Photography

 I call the road: Path to the future:Follow my steps. 

The (red) Barn: Beauty through the years.

The falling Barn: Still Standing. 

The Fence is just cool- note the arrow at the end too!

And the dog I call: Bliss (although the dogs name is Cupie) 

I found my 35 MM camera yesterday- i forgot how much I love it! I love my digital too, dont get me wrong, but tonight i was reminded of why it is I love my 33 mm soooo much!

I was taking pictures at night. In the middle of a corn field- my goal was to get 1/3rd of a corn field 1/3rd city sky line and 1/3 sky. it would have been an AMAZING shot.... but i couldn't get my digital to take it even on the lowest aperture and shutter settings! As luck has it, i used my last roll of film last night.... Oh well.... So goes life! 

Here are a few pictures ive taken recently- hope you enjoy! I cant wait to get the ones from tonight ready!!!!

Quote: There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer. ~Ansel Adams

Telling Aiyani

I have been a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters for 3 years now. It has been an amazing exspirence and I have love it! Especially this year. I have been with Aiyani for 2 years now, and last year was our "get to know you stage" this year on the other hand, I can tell she was really looking forward to my visits and excited to see me when I got there. 

I have been trying to find a way to tell her I was moving all semester. It came up in conversation over lunch one day with her friends and I said i was moving to Germany. I knew she didn't "get it" though so I was going to have to tell her directly. She is 9 years old and finishes the 3rd grade today. 

Anyways, i have even skipped visits because I didnt know how to tell her and time was getting shorter. I know, it was bad. But I did it yesterday. We were making a book for her teacher, Mrs. Jared, that recapped the school year and said thanks. I timed it so it would be almost time for lunch and not a lot of awkward down time. 

There was literally just a few minutes before lunch and I told her we "needed to talk" so she looked up at me and smiled and went back to working on her masterpiece. I told her I was moving to Germany for two years and i how much i would miss our time together and how proud of her i am yada yada. She looked up at me her little eyes were all puffy and swollen. Then, luckily, the whistle for lunch was blown. 

She asked if i could stay after lunch so we could finish the book and I said I could, we would go to the library so we could look at a map too. 

So then she tells one of her friends at lunch that I was moving to Germany and all the kids want to know little german phrases. That was fun. Now Mrs. Jareds 3rd grade class is going around saying "Guden morten" for "Guten Morgan" (which is good morning) and they got "nine" which means no (but that ones easy lol). 

Anyways, once we looked at a globe and she could see where I was going and yada yada i think it was a bit better. 

Up top is a (horrible) picture of the two of us at a BBBS end of the year ice cream party. 

I got a basket of goodies for her and im dropping it off for her last day of classes today. 

Quote: "This moment contains all moments" ~C.S. Lewis

DONATION!!!!!!

I GOT A DONATION TODAY!!!!!!

Oh yea, those are 2 of my roommates for the summer! Carly is in the middle and Morgan is on the right! 

Quote (this is one of my all time favorite quotes!): "I asked God for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health that I might do greater things. I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy. I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for power that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. I was given a life that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am, among all men, most richly blessed." ~unknown

Fundraising

Fundraising is the not so fun part of the work. I HATE asking people for money. It truly has been and still is a humbling experience to fundraise. 

I sent out an email to a lot of friends and family a few weeks before the end of the semester, so maybe a month and a half ago, asking for church references of churches who might be interested in picking up a new missionary. 

I didn't really get any responses, just lots of people saying they would pray, which is amazing don't get me wrong, but a little disappointing at the same time. Anyways, tonight I got a response!!!!! Im not getting my hopes up, it might just be a one time donation, but I will take anything I can get!!!! (PS this pic is me SUPER EXCITED!!!!)

I am about to mail out another round of letters, mainly churches this time. I am hoping that seeds can and will be planted for this work. God is in control, and I know that, but its really hard to let go on this side....

Anyways, woohoooo for a great weekend at home!!! No pictures this time, sorry :( But alas I have not forgotten about the follow up (nicer side) of Pauls Valley! 

Have a wonderful week! Be good and do good!

Sarah B 

"Be an opener of doors for such as come after thee." Ralph Waldo Emerson 

Home

So I am home this weekend for Memorial Day, and I was thinking, "whats a good way to describe Pauls Valley?" It was a tough task to take on, but I shall show you a little of my home town in a photo documentary- none of these photos are mine (just an fyi) here we go: 

So I am sure you are wondering, "What in the world is that?" 

That my friends, is noodling! Pauls Valley is the noodling capitol of at least OK if not the nation (we used to hold that claim but I havent heard it in a while so im not sure we are still the record breakers!)

So exactly what is noodling you may ask. Noodling is the art of sticking ones hand into holes found in lake beds, and on shore sides in which catfish burry themselves in. One literally "catches" a fish by using ones hand as bait and grabbing the fish out of the hole. Note there are only 4 fingers on the hand above. *Disclaimer: Not for children or people who would like to keep all their fingers* 

Now dont get me wrong, I love Pauls Valley, and I will post some more pictures tomorrow Pauls Valley, this is just one of our many attractions! I hope you have enjoyed!

Quote for today: "I see my path, but I dont know where it leads. Not knowing where I'm going is what inspires me to travel." ~ Rosalia de Castro 

Oklahoma

So I have been doing my best to document "Oklahoma" because I remember from my last trip to Germany that everyone wanted to know what it was like, but I didnt really have any pictures of "Oklahoma". Here is a glimpse of what I have gathered thus far. 

Above is just outside of Pauls Valley, I was bored and took a drive at sunset. On the left is actually in a cemetery in January. Please don't get me started on the upkeep of the cemetery, trust me, it has been brought to the proper authorities attention! 

A random picture of my cat KC (killer cat) sleeping on a stereo, nice eh? Most are random pictures. I think the long horn is my favorite :). 

I went on a drive this past saturday with a good friend and have  a ton a photos that I haven't up loaded yet, so hopefully I can get them up soon. 

Quote for the day: "The less routine the more life." ~ Amos Alcott

The Blogging World

This is my first official blog. Exciting eh? Last night I got another 50 letters stuffed and ready to mail, I will hopefully get them out in the next day or so. 

Things here are going well, I have found that the best time to work on stuffing things is at night during downtime at work.

Oh man, okay so while I love Oklahoma... the trees are killing me right now! I feel like I walk around crying all the time! Literally, crying because of whatever I am allergic to! I am giving in today and taking some allergy medicine (I hate taking medication!). 

I visited my adopted class at Memorial this past Sunday. I was really nervous until I got there. Everyone was friendly, I am looking forward to getting to know them all better. Seems like a great class! I will visit a few more times before I leave! 

Okay well im off to run errands and get ready for the day! Have a wonderful day! 

Quote for today: 

Change your thoughts, and you change your world. ~Norman Peale