Tuesday, May 31, 2011

lovely photo wednesday

Lovely Photo - Wordless or Not-So-Wordless Wednesday at Aspire

I love photos like this. I sat outside in the humid air and took photos of our dinner: grilled tomato, spicy sausage, pineapple, onion, and mushroom kabobs. I turned around and there was Sam, sitting at our little table, waiting. He sat still watching me and I started laughing, because he was posing. When he sees you with the camera, he'll either:
1. Shake his head and smile, saying, "no, no, no." or
2. Ignore you while you snap away. or
3. Pose for you.
I got the latter in this instance. And honestly? I like it. I especially love how a smile is slightly peeking through his serious demeanor. That little stinker.
sammy

If you haven't played along before, link up your lovely photo and tell us a bit about it, or nothing at all. Write what you want or don't say anything, but share a picture and link it up below. Then, remember to bloghop around a bit and comment on at least three other entries. Make sure to include the button or a link back to Aspire in your post. Have a lovely day!



Loads of love,
Hannah

quietly beautiful.

There is something so beautiful about black and white images.
quietlybeautiful
They're still and beautiful. Black and white images say that there is more than meets the eye. They eliminate the clutter and focus on the subject. They're soft, yet sharp, harsh, yet serene, still, yet full of motion. They are raw memories — captured.
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Black and white speaks of the mystery behind the image; they open the page to a new story hidden in the photo, previously lost between the lines. I love color, but sometimes, black and white speaks more than the brightest, most beautiful color photo. They're full of emotion.
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black and white photos celebrate the moment.

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Maybe that's why I like them.
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What about you? If you could only shoot in color or black and white for the rest of your life, which would you choose?

Loads of love,
Hannah

Sunday, May 29, 2011

giveaway winner!


Thanks to everyone who entered the blog design giveaway!
and the winner is...
congrats

Stay tuned for another giveaway coming up, sweet friends!
Loads of love,
Hannah

feet racing, heart pounding — to be alive.

I write. And I write some more. My fingers fly and I sit waiting for the words to come. I hear the lawn mower outside, and Sam runs to the window, staring at my mom. And I wait.

We're walking down the road, feeling the sun on our faces and the wind in our hair. Laughing and talking some more. I start the conversation, "So, what are you thinking about for school and college?" she pauses.

I am still with thoughts that sit in my mind; wordless when words cease to come. For this moment in my life, I am waiting for the thoughts that are causing a build-up in my mind. The calling that is making itself visible through every word written, each sound sung, every photo taken.

"It's a constant journey -- I just have to keep growing. That's all I can do." I laugh and she smiles at me. "With God's help, I just have to keep growing." She turns and nods, "That's what we have to do -- it never stops."

I am so confused; I try to write but my words tangle and I sigh, frustrated. Why this, not that? Lord, what are you calling me to do? Why is this happening?

She shakes her head and I kick rocks with my shoes as we walk on the sun-drenched roads. "It's crossed my mind -- but right now, I feel like where I am, is right." I know the feeling.

We talk about life and faith as we walk the mile from her house to mine, and in the few minutes between here and there, we speak what's on our heart. We wonder.

thoughts

"Can you run?" I ask her, glancing at her feet. "Of course I can," she responds, grinning. We run and our feet slap pavement hard, pounding out rhythm; our hair flies and our breath breaks from slow to rushed.

And inwardly, I cry. I see where I fall. I see where I stumble. I see where I fail. Slowly, bit by bit, the Lord is peeling back the skin that I've lived in, a mask to hide my past and my fears. It's painful, emerging from a cocoon. I'm eager to fly, but my wings are all sticky, my body is tired. I can't do this alone. But in my weakness, He is perfect strength.

We sit on the porch, smelling the freshly mowed lawn, verdant with life. My chair squishes and I shift, smiling as I see Sam in the window. He watches us and in his eyes he says, "let me come outside. Let me run." I open the door and bring him out.

