Lyrics

'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near

What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

Blessings by Laura Story is such a beautiful, almost magical song for me.

Who knows what moved her to write such deep and meaningful words about the struggle.

But I know that I for one am grateful.

Every time I hear this song I feel myself getting calm and introspective.
I don't know if I always just hear it at the right moment, or if I hear it and then it just becomes the right moment. Which ever.

The most poignant line for me is; What if the trials of this life. The rain, the storms, the hardest nights are you mercies in disguise? 
What a truly amazing thought. I love this idea that there can be a purpose in our confusion. And that there can be growth out of pain. I just can't get enough of the idea of being willing to meet God there, in that place of lonely questioning. And knowing that he will take care of "it" all. No matter what "it" is. 

Friday Tunes- Beyonce

Beyonce has been ALL over the news lately. So I figured I would feature one of my favorite B songs on this Friday.

Possibly Changing Jobs- The Why Revealed

If you have been reading for a while, or know me personally, then you know that my situation at work has been challenging. It has improved, but still has a long way to go. So, I am looking to make a move. Closer to family and a place where I would love to plant some roots. The following question and my answer kind of sum up what has been on my mind constantly lately.  

Thank you for sending your resume and for your interest in ????.  We are currently reviewing candidate materials and will contact you should we wish to arrange for an interview.  I am just curious - now that you have your degree in school counseling - congratulations, by the way - and you were fortunate to have gotten a job in that field, why are you interested in returning to the classroom - as wonderful as classroom teaching is?

Your question is a great one, my parents and current principal have asked me the same thing. There is a saying, that says "You can have everything you want, just not all at the same time". That briefly summarizes why I am looking to return to teaching.

I really enjoy my counseling job and I know that daily I am helping a very needy community. However, I stayed in Athens after finishing school, solely for my job. I am single with no children and do not have any family in that area.

Within two months of starting my counseling job I realized that I needed the support of my family. When you are working and pouring out 100% of yourself meeting the various and sometimes overwhelming mental health, physical and social needs of children, family and staff, you have to have people (family) close by to support and encourage you.

I took a long time thinking over the pros and cons to this decision. I have family living in your area and I want to move closer to them. I have always loved your area and traveled there each summer as a child. Of course, I know all about this job market, and so I decided to look back into teaching positions hoping to open up more job opportunities. When I left teaching in Florida, it was not because I was tired of it or unhappy, I loved my work immensely and I was very successful, but I wanted to learn more about counseling in the school setting. I have done that, and it's possible 5 or so years down the road I will look into school counseling again. But, for now I am excited to get a chance to move closer to my family, because in the end for me that outranks having a job where I explicitly use my Masters daily. And I had to learn that lesson through my experiences over the past year.

I'm sorry, this is so long winded, but it's a real life answer for a multifaceted question:)

My Aunt's Friends

 But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life; and thanks to a benevolent arrangement of things, the greater part of life is sunshine.
Thomas Jefferson

I have a close family. It has always been that way, and it has made me who I am.
My Aunt has taken on Mel and I just as she would her own children, if she had given birth to any.

Growing up I LOVED summer trips to Atlanta and beyond. My Aunt traveled the world. And my travel bug is completely thanks to her.

I don't know if it's because she married later on in life, but my Aunt has some amazing friends.
This is a group of boisterous, well-traveled, loving and cultured women. And though they have at least 40 years of life experience on me, I adore being with them.

I feel like my Aunt's friends give me a glimpse into what aging gracefully looks like. I could sit and soak up their wisdom and stories for hours. And in the last 2 weekends, I have been able to do just that. Soak up time and experiences with them. It's been pretty amazing!

Last weekend I went out to Sunday Brunch with Club 70 (well that's what I named them). It was the inaugural meeting of about 6 women all in the 70ish range. I had a blast! These women have lived life with gusto and are fresh and vibrant. They have traveled through life and I was enthralled by their presence and characters full of grace. We sat and laughed. We sat and discussed the abysmal state of "family life". We sat and ate and chatted about travel destinations both near and far. When it was time to go, I kinda wished I could be invited along for the next meeting.

Then yesterday, Mel and I were graciously invited to a Valentine's Ladies Lunch. It was elegant and gorgeous. The company was familiar and hilarious. The food was so delicious I can't even do it justice. It was grand. This time there was a mix of 20's and 60's. The laughter flowed freely. The talk about travel had me ready to buy a ticket to Lake Tahoe! Another amazing experience with my Aunt's friends.

Being with these women, gave me a glimpse ahead. It reminded me to focus on what is important. The things that will last until I get a chance to make my own Club 70. What are those things? For me they are; faith in God, family, Christian community, travel, creating a welcoming home, friends, health, and laughter.  

Friday Tunes- Chris Rice

To me this is one of the most beautiful songs that I heard. My heart always stills (in a good way) when I hear this simple beauty. I love thinking about these gorgeous words on this Friday.

Taking a Chance on Love

It's a very good thing that we as people believe that love and falling in love is magical and random and life-altering. 

