#discoveringsarahjane

Blessed by friendship

What happens when a laptop is left in a car trunk, which just so happens to be 45 miles away, on a night when a video editing project has to be completed? In my case, it becomes the night that you realize what a blessing your friends are. 

Last night my boyfriend, Ryan, and I met up for our usual Wednesday night coffee and study time. Seeing as we go to different universities, we met in the middle of our usual 45 mile drive. After coffee we headed out to dinner and I put my laptop in his car's trunk...where it was unfortunately forgotten. The mistake was not realized until after we had parted ways when we were back at our apartments.

Not wanting him to miss his university's evening chapel service, I asked him to bring my things to our friends' apartment afterwards. These girls are not only two of my best friends, they are also two of his closest friends and live near Ryan. 

Within five minutes of realizing my mistake, Krista, one of the girls, had already agreed to letting me stay the night so I could get my laptop and finish my project.

This started the twelve hour period that showed me how blessed I am by these friends.

As soon as I walked in the girls' apartment Chelsea and Krista greeted me with open arms. They joked about my mishap and assured me that my last minute request was not a bother. Once Ryan dropped off my laptop I got to work, and wound up sitting at the girls' kitchen table until 3am working. 

Exhausted and worried about my drive home come morning, I fell asleep while the video uploaded to YouTube. 

Come 7:17am I checked on the video and was terrified. It hadn't finished loading. I proceeded to get ready and pick up my things, hoping that it would finish. 

When 8am rolled around and the upload seemed to be frozen, I called Steven. Ryan's best friend and roommate, Chelsea's boyfriend, as well as a wonderful friend to Krista and I, Steven is our go-to-guy for computer issues. 

Before I knew it I was at their apartment and Steven was working his magic getting my project uploaded properly. 

Leaving the girls' apartment I was stressed, thinking that my video wasn't going to work and fearing having time to complete a paper that is due today. Krista and Chelsea took the time to calm me down, offering help, prayer and assurance. 

Walking into Ryan and Steven's apartment was yet another blessing. Ryan had been in the kitchen making me a lunch and Steven was ready to take my laptop.

In just a half an hour's time these two solved my computer issues, poured me cereal, encouraged me and sent me off with coffee in my hand and my video taken care of. 

Incredible.

As I sit and wait to present this video, which just so happens to be my final, I cannot help but be overwhelmed and overjoyed at the blessing each and every one of these people are. They took the time to do more than just help me, they cared for me. My dear friends and boyfriend each showed me Christ-like love in a time of need. 

Chelsea, Krista, Ryan and Steven - I cannot thank you enough for your love, support and generosity. Your care has encouraged me in many ways and has shown me what a blessing it is to have you all in my life. I could not imagine a more amazing group of friends. 

Thank you.

Curiously,
Sarah Jane

#discoveringsarahjane

The beginning of the end

Life as a busy college student has left me rushing about in more ways than one.

This past week:

• I completed my necessary hours for my internship
• did homework and studying (but not nearly enough)
• had multiple photo shoots
• completed the final issue of The Banner as the photo editor
• went a little bit crazy
• ran away to San Diego for the weekend (more on that to come)

Now Monday has rolled around and the time has come to kick it into high gear. There are only a few days left of normal classes and finals are looming in the not-so-distant future. April 30th marks the end of my first semester as a college senior and I don't know if I'm ready for it to be coming to a close.

Today there is a sheet of notebook paper in my backpack filled front and back with assignments that are begging to be completed. To be honest, I brought it on myself. My internship and jobs have taken precedence this semester which left schoolwork collecting dust on the corner of my desk. Now that time is running out my focus has narrowed and my goal is to complete what was once left behind.

For my readers and followers who are followers of Christ, prayers are appreciated as stress will certainly play a major role this week. I need to be productive to complete assignments and be receptive to the studying that simply must take place. 

If any of you have prayer requests for this new week feel free to let me know! 

Curiously,
Sarah Jane   

#discoveringsarahjane

Thrifty and nifty fun 

Those who know me, know my love of all things vintage. If it's an antique, if it can be refurbished, repurposed or recreated in any way, or if it's a funky piece of clothing - I'm all over it. 

