Blog Challenge. Days Twenty-One through Twenty-Eight. I know, I know...

In the past eight days, I remembered why I don't do blog challenges or Bible reading plans or one consistent devotional book. 

I'm stubborn.
I don't like being told what to do. ;)

So twenty consecutive days of me following that blog challenge to a "t"...was impressive. Trust me.

But I'll make it up to you!

Day Twenty-One: A picture of something that makes you happy.

Going to get ice cream makes me oh so happy :)

Day Twenty-Two: What makes you different from someone else?

I cry way more than most people...and it's ok. It makes me, me.
Usually, I'd rather be alone than with other people.
I tell my family everything...way more than I tell anyone else.
I can remember everything. It's good and bad.

Day Twenty-Three: Something you crave a lot.

Ice. Cream. :)
And spaghetti.
There are lots of things I could live without...but those two have to stay!

Day Twenty-Four: A letter to your parents.

oh goodness...did I tell you I cry more than most? :)

Dear Daddy and Momma,
I love you both more than you know, more than I could adequately tell you. Thank you for being parents, so that now you're two of my best friends. You've taught me that faith means walking in obedience even without any answers. You've taught me to do what I know is right even when everyone thinks the wrong thing is acceptable. You taught me to give and not take: to look for people who need friends instead of waiting to be befriended, to look for a church where I can serve instead of one that caters to my needs. You listen and give wisdom. We have fun and laugh together. You want me to be myself....but the best way. Love you both! So much.

Day Twenty-Five: What you would find in my bag.

What wouldn't you find in my bag?

Wallet. Phone. Three kinds of gum. 19 bobby pins. 6 ponytail holders. 8 movie ticket stubs. An ESV pocket Bible. Headphones. 2 post-it stacks. 7 pens. Hand sanitizer. Lotion. Flossers. Water bottle. Random gift cards with unknown balances. Camera. Bandaids. And more...but that list is long enough :)

Day Twenty-Six: What do you think about your friends?

Well that's a stupid question. I love them!

I think my friends are beautiful. They're smart--they have good heads on their shoulders. They're more stunning than they realize and stronger than they give themselves credit for. They're dependable. They're fun. They listen well and love BIG.

Day Twenty-Seven: There is no day twenty-seven.....I guess that makes this a 29 day challenge :)

Day Twenty-Eight: A picture of you from last year, and one from this year. What's changed since then?

Last year.

This year.

Graduated. New school. New town. 

I've learned how it feels to be really hurt....and how to better stand up for myself. I'm learning how to slow down, how to work hard and still have fun.

Pretty much, everything's changed. 

Except for my hair. 

Day Twenty-Nine: In this past month, what have you learned? 

In the past month, I've re-learned why I love new starts. I've learned that a lot of what I've heard people tell me about myself lately...are all lies...and that distance from those people is a really good thing. 

In the past month, I've learned that sometimes it doesn't matter how hard you look for a job, it's just going to take longer than expected to find one. 

In the past month, I've learned my way around Texas A&M. I've learned that, with my new roommates, God blessed me far beyond what I asked of Him. 

Next month should be good. 

Blog Challenge. Day Twenty. Where do I begin?

And by where do I begin...I mean where do I begin explaining how utterly stupid this day of the challenge is.

Honestly.

"Someone you see yourself marrying or being with in the future."

Well, since he's single now, can I go with Ryan Reynolds?

Joke.

I'm not going to pretend like I don't have a box of letters to "Mr. Hannah", as my sister affectionately calls him, but they're for him. And not for you ;)

Really though, I don't know who he is...or if he is. And I don't need to worry about it right now. Or bore you with it :)

I will leave you with this though: one of my favorite quotes from one of my heroes Anne Shirley. I'll claim this for my someday, one day man ;)

"Well, I wouldn't marry anyone who was really wicked, but I think I'd like it if he could be wicked and wouldn't." 


*sigh*
Watch Anne of Green Gables...and the Sequel/Anne of Avonlea....and the Continuing Story. 
They're not by the books but they will change your life. 

Blog Challenge. Day Nineteen. What did you just call me?

