Haircut from a Mormon

Back in December I was out food adventuring with Tyler and Gina. We went to a food truck event that was by downtown Tucson. It was a we bit chilly, but as an adventure goes, totally worth it!

*I secretly, or not so secretly, would love to food truck it. When I was fourteen I went back to Ohio for the summer and I got to work with my cousin at a portable doughnut stand they owned at different fairs around Lima. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN! Apparently I loved cooking and talking to people then too, because I would totally love doing something like that again!*

Now back to the story, we had fun, we tried some different foods and ended up standing by a Cuban sandwich truck munchin' on the Cuban we just bought. Talking about it like we were flavor experts (which is something we always do together, so warning to whoever may come out with T&G and myself for food, we dissect and talk about food like you can't believe :) Anywho... while standing by said truck, there was a guy who was eating a popsicle (and yes, it was CHILLY outside, yet there was an homemade popsicle vendor out and people were eating them!) that we randomly started talking to, his name was Andy.

I don't remember who started the conversation, but the four of us ended up talking for a bit... I remember us talking about Cuban sandwiches and who made better/worse ones than the food truck in town. We talked about the popsicle he was eating, which was some tart berry one (I personally would have gone for the spicy chocolate fudge one :) and I'm sure I said he was crazy for eating it in the cold. It was a friendly enough conversation, but soon enough we started to all get cold and decided to move around, heading our different ways for more food tasting. So we said our byes and nice to meet you's. By the time we were done talking, he had turned into the cute guy with pretty eyes that seemed to smile whenever we made eye contact.

T&G and I moved on and ended up by the BBQ truck. Then Andy popped back over from where he had gone and we all started talking some more. We all talked about what we do and where we're from. We found out he was from the same town Tyler is from; Andy is a few years older so, no they didn't know any of the same people. We asked if he knew any Mormons growing up because Tyler would probably know them, small towns and being Mormon, we tend to know each other. No such luck, he didn't remember knowing any. He asked a few questions about the church and we answered them and probably told him more than he wanted to know :)  I remember asking him questions about himself and him asking some back. It was the four of us talking, but sometimes I focused in on just him. Come on, he was cute and really nice, it just made sense. We ended meeting a few of his friends that he was with and talked to them for a bit too.

By the end of this last conversation, I had found out he would be working an event that I was doing someones hair and make-up for the next night. It was funny, I told him I would have to tell her to go and show off my handy work to build his confidence in my haircuttin abilities, because by then I had offered to do his hair. Tyler and Gina however complimented my skills with shears so I think he felt more comfortable with my abilities ;) He had also given me his business card and told me if I ever needed a DJ to call. We then said our byes again, he headed with his friends and the three of us headed to the car to warm up. It was really freaking cold by then!

That night when I got home, I shot him an email telling him it was nice to meet him and to holla if he really did want a haircut. I also pulled missionary (because that was when I was first in the missionary zone) by sending him the mormon.org website that could answer any questions/clarify The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for him. He emailed me back a nice reply and said he might take me up on the haircut offer, we had exchanged numbers a few emails later so he could call when he was ready to chop his mop (He obviously wasn't interested in muah since he had my email and later my number, but never called, so even back then I figured he must just smile and be nice to everyone and not to worry about it... Look at how grown up my though process is about guys, aren't you so proud?)... Now fast forward to last Thursday.

Andy text me during my drawing class to know if I had time that day or Friday to cut his hair. Funny enough my Institute class got canceled for that day (Thursday) the previous Tuesday (my teacher was going out of town), so I had time to cut his hair that I normally wouldn't. I had made some homemade limeade, brought it with me and headed his way to chop a mop. Which by the way he liked, mmmm, homemade limeade!

Now here is the real reason for this post, holy momma! When I saw him again, my jaw dropped. I didn't remember him being as hot, having as pretty of eyes, or being as tall as he was. No joke, I don't know if I hid my attraction that well when I first saw him, I even asked him if he was sure he wanted to cut his hair because it looked so nice. Whenever I would look at him during any of our conversation I couldn't help but smile. Thankfully he smiled back every time... maybe it was because he felt awkward with the girl cutting his hair checking him out? I don't know ;) I might have stammered my words a little too. Seriously yo, he is a looker, and he is nice, and smart, and a hard worker, and has a passion for things (music and bicycles were the obvious ones :) and it was so comfortable talking to him; I enjoyed our conversation! I'm looking forward to the next haircut for some more talk time, I'm just sayin'. I for sure didn't mean to take too long on his haircut, I just think I was enjoying talking to him, so his haircut might have taken a weee bit longer than a guys cut normally would. lol. Positive note: He didn't seem to mind.

 I can tell you one thing for sure and end this post with a smiley face... this was the first haircut I have given a cute guy that gave me a great thank you/goodbye hug when I was finished (besides my cute nephews of course, I make them hug me though, so they probably don't count) Let's hope Andy stays good on his word of being in touch soon. I'll let ya know :)

New England Baby!!!

