germany while cooking our own meat on hot stones!

I went on a medical missions trip to Poland. We passed this train car, it was the last one to cross the border before the wall fell. It is in remembrance of how Germany was once separated.

This is the mission in Poland, a beautiful place. I was able to help care for peoples physical pains as well as emotional and spiritual pains. I loved the people and hope to get back soon. I also loved the food, peerogis are stupendous!

DJ met us out at the Kaiserslautern Fest. They are so funny together!

Captain Eddie Ballew! I was able to pin Eddie...from 1Lt to Cpt! He loves the C-21 and just made Instructor Pilot!!!

I was able to get on Eddie's plane on a trip to Rota, Spain. He is a great pilot! I took time on the beach while he flew. I learned how to drive a manual shift car and got pulled over by the Spanish police. It's a great story, I'll have to tell you about it sometime! I took two cadets to the rock of Gibralter and there are so many monkeys out there! It is the tip of Europe, and you can see Africa from the top, very beautiful!

I took some pictures while Eddie was flying. We passed by some thunderheads but missed the storm on our way home. I got an aerial shot of Germany, you can see the little villages with their white homes and red roofs!

My next post will have wedding pictures! I leave on Tuesday for Colorado and I can not wait! It has been a whirl wind of emotions, and I never knew I could feel so much love for someone! I feel so blessed and look forward to each new day. See some of you in a couple days! God bless!

What have those two been up to?!

2008-03-24T17:13:00.005+01:00

Being engaged is like nothing else in the world! I can't even try to explain all of the emotions that you go through, and how many life lessons you learn as you prepare for marriage. One of my favorite bible verses states,

" Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with eachother, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose. Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don't think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others, too, and what they are doing."
Philippians 2:2-4

So, I've learned that I will always put God first and then Eddie before myself. This should be interesting. It's easy to think about what I want, but what God wants...and even more challenging what Eddie wants, that will be the challenge. This challenge I choose to embrace wholeheartedly! During Easter I'm reminded about how much God loves us, but not only that...how much he wants us to share that love.

Eddie and I were blessed with VIP tickets to the Foosball (soccer) game in Kaiserslautern. Our good friend, Luis, is on the team and asked if we would like to go! So, we finally got our F.C.K. (Foosball Club Kaiserslautern) scarfs out and enjoyed field side seats and a buffet dinner!
We happened to have a weekend off together and remembered that we have never seen Versailles, France! We did not hesitate to buy train tickets and were soon surrounded by the night life of Paris, France! We hiked up to a church on the top of this hill and watched the sunset over the Eiffel Tower. Then we went to get some warm drinks. We had to take a picture for Jared as he would be pretty jealous of this cup of cream!
We then went hiking around the city and saw the other Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel tower lit up. It looks like this statue was dedicated about three years after the one in New York. It looks exactly like the one in New York, just smaller!

The next day we finally made it to Versailles, and the chateau where Marie Antionette and Napoleon lived. This is also where many war treaties were signed including WWII.

It was a wonderful trip, I cherish this time with Eddie and look forward to many more fun-filled days! Hope you all had a wonderful Easter and we look forward to seeing some of you in July! Lots of Love!

The Proposal

2008-01-05T10:18:00.000+01:00

Did you know that my name, Sarah, means Princess in Hebrew? Did you know that my favorite ballet is Swan Lake, not to mention I watched the movie Swan Lake almost every day during my childhood. Did you know that I have seen the movie Everafter almost the equal amount of times in my adulthood. Oh, I almost forgot...did you know that I have found my prince charming?! This is the story of Prince Eddie and Princess Sarah and their magical trip to Schloss Neuschwanstein, the castle of the swans.

