Graced with Grace

  Hi Friends! I know I don't really use this blog anymore, but with me about to publish a novella, I thought I might as well post here, as well, in case I have people who follow me here and don't realize I blog mostly here . But yes, I am publishing a novella called, Falling for the Farmer! Here is the Synopsis: Annabelle Stuart made the mistake of falling in love with her brother’s best friend. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to notice her beyond being Austen’s little sis. Annabelle becomes a roller coaster of emotions as she attempts to be just friends with a guy she loves dearly. Can she put her ultimate hope in Christ even if her romantic dreams never turn out the way she hopes? Cash Reagan may be muddling in self-pity a little too long when a broken engagement breaks his heart. When he is finally awakened to the condition of his wayward heart, Cash seeks to rebuild his walk with God. But as his relationship with God deepens, so does a relationship with a dear friend. Can he...

 Surprise! I know I never post on here anymore, but when you publish your first short story on Amazon Kindle you kind of have to post about it on every blog you can. So yes, I published a short story on Amazon Kindle. Synopsis Ella has narrowly escaped a fatal marriage once, but she plans to never be caught in that web again. It’s been easy to evade the young men of her church so far, but Joe is different.  Can Ella keep avoiding the ever-persistent Joe, especially when she knows her own heart is pulled toward him? Can she trust Joe and, more importantly, can she trust God? Is she willing to face her fears or will she continue to run, breaking more hearts than one? You can purchase it on Kindle for 0.99 cents or read it on Kindle Unlimited for free. If you read it and like it, please tell your friends and post a review on Amazon! Go check it out Here .

At the beginning of the week, Tyler and I went to the Mediterranean sea in Tel Aviv to enjoy the sun, beach, and water. It was a beautiful day to walk barefoot in the sand and the water wasn't too cold either. This is an odd sort of boat. We really aren't sure what it is for, so I took a picture of it. I love seeing all the boats. In one direction you face the city and all the buildings. On the other side is water as far as the eye can see.

If you did not notice already, I do most of my blog writing at my new blog. But Weebly is not really great for posting pictures, so I thought I would do a picture post here on this blog. Here are several pictures from my most recent adventures to Masada with my husband and our Historical Geography class. It was so refreshing to get out of the city and be in nature even though it was very desert like, dusty, and hot. Enjoy the photos and if you wish to read about more of my adventures in Israel, random thoughts, Poems, journalings, etc, go to my other blog here . However, if you don't care for reading, but do enjoy all the pictures, I may continue to post pictures here from time to time. The Sunset was so beautiful over the city. One of the Roman camps surrounding Masada. There wasn't a chance of Winnie the Pooh missing out on our most recent adventures at Masada, so here you find him basking in the sun among all the ancient ruins. The...

Dear Lovely Readers of Graced with Grace, As every ambitious young writer does, I have started a new blog. So if you would wish to continue following the writings and thoughts of Hannah please go visit my new blog at the following URL https://dancinandreamin.weebly.com/ Yours Truly, Hannah Grace

Sometimes life looks a little bit like this. I crochet while he reads. Quiet mornings where we can sit close.  

      When I read a good book, I wish I could write as good a book; Be as excited to read my own writing, As the authors I love and admire For their own art of words. When I read a good book, And I laugh and I cry Or I feel just the same way As the author has described But I could never have known To say it in that way, Even though it describes me perfectly. And maybe I am a little jealous For not having thought of it first. When I read a good book And the words they use Are way beyond my own vocabulary use, Yet because they use it well, I still know what it means. And then I wish I could use those words In my own writing, But thy never seem to flow as well. Or I read a good book, Then I try to write, But end up staring for far too long At a white blank screen Till I give up And leave writing To those who really know how, And begin to wash the dishes instead.  

  Colors of calm quietude, Dreamy waters, The still evening air, Closing an another summer day.   Skies of soft purple hues, Sun slipping behind horizon, Gentle whispers of the wind, Another day's end.   Perfect tranquility, Reflections, Grace from the heavens For this day's beginning to end.  

