Work, Weddings, and Home

These last two weeks have been absolutely crazy. Last weekend Erin came in town, which was awesome! We had a blast! Once she left on Sunday I started studying for my final that was on Wednesday (got a B in the class. So excited about that!). I've been working a LOT these last few weeks, which has been really stressful for me with school, and just trying to find time for friends and church. I had to ask off work last minute for today because well...my brother and his fiance got married.
Ellen, my brother's fiance, had been repainting, my brother, Parker's room this week when on Wednesday she gets a call from him saying "I get to come home Friday night. Lets get married on Saturday!" (for those of you who dont know, my brother is in the Marines and has been in San Diego and Virginia the last few months for training) So we got to throw a wedding together in two days. The wedding was this morning, it was beautiful even without much planning. Very small and intimate, but all the close friends and family showed up which was awesome!
Although today was AMAZING, this afternoon/evening have been really tough on me. Part of it is being tired, another part of it is just everything else thats going on in my head. Right now I'm sitting here thinking of what to write, with my eyelids trying to close on me, but me fighting them open, along with fighting back tears. It's really tough to do if I do say so myself. I'm sitting here in my room, thinking about what it really means to have a home. This summer while I was in Colorado I really learned that a home really isnt a house, where you and your family live. It's a community; many hearts coming together as one. Its a place where it doesnt matter your background, or where you're at now, it's just a place with love and compassion that you can go to no matter what. I worked in a homeless shelter in Colorado. I feel like the men and women I served in that shelter have more of a home than I do. I honestly dont feel like this is my home anymore. Maybe it's because my family has changed so much this last year, and that's made it tough on me. But honestly, the closest thing to a home I've had these last two years, was when I was in San Diego. I never feel more at home than when I'm in that city.
It's been really stressful this last year with parents deciding to get a divorce, them putting the house on the market, them deciding to give it one more shot, taking the house off the market, them trying to work things out and just making the whole thing terribly awkward, James and Juliette and the kids moving to Tulsa, my youngest (but still older than me) brother joining the Marines which will be moving him all over the place, and now him getting married, and the two of them going to be moving wherever he gets stationed. My family is slowly being torn apart. Part of me feels like my parents really arent trying to figure things out and they're just trying to stick together until I move out. It doesnt feel like a home. It feels like an apartment complex where we just pass by each other every day and say hey how are you, and thats it. It's not us connecting, or us being one heart like a family should be.
I'm trying to stay strong and stay in The Word but it's been really hard for me lately. I haven't been able to figure out what I want to read, so I just get frustrated and end up not reading. I want to read and grow, but I have no one here challenging me to do so or helping me figure out what to read. I really wish I could find someone to read the same thing every week with. It's tough when you're friends you actually talk about spiritual stuff live states away so its hard for you to find time to do that with them.
So all in all it's been a tough night. But i've been able to end it with a glass of Champagne with my brother, new sister, and mom and dad, so it ended up being a good end to a night after all...still wish I felt like I was at home though. I miss being home. I feel so homesick. Be praying for me, that this feeling passes, and that I learn to just lean on God in these times when I'm struggling with being homesick, and not knowing where to go next.

In Christ,
Hannah

God is so good!

It's been a busy past couple of weeks. I have a job now which keeps me VERY busy along with school. I havent been able to go to church on Sunday's the last three weeks, and we will not be having it this week. Its been tough not being able to see and talk with my Lot Family, and I miss them dearly. It has made for a tough past couple of weeks. Yesterday especially. Yesterday was thanksgiving as all of you know. Every year for thanksgiving my family goes out of town to my grandparents house where we eat and enjoy the company of the whole family. I had to work so I couldnt go. I ended up going to my friend Laura's once I got off because my family wasnt home yet and I didnt want to spend thanksgiving by myself. It was just a crappy day all around.
This last Tuesday I got a call from Erin my best friend on the whole planet, check out her blog at http://erinmcgreevey.blogspot.com/ she's awesome! So anyways, we had been talking about her visiting me for a while, and trying to figure out a way for her to come. She calls me on Tuesday morning and says "guess what?? My dad said I can come, and he's going to pay for my flight as my Christmas present!" So now she is coming in town on the 8th, and I am SO excited for that! So later on Tuesday I go into work to ask off for the dates that she will be in. Come to find out that the schedule through the 10th had already been posted, and I worked the 10th from 12-9. A 9 hour shift when my best friend is coming in town from south carolina....yeah that sucks. I looked to see who wasnt working, that day, the only other person off was Dan, and he has asked off which meant...cant ask him. Which means....I had to work it. needless to say...I wasnt a happy camper.
So onto today, I woke up this morning just in a bad mood, I was really groggy and just wanted to sleep, but I had to go meet my friend Justin for lunch. You see, Justin goes to my church, but he's a truck driver so he's on the road a lot of the time. I hadnt seen him in a couple of months, so I really wanted to go get lunch with him. So I got out of bed, got ready, and went to lunch. Which ended up being a great time to just chat and catch up, found out that him and his accountability partner are in the process of memorizing psalms, which I find amazing! Anyone that can memorize psalms is awesome in my book lol. After lunch I went to work and just wanted to go home and sleep. Found my brother's fiance (who works there as well) and started working with her on putting stuff on shelves. My manager walks up to me later and says "the 8th-12th you asked off, if you cant find anyone to work for you on the 10th then you dont have to come it, we'll be fine without you." I honestly said "seriously?? I can have off that day???? You just freaking made my day!" I was so excited that I was able to get off that day! God is so good! So I was in a really good mood the rest of my shift hanging out and working with Ellen (my brother's fiance), laughing, and talking about the wedding. We got done with everything that needed to go on the shelves, and we went and talked to one of the managers to see if there was anything else that needed to be done and he said "all you have to do is face the back of the store and you're free to go" (btw, "face" means to bring everything on the shelves to the front of the shelf, and this was about 2 hours before I was supposed to get off) so Ellen and I were pretty excited about that, got done with the facing, and clocked out. God knew I was really tired today and just wanted to rest, he also knew that I needed off that one day so I could be with Erin. God has been taking such good care of me these last few weeks, and I just want to say, God is so good! I dont thank God enough for everything he gives me. I dont thank him enough for this job that I have. I dont thank him enough for the time I get with my friends and family. I take it forgranted a lot. I never realized how hard it would be missing thanksgiving with my family, but it was really hard! I just wanted to leave work and go to my grandparents and just hang out with everyone. Dont take your time with your family for granted you never realize how much it means to you until it's gone.

