Yes, I’m a Nerd and I Write About Radon

March 15, 2013 2 Comments

As you can guess from the title, I am nerd.  I blame it on my family and genetics.  But, to me a nerd is a good thing and I love it haha!   My mom is a super smart Chemistry teacher, so she gets me interested in sciency things.  I am working on a research paper for one of my classes about radon exposure.  Many people have not heard of radon, let alone how to test their homes for radon.  We moved last fall, and I learned quite a bit about radon.  We installed a radon mitigation system (pretty much a fancy name for a big fan) to get rid of the radon in our house.  Then before we moved into our new house, we had the house test for radon.  It too had to have a radon mitigation system installed.

Here are some facts about radon:

  • Radon is a odorless, tasteless, radioactive gas found naturally in the soil.
  • Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer.
  • Radon can be tested for and fixed.
  • Radon levels 4 pCi/L or above should be fixed.
  • The Surgeon General recommends everyone test their homes for Radon.

Because I love everything WordPress related and my brother works for Automattic, I had to try Polldaddy.  I made my first Polldaddy survey, yippee!

http://sarahhamze.polldaddy.com/s/radon-awareness

If you feel it in the goodness of your heart to take my survey, I would greatly appreciate it!  My grade greatly appreciates it as well :)   I am excited to learn more about radon awareness and hopefully educate others on radon.  Who knew a person could get fired up about radon.  Just ask my classmates, I am a freak about radon.  I just want to help others and protect them from the harmful effects!  I am always preaching to others about getting their homes tested for radon.  By taking this survey, you are helping me learn how I can better help others.  Thanks in advance!!

 

Filed Under: My Life, Random Thoughts, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Confessions of a Part Time Nanny

February 27, 2013 Leave a Comment

One of my favorite things about this crazy life of mine is how God brings unexpected blessings my way.  If you didn’t know already, I love kids, especially cute little cuddly babies.  Many of our family friends have babies and I love going over there to visit them and hang out.  This week one of our friends was recovering from surgery, and they jokingly asked if I would help them out.  Sure, why not!  And this is when Sarah Hamze became a part-time nanny!

My first day as a nanny was pretty hilarious.  I couldn’t figure out how to buckle the baby into the baby swing, I had a terrible time getting the car seat to click into the base, and changing diapers..that’s a whole different story!  The sweet little baby girl kept smiling at me.  I bet she was wondering why in the world her parents let me watch her.  I think I have a whole lot of learning to do before I become a mommy!

One thing I love about babies is that they are so loving.  It doesn’t matter what your look like or what your life story is, they love you unconditionally.  When they flash me a cute little smiling, exposing their little baby teeth, I just melt!  It got me thinking about how I love people.  Do I love unconditionally?  Do I show love to my family, friends, significant other, and those around me?  Do I speak love and life into the lives of those around me? I have a feeling I am going to learn a lot from this cute little bundle of adorableness this week.  I just want to snuggle her all day–who cares about homework, right?

God sends little blessings and lessons our way each and every day.  He’s pretty good about sending rays of sunshine in the midst of this craziness called life.

What is something cool God has done for your lately?

 

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Thanksgiving All Year Long

November 26, 2012 6 Comments

After the delicious Thanksgiving meal I had last week, I wish I could have Thanksgiving every day.  But, I would probably need to buy new clothes if I ate like that every day.  One thing I love about Thanksgiving is when our family reflects on what we are thankful for…but why can’t we do that every day?

At church on Sunday, our pastor talked about prayer and praising God.  He shared 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

After hearing the sermon on Sunday, I started to think about being thankful.  How often do I thank God compared to how often I give him a list of problems?  I have found that when I am having a bad attitude, if I reflect on the good things God has done for me and blessed with with, my attitude improves.  What if I lived each day with gratitude? How would my days be different?

No matter the situation, God wants us to have fellowship with Him and to have a thankful heart.  Having a thankful heart during a difficult situation is definitely not easy.  I don’t know how some people can have a thankful heart during such difficult times, but God will bless them and strengthen them through the difficult circumstance.  So I have to praise God even during the difficult times?  Definitely.  Praise God when things are going well and praise Him during the not-so-good times.  I wish being thankful during all situations would be easy, but it isn’t easy all the time.

