A Stirring Quote

Jonathan Edwards wrote this of a young woman he'd heard tell of, a young woman named Sara...


"They say there is a young lady in New Haven who is beloved of that Great Being who made and rules the world. They say that He fills her mind with exceeding sweet delight, and that she hardly cares for anything except to meditate on Him. If you present all the world to her, with the richest of its treasures, she disregards it. She is unmindful of any pain or affliction. She has a singular purity in her affections. You could not persuade her to compromise her true Love even if you would give her all the world. She possesses a wonderful sweetness, calmness, and kindness to those around her. She will sometimes go about from place to place, singing sweetly. She seems to be always full of joy and pleasure, and no one knows exactly why. She loves to be alone, walking in the fields and groves, and seems to have Someone invisible always conversing with her."

Jonathan would later marry Sara.

I long to be a Sara. My sister who has gone to heaven before me was named Sara.

"Sara" means princess.

Do you have any favorite quotes that thrill you with their poetry, inspire you with their vision, and uplift you with your truth? I'd love to hear them!

Princess Lessons: Princess Skills

Sunshine Recipes

Sometimes we make shadows blacker than they are. We can avoid the rain or dance in it- it's a cliche and so overused that I think we forget the simple truth behind it. Here are some recipes for thankfulness and cheeriness to brighten your day:

*Go write a list of things God has blessed you with(I keep a whole notebook).
*Take out time to praise, whether with a CD, or on an instrument. I love to get on my piano and play beauty and praise into the shadows that come.
*Go to a pretty out-of-doors spot, empty your heart to Him, and let Him fill you back up. Listen to the songs in the silence.
*Turn to the book of Psalms (34 is what I've been meditating on lately, and so precious) and pray that He would lead you to one you need to hear.
*(Don't laugh at me). Blow bubbles! I have a stash of bitty bubble bottles, 17 though I am. Just give the wand a wave, just watch the dancing globes of shine and sparkly, and just know that life is full of good things!
*If you like peanut butter cookies (these are on the sweet side!) I'll often make these 15 minute cookies to cheer up my heart and my household. When money is tight this is also a grand go-to recipe.

I once read somewhere that depression cannot thrive in a heart of thankfulness. Having battled with the throes of depression, I can testify that this is quite true! Feel free to share your own "Sunshine Recipes," I'd love to hear them!

Update: God has done it! And we got to be a part of it! $54,000 raised for orphans in India!!! More than we asked or dreamt! :D I can't praise Him enough. Thank you for everyone who has given and prayed!
Second Update: It looked grand on a different computer, but I realize the color scheme of this blog is horribly off... I'll be working on that. ;)