Yesterday, Ross, the guy I worked with this summer in Colorado tagged me in this post on facebook. It was really cool, and really blessed and encouraged me and I want to share it with you all. Ross is an awesome guy who really wants to serve God to the best of his ability. I am constantly encouraged by him, and I am so blessed to have worked with him this summer, and to be able to call him my brother in Christ. Here's what he said:

Later yesterday evening I was just in one of my thinking moods. I'd had a rough couple of days and was seriously wondering about several things.

Did my "friends" really care about me; Am I being thankful enough; How can God accept someone who keeps going back to trash?

Eventually in the span of a few hours, I began believing these lies. It's silly how so easily we forget what we've been given.
I do have friends that care for me. I am an extremely blessed man and I don't even realize it. God does forgive me after I yak up all the garbage that I've indulged myself in.

Until later, I gave in and got on here and looked through my messages and found a friend sending an encouraging verse from Philippians. Philippians 4:7, to be exact. So, I turn to it.

Well, so I thought I did. I started reading a section that spoke about clothing ourselves with Christ. That we should be humble and gracious to those around us. We should kill our flesh of the world.

KILL?

But I like myself too much...
I like being comfortable...
I don't like causing a stir...

How many of us actually would say that they do? Not many. But what I read yesterday made so much sense to me. If I "clothe myself with Christ," then none of my fears would matter. What I think and what other people around me think about me doesn't matter.

What matters is what they see. Do they see Christ on the outside of me?

What's interesting here is that I wasn't actually in Philippians at all. I was in Colossians 4. Obviously God wanted me to read this to remind me of what it is I actually profess myself to be.

Now what's even more interesting is this: The passage in Philippians also came from chapter 4. Only this seemed to be a follow up, an encouragement of sorts.

Philippians 4:7 (NLT) - "Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

Kinda funny, huh?

Sometimes it amazes me just how amazing God really is...



There ya go. Have a good weekend everyone. Remember God is good, and he will always take care of you whenever you need!
In Christ,
Hannah

It's been a long/interesting/tough/rewarding past couple weeks. Let me explain why.
Two weeks ago my best friend's cousin Jon died in a skydiving accident in Illinois. When it comes to cousins in their family, it's more like brothers and sisters. I knew Jon too, he was a great guy, loved God and wanted to serve God to the best of his ability. I went to the funeral. His family is like my family. It was the toughest funeral I have ever been to. I hated seeing everyone I know and love cry so hard. I had never had my best friend cry on my shoulder so hard. I was able to hold it together at the funeral until I saw and heard Jon's brother Jonah crying. It hurt me to see them hurt that way. That was one of the longest weeks of my life. That's the tough part, the rewarding part is knowing that Jon was a christian, and that he made a huge impact on so many peoples lives while he was here on earth.

Satan has been attacking me and so many people around me that I love. My best friend's family with the death of Jon, and they're afraid that her dad is going to lose her job. My other best friend Erin, one of her friends from highschool died in his sleep last week, and her mom almost died in a car accident, and so many other stuff is going on with her. Also my mom has two friends from highschool and both of them had a kid die the same week as Jon. It's so hard hearing about all of this thats going on. If you havent read Erin's blog, go do so. She's such and encouragement to me, and I'm sure she would be to you too. http://erinmcgreevey.blogspot.com/ I had the pleasure of skyping with Erin today. She lives in South Carolina so it's one of our only ways to communicate. I love talking to this girl, hearing how God is working in her life, and how she's constantly growing is amazing to hear! She's such a wonderful, beautiful, christ-like woman. I love her to death. I cannot wait to be reunited with her.

God's been teaching me a lot this week too. I have my covenant now that I can sign and become a member at the church I've been going to. There's so much on here that will definitely help me grow, but at this point in time I dont know if I'm at the point where I can sign this and follow it. I'm trying to get my heart right before I sign this paper, a covenant is different than a contract. Contracts can be broke, covenants cannot. At least in my opinion, which is why I want to get my heart right before I sign it. Which God has been definitely doing. I'm still failing time and time again, but its getting better in time.
I've been praying for months for God to reveal to me where he wanted me to work. I thought it was brunswick zone but as it turns out, the job I would want there I have to be 18 for. I dont turn 18 until January. I need money now lol. So I was just praying that God would reveal to me where to work. Well I got a phone call yesterday from my soon-to-be-sister-in-law saying that her work was looking for more people (Walgreens, not the best job in the world, but something that would do) I said I'd apply and try it out. Well I had my interview today, and I got the job! I'm even getting payed 25 cents more than normal! Once I turn 18 and I can trained in the photo department then I'll get another raise! God is so good! Now it's time to start working, and pay my bills, and start saving for a car and school!

Everything happens in God's timing. Not my own. I've been praying that God would reveal to me where he wants me to go. I still have no idea where that is. I'm going to be applying to many colleges, and I'm just going to say whichever one I get accepted to and I can afford, I'll go there lol. My dream school right now is Moody Bible Institute. They have free tuition for mission majors, so all I'd have to pay is room and board and student fees, which would be GREAT! My second choice at this very moment is North Greenvile University in South Carolina. It's expensive, but I think I could do it as long as I get enough scholarships. My third choice is Oklahoma Baptist University. It's VERY expensive, but it's a lot closer to these cutie pies:

It's so hard being so far away from them. But I know their mommy and daddy are doing what God has called them to do, and I applaud them for that :) I get to see these kiddos this weekend, and I cannot wait! I'm just scared I'm going to end up having to work.

