20 May 2010

Everything rides on hope now

As a college student, people always told me, "Your think you're ready for the 'real world,' but you have no idea what you're getting yourself into." I always found this attitude to be a bit cynical and just shook off such comments. On top of this, I've never done very well with change. I mean, I know not many people do, but change is extremely hard for me and I always seem to forget this...until more change happens. This week has been a giant week of change for me. I can honestly say that I have been walking more in faith in the last four days than I have in the last year. This blog post is really only for me so that I can vent, get the "change" off of my chest. Yes, I know you all are reading it, but I really have nothing to hide. All I have is an honest, easily-broken, sincere, and eager heart that is clinging to God through the many transitions being made in my life right now.
First off, a little good news. I accepted a job on Tuesday with a marketing/graphic design/visual communication company in Corpus Christi called McLeod Creative. I feel very blessed to have been given the opportunity to join this amazing team of creative and driven people. More specifically, I'll be the Sales Executive for a magazine publication that McLeod produces called The One Bride Guide. It's the fastest growing bridal magazine in South Texas and has huge plans for even more expansion in the near future. This will be keeping me very busy! Although I can't really go into great detail, there are a couple of other really cool projects in the works at McLeod and I can't wait to be a part of these as well. Today was my first day of work and I'm already excited to go back tomorrow. This is a good sign, right? :)
And for some more good news, I signed a lease on an apartment in Corpus Christi. It's so cute! Mom came down to Corpus and helped me look all over the city for a place to live. I'm very proud to say that the apartment is completely in my name, I passed my first official credit check, and rented my apartment without a co-signer. Cool, huh? Well, for me it is. This made me feel like a real big girl. I know you may be thinking, "Wait a minute. Why is Sara signing a lease for an apartment in Corpus with Luke out at camp and they're getting married in August and..." This leads me to some more, not as cool, news.
Luke and I have decided to postpone the wedding. No, we haven't broken up. We're still engaged and love each other very much. But for the first time in five years, we now live in the same town. We've only ever spent our summers together out at Camp Zephyr. After the weekend of my graduation and a lot of serious talking, we've decided that right now just doesn't feel right; we need more time. We want to live in the same city, actually "date" consistently for the first time ever, have the chance to take pre-marital counseling in a not so rushed manner, and talk through a few things. I don't think either one of us truly realized how much pressure a wedding can put on a couple. On top of that, I'm starting a new job and he's moving into his busiest part of the year our at Zephyr. So for now, the wedding is on hold. We're still in love, but just moving a little slower these days. Although this was an extremely hard decision for us to make, we both feel like its right for right now and we're trusting in God's timing and provision.
So, yeah. These are my changes, transitions, daily struggles, challenges. If you would have asked me a couple of months ago what I would be doing after graduation, I would have never expected for it to be writing a blog post such as this. There is a lot of excitement in taking your first "big girl" job, signing for your first apartment without your parents, and whole-heartedly seeking God in huge life decisions, but it is also extremely scary and has left me more vulnerable than I think I've ever felt. This morning as I was drinking a cup on coffee on my way to work, God laid Phillipians 4:6 on my heart, which says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." This is exactly what I've been doing all day. Day by day, hour by hour really, I've been praying and petitioning that God would give me peace and hold on to me so tightly during this transitional time in my life. I also heard Addison Road's song, "Hope Now," on the radio this morning on my way to work and a couple of the words really caught my attention. In the first verse it says, "When I call out Your name, something inside awakes in my soul. How quickly I forget I'm Yours." I think I forgot this for a little bit, but I'm aware more than ever these days that I am His. And I know my Abba Father is in control.
My heart is also heavy today for a very different reason. I just found out that a sweet friend of mine who was in BRH Choir at Baylor with me has been diagnosed with "ocular melanoma," or eye cancer. She will soon be intensely examined to see whether or not the cancer has spread to other parts of her body and from there, decisions will be made on how to best treat the cancer. The answer could be radiation, chemotherapy, or the removal of an eye. The good news is that she is in high spirits and she's got the most incredible BRH family that is praying its guts out for her right now. God has proven Himself and His control over my life too many times to count and I know He will be faithful through this time in Katy's life. I can't help but think of 2 Corinthians 5:7, "We walk by faith, not by sight." I know God has an incredible plan for Katy and although my heart is so broken for her and her family in these tough times, I know we're about to witness a miracle. Please join with me and many others in prayer for Katy Reeves and her family.
I don't know what you're struggling with right now. Maybe you this no one does. But God does. "Everything rides on hope now...Be anxious for nothing, present your requests to God...Walk by faith, not by sight...Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come." Amen?
No matter what any of us are going through, the good or the bad, He's got us. Why is it that we are so quick to forget this? I hope that today and forever, you can find peace in our Mighty God.
-Sara