The lonesome person, the loner, and the lone person; they sound a bit alike, but they're all a little different. The lonesome person. I see them on the street walking past or sitting quietly watching passer-bys. They may not even be sitting alone, but they're still a lonesome person. I see it in the eyes. They're sad. They live in a different world. Maybe a world they used to know, or a world they've always wished for and never had, but they're lonesome and can't get out of it. They live by themselves even though they may be surrounded by people. Maybe they plug their ears with music to block out the noise in their own confused head. But their lonesome and they don't want to tell you. They do and they don't chose this life. Its not that they like being lonesome, but they just are. Maybe they've lived to long in bitterness and hate. Or maybe it was a life of pain and hurt, so they run from it all and hide within. Maybe their lost and can't ...

    I think I would sometimes like to blame my lack of writing on a big boisterous city that casts a shadow over my creative writing skills. I am convinced that it is the fresh country air that gives breath to beautiful writing. But there is always excuses of one kind or another to ignore the pen and paper.   And then again, maybe I never had that skill of writing and only dreamed I did. Or maybe I did, but it is all over and gone to the wind. Or maybe still it is yet there and you have yet to see what I can produce.   I still have a tiny bit of a dream that I will some day write a book and then again I really don't know that I want to.   Its kind of the same as I feel about farming. I have always had this romanticized view of authors and farmers and thought to myself that someday I should be one. Well, I will probably never be a farmer; I gave up that dream long ago.   But there still flickers a flame o...

Short moments away I will no longer be single....     ...at last joining hands and becoming one with this man. On May 25, 2018 I married my best friend and only a week before that, I graduated from Bethlehem College and Seminary. A lot of people warn the bride and groom that their wedding day will be a fog, a whirlwind. But although the day was full, from getting ready in the morning, pictures, the ceremony itself, greeting all the guests, and at last leaving, yet my husband and I look back on that day with pure delight. Everything was beautiful and in my eyes it was perfect. I will love looking back for years to come on that beautiful hot yet happy spring day. I will want to tell my children all the little details of that wedding, from the sunflowers and daisies, to the food and the root beer floats, the family and friends that surrounded us. Now here I am a couple weeks later, sitting quietly in my first little apartment with my husband, satisfied tha...

What better day to write a love story than today. We met about three years ago. The exact details of our very first meeting I don't remember very well because it wasn't exactly love at first sight for either one of us. He was a young happy freshman while I was a sad despondent old junior. It wasn't too long before we became friends though. He started serving in the kitchen with me, and became a sweet fragrance of joy and youth in my weary sad drained life. It seems that the kitchen is a fitting place for two people to fall in love. I am sure he will never forget the many gifts of "love" I gave him as a dishwasher. Yes, I brought him so many dishes which I pointedly told him was "from the bottom of my heart...... where all the dirt lies." What could get more romantic than that? Right?!?!?! So we became friends. We played pranks. We did parties. We ate food. And we started sharing each others coffee drinks. (gross!) And I became madly in lo...

  I wouldn't change anything From the laughter to the tears. Every little memory counts, Every little memory makes A year to remember.   Sledding with my sisters, Baking sweet aroma and enjoying every bite. Drawing with children Or snuggling a sleeping little one On my shoulder. Fellowship with friends around A crowded table. Learning, and reading, And drinking coffee to stay awake. Flowers of sunshine on sick days. A brothers wedding. More sunshine for a weary heart. The skies that radiate the glory of God And proclaim his promises and love From day to day. Friends to hold me tight when tears fall fast. Waiting on God's will. Learning to trust him more. Friends getting married. A sister's wedding too. Working hard out doors And getting dirty. Working along side my best friend. Courting the man of my dreams. Learning to be loved And to love and to live in grace.  A sweet friend and a waffle date. ...

