Devious Duo

Something Special

     I saw this idea on Pinterest, and have decided to take it up...
     At the beginning of the year, you take a jar and throughout the year, fill it with little pieces of paper with moments you have found special written on them. An idea I'd suggest to go with this is carry a little notebook with you so you can scribble them down while they're fresh in your mind, no matter where you are. And at the end of the year, you open it up and go through everything inside; it's a good way to not only let you're mind relive some of those moments, but to remind you of God's little gifts to us, things we tend to forget.
     It's a jar full of captured moments from 2013, and I'm going to give it a try.

- hannah

(I also took a magazine clipping and used it on the outside of the jar; it adds a nice effect. :)

Beauty in the Day

Have you ever stopped to look for the beauty that surrounded you in one little day? Sometimes it's kind of hard to find... you have to look hard for it - but it's there. The small things that we discover are reminders from God that He loves us, and He gives us these small, often overlooked gifts to tell us that.
Find something beautiful today and take a picture of it; keep it to remind you of the wonderful things He puts around us.

- hannah

2013

Unlock this door, step carefully inside.
Look around, take it all in.
Breathe deeply this new air; it may not seem important, but another chapter in your life is about to begin.
Its all new - you're not sure what to think.
Everything that happened last year - what lies behind these doors?
New things are bound to happen, new steps will be taken.
Slip your hand in mine. I promise, I won't let go.
You mean the world to me, so much that you'll probably never know.
I love you, I miss you, and I'll stay by your side.
So let's walk in together, let's be be bold and not try to hide.
We'll bravely stride forward, yes, we'll even have ups and downs -
but with you by my side, there will be more laughs than frowns.
So, take my hand. Don't let it go. I love you, yes, you - always, you should know.

Tonight ~

I Say Goodbye -(2012)-

The end of the year is at hand... I can hardly believe it all.
2012 has been an amazing year; I've felt like I've experienced more, grown a little more. It seems like the beginning of the year was only yesterday... and now it's coming to a close.
I will admit that my relationship with Christ wasn't great in 2012... I hit a hard spot in my life and it drug me down. But for the past month and a half, things have gotten far better. Life suddenly seems a little bit brighter and hopeful.
Journeying through the year has been an interesting ride; so many special things taking place and changing.
I've sadly overlooked the little things this year, and I intend to remedy that in 2013.
As this year comes to a close, I hope we can all look back and reflect on everything that's taken place. All of the good things and the bad things. I'm looking forward to a new year - a new adventure.
Look to Christ no matter what darkness surrounds you, and as a friend showed me yesterday... "Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us." (Psalm 62:8)
Great things begin happening when we keep our trust in Him.
Please continue praying for me this year as I work hard to take steps forward - I'll need everything you can give. And I'll keep praying for you, that you would all be strong and never lose hope in our Lord.
Thank you so much for being readers of my blog, and thanks to my family for teaching me the things I need to know. Thanks to all of my friends who have encouraged me, tried me, and often times shoved me when I needed it. :)
You're all gems in the treasure-store of my heart, and I wouldn't give anything to replace you.
I love you all.

2012, we say goodbye. 2013... here we go, one more time.

Let's move forward with confident steps and a trusting heart.

FIGHTING!
- hannah

Merry Christmas!

    Merry Christmas to everyone! We had a wonderful time at church today, talking, laughing and dancing. We exchanged gifts and enjoyed each other's company very, very much.
     Again, we took a picture of 'The Gang', like we do every year, and once again, we've done some growing - both on the outside and inside.
     I love all of you so much; you have no idea. Let's stay the crazy friends we are for a very long time to come, and I look forward to sharing another Christmas with you next year, and making many memories in between.

Fighting!
- hannah

This is just a strange picture...

Last Year's Photo:

Christmas Eve

     I can't believe it's already here! Instead of snow, we have rain, but that's okay - anything but a bright and sunny day sits well with me. :)
     Christmas crept up on me this year; It's almost as if I weren't expecting it, and all of a sudden it's standing in front of me. I'm actually excited about it, really. Tonight we're going to open presents, and tomorrow morning, we're going to church to spend an amazing day with friends. I can't *wait* for it! I'm looking forward to the rest of today and all of tomorrow so much I'm giddy!
     When I woke up this morning, I wasn't convinced that today would be a good one - but I've been proven wrong and it's turned out far better than I thought it was.
     Last night, after everyone had gone to bed and I'd gone in my room and closed the door, I sat in my bed surrounded by warm Christmas lights and wrote a very, very long prayer in my journal about, well... everything, mostly. Some of my prayers had to do with today and how things would go, and guess what? They're being answered.
     I'm sure all of you have heard the 'Christmas-turned-commerce' talk, so I won't give it to you again, but I will say this: REMEMBER. CHRIST.
     He's merciful to us far more than we can ever imagine, and what do we do most of the time? Ignore Him.
     Don't ignore Him. I've done that way too much recently, but He's always so faithful to show me His mercy again.
     Thanks to all of you for reading my blog! I love you all so much. Have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

    FIGHTING!
     - Hannah

Nights Like These...

It's nights like these that put warm memories in my heart; that create something I'll never forget and play through my mind over again after the day is over.
When Christmas lights are glowing softly and rain is pattering against the glass; when friends laugh and the guitar music keeps playing, the sound of voices continuing on and a pot of hot chocolate keeps warm on the stove...
It's nights like these that make me smile and stay forever in my heart.

Round and Round

My mind can't wrap itself around the fact that it's nearly Christmas. I can hardly believe it. AND the end of another year...

Though snow hasn't yet fallen, it's foggy and rainy, and I can see my breath cloud into the air as I let it out, trying to sort my jumbled thoughts and put together puzzles as I walk down the driveway from the barn.
We got our Christmas tree set up, and it's glowing with lights and shiny ornaments.
Sad enough, I don't have time right now to write out something long, but here's some pictures of life recently...
I'm so full of it all right now. It's overwhelming me; making me laugh and cry all at the same time. Everything's so close to my heart right now, and I can't quite describe the sensation... just, don't stop this feeling.

And no, my little brother isn't angry... the light was in his eyes. =D (and my cap was in mine. :P)