I've stopped playing guitar for the most part, and I'm starting to get really bummed out about it. I really do miss playing, it's just I have no where to play, and I have to much to do to just sit and play. Yesterday and today I did just sit and play for a little while, but not very much. Since I'm not taking lessons I'm not constantly practicing.
Anyways, yeah, that's whats up. lol. Be praying for my relationship with my dad, this job, and please keep Mike Peppers in your prayers. I believe I've mentioned him on here before, but if I havent then go read my Colorado blog and I know he's mentioned in there. http://hannahcoloradotrip.blogspot.com/

In Christ,
Hannah

Tough day

Today has been a really tough day for me. This morning I got in a really bad argument with my dad. He even threatened to kick me out of the house. The argument started when I asked my dad how I was getting to class because I had no gas in the van, from going to class and church. All the gas I have been using is from money my friends give me for just that when we hang out and I drive, and I hadnt given any friends rides all weekend so I had no gas. He took that as me assuming he was going to give me gas money, when in reality I was just asking him how I was getting to class whether he could take me, or if I had to find a ride or what. Yes I agree that I could have worded it better, but thats not what I was meaning at all. So I was in a bad mood all day, only good parts of my day was getting a 40/40 on my Soc. paper about Christianity as a sub culture, talking to my friend Erin who lives in South Carolina, she always makes my days better :), and lastly church.
Church really helped me tonight. I knew it was going to. Today I spent probably 97% of it in tears. I was so upset about everything that went on with my dad, that every time I thought of it I ended up in tears or tearing up.  Tonight at church, I almost ended up in tears again. At the end of the sermon Marc said that in times of struggle we shouldnt go to the substance, the person, because they will let us down, but instead we need to run to Christ because he will never let us down. He told us to continue this once we got home. He told us to go into our rooms and just run to God, whatever that looked like to us. So I got home,  came in my room and just put my face to the ground and started praying and crying to God. I rededicated my life to God tonight. I havent been running to Him for the things I've needed, I've ran to other people instead. Tonight my life is changed. It's still hard of course. Thats just life, but now instead of running to people and substance, I'm going to run to God.
In my last blog I showed you that song, that song is also a psalm. Psalm 51. In February I am planning on getting a tattoo. It was going to be music notes on my side. Now I'm thinking of something out of Psalm 51 that is also in that song. I'm going to edit some pictures with different fonts and stuff of it, and I'll post pictures on here and I want you to tell me which verse and font you like the best.
God is so good, he takes care of you when you need to be taken care of. Dont be running towards those lower case god's but be running to the one and only upper case God.

~Hannah

My prayer tonight

My prayer tonight is this. It's a part of a Psalm that Jon Foreman (from Switchfoot) has taken and put into a song.

Have mercy on me, oh God
According to Your unfailing love
According to Your great compassion
Blot out my transgressions

Create in me a clean heart, oh God
Restore in me the joy of Your salvation

The sacrifices of our God are a broken and a contrite heart
Against You and You alone have I sinned

Would You create in me a clean heart, oh God
Restore in me the joy of my salvation

Wash me white as snow
And I will be made whole
Wash me white as snow
And I will be made whole


 I fell on my face this evening, and this is what I prayed, and am still praying, and will continue to pray. Its asking God to restore me. I want God to restore me.
"God I want you to create in me a clean heart. I want you to make my heart pure, for you to wash me white as snow. So I can be whole again. Would you please blot out my transgressions, everything I've done against you. Please, God, restore in me the joy of my salvation I once had so long ago. God, I'm so tired of filling my life with things other than you. I'm tired of having this bitterness. God, I need you to take all of this away. I need you to restore in me how I once was. God, I want you to be my satisfaction. Not all these worldly things, that will pass away, but you! You will never pass away. Please God I need your hand in mine. I need you to guide me every day I live. Help me to live, love and share you. To live for you, do everything in my power to honor you, and learn more about you. To love you. God I have all these god's in my life, that is not the true God. Help me not to love these god's, but to love THE God. To Share you God. I want to help further your kingdom. Use me in whatever way you choose. I'm willing to go. Wash me white as snow God, so I can be made whole. Would you please oh God create in me a clean heart, and restore in me the joy of YOUR salvation, that you GIVE to me. I didnt do anything to earn your love and salvation, but you gave it to me anyway. Thank you Father"

Anxiety, Struggles, and Quizes

This has just kinda become my journal lately. A lot of the posts I havent been posting tho, just saving for myself so I can go back and read them later.
I had a bit of a breakdown this evening. I hadn't had one in a long time, and I just got so frustrated that I couldn't hold it in any longer. I hate having breakdowns because I cant control it when it happens. I got so stressed about school, and this quiz I took and didn't do very well on, then there's so many things in my life right now that I'm trying to change, I just got way to overwhelmed and couldn't hold it in any longer. I stopped what I was doing (which was reading my Sociology book that I had to read for tomorrows class), and just prayed saying, "God, I can't do this anymore without you. I'm giving it over to you, God. I'm trying to change these things in my life so I can be closer to you, but it's times like these it's so hard for me. I need you to guide me, and to help me. I need you to give me the strength, knowledge, patience, and the attention span to do this. Please Father just help me be the best I can be. Help me not to be lazy in this time where I'm trying to learn more. God, I know I haven't been a very good student in the past, and have just weaseled my way through highschool, but, God, now I'm trying to be serious about school, and want to learn. Please just give me the strength to continue through it."
God has recently shown me some places in my life I've been at fault. Which I'm going to be honest on here about what all those things are, which is very hard for me considering I have never publicly said what these struggles are that I'm trying to change.
Firstly, and the biggest one for me is lust, I've been struggling with lust for over a year now, which you have no idea how hard that is for me to admit, but every day is getting better, and I know that for my future husband it is something I need to work on.
Secondly, I've been struggling with my language. I've had a problem with cussing for  along time. If I said that to even my best friend they'd be like "really?" because I don't cuss around other people very often. When I'm by myself is when it's the worst, which is just as bad as when I'm with people.
Third, I've been really bitter against some people in my life. Including a church that was a huge part of getting me in my spiritual walk where I am today, and I really hate to say it, but I've been really bitter towards my dad. We'll have conversations, and it just makes me mad when he says some of the stuff he says. Which makes me disrespect him too.
And lastly, I've been struggling with laziness. I've needed to go out and get a job for a while now, but just have NOT wanted to do the work to get it. I also have not wanted to do my school work and wait until last minute to do it. I dont study hard enough, or even care if I get what I'm learning. I just want to get it over with.

It's really hard for me to admit all of that on such a public place that my family could read. But it's something I feel I really need to put out there. Yes I know it's really no ones business but my own, but if I dont put it out there, I dont know how I'll be able to overcome it. Because now, I can come here and talk about how I'm doing with it, what God is teaching me through it, and who I'm meeting that is struggling with the same things I am. Over the last few years I've struggled with depression, falling in and out of it. Lately I've fallen back in, and I'm really hoping that these next few months of me working on my relationship with Christ, I can turn my focus back on him, and serving him with everything I have, and that will help. I think that might be why I've struggled with anxiety lately too. Because I haven't given everything to Christ. I've been holding onto certain things, things I shouldn't hold onto. Please be praying for me as I try to overcome these struggles. It's very hard for me at times.