My Pa always called me Hannah Banana...and he had a poem that went with it.
After he passed away...I didn't like anyone calling me that, but it's a force that's difficult to stop, so I've gotten used to it.

My favorite littles call me Aunt Hannah. 

Han. It's easy.

Just  call me Bear. Or Hannah Bear. But Bear is shorter. I don't really know where that came from, but that's my name at home. :)

I love hearing sweet kiddos call me Miss Hannah.

And my daddy calls me Pumpkin when he's really in his daddy voice....that one's off limits.

Blog Challenge. Day Eighteen. "All my hopes and dreams, all my thoughts unseen....all my wants are found in You."

I want to be a Godly wife and mother.

I want to write books.

That's really it.

100 things for 100 posts

In 20--make that 19--posts, I will have done 100 posts!

As a celebration of this little blog and my little achievement, I'm doing a giveaway!!!

And trust me, you will want to be in on this. All you blurkers (blog+lurkers) are going to have to come out of hiding! ;)

I'm doing a box of 100. one hundred. Yes, one hundred things.

Some will be silly. Some will be flat out great.

100....is kind of a lot, so I need your help.

What do you want to see in this 100 posts box of amazing?!

Blog Challenge. Day Seventeen. Trade me spots?

I would like- for a day- to trade spots with my *almost 2 yr old* nephew, Caleb.

The other day, I watched him roll around the floor, touch his nose to his knees, and laugh for absolutely no reason at all.

He gets to wear a t-shirt and diaper...and no one thinks it's weird.

He's a good-lookin' little baby.

He has an itty bitty dachshund puppy that follows him around.

It's a good life. ;)

Blog Challene. Day Sixteen. "If it's a picture of me you need, would you get to taking it..."

he's the strong, silent type. 

Siesta Scripture Memory Team!

My verse #1 was:

Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. Hebrews 10:35 (ESV)

My verse #2 is:

By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise. Romans 5:2 (The Message)


And I finally caved and ordered my Siesta spiral.

Yes, I do have three empty index spirals, but it was only 5 dollars including shipping. And it's cute.
Biblical Bargain. How could I keep saying no?


For more information about joining SSMT, click here!

Blog Challenge. Day Fifteen. It's your turn to shuffle.

First 10 songs shuffling through my iPod.

1. Cry Me A River...Michael Buble
2. He Would Tell You...Jonny Diaz
3. Your Love Is a Song...Switchfoot
4. Baby...Justin Bieber
5. Everytime We Touch...CASCADA
6. Moment Made For Worshipping...Steven Curtis Chapman
7. Cinderella...Steven Curtis Chapman
8. Hello Seattle...Owl City
9. Every Day...Rascal Flatts
10. The Things We Can and Cannot Keep...Alli Rogers

hm. there you go.

Halfway through this challenge!
I'm not going to lie. I'm pretty proud of myself.

Blog Challenge. Day Fourteen. Mi familia.

almost all of us at my graduation in December. 

Blog Challenge. Day Thirteen. Dear, someone who hurt me recently.

Dear Unmentionable,

I was so upset.

Turns out, it's better this way.

Honestly,
Hannah

I'm about to be real.

Can I get....just, really honest with you? I mean...can I just be real? Not cute or funny or witty. Not clever in hopes that you leave me an ego-boosting comment. Just stinkin' real? Because I need to.

So here goes....just know, I'm about to get really honest. If you don't think you can handle it, close the window now. Leave this blog and don't come back, because this is probably going to become a regular event.

Anyone still with me?

I really struggle with hearing talks from/ reading blogs of/ hearing about young women who talk endlessly about their singleness. 

That sounds so mean. Doesn't it?

Honestly, it partly is mean. But let me try to explain the other part.

I am single. I have always been single. I have no reason to believe that I will be "un-single" any time soon.

Do I love that? No.
Is that the way I would choose my life to be going? No.
Am I disappointed by it frequently? Oh yes.

But it's ok. 
I am ok.

I don't feel cheated because I don't have a boyfriend. I don't feel like God's obligated to bring me a man or take away my desire for a relationship. I get jealous. I get lonely. I pout around Valentine's as much as the next single girl...

But I am ok.