I long to run. But it's the process of letting go of the past and becoming who I truly am in Christ that freezes me. The Lord didn't say it wouldn't be hard -- but He said to take heart. For He has overcome the world and all its tribulations -- He is greater. (John 16:33) Too often I let momentary trials distract me from His unchanging grace, steadfast love, and marvelous mercy.

Sam laughs and goes from person to person. I hold him as He reaches for my mom, walking across the lawn. His eyes shine and he pushes me away, slipping onto the ground, running for her.

I am still clutching the fragments of my cocoon; still holding onto remnants of the past that are dead and gone. Lord, I want my feet to hit the pavement hard; I want my days to be spent running towards you, closer and closer, until I'm finally home.

thoughts

He reaches mom and holds his hands up. His eyes widen and he speaks. "Up, up!" He cries. She leans over and picks him up, her hands green from mowing. He hugs her and grins, content to be in her arms.

I write and the words slowly fall into place. The knots undo and the kinks unwind, and my thoughts unravel slowly and slowly, till the tangled mess turns into something beautiful. My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. Lord, let this be the cry of my heart.

"Come on Sammy -- we have to go drop Hayley off at her house." I pick Sammy up and his eyes crinkle. "You want to come with?" He nods excitedly and his face breaks with a grin. My heart is happy.

I want to spend all of my days resting in the security of my Savior's arms. I want to leave it all at the cross. His blood washes my sins white as snow. My stains are clean because of His sacrifice; His love. Every tear, He wipes away; every hurt, He heals.

"So you just walked all the way here?" My mom asks us as we drive to Hayley's house. We smile sheepishly again and answer her. "We started and didn't know where we were going, so we just kept walking." She shakes her head and smiles at us. "You goofs. I was just mowing and all of a sudden, I see these two people running towards me."

I want to be running towards my Savior. Hair streaming, eyes wide, heart abandoned and full with the fire of God. Lord, let me be fully alive. O, I'm running to your arms // the riches of your love will always be enough. Jesus, you are more than enough for me. Help me to let go of my masks and give me the strength to climb from this cocoon; help my broken, crumpled, sticky wings to fly.

I hug Hayley and wave goodbye, thanking her for having me over. Thanking her for listening and talking. Thanking her for being there. "We have to get together again soon," I say. "You guys should bike; it's only a few minutes away." Her mom adds.

You created me to live life with breath racing, heart on fire, feet pounding broken earth. Running running running to you. This is what it means to be alive.

thoughts

"We need to have another coffee date, girl," I vociferate, going through days in my head. She nods. "Okay, what about...?" She pauses and waits for me to give her a time that works. "I can't next week, because we have rehearsal, and the week after that is the performance." She nods again and smiles affirmatively, "Three weeks then. And tell me the date of your performance."

"I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back." - Philippians 3:12

I sit in the car and wave goodbye, leaning back into the seat. "When did you see us?" I ask my mom. She switches her mirror and looks at me laughingly, "Right when you got near the driveway." We laugh and I stare out the window, watching familiar scenes pass by.

I slip and I stumble. But I'm going to run the race that matters; forgetting what lies behind and instead, fixing my eyes on Jesus. I'm going to keep on running, getting back up when I fall and pressing forward, straining towards the goal, racing towards the only thing that matters.

I'm running to Jesus.

Loads of love,
Hannah

Saturday, May 28, 2011

friday in photos



I was really tempted to title it friday in fotos
but my inner spelling geek wouldn't let me. ;)

On Friday my mom and I got in the car and drove down to Grande Jete so I could get fitted for Gaynor Minden pointe shoes.
fridayinphotos
We stopped at Mcdonald's, but for the bank, not the food.
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the box + shank was completely broken/dead on my old pointe shoes
And while we were driving, I amused myself by taking photos of iced tea,
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scenery,
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cars,
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more cars,
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and even more cars
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I might have also taken pictures of cars.
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I'm not sure.
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Anyways...
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(the tunnels were the best part of our drive)
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We finally reached our destination and I got fitted for my shoes -- it took about twenty minutes and I left happy (and minus $120 bucks)
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Swinging by Trader Joes, we picked up some delicious salads and had a nummy (and healthy lunch)
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And we picked up Starbucks. Of course. ;)
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We took the back roads home, because the traffic was ridiculous due to it being Memorial Day weekend.
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So we saw horses
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and fields

