Have you ever felt like you are at a cross road in your life???  I remember a few that I can point out specifically.  Times where I needed to choose which direction I wanted my life to go. 

I feel like there I am again.  And while it is not as significant as what I want my profession to be or who I am going to marry or how many kids do I want.....it is significant.   I feel God's call on my life in a way I have never ever felt before. 

I have always acknowledged God and His presence and authority in my life, but I don't think I DID life with God.   I feel like it is similar to spouses when they are not communicating and just living together.  Often it feels like you are just roommates living under the same roof, not a team working together intentionally. 

God has placed some people in my life this year who are intentionally walking out their faith everyday.   I was blessed with parents who have also lived that way.  Which was an amazing foundation for the time I was ready to choose it for myself.  Watching these people has just motivated me that going through the motions is just NOT enough.  I need to make specific choices in my life....and that is so hard for me.  I LOVE living in the gray areas.  Black and white is not my thing. 

I feel now like, if we are intentional about reading our Bible and praying and going to church...then why would we not be intentional about what we watch on tv, read in books or listen to on the radio.   What and where do we draw the line.   How do we change without offending others?  Or do we just not worry about offending others?  Do we stay silent or are we called to have a voice?  How do you move on once you hit a point where you know it's time to change but others aren't choosing the same things you are? 

I don't really think anyone reads this...but if you do....these are just thoughts that need to go somewhere.  I am definitely not trying to offend anyone.  Just journaling out loud.  :)  Enough rambling...til the next time my thought life is overflowing. 

I am not a writer by any means...but I feel like there are things I need to put somewhere lately....so here we go:

Almost a year ago, on a whim I signed up for Mary Kay. Not really knowing much about the company or the product, I just needed a change.....and I change I got.

I started out asking people just for practice....and every face I did I LOVED watching the transformation and women sitting taller in the chair after I gave a few tips and tricks. Or maybe they already knew everything I knew and we just got to visit for 3o minutes and chat...i LOVED that too. People intrigue me and this gave me the opportunity to reach so many more than I ever could just doing hair. I honestly never cared if i sold $1 or $100, I just loved every face I saw.

But the change didn't stop there. Every week I got to go to a meeting with women of integrity. The real deal who were committed to running their busin...

esses the way Mary Kay the woman intended! With honesty, encouraging everyone to run the race together, not alone....and the way GOD would want you to. Placing GOD FIRST, FAMILY SECOND and our CAREER THIRD. I was also encouraged to do just that. Get in the word. Spend time with God every day and make HIM my business partner...and I truly believe that's where I started becoming Sarah of today.

I am not content to just "talk the talk" anymore I want to "walk the walk" that Jesus himself showed us how to do perfectly. In my home, with my friends and in my business.

Thank you so very much for your support, for the fun I get to have with all of you and for growing with me!!! This business has blessed me in ways I NEVER thought imaginable and I hope your pink products on your counter tops can remind you of great things too!!!

my cousins

I don't have the gift of writing.....and only creativity sometimes...(definitly not during craft time!). BUT, I do have the gift of reading and an easily moved heart.

I have A LOT of cousins....so really, we have never been super close. But because of the computer and blogging/facebook I have gotten to know a few of you in a more intimate way. Thank you to those of you who share your heart/stuggles/joys/faith online for me to read. You are an encouragement more than you know! The way you parent, turn to God, make me smile and even just vent makes me want to strive to do better and be a better everything in my life as well:)

Your gifts are a blessing to me. Thank you for using them. God touches me through your words.

mini skirts

It seems like the only emails I get lately are junk mail or bills I need to pay. But my inbox this morning actually held an email that made me laugh out loud. APPARENTLY the new thing right now is mini skirts and they are ON SALE at Express this week. LOL. I guess it's time to officially "unsubscribe" to Express emails....because you won't see this chick in a mini skirt EVER again.
Thanks for the smile though Express. Very thoughtful.

dear blogging friends.....
just because i don't update my blog does not mean you have to quit updating yours.
thanks very much in advance.
Sarah:)

MAJOR pic update

ok, if anyone who like to give me a blog tutorial.......all my pics are always backwards and on TOP of what i write! good grief.....but you get the point right?
this is the new garage.....finishing step:) the boys working away (steve, Tyler, Nate)

The boys watching daddy mow the lawn.

Jared doing his two favorite things: standing and playing by the bath tub!

Tim has decided to be nice to his brother......most of the time:)

play hard.....sleep harder...(but he obviously didn't want to take a nap, which is why he ended up there!)

ok....this is partly bragging my child up and partly pure fear as a mother of a climber.....he was just 6 months when he did this! (next 3 pics ....start at 3 and move up, backwards sorry!)

this puppy momentaritly melted my heart.....but no worries he's not a permenant member of the family!

terrible coloring, but still.....my family:)

feeding birds with daddy at the zoo:)

As we all know: I just am not very good at updating. So, I will try to let you in on our summer with one big blog.