I guess my struggle comes in not understanding the need to broadcast it. (I get that I just told you, trust me....I almost didn't; but I couldn't be vague and really explain this.) So when I see/hear/read about it, I don't know....I get frustrated. But I hurt for them too. I don't understand why they need to bring attention to it. I hurt that they need to bring attention to it.

Does that make any sense? At all?

The point of all of this...I promise there is one.

I found a precious blog today. I'm not linking you to it because there were a couple of inappropriate posts...if you want to search for it, go ahead. But I won't own that. This blog, though, is a guy making short little posts of notes to his future wife. And it's darling.

So I googled to find a girl one...because of course there must be a blog of notes to a future husband...right?

Instead I found a blog called "My Husband is Annoying".

Seriously?
Sweet notes to his future mrs.
My husband is annoying.

What's going on?
That's not fair.

So what I really don't understand...is with this aching that women have to be dated and loved and married...and then there's blogs titled "My Husband is Annoying"...that's not right.

Can we agree to be women who are grateful for where we are?
Can we be grateful for our singleness? Grateful for our husbands?

Can we speak well of our men? And well of our time we spend beautifully alone with the Lord?

Did I lose you in my honesty?...I'm afraid I may have. But if you're still with me, what do think?
Are we confused together?

Blog Challenge. Day Twelve. What am I doing here?

My friend Becky, who if you've been reading this blog for any time at all, you already know, told me one day that I needed a blog. I love to write and I want to write. I am a writer (you can't tell me any different), so she insisted that I needed a blog.

And she was right.

Blogging gives me the opportunity to test out my writing and get some feedback. It also keeps me in the writing habit...which I could so dreadfully fall out of if I weren't careful.

So that's why I'm here. What about you? Why do you blog?

And just because I'm curious ;) why are you reading?
How did you find this blog?

I'll meet you in the comments! ;)

(and for anyone that cares....I'm almost to twenty job applications. I'm not crying yet...but it's coming.)

Blog Challenge. Day Eleven. Maybe I should take more pictures.

how about a picture of some of my favorite little friends? 

there are too many things that I love about that picture. 

and look at that, unpacking, organizing my room, and 9 job applications later, I'm all caught up on this blog challenge with time to spare! Whew! ;) 

Blog Challenge. Day Ten. Play that music.

the songs my heart sing when I'm:

happy.
Revolutionaries by Bethany Dillon.
"...dreaming all the time, it's not foolish. Your flood of life giving words, they will refresh..."
*when I'm at my absolute happiest, I feel like I can do anything...and this song so encourages that.

sad.
The Heart of Life by John Mayer.
"...there's things you need to hear, so turn off your tears and listen. pain throws your heart to the ground. love turns the whole thing around."
*sigh* so good.

bored.
Tracing by John Mayer
"...and if you want to know the moment I knew that I was still alone, I found I never learned your number, I'd only stored it in my phone. You'd think by now...I'd know the shape of calling home..."
*when I'm bored, I get to thinking. And this song gets me thinking.

hyped.
(I've Had) The Time of My Life by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes
"....'cause I've had the time of my life, and I've searched through every open door...'til I found the truth, and I owe it all to you..."
*do I really need to say more? ;)

mad.
Ordinary People by Asher Book (from the Fame remake soundtrack)
"...We're just ordinary people and we don't know which way to go. We're just ordinary people...and maybe we should take it slow..."
*because his voice is fluid gorgeous...who could stay mad? ;)

don't turn me in!!!

I'm not neglecting day ten of the blog challenge...I'm doing it!!

Tomorrow.

Because today, I moved into my new home (so tired I just combined new and home and typed hew. wow.) in College Station and I am exhausted. Clearly.

I was all ready for bed and realized that I lost a very special (to me) necklace that my daddy brought me from Africa. I racked my brain....I had thrown it away.

So I called home. At 11:30. I called my parents who were--for sure--asleep and begged them to look threw the bag of trash I'd put in the dumpster yesterday. I hung up. Five minutes later? My daddy called me back. He found it. He got up and went threw the trash. So that I could go to sleep.

I'm drained. So this is making me cry even more than normal.