In Christ,
Hannah

Update on lizz, she's on a bus back to pennsylvania to be with her mom and get away from those two guys! God is so good!

Colorado bound!

So this will probably be my last blog on here for two months. I leave Monday for Colorado to be a Sojourner Missionary. I started a new blog though so I will be posting on that. The link is HannahColoradoTrip.Blogspot.com So check that out regularly to see if I update. I will try to get an update out once a week, I did that last summer, and it seemed to work pretty well. I'll also give you the link to my facebook group where I will be posting photos, maybe some videos, and a few other things. That link is http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/group.php?gid=106962962682565

So request to be in the group, and I'll most likely accept. I just wanna make sure you're not a creepy stalker ;) hahaha. Anyways, I'm really looking forward to seeing what God teaches me this summer in beautiful Colorado. He's taught me so much these last few months. The latest thing he's taught me is that he does everything in His timing, not mine. I had been praying for 9 months for God to heal my family, and the prayer didnt get answered until now. It's all in His timing, not ours. I hope everyone has a great summer, and keep checking my other blog for updates :)

In Christ,
Hannah

A lot has been going on lately, and it has shown me how good God really is. Life has been really stressful these last few months for multiple reasons. Parents divorce, selling the house, and trying to figure out if I was going to do anything this summer. God has been so good at answering my prayers that I have been praying for months now.
My parents have decided to try counseling one last time before they completely give up. The stressful part of that was that we had a contract on the house by the time they decided to do that. We needed something to happen for the contract not to go through, but couldnt afford buying out the contract, and had no idea what we were going to do. After the inspection they had asked us to fix some stuff, and my parents declined that, and they had 10 days to reply if they wanted it or not. 10 days was yesterday and they never got back as far as we know. If they can prove that they sent or tried to send in their thing saying they wanted it, then the contract is still valid, BUT if they cant prove it then we can bail out of the contract with no problems.
All of this takes a great deal of stress off of my shoulders for the time being. As long as everything happens to where the contract is no longer legal, I am going to be so relieved!
I leave in 18 days for Colorado as a Sojourner missionary for two months!!! I am so excited to see what God teaches me this summer! Last night while i was laying in bed, I was thinking "maybe I shouldnt go this summer. There's so much happening with moving, james and juliette having their baby, maybe I shouldnt go." God answered that today, saying hey! Here's one thing you wont have to worry about! I can go see my niece after I get home, so that wont be anything to worry about.
These next few weeks I was going to be so stressed out because of everything. Packing up everything in my room, getting ready for Spring Formal in 9 days, then Graduation in 16 days, graduation party in 17 days, and leaving for Colorado in 18 days...was not going to be a fun time. But God gave me peace with it last night at church, and today I understand why.

There's now only one more thing for me to write about right now, and it's to ask you for prayer for a good friend of mine. He has so much going on right now in his life that is just really taking a toll on him. I was talking to him two days ago on the phone, and I could hear the pain in his voice, and on multiple occasions it almost brought me to tears. He is in so much physical pain right now from a surgery, and from another accident that happened a few days ago. He cant get any medicine that he needs until Friday because of some misunderstanding with his doctor. His family and church family have turned completely against him because of his past. They say he's not worthy enough to be in church, but in God's eyes anyone and everyone is welcome in the church, no matter what walk of life they're in. You cant judge someone because of their past. That's not right. it's in the past, leave it there. Please be praying for him. He told me on Tuesday that he feels like he suffered less doing bad, than he does doing good. He told me he's so sick of suffering like this, he's just ready for his prayers to be answered. He's been suffering for two years now with his family and church family. The physical pain has just started here in the last month. Be praying for physical healing for him, and healing in his family and church family. I've been praying constantly for him this last week, and every time I do, it brings me to tears thinking abut everything he's having to deal with. Keep him in his prayers, and continue to keep me in your prayers as I try to comfort him through this, pray that God gives me the words to say to him in these times of suffering.

In Christ,
Hannah

Today was the first time since the week my parents told us about the divorce that i cried about it. i hate not knowing why and my dad saying its none of our business when it is. my dad said that yesterday and it really upset me. He said if i asked him and if i asked my mom why it would be two different answers but i'd rather hear both sides than not know anything of why. its been a tough last few days, and i'm ready for this all to be over with. I hope this texting thing works.

I was talking to a friend last night, and I got reminded of something from when I was around 8 years old, that I really wanted to share with you guys that is totally a God thing.
When I was 8 we had a bunch of missionaries come to my church telling us about their missions, and all of that good stuff. I accepted Christ when I was 7, and I thought it was so cool that I was meeting people that went out and shared the Gospel with people all around the world. That week or weekend or however long it was that they were there, I talked to one couple, I dont have any idea who they are anymore, but I do remember one thing. I remember telling them "I want to be a missionary. I think thats what God wants me to do" and I forgot about that before last night. I was telling my friend about how I felt like what God wants me to do is missions, and that is why I am going on these summer trips. And he told me "but then you dont get to see any of your friends that live out of town" and I was just like "thats very true, but this is what I am going to be doing the rest of my life, and I want to get better at it every chance I get." and then I went on and told him about that story of when i was 8. He was like "wow thats awesome. I'm glad that you're following God's will. I'm just sad I wont get to see you this summer."
It is SO tough leaving for a whole summer, and not being able to visit my out of town friends, that I normally dont get to visit because of us being in school. But I also know that God has a plan for everything, and that I shouldnt go against his will.
One of the places I applied for this summer is Silverthorne Colorado it's about an hour and a half west of Denver, and I just recently found out, that one of my really good friends from last summer who was on my team, applied for the same place. I'm so excited to see if we get put together. If we do, I'm going to be wowed by God, and am going to be so happy! Also, my really good friend/mentor/brother (not really brother, but I consider him family), Jeff, is going to be spending his summer in Colorado. SO I might get to see him when I otherwise wouldnt. I'm so excited to see where God takes me this summer, and where he takes me in life! I'm hoping one day to go back to San Diego, and anywhere else in the US that I feel needs help. I have such a huge love for San Diego and the people there because they do need Christ so badly! It's a beautiful city with beaches, mountians, city, and the desert. I was so blessed to be there for two months last summer, and cannot wait to get back!

