Graced with Grace

  Being the southern gal that I am, I have a deep appreciation for the southern culture. And that appreciation and love has only grown over the years especially through the past four years when I moved up North for college and have been able to recognize and take notice of things I may not have noticed if I had not been able to have the experience of a different culture to compare my southern culture to. There are some things about the south that are just stereo types, what everyone not from the south imagines it to be like. Such as, grandmas and grandpas rocking on the rockers on the front porch. Ok, so that actually isn’t necessarily a stereo type because that is actually real. There are particular houses way out in the country that I enjoy passing because there will often be some elderly folks sitting outside in chairs or rockers waving to every car that drives by. But more recently I was attending a small church fellowship event in which I didn’t know many o...

A restless mind and a worried heart, Time is an enemy, life is pain. Worries, and fears – it’s useless but still I persist. Two weeks to crumble, two weeks to break. Will I make it or break it, the question still stands. With fiery eyes and stubborn chin, besides all that Life persists. So tenaciously I cling. Cling to Life, to living Water, Daily Grace, Christ my Savior. Finals upon us, fears of failure, but   Grace persists. Curl up in bed, pretend to sleep off the dread. Nothin’ can stop what lies ahead. Frantically finishing last assignments because They persist. To laugh or to cry, not sure of which to do. Laugh because I can’t, or cry because I can’t, Or DO what I must because I must because Finals persist. I can’t or I can is not the question. I fail or I pass, but God’s grace still lasts Miracles still happen when finals week comes. Miracles exist.

Working at a Lebanese owned market and deli has provided me with some interesting experiences, given me the chance to try some unique salads and foods, and made me laugh more than once or stand in complete confusion, as one of the stories I am about to narrate will reveal. But first unique foods... Stuffed Grape Leaves. How many of you know what that is? Ok, so maybe some of you actually know, but I personally had never heard or seen it until I began this job over the summer. And being the sort of girl who is timid in trying new things if it looks at all unusual, I hesitated to try this curious delicacy. Well, a co-worker convinced me to give it a try in my first month or so at the job, but I have refrained from tasting it since, not that it was completely awful, but you get what I mean. Well, today I have been won. The chef had just made a fresh batch yesterday and we pulled them out of the refrigerator today to set out, but she first had to try one because, of cour...

Sometimes life is crazy and hard and full of adult stuff. But sometimes its nice to just enjoy life ( not that you can't enjoy life while doing adult stuff, but maybe instead being an adult while using the eyes and heart of a child). Tonight was one of those nights. Today, after getting off from work and turning my paper in on time and taking a shower because work is gross and running to the store to get groceries, after all of that, I decided it was high time I made Sugar Cookies. When it comes to Christmas activities and Christmas music and Christmas baking, things just don't stay in their place for me. For example, I sing Christmas music all year long, I will make Sugar Cookies with Christmas themed Cookie cutters anytime I wish to, if I want eggnog in the middle of summer I will just make it (that hasn't actually ever happened, but it will one day....). December is far too busy a month to squeeze all the best activities and songs and best everything into, so ther...

-That moment when you realize you can probably see more clearly without your glasses on than with them on because they are so dirty. -That moment when you suddenly realize you have said "yes" to way too many things and also realize that you are still just as human as you were before and begin to wonder if it is humanly possible to do everything you had said "yes" to do. Yikes!!! -That moment in Greek class when your professor says something about the second person plural and singular being confusing because it is both translated as "you" and the southern girl thinks, "uh, no it ain't! 'You' is singular and 'ya'll' is plural." (Don't worry, I didn't say it out loud. ;) -That moment when you drive all over town trying to find a place to park, just so you can run into a friend's house to grab a book and leave again. -That moment when you burn your lip from a fork that you try to eat off of after just ho...

I have a confession. Ok, not really a confession because just about everyone who actually knows me knows it and I am not ashamed of it, but.... I have an obsession, of sorts, with Winnie the Pooh! Yes, go ahead and laugh, but seriously, I kind of like him a lot (ok, not as much as Cowboys, but that is a different story). So my car has a little Winnie the Pooh hanging on the mirror and he basically is my friend that accompanies me on all my road trips and road adventures of getting lost (happens a lot). So, whether you like it or not this post is Winnie the Pooh quotes. I probably just scared away half my readers, but you know if you can't put up with my Winnie the Pooh obsession for just one day than that is really just too bad. Be thankful I did not decide to do a Seven Brides for Seven Brothers post instead. I would understand if you left me after that. That would be the testing of whether we are true friends or not, but this time I am just sticking with Winnie the Po...

