Life's For The Living

It has really been far too long since I've posted on this blog.

Work has been insane, and honestly life has been a little insane too.

There are many things that I suppose I could say about the past few months, but I'll do what I always do and share pictures instead. If you pay attention you might be able to read all of the little stories in between the pictures.

"'Till then I'll make my bed from a disused car with a mattress of leaves and a blanket of stars, and I'll stitch the words into my heart with a needle and thread. 

Don't you cry for the lost.

Smile for the living.

Get what you need and give what you're given.

You know, life's for the living, so live it!

Or you're better off dead."

-Passenger, 'Life's for the Living'

I want only this

"Can I get up in the morning, put the kettle on.

Make us some coffee, say 'hey' to the sun...

Is it enough to write a song and sing it to the birds?

They'd hear just the tune,

not understand my love for words.

But you would hear me and know.

I want only this, I want to live.

I want to live a simple life."

-The Weepies

Love & Monsters

I didn't make any New Year resolutions for 2014.

Not for any profound reasons or anything. Honestly, on New Years Eve I was really tired and though the thought of making resolutions crossed my mind, taking a nap before I had to wake up and ring in the new year won out in the end. 

#oldladystatus

It was actually really refreshing to wake up on the first of January not feeling pressured to start my year out perfectly.

However, since then I have been compiling a mental list of the things I would like to work harder at this year, because like most of the world, I am motivated by the feeling of a fresh start that January brings.

This is the first time that I've actually written down these goals.

Read 25 books I've never read before in 2014.

When I first made this goal I began to feel discouraged because people all over tumblr and pinterest were pledging to read twice or three times as many.

But for me, 25 books is realistic. And if I surpass that, well, awesome!

{I'm working on my actual list now, but I'll save that for another post}

Read the bible in a year.

I actually began this one on time ;)

My family is using the Daily Audio Bible recorded by Brian Harding to go through the entire bible in a year, and we've promised that if one of us misses a day of listening all together we will catch up on our own. So far, so good.

If you've never checked out the Daily Audio Bible you should.

Here's a link.

http://dailyaudiobible.com/

Go for more walks and runs.

I'm not even trying to do a schedule for this one. And honestly, I totally haven't started it yet because it's either been raining or really cold. Right now it is neither... and I still haven't started it. Oh well.

In the last year I did walk and run a lot more though, and I found it was not only just a way to be active, but it was also a really great stress reliever.

Journal more.

hence the photo at the top of this post.

I really really really love stylized journaling. It makes me feel so happy and artistic.

Create goals for my photography.

Yes. I made a goal to create goals.

Don't judge.

For real though, this year is going to be super different for me.

 I graduate high school, and have to decide what to do next.

I'm looking at taking Photographic Technology classes at my community college. But, if I learned one thing in 2013 it was that things hardly ever go according to plan. 

The thing I want the most in 2014 is to find out what God's will for my life is, but I am aware that even that probably won't go like I plan ;)

I not only want to find out what God's will is, but I want him to give me the grace to accept his plan for me.

That's hard.

But I'm trying to let go, and I'm trying to trust God.

"When you're a kid, they tell you it's all... grow up, get a job, get married, get a house, have a kid, and that's it. But the truth is, the world is so much stranger than that. It's so much darker. And so much madder. And so much better."

-Doctor Who (Love and Monsters)

The World Spins Madly On

"May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you're wonderful, and don't forget to make some art -- write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself."

-Neil Gaiman

Goodbye 2013.

"Try to learn to breath deeply, really to taste food when you eat, and when you sleep, really to sleep. Try as much as possible to be wholly alive with all your might, and when you laugh, laugh like hell. And when you get angry, get good and angry. Try to be alive. You will be dead soon enough."

-Ernest Hemingway

November and Fasts

"It was November- the month of crimson sunsets, parting birds, deep, sad hymns of the sea, passionate wind-songs in the pines. Anne roamed through the pineland alleys in park and, as she said, let that great sweeping wind blog the fogs out of her soul." 

-Anne of The Island

It's November.

That in and of itself is completely shocking. It feels like it should still be the beginning of 2013. 

I'm not really ready for this year to come to a close. It's been perfectly lovely despite all of it's faults.

Starting tomorrow, I am beginning a 40 day fast with my bible study group.

I chose to fast from the internet (namely, Pinterest, Tumblr, Facebook, Instagram and Blogging). The fast will end on December 17th.

The goal of this is to fast from anything you're putting before God in your life, and social media is definitely one of them for me.

I'd appreciate prayers through these 40 days.

Much love, and I'll talk to you all soon, much closer to Christmastime than it is now :)

Simply Autumn

"Ask her what she craved, and she'd get a little frantic about things like books, the woods, music, plants and seasons. Also freedom."

-Nightwoods - Charles Frazier

This fall is absolutely gorgeous.

The leaves took a while to turn, but it was worth it, because now the colors are simply stunning. I don't have much to write about, but I just had to share that photo.

You also might have noticed my new blog design?

I'm so super duper excited about it.

Rose from Rosey Red Designs designed it for me and I couldn't be happier.

It's absolutely perfect.

Thanks again, Rose!!

<3

Homemade Nutella "Latte"

I'd like to start out by saying it's not really a legitimate latte. 

A latte requires steamed milk and also espresso.

