Christmas musings.

I hope you all are having a great week! :) I've got a lot I wanna post about but I haven't gotten around to it. Partly because I've had a really bad headache for 3+ weeks and it kept getting worse everyday. On Tuesday I went to the hospital to get an infusion to relieve me of the pain. {remember last year around this time?}I really dislike hospitals. really. the end. But the IV treatment did help, it lowered my pain down to a 1 or 2 which was good because my pain was a 7 or 8. Unfortunately I still have a headache most of the time it is dull and not as painful as a 7 or 8. I'm really doing and trying everything I could be doing to help keep away the headaches. I'm doing medication, natural remedies, getting rest, eating right etc. Right now I'm just taking one day at a time and trying to keep the headache under control. I'm drinking a lot of tea(especially peppermint!) and water, using oils and such. AND I'm also practicing good habits. I'm changing my night time routine, computer use and little things like that. more on that later! Anywho....

I seriously cannot believe its almost Christmas! Like in 3 days almost! Goodness gracious time is flying! And lets not even talk about 2012!! seriously? 2011 was a blurrrr. but it was long at the same time. haha ;)
I don't know about you but I haven't really been feeling the Christmas "spirit" this year as much as past years. i mean I'm enjoying it but I'm not "into" it like I've been before. Maybe its because I've been sick for most of it. OR maybe its because we have NO SNOW. none what so ever. Last year we didn't have any snow for Christmas and then in Jan. we had tons! :3 Snow just puts me in a good mood. If you have any extra snow please send some my way! But as the end of the week draws near and Christmas Eve and Day gets closer I'm getting more excited :)
I have been thinking about the true story and meaning of Christmas. We watched the Nativity Story the other day and I was reminded just how amazing that event was. How amazing Christ is. Christmas is the time when we celebrate that very special gift of salvation and love that was given to us.

Are you enjoying your Christmas break? I am but it doesn't really feel "different" because I wasn't able to do much school anyways with my headache but I am glad that even if i feel well enough to do it I don't have to! hehe ;]

Today I'm babysitting for a bit then my mom and siblings are gonna run some errands. Tomorrow we have a boat load of extra kids (okay 3 but still...) and then weekend! We will go see my dad's family on Christmas Eve and then Sunday we are going to the Christmas service at Church then coming back home, getting in to pjs again, opening presents, and eating yummy food and relaxing. yep sounds nice to me ;) What are your plans for the rest of the week?

much love♥

i have a weakness for movie soundtracks

seriously i do. i love them. love. really love. okay you get the point.  i think soundtracks are one of the closest things to actual "raw" music. No sound effects. no voices. no distractions. just music. instruments playing all together. to tell a story. with emotion. sometimes i can just hear the a piece of a song and picture the scene in my head. Or sometimes its just background music for my own thoughts. or when i'm cleaning or playing a game with my siblings. or its a melody to fall asleep to. It brings back those "oh i love this part of the movie" and excited, intense etc. feelings without actually watching it.

Currently the Dark Knight and Thor soundtracks, my school work and I have been pals. the music makes algebra so much more workable. I'm keeping out The Dark Knight one from the library till the police come and haul me away. okay but not. but very close ;)

by the way, the Batman Begins album is a favorite too.

and other one....the Lord of the Rings. two words--amazing awesomeness. some of the best music ever.

so there it is-- I love movie soundtracks. they are one of my weaknesses. A good weakness though, I mean they help me with my school don't they? ;) I really think I will have my own little soundtrack library in my house in the future.

welp, I'm off to bed. Someone said there is a time before 7:30am called 5:15am. I'm not sure if I believe them but I'll find out tomorrow! {I'm doing this all in the name of babysitting and if-i-wanna-get-a-camera-or-a-laptop-i-have-to-work-for-it}

happy wednesday!

♥Samarah

whats up with me. {plus- a rant about clothes}

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hey all you faithful followers of this recently very quiet blog!
it feels like i haven't written a blog post in forever. i miss it and i've thought of blog topics and say "I'm gonna write a post next time i get on the computer" and when I do- nothing. it just doesn't come. I don't know if i'm just too distracted or what. anyway, I'm sitting down and writing one now right? it! its a start right?! ;)

 

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Okay so I think we've finally got fall around here! the highest in the last 2 weeks or so is 75/80 and the highest like in the 40s! i'm lovin' it. now i"m on the hunt for some fall clothes. Do you know how HARD it is to find jeans(or really any clothes for that matter) that you like, are your size and style and that don't cost an arm and a leg?! we went clothes shopping last night, we went to 3 stores and we couldn't find any jeans for me! there were either not my style, too skinny, too much or, 90% of the time, they didn't even have my size. we couldn't find anything over a size 11/13 and usually very skinny or they caved in at the thigh and went back out to the ends of the earth at the calves.  UM hello? they are people out here that aren't a size 11 and don't love clothes that are skin tight! ugh. do you girls have this problem?? BUT thankfully my awesome peeps on twitter gave me suggestions on where I might find some good jeans! so i'm on the hunt. :)