Hehe.

Let me tell you a little story...

Once upon a time, there was a girl who loved to adventure. Granted, she doesn't get to do it as frequently as she wants, but still, she tells herself adventuring is in her blood. She is finishing up her first year of college (which by the way she really loves!), getting over a guy (who wasn't blogged about all that much, but future "lessons learned" post may be written about him), and learning to be a better disciple of Jesus Christ, which is hard, but such a blessing in her life!

Okay, Okay, I don't know if I can write in that context until the end of the story, so I'm going to translate it into Sarah speak for the middle part of the story and then give it a happy The End. K? k.

So life has been a little hectic with school and work. I have been doing hair like crazy and having to keep up on tons of homework, but thankfully, the Lord has kept His promise in helping me with school. Institute is the way to go! It has been a HUGE blessing in my life spiritually on so many levels, and it is absolutely amazing to me that by "sacrificing" a couple hours for class each week, the Lords promised blessings are happening in my life. School is busy, but somehow I'm getting everything done, even with good grades A's & B's baby! 

I'm completely exhausted some days and am very ready for the summer though; which is what this blog post is really all about... I'm throwin' in a hehe again. he.he.

So I didn't know what I was going to do for the summer. I had multiple options, school full time, summer job p/t with school p/t, work full time, go and visit family for a good chunk of the time, go on a work adventure out of state or just try something new! I had been praying though, and felt a little confused that I hadn't received guidance on what to do exactly, but I felt peaceful that I didn't have to worry, everything would work itself out. So, I stopped worrying about it. I felt peaceful that much I knew, so I was going to trust the Lord and hang out til I knew what I was supposed to do. However, the lease was going up on my apartment April 30. Thankfully I felt I should do a month to month for May, but nothing more... so hopefully the "everything" working out would also include a place to live!

And as of today, everything is working out!!! My summer plans, work and living situation fell into place within a five day period. It was just cool! It's kinda like how everything fell into place when I moved back up to Utah a few years ago. Fun adventures are for sure ahead of me, but I'm thinking there is going to be a few lessons to be learned too. I LOVE seeing the Lords hand in my life. I LOVE IT!!!

My summer will now be spent in Maine! Remember from posts a few years ago how much I wanted to go to New England?! Well, now I get to and get paid to do it! I get my flight paid for and I get to live in the amazing mountains next to a lake for two months teaching pottery! Seriously! I get to teach, play with clay, live in a farm house, and adventure on my day off every week in New England! *hands randomly clapping right now and a huge smile is on my face*

The Tuesday before last, right before I left school to head to Institute I had the impression to look on craigslist for a summer job (which side note: I had been doing a few weeks previous, but felt I wouldn't find anything so I quite looking) so I did. The job at the top of the list was titled, Potter Instructor for a Summer Camp in Maine. I clicked on that bad boy immediately and read what was required. Low and behold, I was qualified! So, I headed to my Institute class and right before class started was able to forward my resume and a cover letter to the posting.

Within two hours of sending that email, I got a call back from the camp. The Assistant Director lived in Tucson and wanted to ask me a few questions and tell me about the camp. He told me if I was still interested to go online and fill out the online application, which I did right after getting off the phone with him, and he said I would hear back from them once they got my application. The following day, I got a call from the Camp Director, wanting to set up an interview. I set up the interview to meet with the AD in Tucson the following day. Thursday came, I brought some of my art work and ceramic pieces with me to the interview at Raging Sage (a cute coffee shop here in town), a good attitude, and a lot of faith. Prayers were for sure being said ;) The interview went really well!

It was amazing to see that working at a summer camp a few years ago (random right?), taking and LOVE ceramics this last semester, taking and LOVING all of my art classes really, being a teacher at church for kids, and being an educator for Zotos all played a role in me being qualified for this little adventure. The AD said he wanted to speak with my ceramics teacher and as soon as he did, he would let me know if I got the job. Monday came, the AD called in the morning and said he still hadn't talked to my teacher, so he couldn't offer me the job. I told him I was heading to school and would talk with my teacher to see if he would be able to call him back... I got to school and my ceramics teacher was late to class, but as soon as I saw him I knew he had just talked to the AD. Apparently he said good things because within a half hour the Director called and asked me if I wanted to work at the camp!

Ahhh yay! I even get to fly out a few days before needing to head to camp and visit Boston and New Hampshire and play with Megan and her family!!! I even found out that there is a chapel I can go to that is only a few miles from camp. What a blessing right... Maine is not full of Mormons, but there is a place close for me to go to church :) I even got permission already to have Sunday mornings off so I can go! I'm going to call the Bishop out there in the next few weeks and see if he knows anyone who would be able to pick me up and take me back if I am unable to get a ride there.

