Sunflowers and Willows

     Every year Shelby Farms, a local mega park, has sunflowers that bloom for about a week and a half each summer. I have been waiting for the sunflowers to bloom. Last Saturday as I was driving to work I was looking for them where they should be, and sure enough there they were! I may or may not have shrieked when I saw them... Either way, I was super excited to see them.
    I asked my best friends if we could go take pictures in them, and of course they were up for it. :) It was hard to pick just a few but this is what I came up with. Enjoy!

My Own Little Africa

     Let's face it. I'm a book worm. I usually have a list of books that I want to read, and this summer was no exception.  One of the books on that list was Kisses From Katie. I started reading it and was about half way through when I had to take it back because it was overdue, and someone had a hold on it. :/ I will finish reading it sometime soon. 
     Anyway, what I did read, I loved.  I've wanted to visit Africa since I was in middle school, so reading about a girl from Tennessee moving to Africa was right up my alley.  Katie kept talking about how much these precious children needed; things that I take for granted everyday.  She talked about how it only takes about $20 to send a child to school. They need school supplies, clothes, food, and love. 
     The entire time I was reading the book I was thinking, "I am such a loser... I have done nothing to make an impact in people's lives or to show people Christ's love." While I couldn't put the book down, I wanted to throw it across the room because it made me feel bad about myself.  She kept quoting the verse from Luke 12:48b, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more." This bothered me as I thought about how much I have been given from God that I don't do anything with. I'm hoarding my blessings. I have been given a lot of time, love, friendship and material items. I began to wonder, "What can I do? I can't go to Africa, so how am I suppose to help these children?!" Then God showed me the answer.
     It was very clear, "Hannah, you have your own little Africa right here where you live. You don't have to travel to Africa to minister to people who are hurting and in need of daily essentials and love." I began thinking about just how similar my "Africa" is to Katie's Africa.  While our public school system allows students to go to school, they often cannot afford school supplies for a basic education.  Like in Africa, a lot of children live with their grandmas because there parents cannot properly take care of them.  Some grandmas are raising six children, just like grandmas in Africa. Our public school system provides students with Free and Reduced breakfast and lunches because for most students in that area, that is the only meals they will get for the day.
      I knew what I had to do. I have to get involved in this community. As I was talking with one of my best friends, who had recently been to this particular area on a mission trip, I was reassured as to what I should do; help. My friend Kristina told me that these kids would come to the Backyard Bible Club without shoes. I was blown away that some children here in Memphis do not have shoes to wear in the summer! I would expect this in a developing place like Africa, but not in a big city like Memphis!
     In her book, Katie said something about now that people know, they have a responsibility to do something about it.  That is how I feel.  I know the need, and through God's help and grace I can try to meet it, even if it is a little bit.  I am hoping this fall when school starts back, I will be able to tutor students in this area of need, love on them, and show them the love of Christ.
     I have my own little Africa to love right here in Memphis, and a new journey to continue.

I have been given much, therefore I have much to give. 

* To follow Katie's blog go here.

Two Hours Wasted

For those of y'all that still follow my blog, yes I am alive! I would have updated earlier, but my computer is broken...again. I'll post about the past semester later once it is up.  However, now I have a funny story to share. Enjoy!

I have a slight major addiction to Pinterest. I don't know why, it is just the same thing over and over again, but now that I have my iPhone, I'm on there constantly .... It's bad... Anyhow! One of my boards is a craft board with numerous things I'd like to make someday. So since today was Memorial Day, and I had nothing else to do, I thought I'd make this cute squirrel from a glove. Here is the link if you would like to try. Chipmunk softie

I spent two hours on this thing, expecting this to be the reality.

This is what I ended up with...........

Meet my Squirrel friend....

I hope you guys get a kick out of this as much as my family and I did!

Happy Memorial Day!

Break It Down

I have now started back to my school for my second semester. :)

I'm a horrible blogger since I meant to blog over winter break, but sadly, I didn't quite get around to it.

I had other things to do, like mainly lie around and do nothing...

For starters, I actually tried to make something I found on Pinterest...

A cardigan out of a t-shirt...

I think I should try again...

But there are a few things I did so I shall tell you in pictures.



Of course, we had Christmas.

We wore out footie pajamas :)

Buzz Lightyear showed up for a while, and hasn't been around sense...

On a more serious note, I attended and was in a wedding on New Year's Eve.

My grandpa's wedding.

It was simple with just the pastor and close family.

AWW!!

I now have new members of the family.

This is Emily, my new cousin.

And we also got a puppy.

His name is Johnny Mac.

Wednesday night my cousin was working around here so my mom and I went and brought him home.

He's always been my buddy.

Here we are in 1994. (ages 2 and 3)

Here we are on December 17th, 2011 standing in the exact same spot.

Ages 19 and 20

He'll always be my buddy. :)

Well, I'm now back in school.

I've been accepted into the Honors Program. I'm pretty stoked about that.

I have two teachers with accents... I am not stoked about that.

I had an interview for a job today, and God has blessed me by giving the job.

God is teaching me many things lately.

I'm SUPER stoked about that.

"Oh taste and see that the Lord is good." Psalm 34:8