Once upon a time, Eddie and his parents, Tom and Rose, invited Sarah over to Christmas at Eddie's apartment in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Before Tom and Rose had arrived, Eddie and Sarah decorated the apartment and got a tree and Christmas presents. Eddie bought the Christmas dinner and Sarah made Christmas cookies. It was a beautiful day, spent relaxing and playing Thurn and Taxi, Eddie's new favorite board game. Still they were not done celebrating. Earlier as they were all in Frankfurt, they stopped by a souvenir shop and saw pictures of the many castles in Europe. Eddie found a picture of a very small castle that he and Sarah had taken a picture of on the Rhine River Cruise (see the Gnomes, Family and Friends blog). He claimed the castle as his own, so they could not resist purchasing the picture. Rose noticed a picture of the Schloss Neuschwanstein, the grandest of all the castles and stated how beautiful it was. Sarah remembered that they were travelling to Garmisch, Germany the day after Christmas and that the castle was very close. She mentioned taking a detour to see the castle on the way to Garmisch. The morning of December 26th 2007, Eddie, Sarah, Tom and Rose took off in Sarah's red volvo toward the German-Austrian Alps. They got a late start and worried about making it to the castle in time to buy tickets. Eddie drove his little heart out. When they reached a stau (traffic jam) they pulled over for a break and Sarah took the wheel. After just a couple kilometers on the autobahn, Sarah got in an accident with a BMW in front of her, and an Audi behind her. Bummer, now they really were not going to make the castle in time. Sarah felt awful, but decided to say a little prayer that everything would be ok. There was little to no damage, so everyone took off. They approached the alps, that were absolutely stunning. Sarah wanted to wake everyone, but knew that soon they would be in the midst of them and everyone would be able to enjoy their enormous beauty.
Eddie jumped out of the car and ran into the ticket office as Sarah, Tom and Rose soaked up the snow and lights of Neuschwanstein. They parked the car and went to meet Eddie. There were no more tours in English, but there were radios they could listen to in French! Eddie was disappointed, but then the manager came out and offered him an english speaking tour! They were off up the mountain to the Schloss Neuschwanstein eating bratwurst and pretzels on the way. They took in the snowy castles beauty, going to every look out point along the way. They reached the top, the last of the tours were starting. Sarah and Eddie held hands as they were suddenly surrounded by the most elaborate of homes. The vestibule, the throne hall, the balcony, the dining room, the master bedroom, and the singer's hall. The sun had gone down and the Christmas tree was lit as they left the castle. Sarah tried to urge Eddie along as she saw his parents heading down the trail. "We're going to loose them!" "It's alright, I want to see if there is a trail behind the castle, Eddie said." Eddie and Sarah went exploring while Tom and and Rose went further out of sight.
They were at the front of the castle, the giant doors were now shut, and to their surprise they were standing there alone. Eddie and Sarah looked up at the castle and felt like it was all to themselves. Eddie looked at Sarah with a smile and got down on one knee. Sarah covered her face in shock as she questioned herself, is this really happening! Eddie stole Sarah's heart once again as he professed his love and devotion. They looked at eachother and he suddenly realized he had forgotten to ask the most important question..."Will you Marry me?!" Sarah knew that this was one of the most important questions she would ever be asked. She knew and Eddie knew that the Lord had His hand in every moment, it was all His doing. "Yes, I will!" Eddie gave Sarah the most beautiful ring she had ever seen.

The story does not end here. Tears ran down Sarah's face as Eddie went on to tell the story of his proposal. Before Thanksgiving, Eddie had gone back to Shell Lake, Wisconsin to meet the rest of Sarah's family and ask for her hand in marriage. Sarah had thought that he went back to Virginia to see his parents. Funny that he was out running errands when she had tried to call him! He met Grandma and Grandpa Swan, Grandma Parker, her brother Matt, her cousins and uncle and aunt. Sarah had wanted Eddie to meet them all before thay were engaged, but knew that was not possible. Or so she thought! Eddie had given her the best gift, he truly is her prince charming.
Eddie knew all along that he would propse at the castle, but made Sarah think it was her idea to go there. She was completely surprised! He is sneaky, and turns out, had help from many friends! This is only the beginining of their Happily Ever After!
THE END

To Austria and Back again!

