"dreaming of one day going there...."

My life is all over the place-- I really think I need to keep a daily diary/journal so that someday I can read my life to my grandchildren. I'm sure they'd get a kick out of it. Maybe one of these days, my life'll slow down a bit. I sort of doubt it though. Not with my luck.....

Here's the latest low-down. (A lot has happened in just over a week)

*I started classes!!! Yep, dropped 2, added 2. An unexpected one was Cantamus choir--Rachel Bovenmyer told me I should audition for it and so I just showed up at the directors office and asked her if I could audition for it. She said she was about to post the results, but she let me in and had me audition there on the spot and I guess it was my lucky day!!

*I also auditioned for Wind Ensemble that same day-- in the morning. I was very nervous about this one because I started playing my clarinet again for the first time in 9 months just about 4 weeks ago. There's nothing more humbling for a musician than having to audition when you're not in good shape. I fervently prayed for God to give me favor in their eyes at my audition, knowing if it were up to me and the shape I was in, it would not be a pretty situation. God is good, because I found out this morning that I got first chair! Definitely ALL Him!

*I pulled my first "Office" prank at my office job last Friday. I have a co-worker who had a really annoying and obnoxious pen that is a little man with feathery hair and when you push down on his head he laughs for about 30 seconds. We're not talking an infectious laugh-- we're talking the most annoying, obnoxious laugh out there. So anyways, I just decided to take it and put it in some jello and have a co-worker put it on his desk the next morning. Mission accomplished. It was grand.

*Katie's bachlorette party ended up being the best dance party I had been to in a LONG time. Good exercise, for sure.

*Welcomefest was GREAT! I actually just got back from there-- about 80-90 people filled out surveys and we got a lot of good convos going with students. I was only able to be there for the last hour of it, but THANK YOU to everyone who came to help out with that. And Amelia/Jenny for organizing it! Well done! :)

*My last 5 meals have been cereal: 4 were bowls of Life (w/1% milk it's the best) and a bowl of frosted cheerios. Why, you might ask? Well, partly because I'm a freak and could LIVE off of cereal. I just love it. And partly because I'm officially back in college and am going to be LIVING off of cereal.... and pasta.

*I have 2 clarinet students I'm taking on. I'm pretty excited about the opportunity and the experience it'll provide me.

That's good for now. I'm sort of falling asleep as I type this- oh the joys of college and not sleeping NEARLY enough. Sheesh, I'm already starting to feel it and not even the first week is over!

TTFN!!

Goodbye, my lovely readers! Thanks for swinging by!

5. Watching the USA win mucho medals and handling sticky, pride-filled situations with integrity (men's 4x100 swimming relay). Makes me proud to be an American.

4. Starting to feel settled in the new apartment after a very rocky move-in day.

3. The never-ceasing excitement I've had about this fall and all the AWESOME things that are going to happen.

2. Being so PROUD of my brothers in the Rock who have been helping their sisters move into new apartments/houses. (I experienced this first hand-- Thanks for serving, guys! :)

1. Getting to see Ruth Anderson in leather pants. Hands down. HA!

Two of the most highly anticipated films of the year are coming close. In November comes Harry Potter #6: The Half-Blood Prince:




Then in December, comes the first movie from the "Twilight" series by Stephenie Meyer. Although I have never read the books or know the storyline, I have many friends who are AVID Twilight fans. If you're a fan of vampires and romance, this may be the one for you:



Contrary to prior belief, no, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants wasn't one of the MOST anticipated films of the year, but it was definitely up there. Did you know Ames had a midnight showing for the release of it? They sure did! I saw it and I must say the best part of it was seeing the Harry Potter trailer at the beginning. Wonderful!

One of my FAVORITE parts of the olympics are seeing reactions like this.

Mark Witmer, a brother from our GCM church up in Minneapolis is AMAZING. He is a gymnast and has sent in a video entry for the show "Ninja Warriors". He has made it to the finals before, and has learned from his past mistakes-- and is in better shape than ever!!

He has a new video up for the entry to the show in Japan! And it's all based on # of votes. If you have a few minutes, check out his AMAZING entry video! And vote!! He's got some SERIOUS potential here, folks.


Here's a note from Mark:

All there is between me and a trip to Japan to be on Ninja Warrior (a tv show) is your votes. I'd be grateful for your vote. Please go to the G4 website (www.g4tv.com/ninjawarrior) and vote for MARK W.'s video for the American Ninja Challenge 3. There's no elimination round this time, just votes. I've been training for the last 6 months to prepare for the possibility of me going, but I can't get there without the help of my friends, family, co-workers and even strangers. At 2pm today, get an account with G4 (they don't spam you or anything) and then you can vote on the videos. Voting should be up and running by 2pm for us midwesterners. I'm SO grateful for your support. I hope you like the video.http://www.g4tv.com/ninjawarrior/rate.aspx?ninja_key=37

-Mark Witmer


LET'S HELP GET OUR BROTHER TO JAPAN!!! :-)

As most of you know, Jessica Darling (daughter of Mark Darling, speaker at Faithwalkers and pastor of The Rock in Minneapolis) has been sick for over 4 years. She is once again in the hospital and worse than ever. I'm trying to coordinate encouraging cards/letters/emails to compile and send over to her and her family as they're in the hospital.

Please consider taking just a few minutes to write her a note (preferably handwritten, but email is ok too) and either give it to me tomorrow at church, swing it by my house before Wednesday, or else email it to me at sarah.j.mcclanahan@gmail.com There will also be some cards/paper/pens set up on a table in the foyer of Stonebrook Church tomorrow, if you'd like to do it then.

Even if you don't know her, I'm sure that any encouragement coming from her spiritual family would really uplift her spirits. Please consider doing this for Jessica and her family.

I know many people who read this blog don't go to Stonebrook, so if you just want to email me a note or letter for her, that'd be great.

Thanks in advance for your heart of service,
Sarah

1. How Deep the Father's Love for Us- Nicole Nordeman
2. Hey Ya- Obadiah Parker
3. Kingdom of Love- Shani
4. Psalm 62- Aaron Keyes
5. God of This City- Chris Tomlin
6. Mary- Patty Griffin
7. 32 Flavors- Ani Difranco
8. Shadowfeet- Brooke Fraser
9. Fall/Back- Obadiah Parker
10. Jessica's Hope- Mark Darling
11. I Had My Reasons- The Great Upset
12. The Real Me- Natalie Grant
13. Hoppipolla- Sigur Ros
14. Martyrs & Thieves- Jennifer Knapp
15. Easier to Kneel- The Great Upset
16. Hymn- Brooke Fraser
17. Say Goodbye- Sanctus Real
18. 100 Years- Five for Fighting
19. Everything is Beautiful- Starfield
20. Hide Me- Rachel Lampa