Home

 The world glows,

awash with color

bright trees dancing 

in the epiphany

of wind and light.

I can't get enough of this

glorious outdoors

with the one splash of sun

that colors my back

warm.

With no deadlines

squeezing my creativity,

My eyes are finally open

To the beauty all around me.

I am free.

 I am home.

On Days like Today...

On days like today, I want to fly.

On days like today, I love romping with an adorable puppy and an equally adorable younger brother (just don't tell him I said that).

On days like today, I want to write outside in the wildness of the wind.

On days like today, I love alliteration.

On days like today, I wear bright colors and sunglasses.

On days like today, I love spending "girl time" with my Mom shopping. 

On days like today, I laugh because of the sheer joy of life.

On days like today, I wish I could capture the sunshine in a bottle.

On days like today, I experience a longing I can't explain.

On days like today, I am caught up in the ecstasy and beauty of life.

Still Sweet

You know what?

I'm back at college (I came back Monday), and even though things are crazy and sometimes I'm sad about leaving my family and friends back at home... life is still sweet. God has been overwhelmingly good to me here at Cedarville, and I'm only on my third day back!

So here's ten things that make my life sweet:

{1} Waking up
Yeah, you wouldn't think that would be on my happy list, would you? But even though I've been having to wake up earlier than break (6:30, usually), it is still good. Because instead of being jolted awake by my alarm, God has been gently waking me about twenty minutes before it. It is the most amazing thing to be wakened by God, and just to come before His throne in the first few minutes of my morning.

{2} The Tangled Soundtrack
This is my new go-to album for everything. Sad, sweet, peppy, dramatic... it's got it all!

{3} Inspiration
I'm constantly amazed by this, but even in the midst of all the business, in the midst of the craziness, my inspiration still flows! I've had thoughts for blog posts by the dozens, as well as some writing inspiration on my own stories. (Speaking of blog posts - watch out for a new meme I'll be introducing sometime the middle of next week!)

{4} The joy of studying the Bible
My day is simply not complete if I have not fed myself with at least a morsel of the most delicious and satisfying food ever - God's holy word.

{5} Playing in an ensemble
I'm playing a trio by Brahms with a violinist and a french horn player this semester, and I'm super excited! I love the sound of multiple instruments together... and this piece is gorgeous.

{6} Grand pianos to practice on!
Need I say more? ;)

{7} Relying on God 24/7
You wouldn't think this would be fun, but  in an amazing way, it is. It really reminds me about His sovereignty in my life... in everything.

{8} Haircut!
I'll show you a picture soon, hopefully - but I got it cut quite short (for me). ;)

{9} Hearing harmonies in my head
Seriously, this so amazing. As I'm singing in chapel I'll suddenly realize that I'm not singing the melody anymore - I'm singing some random harmony that I just hear in my head. It is so cool!

{10} The amazing blessing of knowing so many people who love me, care about me, and pray for me
And I think this is the sweetest of all.

What is Happiness? (Guest Post)

Happiness. 

I looked it up in the dictionary (which is something I rarely do with a word - so you should be proud of me), and evidently there are three separate definitions for "happiness". The first is Good-fortune, then Pleasurable satisfaction, and finally A state of well-being and contentment.

When I think of happiness - all three "types" rolled into one - the one of the first things that comes to mind is a memory from the last day of school before this past summer.  We had just finished all of our work for the year. My family and I were going out to dinner after my violin recital - a huge weight off of my shoulders.  All of us were laughing, joyful, so happy to be together.  And then, my mom and dad put the cherry on top of our perfect evening - they told us that Mom was expecting our fifth sibling the following February. 

This came as a huge surprise and blessing that we weren't at all expecting.  It seemed that it was God's will for us to have another baby, and we felt so honored.

But it wasn't to be.  It was the Lord's will that we have a fifth child in the family, but not one whom we would meet on earth.  He took Baby E, as I affectionately named our little sibling, up to Heaven in mid-July.  {I posted about it here, and again here, if you're interested.}

This was difficult.  So, so difficult.  I tried to look and think of it in an uplifting sense, but occasionally it was hard to do so. God had taken away something that was important to me.  It was hard to find happiness.   Everything was so far from "fortunate" or "satisfactory."

And yet...I somehow still felt a strange sence of joy.  Deep down, I felt God's love in my heart.  I felt Him telling me that it was okay, that He had a plan, that everything was under HIS control.  And I felt content.  I felt that "state of well-being" from the dictionary.  I felt happy.

In any circumstance, you can find happiness.  Somewhere.  It may not be pleasurable, you may not be feeling fortunate, but you can always find joy.  God's joy.  The beautiful, contenting happiness of His Love.

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Hey, I'm Hannah...a daughter, sister, friend, homeschooler, photographer, blogger, dancer, and princess of Christ. I am constantly finding beauty in the mundane (and the not-so-mundane) and capturing it with my camera.  I'd be blessed if you visited and got to know me - I blog at Hannah's Hangout - The Writings of a Christian Girl as well as at my photography bog, Clicked and Captured.

Happiness In Every Direction

I decided to link up to Carlotta's blog hop about Happiness - because I truly have a whole lot to be happy for!

First off, Awel Prince asked me to be a guest poster on her blog, and I posted my blog post today! I felt very honored that she asked me to post on such a beautiful blog as hers. Click on the button she made to go and see what I posted:




Secondly, because of my birthday yesterday, I feel extremely happy, joyful, ecstatic, filled... and the adjectives could go on. I felt so loved and blessed it was beyond belief. :D

I had a small party with my good friends, and truly had a blast. We did everything that I love to do - had a photoshoot, ate a scrumptuous dinner of chicken pot pie (my favorite meal ever) with apple pie made by yours truly for dessert, did some writing, and sang & played music for each other. It was such a fun time - and I think the thing that made it the most special was that each of these girls that I love dearly got along so well! Though my friends are few, each of them is a treasure to me. God has brought each of them into my life for a reason, and I am so glad to have had this blessed time with them before going off to college!

We did something really special after dinner where my friends and family wrote little messages to me on long strips of paper, and then rolled them up and put them into little pill capsules. This will be such a blessing to me when I'm away at college and feeling homesick or lonely or just down. I can just take a "pill" and read a special message from a special person to cheer me up. :D

And the thoughtful, sweet post my friend wrote for me yesterday plus the birthday wishes you all posted for me were just the icing on my cake! Thank-you, my friends. You are all so sweet. :)

God really blessed me over and abundantly yesterday, to the point where I wondered how I could ever feel any more blessed and loved. And I know He will continue to bless me in the year to come as I seek His face.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. ~Psalm 23:6