    Staring at a blank white paper, No words to put down. My mind is running with rambling thoughts, But nothing coherent to say.   I thought about posting, But quickly cast aside that dream. No words, no inspiration Came entering into my brain that day.   Lots has taken place this week, Including a birthday, summer fun ending, School starting back again, Fears and trepidations, hopes shining ray.   New beginnings, n ew adventures, New fears, But grace never ending. New friends, new memories, Fun times and hard times along the way.     -Hannah- August 28, 2015         *Oh, the irony of drinking English Breakfast tea at 11 o'clock at night and, oh, such a fatal slip.  

The four random facts post. Randomness #1: My sister just recently started her own blog. So if you enjoy poetry and excellent writing skills, I would recommend you hop on over and visit her blog here at Ruhamah and the Spikenard . ;) Randomness #2: Now this randomness will hopefully give you a little laugh. For a little background, I am a full-blooded North Carolina Southern girl living in Minnesota and do not remain silent about being from NC. So speaking to one of my coworkers, I randomly stated, "Its 1:11". My coworker, a bit confused (since I did say it literally out of nowhere), says, "What does that mean? Is that some kind of North Carolina slang or something?". Haha! No its simply the time. ;) Randomness #3: I love that God can use me in ministries that most people would consider ridiculous for me to even attempt. Several years ago I went on a medical missions trip to the Dominican Republic. Now for your information, I get nauseated really easily over...

  Sometimes I realize I have been in search of something I didn’t even realize I was in search of. I was in need of answers, comfort, hope through a dream, yet little did I know I was in need of any of these things. Walking along the shores of Long Beach Island I noticed a couple ladies and girls picking up sea shells as if there was no tomorrow. Knowing that the shells on this particular beach has been picked clean of its beauteous shells, I was only slightly confused about the excitement these ladies showed, until I looked down at my own feet. Then everything came to light. There at my feet lay dozens of Sand Dollars scattered across the shore to my extreme amazement and complete confusion. I wasn’t even sure that I should trust the realness of the occasion, but gently bent down and picked up one, tenderly holding it in my hands and then knew it had to be real. Now to some, a Sand Dollar may seem of little significance, but to me it was a childhood dream come to fruition...

    When I was younger, I wished for the years to fly. I wished to be older. Never satisfied. Now that I am older, I sometimes want to be That little girl again, To play in the dirt, To pick the daisies, Not a care in the world for me. I still am not satisfied, Still have not learned to be content. Always wishing for what I do not have. Always wanting more, Or always wanting less. Wanting back what has already passed Or wishing for the future to hurry up. Never satisfied. But it won't do any good to wish It won't bring back the yesterday And won't bring tomorrow any faster. But today I have And I can live today. I may not have tomorrow. I 'll never have back the day before. But today I have, So I'll live today Like there is no tomorrow And with no regrets of yesterday, Learning from my mistakes Of the day before And rejoicing in the gift of now.       

The trees garnished with green. It makes my heart begin to sing. Even though dark days cover my soul, Because of Crime and Punishment I must read for school. Yet sunshine speaks through the cloudy sky As it imparts windows of light And sweet fragrance of hope appear in sight.

Procrastination/College life I write a poem check my email Just to pass the time Read another blog post Play around Waste some time everything will be just fine because      tomorrow We've always got tomorrow Tomorrow comes But I've got tomorrow So I'll just wait a little longer I'll bake some cookies Write a letter Clean the house And smile because because      tomorrow There is always another tomorrow Tomorrows come and go And I have nothing to show I did a little here I did a little there I read a little Slept a little But still no paper I fear because      tomorrow I said there was another tomorrow There is no more tomorrows My paper is due today I panic I cry I say I'm gonna die I wasted all my tomorrows And I still don't have a paper because      tomorrow came and went now it is today.  

