Nice To Meet You

Some of you 28Cancer readers don't know me. Some of you haven't seen me for years. Some of you are new friends or merely acquaintances. It occured to me that you might care to know me a bit better...

My name is Sarah.

I am blessed to come from two Christian families. Both my sets of grandparents are awesome people with even more awesome stories.

Dad's family (my dad's the boy in the middle):

Mom's parents in 2005:

I have a mostly-giggling, only-sometimes-meddling mom.

I have a too-cool for school dad.

I have a wonderful extended family. Aunt Mel has been more like a friend. A constant source of strength.

I am a middle child. I have an older sister, Jill...

and a younger sister, Laura (who will probably wish I chose a different picture)...

School started off ok for me. I joined clubs here and there and played volleyball.

But by the middle of my junior year of high school I was very unhappy with who I was. I had changed myself to fit in too much. I started skipping school. When I did go to class I was usually high. My parents let me quit public school and I homeschooled for my last three semesters while I got my life back in order. This is when God taught me to trust in Him. He taught me how to pray during this period of my life.

Next it was time to choose a college. I chose Stephen F. Austin in East Texas over UT in Austin because I could live in an apartment with my sister instead of a dorm. (I know- I had interesting priorities!)

I majored in Journalism and minored in Sociology. I see now that God was the one who chose SFA for me. Because it was in Nacogdoches, TX that my life changed again.

I joined Sigma Phi Lambda and met my best friends. Friends who are so much like family that we call ourselves "The Fam."

 

It was one of these girls who introduced me to Terry. We met when I was 18, but didn't start dating until a few weeks after my 19th birthday. After our first initial (blind) date, I started praying for direction. I told God I wouldn't date anyone until I knew it was God's will.

Turns out it was His will.

We dated for 3 years while we went to college. We were inseperable from the third date. We were in love by the third week.

He proposed at Mercer Arboretum.

We graduated from SFA and I started working a semi-decent job as a marketing assistant.

And 4 months later in April 2005 I married my best friend. And oh, how we partied...

We partied under the lights.

We got the men to wear pink and red flip flops on the dance floor.

Our wedding napkins read, "Anyone can be passionate but it takes true lovers to be silly."

We danced until we were red and sweaty!

Terry's parent's paid for the honeymoon. We could have gone anywhere. We chose Disney World!

And by our one year anniversary we were pregnant. I am so grateful that God gave us both a desire to have children early. Had we not done it early we might not have been able to do it at all.

I was very big and pregnant during Christmas 2006.

My pregnancy with Micah was fairly easy. I looked forward to quitting my job to be a stay at home mom. We prayed hard during these nine months for God to provide Terry with the salary to allow us to be a one-income family. Thankfully He did!

My labor and delivery with Micah was hard.

He was born with Santa Clause cheeks and Donald Trump's hair.

He's a steady person. What you see is what you get. For the most part he's even-tempered and playful

He's a beautiful, active, healthy three year old.

With the addition of Micah, we became a family. I got to start my dream job. Stay-at-home-mom!

And before we knew it, baby #2 was on the way!

My pregnancy with Caleb was difficult towards the end, but the labor and delivery was easy.

He was born looking like a skinny old man!

He's a rowdy boy who goes quickly from happy to mad to giggly and back again.

Now he's a beautiful 16-month-old with a big heart and a big love for fun!

Somewhere in the middle of all of that I had a few heart-breaks. I lost a few friends, gained some others. Joined a great church with an insightful pastor and friendly congregation. Watched my parents remarry new spouses. Saw friends and family get married and have babies. Moved to Sugar Land, then to Katy, then to Cypress. Oh, and was diagnosed with breast cancer.

That cancer has to be a part of my story now. Whether I like it or not. But just like all of these other things got me to where I am today, so will this illness move me along the path to becoming the 'Sarah' God wants me to be.

And now you know me. That's my story.

If you're a reader here, consider yourself a friend. Nice to meet you. I'm glad to have a friend like you.