15 May 2010

It's about that time


{I'm a Baylor University alum!}

Today, I graduated from college. After 4 years, my undergraduate career at Baylor University is over. It's a bitter sweet feeling to have graduated; so much, in fact, that I'm still processing it all.

On one hand, I'm sad. As I was driving around Waco today with Luke, I was thinking about how big Waco used to feel to me. Being a small town kid, I never thought I'd get the hang of driving around Waco or remember where everything was. Well, it only took me about a week to find Target, the mall, and my favorite shopping center, the Central Texas Marketplace (of course!). Since I spent this last semester in New York, it was also super sad to see all of my Baylor friends for just a day or two after a semester away from them, only to turn around and leave. I can't believe I have moved out of the house I've lived in the last two years. Although two years doesn't sound that long, the girls I lived with have become like real sisters to me. We know each others quirks, when to feed each other as we become grouchy, and we know when to set studying aside because pouring our hearts out to each other all night long trumps any test that used to feel important. My years at Baylor have been and still are invaluable to me. I will cherish them forever.

On the other hand, it's time. Have you ever just been in a certain place in your life, on the brink of taking a step towards the next chapter and it just felt right? Well, that's where I am. If someone told me today that I was supposed to attend class on Monday or live in my beautiful house one more year, I would say no. I'm ready to move into the next chapter. I'm ready to take the next step towards my professional career, find a new apartment, and marry Luke. It's time for undergrad to be over. Graduate school, you ask? Well, maybe:) But not right now. I may do more school in a couple of years, but for now I'm very content right where I am. Where is this, you may ask. Well, it's an interesting little place to be. It's a place of unknown, a little fear and anxiety, and excitement. A place of new and different and change. It's a place of endless possibility, with a brand new world in front of it. I'm ready for a new city, a new "routine," and somewhat of a new life. I know, I know. "Silly little girl. You don't know what you're leaving behind. You have no idea how tough it is to be a grown up." Well, you know what I have to say to you Mr. or Ms. Cynical? I'm excited! I'm excited for the future and for what it holds. And I know the One who holds my future. Trusting my life to God makes my future even that much more thrilling. Bring it on big bad world! I've always been a step ahead of you anyway:)


{Friends since freshman year. Love you Christine!}


{Loved sharing my special day with him.}


{Dad took his wallet back today...sad day.}


09 May 2010

Showered with blessings

So many incredible things have happened since I last blogged! In the last 4 days, I have completed my undergraduate career at Baylor University, flown home to Texas, and attended my first bridal shower. If this is any indication of how much fun I am going to have throughout the summer, then bring it on! I'm loving this:)

Let me back up for just a minute. On Wednesday, May 5th, I took my last college final. Our entire class went out afterward to a karaoke place in Korea Town...with our professor. Yup. I know, it sounds weird to me too, ha! Then, at about 11 p.m., I made my last (praise the Lord!) trip to the upper east side of Manhattan to pick up my wedding dress. This was the only ridiculous time I had to get the dress in between my alterations lady finishing up and studying for finals. I'm so glad to now have my beautiful dress in Texas! Which, speaking of...

I'M BACK IN TEXAS!!! I flew home on Thursday and got to Texas around 4 p.m. When we touched down on to this great state after a four hour flight, I thought about saying, "Attention ladies and gentlemen: Sara Martisek is now BACK IN TEXAS!!!" But seeing as I was on a non-stop flight from New York, I figured the New Yorkers wouldn't really appreciate my enthusiasm anyway. Oh well, I was still super excited! My dad picked me up from the airport, which was cool since he was the one person that didn't get the chance to visit me in New York. We picked up some Taco Cabana (duh) on the way home. It's not real Mexican food, but it will hold me over until I get my hands on the real deal. That night, I drove down the Zephyr to surprise Luke, who wasn't even there! That's what I get for trying to surprise that boy:) He arrived about an hour later and it was so good to see him, hug him, kiss him. I spent all day Friday at Zephyr and then headed back to Hallettsville. I know it was a quick trip, but I had to because today was...

