Featured Artisan: Dearest Sara

There are some people who come into your life that make a grand entrance and hold a commanding presence. I lovingly refer to these people as larger than life.



Sara Stokes is just that. When I met her she was fresh out of high school ready for anything and everything. She was sweet and smart and sharp. We counted money together for the BBQ ministry at our church, then actually started working together at the credit union.

I quickly became one of Sara's adoring fans, there have been so many of us.

One thing I did not know about Sara was that she had been in dance since the age of three. I only learned this detail after one of the performances of the very first drama at Oregon State. She came up to me literally beaming and said, "the next drama, I have to be part of."

We had no idea then that God was doing something really BIG.



Sara did join our team, not only as a dancer, but as a leader, teacher, choreographer, visionary, actor, you name it, she was willing to do it. She poured her entire life into this ministry for several years and during the six months out of the year we were not working on a drama, she was dancing her heart out for Jesus in other Countries, working with local dance teams, or street performing.

Sara was extremely gifted in so many ways. Her dancing was beyond graceful, it was brilliance in motion, her creativity was limitless, and yet how she worked with her team astounded me. She could take untrained dancers and weave them into a collage of beauty, it was supernatural. She could see in a person something they did not see in themselves. She believed in people. It was inspiring. Once we had an audition where close to 60 tried out, Sara cast them all, not having the heart to turn any of them away.



In a sudden turn of events Sara was taken from us in a car accident on June 19, 2007. It was a tragic ending to an amazingly gifted and blessed life.

Yet Sara lives on. She of course is with her savior Jesus Christ. We however have so much of the life she left in us all. Determination, a hard work ethic, a heart to share Jesus, a commitment to excellence, reaching for more than before, CAN do attitudes, pushing ourselves to do and be better, Sara gave us that.

Sara danced for Jesus. She never made it about her, she walked in humility and led others to do the same. Working with her was a gift. I am a better leader and director because of it.

I miss Sara. Some day I will see here again. But until then I plan to go on living for Jesus, sharing art in life the way she lived.



Thank you Sara for what you have given us, we will continue to give as well.

Back to blogging!

I have been negligent to writing here and that is something I have purposed to change in the New year.

This year has flown by. They say time flies and actually it so so true, every moment we have is precious because literally time is fleeting. As I sit her today I am mindful of so many friends that are grateful and exceptionally aware of each passing moment.

A long time friend that is a mother of two who recently had a huge cancer scare.

A wonderful friend who right this very minute could get a call saying her sister has passed.

An amazing servant of the Lord and friend lying in the hospital today from a freak accident a few weeks ago that has absolutely stolen time out from under him.

A woman who has been given more time with her mother unexpectedly, and is hopeful it is enough time for her to meet Jesus.

An extremely amazing mother experiencing the pain of grown children and the reality of less and less time with them.

My husband who is following the Lord and hearing this is the time to move forward with some big things.

Time.


So precious. A commodity that can be enjoyed, consumed, spent, wasted, lived, and lost, but never, never can we get it back.

Blessings today, go on enjoy your...TIME.