Thats what God has been revealing to me lately, I have a lot more to say, but I have to get going. We have a showing at 5:30 and I need to clean my room.

With much love, and in christ,
Hannah

1st Peter chapters 1 and 2

Last night at Matthias Lot we finished 1st Peter chapter 2. I'm not going to go into detail about everything I've learned so far or anything, all I'm going to do is post the first two chapters for you to read. It's really amazing everything Peter writes. If you havent done a study on 1st Peter you should. Or you can go onto iTunes and listen to Marc at Matthias' Lot preach about it. There is so much wisdom in this book that we should all study. Later when I have more time I am going to go back and look at all my notes from this study so far and try to write something on here about it, but for now here's 1st Peter 1, 2

1 Peter 1

Greeting

 ¹Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,  
   To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, ²according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:
  
   May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Born Again to a Living Hope

 ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, ⁵who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ⁹obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. ¹⁰Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, ¹¹inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. ¹² It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Called to Be Holy

 ¹³Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹⁴As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, ¹⁵but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." ¹⁷And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, ¹⁸knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, ¹⁹but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. ²⁰He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you ²¹ who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. ²²Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, ²³ since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; ²⁴for

    "All flesh is like grass
   and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
   and the flower falls,
²⁵ but the word of the Lord remains forever."
  
   And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

1 Peter 2

A Living Stone and a Holy People

 ¹ So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. ² Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— ³if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. ⁴As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, ⁵ you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶For it stands in Scripture:

    "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
   a cornerstone chosen and precious,
 and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
 ⁷So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

   "The stone that the builders rejected
   has become the cornerstone,"
 ⁸and

    "A stone of stumbling,
   and a rock of offense."
  
   They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
 ⁹But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. ¹⁰ Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
 ¹¹Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. ¹² Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Submission to Authority

 ¹³ Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, ¹⁴or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. ¹⁵For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. ¹⁶ Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. ¹⁷ Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor. ¹⁸ Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. ¹⁹For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. ²⁰For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. ²¹For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. ²² He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. ²³ When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴ He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.










In Christ,
Hannah

It's been a while since I last posted to something. Life has been CRAZY!!
We got the house on the market now and have had a lot of people looking which makes for life to be crazy. I've been really busy with school, choir, work, and babysitting, there's not much time to rest other than at night when I'm about to completely crash.

God's been doing a lot in my life lately. He's been teaching me to love everyone, to trust him, to dig into his word everyday, to submit to authority and government even if I dont agree with it, as long as it lines up with the bible that is, and to witness/be a witness to everyone I meet. This week has been especially crazy, I feel like I make excuses about not being able to spend time with God because of being busy. When in reality, there is no excuse. I can take 15 minutes out of my day to talk to God and to dig into his word. Everyone has 15 minutes. Whether you'd like to admit it or not. If you dont, then make 15 minutes. Whether it's waking up early, or staying up late, do it! It'll make your days so much better. Which is what I've learned.
This week I've been going nonstop it seems like. I'm either doing school work, dealing with a problem, straightening up my room, doing stuff for choir, hanging out with friends, going to church, or out of the house to kill time while someone comes to look at the house; I've been doing a lot. But to say I wouldnt have time for 15 minutes with God is just ridiculous (ridiculous is a word I've been saying a lot lately...start counting how many times I use it in this one blog).

God's really been laying on my heart lately to start to really dig into His word, and to really get serious about Him. It's time I start to get ready for what he wants me to do in life, which is be a missionary. Something God revealed to me a few weeks ago is that He wants me to go to churches, and help better equip them to reach out to their communities. Which this church I've been visiting, they are doing SO much of it! We Love St Charles (http://www.welovestcharles.com/) is an organization this church has started. WOW! They just love on this community and do everything they can to reach out to people in the community. That's what we as Christians need to be doing! We need to go out into the community and help anyone we come across with anything, whether it's prayer, buying a family coats, or bringing someone a meal. We need to do that, we need to build relationships with out communities.
Another thing we need to do is we need to have events OUTSIDE of the church building, you cant bribe people to come into the building, yes you might get them to come into the building for whatever event you are having, whether it's a Halloween type event, or a car show, or anything else. Yes you might get them to come to the event, but the probability of them coming back is very slim. Especially if no one takes the initiative to talk to them which will most likely happen to a lot of the people. What we need to do instead is we need to go out into the community like WLSC is doing. We need to build relationships with people, we need to show them that us christians arent all that bad after all, we need to show them that we love them and care for them and WANT that relationship with them. We need that before they will come into the building and stay in the building.

I'm so excited to see where God takes me with all of this!! I want to see what he'll be having me doing once I'm graduated from college! Man, God is SO good! He closes some doors, and opens others. Thank you Lord!!

My best friend in the entire world Erin was hoping to come visit me for part of her spring break. It would cost her one plane ticket here, and her sister was going to pay for her ticket from here, to Oklahoma, back to South Carolina. But it didnt work out. I was so bummed out because I love this girl to death! Sidenote: check out her blog she's amazing! http://erinmcgreevey.blogspot.com/
Anyways, so that didnt work out, and I was talking to my other best friend Kelsey about how she should come in on her spring break, because she lives only 4 hours away. So that worked out, and she's coming in on the 1st and staying until the 4th. Even tho one door closed, another is open. I wish both of them were able to come, but at least I get one of them. Thank you God for that!

Wednesday night at Matthias Lot (the church I've been visiting) God really met me in worship. I had never had the experience before when it was just you and God. I had heard so many other people describe their experiences with that, but I had never had that before. Well I did on Wednesday. When you have that experience wow, it's really life changing. It's so humbling, and mind bloggling how amazing God is. It's so hard to explain. If I were talking to you face to face right now, I'd be stumbling over my words like crazy trying to describe to you this experience.
During one of their last songs I think it was Grace Like Rain but I'm not sure. I had the most amazing time of worship I had ever had. I have this way of worship where I close my eyes and i have my arms close to my body and my hands up infront of my chest either clapping, or my hands open in worship towards God. It helps me feel closer to God. I'll sway a bit during worship, and tap my foot or something as well, Wednesday night was not the case lol. My arms were extended towards God eyes closed, and I was almost dancing where I was standing, but I didnt care what people throught around me. I wasnt even thinking about the people around me. I was just thinking about me and God together in that moment. Me worshiping Him. Him being so happy that I am worshiping him and him wrapping his arms around me telling me it will all be alright, he is here, and he always will be. Absolutely amazing experience!