2007-12-11T21:04:00.000+01:00

Our adventures start over Thanksgiving for a skiing trip to Stubai, Austria! I've never skiied so hard in my life! Eddie had his snowboard, and tried to keep up with me. (When I wasn't on my butt!) It was so much fun and the alps were amazingly beautiful!

Eddie took this picture on his way up to the top of the mountain! It was foggy down below, but crystal clear where we were skiing!
Then...a couple weeks later we took a trip back to Austria, just the two of us. We stopped in Garmisch, Germany and the Army Edelweiss Resort. There were only three runs open on the ski hill, so we got pretty good at those. I actually skiied the gates and raced down the runs. It was so much fun. We stopped to take a break, and take our jackets off (it was warm out there!) We continued our road trip to Vienna, Austria (the musical capital of the world). I fell in love with the culture and history of this place. We went to Mozart's house and had second row tickets to a quartet in one of his rooms! This dude was staring at me the whole time, so I went and took a picture with him! We decided to make silly faces...
We couldn't miss out on the Schloss Shronbrunn Christmas Market. Eddie got a homemade doughnut and warm gluwein, I got a cookie and warm gluwein. You have to come to Christmas in Germany, it's so much fun!
Oh, and who can forget the opera?!!! We went and saw Mozart's The Magic Flute, and once again had second row seats. It was so beautiful and I got to dress up a little:) Eddie was so handsome...it was perfect! We then went to a cafe and were serenaded by the piano. I should tell you, when we first got to Vienna we went to a restaurant and were the only people there, but we were still serenaded by a piano, violin, and opera singer! I love Vienna!
Our perfect evening ended with some Dom Perignon and the movie The Incredibles. I am so spoiled!It's almost Christmas! Merry Christmas and may God's gift to us remain close to your heart during this season! Lots O Love!

Gnomes, Family and Friends

2007-10-05T18:11:00.000+02:00

Eddie's mom and dad came for a visit so we decided to walk down town Kaiserslautern for some French food! I can't wait for them to visit again, I really enjoyed our time together. Little secret, Eddie is a big fan of the Gnome community, he was introduced to them by his friend and roommate Peter, who happens to be a Gnome himself.
We also ventured over to the Rhine River in Germany for a short river cruise. This is Eddie laying claims to his new estate. He seems to think you could ward off the enemy by standing at the top of the tower and shooting arrows. It would take more than arrows to keep me away! :)

We took Eddie's mom to a Rolling Stones concert before she left. It was a lot of fun. Then a couple months later we went to a John Butler Trio concert in Nancy, France. Mike and Andrea went with us, two very good friends that I love dearly!
John Butler, Baby! Check him out, he is quite the guitar player! So...life has been good! It is now fall and I love fall. The fresh air and beautiful scenery. I was able to go back to Wisconsin for a little bit in September. It was nice to see family and friends and just sitting by the camper and enjoying the lake. I miss my family! I keep you all in my prayers and love you tremendously!

Gloucester, Goteborg, Copenhagen and Hamburg

2007-07-16T10:55:00.000+02:00

I started off my journey to visit my wonderful friend, Linnea and her parents in Gloucester, England. I loved how all of the quaint homes were made of brick, and the people were so cheery! This is an old sail boat we found.
When we went into the city we could see this cathedral standing above everything else. Turns out, this is where parts of Harry Potter was filmed. I recognized the long hallways!
The next day we went to the coast for some fish and chips. I had to take a picture of Linnea getting in the other side of the car and then driving on the other side of the road. We were comparing how differently we grew up. It's amazing how God can bring people together, no matter where in the world you are. I have been blessed with wonderful friendships! Then on to Sweden to pick up my new Volvo. I drove it right out the factory doors. Eddie and I flew to Goteborg where the Volvo factory was located and then drove back to Germany. I couldn't have found a better fit!Volvo sent us on a tour of the safety exhibit. Eddie found out how big a babies head is, that helmet was heavy! I found out how well he is at multi-tasking while driving and braking for Moose. What a stud!