Ah I only have 1 more soccer game left! This season has gone by SO fast. It is my last one{i'll age out of our Rec league} and actually at the beginning of the season I wasn't too excited but then I got to know my team and got comfortable and I'm sad to see it go. I love the friendships you form from just 2 months of playing together on a soccer team.
speaking of sports, who's excited that its football season?! well i am.

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a quick update on my health--I had an allergy test done last friday and that was an adventure. [a blog post coming about it.] I'm still battling with headaches most everyday, some that just knock me out. i get super tired and can't do school which is not very good. another than all the allergies, i think headaches are the biggest thing right now.


SO. its a beginning of a new week. {the last one of September. um just where did that month go? seriously!}. a fresh start. i'm setting some goals out there that I want to reach. not a bunch. i don't want to overwhelm myself but I don't want to cheat myself either. i'm going to keep track of how I do and i'll blog about it at the end of the week! motivation... :)


be in bed by 11pm . with babysitting and soccer its a really big help to get good sleep! ;]
workout {30 Day Shred and/or 1 mile run} on thursday.
getting my school done before getting on the computer for pleasure{blog, twitter, pinterest etc.} - school is hard enough already with my health issues and such so most of the time taking away the distraction of the computer is good.
have patience. I think that one is pretty self explanatory.

Do YOU have any goals for the week?

here are some photos from pinterest that have inspired me. i hope they inspire you too! :)

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i hope you have a great start to the week friends! :) 

much love♥Samarah

random{funk,♥bible verse♥, and music}

At the moment I'm not doing so hot. I feel sick and I'm in pain, not too terrible but its there. I'm trying to have hope and faith. I'm behind on school and other things and I'm feeling like I'm not getting anywhere. I'm sure its just a funk and it will pass but I'm feeling sorry for myself so I'm going to post about some random awesome things ;)

this Bible verse. love.

James 1

  ² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.  ⁹ Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. ¹⁰ But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. ¹¹ For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
 ¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
 ¹³ When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; ¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
 ¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ¹⁸ He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.

here's where my music lovin' soul comes in. here's an amazing song that speaks to my heart and encourages my soul.

uhh.. LOVE. FM Static's NEW single.Their brand spankin' new album "My Brain says Stop but my Heart says Go" released today! I'm so going on iTunes and checking it out after I'm done here :) {oh also, Mandisa's "What If We Were Real" album came out yesterday, I think! so check it out :) its good)
I dare you NOT to have it stuck in your head after you hear it just once.



this might one of THE most beautiful songs ever. I've been listening to The Lord of the Rings soundtracks. they are spectacular.




I hope you are having a good week. I'm trying to.

much love,
Samarah♥

short blog break :]

I've been having a fabulous birthday week! I've spent time with some great friends and had lots of fun :) I'm looking forward to a movie night with 2 dear friends tomorrow night ♥ I am so blessed with such awesome girls :)

Thanks for all the sweet comments that you all have been leaving! and thank you to all my followers! you all brighten my days and you don't know how much that means to me♥

ah, I'm a bit sad to write this but it needs to be done. I need to take a short break from blogging for maybe about a week. I have a lot going on.... a ton of this..

and sometimes I might look like this.... ;P

isn't this the cutest picture?? :]

I need to get working out regularly and eating gluten free apart of my life. I keep pushing it aside and I'm suffering the consequences.

I also need to be in the Word more. Reading the Bible everyday. even if its just a verse or 2. I need to pray everyday, for me, others, and how He can use me to be a light in this dark world.

Last but NOT least, I'll be spending time with my family and friends which is something I haven't been doing much of but recently realized that I need to change that :) God has given me an amazing family and wonderful friends and I want to invest my time with them :)

I still might visit some blogs and comments but I won't be posting any. I'll have lots of pictures to post and different topics I wanna blog about so I'm excited bout that :) and hopefully when I come back, my new blog design will be up! Lulu is taking a break till April so lovely Sky is going to give my blog a new look :]

I'll leave you with these songs that encourage me so much :)







thank you so much for bearing with me! :o)

much love,

Samarah

{picture credit: we heart it and Microsoft clip art} 

catching up :] ♥

I'm taking a minute and sitting down and writing a blog post. I should be working on school but I'm missing blogging and you guys a lot! I will get school done though tonight ;] Most days, I'm hoping to get my school done during the day and then I can blog at night :)

