remember, it's only the world...

I think that sometimes we can all get caught up in the craziness of this world. It is so easy to get stressed about school, your schedule, your future, your relationships, or anything. I am no exception to this rule. I am getting to the point in my year where I am figuring out what I am doing over the summer and what I need to do to start preparing for grad school in the fall (yes I said in the fall...AHHHHH).

However over the past few days God has done a great job of reminding me that hey! you need to focus more on me and I will take care of the rest. Such a good feeling to have. On Tuesday I was finally able to make it out to CRU. The past couple of weeks I have been busy and could not make it so I was super excited to go and delve into God's word with my fellow college students. Boy was it awesome. We heard from the director of Student Ventures (which is CRU for High Schools). He taught us to keep out focus on "The Heavenly Calling" God has for our lives and not on "The American Dream" everybody else has for us. If that was not a slap in the face I don't know what is. He really was so great and I loved listening to him and singing some awesome songs.

Then last night I dropped back by the apartment on the way back from Crisis Counselor Training before going over to see my boyfriend Chase (who I haven't seen outside of class for more than 20 minutes in a while). When I walked into the bathroom this was on my mirror. I just have to say that my roommates are super fabulous and really are great girls. I feel so bad that this semester I have not really had time to invest in them and love on them. I know that in about a month things will calm down and I can be somewhat back to a regular roommate, but I feel bad for never being there. This just shows me that they understand and stand by my side through whatever endeavors I am pursuing. I sure do love them. And not to mention these girls know what they are talking about. Yes it is only the world and I thank them so much for sending me that little reminder.

It says: "Sara I know that your to do list is long and that your schedule can be crazy, but you got this girl! Remember that it's only the world."

Hope that your week is going great and just remember to take a step back and marvel at the wonderful things that God has done for you. I love you all and remember that your Journey is Blessed.

come to me all who are weary...

This post contains no pictures, or cool little music videos or anything like that. It disappoints me a little bit since I LOVE taking pictures and documenting my life. However, these past couple of weeks have been quite interesting and my camera has had to take a back seat. I believe that I am finally coming to a place where I can bring it out again so watch out for more exciting pictured posts to come in the future.

Since school has started I have barely had time to breathe. My class load this semester is a bit overwhelming, my schedule is spread out to where I am on campus 6-8 hours a day, and I have also begun weekly training sessions to become a crisis line counselor. Yes I know I am crazy for adding on that one more thing to my load and that I should be trying to simplify my life, but...

I NEED TO DO THIS

Why do I need to do all of this? For the past couple of weeks now I have been struggling with finding peace in what I think God has been calling me to do. I am working hard to become a genetic counselor and get into grad school for it. Some people do not think the profession is something that will be pleasing to God and recently I have been having doubts myself. The workload to get into grad school is hard, the applications are long, acceptance is stiff, why would you want to work with people who are distraught and confused all your life? These questions and realizations began to drag me down and really confuse me and my walk.

BUT THEN IT HAPPENED

The opportunity came up for me to become a crisis hotline counselor. It happened almost too perfectly, but looking back on it I know that it was all God's doing. I wanted more information about the organization before I filled out an application so I put in a request. Not 30 minutes after I filled out the request did the coordinator call me on my cell phone(even though I said I wanted to be contacted by email). It was the best phone conversation ever. He answered all of my questions and even informed me that the next 6 week training session actually started the next week. How perfect is that?

So I am now attending training sessions twice a week. I realize that by going to these sessions that I am now going to be gone from the apartment from 7am-9pm twice a week and that my time management skills are going to have to kick into overdrive. I also know that I am going to feel tired and stretched thin over these next six weeks until training is done and I can fit the job to my schedule better. However I cannot describe the peace that my soul felt walking into that first training session after I had been feeling so confused and nervous the couple of weeks prior. Praise god!!! It really is true when God tells us to come and rest in the presence of the throne when we are tired.

I pray for everybody in their own search for rest this week as you go to your jobs or start another week of school or are dealing with a hard situation. Take time to look, pray, and listen to the still small voice of God telling you what path you need to be walking down. I also pray that your journey is blessed :)

we went bowling...

At this time last week I was a very tired and busy person. Not only were my days at the OR long (but very rewarding), but my evenings were jam packed with events and trips and visits with family and friends. To top everything off I came down with a nasty cold that just drained any reserve energy I had built up. I thought to myself Sunday night as I went to bed, "There is no way I am going to make it through the week." Thankfully I did make it through the week in one piece and actually had a great time and kept a great attitude (which is hard if you really know how I can be when i am tired and/or hungry). It is just another "Go God" moment I have to give to the Lord. He supplies the coolest gifts to you when you are not even expecting them.

One highlight of the week I really wanted to share with you all was my trip to Charlotte to watch State play in the Belk Bowl. I was still very much sick as the boys and I hit the road, but with lots of sleep on the way down, 5 layers of clothing, and two bottles of water to hydrate me later, I was good to go!!! I am so glad I decided to make the trip down. It was such an amazing experience.

We showed up to the game a couple of hours early so we decided to walk over to Fan Fest. To everybody's surprise Daughtry was preforming!!!! I am not big on his style or genre of music but I did know some of his songs from when he was on Idol so of course I joined in and sang along.

Our seats were simply amazing. That is the only word I can think to describe them. Thanks to The Student Wolfpack Club, we were able to get second row seats in the end zone. It was a whole new perspective on the game and I must say, I enjoyed it very much.

Our team running out. They look so good in all red uniforms.

The final score...Pack Wins!!!!



Like I said it was such a good night. I am already looking forward to Football season next year!!!!