I have neither a steam wand or an espresso machine.

So this isn't a genuine latte, but it's a pretty good imitation for those overcast days when you really don't feel like leaving the house and heading to the local coffee shop.

If today is one of those days for you, or you are anticipating a day such as this in your future... well then, this recipe is for you.

Nutella "Latte"

1 mug

1/3 milk

1/2 tbsp cocoa powder

Desired amount of Nutella (I used a spoonful)

White, Milk or Dark Chocolate Chips (I used a broken up dark chocolate bar)

A strong cup of coffee.

Whipped cream (homemade or Ready Whip will work)

Sea Salt

Start out by brewing a pot of strong coffee (or if you have a Keurig or another single cup coffee maker, brew a stronger cup!)

Pour the milk in a small pot. Heat the milk. DO NOT let milk boil. If you boil the milk it will be ruined. Just heat the milk. The hot coffee will make the drink hot, don't risk burning the milk.

Carefully add the cocoa powder to the heating milk. Stir until completely dissolved. Add the Nutella. Stir again.

Now add your chocolate-y milk to the cup of coffee (be sure there's enough room in your mug. Spills are no fun).

You are ready to top your "latte" off. This is the fun part. Be creative.

I added whipped cream first, then I broke up my dark chocolate bar and put it on top. Then I also sprinkled a few white chocolate chips on top, and ground some sea salt on top of it all.

You are now ready to enjoy your own pseudo latte!

If you made any changes to the drink comment and let me know! I'd love to try them out :)

How We Have Loved

Last night someone said something to me that really made me stop and think.
We had just finished a bible study that focused on where we take our identity from. After the study everyone was standing around and talking to each other. I don't quite remember what the conversation was about, but I vaguely remember one of my friends mentioning Facebook, and then this one person walked up to us and said: "Well Hannah is obsessed with politics. You can tell from her Facebook posts."

I was quick to defend myself and say that was just what I chose to use Facebook for, that I wasn't obsessed with politics. But what that person said stuck with me for the rest of the night and into this morning. 

I might know that I'm not obsessed with politics, but what kind of image am I giving out? What am I telling people that my identity is in?

I'm not saying that I'm going to stop posting about politics on Facebook, no, I'll continue because it's an area that I believe God is calling me to. I believe he's given me this passion for a reason. Politics is an area that needs light just like any other area.

But I had to ask myself, is that what I want people to see me as? I might not take my identity from political activism, but is that what the people around me think?

The things of this world will all fade away. All of them. In the end the only thing that matters is how much we loved God and how much we loved others.

Elections don't matter. News stories don't matter. Honestly, politics don't really matter at all.
It's what I choose to do about them that matters.
How I take these things and use them to love people is what matters.

My identity doesn't come from being a political activist. My identity comes from Christ.
And I want people to see that.
Because really, that's all that matters.

"But our citizenship is in Heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." 
-Philippians 3:20

Hopeless Wanderer

"So leave that click in my head, and I won't remember the words that you said, left a clouded mind and a heavy heart, but I was sure we could see a new start.

So when your hope's on fire, but you know your desire. Don't hold a glass over the flame, don't let your heart grow cold, I will call your by name, but I will share your road. But hold me fast, hold me fast. 'Cause I'm a hopeless wanderer.

I wrestled long with my youth, we tried so hard to live in the truth. Do not tell me all is fine, when I lose my head, I lose my spine. 

So leave that click in my head, and I won't remember the words that you said. You brought me out from the cold, now, how I long, how I long to grow old."

It's been a great fall so far.

*note, some photos were taken on the iPad ;)

Glittering eyes

My niece Cherry-Beth :) 

I took SO many pictures, so I'm limiting myself to three right now.

"And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."

-Roald Dahl

And all at once, Summer collapsed into Fall.

Except it's not really fall yet.

But that's okay.

It's close enough to Fall to count.

Weather wise, it's been incredible here. So, yeah, Fall enough to count.

It's been busy.

New bible studies. School. Fun with friends. Football games.

It's been wonderful.

I'll miss the Summer, but not really, because I like Fall 10x better.

I'm ready for it.

"And all at once, Summer collapsed into Fall."

Be wholly alive

"Try to learn to breath deeply,

really to taste food when you eat,

and when you sleep, really to sleep.

Try as much as possible to be wholly alive with all your might,

and when you laugh, laugh like hell. 

And when you get angry, get good and angry.

Try to be alive."

-Ernest Hemingway

{photo taken on my front porch a few days ago}

Senior: Jesse Meeks

Did a few senior pictures of one of my best friends, Jesse, today.

Isn't she gorgeous? :)

"What color is in a picture, enthusiasm is in life."

-Vincent Van Gogh

which is your favorite? I can't decide between the first one and the last one.

{laughed in my pretty bed of green}

 "I was a little girl,

alone in my little world,

Who dreamed of a little home for me.

I played pretend between the trees, 

and fed my house-guests bark and leaves,

and laughed in my pretty bed of green.

I had a dream,

that I could fly from the highest swing.

I had a dream."

-Priscilla Ahn 

'Dream'

{Pictured are my nieces Grace (4) and Faith (2). They are absolutely my most willing models.}

Letting Go

"We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us."

-Joseph Campell

{There were butterflies all over the yard this morning. Had to get some pictures :D}