Guess Who's Back, Back Again

Sarah's back. Tell a friend.

After almost 5 months of not blogging, I am BACK! (The theme song to Welcome Back Kotter is playing in my head). There is absolutely no way I can detail the last 5 months to you. If you read my last post from August, you can assume it's been pretty interesting. Tough, heartbreaking, enlightening, happy and spiritual are just a few adjectives. BUT - now it's time for a new start. It's a new year, it's a new me, and I have a new outlook on life. "It's a new dawn. It's a new day. It's a new life for me. And I'm feeling good."

First of all, let me tell you that you are looking at (metaphorically speaking, I guess more like looking at the words of) a person who is Exhibit A of how amazing the Lord I serve can be. I hope I never peak during my spiritual walk, because once you peak, there's no topping it. But I have grown more than I ever thought possible throughout the last year and a half, but more through the last 6 months. I still struggle. I still fail. Who doesn't? I'm not perfect, nor do I ever expect to be. I make mistakes. I give people reasons to judge. But who really has the audacity...the right...to judge me besides my God? I know what is in my heart and my soul. I know the people in this world I want to prove that to; the people in this world that I love; the people in this world that I want to be proud of me. But most of all, I want the Good Lord to be proud of me. It is overwhelming, I mean OVERWHELMING, at the fact of how much He loves me and loves you, too. When I hit bottom, He's there to pick me up. When I fail, He forgives me. When I forget, He reminds me. And when I am weak, He gives me His strength. I can say I have honestly felt the Strength of God within me, and it's a feeling I am so thankful for and so blessed to know - something I would not have been able to do without and get where I am today. He is stronger than I can wrap my head around, and I am forever thankful He loves me the way He does.

Ok, I'm done preaching now.

Like I said, because it's been so long since I've blogged, I can't really layout the past 5 months - not without writing a novel, and let's face it, who wants that?! So, I'll try to hit the highlights:

You know, when times get tough, you really find out who is there for you. Who loves you no matter what and loves you through the low times. I must say that I have some of the BEST friends I could ever imagine. I know we all think we have the best, and if you feel that way, I am beyond ecstatic for you. That sisterly bond you have with your best girl friends is hard to come by and something not everyone has.

I am finally at the point now where I can talk about LSU football without bursting into tears. I must say, even though we lost the BCS, I am still proud to be a Tiger Fan. I'm not a bandwagon fan, so I'm not jumping off just because Mr. Miles decided to go cray-cray during the most important game of the season. Nonetheless, football season was a blast and a half...probably one of the most fun seasons I've had in a while. I got to spend a lot of time with Robbie, and we always have a good time. I also got in some time with my precious girls that I love so much.

The LSU/Arkansas game was the first one of the WHOLE SEASON Dad and Carol could go to because of his campaign stuff (see below for that). Robbie and I were lucky enough to sit with them for their first game, and share another victory together in Tiger Stadium.

In the midst of it all, let's not forget a HUGE event in my family's life: The campaign for your District 12 State Representative! Dad worked so incredibly hard, and a daughter could not be more proud of her dad than I am of mine. If I've said it once, I've said it a million times - my father is my true, real-life hero, and I am so thankful for him. (I am blessed with an amazing earthly father, as well as a Heavenly Father who loves me unconditionally. Pretty special, huh?) Anyway, I had a great time helping Dad campaign. We did parades and receptions and ballgames. Carol was a champ, too. She was incredible throughout the campaign process!

Ginger and Brice has tshirts that said "Pops is tops"....that's what they call Dad - "Pops". Cute, right? I know.

Dad and his 3 children the night after the big win.

The primary election was on October 22. Dad and one of his two opponents got in a run off that was November 19. Thankfully, Dad came out on top. Yay!

Ginny, Robbie and I got to accompany Dad and Carol to the Governor's Ball on January 8 in Baton Rouge. All I can say is W-O-W. It was so cool, and even more awesome to get to share it with my family.

That is Hillery, Hannah and me for my birthday night out in Natchitoches. Epic night.

I am not making any promises on frequency, but I do promise that I am going to try to start posting more. I know you are all just BURSTING at the seams to know what's going on in Sarah's world. :)

Until next time,

SJ