On our way back we stopped in Copenhagen, Denmark. We took a tour of the city and found some live music. This is the statue of the Little Mermaid. Copenhagen is where Hans Christian Anderson is from.On our way through Sweden and Denmark, we had to take a couple of long bridges over the ocean and even a long tunnel under the water! The weather was beautiful and the water was so inviting. This was one of the many harbors in Copenhagen.Once we hit Germany we rested in Hamburg and went to the Tier Park. This family sat down next to me! I'll have to ask Holly what the name of these creatures are. They let me pet them and then climbed up the wall.Eddie's favorite was the hippie donkey. What is he sharing...oops, maybe I shouldn't have posted this!This one is for Holly, we found a baby elephant! So cute! We were sad to see our journey end, and now it's back to work. Luckily we have decided to live our lives to the fullest every day, no matter where we are or what we are doing! Hope your day is just as wonderful! Lots of Love!

'Venice of the North!'

2007-05-16T19:14:00.000+02:00

Isn't this cute...Air Force Pilot and Army Nurse. That's Eddie's plane in the background. We decided to take a trip for Eddie's birthday, where did we go...

Brugge, Belgium!! I started off the trip by getting tattooed! When I decided I didn't want it anymore I just washed it off with warm water.
We took a boat ride on the canal. They call Brugge the Venice of the North because of these canals and, of course, because of the beauty of the city. The rose is from the church service we went to that morning. The whole service was in Flemish, but it was fun to be a part of.
This is Michelangelo's Madonna, it is in the same church we visited for the Sunday Service. It is beautiful, Eddie's words were...,"That's small." Yeah, I guess it is!

Then we decided to take a walk to the 'Lake of Love.' It was a beautiful day, and fun to get away from our busy schedules. I recommend Belgium for the waffles, just let me know, I will take any of you there! Lots of Love!

One Man

2007-04-25T09:17:00.000+02:00

I went to Austria skiing, it was amazing...but I have something more important that I would like to share with you that I read this morning!

ROMANS

17For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
18Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. 19For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

"We are all equally guilty and contaminated before God. " Ben Young said this in one of his devotionals and humbled me in an instant. We could be Mr. or Mrs. Perfect doing everything that is right and proper, but in the end it is GRACE that saves us. We are created to do perfect works through Christ Jesus, so why are we trying to do it on our own? (Ephesians 2: 10). Because we are saved from sin and we know God's amazing grace, we cannot help but do good things. That is when love is made complete in us and we are able to share it with others. We can give love WITHOUT God's GRACE, but it does not come from our heart of hearts, it comes from the part of us that just wants to do the right thing. We know right from wrong, but God knows life from death.

Today I am truly thankful that I know what Jesus did for me, He has completed me. I am finally whole.

Falling in Love in Ireland!

2007-03-10T13:36:00.000+01:00

I have learned that if I wait on the Lord and give all of my insecurities and worries to Him, there is a peace that radiates from me. I never knew that this peace is what would draw me to a man. I wish you all could meet him, he has the kindest, biggest heart that could only be from a man that loves God. Now enough about that, let me tell you about Ireland!

Eddie and I took off to Dublin, Ireland, the first time either of us had been there. It was such a fun trip, it was hard to leave. Especially when we missed our flight and had to stay an extra night!
We took a tour of the city, meeting Molly Malone and St. Patrick. Rumor has it Dublin has the best Guiness in the world. We had to find out for ourselves, and...yes that is most definitely true!
My favorite part of the trip was talking with the people and imersing ourselves in the culture. The music was so much fun, and everyone was invited to sing or play. I love the pipes and the flute and the banjo, oh and the drum and guitar...the violin was pretty cool, then there was the oldest accordian looking thing, I don't even know what it was, but it added an amazing sound! I couldn't get enough!
We went to the oldest pub in Ireland, The Brazen Head, 1198. Eddie and I ordered some cider and just sat and listened while the locals each sang their favorite songs. I felt so welcomed and blessed to experience all of this!
It was raining and windy on our last day, but that did not stop us from visiting the Irish Sea! There is so much more to see in Ireland and we will have to go back someday! Love to you all and prayers for a beautiful day!