I need sleep. Not blogging. Deep, sweet, new room sleep.
Goodnight, sweet friends. Sleep sweet. I'll see you tomorrow...but I'll leave you with my highs/lows from today.

Lows:
Load and unload. Gross.
That awful moment when I closed the front door after telling my parents goodbye, knowing they were going to get in the car and drive away.

High (but let's face it, emotional low):
Calling home to say goodnight and hearing my daddy say: (referring to my new room/apt) "I liked it....I didn't like leaving you in it."
And then I bawled. Like the 21yr old, hopelessly daddy's girl, baby that I am.

Blog Challenge. Day Nine. Baby, take a bow.

Something I'm proud of in the past few days.

I'm proud of my nephew, Gideon. Who has the biggest heart and the best dance moves.
His heart of gold showed some serious love to a little boy at school this week...and this aunt's heart is so proud I could nearly bust.

I'm proud of me for forcing myself to be a logical thinker. Even when my natural self thinks anything but logically. I'll think emotionally next week, probably, but for now, a baby step is worth a bow.

How are you doing this week? Give yourself a little credit and brag some in the comments...go ahead, baby, take a bow ;)

Blog Challenge. Day Eight.: 3-pointers and Free Throws.

My "Free Throw" goal for this month is to be a good student. I'm starting graduate school next Tuesday, so I think it's a little implied. Nevertheless, I want to do this with excellence; and it won't happen if I don't make a conscious decision to do it well.

My "2-pointer"...find a job. Next week. One that fits into my college student schedule but doesn't terribly wound my college graduate pride. Don't give me that look. It can happen. (Maybe taking on some humility would have been a better choice?)

"3-pointer"...Turn off the Houston's First Baptist webcast and find a College Station church. Realizing my overwhelming love for my home church also revealed how easy it would be for me to sit in my room, watch church on my computer, and miss out on real life, in person, 'let me hug you' community. That may not seem like a big deal to you, but it's a definite 3-pointer for me.

Buzzer shot. I want to be intentional in the relationships I'm about to start. I'm going to meet new people, have new roommates, new coworkers, new faces on the bus...and I want to be intentional with them. This. Month....not next semester. Now.

I like that these are short-term, month goals...and not a vision-cast for the whole year. That's too much for my head.
What are you hoping to accomplish this month? Let's help each other out!

Blog Challenge. Day Seven.: Would you take a word picture?

Today is a picture of a person or place that has impacted your life.

But I don't have a picture of her.
So I'll paint her for you.

She had the shortest, poofiest, blondest old lady hair you'd ever seen.
She smiled so big that you could never see her eyes.
She was a public school teacher (granted our po-dunk jr. high was more like private school) but would pull me into her room between classes and pray for me when I was having a bad day.
When we read Jabberwocky, she had a giant costume head she would stick on the end of a yardstick and run around the room waving it in the air.
She had the sweetest, most gentle voice. But could raise it to deafening decibels when necessary.
She told us she'd missed class because she'd been diagnosed with leukemia like she'd been at a hair appointment.
When she passed away a year later, she was most upset that we would hurt for her....when she wouldn't be hurting at all.
She called us her babies, and at her funeral...her husband hugged us each so tightly that we knew he felt the same way.

She was magical.
She told me I could write. She was the very first one.
She was the kind of crazy-beautiful English teacher I long to be.

Can you see her? Oh, I hope you can.
She was beautiful.

I heart Houston's First.

On August 26, 2007, as I walked through the doors of Houston's First Baptist Church for the very first time, I never could have known what enormous things He would do in me there. Really. Never could have dreamt it.

I'd woken up on my first Sunday in my dorm room at Houston Baptist University and, having never missed a Sunday of church unless death were possibly impending, I had to go. I just didn't know where.

My sister went to Texas A&M (whoop!) while Gregg Matte (pastor at HFBC) was leading Breakaway Ministries, so she had suggested that I try out Houston's First. I got online, wrote down directions, Sunday Bible Study information, got ready, and went.

I got overwhelmed. I drove there, parked, and got out of my car, but had no clue how to get to my class after that. Someone else probably would have thought, "Find the visitor's desk...find someone that looks like they work here...find a map." Those were not my thoughts.

