2/29/16

Infinity Dreams Award


What contains surprises, dreams, confessions, and chaos all in one post?

TAG POSTS!

The absolutely-wonderful-and-one-of-the-best-bloggers-I-know, Grace from Totally Graced nominated me for the Infinity Dreams tag, and I loved answering her questions! (Go check her blog out right now. If you don't end up coming back to this post because Grace's blog enthralled you, I won't mind a bit!) Prepare for some fun, deep, and otherwise random thoughts filled with some throwback photos and new looks into my life.


1. Describe your best friend in one sentence. 

She is the midnight laughter feasts that makes life worth the living, the creative introvert that makes me realize that not everyone is like me, the single most person in the world who I'm convinced is a human cat, and the best, more beautiful sister-slash-best-friend I could ever ask for. (How's that for one sentence, Grace???)

I had the best date to senior prom! 
2. How do you like to wear your hair? 

I like to say that I let God curl my hair. Because that's how I usually leave it, curly, blowing in the wind, and frizzing in the humidity. But if I don't leave it down and in everyone's faces (because let's face it, with hair as long as mine, it doesn't just get in my own face), I put my hair into a simple, quick ballet bun.

Guys, this was at Passion this year and makes me so happy!
3. What song lyrics describe your life? 

GRACE, WHYYY???? This question almost hurts me because I want to put so many different things, but Jamie Grace is pretty much the singer version of me, so I will have to put the lyrics to her song "Little Old Me."

"However could it be, to have a part in your story
Bigger than what I can see, little old me, little old me. 
I may not know your plan, but I'm safe here in your hands, 
Cause I know that you believe in little old me, little old me." 


I don't apologize for my cuteness. 


4. What's the worst book you ever read? 

Hmm... I read this historical fiction book where the main character ended up killing her pregnant sister because the villain used the sister as a human shield. That really stunk. I don't even think that the villain got punished.

5. How do you want to spend the rest of your life? 

You are dealing out the deep questions today, Grace! To be perfectly honest, I've given this question some thought lately, wondering if my dreams could ever come true. I dream of owning a ballet studio in my home town, falling in love with a godly man, and living. I dream of writing books and discovering new things. I dream of silly adventures and little kids to love. But most important, I dream of loving God and praising Him for eternity. And I know that the later will come true and continue to come true forever and ever.

This. This is my dream.


6. Best class you've ever taken? 

I would have to say ballet classes. Specifically, I loved my classes with a Russian instructor over the summer. He put common ballet ideas into different terms that made me think. "Dance smarter, not harder."

7. Who has most impacted your life? 

I'm sorry for the Sunday School answer, but Jesus. Every day He loves me and teaches me more about how to follow Him. Looking back on my life so far, I see His fingerprints and grace in everything. (See what I did there... not trying to lay out the theme of this blog or anything.) Aside from Jesus, my mom has most impacted my life. She's there to listen, there to answer, and there to show me how to chose true beauty and grace.

Isn't my Mother fabulous? 
8. What inspired you to start your blog? 

I have these words. They bubble up and dance inside of me, moving to the beat of God's hand in my life. And so I decided to let them out. I wanted to let them finish their dance, to set them in motion that they might continue to give God the glory far after I write them. This blog offered a place to write the dance of the words that God put on my heart. But the journey of blogging brought me many more places that I could've imagined. More on that soon!

My first photo session for the blog! I've since filled that journal and another one. 


9. Can you cook? What are your favorite recipes? 

Can I cook? Sure. Do I cook? Eh... not so much. Most of the time, I eat what mom cooks, but I can make a scrumptious salad or decadent dessert! I've posted only one recipe on the blog, but I'm thinking that more will come sometime in the future.

I haven't made these pancakes in forever! This must change. 


10. If you could live anywhere, where would it be? 

Assuming that my friends and family all move with me, I think that Nashville and Austin are pretty cool places. Then again, England! But I can't imagine living out of the South. I'm joyful where God has placed me, though, and love my hometown more and more as I grow up!

I may have risked my life for this picture. Or at least my eyesight. 

11. Favorite movie quote? 

Not to quote Star Wars, but NNNNOOOOOOOOO! This question is just too hard.

But I have to give this one to Samwise Gamgee:
It's like in the great stories Mr. Frodo, the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were, and sometimes you didn't want to know the end because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end it's only a passing thing this shadow, even darkness must pass. A new day will come, and when the sun shines it'll shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something even if you were too small to understand why. But I think Mr. Frodo, I do understand, I know now folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn't. They kept going because they were holding on to something.
Frodo: What are we holding onto, Sam?
Sam: That there's some good in the world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for.

