Am I an artist?...I'm going to have to say, YES. (and a giveaway!)

Was there ever really any doubt of my being an artist? From the earliest point on, I have loved creating, and have created. When I was younger, I was a big ham. By big, I mean huge. There's this super embarrassing video (yet uber cute) of me when I was little, singing "Down to the River to Pray" in an over-dramatic way, and trying not to laugh. It'll surface someday. Hey! I was about...six?

Art was is a way for me to express myself. I sang a lot. In fact, I still do. I belt out songs throughout the day and sing so loud and long that my dad once said to me, "Sweetie, sweetie, there are people sleeping in the next state." But do I stop? Nooo...Maybe I'm a little quieter, but not for long. I can't not sing. Just as I can't not write, or draw, or dance, or take pictures, or laugh. It's in my core. It's part of who I am.

And if you want proof of my artistic genius, check out these pics!



Oh, yeah, I was first class, baby. See that first prize ribbon on the bottom right side? Yup. I drew it. So humble, I am. And look at that NICOE. Mhm...something's not quite right there. Like my foreshortening on the car? Oh, I was goood. HA!



Yeah. That's me. With the eight billion colored bindies on my arms (I thought this was cool and wore them allll the time). Hair in my face--as usual. Proudly displaying my weapon of choice....Chalk.

Alright, alright...maybe I wasn't that great, but I was just barely six. Besides...I wanted an excuse to share these cute pics with you! My mom dug them out while looking for pictures for Chloe. Oh, I'm good. Right?

And who DOESN'T want to see pictures of bloggers when they're little? I mean, it's like ultimate adorableness/funniness...and can be, the most embarrasingest. (what? that's not a word?! Well, it should be!)

And who doesn't want a square car?! Or bindies on their arms, for that matter...

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And just so you know, there's a giveaway for my DELUXE blog design package on Barbie's blog...and you could win it! Head over here and enter!

Miscellany Monday! Carissa's Meme...join!

I'm joining Miscellany Monday, hosted by that good 'ol awesome Carissa. :-)

 1. I've seriously been considering selling my old ipod to garner more money for that Canon Rebel Xti that I'm saving for. Considering. I don't think it would bring in a good buck, considering it's one of the older kinds. (least its not super bulky...)

2. I have a terrible problem with charging my camera battery. It's a terrible problem. I always forget to take it out and charge it...and then it dies on me! They should make a camera that doesn't need charging. That or a stun-gun to get people like me charging their cameras...

3. Speaking of pictures...(which is pretty much all I've been speaking of)...look at these pictures I got of my mom! She already put them on her blog in a previous post, but I had to share them with you. Grill Woman...taming the flames! It was so windy that day and we decided to have hamburger's for lunch...look at her go!

4. Okay. I admit it. I browse canon.com, amazon and the like looking at cameras. Not because I can buy them...but because I want one. Not a good idea. And it's not likely I'll be getting the $900 one. Nope. Not on my budget.

5. And I had to end with this picture of me...not because it's a good one (more like blech) but I love the colors.

My Miscellany Monday was more like Five Random Camera-related Things! Ha! Maybe next week I'll be better...

Head over to Lowercase Letters and join! :-)

Happy Mother's Day!

To my dear sweet Momma.

I love your laugh. I love how you have such joy in life. And I love how you are silly with us—and not afraid to be so. Funkytown shall remain forever grateful for your part in it.

Momma, I love how you know exactly what to say in hard times. I love your hugs and words as you console me. I love how you embrace the hardships and turn them into something good.

I love that you love God. And I love how you love us, and Daddy. I love your smile and the games you play with us. I love your strawberry shortcake. 

I love that you buy lindt chocolates for me when I'm feeling down, and fiber one bars for after dance. I love that you play games with us--like blink and cheat on your neighbor. I love that silly part of you that doesn't want pictures taken of yourself...even though you are beautiful.

Happy Mother’s Day. Thanks for being my Mom. God has really blessed me with you...

...Momma, I love you.

My name is Hannah...and I'm okay with that

Funny title? Maybe. But it's something I've come to realize lately. Something that in my own life, I've begun to find out that it's okay.

There is so much pressure put on a person to be original. And then there is a magnitude of other factors thrown into the mix. You have to be smart, being beautiful is a good idea, you might want to be talented if you have the time, and creativity is in order. Coupled with all of this, originality seems to be far, few and in between.

I may admire someone's writing style--I may love another's photography genius. I may be entranced by someone's posting-patterns and love their way of words. The list goes on and on. And soon, I can try to do it the way they do. I can change how I post, how I write, how I photograph, draw, speak, etc., in order to be like that person. But even if I tried my hardest, even if I spent countless hours of time in changing myself to be that person, it wouldn't work. Because in the end, that person is them. And I’m me.