Because....if you really sit back and think about it. Attraction, dating, love, marriage, making a family? The unknowns are huge. And after talking to many friends, there are just so many things that are indescribable about the experience of love.

To me it really is all about taking a chance on Love.
I mean, just finding men that I think that I might click with can be a struggle. And I know I am not alone.
You have personality; too loud, too quiet, beautiful smile, sarcastic humor, faith in things, faith in God, faith in both. Yeah, the list could go on and on forever. Finding the one for you, in some ways is kinda like stumbling upon a buried treasure, or maybe at least for me, it's more like being in the desert looking at a mirage.

There I am going about my daily life. And off in the distance you see something. It does not look menacing, and you have that initial peak of interest, so you start moving forward. As you get to know the person, just on a basic level, the mirage takes shape. The soft lines start to fill in and you don't have to squint anymore. But then, at least in my experience up to this point, a few things can happen. This pretty chill person, that you could see yourself liking, either;A) has a girlfriend, B) does not respond to your clumsy attempts at flirtation, C) kinda just falls off the radar due to life circumstances or D) any combination of these things. Then, you end up back at square one, humming to yourself, "another one bites the dust", while some other girl whose mirage did actually materialize, begins to start cheerfully making her "Perfect Wedding" Pinterest board (sarcasm alert).

You have to take a chance that your personality + their personality = happiness and contentment.
An honest admission, is that I can be strong willed, and yet deeply caring. But, it kinda depends on the day and the events as to which Sabrina you are going to get. I mean, on certain days I would do almost anything to help others, and then catch me at certain moments and I might read you the riot act. So, I mean am I the only one who thinks that it really just boils down to total random luck in love? Example, my sister just walks into Firehouse Subs on a random day at lunch and meets this man who immediately intrigues her and is completely different than anyone else she has ever met. But, if that was me and my luck I would have either A) been too hungry to notice (not even kidding), B) too shy to take him up on his interest (the bane of my existence), or C) I would have gone to another restaurant all together, completely missing this random run in that could have the potential to turn into something more. So, do you see my point yet? Love is all about chance and sporadic life events. I am not going to be able to organize myself into love, and I for sure am not going to be able to plan it; my inner planner and organizer is weeping;)

Oh course with Valentine's Day coming round the bend, my mind is thinking more about relationships and love. I know people who have been dating for YEARS, and there is no engagement. Then you hear of folks who met, and married within MONTHS! What?????
I rest my case, love is crazy sometimes!
And you have to have a mountain of trust and unfailing hope and patience and wisdom and perseverance if you ever want it to work out right for you. So.... cheers to love and life and the amazing chances that we get to be confused and scared and also at the same exact time ecstatic and jubilant.

Pinterest Quotes: 2

*A little post discovered way back in the Drafts folder, on old dusty place with half-finished thoughts and some things that need to be deleted. *
A little while ago I had a blog post of some of my favorite quotes and sayings that I found on Pinterest. You can see them here.
Well, I have even more now and I wanted to share some of them since everyone is not on Pinterest. These gems are like little perfect bites of wisdom. I love them. It's too bad I can't have a house with wall to wall prints;) You can find all of these and more on my page.

At 26 I have lived enough life to know that this one is true. We have to treat this life gently and carefully because it has a surprising frailty to it. And the most fragile pieces I have found are our health and our emotions.

Aside from the fact that I LOVE all things Disney, this quote made me smile. You will never get bored in life as long as you are curious. One of the 3 words I used to describe myself on my resume header is Creative.

One of the things that I need to work on. Life is happening, it's growing, emerging, and evolving. I need to give it and myself time.

I am working on this. I think there is a balance of what I want and what I need to be doing. But the key is to love all of these things! Don't settle for the mundane, the mundane is fine, but you still need to love it.

Thinking Differently- Peace

For me, this truth I know. My life is far better when I have peace within, to then bring to any situation.
Trying to stop looking for my peace in others and in life in general has set me back on a straight path.
This change was not something that I found out all by myself. It was God that showed me this better way.

One month into 2013 and my peace has been tested. That's not complaining, it's just life.
Difficult conversations with my bosses.
Doubts about my future and career path and other "growing pains".
Concern for the church both near and far.
Another sudden death, this time in the family of a longtime best friend who is like my other little sister.

Through all of these things however I know that prayer is being answered. I know that I am growing up. I know that I am changing. I'm gaining back my life by giving God my trust.

All the things above would normally have thrown me into a "tizzy fit" as my mama calls them. My mind would have been off and racing, trying to figure out my game plan. Piece together bits and pieces, so that my way would end up winning.

In these first parts of 2013 though, I am thinking differently. And thinking is changing how I act.
Less frantic wasted thoughts. More slow and quiet moments.
Less black and white answers. More forgiveness and faith in positive change.
Less strict timelines. More taking it one day at a time.
Less looking ahead with uncertainty  More living in this moment, whether it be uncertain or not.
Less like the old Sabrina. More like a revived, reliant, and regenerated Sabrina.

I can definitly say Amen to that!

Friday Tunes- Pitch Perfect

It's simple really. Enjoy and Happy Friday:)