Spain

2007-03-10T12:04:00.000+01:00

We got up really early one morning to see the sunrise over Murcia, Spain. We had to walk a little ways from our hotel as we were on the bay side and the sun was rising over the Mediterranean. It was a cool morning, but as the sun came up, I decided to jump into the water. I went to Spain with full intentions of swimming in the Mediterranean, and my friend Enma jumped right in with me! The water is so clear, so beautiful!

We went over to Granada and visited the Alhambra Palace. I have found that each country I visit is so different and unique from eachother, Spain did not disappoint me. The sultan's palace was on top of the Sierra Hills overlooking Granada.

We spent as much time in the sun as we could before heading back to the gloomy weather of Germany. And of course, I ate as much seafood as possible. We tried everything, even the ones with tentacles, chewy!

I am Thankful

2006-10-29T19:00:00.000+01:00

I am thankful for yardwork, not doing it alone, having help. The fresh air, smell of grass, beautiful sunsets. Even the smell of the weed whacker engine! I am thankful for cool drinks after working hard and being able to laugh with someone about the day we had.

Journal of Africa

2006-09-19T20:10:00.000+02:00

There's no breeze on the beach this morning, but the waves are still crashing in. The water doesn't need the wind, the wind doesn't need to guide the water. They are separate but still create one environment where the sound of the waves and the touch of the breeze soothes whoever takes the time to sit and experience it. My time with the Beninoise has been very similar. I could have gone my entire life without knowing them or their culture, but instead here I am, feeling new feelings and experiencing life more complete. The Lord has truly blessed my life.

Lord please help me to show your love to these people. When I am tired, give me your strength to continue. Give me patience and gentleness, help me to communicate with my patients. Lord, I know you are here, thank you.

Coffee House Ministry

2006-08-30T22:19:00.000+02:00

Some of you know that I lead a young adults group at a little cozy coffee shop in downtown Landstuhl. It has been such a blessing. There is so much love that is shared through this ministry, the Lord created friendship and has perfected it. We recently went on a camping trip near the Austria Germany border. I had an amazing time hiking, rolling down hills, swimming and just enjoying eachother's company surrounded by mountains, lakes and starry skies. Yes we made smores! Before I came to Germany, I prayed for a church and a ministry to get involved in. The Lord led me straight to the coffee house and Vogelwey, where I have attended church ever since. Praise God!

Cory and Anda! I love those guys! Japan is so lucky to be welcoming them in just a couple weeks. I will miss them soooooo much, but I am so thankful for the times that we have had. They have put their hearts into the coffee house and the young adults ministry. Blessings and safe travels!
Love, Sarah

I LOVE Greece!

2006-08-24T22:57:00.000+02:00

I little view of one of our island stops, Poros.

There is so much history here. I walked on the same ground as my buddy Paul did (Paul from the Bible!) I was reading to Holly from the bible and looking at the same places that I was reading about! It just became a little more real to me!

We visited The island Agean and went to the this beautiful church.

We climbed to the clock tower (which every island and city has) and enjoyed the beautiful view. What a blessing!

Yes, that is Holly riding a donkey on the island Hydra, than came Nils our new friend from Denmark, me and Dawn, our new friend from New York! I love donkey's and they are so funny. They fart louder than humans do, yeah!

I thought this was nice!

God Believes in Me!

2006-07-22T18:34:00.000+02:00

"Now that we are saved, we eagerly look forward to this freedom. For if you already have something, you don't need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don't have yet, we must wait patiently and confidently." Romans 8:24-25

I learned something today about myself. I got a whole lot of love to give! I am armed and dangerous, so here is my warning to you all! Of course God wants me to love others. At our bible study we talked about how God believes in us. I believe in Him and trust that he will not leave me, but I never realized how much he believes in me and trusts me! He gets excited when my faith is growing and I am filled with Joy! I can make an impact on this world because I have support that never fails. And I plan on making an impact. How many people can I love today? I love you!