Also, I've worked out 3 times since Wednesday! :) I'm not eating bread or a lot of dairy and trying to stick to gluten free foods. and I'm feeling great! I'm seeing the results of doing Jillian Michael's 30 day shred and I'm loving that! ;) I finally feel like I'm in control of my body and I'm not just eating anything and everything and going weeks without exercising. I'm quite proud of myself! If you are feeling bad about your body/health and you feel too tired and unmotivated to start eating healthy and exercising, here's my advice: just do it. its kinda simple. you don't have to go out of the house. do a dvd, run, walk, go to the gym or do sits ups and push ups in your bedroom. it doesn't have to be high intensity. do something. don't agonize over it and even if you feel like the time isn't right. just do it. you won't regret it ;)

over the past week around 10 more lovely people have pushed that follow button on my sidebar! sooo...

I am so blessed. I appreciate each and every one of you! A little over a year ago, one night I started a lil' blog called "samarah's sayings" and I never imagined that my blog would have 103 followers. I've loved "meeting" girls from all around the world and finding lots of soul sisters ;] You leave some pretty sweet comments too! Thank you so much! I pray that my blog would encourage and inspire you to embrace who you are in Christ :)
Thew new design is coming soon!!

So its pretty obvious that I'm a bit (ok like 6 days) behind on the 28 day challenge ;] I'm going to do days 16,17,18, & 19 and tomorrow I'll do days20, 21, & 22 :)

here goes....

Day 16- a song that makes you cry-

Ok I'm not really a person that cries during songs or movies etc. its rare that I do. but here's a song that makes me sad because its reality to some ladies.
Carrie Underwood- Just a Dream
you can listen to it on my playlist at the bottom of the page.

Day 17- An art piece-

hmm... this is a hard one. This is one is the only one I can think of right now. There might be another but oh well ;)

Open Hearts by Jane Seymour

Day 18- a time when you feel passionate and alive-

well this is a deep question :)
the time when I feel passionate and alive is when I'm a concert. Coming together with hundreds of other people praising and worshiping Christ straight from my soul. and just having a down right good and fun time :)

from weheartit.com

Day 19- a talent of yours-

I'm good with little kids. Like baby to 2 or 3 years old :) not that I don't like kids that are older but I do much better with littler chillens ;) I "work" with the 1 year olds (and also almost 1 year olds) in the nursery at my church. work meaning playing with them, helping them down the slide, reading books and doing puzzles. fun work! ;) The other ladies that work in the there say that I seem to know what I'm doing because I have lots of experience :) Other people have said that and I really appreciate it. I love lil' people.We watch a 7 month old and an almost 1 year old and they.are.so.much.fun. I also babysit for some friends who have a 1 & half-ish y.o. and she is so funny and cute! aannnddd she is going to have a sister in the next few weeks! I'm so excited!! plus we live in the same neighborhood so thats even better! ;)
I think children are one of God's greatest blessings. Life is beautiful and kids remind me of that :)

My mom and I watched The Blind Side a few nights ago and it was really good.

its an amazing touching story and I want to read the book now :) they could of done without some of the language in the movie but I would give it 4 1/2 stars :) and SJ was so adorable and funny! :]

welp, that's all for now! I'm off to do some latin homework :/ I've got a headache and I'm praying that it goes away!

hope you are having a fabulous day! 

by the way, this is my anthem right now. post a bit about that in the near future!

much love,

Samarah♥

a bit busy right now....

it feels like i haven't been on here in forever but I've definitely been trying to prioritize: cutting back on my computer/itouch online time, doing some major school work, eating gluten free and working out. I haven't been tweeting or emailing, blogging, reading blogs, commenting, editing pictures etc. as much and it  hasn't been too bad! ;] I can live without the Internet ;] but I do miss you all!  I'm behind on the 28 day challenge and I'm planning to{hopefully}catch up on that and on all you guys' blogs and everything over the weekend :]
I've been having an awesome time with the new camera. plus we've had some down right gorgeous weather. like 60degreesgooutsidewithoutacoatandsoakupthewarmsunshine days! so I've had tons of fun taking pictures outside :) I'm so in love with the camera. its simply amazing. real quick here are some shots showing you what I've been up to :]


I haven't done any huge editing on these. I did "auto fix" on Picnik, on some of them and then I boosted the color of the one with a * :]

hangin' out with the books ;P

taking pictures... (obviously ;)

love this one! there's a bunch of these in our backyard along the fence

taking pictures of some adorable babes :)

♥

working out...