I hope that everybody had a fun filled New Year. And if you are in the mountains I also hope you are staying warm and cozy during this artic blast and snow storm. As I write this post, it is 18 degrees outside, and who knows what the wind chill is!!!! Love you all and I hope and pray that your journey is blessed :)

a very special day...

Today is a very special day for the Bumgarner family. Today we celebrate two very important happenings.

First we as a family celebrate the life of my Mother's mom, aka "Nana". It has been four years since she has left this Earth for Heaven, but every day we feel her spirit among us. I have some fabulous memories of my Nana and I will carry those memories with me forever and ever. I learned so much in the 16 years that I knew her. We love you and miss you Nana and know that you are watching over our family each and every day.

The second important thing we as a family are celebrating today is the birth of a very special member of the family. My nephew Bryson Lee Creech was born on this day 8 years ago. I remember holding him on the day he was born. Boy has time just flown by. He is growing up so fast and I love watching him turn into the little man that he is today. I am sure that you have heard the expression, "It takes a village to raise a child." Well I consider myself part of that village. I have lost count the number of bottles I have fed, the number of dirty diapers I have changed, and the number of nights we have stayed up to watch cartoons on TV. I sure do love that kid and he is one awesome little boy. Happy Birthday Bryson!!!!



the city that never sleeps...

This past weekend I had the amazing opportunity to go with my best friend Katie and some of her family to NYC to see a play and some of the sights. It was so much fun and it was just what I needed after a busy semester at school. I don't get to see Katie that often since she lives 6 hours away in VA, so to get to spend some quality time with her was the best. You know you have a true friendship with somebody when you can go a long time without seeing them and then just pick up right where you left off when you get together. I love her and she is the best!!! 

 The view from our hotel window. We stayed at the Double Tree in Times Square. It was very nice and the beds were amazing. I would totally stay there again. Plus this fantastic view made it even better. This would be a prime place to stay if you were coming to NYC for the new year bash.

Katie and I in Central Park. Did I mention she is the best. Thank you again Katie for inviting me along with you on the NYC adventure. (Oh and take a look at my new hat. It is a Yankee boggin. SO AWESOME!!)

On another note, this Christmas break has been super busy and will continue to be busy until I have to go back to Raleigh to start another semester. Along with the NYC trip, I have been spending good quality time with family and friends that I have not seen in a while, going to Charlotte to watch the Wolfpack play in the Belk Bowl, and doing a two-part internship at the local hospital in the OR. Sometimes the long days on my feet wear me out, but I am learning so much and getting to see so many things. I am so blessed and I thank my Father God and the many people around me that make it all possible.

Another post will come tomorrow to celebrate a special member of the family's birthday. Until then I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas break and I continue to pray that your journey is blessed.

i love this time of year...

       I absolutely love this time of year. Not so much the cold weather (I am a total summer girl), but more of the spirit that comes out in people and all the little traditions that you get to start with both your family and your friends. Yesterday (Thursday), was such a wonderful day and I just had to share a few highlights with you all.

       This week is the last week of classes for the semester. Next week kicks off exams and I soon will be home for the Christmas holidays. To celebrate the end of the semester, and the start of the Christmas season, the girls and I went out to eat at the Cheesecake Factory last night. Thanks to our awesome former roomie who lived with us for a couple of months at the beginning of the semester, we were able to enjoy a great meal with some leftovers to take back home and enjoy later.

        After dinner we did some extra shopping and picked up a few gifts for others (and for ourselves!), and some decorations for our tree in the apartment (more on that later!). I loved hanging out with the girls last night. It is such a blessing to have true Godly women as my friends and that we are able to invest in each other's lives. I am truly blessed.

         The boys came over a little bit later to help us decorate the tree. Thanks to Michele, whose Dad grows trees, we were able to have a fabulous tree in the apartment this year. We originally planned on watching Grey's anatomy last night, however to our surprise it did not come on. Instead it was CMA's Country Christmas. I think that was actually a blessing in disguise because it set the mood perfectly while we were putting the final touches on our tree. Now all that is left to be done is to wrap our presents that we each have in our rooms and place them under the tree. Then the apartment will be officially decorated for the holiday.

      I am so excited about ending the semester and getting home for a while. I can spend some good quality time with my family, catch up with friends that I have not seen in a while, and work at my internship (which I am very excited about). All in all I think this month is going to be simply amazing. Below are some pictures that highlighted the evening yesterday. I hope you enjoy...



Left-over Chicken Tacos and Reese's Cheesecake

Chase and I helping decorate the tree

CMA's Country Christmas. LOVED IT!!

The final product. I think it looks pretty amazing.

       On a side note for just one second, I wanted to update everybody on my Bible reading progress. I only have about 10 books left to read and they are the more shorter books in the Bible. I am so happy to have been able to stick with this goal and finish strong with it. I have learned so much over this past year and I have learned the true importance of setting time aside each day to be with the Lord. The new year is starting soon, maybe you would like to take the Bible reading challenge? Its a big thing to take on, but oh so rewarding. Pray about it and consider it as a new year's resolution or goal.

       I pray that everybody is doing well in this last month of 2011. I hope that the stress of the holidays will not get to you too much and that you will always keep in the back of your mind the real reason for the season.  I love you all and I hope that your journey is blessed!



the extra boost to get you through the week...

I know I have not posted in like forever. I have been consumed with school, family, bible study, and studying for finals coming up very very soon. However I was finding myself a bit unmotivated today. The middle of the week is always such a hard time to keep your motivation up. I find myself listening to this song whenever I need a boost or some encouragement. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this song like crazy. I don't know why I do, but for some reason the lyrics just captivate me. I hope you all enjoy this little mid week boost. And as always, I pray that your journey is blessed :)