Summing It Up:

May 1, 2014 / Sarah Thomas Cleveland / 5 Comments

Making: memories with my best friends while we all still live in the same state
Cooking: nothing and that needs to start changing
Drinking: water, milk, water, wiskey, water, beer, water, tea, and probably some more water
Reading: many many blogs
Wanting: my own general education classroom
Looking: for the road less traveled
Playing: Miranda Lambert’s new song, “Automatic” on repeat
Wasting: time trying to figure everything out all at once
Sewing: scarves and seed sack bags/purses in my spare time
Wishing: anyone who is reading this a fabulous day
Enjoying: time well spent with people that make me happy
Waiting: on a phone call or email about a job I applied for
Liking: that I can’t really sleep in anymore like I use too
Wondering: why I have 7 drafts in my “Post” section, I should probably finish those
Loving: how these words are making me stop, sit back and think about myself
Hoping: I get an interview for the teaching job I just applied for
Marvelling: at how quickly everything has turned green
Needing: a haircut
Smelling: the farm ground that is being worked and planted
Wearing: my new Michael Kors turquoise and gold watch
Following: God’s plan…well hopefully I am
Noticing: I have too many denim and white shirts hanging in my closet
Knowing: I am blessed beyond measure
Thinking: I need a new layout/theme for this blog
Bookmarking: articles I see in my twitter feed, but I rarely go back and read them
Opening: a new door or window hopefully soon
Giggling: during all the episodes of The Office I have been rewatching
Feeling: just dandy

I got this idea from a blog I started following recently, A Pretty Penny, go check it out!

Weddings, Weddings, Weddings!

October 25, 2013January 28, 2014 / Sarah Thomas Cleveland / 3 Comments

For the past two months my weekends have been consumed with weddings. I attended these weddings as a bridesmaid, a friend, and a sister. Each one was so beautiful in its own way and I had such a good time at all of them!

I was a bridesmaid in my dear friend, Courtney’s wedding. While I did have my bridesmaid duties at this wedding, I also didn’t know many people so I got to spend pretty much the whole night on the dance floor. It was a blast and both of their families made feel like one of their own. After the wedding and honeymoon my dear friend joined her husband, Kevin in North Carolina. I miss her so much but thank goodness for SnapChat!! Courtney and I send snaps throughout our days to keep each other informed of what life looks like these days. I can’t wait to go visit them!!

The next weekend I celebrated my sister, Katie’s marriage. She and Brett got hitched out in Colorado with a beautiful mountain backdrop. Just close family was in attendance and it was the most intimate and emotional wedding I’ve ever been to. After the ceremony I told Katie and Brett that I loved that they chose to have the ceremony there in the mountains because we were closer to heaven, we were closer to our dads. But, the weekend in September was a time to celebrate their marriage with their friends and family. It was on my sister’s new family’s farm under the most beautiful fall sky between the cornfields.

I had a little break from weddings the weekend after that. I headed up to Boilermaker country for homecoming festivities and when I say festivities I mean Harry’s. That’s the only place my sister and friends went and of course we had a blast.

The first weekend of October my sister and I headed west to Kansas. My blonde sister friend, Lindsay married a Kansas boy back in August in Indiana. That October weekend was a celebration of their marriage on Cody’s family’s ranch. My sister and I had a great time road trippin’, talking about our lives, agriculture, our beliefs, our outlook on the future and jamming out to our favorite songs. We also learned our lesson to stop and fill up our gas tank before getting off the turnpike. That was probably the most nervous I have ever seen my sister. So, now we know that there are no gas stations between the turnpike and Council Grove, Kansas. Speaking of Council Grove, Kansas, such a neat town that I can’t wait to visit again! And I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Lindsay and Cody!

The weekend after the Kansas road trip my other blonde sister friend, Amy married my best friend Liz’s big brother Marc. I remember when these two started dating back when I was in elementary school. It was such a joy to see these two tie the knot, finally. Amy has done my hair and makeup for every school dance I have attended, spent many a nights with me in my mom’s basement, been there for me through all the laughter and tears my life has brought me. She is without a doubt my sister and has become my mentor as I start my teaching career. Amy and Marc are both pretty much family and I couldn’t be more happy for them as they start a new life chapter.

Speaking of new life chapters, I have started a new one as well. I have a teaching job. While it is only temporary (I am teaching for someone while they are on maternity leave) it is a job and more experience. I am so grateful for this opportunity and hope that it will lead to something else.

