give me the faith to believe in these hard times.

 [i'm not writing this to get sympathy or "its gonna be ok"'s. this is my blog, my life journal, a place to share my real life and real life feelings and so i am.]

via

im struggling. we had a long stressful week and that has taken a toll on me[the reason why i haven't been blogging]. physically, emotionally and mentally, i have no energy. even sleep isn't cutting it. it feels like there's nothing left in me. i'm shot. its going to take me a few days of rest and no stress to get back to "normal" but i'm not sure what normal is anymore.

these songs have been on repeat today:








hope ya'll are having a good weekend :)

much love♥♥

catching up on 28 days (part 2) and a giveaway you DO NOT wanna miss!!

Be sure not to miss the bit about an amazing giveaway! :]

Day 20: A hobby of yours- 

soccer

i've played for every year for 7 years. and I love it. love the team work that it takes to play a good game. involves your whole body and its great exercise. and its so much fun :) 

Day 21: Something you know you do differently than most people-

I can be me, like no one else! :]
I'm strong willed person and I don't fall under the pressure of this world to be someone I'm not. I'm true to myself and I don't care if I'm an Outcast. Kerrie Robert's song "Outcast" is my anthem right now because I'm having a hard time fitting in at church and with some other groups. I'm definitely not the popular one, probably the least popular but I'm ok with that. I'm gonna keep my head , stand my ground and be who I am because God made me who I am and He has big plans for me. I am alive and beautiful in Him :) and so are YOU!
I'm not living for them I'm living for something better! 

Day 22: A website-

I can't think of an interesting one so I'm just gonna say Air1 Radio because they play some awesome music. they've introduced me to new artists and i've been so blessed by them :)  


I'm going ahead and doing tomorrows :)

Day 23: A way in which you want to be remembered- 

this kinda goes with day 21.

I want to be remembered as a person who loved Christ and lived for Him and because of Him. Who showed some crazy love to the world and didn't fit in. Was an outcast for Christ. :] 

Alright, now onto the amazing giveaway! its pretty amazing and you definitely don't wanna miss it.

Ilene at much love, illy in honor of her blogiversary is giving away 5 lovely items! to 5 lucky much love, illy readers! :]  I just love her blog. she's gorgeous for one thing and I could spend hours on her blog reading about her love for Christ, family, friends, her Ryan and Chicago ;) I mean this picture just says it all. doesn't it just wanna make you run straight to her blog?! don't deny it. it does.

She is giving away some super cute things that any girl would l.o.v.e to get her hands on! seriously they are adorable. and you could be one of those lucky winners! click here to enter! 

I'm struggling a bit with getting school done. I just feel overwhelmed and so tired. I'm sorry to whine but its true. 

hope you all are having a better day/week than I am! 
much love,
Samarah

Winter Snow

We got some snow during the weekend and since its been a while since I've posted pictures, I thought I'd take some snow pics just for you :)

I posted a song by Audrey Assad a while ago here about her song Restless. Audrey Assad's lyrics are just beautiful. and I mean that.(and she is gluten free, I think that is so neat! :)

Her songs are so calming and thought provoking to me. I hadn't really listened to her since I had posted about her song but during Christmas I heard about her song Winter Snow and I just had to check it out. Lemme just say is an amazing song. please take a listen:

Could’ve come like a mighty storm
with all the strength of a hurricane
You could’ve come like a forest fire
with the power of heaven in your flame

Chorus
But you came like a winter snow
quiet and soft and slow
Falling from the sky in the night
to the earth below

and check out this song!! its my new favorite :)



Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and have a great start to the new week!

with love,

Samarah

oh yeah and great job Packers!! (even though I really don't like you guys' colors!) :)

{2011, a new year}

wait, what?! 2010 is almost over?! I can hardly believe but I'm looking forward to what 2011 will bring. 2010 was a tough year for me because of my health but I've also grown a lot. I've discovered how true that quote "when we are at our weakest God is strongest ( or something like that!) is. God allowed me to become so weak, physically and emotionally, so that I had to rely on Him for strength. Looking back, I only see how God has brought me through this year and  He gave me love to show to others. There were days when I just stayed in bed because I felt so bad and I thought I wouldn't survive another day. I cried out to Him for any glimpse of hope or strength. He answered me with love,hope and joy! He said you can survive with my strength I learned that there is no darkness in Christ. I am a new creation in Him. That gave me so much hope and I still have some days when I don't want to get out of bed but He gives me strength to keep going. Knowing that He is in control and He is all powerful gives me joy. God has each of us right where we wants us to be, even when we don't understand why. He loves you and me and He has a special plan for each of us. In Him there is hope, love,joy and strength.