Sometimes I see someone who just doesn't smile; that person who just doesn't know how to see anything good or happy in life, but is always and forever bemoaning the trials of life. When I see a person like that, I then set my heart to make that person smile even if it's the last thing that I do on this earth. Sometimes there is victory. Such as passing a math test that I had been running from for the past two or so years, but finally turned around on it, faced it, and passed it by a hair, literally. Sometimes there are lovely days in Minneapolis in which I can take a pleasant walk to the Stone Arch Bridge, enjoying a gentle breeze and the kisses of the sunshine, while observing smiling faces, friendly chatter, a racing river, life in a big city. Sometimes I laugh too much and too hard, making a cough and sore throat linger for far too long, yet what is life without laughter!?! The world would be a dismal place, indeed, without the sound of laughter. Sometimes Sp...

I am sitting here at my kitchen table with the sunshine streaming through the window and surrounded by some of my favorite things. For the past couple hours I have been writing to friends from far away, friends who I have neglected, I must confess. School should not be an excuse for forsaking and neglecting good friends, so, my dear friends, I must apologize for neglecting you for so long. I am much grateful for lovely fall breaks that provide a time for recovering and an opportunity to remember once again my awesome friends and write numerous letters to dear ones around the world. So with colorful pens and paper I begin to write, a candle flickering and my tea cup of coffee (yes, I drink coffee from a tea cup and this is NOT the oddest thing I do.) within reach. I feel that the only thing I am missing is Peter Rabbit sitting on the table to cause a little mischief ( Beatrix Potter reference) and a quill pen with a bottle of ink to dip it in, but I...

Ever since I can remember being able to write, I have loved sending letters to friends from far and near. As a young girl, I always looked forward to and excitedly anticipated a letter in return which was part of my motivation for writing in the first place. But as I got older and those I wrote to got older, I knew that they may not have time to respond, but some how I knew that they would be blessed if I sent a letter anyway.  Writing handwritten letters through snail-mail may seem like an old fashioned, slow, and rather quaint past time communication. But I have been discovering, to my pure delight, that I am not the only one who wants to keep this old fashioned communication going.  There is true beauty, delight, warmth, joy, strength, and encouragement that can be found through simply writing a handwritten letter and sending it through the mail. There is beauty in the note card that was picked out for someone special. There is pure joy and del...

My little sister, Lydia, had a splinter in her toe this evening, so several of us all gathered around her ready to pull it out. My dad of course got out his knife, thinking that was clearly the best option. But I'll have you know, that she nor any of her sisters thought that was a good option. Known of us like the idea of having a knife digging into our foot, splinter or no splinter, thus, we all plead on her behalf. I stepped in and said I could pull it out with my fingers. So while I pull and push at it with my fingers, some are trying to comfort the poor girl and my dad is standing there insisting that he use his knife. In the meantime, Lydia, is making all kinds of funny noises and comments, because no matter how much pain she is in she always seems to say something funny and make us ( or at least me) laugh, even though we are trying to be all serious and be her doctor. Dad finally wins and gets to use his knife for a short time, but after a little bit of picking at it, I had ...

I feel like this blog has been rather neglected. Now that does not mean that I completely forgot about this little blog. It simply means that I haven't written on it in a long time. I have thought about writing, yet every time I think about it I either don't have the time at that exact moment to do it or else I run into the scenario that I ran into today. That is, I sit down to write and I stare and I stare and nothing ever gets written. I feel that I must write something completely genius for anybody to ever want to even consider glancing at this silly little blog. I couldn't imagine who in the world would even want to read this blog, especially if that which is written is not some marvelous post full of beauty and ingenuity. Sometimes when I write I feel that it must be so profound that it must bring my readers to tears or else to hysterical laughter. I sometimes feel that it should be such profound thoughts that everyone would want to quote me for decades t...

Dear Elisabeth, Happy birthday!!!!!! You probably thought I had forgotten what a gloriously special day it is, but hey, I remembered! It makes me smile to think that God gave me another little sister 17 years ago today. Another little baby to hold, another little sister to play with, a sister who is willing to laugh at all my crazinesses even if no one else laughs, a  sister who brightens my life with her laughter and makes me laugh even when I don't want to or else the sister I can make laugh when you don't want to. ;) There are very few people who understand my humor like you do and are willing to laugh with me. Sometimes all it took was to look at each other in the eyes and then we would lose it completely and start laughing hysterically. You not only bring much joy and laughter into my life, but you have taught me so much in life as well. You have taught me that it is ok to be myself and to be different from everyone else by your own example. You never seem...

Sometimes its the little things in life that make one happy, such as...a leaf! My roommate and I were very excited to find a brown leaf on the ground today in downtown Minneapolis. For your information, this is a rare and precious sight for this time of year.