I went to find a little old lady.

She was walking down the hall with a group of her little old friends, and when she looked at me and smiled, I smiled back and quickly said, "I'm lost." She waved goodbye to her group and took me right where I needed to go. Bless her...whoever she was. She took me to my family.

The HFBC College Community was my home for the next two years. I was stretched and asked tough questions there. I was pushed to pursue my relationship with Christ. Not my parents', not my pastor's...mine. I found friendships. I found a place to serve. I got my first job through that community. Through that job I met the Godly woman who would walk with me and shepherd(ess) me the through some rough growing up times and become so influential in my life. One Sunday morning led to so much....so much more than I thought possible.

August 26, 2007, walking alone and overwhelmed into that big building, I never would have dreamt that on December 17, 2010, navigating through crowds with my friend Brianna, bumping into a dozen people who hugged me and exchanged quick conversation on our way to our seats for the Christmas Celebration, she would say, "Girl. You are loved here."

I had to think about that....because she was right. I had walked in the door and not known a soul....but 3 1/2 years later, I was loved. I had a family away from my family. I had countless people, of all ages, who loved and cared for me and desired to see me make much of the Lord.

I am so grateful for each of them. I love them in my life. I love living alongside them and encouraging each other. Oh, I love them so.

And I'm leaving them. Not forever. But for a season. My heart hurts at just the thought.

Making plans for A&M, I was so excited and ready to go that I never even thought about the fact that I won't be here. I'm not sure when it hit...or how, but it came in full force.

Hopefully, I'll be back in less than two years. I'll be home and back with my family. In the meantime, I'm  praying that I find a temporary home I love just as much.

As a parting farewell see you later, and to help you understand just why my love for HFBC is so great, here's some of my favorite things ;)

Hurt is welcome. One of my favorite things is that people are welcome and encouraged to talk about their hurts. Not in a pity party kind of way, but a "this is what's in my heart. these are my questions about it. this is what's causing me pain" kind of way. We're broken. We have hurts. We don't have to act like we've got it all together. We share our hurts...we share in each other's hurts...and healing comes.

Only Truth. You will not hear opinion taught from that pulpit. You will hear God's Word. No one else's.

Unmatched love for missions. Overseas. Homeless. Next door. Next state. Any missions.

Sunday Bible Study. Your Sunday Bible Study group is like your church within the church...it's the people you live life with and pray with and grow with and serve with and love.

The Houston Project. Every summer, we all participate in one great big, churchwide mission project right in our city. With HP sites at around 15 churches around Houston (with more sites added regularly), we come alongside churches around our city to help them facilitate Vacation Bible Schools, sports camps, youth programs and adult Bible studies. Then through the year, the Sunday Bible Study groups keep up with their HP church site to continue meeting needs and serving with that church. It's one big reach out to our community, but such a huge time of growth and unity within our own family. So. Good.

Open doors. Anyone is welcome. And welcomed. With open arms...literally. We're a huggy bunch.

Nothing is off limits. Any questions, any issues...are open for discussion. Bible Study leaders...ministers...small groups...certified Christian counselors...no matter what the topic, there's someone to listen and help you work through the issue and sort through the questions.

Same heart. Same mind. The staff, the leaders, the people.

...

First Family. It really is a family. I have brothers, sisters, spiritual mothers and fathers. We are for the Lord and for each other.

Itunes. Podcasts. Christmas Celebration albums. Live webcasts. So even if I'm not there...or you can't get there, we can still be a part.

Relevant. HFBC rightfully claims to be a Relevant, Biblical Community. Still sticking solely to truth in Scripture, we believe in meeting people where they are.

Swell. And by swell I mean fun. (Because I didn't have another 'F') We have fun together. And lots of it.

Tears. Are a regular event. I said we're a huggy bunch...but we're a tearful bunch too. And I LOVE that!

...

So what do you love about your church? I'd love to hear about your home, your family.
And if you're in the Houston area and you need one...well, you know where I'd recommend. ;)

Blog Challenge. Day Six.: What's a superhero?

Not seriously. I know what superheroes are.

