Welcome! An introduction (or "Seriously? I'm really posting a blog entry?!")

Welcome! I'm so glad you stopped by. As this is my first "official" post I thought I would attempt to answer the question I'm sure you're dying to know: Who is Sarah? Great question. I'll let you know just as soon as I figure it out.

Perhaps it would be a little easier to introduce myself by first explaining who I am NOT.

First off, I am not a creative person. Truly. I DO NOT SEW. I am terrified of a sewing machine. If you're looking for amazing arts and crafts projects to do with you children or ideas about how to decorate your home using only vintage or recycled objects, I am not your girl. Not that I wouldn't mind learning how to do these things myself. It's just that, well...those things are not my strengths. Even as a former elementary school teacher and now a homeschooling mom of two, I am constantly borrowing ideas from others. I take what works, throw out what doesn't, and try to figure out our own groove. Occasionally I do have a few original ideas that seem to work for us, but as a whole, I am not terribly artistic when it comes to creating things. And I am totally okay with that. :)

I am not an extrovert. Not that I won't start up a conversation with a stranger, but I get my batteries recharged when I spend time alone or with a few close friends rather than hours on end with a large group of people. It took me awhile to realize that this is not, in fact, a weakness. I find it amusing that our society tends to validate the extrovert personality more than an introvert, yet our culture seems to make it increasingly easier for people to isolate themselves through long hours at work, long commutes, the veil of the internet, and busyness in general. So many people have so little time for social interaction, yet it's something that all of us--introverts included, need on many different levels. Just a thought.

I am also not great at letting go of perfection. This is a humbling thing to admit, because I find that often if I can't do something well (i.e. perfectly) then I would rather just not even attempt it. Wow. Super-prideful, I know. Unfortunately this trait sneaks in to many areas of my life, presenting a myriad of challenges--er---opportunities--to grow. Joy.

What? You're still there? God bless your little heart. Okay, this was not meant to be a rant of self-flagellation. Here is who I AM:

• I am a follower of Jesus.
• I am a proud wife to Steve and have been married for 8 1/2 years.
• I am a happy mom to Ben (5) and Eliza (3). I am also blessed to be a mommy to two babies in heaven whom I cannot wait to meet one day.
• I am a musician who is constantly growing and looking for new material or making my own. I have played the harp since I was 10 and the piano since I was 8. I have an awesome purple guitar that I know 3 chords on--hoping to fix that soon. :)
• I am a born and raised Hoosier who has been transplanted to New England. All in all, it's been a great change.
• I love football.
• But I do NOT love the Patriots. GO COLTS!!
• I am learning that opportunities for grace to shine through my weaknesses abound every day.

That's it for now. I am slowly exploring the blogging world and working on this blog as I can. Must head off to bed now as this 30-something needs her beauty sleep....