What makes this love of the unique and obscure special is that it came from my parents. 

Growing up many a Saturday afternoon was spent wandering flee markets, antique shops and yard sales. My father's woodworking abilities and love of the craftsman movement pulled him to the strong lines and woodgrains of treasures from the early 1900's. My mother's creative mind and feminine demeanor caused her to gravitate to dainty, floral and unique treasures. They both rubbed off on me, and created an appreciation in me for the days past. Their varying interests became blended in my own taste pallet, and as I've grown older and search through antique shops, flea markets and thrift stores on my own, I've added my own flare to those original tastes.      

Case in point: last night.

My boyfriend and I spent hours in a local thrift shop searching through aisles of second-hand items and came out with a pile of unique finds. As we eyed the furniture my father's advice echoed in my head, causing ideas of recreating these forgotten pieces through sanding, staining, and repurposing. A roll top desk caught my eye and I couldn't help but imagine how my mom would see countless ways to give it a creative personality.

(Part of me wants to go back and get the desk so as to bring it back to life.) 

As we continued through the store my boyfriend and I both enjoyed looking at things for what they could be.

In the end, I walked out with a sunflower chalkboard for a friend, a green cardigan (from the men's department which I'll add elbow patches to), a polar bear fleece jacket (just random enough to warrant my adoration), a perfect chambray (already wore it today), and a hunter green button up covered in pockets and zippers for my guy. He found an amazing old red tool chest which will become art supply storage and picked up two vintage prints for me to add to my wall. 

All in all, it was a great thrifting trip and serves as a glimpse into why this is my favorite way to shop. There are so many ways to recreate and personalize what has been discarded by others. Appreciating these unique and old finds is just part of who I am.

Curiously,
Sarah Jane

#discoveringsarahjane

Where is my mind?

One of the questions I often ask myself is just that, "where is my mind?" Most often that question is followed by the jukebox in my mind playing "Where is My Mind" by the Pixies and it all goes downhill from there.

Over the course of this (extremely rough) week, my mind wandered to a thousand different places. One of those places was my ideal summer. 

As I painted the image of my ideal final summer, the conclusion that I reached was that my heart is longing for a season of exploration, self-discovery, adventure and learning. Beyond the necessity of work, I am dreaming up ways to embrace a little bit of the free spirited ideas that have added color to this mental painting. 

• Reading - I haven't sat down and read a book for my own pleasure in ages, so taking the time to tackle my must-read list will be wonderful source of happiness (not to mention growth and learning). The goal is to crack open a new book every other week.
• Creating - No matter what it is, one art project will be created a week. Be it sketching, sewing, painting, jewelry making (I used to do this all the time) or one of the 225 crafting ideas on my "Now that's just clever" Pinterest board, I want to create something unique once a week.
• Saving - Seeing as I will be working nearly full time, one of my goals for the summer is to build up that savings account. 
• Working - As mentioned above, work will take up a lot of my time. I am hoping that this provides opportunities to further develop my professional skills so as to make the post-graduation job hunt go a little bit easier.   
• Traveling - This is perhaps what I am most excited about. As a challenge for personal growth (as well as to feed my wanderlust) my plan is to go on one mini-trip a month. The criteria? Each trip is to only cost $50 and one tank of gas. Where this will take me I don't know, but that's what adventure is supposed to be about anyways.

So that is where my mind is. It's off wandering about while the rest of me muddles through long days of work, traffic and various forms of overall business. Summer will be here soon though.

Curiously,
Sarah Jane

#discoveringsarahjane

Uneasy

There has been an uncertain feeling within me this last week and it has continued on into today. A cloud of uneasy worry, hurt and confusion is hanging around me, making it difficult to focus.

This morning breathing became a conscious effort and pain was filling my chest. Whatever is going on, I don't understand it. 

So much is bouncing around in my head. Hopefully it will all get sorted out and this pain will go away.

Curiously,
Sarah Jane