But I don't know who they are.

I've never been one to get into superheroes...or video games...I read books. Non-comic books.

In high school, a friend and I always said that our favorite superhero was Spiderman. Why you may ask?

Probably his crime-fighting vengeance or ability to climb walls or swing from skyscrapers, right?

Wrong.

Because Spiderman could kiss upside down.

Ridiculous.

Today, I'm throwing that away. I'm claiming that my favorite superhero is....

drumroll, please...

dun, duh, dun, DuuuUUUUUUun!!!

Bionic Bunny.

From Arthur....I went there.

The nerd that I am needed an equally nerdy superhero, and so I have found him. Oh, Bionic Bunny, where have you been all my life? (hehe *wink*)

Blog Challenge. Day Five.: Where have I been?

I haven't been many places...but I have been to:

moldova.

A teeny-tiny country nestled between Romania and Ukraine, Moldova is the most centralized and concentrated hub for child trafficking. In a country that you can-and we did- drive across in one day, there are 69 registered orphanages. Partnering with Children's Emergency Relief International, in 2008 I served on a team from HBU to take winter boots for those sweet kids' feet and some Jesus love for their broken hearts. Between all of the teams, every orphanage was covered. Our team visited 12. 

This is Maria. The day we visited her orphanage, there was a terrible ice storm. It took us most of the day just to drive. By the time we arrived, all of the children were asleep and we had to wake them all up to size them for shoes. She was so excited. 

Bodan was my favorite. Out of the whole trip. If I could have just met one kid, it would have been him. He was at the same house as Maria. When I got to him, he was still half-asleep. I handed him his new socks to hold while I took off his old, worn-out shoes and holey socks. I took a pair of the new ones from his hands (they each got two) to put on his feet. He kept trying to give me the other pair, and when I finally helped him understand that they were his to keep, he got big tears in his sleepy eyes and gave me the biggest hug I've ever gotten. He was beside himself when he got his boots. 

I haven't been many places...but Moldova was a good place to go. It was dirty and smelled horrible. I got a huge wart on my hand from touching all those feet. I got so sick halfway through and would jump out of bed in the morning and get dressed and be at the breakfast table before my team leader could tell me to go back to sleep. My eyes were opened to what it means to be the hands of Jesus. He is not physically, in-the-flesh on this earth. But He is in our flesh. His acts of washing feet and caring for the oppressed should not be lessened...but continued in exponential, far-reaching ways. I saw God provide boots in the perfect size.....when he had gone through our truck and counted our inventory so many times. He kept our van on the road when we spun out on the side of a mountain. 

He did miracles for us. He did miracles in us. 

Blog Challenge. Day Four.: Breakin' them habits.

#4. What is one habit you wish you didn't have.

Gee. Where to begin? ;)

I miraculously stopped biting my nails this year...so I can't say that.

I think the number one habit I wish I didn't have is comparing myself to other people.

I do that regularly....very. regularly.

Something is wrong with me because they got asked to do something and I didn't.
She must hate me because she gives everyone else more attention.
I must not have as many friends as she does because she's prettier than I am.
He would never like me because he dated "her" and I'm nothing like her.
God, it would be better for you to use _____ because they're better at that than me.
I'm messing up somewhere because that person seems so much closer to the Lord than I feel.

stupid. insecure. useless comparing.

It's more than a habit. It's a crippling sin.

And I'm ready to be done with it.

Is it just me? Or are you maybe struggling with this too?
How do you stop yourself from comparing?

Blog Challenge. Day Three.: I can't pick just one.

I'm supposed to post a picture of me and my friends, but that's a problem for me.

1. I don't have one picture of me with all of them.

2. I don't take a lot of pictures. (I hate that, I'm working on it!)

So here's just a few.

Lindsey and I are really bad at pictures.

one day sophomore year, Sarah and I skipped class and went to the science museum (nerds) and had mexican food and an amateur photo shoot in the park. Those were the long hair days. I miss them :(

Amanda, Brittany, and Lindsay.

Aubrey and Meredith.

(at the TAYLOR SWIFT concert where she ALMOST touched my finger. ha.)