As I believe you know, I've been trying to go to this churches Sunday Lot Families. How this church does things is they have their worship service on Wednesday nights, and they have what they call Lot Families on Sunday mornings. Lot families are where you go to someone's house and have a small group bible study and fellowship. Awesome time pretty much! Well I went to Marc's (the pastor) Lot Family this evening. They had their Lot Families in the evenings tonight because Matthias Lot was having a church plant launch this morning out in Wentzville and wanted as many people to go as possible so they moved Lot Families to the evening. So for the first time I was able to go. Got the car, put gas in it, and left. I was so excited to see if this is really where God wanted me to be. And sure enough, this is where God wants me to be. They are such a fun/loving/Christ-like group of christians, you cant help but enjoy their company and want to come back. We had an awesome time of food, and getting to know each other, playing catch phrase, and an awesome Bible study and discussion led by Marc. I am praying that God will allow me to go back very soon. I've felt like this is where God wants me to be for a long time, but I hadnt found the right time yet. God is slowly taking me away from the church I am a member at now, and bringing me closer to this new church family that is amazing!

I am so blessed! Yes my parents are getting a divorce, yes we are selling the house I've lived in since I was three years old, yes my life is stressful, BUT God is good. He has given me friends that love me, family that loves me, a church family I can go to about anything. He's taking me in a direction I never saw myself going, but I am so excited about going in that direction!

Remember, God is good, he knows what he's doing. Follow his will, it's so much better than what we want! I'm praying for you all.

In Christ,
Hannah

It has been a long time since I have blogged, and a lot has happened since then. Things have been kinda crazy here the last month. Still trying to get our house on the market, which has been pretty stressful. I have to have my room clean and organized by tomorrow, which here are some pictures of it right now....it's not to clean lol.

Sad thing is...this is after I did all my laundry lol. I have a bunch of sheets I need to wash, and I need to get rid of a bunch of stuff, and organize my crap. So that will be an all day thing, I should be working on it as I type this, but I figure 30 minutes wont hurt anything.
We redid the kitchen last weekend, looks really nice! Just need to put in the microwave above the stove and it's done.

School, work, babysitting, and trying to stay out of the house as much as possible has kept me really busy this last month. It's pretty crazy how much stuff I have been doing. God's been teaching me to rely on him a lot these last few weeks. Our new pastor that I love so much resigned a few weeks ago for reasons I cant really talk about, but I was very sad to see him go, and miss him and his family dearly! They were some of my favorite people I have ever met, and I hope to get together with Rana soon.

I got to go to the switchfoot concert here in St Louis this last Monday, I wish I had my pictures on my computer to show you how close we were to the stage, but I cant seem to find my camera cord (no surprise there if you look at those pictures of my room). The tickets were my brithday present, which was awesome! I got to go with my brother's fiance, and we had a blast. If we were about 4 feet closer to the stage we could have touched Jon Foreman from Switchfoot which would have been awesome! lol. We waited around the bands bus for a while after the show to try to meet them, but it got late and we had to head out because Ellen (my brother's fiance) had class the next morning, and I had choir. I was hoping to get to meet them and be able to tell Drew Shirley (their lead guitarist) that I met his parents and brother this summer in San Diego when I worked at his dad's church. And that I got to see them play at their Bro-Am this summer at Moonlight Beach (awesome beach!!). Here is a picture of them playing at the Switchfoot Bro-Am

 

 Switchfoot Bro-Am was the best concert I have ever seen, until I saw them Monday, and they totally outdid themselves. The security at The Pageant made me mad, but it's okay, Switchfoot made up for it :)

I was planning on going to Texas this weekend for Planet Wisdom with my youth group, but it sold out before my youth pastor was able to get tickets, so I wasnt able to go. Which really bummed me out because my friend Amy was planning on meeting us there (she lived about an hour from Dallas) and go to the conference that weekend with us.

So....before I started writing this I had a lot of intelligent thoughts I was going to write about what God had been teaching me, the struggles I've been dealing with lately, and as I started writing...I completely forgot everything I was going to write lol. I need to go clean my room...but hopefully there will be another blog soon and will actually have thoughts about what God is teaching me. Cause it is a lot! I'll update on monday or tuesday or maybe wednesday or thursday. Sometime next week I will update again. Remember, I pray for everyone who reads this. If you're going through a rough time, comment, tell me whats going on, and how I can pray for you, and I will.

In Christ,
Hannah

God is so good! I've been neglecting spending time with God lately, which I think is something he's been trying to tell me.
Tonight at church God really started to just speak to my heart. Something we did was we had a piece of paper and it said "I am" on the left and "But he is" on the right. There was enough space there to write what what we felt we are and was god is (I.E. I am weak, but God is strong). There were multipule spots on this piece of paper that had this written for us to write whatever we wanted in those spaces.
I want to share a couple of mine, and explain why I chose those.
I am a sinner, but he is sinless. Self explanatory.
I am prideful, but he is humble. Tho I am not always prideful and I try my hardest to be humble, I fail. Because I am that sinner.
I am weak, but he is strong. I chose this one, even tho it's so simple because its what describes me right now. I have been so weak with my walk, with trusting Him, and he's had to carry me through these struggles.
I am inconsistent with my walk, but he is always there. Even tho I do fail, and I do sometimes walk away, he is always there right beside me every step of the way holding me up through it all
I am in need of a savoir, he is my savior. God sent his son for me to die on the cross, he is my savior!
I am inpatient, but he is waiting for me.
I am a runner, but he is running after me. Even tho I do walk away from God, sometimes run from God, he is chasing after me, showing himself to me in ways I cannot imagine
Now this last one, I changed the wording to fit with this.
I am unlovable, but loves me anyway. I am sinful in God's eyes, I am not worthy of his love, but he loves me anyway. Thank you God for loving me even tho I walk away so many times!

Something Marc challenged us to do, is sit down with our bibles and see where in the bible it says what we put down. I want to challenge you to do the same. You can do as many as I did, or less, or more it's up to you. But make sure you go and find out where in the Bible it talks about it. Im going to first thing tomorrow. God is so good!