I was reading a magazine article on ways to be happy. One was to always have something on your calendar that you are looking forward to (trip to Greece and Africa maybe...) We are guaranteed to one day be in God's presence, for His love to finally come full circle. We all share equally! Actually I'm just looking forward to it not being so crazy HOT in this little house of mine! I'm sleeping outside tonight!

My Trip to Heidelberg

2006-07-16T20:28:00.000+02:00

Do you ever just want to go somewhere, it doesn't matter where, just as long as it's far away from where you are. I love to get into the car, roll the windows all the way down and race down the road while my hair whips around. Today was a beautiful day and my house was cleaned, my laundry done, it was time to go. You can lose yourself in Heidelberg, it's a busy city, with beautiful streets and of course Heidelberg castle. Most importantly, it is the closest Starbucks. I grabbed my Janet Evanovich book, thanks to Holly, my jazz CD and took off. By the way Janet Evanovich makes you laugh out loud at least every other page, I love it! I snuggled into a comfy chair with my mint mocha and just let the peaceful feeling wrap me up. Turns out some of my friends had the same idea. They walked in shortly after I had started reading, so we sat outside for hours just talking and laughing. Jen had her baby Ella with, so I got to cuddle with her and listen to a young man play his acoustic and sing some of my favorite songs. Random days are my favorite and what I believe keeps my heart light. Thank you Lord for this day!

These pictures are of Heidelberg, I took them when I first got to Germany, didn't have my camera today! I also snuck in a picture that was taken when I went home on leave. Kerry, Holly and Anna I love you girls with everything this heart can hold!

Beautiful Germany

2006-07-07T20:59:00.000+02:00

While at Neuschwanstein Amy and I ran into this fountain. Out of all the artwork here, this is one of my favorites!

We went to the "Cinderella Castle" and hiked around. This castle was left intact with everything inside as it was for King Ludwig.

I snuck down behind our hotel to the Lech River by the Austria border. It was very peaceful. The mountains down there are amazing!

Independance Day!

2006-07-04T22:56:00.000+02:00

Happy 4th of July! I am watching the fireworks on Ramstein Air Base from my balcony, beautiful! I spent the day BBQ-ing and just soaking up the sun. The BBQ was for the wounded soldiers here in Germany. Yesterday, my friend Lottie was here for her RNR from down range. Just spending all this time with these deployed soldiers and seeing how much they appreciate just hanging out and laughing and talking, I guess it made me think about how blessed I am. There is so much offered to us, so many opportunities, so much to live for, if we just take the time...

Life

2006-06-13T21:36:00.000+02:00

If you go to Nancy, France you will find these sculptures spread out around the city. It is a beautiful city and a perfect place to go for a quick get-away from life's monotony. I wonder what the sculptor wanted to say with the shape of the statues and the things they are doing. My guess would be that the sculptor has a free spirit, is full of life. "My purpose is to give life in all its fullness!" The John man 10:10. I wish I could take you all there.

It is a Good Day!

2006-06-06T20:58:00.000+02:00

Do you have those days when you just feel good?! I am having one today. Maybe it was from working in the backyard. I love being outside and the flowers are beautiful. I cut some roses and brought them into the house and now the house smells wonderful. I even bought a weed eater, crazy! Maybe it was because I had a pleasant day at work. My patients were precious and the staff were just enjoying themselves and made the day 'fun!' Maybe it was because I worked out. I had some energy and used it towards toning this tired vessel that God has given only to me! Maybe it is because I am planning future trips with family and friends. This weekend, Amy and I are going to Neuschwanstein and then I am flying to beautiful Wisconsin. In a few months Holly and I are taking a cruise in the Medditteranean. So much to look forward to! Lottie is coming home for RNR from downrange, I can't wait to see her! Maybe it is because the sun is setting outside my window and puts me gently at peace. All this is important, but I will let you in on a secret. This morning I had a feeling it was going to be a challenging day. I just had a bad feeling. So, I prayed sincerely for the Lord to put a protection over my home and workplace. I asked Him to walk with me and guide me. Many things happened today that could have had ruined my day...so I will not dwell on that because I have something much greater to write about. I have a friend that cares so much for me that He would do anything to support me, protect me, just hang out with me. I am so thankful, I truly do, just feel good!

