It's a white Christmas.

Let me lay out my surroundings for you before you read any further. First of all, it's Christmas Eve, but that's not a surrounding, that's a fact. I'm currently sitting at a high, mahogany, dining-room table, on one of those comfy, black, luxurious seats. There is a beautiful, decorated Christmas tree with tinsel and lights that glisten in the evenings. As I look around the room I see three stockings hanging on the fire place, waiting to be filled with Santa's treats. I see presents wrapped, with bows and pretty paper, just waiting to be torn open come the morning. As I continue to gaze around my surroundings, I look out the glass-paned patio doors. This is where the real beauty comes. I see the white snow piling up as the sky lets more snow fall each day. The trampoline is some-what covered and weighed down by the huge amount of snow that has fallen on it. As for the volley-ball court, all you can see is the two wooden posts, and a limp net hanging from either end. In-front of the court, there's the foundations to a rather accidentally large wannabe igloo. As I look behind the court the trees stand high without a care in the world. The branches are laden with snow, yet you can still see some slight tinges of red and green. It really is a beautiful site, and I wish you could share it with me. Yes, YOU! I don't know where you are reading this from in the world, but I'm writing it from a beautiful home in Bracebridge, Canada. I am more than 3000 miles away from home, and yet I feel a slight peace about it. Yes, of course I miss my family, and I would have loved to spend my break from school back in Scotland, but that is not where God sent me to. 

I have been blessed with some of the most amazing friendships this year, ones I hope to never lose. I am so excited to be spending my break here in Canada, in this beautiful winter wonderland, with some of these friends. Some plans were changed as power left the homes of friends and family around the area, and yet, I still felt this constant sense of calmness. God has gifted me with a home to stay in, and three beautiful women to live with. I have gained yet another mother figure, and two younger sisters. As the three of us girls snuggled in my futon bed, we discussed the travel arrangements for the next couple of days. I reminded the girls a reminder that was not just for them, but for me too. We come together at Christmas to remember the significance of Christmas day. The day that God's redemption plan came into full-frontal GO. We use this time to remember the gift that God gave us, and also to spend time with family and friends. Whether you have to drive ten minutes, or 10 hours, it's still worth the travel, to share love with your family. God has given me this family to be mine for the break. I reminded them that yes, travelling sometimes isn't the ideal thing to do on holidays, but when you're travelling to spend time with loved ones, it's so totally worth it. Especially when other people around don't have family to spend it with. I suppose I was talking about myself here in a sense, yet I knew that these girls were my family too, and I am just so happy to be here. 

If I wasn't here there are a number of things I would not have been able to do:

1. Build an igloo

2. Have a white Christmas

3. Play in the snow

4. See close friends

5. Share my testimony to the girls

6. Spend time with the girls - hopefully as a good influence.

7. Adventure through Toronto

Lastly, I probably wouldn't have been able to appreciate what it is to find family out-with your own home.

Here's a few things I'm excited for this Christmas:
1. Waking up with the girls in the morning.

2. Spending Christmas in a beautiful country

3. Continuing to remember the grace God has for us, and how much He has changed my life.

4. Christmas carol service tonight.

5. Family time.

6. FOOD.

7. Giving to others.

My prayer for you this Christmas is that you not only enjoy yourself, and have fun with family and friends, but that you also remember the wonderful gift that God gave us. He sent Jesus Christ as a real man, so that YOU could be saved. 

Have a wonderful Christmas

For a better world through Christ, 

Sarah xox

p.s. Enjoy some fun pictures from my break so far.

p.p.s If you haven't already, I would LOVE to receive your newsletters or cards, get in touch and I can message you my address :)

What God has prepared for us.

"No eye has seen no ear has heard, no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9

All I can really say about this verse is YES!

I often wonder the direction my life is going in. A year ago I would never have been able to tell you that being here in Chicago was even a possibility. I never saw this opportunity coming, and in a matter of a few months I was accepted to this wonderful school. I was reminded this morning, that even in the midst of finals week fast approaching, and all the stress that comes with it, someone else wanted to be in my place. It was not God's will for them to be here, but it was His will that I be here. That blows my mind. It's such a gift. 

I just got back from a fantastic week off. I spent it with one of the most amazing families. I love them so dearly, and I can't begin to imagine what God is going to do with these new friendships. One thing I can tell you is that I am so content with resting in his presence and waiting to see where He leads me. 

From a little girl, i have always loved America. As I grew older, I always thought it would be super cool to live in America and work. When I had the opportunity to study here, I grabbed it with both hands. This was my chance. The only thing is, God's been preparing my heart for something else. I don't know where I'm going to go after I graduate from here. I still have three and a half years to go until that becomes an actual real thing, but it's still crazy to think that He knows exactly where He wants me to go. I pray that that is exactly where I will go, even though I don't know where that is right now. 