My first bridal shower!!! My amazing friends Kelsey, Catherine, Kristin, Christine, and Kara threw me a bridal shower/panty party at our house in Waco. This was the first time I had the chance to be reunited with many of my Tri Delta sisters since I moved to New York in January. It was such a blessing to get to spend a couple of hours this afternoon catching up with everyone and talking about all of the changes in our lives. With multiple weddings being planned, job interviews, and graduation around the corner, we all had lots to talk about!


{Everyone eating and catching up}

The food at the shower was beyond yummy! These girls did a great job of baking and preparing beautiful desserts, fruit plates, chips and dip, and more. Cat made me a pink cupcake tree that got many compliments. That's my interior design roomie! She's always creating something original.


{Fruit-kabobs}


{To die for!}


{Cat's beautiful cupcake tree}

After we ate, I opened presents. This was a bridal shower, but also a "panty party." What girl doesn't love a cute pair of panties?! It was so much fun to open gifts and giggle with these girls. Unfortunately, I will not be sharing of the pictures taken at this point in the party, but I promise you these friends of mine did a great job of picking out gifts! I also got a pair of lobster boxers from Kelsey and a flowery teddy from my little sister, Claire. Great job ladies!


{Lobster boxers from Kels}

I feel so incredibly blessed right now. New York was fun, but I didn't feel like this. I'm so glad to be back in Texas. I graduate one week from today. I've designated Wednesday as "look for Sara and Luke an apartment/house" day. Wedding planning is moving along faster than ever. And God is on His throne. I'm one happy girl.


{All the girls at my shower}


{The best friends a girl could have!}

04 May 2010

A picture is worth a thousand words

I miss the beach. And my best friends. And when life was easy(er). Thus explaining my new picture behind the title of my blog. Home in two days. South Texas in six.

Bring it on summer; I've missed you. You've been hiding from me for far too long now...:)


{I'm reminiscing...Spring Break '09 in Florida!}


{Summer '09...the three best friends a girl could have!}

03 May 2010

My last weekend in NYC

I'll be back in Texas THIS WEEK! I can't believe I'm finally at this point in my life, but I'm ready to go. I have a final tomorrow and my last final of college ever on Wednesday. In the middle of studying, I've been packing, shipping boxes home, and planning my hectic schedule between now and the 15th, GRADUATION DAY. Whew! It's going to be a fun ride.

This past weekend, my mom came up here to help me start the packing process and to get a little wedding stuff taken care of. She got to see my wedding dress after the alterations had been done, we began mine and Luke's registries at Target and Bed Bath & Beyond (no worries, of course I saved all of the couple-ish stuff for he and I to register for together once I'm home), and we went to see Wicked on Broadway. It is by far the best show I have ever seen!


{Wicked stage}

On Saturday, a few of the girls in the BU in NY program threw me a bachelorette party here in the city. So. Much. Fun! Every part of the evening was a surprise, from dinner, to lingerie, to dancing. Of course, I was required to where a "bride-to-be" sash and a wedding veil everywhere we went, including the subway. I got some pretty funny looks, but it didn't matter. We had a blast! I was also glad that mom got to be a part of it. I mean, how many moms can say they got to go to their daughter's bachelorette party in New York? Here are some pictures from the party:



{Mom and I before we left for the party}


{Headed out!}


{I wasn't expecting a present. Thanks girls!!}

Ok, back to packing. I have an hour until Ashley and I go tan, work out, and then hit the books again. I must be productive! I hope everyone's having a great Monday:)

Question of the day: If you could spend 4 months living anywhere, where would you live and why?



02 May 2010

Goodbye CBS News!

Here are pictures from my last couple of days at CBS News! It's been a fun ride and I've been so blessed by my internship and co-workers. This has been an experience I'll never forget.


{My boss bought lunch for everyone in the office as a goodbye to the interns!}


{Stevie and I before lunch}


{My last time to take the 3 train to work}


{My first view out of the subway}


{Fruit stand on the way to work}


{The street I work on!}


{Just walking to work...}


{This picture was taken right before I walked into work for the last time}


{I had to get a picture of my name tag before I turned it in on my last day of work}