And now it gets interesting...

I apologize to any of you who actually follow my blog... I have been a slacker lately. The sad thing is that I love to blog, I have lots to say, but just no time to do it! The past few weeks have been difficult, but lucky for me, things are looking up. I am moving on with my career, I have taken a position at a new school and hopefully this change will be the first of many positives to come into my life. I am excited about the new adventure and looking forward to the wonderful experiences I will be having... I am sad to leave Stevens-Henager... I have made some amazing friends and I am really going to miss my students, but there is a time and place for everythng, especially change, and this is my time. "All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy, for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter into another."~Anatole France~...Here's to the new... More positive changes... I have started dating again. Sudden? Too soon? Maybe. But I think of what I could be missing out on by sitting around waiting to be "ready"... Who knows when that will be... but I won't let this opportunity pass me by to meet some amazing people and possibly find someone to share my life with. Hannah is doing great. She is almost as tall as I am... not too big of a surprise, and she is doing remarkably well in school. I still haven't bought my home yet, but I feel that is in the very near future for me. Good things are happening. With positive thoughts come positive changes. I am ready for them and will welcome them into my life...

Moving on...

I never thought I'd be writing these words, especially here, but now is the time.

The engagement has been called off. It's been a few weeks now, and as my heart grows stronger, I realize that all of this was for a reason.

I have so many thoughts in my head right now, and maybe, just maybe, if I put them here it will give my mind room to breathe...

Never in a million years did I see myself as this woman I am today. I have learned some valuable lessons lately. I am different now. This is what I want to share...

1. You can love someone and not be with them. I love him still. I think I always will. I hope that someday something will come along and fill up the empty corners in my heart that this ending has left behind. At the same time, he will always have his own special place in my heart. I will keep him there always...

2. This was not a mistake. He was put in my life for a reason. I needed to learn some lessons, rather harsh ones I suppose, but still, I needed to learn. He taught me to be patient and understanding. He taught me that the world is a huge place and it is full of people searching for someone to love them back. He taught me that nothing is better than being in the arms of someone you love, and when they leave, they take a part of you with them that you will never get back. Hopefully, he keeps that part close to his heart and remembers how much he is loved.

3. There are a lot of people on my side cheering me on. My family and friends are amazing. They have been so caring and supportive and behind me every step of the way. The ice cream delivered to my door, the box of Kleenex left on my desk, my sister showing up to kidnap me and then being sweet enough to take my dress to her house so I wouldn't have to deal with it...the trip to the mall, the blessing from my brother, the home teachers "just stopping by"... these are not accidents. These are the people who love me showing their support for me. Just letting me know they are there to lean on when I don't feel strong enough to stand.

4. Though times are hard, I will stay faithful. My faith is what is holding me together at this point. It would be easy to do what the world wants me to do... I could lock myself in my room with a bottle of booze and drown out my sorrows... What good does that do, anyway? Then I'd just be sad and sick...I just know that no matter what happens or how bad it seems, there is nothing so bad that I should abandon my faith. How blessed I am to be able to go and sit in a holy temple and feel my Father's love. He has shown me that a broken and tender heart is more in tuned to his promptings, and that if I listen closely He will ease my sorrow. I have had answers to my prayers and a peace in my heart at times when I thought I was alone in this world. I also know that if I just trust and obey in the Plan it will all work out. How, I don't know, but it will definitely work out.

5. My Father in Heaven is aware of me. He loves me. He wants me to be happy. I need to do my best to make sure that it happens. Therefore, I will keep on doing what I need to do and not let Him down. Life goes on and so will I.

6. I was loved. I can say with certainty that Pierre loves me and I still love him. I miss him every day, but the tears are coming less often. I still think of him all the time, but I now do it with a little smile on my face because I know I was truly loved. I know he will be fine. He will move on and find someone new, someone who is everything I can't be for him.

I think she was writing this for me...