*

I've been meeting up with this gal every other morning! its been tough but I'm determined to shred some weight :)

who knew rocks could be so pretty??

this is straight outta the camera, I got down on the ground and took this. and it was worth it :)

a favorite!

last but not least.... eating some of this YUM.E. stuff. seriously its amazing. its gluten free, (99%), chocolate oh wait triple chocolate, and its Swiss Miss. how could ya go wrong??!! its heavenly... *sigh* I won't say how many I've had today so I'm just gonna work an extra 1 hour tomorrow with Jillian ;]

alright well, I'm off to bed to read some then conk out...
hope you are having a great week!

much love,

Samarah

Day 14- vacation I would like to take & Day 15- a person I admire

Day 14: A vacation you would like to take. 

This one is easy. I've wanted to go here for a long time. I have a dream to travel the world and photography the beauty of those places. I'm not sure why but I love mountains. I love the majestic way they stand high about the ground, kind of like a fortress. it reminds me of how mighty is our God. He is our fortress :) anyway, I've always thought this place is just down right gorgeous. I would LOVE to go to New Zealand. 

love those mountains :]

oh be still my heart

ahhhh!! one of the most beautiful places on earth for sure 

paradise 

pure bliss

seriously, is that lovely or what??

Christchurch cathedral

God outdid himself on New Zealand

I think this is kinda cool because my blogger friend,  Jordan wants to go NZ too! and she wants to work for a travel magazine and go around the world and photograph it. read about it here. I see a vacation with her in the future ;)

Day 15: A person you admire. 

This one is pretty easy. I have so much admiration and respect for Mike Donehey. 

An incredible man of God, husband, father, friend and lead singer of one of my favorite bands, Tenth Avenue North. His insight on faith and life is amazing and inspiring and... *insert another good word* and he is funny. really funny. I've been so encouraged by TAN's songs countless times. I'm really at a loss of words to describe Mike and Tenth Avenue North, so go listen to their cds, watch their music videos, watch the behind the songs videos (click here to watch the video behind "You are More"), read some of his quotes and follow him on twitter ;] 
I LOVE quotes are here and some wonderful thought provoking quotes: 

"You can't live for God until you learn how to live because of God. And you can't go and make good choices for God until you understand the gospel that says the choices you make don't make you who are, what Christ has done for you makes you who you are."

- Mike Donehey  

"Only when we try to love God will we see our utter inability to do so. And only when we understand that inability, will we begin to be in awe of His great love toward us."
-Mike Donehey

"Christianity was never meant to be a belief system, it’s meant to be an encounter with a person." -Mike Donehey

"Never be discontent with the life you've been dealt, be discontent with the way you're living it."
-Mike Donehey

well I woke up this morning feeling and sounding sick. I think I'm getting a cold :( nooo, I haven't been really sick all winter! :/ taking cold medicine and going to try to do knock out some serious school work!!

with love,

Samarah

Day 5- a favorite quote and football stuff ;)

day 5- a favorite quote

oh my there's a lot of quotes I love! :/ {maybe doing this challenge wasn't a good idea, I keep having to pick favorites! ;P} here's 2 of my top 10.....

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."
Martin Luther King, Jr.  

"One good thing about music, when it hits you, you feel no pain." 

Bob Marley

I'm getting so pumped for tomorrow!! We are having some good friends over and we are going to eat some good food, relax, and watch the game. Although I'm not sure if I'll be exactly relaxed during the game ;)

a tid bit bout my personal favorite player: when I first saw this guy... I thought he's a weirdo and that hair! *disgust* but then as I watched him play I thought well he's a pretty good player after all. Clay Matthews #52 LineBacker for the Green Bay Packers

(I'm still learning the ins and outs of football so I don't have a lot of "technical" things to say. bear with me ok?! ;]

he goes all out on the field and he's a bit crazy :)

but he's got talent

wild hair hence my name for him "wild man"  

Aaron Rogers... a fantastic quarterback ;)

Did you know that I used to loathe football?? yes, I'm telling the truth and loathe is not a to strong of a word for what I felt. I hated it. and I made sure everyone that was around me knew it too. I thought it was boring, stupid, nonsense etc. It wasn't until about 2 years ago that I really started to have an interest in it. I don't even know how I got into it.  I felt so bad when I found out that is was interesting and i loved it because I had told everyone I hated it!  I did the same thing with Clay Matthews! i have a big mouth and I regret opening it most of the time ;] ughhh... don't you look back at the things you've done and say, what the heck was I doing?? so now I'm very careful about what I say that I love or hate ;) live and learn....

 ok well, I wanted to get all my school done over the week so I could have a school-free weekend. but that was a major fail. but I do have a few quiet hours this morning so I'm off to burie myself in school books.

hope you are having a great weekend so far!

with love,

Samarah