    Time might erase some things, But it can’t erase everything. It can’t ever erase your smile from my heart Or the joy that once You brought into my life, The dance that you put in my steps And the twinkle you put in my eyes.   Time may erase some things, But it can’t erase the memory of you From my mind. I may grow old and grey, wrinkled and lame, Or I might die while still very young, But time won’t erase your face Etched into my heart.   Time may erase some things, But it can never erase The love that I had for you. And I know that I never loved you As well as I have learned to love another, But it was you who taught me More about love and to love more.   It was you who taught me What it looks like to fight and fight hard, To not give up, And to laugh when life brings pain. You taught me life is too short ...

    Snow covered earth, Trees sprinkled white. Gentle songs of Christmas Playing all day long. Sitting by the fire, Reading quietly. Winters stillness, Softest whispers of grace. Season to remember   The Messiah’s birth.

  *Note: This is another blog post that I wrote a while ago, but never posted. Yet I have found it encouraging in this particular season of my life, so I think now is a good time to share it.     Life can be quite the mystery sometimes. Walking in grace, also holds mysteries. Living in grace means being committed to trusting Christ in all of life circumstances, but sometimes life circumstances just don’t make sense. And sometimes life circumstances throw pain right in the face; cold water in the middle of winter. But in the end we, you and me, still cling to grace and still trust that our heavenly father knows it all and cares. We must look crazy to the world. To trust and to abide in his perfect peace even though life really isn’t so simple, so peaceful sometimes and life really hurts sometimes and life is just plain confusing or messy and mysterious. It seems crazy to be at peace in it all. It seems crazy, but he’s got it all and he knows it al...

I wrote this almost exactly two years ago, but never shared it. It seems fitting to post it now almost two years later from when it was pinned. I changed a few things from the original and added the last stanza tonight. But waiting sometimes feels so long. So she buried her head in her covers She wept on her bed late at night.   I wish and I hope….. but I stop myself there, No more wishing nor hoping! Aren’t we to enjoy the now? Aren’t I to love what I am given instead of always wishing?   But still my heart hopes and I cannot change that. But waiting sometimes feels so long, And the pain feels too strong and I feel so alone.   I can shut out the emotions, it works for a time. I turn out the light and it grows dark inside. Can anyone see me here, can anyone understand?   I’ve lived too long, but I’ve lived too short. My life is a contradiction, a dance, a song, A heart break, a mistake...

A dozen roses from my dear Beau!       Enjoying crocheting a blanket in what little spare time I have.

She said, "I can wash these hands And make them pure again." So she washed and washed and washed Her blood stained hands But nothing could remove the blood from them. She said, "We will wash and make these hands Cleans again." But it could not be done, The blood remained. We say, "We can wash And make ourselves clean again." We wash and scrub and try to clean Those blood stained hands, These blood stained filthy rags of ours, But nothing we do can wash us clean. We work hard and try to do good. We try to make wrongs right again, But nothing we do can make us pure within. Another's blood must be spilled for us. Pure blood, righteous blood, Must be shed for her, For you, for me. He can wash us with his Own shed blood, His pure and holy blood, And make us pure again. No amount of self cleaning Could cleanse her blood stained hands Unless they are washed In the holy blood of Jesus Christ, Because he could make her w...

  This summer was full of new adventures, new beginnings, joyous celebrations, dreams coming true, hard work, and long quiet days learning to rest in Jesus more. My sweet friend from North Carolina, whom I have known since infanthood, got married in May. I myself, started courting a kind, godly, tenderhearted, young gentleman at the end of May. I worked landscaping during the month of June. Then went home for the month of July to spend time with my family before my sister, Priscilla, married the man of her dreams at the beginning of August. I started my senior year of college, while my middle sister started her freshman year. I turned 24 at the end of last week, which was actually quite exciting, but only because my sweet beau made it a very special day to be remembered forever, otherwise, 24 isn’t too remarkable. ;) Busy as this summer has been, it has also been a very special season to me. Starting a courtship relationship with one of my best friends of the last two...