I've also discovered how much I love my friends! God has brought some really awesome people into my life to love. My friends are the sunshine on those gray days, they pray for me, encourage and make me laugh. I'm so blessed to go through life with them :)

My 2010 "word" was love (read the post here) I've struggled with loving some certain people in my life because they are so different from me. but its those people that I need to love. God has brought them into my life for a reason. I heard this in my youth group a while ago, you don't have to be best friends with everyone and if you only love them because they were created in God's image then so be it. I do "love" them because God has created them but I want to love them for more than that. It goes against ,y sin nature but it doesn't go against God's will. I pray that God would give me love to give to others, to the people that I don't really "like". That is a testimony of Christ. I strive to be a testimony of Christ's love.

I'm excited to see what God has in store for me and you in 2011!
Hope you have a great night with your family and friends!

Happy New Years dear friends!

with love,

Samarah

blessings and thankfulnes

(not my photo)

I probably won't be posting tomorrow so I'm doing my Thanksgiving post now :)
I've been blessed by God with SO much. I have a lot to be thankful for.
Here are just a few things I'm thankful for,

My Savior Jesus Christ. He saved me from myself and in Him I have Hope. I don't know how I would keep going without Him. In the past year, I feel like I've grown closer to Him through all my health issues. Some days I feel like my life is just falling apart then I read a verse, talk to friend, or listen to a song that reminds that I can go on with His strength and love. That I am more than my problems or mistakes. I am His and I am a new creation in Him.

My amazing family. Seriously I have the best family ever. They love and care for me even when I'm in my worst mood ;) Our favorite things to do together is snuggling up on the couch and watching The Andy Griffith Show or taking a hike or just hanging out :) my little sister will make me sweet cards saying "I love you" for no reason and my little brother will give me a hug or say something like "you're the best big sister ever". My dad never ceases to make me laugh and he would do anything for me if I need it. My mom is the best. She teaches me, laughs with me,. cries with me, helps me, and has incredible patience and forgiveness towards me! Those things and more are priceless and I'll be honest... sometimes I'm not very fun at all to live with but my family puts up with it and does a very good job ;) I don't know what I'd do without them!

My fabulous friends. One of God's greatest blessings! good friends are hard to find nowadays but I've got a great bunch of 'em. My friends will listen to me talk about the bad day I had or what I'm struggling with. And they will encourage me or just tell me to suck it up ;) just kidding!! :) We can laugh and talk about random girl things ;)  I don't feel like I have to put on a fake face for them, I want them to see me just as I am- a beautiful mess. We can help each other grow spiritually, emotionally and physically. I love talking to a friend about how I feel and they say " i feel like that too!" knowing that I'm not alone. in the good times and bad. I love my friends and am SO thankful for them!

YOU! yes I'm thankful for you, the readers of my blog. You reading, commenting, and following is a blessing to me. When I started this blog I had no idea that a year later I would have almost 70 followers and meeting new people who are like me-striving to love and serve Christ and reach out to other people. and the encouragement and joy I get out of this blog is great! Thank you so very much :)

Awesome music. Music is a big part of me. I'm so thankful for the artists who write about things that God has put on their heart and create some really awesome and uplifting songs!  Songs are the words of my heart when I'm speechless. ♥

Some random things that I'm thankful for :)

• my warm house
• itouch ;) 
• being able to get an education 
• photography
• my church 
• clothes 
• having clean food and water 
• entertainment 
• clothes 

Don't just think of all the things you are thankful for on Thanksgiving but all year round. When you think you've come to the end of your rope or just can't go any longer count your blessings. one by one.
Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I'll leave you with this Thanksgiving prayer from the episode "A Time to Heal" of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. It sums up my post and I think its beautiful.

Dear Lord,
Le us give thanks to God our Father for all of his gifts so freely bestowed upon us. For all the beauty and wonder of your creation and earth, sky and sea. For our daily food and drink, homes and family and friends, for minds to think and hearts to love and hands to serve, for health and strength to work and leisure to rest and play, for brave and courageous , for a patient in suffering and faithful in adversity and for all valiant seekers after truth,liberty and justice, we thank you dear Lord. Amen. 

Love in Christ,
Samarah

Click HERE to enter into our giveaway!

*sigh*

Oh the joys, thrills, excitement, disappointment and all those other feelings of the Olympics! I'm gonna miss 'em......