Sand in My Sandwich by Sarah Parshall Perry - REVIEWED

About the Book:
here is no perfect family, no life free of mess.
But in the midst of all of it, God is there, reminding us, "My child, I got this."
You know that thing when you're in Walmart at noon before you discover you haven't brushed your teeth? Sarah Parshall Perry gets that. She also gets weird things showing up in her bed, her daughter requesting war paint, and her son crawling into a giant blue sock on Christmas morning. Sometimes, she gets that conflicted feeling of finding her kids hanging out in the dog's cage and realizing that, yes, dog cages are not for people, but . . . they have stopped getting into trouble.

According to Perry, "The hardest stuff is the quickest way to God." And if the systematic destruction of her carefully planned life is any indication, she's on the fast track to sainthood! A mother of three children, two of whom are on the autism spectrum, she has experienced plenty of ups and downs. But from the chaos of her "ordinary" life, she pulls truth packed with humor, poignancy, and a naked honesty that will make you realize you are not alone in this delightfully messy thing called motherhood. 

So sit back, relax awhile, and get ready to laugh.

My Thoughts:

“I spent a lot of time lying in bed and staring at the celiing, wondering how I was going to wrestle my circumstances back into obedience.”  (p. 69)

“So I began to slowly dispatch with the idea of a perfectly controlled life.”  (p. 189)

That first quote, in all of its transparent clarity, convicts me.  I relate to Sarah Parshall Perry’s desire to wrestle my circumstances into obedience.  The second quote gives me encouragement.  I also relate to the perceived chaos and sometimes painful events God allows into our lives to mold us into His image – to be the people He has created us to be. I think I would love to sit down and share live with Sarah.  I think we would laugh and cry together and praise God for His goodness and mercy to us!

I must say, Sarah’s story is loaded with challenges, triumphs, tragedy and just day to day chaos. As much as I could relate to the ways motherhood shaped and molded  her life, at one point I just wanted to cry out to God, “enough already!”  She has born, and still bears, a load of circumstances that only God’s strength can shoulder.  What I love about this story is the way the reader grows alongside Sarah on her journey.  You can’t help but pause and consider how you have and are currently interacting with God through your own life circumstances.  It is both humbling and encouraging.

I’m amazed at how incredibly talented and faithful she is despite the storms that blow through her life. (on a regular basis, it seems)  She continues to use the talents God has gifted her with to bless others – especially her husband and children.  She’s honest about her failures and struggles, but she’s quick to give all praise to God for what He has accomplished in her life through those trials.

I am happy to recommend this book!  It is a special tribute to God’s everyday, amazing grace and mercy that He lavished on His children!!

About the Author:
Sarah Parshall Perry (JD, University of Virginia School of Law) is a wife and mother of three young children. She is the coauthor of When the Fairy Dust Settles (with her mother, Janet Parshall) and the author of numerous magazine articles, award-winning short stories, and poetry. Sarah has served in youth ministry for over ten years and is currently writing for www.ChosenFamilies.org where she encourages other families living with disabilities. She lives in Baltimore, Maryland, where she spends most of her days fighting for time in front of the computer. Learn more at www.sarahparshallperry.com.