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

First Semester Wrap Up

     I thought I would update about what I have done since my Thanksgiving post, so here we go!

• I've been hanging out with two of my very best friends, KP and Hal. I honestly have no idea what I would do without them. I am pretty sure that everyone thinks we are attached at the hip since we seem to go everywhere on campus together. And yes, sometimes we even dress alike...

We have decided that we are a package deal, we all come together.  Except when it comes to guys, then we're separate because we will NOT be sister wives. ;)

• Hal and I helped decorate Christmas cookies at the BCM on campus and helped deliver them to our sororities and fraternities. We decorated a lot of cookies, but had a lot of fun.



Most of the cookies

• We had our first snow. Class was not cancelled though. :(



From the dorm



• And last, but certainly not least, I completed my first semester of college. :) This first semester has been wonderful, and honestly, I kinda miss school, but I am defiantly appreciating break more than I ever have.

Something Tells Me...

     Something tells me I should clean my room... Maybe it is because this is what my room looks like...

That box is full of clean clothes that just need to be put away.



Those clothes on the couch, yeah, they need to be put away too...

 The fridge in the hallway is also a reminder that I should clean my room...

     So before you go jumping to conclusions about me being a total slob, let me explain.  I have moved out my dorm (bittersweet) since I can't afford to live there next semester.  That is why my room is a mess.  I have too much stuff and no idea where to put it.  Okay okay, the clothes go in the closet, but I just haven't gotten around to it. 

Oh wait! I did clean my desk off!Twice...

     The first time was because it was messy.  The second time was because I spilled water ALL over it.  Thankfully, the only place that was dry was around my laptop.  But sadly, the water spilled onto and into my rented textbook... That ruined my night. 

     Just thought I'd give you a lovely peek into my wonderfully messy life. :)

Thankfulness

For the month of November I thought I would keep a list of things God has blessed me with and I'm thankful for in a cute little notebook. Besides things I'm thankful for, I also wrote some Bible verses that deal with thankfulness, praise and things God is teaching me in my life.  So today, since I'm bored out of my gourd, I thought I'd post all of them on here with some pictures from this month.  I will post them by each day of the month that I wrote. Some days, I only listed one thing, other days I filled up the whole page.  I pray that as you read through these you will think of all your blessings and thank God for them. Oh! Happy Thanksgiving!!

• I'm thankful for college so I can have an education.
• I'm thankful for friends who love and support me.

•   I'm thankful for the BCM
•  I'm thankful we can worship without persecution.

•  I'm thankful my mom chose life.
•  I'm thankful for the many women who have taught me and supported me. 
• I'm thankful for God's perfect holy word and forgiveness.

Psalm 32:1

"How blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sin is covered!"

• I'm thankful for the strength and courage God gives.
• I'm thankful for church leaders who love and care for their members.
• I'm thankful for the sweet children who attend the school I tutor at and how they are excited to see me and tell me their stories with such excitement.
• I'm thankful for the fall leaves and how beautiful it looks as you drive down the highway.

• I'm thankful for God's peace.
• I'm thankful for my mom and how I can tell her everything.
• I'm thankful for God's word.

Psalm 40:1-3

"I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and trust in the Lord."

• I'm thankful for our pastor.
• I'm thankful for David (my step dad). I don't know what I would do without him.
• I'm thankful for my sister and how we are becoming friends instead of sisters.



• I'm thankful for my little brother and what a blessing he is to me.

• I'm thankful I was able to be sick at home instead of the dorm.
• I'm thankful for cool pens that make writing fun.
• I'm thankful for Netflix so I have something to do while I'm sick.
• I'm thankful for Hal and KP who have checked on me to make sure I was OK.

Psalm 65:4

"How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You to dwell in your courts. We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple."

• I'm thankful for my little brother who holds my hand at night.
• I'm thankful for books.
• I'm thankful for my mommy.
• I'm thankful that God is sovereign and in control of all things.

• I'm thankful once again for Hal &KP.
• I'm thankful for my awesome Henna tattoo that helps me share the Gospel.

• I'm thankful for my rain boots.
• I'm thankful for how God knows what is best for my life.
• I'm thankful for Bake.
• I'm thankful for sleeping in, even though it means I miss a class.
• I'm thankful I can "study" with Mary Grace.
• I'm thankful for the smell of coffee.
• I'm thankful for getting out of class early.
• I'm thankful for God's amazing grace and strength.

My birthday cake

Psalm 66:16 and 20

"Come and hear, all who fear God, and I will tell of what he has done for my soul."

"Blessed be God, who has not turned away my prayer nor His lovingkindness from me."

• I'm thankful for God's hope and peace He gives me.
• I'm thankful I'm redeemed through God's grace.
• I'm thankful God gives second chances and doesn't kill us right when we sin.
• I'm thankful for the good day I had tutoring.
•  

Psalm 67:1

"God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us."

• I'm thankful for Heaven and Jesus' return. How glorious it will be!
• I'm thankful for Granny and how wonderful she was.
• I'm thankful for all the things God has taught me this past year.
• I'm thankful for my super comfy bed.
• I'm thankful for razors so it's not "No-Shave November" all the time. ;)
• I'm thankful for my new huge desk.

• I'm thankful for another year.
• I'm thankful for God's super natural courage he gives to me.
• I'm thankful for answered prayers.
• I'm thankful for my wonderful church family.
• I'm thankful for my many friends that love me.
• I'm thankful for the youth minister and his wife and how much they have invested and impacted my life.
• I'm thankful for prayer.
• I'm thankful for dancing and laughter.
• I'm thankful for all the adorable things my little brother says.



• I'm thankful for David and how he loves me.
• I'm thankful that he helped me with math today.
• I'm thankful friendships can happen even if it's not the way you want it to be.
• I'm thankful that there are only two days of school this week.
• I'm thankful that I have so much to be thankful for!

Psalm 92:1

"It is good to give thanks to the Lord and to sing praises to Your name, O Lord High."

• I'm thankful that I have friends in my art class so I don't loose my mind.
• I'm super thankful that I was able to get the classes I wanted for next semester on the days and times I wanted. That was truly from God.
• I'm thankful for rain boots, umbrellas and my U of M sweatshirt, especially when they're together.
• I'm thankful for International Students.
• I'm thankful for the Gospel and how it changes peoples lives.
• I'm thankful for breaks from school.
• I'm thankful for rest, showers and beds.
• I'm thankful for my sock monkey footy pajamas.



Psalm 118:24

"This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

• I'm thankful for the faces around the dinner table today.



Thank you Lord for everything You have done for me.