Honestly I am not quite sure where summer has gone. We have done lots of fun stuff though! We have been to the zoo at least 5 times! The boys love it. (and thanks to grandma, it's a cheap way to get out of the house!)

We have spent some time with my cousins at the lake in June and then a couple times at my Aunt Esther's pool. That was great! It was especially wonderful not being the only person with kids, we can commiserate a little. (that's a new concept for me....my friends are still working on adding babies to their families)

THis month it seems we've spent plenty of time in Grandma's pool too! (if there really was reincarnation I think Tim would come back a fish, although his first choice would be a lion....he roars at anyone and everyone, including the lady behind us in the checkout aisle at meijer).

We've also been at Grandma Boone's helping grandpa and daddy and some other guys put a new garage on their house!! lots of fun....lots of mess!!!

The next couple weeks are going to be packed with fun too. This weekend we'll be going camping in Ludington with a girlfriend and her family!:) they are adopting us for a few days....it's been a LONG time since I have camped up there, should be lots of fun!

The NEXT weekend Steve and I and two other couples are piling in the minivan and heading to Cedar Point to celebrate our anniversaries! We decided to go a little fancier for the occasion and are staying in one of the cabins on the lake, Rebekah is even bringing cupcakes for the celebration!:) Can't believe it's been 5 years already! that sure went fast!

ANYWAY.....here are some new pictures. In case you've forgotten what we looked like:)

growing up

I find myself somehow in the middle of July, 2009!!! We were talking the other day about this decade....and honestly i felt like it had just started! i remember so vividly new years eve 1999, when everything was supposed to crash and the world was supposed to end.....everyone was prepared for the worst! (i think my mom bought a few extra cans of green beans!! haha, i am sure that would have helped a ton! sorry mom) ANYWAY back to the point it is almost 2010! how did i get here?! In these ten years i have
*graduated high school
*graduated hair school
*bought a house
*gotten married
*had 2 babies!!!
*and grown up
it's crazy and wonderful all in the same. I honestly have been blessed more than I could've ever hoped or imagined! (thank you, Lord) My life proves that this is true.....the Lord gives and He takes away, but BLESSED be the name of the Lord.

this is not where i was even remotely going when i started this post, so i guess it was hidden somewhere and just had to come out. I guess lately I have been worried about all the bad things, it is good to remember the good and think about those things!

This is for Sherri!:) love you. I updated, so there!

Here's a little update on pics. More to come when Steve can help me!:) He's painting the bathroom right now yahoo!

*just a fun little side note for the ww Ladies. I took a spill yesterday attempting to run! Wish i would have gotten it on video! I would've won Funniest Home Videos and hired us all personal trainers and personal chef's with the profits!!:) Here's to a healthy week and no more bruises or band aids!!!!

workout weds.

I did bad. I accomplished one goal, i got out of the house everyday and walked with the boys or went to the park, worked outside etc. BUT i NEVER made it to the gym and one sweet snack a day...well, it always worked alright until about 8pm, or until i made a new cookie recipe (which is fabulous...obviously)
So, there's my confession.
I will keep my same goals from last week .......and hopefully be talking my mom into doing the byron 5k with me for some motivation.
Please don't kick me out of your club.:)

workout wednesday

ok. i will officially start posting every week now, bc i need the accountability! I did SO well when you first started this and lately i am a complete disaster!
Last week I finished off a new tub of ice cream in 3 days sitting down with the tub, not even in a bowl and watching disney channel while the kids napped! I know...pathetic. I have been eating anything and everything in sight bc for some reason i feel sorry for myself!! i can't even pinpoint what it is?! SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.....
my goals for this week:
Get to the gym at least 3 times.
One sweet snack a day
Be outdoors walking or at the park at least an hour everyday. (i know that doesn't seem like much, but once i am out of the house for the day I seem to accomplish 10xs more for the rest of it.)
Michelle, please keep posting verses! they are want actually break through my "who really cares attitude!" and to everyone else...thanks for keeping your posts up, there is no way i will be able to do this myself!
(does anyone else think this food addiction is just insane?! why can't i just say no?)

april

HOW DID THE 13th GET HERE ALREADY!?!?!

Not a whole lot is new since the last post that i wrote a month ago and published...today!:) oops.

Bathroom is still a work in progress as all projects seem to be at the geelhoed house. I will be very thankful when it is finished bc our upstairs is total chaos.....and when one part of my life is chaos, it seems i can't think straight until it is fixed.

We have lots of plans for the summer. Hoping to get to MN for Julia's graduation party, for sure going camping for a week at Pickeral Lake with Alison.....we will be testing out the campground on the other side of the lake from the rest of the Feyen's, but will be over to bother you all during the day. The week after that we will hopefully be out at Holland with my friend Suzi and her family. Should be crazy and fun all at the same time. :)

MEANWHILE i am wondering if my second child will ever sleep through the night....and if i should just bite the bullet and let him cry it out. I have been saying i am going to do this for the past 4 weeks, so i suppose it is time. I guess i was waiting for a miracle. I give props to all women who have done this before me. It is not an easy job trying to be a good mom and wife and person of society when you are not getting enough sleep!