Now that I am on fall break I’ve had time for myself again. Wednesday night one of my favorite bands was in state. The Josh Abbott Band is from Texas and I am so glad they came to Indiana! I got to meet them and of course I thanked them for coming to Indiana about twenty-five times…embarrassing! But it was a great show and a great night with some of my favorite people.

I know that it’s been a bit since I posted last, but to sum it up I’ve been busy.

Thanks for reading and catching up on my life. Have you been busy like me?

A Familiar Face That Became a Friend

September 13, 2013January 22, 2014 / Sarah Thomas Cleveland / Leave a comment

This weekend I get to stand next to my dear friend, Courtney as she says, “I do.” to the man of her dreams.

I remember the first time I saw Courtney. It was the first semester of my freshman year of college in history class. You know that class that no one talks to each other because you don’t want to be there. Well, Courtney and I never spoke two words to each other that semester. It wasn’t until the next semester in an English class that we finally talked. I found out she was an Elementary Education major like me. We sat next to each other that whole semester and had classes together our sophomore year too. But I’d say we didn’t really become friends until our junior year, when we started taking courses that actually pertained to our major. I walked into that first class junior year happy to see a familiar face. Courtney’s face. And the rest is pretty much history. I don’t think I could have made it through my college years without her. From sitting next to each other in those boring college classes, to late night texts about assignments and encouraging each other to stay focused. To being each other Valentine’s day dates, shopping sprees, dance lessons (trying to teach me to dance) to listening and humoring me when I get on my soap box about agriculture stuff. From celebrating our accomplishments, life events, crying and laughing with each other through it all, we became dear friends. Courtney is a beautiful person inside and out and I am so blessed to call her one of my best friends.

To sum it up, happy wedding weekend Court! Thank you for being that familiar face and friend I’ve always needed. I love you and cannot wait to see where our lives and friendship lead us next!

Happy One Year Sarah Sums It Up!

June 15, 2013January 22, 2014 / Sarah Thomas Cleveland / Leave a comment

I cannot believe that it has been a year since I published my first post on Sarah Sums It Up! I started this blog because I enjoyed writing a blog during my internship last summer. I decided I should try it on my own. And so, Sarah Sums It Up was born! A year later I am so glad that I did. Sarah Sums It Up has given me a creative outlet to share my writing, pictures, thoughts, life events, and my passion for agriculture. I never thought that people would actually read what I write, but you have and I am so grateful to you for letting me be, well me. Thank you!

So much has happened in my life in just the past year and I love that I was able to find a place to share and save my memories and stories on this blog. I know that I was not always constant with my posts. When I started I tried to write and post twice a week, then I would only post once a week and some weeks I wouldn’t post at all. I have been busy lately but I don’t like excuses so I am not going to give any. What I am going to give is a goal for myself. A goal for another year of blogging on Sarah Sums It Up.

To sum it up, stay tuned for more!

It Happened. I’m a College Grad.

May 15, 2013January 22, 2014 / Sarah Thomas Cleveland / 1 Comment

Allow yourself to be a beginner. No one starts off being excellent.

Last Sunday I graduated from Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) with a degree in Elementary Education. It was also Mother’s Day, so I was able to share the day with my lifelong educator, my Mom. This milestone was a rough one for me to accept. Sure I am going to miss being a college student with all its wonderful perks. It’s hard for me to grasp that I am growing up. I am figuring out who I am and what roads I want to take and trails I want to leave behind. It is has been hard for me to accept that this is the first chapter of my life that my Dad won’t be apart of. He got to see me start my college career. The truth is I am scared of entering a new life chapter. I am afraid of failing and not making the right decisions. I have never been a perfectionist, but I do like to do things right. And, well, I hope that I am doing life right. These are the words that I am trying to live by right now, “Allow yourself to be a beginner. No one starts off being excellent.” I need to remember that it’s okay if I don’t have everything figured out in the beginning of this new life chapter of mine. It’s okay if I can’t do things right the first time. I will get. I will catch on and get to where I am supposed to go. If it takes some time for me to get there, than so be it.

So, what’s next? I am looking for teaching jobs. I am being a bit picky right now. That will probably change, but I need to do what’s right for me. I want to be in an environment that fits me and my teaching style. So, if any of you readers know of any schools hiring in Central Indiana let me know please and thank you!

To sum it up, right now I am enjoying being a 22 year old college graduate with her friends, trying to figure out this chapter called, “Life After College.”

Have a fabulous Wednesday!! What are your words to live by when you are entering a new life chapter?