In order to remember to have a grateful heart, I put sticky notes all around my room reminding me of all the blessings in my life.  Yesterday was the first day of my gratitude project.  God has blessed my life in so many ways, if I don’t take time to remember this, I am missing out.

As much as I would love eating delicious Thanksgiving food every day, it just isn’t going to happen.  But what I can do is live with thanksgiving and gratitude each day.  I am huge Veggie Tales fan.  I watched Veggie Tales when it was on VHS (I must be ancient!).  During Madame Blueberry, a song played that I just love.

“A thankful heart is a happy heart” –Veggie Tales

When you take time to remember the good in your life, your attitude and heart changes.  How can you celebrate Thanksgiving all year long?

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Finding God’s Fingerprints

November 9, 2012 Leave a Comment

As I am sitting in a coffee shop trying to study for a test, I can’t help but think of God’s fingerprints in my week.  I just can’t get it out of my head, so I must write about it!  God is everywhere.  He speaks through people, events, music, His word, you name it.  Every week, I find myself constantly being reminded of God’s presence in my life.

This week I was feeling overwhelmed by school, work, family, the list goes on.  I have been going to a new Bible study, and I meeting some really awesome people.  I met some new people and I began to ramble like I always do.  I told  them all about my  busy week (great conversationalist, huh), and I said “I don’t know if I can make it through the week”.  And all of the sudden one of the guys said, “I don’t even know you, but I know you can do it.”  Fingerprint of God #3,251,789.  God used him to encourage me; how awesome!  I think the little kid  finger prints on my dad’s restaurant’s windows are numerous, but it surely doesn’t compare to God’s fingerprints!

Right now, I am listening to Luminate’s “Love is Loud,” and it reminds me of how God is everywhere.  This song is pretty fitting for what I have been experiencing.  If you haven’t heard this song or any other songs by Luminate, you must them out!  I love their music; I am pretty obsessed with their music!  (When am I not obsessed with beautifully written Christian music?! haha)

“And every single day we are walking proof.  That every living thing is an echo of You.  You were everywhere, You are everywhere” (Luminate)

Have you noticed God’s fingerprints in your life?  Leave a comment, I would love to hear all about it!

Filed Under: Learning Along the Way, My Life, Random Thoughts Tagged With: , , , ,

I’m Like Humpty Dumpty…Are You?

October 17, 2012 Leave a Comment

I am probably one of the most random people.  Bare with me as I tell my random tale :)

 Last night as I was trying to fall asleep, I kept thinking about Humpty Dumpty (I know, I’m weird). 

“Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king’s horses and all the king’s men couldn’t put Humpty together again”

I kept wondering why could no one fix him, why did he fall, how could horses fix him in the first place.  Then a thought popped into my head: I’m humpty dumpty, we are all humpty dumpty.  Why do I say this?  Because we are all broken, fallen people.  Maybe we aren’t all suffering from physical pain like humpty dumpty, but we are dealing with emotionally pain.  We try to let the world “fix us.”  We use relationships, jobs, families, possessions, friendships, you name it to try to fix our brokenness and pain, but it just doesn’t seem to work.  Sometimes we go to extremes and try to let alcohol or drugs mask our pain, but that too doesn’t seem to do the trick.  You know what is missing? Jesus! 

Jesus is the only one who can heal our brokenness.  Everything else is just a temporary bandage on the situation.  He knows us better than we know ourselves; He hears our cries even before we utter a sound.  He love is so wide, deep, extensive, I don’t think it can even fully be described.  Once you feel Jesus’ love surround you, everything else means nothing. 

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3

I love Christian music and Chris Tomlin’s “I Lift My Hands,” beautiful describes Jesus.

“Be still, there is a healer

His love is deeper than the sea

His mercy, it is unfailing

His arms are fortress for the weak…”

Having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ means having someone in your life who loves you despite of everything you’ve said, done, or thought.  His arms are always open, no matter what you’ve done in the past.  He waits for us with arms wide open ready to heal our wounds and transform our lives.  As much as we think retail therapy, alcohol, relationships or even chocolate will do the trick when we are in pain, none of this comes close to the peace, comfort, and healing we find in the arms of Christ. 