"This life is what you make it. No matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes, it's a universal truth. But the good part is you get to decide how you're going to mess it up. Girls will be your friends -- they'll act like it anyway. But just remember, some come, some go. The ones that stay with you through everything--they're your true best friends. Don't let go of them. Also remember, sisters make the best friends in the world. As for lovers, well, they'll come and go, too. And babe, I hate to say it, most of them, actually pretty much all of them are going to break your heart, but you can't give up because if you give up, you'll never find your soul mate. You'll never find that half that makes you whole and that goes for everything. Just because you fail once doesn't mean you're gonna fail at everything. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about."

Marilyn Monroe.

Looking into the future...

This is the Temple. This is the ring.

This is the family.

Can it get any better than this???
OH, YEAH!

Today

Today is going to be an amazing day. Today is the day I will introduce the love of my life to my family. I guess a better way to phrase that is that today is also a very scary day...

I am not the type of girl to bring the new boy around the house just so the family has something to talk about... I am a very picky about who meets my family. Maybe it's because I have made so many mistakes and don't need another reason to hear "I told you so," and if they never meet him, he never existed, and life goes on as planned. At least that's the way it works in my head. I avoid the conversation like the plague... "so Sarah, dating anyone?" My reply is usually something to the point of "I would like to have my attorney present for any further questioning..."

Yes, it is that bad.

So with that said, I just have to inhale deeply and remind myself that this is a good thing. The fact that I even want to clue the family in on the whole thing has to say something, and when I see my family and they ask, "So, Sarah, who is this?" I can smile and introduce my Pierre. The man I have waited 33 years to meet. The man who stole my heart the first time he said my name. This amazing man who loves me for me, and no matter what my family has to say or think, nothing will ever change that.

I am his for eternity, and knowing that makes today an amazing day.

I have something to say!

I have some news.

I figure there aren't many people who actually read this thing anymore due to the fact that I never blog anymore. I'm just too dang busy. Work, Hannah, church callings, being in love...

Yep. You read it right. It's true. I found him. Actually, he found me, and I am so thankful that it happened.

Finally.

He is the most amazing man. What could be better than finding the man you want to spend eternity with? That's easy. It's when you find out that he loves you back.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have pictured this man. Caring, SMART, patient, adorably handsome, and the sexiest accent you can imagine... :)

Funny thing is, I haven't told hardly anyone. Been a little pre-occupied...

Anyway... I will post photos as soon as the week ends and my

TWO WEEK VACATION BEGINS!

But, hey, for those of you who actually read this, keep it on the down-low, I haven't told the parents yet.

I think that will be their Christmas present this year.

My new favorite...

Found this song, love it, love it, love it!

Come and Save Me

The sky keeps on changing colors

In the rain

Nothing ever seems

to stay the same

but I found you to my

Surprise

I found all I needed

In your eyes

Everyone keeps leaving

but you stayed

when I held you tonight

and let my heart go free

Hold me close

now until forever

I'll be unafraid

hold me close

give me back

my reason to believe

Come and save me

Love

nothing ever takes the place

of love

Breaks through all the madness

like a flood

you washed away my fears

and let my heart go free

Hold me close

now until forever

I'll be unafraid

hold me close

give me back

my reason to believe

Come and save me.

HELLO WORLD!

The votes are in... I am crazy.

I cannot believe how fast the last few months have flown by, and even more, I can't believe how life is changing. I should take a few minutes to clarify the rumors, lol, but I will wait for a future post for that when there are photos to attach.

Work is crazy, and I am counting down the days until I can take a vacation... but still a way to go. There have been a lot of changes at work, not all good, but changes nonetheless. Hopefully it will all turn out well.

Hannah is doing great. She is enjoying school and really likes the area we are living in. She is doing gymnastics this year instead of dance and loving it. I am a little sad I won't get to dress her up for a recital, but if this is what she wants then I will just be happy for her.

I am also in the process of qualifying for a home. I figure I am going to be in Salt Lake for a while, so it is time to quit paying someone's mortgage. There is a home here for sale in the ward that I live in, and my whole primary class is in the process of praying that I get it. How cute is that?!

So, I know the next question on all of your minds is the big one....
I'm still dating, and hopefully I can tell you all about it soon.

Well, I should go and get ready for work. I miss you all and can't wait until we can catch up again!