We may share similarities. We could have the same quirks. Maybe our styles are even alike. But if I try to become the person whom I admire, then I become false. Hollow. There is no way for me to find out who my God-give self is and embrace it if I'm trying to conform to another person's character.

The journey of self-discovery is one that every person will end up taking. Some in a roundabout way, others more straightforward, and then some in between. But our person--the real person that we have been formed to be--that person is found in God.

It's something that I've begun to find has been present in my life. My identity is only rooted when in Christ. And in Him, I can truly begin to find out who I am and who I was made to be.

There is a blessed freedom in knowing that God held me in His hands and tenderly and lovingly created me. There is a peace that comes with finally grasping that Jesus has a plan for me.

Psalm 139:13-14

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

I will praise my God because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

There is a point when we think we have it all figured out--when we imagine that we've truly found ourselves. But I've found that I've been hiding. I've been waiting for God to show me who I am, instead of actively searching and looking in Him to find it. 



I love this video because it really shows what I, in my fumbling words, am trying to say. God has created me with a path, and a purpose, and I was created with love. I was created as God's masterpiece. But I cannot be someone else. And I cannot hold onto something that will hinder me. It's a conscious decision of instead of trying to mold myself, to let God mold me.

I cannot see myself as God does. The only way to begin to glimpse my God-given self is by letting go of the things of this earth and start holding onto Jesus. In Him, I can find who I truly am and embrace that person.

I may not be the smartest, most talented, the prettiest, skinniest, most creative, wisest, or the funniest--but I'm me. I am a creation formed by the maker of the entire Universe. The God of all things, made and formed me.

And you know what. I'm okay with that. In fact, I actually like it.

Remember that clutch I gave away?? Want to win it AGAIN??

So you'll probably remember that gorgeous clutch I gave away for Planting Chums. You know...the one that I was oh, so very tempted to have myself win. Very tempted, let me tell you.

Yes...that beautiful clutch.

Well, the lovely Carissa from lowercase letters ended up winning it...and now she's giving away a clutch on her FABULOUS blog as well! Click HERE to enter. You know you want to. 

Besides all that, Carissa's blog is one of my favorite places to stop by. So you won't regret following at all. Trust me. You'll thank me for this someday. lowercase letters is completely and totally amazing. And Carissa herself is even more amazing--a Christ follower, Mama, incredible blogger, and a funny, gorgeous and creative gal!

So stop by and enter. I'd wish you good luck on winning, but I want this clutch soooo bad. Tough luck, my friends. ;-)

The FINAL Winners!

First of all...thank you to everyone who participated. It's been really fun to check out all of your answers. :-)

And now...the moment I'm sure all of you have been waiting for...

The winner of The Dahlia Necklace by Offbeet is...

ABIGAIL KRAFT

The winner of the Continents necklace by ThisMuchLove is...

ANNE

The winner of the cute Knit Hat by therosenhoffs is...

LEAH

The winner of any mini pillow by Joom is...

SARAH

The winner of any 8.5x11 print by thewheatfield is...

OLIVIA

The winner of the What's the Buzz notepads by Skeldesign is...

STORMY WEATHER

The winner of any 8x8 print by Lolasroom is...

BARBIE

The winner of the Colorido Beaded Hoop Earrings by Zeijlon is...

THE REDHEAD RITER

The winner of the pillows by tilly2shoes is...

JEN

The winner off the Keep Calm Carry On charm by Lilybaubles is...

DIONNE

As always, congrats to all of the winners! You can email me at aspireblog[at]hotmail[dot]com with your mailing info. :-)

I've got to admit...it's going to be a little weird not to write a Planting Chums post tonight. Can you believe we've had this going for pretty much a month?

Wanna see how weird I really am?? And NEW LIFE!

Okay. So I wanted to vlog a looooong time ago. But my video size was way too large. So I discarded that idea. But when my computer went in to be fixed, the webcam software was completely switched, and, lo and behold, I can upload. (I know. There was probably something I could do to make it smaller and all, but I know nothing about editing videos and all that.)

So here's my vlog...er...my vlog as well as my mom's, sister's and little bro Sam's. (make sure to watch the whole thing).

Alright. I admit it. I'm a dork. (and proud of it.)

HAHAHA! That would be me. :-)

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And just to let you know...spring isn't coming. It's here. I've seen it.

Isn't this new life just beautiful? I can honestly and easily say that I love spring.Vivid colors, vibrant life, and simple, ordinary beauty...all that's worth celebrating.

Have a lovely Tuesday, friends!

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Tomorrow is the last day to enter the Planting Chums giveaway! Click HERE to go there.