My prayer on my way home, was all about me following God even if I cant see his master plan right now as to why I am suffering. But I know God does have that master plan, and it is so much greater than I can even imagine. I started to tear up on my drive home. Which isnt to safe considering its foggy and rainy here right now, but anyways, i was and I was being safe...dont worry. But I was tearing up, and just crying out to God, asking him to please be here for me, and to guide me in the ways he wants me to go, and I am tired of walking away from him and deliberately sinning against him. Im through with it. But I need his help with it. I need his help so badly! I've been so confused on SO many things lately, and the only way I will know what I am supposed to do is with him. And I know that if I continue to walk with him daily, his plan for my life will become clearer and clearer. 

Be praying for my friend Sarah, he has a urinary tract infection, and its spread to her kidneys and liver, she's in the hospital right now in so much pain, and it's not a good situation at all. So please be keeping Sarah in your prayers. It would really mean a lot to me.

God bless everyone who reads this, I pray for each of you every day!

~Hannah

I've been so busy lately with everything going on in my life, and just school. Here's kinda an update on whats going on in my life, and what God's teaching me.

I finally got my license. Makes me happy. Only thing I dont like is driving our tank of a van around (my family has one of those homeschooler type vans). My brother Paul uses our car all the time, and never really lets me get it. But my brother Parker, being the nice guy he is will let me have the van when i need it, and he doesnt need it or can find a ride to wherever he's wanting to go to, cause he knows what it's like to want to do something, but the other sibling not caring, and just taking off with your only choice for a ride. So, lucky me I get to drive around the tank. I wish I had a picture of it to put on here. I'll try to get one tomorrow.

I got a message on facebook the other day from an old friend of mine. I got pretty excited about it cause I havent talked to this girl in a long time. Come to find out, she was just wondering if I could find a missouri postcard and send it to her cause her school is doing a contest and she needs a postcard from every state. So I gladly said I would send her a postcard. I figure shouldnt be that hard to fine a postcard. I was wrong...
Why is it that there is NO place in St Peter/St Charles that has postcards anymore?? I've looked at so many places! I looked at Walgreens, Target, the mall, Halmark, and even Crackerbarrel! No place has them! Im thinking about seeing if any stores down on main street have any since it's a historical place or whatever with the louis and clark stuff lol. Im hoping they do, because if not, Im just going to give up on this hunt, unless I end up going into the city anytime soon. I will be sending her at least a california postcard so I will be able to help out a little bit (yes I have California postcards but no missouri ones. Thank you San Diego for having postcards everywhere!!)

Saturday was my brother Parker's girlfriend Ellen's birthday. She's a really great girl, I love her to death, her and I have become really good friends since her and my brother started dating. My brother was planning on purposing to her in May when we were all on vacation in South Carolina on the beach. But he just couldnt wait. Saturday morning he went to her house and talked to her parents asking for permission, and that night he went and purposed to her down on main street in st charles, and she thankfully said yes. Im so excited that she's going to be my sister in love. She's a really great girl and they're perfect for each other. The ring she got is gorgeous! My mom had it, and it was a family heirloom from my dad's side of the family. It gets passed down through the sons, and they can use it to purpose to their girlfriends. It's almost 100 years old, and so pretty! My dad restored it about a year ago, and it is amazing!

I got to play in the snow here with my niece and nephew on Monday. It was a really great time. My niece who is 2yrs old would grab a handful of snow and rub her hands together making it all fall out and say "ITS SNOWING!!!" it was really too cute. My nephew who is 1yr old would sit on the ground and just watch us and every once in a while he would smile real big from my niece throwing snow at him. He would crawl around in it, cause he seemed to not be able to find his feet in his snow pants/shoes, and we all just had a lot of fun. When we went back inside we warmed up and I made my niece some hot chocolate. I think the marshmallows were her favorite part. I love those kids, they mean the world to me, I always have a blast with them.
That night my niece and nephew, brother, and sister in law all stayed for dinner, and we had a great time! My niece and I hung out in my room and she would point at different things and ask "hannah whats that?" and I would tell her and she would just respond by saying "ohhhh". Or she would pick up something and tell me what it was. She's so funny cause she knows what makeup is, and what lipstick is. She always goes for that first in my room.
I got to be the first one to paint her nails on Monday, it was really fun. She loved it. After I got done painting hers she picks up another bottle of the nail polish and goes "hannah paint nails?" so I painted mine too...only mine are black and her's are pink :)

God has really been teaching me to fully rely on him for everything, and that I really just need to give it all to him instead of me trying to handle it all on my own. Battles and blessings pretty much describes my life right now. Something was mentioned at church tonight that really kind of hit me. It was that we believe in these bible stories of Joseph, Jonah, Job, Esther, David and Goliath, and that God brought them out of trouble, God helped them through the tough times, and yet we dont believe that God will bring us out of the tough times we experience. I had never thought of that before, and it really hit me.
Sometimes I feel like a fake christian. Whenever I slip up with a cuss word, or i sin with something, go against God's will, lie to my parents. I feel like a fake. But in reality, Im just human. I want people to be able to look at me and say "she's following God with everything that she has. And she trusts him, and tries to honor him" But thats a hard thing to strive for. God is an awesome God, which is why he snet his only son to die for me when I do slip up. I dont want people saying "uh oh she's not a real christian because she just cussed!" I try not to cuss, but there has been those times where it just comes out, and you dont mean it to. I feel horrible when that happens, and I always hope that no one was around to hear it when I do slip up.  People, dont look at christians and expect them to be perfect. Yes we have a higher standard to live up to and we need to try to not sin, and we need to strive to be like Christ, but dont expect us to never mess up. We are human, we are sinners, thats why we have Christ. To cover our sin when we do slip up and mess up.
God's been soing some weird stuff in my life lately. It's like he tears pieces of it down, and builds it back up to make it stronger and newer. But it hurts so bad when it gets torn down. So much crap has gone on these last 5 months, and it's been making me stronger. My life has fallen apart, only to make me stronger. I've come close to giving up on my faith, and just giving up period. But with God I've stayed strong, and I've grown. Its been a tough journey, but I feel like with this new year, it's going to be filled with so many tough things right at the beginning, but in the end of 2010, it's going to be bittersweet. I'll be able to look back and say "yeah that sucked, but I overcame it, and learned from it. Now Im so much stronger in my faith and KNOW God will bring me through anything, and wont throw anything at me that I cant handle" Last year was amazing year, full of stressful/fun/exciting/crazy times, and Im excited to see what happens this year.

