Make these..

Let me just tell you...these.are.a.must. These biscuits are so easy, quick to come together, and soooo good. But you will think the same after you eat this melt in your mouth, bundle of goodness, lick the pan clean biscuits. WOW I sound a little out of whack, but I am obsessed with these things. I tell everyone I know about them. Even those I don't. Sorry to the random stranger in Wal-Mart I professed my love of these biscuits to.

Ok...enough!

Seriously these are so good with anything. They make a great bread with your dinner. FAntastic for biscuits and gravy, and a good hearty bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit! I will never buy canned biscuits again!

So make these this week and tell me how much you love them!!:) Enjoy!!

7-up Biscuits

2 cups Bisquick

1/2 cup sour cream

1/2 cup 7-up

1/4 cup melted butter

Preheat oven to 450.

Cut sour cream into biscuit mix, add 7-Up. Makes a very soft dough.

Sprinkle additional biscuit mix on board or table and pat dough out. Melt 1/4 cup butter in a 9 inch square pan. Place cut biscuits in pan and bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.

Missing these things.

I was looking back over my pictures from this past year and realized what a great year we have had. We have been blessed abundantly. But it is amazing how pictures will bring back so many memories and it just got me missing lots of things!!

I miss our dear friends Taylor and Meagan. We LOVE them. We get to see each other about 2 times a year but we always pick up right where we left off like there is no distance between us. I love how God brings people together and I love that God brought Meg and Tay together so we could be lifelong friends. Meg and I talk weekly via email, face time, or on the phone but I still miss her! I can't wait till we get together again!! Love you guys!

I miss these sweet faces and the country they belong to. I always will. There is not enough time to spend with these precious kiddos. I love them. I pray for them. I miss them, lots. They have changed me forever.

I miss Chelsea and Jonathon. They are in Tampa living life and working a lot! Matt and I are so proud of both of them. We wish we could see them more, but know that God has them where he wants them for now and we are thankful for that. There's No greater place to be than in the will of God. We can't wait till we get to see them again (annual girls trip)!!

Just got me thinking about and praying for all these people we love and adore.

Up to date...

Well it has been almost a month since I last updated my MANY followers (haha) about what God is doing and has been doing in our little family!

About a month ago, Matt and I made a trip to Louisiana to visit a church that had called Matt to join their staff and ministry team. We had prayed a lot, and went willing to do whatever it took to make it work if that is where God was calling us. Matt and I knew about the position for about a month before we were able to go and check it out! I can't say that whole month was just fabulous. There were times of concern and worry, but also peace through it all. As the weekend approached there were many tears, many times of sadness. Not at what the Lord has called our family to, but just the reality of leaving our family and our friends and everything we have ever known. But we knew God had called us to take up our cross and follow Him. We had to cling to, "If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. Matthew 10:38-39

We loved everything about the church. The location was great. The people were amazing. The job was great. Matt loved the staff and we love the pastor and his wife and family dearly. We spent 3 full days in Benton. Searching for a place to live, scoping out the area, and meeting lots of people. Matt spent a day in the office with the staff. Leading up to the weekend we seriously just knew this is where the lord was leading us.

As we were leaving on Tuesday to head home, there was this sadness and weird feeling that Matt and I neither one could explain. It was as if God clearly said "No, not right now!" There was no explanation. There were things that we simply had to have a yes on that God was just not allowing to happen. Housing was a HUGE deal. There was just NOTHING we could afford. We knew God was up to something but just really shocked and confused as to why this move was not going to happen. We really feel like God was just testing us to see if we were willing to follow Him wherever HE leads.

As we made the drive home, we were talking and thinking..a lot. I kept telling Matt that the only thing that kept coming to my mind was Haiti. We knew regardless of where we lived that Haiti would forever be a part of our lives. We knew God was not calling us to move to Haiti, but it did not clear anything in our minds as to why the Lord was laying Haiti on our hearts sooo incredibly strong. It literally brings chills as I type this, because we had NO idea what God had in store for us. "No human wisdom or understanding 0r plan can stand against the LORD." Proverbs 21:30

A week or so after we returned home Matt received a call about coordinating the efforts state side for Hope Rising Children's Home in Leogane, Haiti. Our church (FBC Lavaca) is sending a family of missionaries that will be on the ground in Haiti running and operating HRCH while Matt runs and coordinates everything in the US. It will require a lot of work, and a lot of time. But we know God has been preparing our hearts for this since the first time we visited Haiti last summer. Matt and I could not be more excited to be a part of something bigger than us. Something that will outlast us. Something that will be handed over to our children, and all the children of those involved.

