Free Weekend!

Oh man, how I love free weekend! I remember, as a student, how I never understood why the staff would choose to stay on base and not go travel the great unknown. I mean, you're in flippin' New Zealand for cryin' out loud!
I understand now.
All I did was sleeeeeeeep. And it was glorious.
On Friday, Rebeka and I got the BEST CARE PACKAGE IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. Thank you Mamma! Seriously, chock full of goodies and treats and happiness that catalyzed me into my weekend of laziness. While the boys were out camping, hunting down and killing turkeys with their bare hands, the girls vegged out in from of the TV with cookies, Tim Tams, chippies, L&P, and lollies and watched hours of Anne of Green Gables and snuggled to our hearts' content. I went surfing with Joehelen and Barry on Saturday and then finished the beautifully long weekend with a tea party with the girls on Sunday afternoon.
Mmmm, lovely.
This school is moving along great! It's hard to believe that we're in week 10 - outreach in less than 3 weeks! Oh man, India is so close! We're still waiting on our visas - please continue to pray that they come in soon and all approved!
Ahhh! More to come!

Finally!

Oh man, sorry, I've been MIA since before I left Franklin for New Zealand! (Sorry Mom! You'll be happy to know I'm actually going to make an effort to write regularly!)
It's been the most craziest, hardest, most wonderful few months! I'm learning so much, in such a different way than I ever imagined I would. Being stretched, learning how to love, being humbled, all the while with this amazing peace inside me, embracing the grace He's constantly pouring out!
I love staffing, I love my leaders, I love my co-leaders, I love this school, I love my 1-on-1's, I love my outreach team! I'm so excited to be co-leading a team to India the beginning of December! We'll be ministering at an orphanage and surrounding villages as well as spending time at Mother Theresa's home! We're sending off our visas, so please be praying that the whole process goes smoothly and we all get entry! I think my favourite week thus far has been this past week - Lordship of Christ with Mark Parker. To be honest, on my DTS, I just didn't get this week.  I mean, I did with my brain. Kinda. But this week just smacked me in the face. In a good way of course! It humbled and affirmed me so much, I learned even more how to align my focus and perspective. I'm constantly learning how how to turn my focus outward. And then Tabernacle Day happened. Amazing things happen in hearts on this day, and some crazy physical things happen too! Part of Tabernacle Day is giving things away, giving an offering to God and giving to other extravagantly. I gave away a few things - the hardest one being a ring my 1-on-1 from my DTS gave me when I committed to Jesus a year ago. But another things I knew I was supposed to give away was my iPhone, which was less hard, but still hard because it's my connection to home, my connection to the outside world. But God is crazy and told a student to give me his brand-new iPhone 5 to replace it! HOW CRAZY IS THAT. Obedience can be so rewarding. In every area of life.
India profiles to come!

Today, I did absolutely nothing but everything at the same time.

Today, I got a taste of home.

Today, I told the world that I am going to India.

Today I cried like a proud mama.

Today, I learned how to let go.

Today, I serenaded the Creator of the Universe.

Today, someone told me that they want to be the best brother to me that I ever had.

Three Days

Three days.
Three days until Hokey Pokey ice cream, Tim Tams, L&P, and fish 'n chips.
Three days until lamburgers.
Three days until grilled cheeses again become toasties and and ketchup becomes tomato sauce. 
Three days until I see nothing but pure countryside and winding 2 lane roads.
Three days until all the farm animals I see are sheep.
Three days until I am never more than an hour from the seaside.
Three days until all humidity disappears.
Three days until rugby trumps football.
Three days until I can hear a haka.
Three days until I can order a proper flat white.
Three days until I have to specify Kiwi-fruit, Kiwi-bird, and just straight-up Kiwi people.
Three days until water drains and swirls the opposite way.
Three days until I drive on the left side of the road.
Three days until I again speak in metric terms, converting Celcius and Kilometers and Kilograms.
Three days until I am once again surrounded by a constant community of lovers of Christ.
Three days until I am in the land of Brooke Fraser, Flight of the Conchords, and Lorde.
Three days until I dream once again of being Lucy Pevensie forever living in Narnia.
Three days until I return to Middle Earth.


Three days until I come home.