So here I am admitting to you that I am humpty dumpty.  I try over and over again to us the things of this world to heal my disappointment, sadness, and fear, but it just doesn’t work. I am a broken person in need of Savior.  I fall Him daily, but He still loves me.  I can run to Him and He will always be there for me.  The same is true for you.  Jesus is waiting for you to jump into His arms and to know the love He has for you.

I know its crazy for me to compare our lives to humpty dumpty, but when it all comes down to it we are broken in need of healing.  We just have to remind ourselves that we can’t go it alone, we desperately need Jesus in our lives.  We need His love, peace, and guidance.  Again and again I fail because I forget to rely on my loving, Savior.  The story of humpty dumpty sure convicted me today, never thought that would happen!

Praying for any of you reading today.  Know you are deeply loved and never to far gone for Christ’s healing power!

Filed Under: Messages of the Heart, My Life, Random Thoughts Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Be the Best Penguin You Can Be!

March 8, 2012 2 Comments

My brother came across a video by Gary Vaynerchuk on Pinterest, and I just had to share it with you.  I think a lot of times we try to be something or somebody we are not, instead of being the person we were made to be.  It’s important to focus on the things we are good at.

“Stop trying to fix the things you are bad at and focus on the things you are good at.” [Read more...]

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Why I Aspire to be Like Marcel the Shell

January 13, 2012 Leave a Comment

Every since my friend at college showed me the Marcel the Shell video, I have become completely obsessed!  I find myself quoting Marcel randomly everywhere I go (it drives my Mom nuts!).  Marcel is adorable, and I can’t help by tell everyone I know about him!

I want to be like Marcel the Shell because…

  • He is self-confident.  ”I have shoes and um – a face. So, I like that about myself. And I like myself. And I have other great qualities as well.”
  • He is adventurous.  ”I hang-glide on a Dorito.”
  • He doesn’t take crap from others:  ”Sometimes people say that my head is too big for my body, and then I say, “Compared to what?!”
  • He rescues pets (his lint pet): “His name is Allen, guess where I found him…under a tooth.”
  • He is a good friend (especially to his pet lint): “Well, you know what they say…lint is a shell’s best friend.”
    “Hey there! Come here. Come here. Come – Come on – I love you! Come. Aw!”

I like Marcel, and I will shout it from the rooftops (even if I embarrass my mother!).  He is a good role model :)

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Funny Video

December 22, 2010 Leave a Comment
Filed Under: Random Thoughts

Ways to Avoid Doing Homework in College

December 22, 2010 Leave a Comment

Your parents send you off to college in hopes you study until your brains become mush.  But with the technology and the Internet, sitting down and doing homework can be an impossible task.  Personally, I am a YouTube and Facebook addict.  Just when I decide to sit down and right a paper, I watch the latest YouTube videos  or change my Facebook status instead. 

Here is my personal favorite when it comes to YouTube videos :)

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My Plans Vs. His Plans

October 28, 2009 Leave a Comment

Do you ever find yourself working like a mad person trying to figure out a crazy, little thing called life?  Well, today I find myself worrying about my life and trying as hard as I can to make plans.  Looking at colleges and receiving enough brochures to make you wonder how many trees were killed in the process, is making my head spin.   But, then I hear a voice (God) tell me, “Why are you making yourself sick with worry about what will become of you and where life will take you.  That’s my job, not yours.  I already have amazing plans in store for you; I have since before you were born.  Instead of trying to make your own plans, study my word and talk to me—I will show you the way.”  Anyone out there feeling the way I am feeling today?  I take comfort in this scripture.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Wow, God wants to prosper me, and plans to  give me hope and a future?  Then, why did I spend so much time worrying?  It’s my prayer that we (you and I both) place our trust and our future in God hands, instead of worrying and trying to make our own plans.  Thank goodness my future is in His hands.  I know if my future was in my hands, I would really screw things up.

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