Love ~

One Note at a Time

Adding one note at a time to my 'Jar of Good Things', and it's filling up quickly. Funny how many memories you can make out of the small details in just 30 days.

I Need...

To just breathe and relax and drink a hot cup of tea and chill out for a little while and get my thoughts and nerves back in place.
Whew ~

Yeah, that's what I need to do.

Snow, Snow, Everywhere

So... this is what I woke up to this morning.
Snow.
Piles and piles of snow.
Ten whole inches of snow.

It's very pretty, but is melting fast. I just came inside maybe 30 minutes ago from sledding all morning, and am now happily settled here in my favorite hoodie, neon-green Skittles socks, and a wonderful mug of steaming hot chocolate in front of me. (It's delicious - thanks, mom!)
As much as I'm enjoying this feeling, I can't help but be a little disappointed, because tonight we were supposed to go to our church in Wytheville and spend time with friends, and then bring three of the guys home to have a sleep over for Nathan's Birthday (which is today, by way of announcement.) EVERY. SINGLE. YEAR. this happens. My brother was BORN on a dark and stormy night, and from hence forth, t'was cursed, because there's always a snow storm and his birthday has to be delayed. (I honestly don't know why we plan stuff then...)

ANYWAY - yes, the snow is beautiful. No, I'm not too thrilled that we had to cancel everything. However, the plans will carry on next Friday, so I shall enjoy the snow while I can. :)

Here's some pictures from our escapade this morning...

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