Feelin'

I'm a feeler.
Which means I feel a whole heck of a lot more than I think.
And I think a lot.
I think it's one of those girl things, but it's a strong possibility that it's one of those Hannah things, that I can manage to lay awake for hours at nighttime, thinking, contemplating, praying, but when heavy emotion hits, in a moment, all my brain cells and thoughts fly straight out of my ears like an angry swarm of bees and I all I can seem to do is act on how I feel.
It can be a gift at times, when I choose joy, it can fill me all the way up and I seem a little silly with how happy I get! Seeing a dear friend, finding beauty in creation, hearing a song that just fills your soul with music - that's when I love being a feeler.
Sometimes, though, the simplest thing can happen to me or around me and it's like the world is caving in around me. I'm serious. Someone gets doesn't smile back at me when I take their coffee order or I drop my banana - these things can reduce me to tears! Ever seen that one episode of New Girl when it's Jess' time of the month and she is interviewing for a new job and then she sees a picture of a puppy in a cup and falls apart? 
Guys, it happens in real life.
Yesterday, my dad laughed so heartily at one of my stories that I actually had to hold back tears. And not tears of laughter. It was just so beautiful. *tears*
I had a guy friend ask how we girls could even possibly feel so much - and I automatically thought of Hermione's retort "Well just because you have the emotional range of a teaspoon!"

Now guys, I do believe you have feelings. I'm not man-bashing or trying to stereotype here, but, for some reason, God created women to feel stronger than men. We were taken from the rib, to protect the heart, to understand it, to feel the reflection of God's emotions. 
I imagine how fiercely I love people, how much my hurt can penetrate my heart, all these things, and then realize how much deeper God loves. I imagine the sting of a friend who blows me off and realize how much stronger is the wound He receives when I ignore Him. I imagine the joy I find in a simple purple flower, a small gift He gives me on an ordinary day and how much more joy wells up in Him when I merely whisper His name. 

And that's when I know, even when I can't feel Him. Those times when even my emotions run out and I feel so dry, I know that God is there and He does hear because He does feel and He gave it to me. 

Insomnia

Last night, I had one of my rare nights of insomnia. They seem to becoming less rare, happening once about every two weeks, and I'm beginning to wonder if it's more than just too much consumption of coffee or too many thoughts spinning in my head or some weird thing my body has decided to do to try and regulate my sleep. One of my mentors once shared her wisdom with me a while back, telling me that insomnia is sometimes God's way of getting us to talk to Him. It's something that, up until she told me that, I'd know with my head but not quite gotten with my heart. And so changed my prayer life. And up until last night, I didn't realize how my prayers have been me talking at God, not talking with Him. I have such a huge problem with receiving. Maybe it's because I tend to believe the lie that God doesn't actually have anything to give to me, maybe it's because I'm so focused on getting it out or striving to experience Him that I miss everything He has to give me entirely. Man, it's crazy how much I deprive myself of in my desire to show God that I deserve it; to show Him that I'm worthy of His attention, but it's crazy that I can't do anything to ever deserve anything from God! Everything He gives is a gift He desires to give us, not because I'm good or I do something right, but merely because I am His child and He created me to love Him and be loved in return. 
Woah.
I'm never gonna get my mind wrapped around that one. Who even dreams that up? 
So I prayed last night. Isn't crazy how we loose the art of conversation with the Creator of language and tongues? And I'm trying to learn how to receive.




NEW ZEALAND IN LESS THAN A MONTH.


here's a crazy sunset picture to be happy about.

Put Your Records On

Three little birds, sat on my window.
And they told me I don't need to worry.
Summer came like cinnamon
So sweet,
Little girls double-dutch on the concrete.

Maybe sometimes, we've got it wrong, but it's alright
The more things seem to change, the more they stay the same
Oh, don't you hesitate.

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.

Blue as the sky, sunburnt and lonely,
Sipping tea in a bar by the roadside,
just relax, just relax
Don't you let those other boys fool you,
Got to love that afro hair do.

Maybe sometimes, we feel afraid, but it's alright
The more you stay the same, the more they seem to change.
Don't you think it's strange?

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

You're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow.

'Twas more than I could take, pity for pity's sake
Some nights kept me awake, I thought that I was stronger
When you gonna realise, that you don't even have to try any longer?
Do what you want to.

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down.

Girl, put your records on, tell me your favourite song
You go ahead, let your hair down
Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams,
Just go ahead, let your hair down

Oh, you're gonna find yourself somewhere, somehow




- Corinne Bailey Rae

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wkEeNpWMvgk

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Father's Day Weekend

Oi what a weekend! I’d have to say I’m tuckered out from all we did! On Friday we drove down to Georgia and stayed with my sister Jessica and her husband Bert.

And Saturday was lake day! We were up bright and early and
off to the lake! Jessica and Bert had two boats – a party yacht (basically a
super fancy pontoon boat) and a ski boat! We spent the day in the sun, munching on yummy snacks, sliding, swimming, playing with the babies, and my favourite, tubing! Dad is an expert at knocking me off while he drives the boat – I am most definitely sore from getting tossed a few times! Rebeka and I got to take Elizabeth out for a spin on one of the tubes and it was really fun to watch her face as the water splashed her!

Caroline liked to pretend she was driving the boat.

Jess made the yummiest fruit and creme cheese snacks! I ate wayyy too many!