Can't wait to get to College Station and get to see these girls all the time!

Blog Challenge. Day Two.: What's with that title?

Day Two of this blog challenge asked me to explain my blog title...which used to be "One girl's world"...stupid. I didn't have a reason for that title...so I changed it.

an upwrite heart.

and yes, I know it's misspelled. ;)

I love to write. I want to write. Books and devotionals...textbooks, term papers...whatever. If it needs to be written, I want to write it. The Lord has put such a desire in me to write. I love it.

There's another thing I'm asking Him to give me. Another thing I'm begging Him to shape within me:

an upright heart.

He's not finished. Some days it seems like He hasn't started...more like I took His hard work and stepped on it; but slowly, carefully, painfully, and beautifully, He's piecing together a broken-and-healed, sometimes a little bumped up, always grateful testimony to Himself.

an upwrite heart.

Blog Challenge. Day One.: More than you wanted to know.

(Photo by the lovely Sarah of Fish Lips Photography)

15 things.

1. I graduated from Houston Baptist University in Dec. 2010 with my B.A. in English/Writing

2. I'm starting my Master's in Education at Texas A&M in January!

3. I'm emotionally torn between my love for my Nook and my addiction to the smell of books.

4. I'm making myself fill up at least half of the journals I own before I buy another...this could be hard. This could potentially save me a lot of money ;)

5. I have a new, sick obsession with my Keurig. It's red. It's beautiful. It may or may not have a name.

6. As much as I love the city...I'm a country girl at heart. Open spaces. Trees. Friendly people. Sleeping on trampolines all summer. Small town love.

7. I have loved the Houston Astros...for as long as I can remember...but with Berkman settling in with the Cardinals...I'm controversially considering a switch.

8. I love baseball caps. Wearing them. Boys wearing them. Love.

9. I keep an old hymnal in my quiet/quality-time stack.

10. You've Got Mail and the complete Anne of Green Gables series have healing powers for me.

11. I like mismatched dishes, decorations, and people.

12. I love to write.

13. I would love to love to run.

14. I like to go to the movies by myself...not always...but occasionally.

15. I have such a soft spot for old things...people, books, southern gospel music, jewelry...I have an old soul :)

Day one complete!

Hope you're ringing in the new year beautifully!

What are some fun things about just you?

more like Seattle...less like Houston

My blog friend, Missy, posted this great blog challenge that she got from her blog friend, Cara.

Day One- A recent picture of yourself and fifteen interesting facts.
Day Two- The meaning behind your blog name.
Day Three-A picture of you and your friends.
Day Four- A habit that you wish you didn’t have.
Day Five- A picture of somewhere you’ve been to.
Day Six- Favorite super hero and why.
Day Seven- A picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you.
Day Eight- Short term goals for this month and why.
Day Nine- Something you’re proud of in the past few days.
Day Ten- Songs you listen to when you are happy, sad, bored, hyped, mad.
Day Eleven- Another picture of you and your friends.
Day Twelve- How you found out about blogger and why you have one.
Day Thirteen- A letter to someone who has hurt you recently.
Day Fourteen- A picture of you and your family.
Day Fifteen- Put your ipod on shuffle: first 10 songs that play.
Day Sixteen- Another picture of yourself.
Day Seventeen- Someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why.
Day Eighteen- Plans/dreams/goals you have.
Day Nineteen- Nicknames you have and why you have them.
Day Twenty- Someone you see yourself marrying or being with in the future.
Day Twenty one- A picture of something that makes you happy.
Day Twenty two- What makes you different from everyone else.
Day Twenty three- Something you crave for a lot.
Day Twenty four- A letter to your parents.
Day Twenty five- What I would find in your bag.
Day Twenty six- What do you think about your friends?
Day Twenty eight- A picture from you last year, and now. What has changed since then?
Day Twenty nine- In this past month, what have you learned?
Day Thirty- Your favorite song.

One of my new year's resolutions...which you'll be hearing about soon, is to become a better blogger. This looks like a great month of baby steps to get me to be more consistent. More like a steady, Seattle drizzle and less like sporadic Houston thunderstorms.

Anyone up for trying it with me?