Normandy

2006-05-30T20:17:00.000+02:00

Here is "Iron Mike" looking out across the field that the 82nd Airborne dropped into during the invasion of Normandy.

The 1st ID had to climb up cliffs right off of Omaha beach. I'm standing on one now that goes straight down into the ocean.

Utah beach still had barb wire and obstacles that the Germans put up to slow down the troops.

This is the same shot that is at the end of "Saving Private Ryan." You can see the ocean in the background. Some F-16s flew over while we were at the cemetary and saluted the fallen soldiers. They played the National Anthem and Taps, it was a pretty powerful experience.

This is Gold Beach where the British Army came on shore. You can see a Mulberry in the background, used to make an artificial port.

The Remembrance Tree

2006-05-25T10:34:00.000+02:00

Losing someone we love is one of the hardest experiences in life. Life changes forever, someone that once brought so much happiness is now gone. We have lost some of our dear soldiers here at Landstuhl and have gone through that loss with their families. Today I had the honor of helping to plant the remembrance tree here at Landstuhl Army Medical Center. We will always remember those soldiers we took care of and their families. Each one so unique and so precious.
I am getting ready to visit the beaches of Normandy over this Memorial weekend. We are also approaching D-Day on June 6th. It's time to remember what happened and what is still happening, and even though pain comes with remembering, there is also joy in knowing that we all impact eachother and we all matter in this crazy life. We're in this together and I am so proud to be a part of this team.

Joy

2006-05-22T20:23:00.000+02:00

Have you ever just been really happy?! To the point where you feel like your smile is twice it's normal size and everything seems more beautiful?! I think feeling this way is normal. When we do not allow ourselves to just let go of our insecurities and pride, we are cheating ourselves of life. We can choose to be happy. I chose to put on this stupid costume and be crazy for a moment in time. It made other people laugh and there is something special about making people laugh. Bringing joy to their lives, even for just a moment. Since I have discovered the joy that the Lord brings to my life I can't help trying to bring joy to others. Seeing people happy makes me happy. Now this is beautiful...

"The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes." Psalm 19:8.

Amen, My heart is full and the veil is gone. I hope that you are smiling right now, cause that would make my day!

Much love, Sarah

Baptism

2006-05-21T12:32:00.000+02:00

My story...

I grew up going to church, Salem Lutheran Church in Shell Lake, Wisconsin. I was baptized there as a baby, confirmed there as a teenager and even sang in the choir. This was my introduction to a life that I never knew I would live. When I went to college, I was on my own for the first time and I realized that my life was empty. I had the best family ever, wonderful friends and what seemed like everything going for me. But I was unhappy. That first Easter away from home I finally understood why Christ died and rose again. It wasn't just something that happened in the past, Christ died so that I, living today, would know God's love for me and know life to the fullest. I asked Jesus to be apart of my daily life. I started reading my bible, I wanted to know what this new overflowing joy was in my life. My life changed, I no longer got angry at life's little quirks, I was showing people TRUE love, I was no longer worried about appearance. I wanted everyone to know this joy that I now had. I wasn't afraid to say, yes, I am a Christian! This is my life.
That is why I have decided to be baptized today, here in Germany! I want to be filled with the Holy Spirit and remain in the presence of the Lord. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom!" 2 Corinthians 3:17. So I wanted to let you know that this is a wonderful day today. The Lord has shown me a deeper love than I have ever know or will ever know. I want to be able to face temptation and come out victorious, I want to be able to pray for those I love in the Spirit of Jesus. I want to be filled with living water! I only wish that you could be here to share this with me. My love for you all will only continue to grow! Enjoy today and thank you for being apart of my life!

Much love, Sarah