Elizabeth like them too!

Yummy watermelon!

Most of us took cat naps when we got home before we had a fantastic dinner, complete with ribs and baked beans! Sooooo good! We walked it off later, going to the park and watching my dad chase the babies around with more energy than our entire family had combined! I swear, he’s in better shape
than either me or Beks!

Haha, this cracks me up - I told the girls to smile and Caroline started picking her cute little nose!

We finished off lake day with some ice cream at Baskin Robbin’s– I tried some lemonade sweet iced tea flavor that was good when I tasted it, but I wearied of it quite soon! It’s odd to have a drink flavoured ice cream, to say the least.

Sunday was great! Haha, I woke up early to ensure that I could shower and get ready for church on time, but, alas, our family decided to stay home and relax for Father’s Day. Of course!

We had a yummy breakfast and chilled all morning – the girls ended up at the pool while the fathers stayed in the garage and worked on cars.
Haha, how typical.

The men did join us later, and it was funny, watching my dad toss Elizabeth around in the pool and teach her how to swim – it seems just like yesterday he was doing it to me!

Cutie patootie!

Seesters!

Fun jeep ride back!

We had a Douglass traditional ice cream cake with our good southern fried chicken dinner and then we drove back to good ole Tennessee!

And now here I am, sitting in my bed, sore and sunburnt, but oh so happy!

Happy Father’s Day!

New Swimsuits

It's been a great week! Rebeka brought Madi and Kari home from church on Wednesday and it was a beautiful night!
Let me tell you, I have a group of worshippers on my hands! We just sang and banged the piano and Rebeka played her violin so sweetly and I just got lost in the Lord's presence. I'm so blessed.
Thursday morning was adorable. I got to babysit some precious little girls and I get the excuse to play dress up as a nearly grown young woman. Afterwards, I napped so hard I drooled on my pillow. My mom had to wake me up. Talk about feeling like a baby.
And then I almost finished my frames! Guys. We're so close. All we have to do is nail in the wires and then I promise I will show you the finish product! I love actually doing the things I pin on pintrest!
The theatre hosted a concert last night and I was working upstairs bar, which is a pretty chill, but slightly lonely job. I serve alcohol for the patrons in the balcony, which means it can get crazy before the show and at intermission, but I basically sit up there all by myself for the rest of the night. But it's not so bad of a view.








Anywho, I was sitting up there last night when I heard some music coming from outside - not from the auditorium. It was some highschool boys in a band that have camped out and busked in front of the theatre a couple of times. The first time I'd seen them, I'd had to blink and take a second glance - they remind me of some of my friends in high school that had a band called Punchinello. Three boys, three main instruments - a guitar, a mandolin, and a drum - and somewhat resembling them as well. It was weird! But these boys are so precious! Not only are they all soooo adorable (16 year old me would've had the BIGGEST crush on all 3 of then) but they are so sweet and actually talented - their three part harmony on a lot of songs just makes me smile. Bottom line is, they warn my heart and they kick butt on Avett Bros. covers, so you should look up the Joseph Marlowe band. I think get all of their autographs and pictures so I can say I knew then before they were famous.
Last night my sissy finished her YWAM application! I was seriously so proud of her as she completed it and showed it to me! When did she get so grown up?
And now we're driving to Atlanta to spend Father's Day weekend on the lake with my sister! And I'm witnessing the most fantastic sunset!
We had a great mommy and daughters' date this morning, eating wayyy too much at Cracker Barrel and then giving swimsuit opinions while shopping right after. Who's brilliant idea was it to stuff ourselves like thanksgiving turkeys before trying on swimsuits???




I can't wait to spend time with my family this weekend! It's going to be so much fun out on the lake with all of them, enjoying the sunshine and loving on each other, especially my daddy!
Pictures to come!
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Procrastination

I have yet to finish those frames mom and I started painting. It WILL get done and my room will finally be close to perfect!
I would've ridden Dorothy (my lovely bike) to work Monday night, but it was raining and there were tornado warnings, so the lovely Krista King drove me to work - and you'll never guess what happened! Sitting in the box office, I saw it begin to lighten up outside and I looked up at the clouds and there was the longest, most beautiful silver lining I'd ever seen!!! I didn't get my phone fast enough to capture its glory ( and let's be honest, iPhones cannot really capture any natural glory to its fullest) but I caught the tail end of it and it made the rest of my night wonderful.