My heart has been torn for the UK. To see how deprived it is from the gospel, and to see youth growing up in a culture that tells them that sex, drinking and partying is normal no longer sits right with me. I was one of those teens. I used to scream at my parents, "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND, WHAT I DO IS NORMAL!!!" How is that sort of lifestyle normal for a 16 year old? IT ISN'T. But our pears, the media and the people we look up to tells us differently. I'm not sure if, in 3.5 years I will go back to the UK, but I certainly pray for my homeland that people realise their need for Christ, and they realise it soon. I also know, that I can't even begin to comprehend what God is going to do with my life. I love Him SO much, and I'm excited for this journey I am just beginning.

For some strange reason I have found this so easy to write, as for the other ten or so essays I have to write over the next two weeks, not so much. I hope you can be encouraged by what I have said tonight somehow. Let me just leave you with the verse I began with:

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9!

Enjoy your day, night, sleep or work! Whatever you're up to right now! Oh, and here's a couple of pictures too, cause every blog needs a picture to go along with it!

I'm down to my last Crunchie bar. Thanks pops for sending me them! I'm super thankful for sweet, little gifts like this! Love you! (P.s. If you're wondering what to send me for Christmas, some classic, non-nut, sweets will be happily accepted. Also, I would LOVE to receive your family newsletters! I hope to have one sent out soon!)

I decorated my wall. Can you see the treeee? :D

YAHOO.

I feel like I have so much to write, but I'm going to keep it down to just a few things. The picture above is how I feel about having to put everything into words.
Since arriving in Chicago, I've had the most phenomenal time. I have made so many friends, and learned so much already! I've already hit 10 states - not including the ones from previous years that I've been too and boy, has it been fun!

I suppose I'll work backwards in tellign you some.. stufff..
Today I will be heading back to college. I am currently writing to you from Wisconsin. I'm in a beautiful home, around cut down corn fields, with beautiful scenery all around. It reminds me of how I want to have my home one day - bursting with my own kids and other people's too. I have spent my first thanks giving in the home of the Kloths. I go to school with Christian, and I had the privilege of meeting his mum a few months ago. When we connected over times from our pasts, a beautiful friendship was created by God. Melanie asked me to come join the family for thanks giving, and I couldn't wait for break to arrive. Now, it's so crazy that it's already over!

I wish I could go back to the days where I got
thrown in the air onto a bed, and could
find the fun in it over and over!!

I have spent my five day break with one of the most wonderful families. I am so blessed to be here, and to have found a home. I have been so relaxed all weekend. We have watched movies, played games and sat up late talking. I want to share with you some of the things I have been thankful over the short break.

The first thing I am thankful for is family. My family at home, but also the family that I have spent the past few days with. There is so much love here, and I LOVE that! I am thankful for the new little sisters that I have. Many of you will know how much I love kids, and so having the opportunity to spend time with these three sweet girls has been great. I'm sad to leave them, but can't wait for them to come to Chicago to visit.
I am so super thankful for the opportunity to travel. To be able to be at a college in Chicago, where I am constantly getting into God's word, and growing in my relationship with Him every day. I love that I have the chance to visit different states, and see different places. It's SO cool!

Check out our straight faces.. And Nata.. Biting..

I am thankful for the friendships God has given me here in the states. As a people person, it would SUCK to have no friends. Growing up, I was constantly seeking friendship, but struggled a lot, and constantly moved from friend group to friend group. God has totally revealed himself to me, and shown me how He is the most important friend I could have. When I then chose to accept that he then gave me other friends here. I am just so thankful for the people who I now have in my life.

The view out of the window was beautiful!

Something else I would love to share with you is just the work of Christ in me. I have been in Christian college since September last year. Every time I had the chance to go home, I slipped up majorly with some of the things I have been struggling with over the past few years. I knew that if I trusted that God to keep me from those things, he would, but I always just gave in, and got involved, or wrapped up in those things. My break away from college this time has been a time of struggle also. However, this time, I have been able beat the things Satan was really tempting me with. It's been so cool to see what can happen when you really get so serious! :)

My first ever REAL thanksgiving dinner! YUM!

I'm excited to get back to school, but also sad to be leaving a lovely home. As we come into this next season, can I ask you again, just to pray for my home sickness. Apparently, the 3rd, 6th and 9th months away from home are the worst. It just so happens, my 6th months comes right on Christmas day. I am going to be surrounded by another wonderful family who I love dearly, but it will still be a funny day being away from home.

I pray that you will be encouraged by what you've read today somehow, and that you will have a lovely winter season, and remember the real reason that we celebrate Christmas!!

I love this little munchkin!