Im praying for everyone that reads this. Remember: God is strong, might, gracious, merciful, loving, powerful, and he will bring you through whatever trial you are going through! My heart goes out to everyone struggling. The people of Haiti right now especially. Such a poverty stricken country, and it's so sad that the earthquake had to happen at a time like this. Be praying for them with me. Be praying for the church there that my church has started. I have had the pleasure of meeting the man that pastors that church, and he is so full of love, and I have not heard anything on him and if him and his family are alright. Be praying for them, as they deal with this. It is so hard!

Its getting late, and I work tomorrow, so goodnight, I am praying!

~Hannah

Surprises, Atlanta, and San Diego.

I would have updated yesterday, but I had an unexpected visitor Saturday night and he just left this morning.
You see, I have a friend, John. He just joined the army. He finished boot camp about a month ago, and is on his way to Germany right now to be stationed there. The army told him to get to the lambert airport Saturday so he could sign in, and they told him his flight left Sunday. Nope, it flight left today. So he signed in, and then they told him to go find a hotel room or something. So he called me (he's from Oklahoma by the way), and said he needed a place to stay for two nights. Which was quite funny because I was hoping to go up to the airport to see him (he was going to be stuck there all day Sunday), but it wasnt going to work out cause I dont have my license yet. And what made it even funnier is that we met on a mission trip a few summers back and liked each other. Now we're just friends, but there were some awkward moments while he was here. Anyways, it was really great to see John again, especially since he is on his way to Germany for God knows how long. Oh, and I also had just gotten home maybe 5 hours before he called asking for  a place to stay. So it was kinda interesting since i hadnt been home all week.

This is John, myself, and our friend Kate who came over and hung out with us for a while. Great to see him!

So more about this trip I took, we really just watched football all week, and hung out and talked. Went out to eat a few times, and went to the Fan Fest for the chick-fil-a bowl in downtown atltanta.

Here's a bunch of people just hanging out on new years eve. Allen is orange, Billy has his back to the camera, Juliana is in the Purple, Luke is next to her, and Big Al (Alex) is next to him.

This is Taylor and I, I cant figure out how to flip the picture on here, so sorry about that. Taylor is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. He opened his house up to all of us and let us stay there.

This was in the Atlanta airport. If you dont know, the missions project I went on this last summer in San Diego for two months was called Sojourners, which is where I met everyone that I spent this week in Atlanta with.
It was a really great trip. I miss everyone dearly already. They are my best friends, and I wish they all lived closer to me so they could help me grow in my relationship with God like they do even when we're all just goofing around.
Something Erin, Kelsey, Steph, and I would do every Sunday night is we would go down into the fellowship hall and sit down there just talking and worshiping God together (when I had a guitar that is). We would talk about the struggles of the week and how God pulled us through those troubles. And what God had been speaking to our hearts, and what we've learned from Him. And how we can change from what God has told us and revealed to us. That is one of the biggest things I miss from this summer is talking with those girls about it. It was such an encouragement hearing what God had been teaching them, and seeing them grow through all of it, as well as myself.

Friday night when I was in Owensboro my friend Kelsey and I decided to stay in the same room that night because it was our last night together. We spent a good hour or so as we were falling asleep saying stuff we missed about San Diego. Some goofy ones we didnt really miss, some fun ones, some serious ones, and some that only we would get. It was really great, I wish I could fall asleep every night doing that. Okay Im going to stop before I start crying haha. I think this is a pretty good update for now.
God's still working in my life daily, and having me grow in him every day. Be praying for me as I am transitioning once again to being away from these amazing people. It's so hard to be around such Godly people and then coming home, and not having them around you all day every day. Especially when they're your best friends.

Side note:Every time I end a blog, I pray for whoever stumbles across this, that they may be encouraged, and see God's love. God bless every single one of you. If anyone even does read this ;)

~Hannah

Reunion, and best friends

Im in Owensboro, KY right now laying on my friend Kelsey's bed writing this about to fall asleep. I hadnt updated in a while so I figured I should. Kelsey and I just flew to Owensboro from Atlanta. It was an interesting flight to say the least, 9 passenger plane, and very bumpy lol. I wont go into any further detail than that.
In Atlanta I got to see 16 of my closest/Godliest/amazing friends I could ever have! They have all helped me with so much over the years, and I absolutely love every single one of them. Whenever I am around them, I feel God right there with us, which I dont get with anyone else. Even if they're making fun of me for liking a guy.
There are four girls in particular I have become very close to. Kelsey, Amy, Erin, and Stephanie. We all have a blast together. They are my best friends, and I dont know what I would do without any of them.
Erin, Steph, Kelsey, and I have this stuffed animal that Taylor won at Knottz Berry Farm in California and we send it to each other monthly. Like the sisterhood of the traveling pants. We have named this stuffed animal Drifter. He is great! Stephanie had Drifter this month, and brought it to the reunion to pass onto Kelsey, so Drifter is currently sitting next to me as I type this, and I still feel like the 4 of us are together. I cant wait to get Drifter in Saint Louis so he can see all the sights! I will be taking him EVERYWHERE with me. It'll be a grand time! Here's a picture of us and drifter our last night going to get Frozen Yogurt near mission beach.

The order goes, Stephanie, Kelsey, Erin, and myself holding Drifter.

With everything going on with my family I've really needed a break and to just have some fun. Which is exactly what I did this week. It was really great! These girls make me so happy, and me laugh harder than anyone else i have ever met! They are so full of Christ's love, and it just radiates from them. If you ever need anything you can call them day or night and they will talk to you about anything and everything and will not judge you for whatever you say.

Now onto Amy. Amy is one of the sweetest, most hyper girls you could ever meet! She's so full of energy, and is just full of joy. You can talk to her about anything, and she will listen to every word and do whatever she can to help you. Here's a picture of Amy and I.

She's absolutely amazing! I love her to death. She's like my big sister, and she's just great! She went through the same thing I am right now with my family, around the same age as me, so she's been amazing with helping me get through this trial.

These girls are my best friends, and I would not be anything without them! I cannot wait until I get to be reunited with them once again. They mean the world to me. Every time I am with these girls or even just talking to them, I feel so much stronger in my faith, and I can feel God right there with us. Its really amazing. Anyways, it's time to get to bed, Im exhausted. I'll write more about the trip and what God's been doing in my life latey later in the week. I'll be busy the next two days, so dont expect it until next week sometime :)

~Hannah