That's about all that most of you will enjoy reading.

To Lisa, Rachel and Michelle. I have failed miserably the past two days in my eating healthier quest. Usually when someone just starts something don't they brag about their progress for a few weeks before failing? well, i am trying a different approach....i am doing bad right off the bat. Tommorow is another day....and it helps that i have to 'fess up about it.

To Rachel: I LOVE YOUR BLOGS! all of them because they usually make me smile, but especially the recent ones. I am trying so hard to live on less and your latest comparison chart was awesome. I LOVE staying home with my kids, but i definitly need to learn how to shop the deals in order to not be stressed about money all the time.

pics tommorow. i am going to bed!:)

growing up

so much is happening at the Geelhoed's this month!

we are putting a bathroom upstairs, so the house is a constant disaster area.



I have still been doing hair at least one day a week. That is going great so far. I love being home with the boys and i love the day they are grandmas.:)



Steve started working on a new job this week. he will be working four 10 hour days and so he will be home Fridays! yay!

WE just had Jared's 2 month check up. He was off the charts, just like Timmy was. Another big kid:) He is already 16 1/2lbs! (my back knew that before i even put him on the scale!)

Tim just started sleeping in his "big boy bed" and is doing great. Although I went to check on him last night and the only part of him on the bed was his head and he was somehow sound asleep standing up!!

Tim has also started his singing career! "the bunny" is his favorite one to sing right now..

***********************************posting this bc i wrote it, so i must, but sadly it is from a whole month ago.***********************************

Not everyone is as lucky as i am. I have a mother in law who takes amazing pictures and even edits them to make my children look perfect!!! (well, i mean she doesn't do much editing bc they already are, but you know)

These are a few.

Aren't my kids cute:) I love them!

for my mom:) SOMEONE really didn't want his pic taken today!

the boys:)

tim showing affection! amazing!

aunt lois came to visit!:) jared was all smiles....they bonded.

playing with cars at grandma's house. THANK YOU, LORD for Grandmas! amen

hmm...i feel like i have to put this one up, just for the future.

someone found mommy's glasses

We ALL love Saturdays!

jared with the awesome green hat ellen made him!:)

jared with Great Grandma Feyen

Jared and Grandpa Boone

Tim's feelings toward the begining of the month

the other side of tim:)

going home from the hospital in the cute outfit uncle scott and aunt lisa bought

Great Grandpa Smith and Jared

It's been too long once again. Lots has changed in the Geelhoed family! We added another little boy. Jared Scott....after uncle Scott:) Did I ever mention that my brother Scott is the greatest?! We have had so many awesome times together and he means so much to me that I couldn't imagine a better person to name my son after!:)

Tim has, in 4 weeks, come a VERY long way in regards to his little brother. I was thinking the first week Jared was home that i was going to have to give one of them away or our family just wasn't going to work anymore. :) Well, it is all starting to work out just fine..... just a little bit busier than before.

My once love for winter is wavering this year. I feel very very stuck at home with a newborn and an almost 2 year old. Spring is coming and I will be so very greatful for walks, and parks, and flowers blooming this year!

THANK YOU THANK YOU to all of you who made us dinner, sent us cards/gifts, stayed over so i could take a nap or a shower, called and listened to me cry and whine, made me cute gifts to keep me sane, made me laugh, etc. this past month! I couldn't have done it without you!

Tommorow is Feb. and this week I will be starting to do hair again! Crazy. It went WAY too fast. I honestly don't think I am ready to drop of Jared for 10 hours on Weds. I thought it would be easier with the second....but it's not at all. I will be looking forward to some adult conversation though! Bring it on. Please, if you are coming Weds. talk my ear off! I will love every minute of it!

Here's a few pics that i have accumilated over the last month.:) I think that's the way this blog is going to go....once a month. Let me know if I am slacking worse than that!

Christmas fun:)

I have decided after the Christmas festivities are almost over for this year that I LOVE CHRISTMAS once again! Don't get me wrong, it's always been great. But having a child just makes it a whole new experience again. Seeing everything through his eyes....wow....how fun.

Shoveling with dad

Tim's first "playing in the snow" experience was today! We bundled him up and sent him out to shovel with dad! He LOVED it:) I went out only to take pictures bc I decided it was a little too cold for me, but Tim didn't want to come in! I guess he takes after Steve in yet another area! (his ability to stay warm) Here are some pictures, sorry he isn't looking for any of them! He was consentrating way too hard to have time to look at me.

*****sorry i started this post more than a week ago. I finally uploaded the pics, so it's a little outdated.....but new all the same!:)