(side note -- aren't baby shoes the cutest things ever?)
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So there was my Friday.
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And when I got home, this flower greeted me.
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The end.
fridayinphotos

Loads of love,
Hannah

Friday, May 27, 2011

i am learning...



friday favorite things | finding joy
joining my mom for
friday favorite things


during the past few months, I've been growing,
blossoming, being pruned, and changing,
and becoming the woman the Lord created me as.

learning

I feel like a butterfly,
still poking its way out of the chrysalis
emerging with bright wings
and dreams of flying

and through this time,
I've learned several things.

i am learning...

Jesus has to come first
always.
Lord, let this be the cry of my heart.

what I do or don't do today
matters perhaps more
tomorrow

learning

the way we see Jesus
directly affects how we see life;
when we live differently
we see differently.
Lord, fix my eyes on you.

I am somewhat of a journaler

journaler isn't a word

I am not defined by the world and its lies
but instead
am made whole at the foot of the cross

learning

I am the most beautiful
when I am filled with the fire of God
and not when
wearing the latest clothes
trendiest makeup
or cutest hairstyle

Life
is gritty, messy, hard, and
beautiful.
and it's a choice to see that God-given beauty
in the midst of the everyday.

I don't need to pretend to have it all together.

learning

I flounder, fall, fake, flip-out, and fail,
but in Jesus,
I am loved, redeemed, forgiven and
free.

Family is forever
and relationships
need to be nurtured

I may prefer tea over coffee
and it's okay.

Life is not a popularity game to be won
but a glorious collaboration where the body of Christ
lives out the commands He gives

learning

Little boy smiles are some of the
sweetest things

Letting go of things,
releasing them to Jesus
and asking for forgiveness
is something I'm working on

learning

I have some of the best friends
in the world

Sunny days and peach ginger floats
are some of my favorites

It doesn't have to be
big or expensive
to be beautiful

learning

I'm a storyteller.

life is a gift.
I'm not going to live like I'm stuffed on a shelf,
waiting to be opened,
then forgot about.
Instead, I want to live everyday,
intentionally, authentically and
vividly.

learning

I'm realizing more and more
how good God is.

and...

today is short.
I want to use every second;
I want to spend my life soaking every
drop of God's love up.
Lord, make me like a sponge.

—————————

learning

So grateful for all the comments yesterday
your sweet words
and how you showered Sammy,
and our whole family,
in prayer.

Grateful, sweet friends.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Your friendship makes one of my friday favorite things -- so thankful for you all.
Blessed to call you my blogging buddies.

Loads and loads like laundry of love.

Hannah

Thursday, May 26, 2011

please pray for sammy boy

sammy
My little brother Sammy is going in for a biopsy today. If you've been around since January, you'll know that the past few months have been a whirlwind of doctor visits, including several hospitalizations, leading up to his diagnosis of Celiac Disease.
sammy
Today, Samuel is going to the hospital to get a biopsy done of his intestinal tract to make sure that everything is okay, and that he's healed since the initial diagnosis. (if you'd like to read his story, please click here)
sammy
If you all could pray, my entire family and myself would be so grateful. My mom wrote about it on her blog, and some specific prayer requests are...
sammy
...calm heart for Samuel. He was nervous and scared yesterday at the doctor's office
...that Samuel can deal with having no food till almost 2pm.
...during the procedure {12noon -1pm}
...steady hand for the surgeon
...that Samuel does not develop croup afterwards
...for kind and caring staff
...that the biopsy sample sites are taken in the right spots {they'll be taken throughout the intestinal tract}
...complete healing
...strength for my mom - specifically when she goes back to the operating room while they put him asleep
...wisdom for the anesthesiologist
...that she can feel the Lord's presence throughout the day.
sammy
Thank you, sweet friends.

Loads of love,
Hannah