Anyone can be involved (watch for a post on how you can help) God clearly tells us to: Speak for those who can not speak for themselves. That pure and genuine religion is to take care of the widows and orphans in their time of need. HE also tells us: To much is given, much is required and we all know we are RICH in blessings.

We are excited and we are constantly praying. For the children. For the community that we will be in close contact with, and for the Nation of Haiti. God is much bigger than anything we can imagine. He has called us to take care of these children. To train the children in the ways of the Lord and to disciple them so they can take the testimony of the Lord to their country and to the nations.

Weekend recap through pictures.

This weekend was a busy one. We have been in project mode the past couple of weeks with Matt being home. It has been soooo good to have him here with me and with us during the day. I am seriously going to miss him so much when he starts his new position!

These little cuties were excited to spend the night with their nana. Papa Mike was out of town so it was just Nana time and Nana did not dissapoint!! She took them to all their favorites. They hit up Razorback Pizza on Friday night and Got to stay up late and watch a movie. Saturday woke up at 9am (seriously? That NEVER happens for us) to their favorite breakfast of pancakes and juice. Then went to chick fil a for lunch. They packed in the fun on their overnight stay! Thanks Nana!

Friday night Matt and I went on a date. This is just something we have made of utmost importance in our marriage. We love our children more than anything but we are called to love each other more. We want our marriage to always be fed and that comes through spending time together. I love Matt more every day and thank God for this amazing man to walk through life with! What a Gift I have been given!

We have been looking for a little desk for Alyssa to have in her room. I can not stand clutter. I can not stand for things to be out and be seen. God has given me a sweet, precious little girl in Alyssa. A little girl who LOVES stuff. Nothing big. She has never asked for much of anything. She is VERY sentimental. She loves arts and crafts, and she loves to keep EVERYTHING!!:) She is one of a kind and I have never met a child quite like her. Very quirky in her ways. Very loyal and very special! All that to say, she needed a desk. A place where she could store some of her "stuff," and a place where she could work. She is always working on something. She had a little meal tray that she used in the corner of her room and her chair was Bella's bumbo seat. She never complained, but we knew it was time for a little upgrade!!

Matt and I spotted this old school desk at a Antique store by our house. We loaded up the girls and headed out. It was the cheapest entertainment ever! They. Loved. It. They were ooing and awing over everything. Matt and I were constantly laughing..and praying they would not break any of their "favorite things they had to touch!"

This desk cost us $15. We brought it home and pondered what would do with it!

It went from this:

To this:

It is perfect for her room! She loves it and we are kind of proud of our find!!:)

Friday I also got to have breakfast with one of my best friends! It was sooo good to hang out with Katie for a few hours at our favorite breakfast spot, Panera! We have shared some hi's and lows at the lovely Panera Bread. It was such a great time of catching up. Made me realize just how much I have missed her (she moved to Austin) and we are already planning my trip to Austin!! Love you Katie!!

Saturday night was a fun girls night in honor of Miss Hurt being in town! It was fun to get together to laugh and just hang out and catch up! Love these girls!

Such a great weekend full of fun! My heart is full and very thankful for all of God's great blessings!!

For you bless the godly, O Lord. You surround them with your shield of love.

Psalm 5:12

A moment in time...

As we drove home yesterday from a getaway to the mountains I was thinking about the week we had and felt overwhelmed. Overwhelmed at the vastness of the view as I stood at the top of the mountain overlooking the pure beauty of our Saviour's creation. I stood amazed at his goodness. His love. His blessings. His beauty.

His love so great that he created it all for me. For us.

I was reminded of how I felt the first time I saw my sweet babies. It was instant love. A forever love. A beautiful love. A love I had never experienced before.

I then thought about the instant love that poured out of my heart the first time I laid eyes on the country of Haiti. The people of Haiti. The children of Haiti. It was a love I didn't know existed aside from Matt, my children, and my family. It was a heart wrenching love. A compassionate love. An instant bond that no distance, culture, race,or language difference will ever Break.

I knew God was speaking to me as I stood on the edge of the mountain. It's as if He said, "Sarah, I created all this beauty. I formed your children and the orphans in Haiti. I created you. I created you to share my beauty. Not just the beauty of the mountains, or the world around you, but the beauty of redemption. My unfailing love. The beauty of deliverance and the beauty of everlasting love. The beauty of a forever love and a forever home with Me."

It's not just for me to take in and hold to myself. It's for me to share with others. Because God's love is beautiful and his power and grace are far too amazing for me to keep to myself. Because He is worth it.

So thankful god used a moment in time to show me that he cares about me. That he loves me. That he has a plan for me and a plan For my family. A moment where He whispers in my ear and tells me that His love was instant. His love is forever. Not just for me, but for every believer.

... But they must be told.

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:19