Tulip Time and Mother's Day

Hello and happy Friday!!

My lovely little life in Kalamazoo has been full lately--with love, family, friends, church, and living the student affairs graduate student life! I am genuinely happy--I truly enjoy my calling and simply where I am in life. I don't feel as if I am striving or overwhelmed or anxious. I feel content, cared for, loved, and silly happy. 

Of course I have my moments, especially dealing with my first series of 40-work weeks, split between my SALP hours and my Career Services internship hours. I know it is something that I need time to get used to! Oh, and my car demanded another $700 of work--fuel pumps are kind of a big deal! 

The past two weekends were full of fun! I went to opening night of the annual Tulip Time Festival fireworks with Kirsten and Lindsay, and spent Sunday walking around Holland in the pouring rain--literally. Julie and Hollie were able to come to, so it was lovely to just all be together--something we weren't able to do in quite a while! 

For mother's day my mom and sister visited, and we just had the best time! We went out to one of our favorite Kalamazoo restaurants, the Texas Roadhouse, and I made sure they experienced Sophia's House of Pancakes. They got to meet my good friends Chavonna and Yu, and we all went to my church (love Centerpoint!) together. It was a wonderful mother's days service and I was so thankful to experience it with my mom! It was truly a magical mother's day! 

The Lord has truly blessed me lately. I plan to write more this weekend about what He is doing in my life. I've been dreaming lots of big Jesus dreams lately and I can't wait to chat more with you about them. May the Lord bless you and keep you this lovely Michigan weekend!

Sarah

Fireworks with Linds and Kirsten!

Lindsay Lou love. 

 The only group shot we got, ducking under awnings of downtown shops.

Sad rainy friends. Sad tulips.

Love my sissy--she is doing great things!

I love my mommy:-) She's the bomb dot com. It seemed only appropriate I got her tulips this year!

Jesus loves to laugh

Ahh yes, Jesus Christ and laughter define this post, oh how I love them both! God has been so good in my life lately, and I truly have handfuls of praises to send His way. My grandpa had 2 kidney stones removed and He is going great; He kept me safe with Nelly Belle with over 600 miles of driving in 8 days; He allowed me to make memories with some of my closest friends and share abundant conversation with a new one; He blessed me with a scholarship for the upcoming school year; He has blessed us with a roommate for next year; He blessed my grades and my baking skills (fruit pizza anyone?); He kept me safe when I was home alone; He allowed my finances for tuition and life to work out just perfectly; He blessed me with many opportunities to laugh and appreciate His grace and humor, (which many of the following images share!). God is good, and I am so thankful that we have a God who is always so loving and caring and abundantly wonderful!

I have played this song numerous times in the past week, and if you haven't heard 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman, I invite you to listen to my favorite worship song to date! Here's the first few lyrics I continuously say in my head:

Bless the LORD oh my soul,

Oh my soul, 

Worship His holy name, 

Sing like never before, 

Oh my soul,

I'll Worship your holy name.

The sun comes up it's a new day dawning,

It time to sing your song again,

Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me,

Let me be singing when the evening comes. --Matt Redman

Besides praising Jesus, He has led me on many lovely adventures!

We went to Tulip Time today and it was just a rainy, dreary day. We recharged with elephant ears under the closest awning we could find for cover. We could do nothing but laugh at how soaked we were!

I got locked up for being good for donating to the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation! Getting locked up at a nice restaurant for an hour=a very cozy jail I must say!

Sara and I took Kelli to Frankenmuth to celebrate her birthday! It was pretty SWEET! Hahahah!

I was trying to take a cute picture with Cass the bunny but Sara and Kelli photobombed me (look closely in the background). I think this turned out best actually!!

I also tried to get a photo of just Cass, and every time he wanted to investigate my phone! It was too cute. He especially liked me after I serenaded him to "You are my sunshine."

Today marks the beginning of my 40-hour work weeks and summer I class! I am truly looking forward to what God has in store for this semester:-)

With love, grace, and happiness,

Sarah, AKA Schultzie

A Year In Review: My Faves and Living my Bucketlist

Ahh, another year nearly completed. I get very reflective this time of year, reflecting on what has made 2011 all this it has meant to me. This post includes a compilation of my bucket list experiences, favorite meals, songs, movies, YouTube videos, books, and websites/blogs. Friday's post will include all of my favorite memories! I hope they inspire you! I credit Today's Letters for inspiring this idea. Enjoy!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Things I happily checked on the bucket list

{images: http://perfectbucketlist.tumblr.com}

Other's checked on the list:

• Get a professional massage (best life choice ever)
• Get into grad school
• Get a graduate assistantship

Favorite New Foods/Drinks

California Sandwich & Texas Omelet, The Omelet Shoppe, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Fresh, local blueberries, blueberry stand on the way to Grand Haven, Mich.
Breaded Shrimp, The Willow Tree, West Branch, Mich.
Optimus Prime Sandwich & sweet potato fries,  Electric Cheetah, Grand Rapids, Mich.
Breaded Shrimp, The Butler, Saugatuck, Mich.
Mommy's Dearest Sandwich, Bewitched Deli, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Den Pop, Den Party Store, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Chicken Casadilla, Baja Grill, Holland, Mich. 
Chai soy latte, Crumbs, Saginaw, Mich.
Hawaiian Sandwich, East Egg, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Eye Catcher Drink, Harvey's, Saginaw, Mich.
Pizza Pinwheels, Holland Brewery, Holland, Mich.
Nachos, Beach Stand, South Haven, Mich.
Dutch Chocolate Gelatto, Santo Stefano Del Lago, Grand Haven, Mich.

And of course, all of those fresh McDonald's Coke's I drank--anywhere U.S.A.

Fave Songs

Best Love Song T-Pain feat. Chris Brown
Free Fallin' Live-John Mayer
God Gave Me You- Dave Barnes
WMU fight song
Sparks Fly- Taylor Swift
Party Rock Anthem- LMFAO
Superbass-Nikki Minaj
Love will hold us together- Matt Maher
Good Life- One Republic
The Show Goes on- Lupe Fiasco
Lay 'Em Down-Needtobreathe
Pumped Up Kicks- Foster the People

Fave YouTube Videos

Sophia Grace & Rosie (makes me  think of my sister & I)
Nature Neat (just ridiculous)
GVSU lipdub
Grand Rapids lipdub

Fave Movies

Bridesmaids
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
New Years Eve
Pirate's of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides
Footloose

Fave Books

The Bible (always)
A Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren
The Happiness Project, Gretchen Rubin
Cinderella Ate My Daughter, Peggy Orenstein
Cold Tangerines & Bittersweet, Shauna Niequist
My Year with Eleanor, Noelle Hancock
Velvet Elvis, Rob Bell
The Old Man and the Sea, Ernest Hemingway

Fave New Websites/Blogs Discoveries

Pinterest--feel free to follow me!

My friends blogs/websites:
Living in Student Affairs--Josh
Carleigh Courey, graphic design-- Carleigh

(Fair warning, the majority are fashion related, my recent admiration).

Selective Potential (she's a West Michigan blogger!)

What I Wore 

The Daybook 

Kendi Everyday

A Cup of Jo

Kristine. Or Polly. 

Soulpancake

The Student Affairs Collaborative