Tuesday was my day off! I slept in, then I took Dorothy out for a spin to the post office! And let me tell you, summer is here! It was 91 degrees F and humidity was sky high! It's supposed to be at least 90 all week and man, riding my bike was quite the experience. I've been so used to New Zealand summer, which is not sweltering or humid at all. It seems I have lost my southern comfort! After the post office, I shopped downtown for postcards and then stopped by Merridees to grab some cookies! I love our cookies! Seriously. They're soooo good.
Then my precious Mary Kate came to visit! We visited Frothy, where we were gonna purchase Imagine Dragons tickets ( I've been hoarding all my tip money to save for it!) but the prices went up and now we can't afford them! Oh well. We decided were gonna have a picnic and listen to Imagine Dragons in a field under the stars instead.




Since we're poor world travelers. Guys, she's going to live in England in August! I'm so flippin excited and happy for her! Seriously. England. She's gonna travel all over Europe with her friends and have the time of her life!
Speaking of England. I'm gong to reread the Harry Potter series before I go back to New Zealand! I have two months! I will do it!
I know that's all really scatter brained and such, but that's what I'm doing in life right now!


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Monday

It's the beginning of the week! I started some crafting for my room last night with my mom and dad and we had so much fun painting, watching Fiddler on the Roof and eating chipless chocolate chip cookies. (I prefer them chipped!) seriously, if I'm gonna have cookies, I'm gonna go all the way!




Consequently, we all went to bed wayyyy to late (Fiddler on the Roof comes with two VHS tapes after all) and I didn't even open my eyes until 9:47 this morning and then I laid in bed with my baby sis until noon, snuggling and Pintresting our very distant apartment/home.
Today is a good day.
I showered!
I work at the theatre tonight, but now, I'm currently helping these precious ladies full in their YWAM applications! MEEP. They have no idea what's coming for them, and I'm so excited!



Madi finished her application!!! She's scanning and emailing today!!! Bless you darling!


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Updating

Hey y'all! I know it's been quite a whole since I've written, and if this is the only way you keep up with me, I am so sorry I have been MIA the past couple of months. I have three jobs trying to raise money to go to New Zealand and staff in August, and my time is pretty wacko. I am still alive and I will be doing more specific updating and life/thought sharing soon! Bear with me this much, my brothers and sisters! In the meanwhile, the sun is beautiful and here's an over-edited picture of its glory!


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Brokenness Aside

Will your grace run out
If I let you down
'Cause all I know
Is how to run

'Cause I am a sinner
If its not one thing its another
Caught up in words
Tangled in lies
You are the Savior
And you take brokenness aside
And make it beautiful
Beautiful

Will you call me child
When I tell you lies
Cause all I know
Is how to cry

I am a sinner
If its not one thing its another
Caught up in words
Tangled in lies
You are the Savior
And you take brokenness aside
And make it beautiful
Beautiful

You make it beautiful
You make it beautiful

 

 

 

- All Sons and Daughters

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzyQ2yD55xM

Thoughts

This is something that has been heavy on my heart for a while now, and an area on which I hope to tread carefully. I have homosexual friends, friends who have struggled with homosexuality, both Christian and non-believers, and I know them personally and love them so much, and the last thing I want to do is hurt someone, especially one I love so much. The subject of gay marriage is so heavy in the USA right now, and I can’t even get on Facebook without seeing the manifestation of the movement. Frankly, a lot of what I see on Facebook hurts my heart – the hate Christians display towards the homosexual community is absolutely horrifying. And to all of you hurt by it, I want to apologize on the behalf of them. I am so sorry.

When homosexuals say “I was born this way” it’s true. It's a valid argument. We’re all born into sin. Psalm 51:5 “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”

According to Genesis, humanity was originally created perfect, like the world in which they lived. They were created in God’s own image – it doesn’t get any more perfect than that!

Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in his [own] image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

But the fall made us all imperfect, made us all blemished – like a disease, Adam and Eve passed sin down to us through our genes, not one could escape. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) Ephesians 2 tells us that we are children of disobedience – not one person in all the history of humanity could escape this disease. Well – I guess one did.

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

We all know that one.

There’s redemption in this story – the inescapable became curable! Our very bloodline is made pure by Jesus – only by the spilling of His blood could ours become clean! Like a bone marrow transplant is Jesus to our disease – He takes our hearts, the hearts born into sin and He gives us a heart transplant – and we become new!

Romans 5:19 - For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Just take a minute to process that.

Now back to what I was saying.

We’re all born into sin. It’s in each one of our hearts until the day we accept Jesus as our Saviour and God as our Lord. So, those of you that think you’re better than the homosexuals – you’re not. You are/were just like them. Their sin is no greater than ours. It's not worse than your gossip, not worse than your addiction to porn or drugs or alcohol, no worse than your lies, no worse than your passivity, no worse than your lust and greed and adultery. Sin is sin. We all have it. And we all have to opportunity to give it up and receive beauty for our ashes. And that’s the beauty of true love. Share it.

Next time someone tells you that they are born this way, tell them they are. But tell them everything else too. And, above it all, love them no matter what.

Peace out girl scout.