I really think the worst situation to be put in, is seeing how they are completely different when they are in person, versus being in a virtual world. How people can act so nice to your face, then once they are in that virtual world you are ignored or rejected for no known cause.

I just keep praying that the Lord will keep my heart pure, when these situations come up. That He will keep my focus on that fact that regardless of what happens in life I am covered by His blood and worthy of His love...that is what matters to me. That I am always important in His sight, so important in fact that He gave up His life, so that I could live eternally with Him.

I am linking up with Jen at Finding Heaven. Please check it out if you want encouragement from beautiful women of God.

While I sat and waited (not so patiently), I realized something very painful. This is what I am putting my heavenly Father through, when I don't make time for Him. I am guilty of that happening, more recently. I get so caught up in life, my family, my new business and what happens? The most important person, the one who gave me this life, the one who has blessed me more abundantly than I can ever imagine, gets pushed aside.

He waits, patiently for me to realize how much He has missed me, how he misses speaking in that still small voice and that I can actually hear Him, because I set aside the busyness of my life to hear what He has to say. He wants me to crawl up in his lap and listen to the story He wrote just for me.

As I realized this, it put a lot of pain in my heart to know that He is there, counting the minutes until I am there with Him. Its time to set aside the things that can wait and make time to hear those stories He wants to tell me.

I am linking up with Jen at Finding Heaven. Come join us and link up with a group of awesome women who share their hearts in hope of a sisterhood that will understand what they are going through.

I have been a stay at home mom since February, and there is no greater gift than to be able to raise your own children, to be with them on a daily basis and to love on them at any moment. Quitting my job took a lot of faith that God would provide for our every need. We lost a lot of income when my husband joined the military and again when I quit my job.

If you were to look at it on paper you would think there is absolutely no way that we could stay afloat on our reduced income. We had our budget of bills based on an income of almost 3 times what we bring in monthly now. Sure, it's stressful at times, but throughout the entire process, God has honored our desire to raise our own children.

I have been wanting to do something that I enjoy, can do at home, but still make a little extra money for our family. Back in October, I decided to buy a sewing machine and play around with it. I never took any sewing lessons, but have made a few things in the past. I wanted to make myself a diaper bag, and was so pleased with it, that I decided to try a purse. I used a pattern for the first bag to kind of get a general idea of what I needed to do. After that, I began creating my own designs and making bags/purses. I just love looking at all the different fabrics, the feel of them, imagining how it will make others feel.

God blessed me with a talent that I never imagined having. I was terrified of the sewing machine...I thought they were all going to be as tough to learn as my dad's...lol Once I sat down at my new one, I just couldn't stop making things. God is now blessing my new business, Life Style Bags by Sarah. I was only open 2 1/2 weeks and sold 7 bags, bringing in more money in this short period of time than I could have imagined. I continue to pray God's blessing over this new adventure. I love bringing joy to women's lives through the creations God had placed within me. Take a look at my shop, I am adding new things all the time!

I hold on to Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I was packing to go to my parents for two weeks while my husband would be gone on a mission. On this particular date span, my family would be making a sacrifice that breaks my heart, we would be giving up to special days on calendar as a family...my daughter's and husband's birthday. He will be gone for both days. Yes, we celebrated early so daddy could take part, but he had to miss the same two days last year. I am not sure if Giovanna realizes at this age or not, but it still broke my heart.