So the moral of the story is, the Lord knows and loves this girl so much and understands that she needed a break and an adventure all at the same time so He blessed her with an amazing opportunity to use the skills and talents she has acquired over the last few years... She is going to be working long days, but see's it will be such a good working break. Now she just need to pack up her stuff and find storage for it for a couple months! And maybe a place to stay from June 1-June 12 *grin*

This is for sure one happy girl, with one adventurous summer ahead!

The End.

Talking of Christ

This past month I have realized that I talk about God A LOT! People God is amazing!

I talk and recommend prayer to almost everyone. I recommend prayer because a faithful prayer offered in righteousness can call down the Powers of Heaven! I guess I always recommend prayer to people because it's one of the only sure ways I know how to find peace and answers for life situations. I talk about the scriptures and how they’ve blessed my life and how I know you can find answers to life’s questions by reading them. I know that the scriptures are another sure way to find peace, but it’s sometimes easier to bust out in prayer (silent or vocal) than busting open some scripture. *putting it out there that sometimes it essential to bust out both to get an answer to a prayer*

I talk about the Temple and the Plan of Happiness because without those two things, life wouldn’t be worth living because we wouldn’t be able to have Eternal Families and live with God again. My testimony is strengthened each time I talk about these things… maybe being an over-thinker in other areas of my life has its benefits in Gospel living. However, not everyone appreciates my talking a lot and over-thinking skills. I have recently been told that my talking about religious things “all the time” bothers some people.

At first I felt bad and thought I should change and shouldn't talk about religious stuff as much... and then I thought, DUH, that's a REALLY bad idea!!! I had been prompted to memorize another scripture last month and when this conversation about talking “too” much about God came up, said scripture came to mind. I love having the companionship of the Holy Ghost to lead and guide me. (I'm officially plugging that everyone should memorize scripture, it’s pretty much amazing to have the words of Christ swirling around in my noggin’ I’m not gonna lie). Here is the scripture:

2Nephi 25:36
"We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophecy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins".

I realized this is why I talk of Christ. When I think about my eternal family (both the family I have now and the family I hope to have in the future), I want them to know I know that it is through Christ that we may gain our eternal reward. I want them to know that even though each of us has our flaws and imperfections, God loves us. He gave us a means by where we can repent and return to live with Him.


I love my family and friends, their examples of faith uphold me and I hope I can set an example for them too by continuing to talk of and rejoice in Christ. I truly am blessed with all of the people in my life and am blessed to be a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I love this life and all the learning that is available to us! How sweet it is!

*UPDATE* I have realized recently that it may not only be that I talk of Christ, but how I do it. I need to work on being more sensitive to people. Being blunt is a natural gift... not always, or even most of the time, a good gift, but still. I know I need to work on charity and loving people and when I have a lover for people, the way I say something will come out more kind and loving rather than pushy and condescending. Oh how I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the knowledge that we each can work on the faults that we have so we can become more like our Savior!

Geology 101

Simply put, the earth is made up of rock! Lots and LOTS of Rock! I had a spiritual thought process (after memorizing a scripture in The Book of Mormon [side note: which by the way is one of the coolest experiences of my life to be able to memorize scripture and I KNOW that it is not because I am cool like that, but because the Lord is helping me too! Ahhmazing and highly recommended!]) one night after leaving my Geology class that went something like this…

Rock is EVERYWHERE… it’s on the earth, in the earth; it is something that is always replenishing. When it gets put into the atmosphere because of a volcanic eruption, it comes back down to earth and goes through the rock cycle… coming up in the earth and going back down in a continuous cycle of recycling (remember I said “simply put”). It will even go through the erosion process mixing with dirt, it will be swept in the oceans and be deposited on the sea floor and go through the rock cycle there too!

Okay, rocks are pretty cool now that I know a little bit more about them, but I LOVE the fact that in a science class I am able to learn even more about Jesus Christ and how I can live my life according to His Gospel too! Now onto the scripture and connection with Rock *grin*

“And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build, they cannot fall”.    –Helaman 5:12

Jesus Christ is the ROCK! He is EVERYWHERE! He is even as the earth (in oh so many ways, but I’m only going to touch one main thought process here) in the sense that He is made up of Rock… the earth has three layers… the crust (rock) which we can see and what we can literally build our foundations on… the mantle (more rock) where pressure and heat are necessary to refine and makes rock stronger through physical and chemical change… and the core which is made primarily of iron (think of what “The Rod” is made of ;) which I look at as Christ being centered on the word of God!

If we build/center our lives on the ROCK our Redeemer Jesus Christ WE CANNOT FALL! What a glorious promise! I don’t want be like the foolish man who built his house on the sand, because we all know that when the rains came down and the floods came up, the house on the sand washed away! I want to be like the wise man and build my house on the rock because after those rains and floods the house on the rock stood still!