This tree makes me smile every time I pass it on campus. It lights up my day! 
11 Facts About Hannah (Aside from the fact that Hannah feels weird referring to herself in the third person.)
1. I'm thinking about getting a second piercing on my earlobe. Two piercings wouldn't force me to decide which earring to wear because I could wear two pairs as the same time! But I have such small ears.
2. After watching a movie, I stalk the actors on IMDb for a while. Especially if they are attractive male actors. Not going to lie. 
3. My hands are always cold. And dry. And small. 
4. On the same note, my ring finger is a size 4.5. 
5. I feel like Taylor Swift and I could be friends. We could have baking parties and pet cats! 
6. I am rather involved in my college's BCM. In fact, I'm on the leadership team. 
7. The fact that Downton Abbey will air its last episode makes me sad. One episode more! (Please read the previous statement to the tune of the Les Mis song "One Day More.")
8. I'm trying to wear less makeup, but it's hard. I'm just so used to wearing makeup that I don't like to go without it. Especially concealer
9. Sometimes when I go to bed, what motivates me to fall asleep is that I get to eat breakfast in the morning. I love breakfast, y'all. Breakfast food all day. Every day. Pancakes. Cereal. Milk. Fruit. I'm done. 
10. Speaking of going to bed, I have this nightly ritual. Wash face, brush teeth, write in journal, pray, and read a couple of chapters of whatever book I'm reading. It takes forever. WAY too long. 
11. Also speaking of going to bed, I should probably start that process soon. I can't keep staying up until one in the morning! 


Confession: I posed this picture. But I did just wake up from a Sunday nap, so....

My Questions: 
1. What is the latest movie that you watched in theaters? Did you like it? 
2. Do you know a corny joke? (Because I am super bad at these!) 
3. What are your next plans for you blog? 
4. What is something that you are thankful for?
5. How do you respond to the typical question "how are you?"
6. Who is your fictional soulmate? (Guys, guys, I have to blurb my answer even though I'm not supposed to answer my own questions. CAPTAIN AMERICA!!!!!!) 
7. What fashion era do you love? (Like the Victorian Era, the 20s, or Disco.)
8. What is something that you've always wanted to do but never gotten around to doing? 
9. What is your favorite social media? Do you spend too much time on this said social media? 
10. What has God been doing in your soul lately? 
11. How are you going to encourage someone this week?

My nominees (Insert long, boring Oscar host speech...)
Ava @Land of Quiet 
Kianna @Kianna Rose Etc. 
Lauren @Loving Our Creator 
Katie @A Writer's Faith  
And this picture is completely random and just pretty, so enjoy! 


This post was stupendous to write! And I pray for you to have a marvelous week! Comment below what's going on in your life. Also, feel free to answer any of the above questions in the comments!

Princess Hannah
Hannah
9 Comments

2/24/16

When Life Gets Stressful


Sometimes life feels like a marathon. It runs and runs and runs, and we struggle to catch up. We can't seem to swallow each breath in our lungs as we chase life down. School. Homework. Family. Friends. Extracurricular. Make sure our rooms don't look like zoos. Showers should probably happen. And somehow living with Jesus and resting in Him.



Resting in Jesus. How can we do that when our minds go a thousand thoughts a minute, keeping track of all of the things that we must do? The things things listed above must happen, so how can we rest and find joy at the same time? 

I struggled with this question last week. I felt stressed and weighed down. I had many school related things and decisions to make, and I needed to get it all done before Friday because I led a Disciple-Now all weekend. (More on Disciple-Now later!) 

But God (notice my two favorite words) reminded me of three things that changed my stress into joy. He somehow penetrated my busy mind to give me hope in Christ and rest in His joy. He showed me a different way to go, a way that led me to...

1. Pray

If we desire joy, we must ask for it. I don't think that we realize the humility and simplicity of coming to God with all of our hearts, even the desire for rest or extra strength.

"So I [Jesus] say to you: 'Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Luke 11:9)

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)



2. Release the outcomes

Sometimes (more than sometimes), we just can't do it all. But I know a God who can. God makes the days and plans them out. And we simply need to trust in God's sovereignty even when we feel the world racing around us. God's will (not our will) will prevail, let's put our hope in that.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" (Matthew 6:26-27)

3. Find joy when working hard

Resting in God doesn't mean that we stop working! Rather, we find joy in our work. We receive a renewed vigor because we know that God is with us, breathing into our souls and shaping our days with care.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart as working for the Lord and not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." (Colossians 3:23-24)

"Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." (Romans 12:11-12)


Emily Freemen in her book Simply Tuesday captures these thoughts beautifully: 

"To know that the work will be completed by the Spirit of God and not by my effort means that I can sit down on the inside even as my hands are fast at work. It means I don't have to keep pace with a fast-moving world even as I am engaged in the activity of it." (page 222)

God invites us to come. Right now, in the rush of life, we can come and rest in Him. Pray, release, and work. And there we will find joy.

Comment below how your week is going. Is it wearing you down? Are you finding joy? What are your thankful for? 

Princess Hannah 
Hannah
8 Comments

2/12/16

Living in the Not-Quite-Yet (+ Playlist)


Do you ever feel the weight time?

Do you ever feel the erosion of the seconds and the hope of the years? 

Do you ever feel the pull of the future and the echoes of the past? 

I do. 

I feel this tension between what was, what is, and what can be. I feel the battle between where I am and where I want to go. I feel the joy of the right now and the hope of tomorrow. I feel the smallness of today and the largeness of the future. 

And I feel the waiting.

Waiting to see how God wants me to serve Him.

Waiting to understand how to spend time.

Waiting for direction in my plans.

Waiting for strong friendships.

Waiting to find love.

Waiting.



At first, this waiting bothered me, confused me, and hemmed me in. Life moved quickly around me, telling me to go and move. But at the same time, things developed slowly, requiring patience and time. Friendships take time. Romance takes time. Direction takes time.

But then I realized something. Waiting doesn't sit idle. And really, waiting isn't waiting at all. It simply voices a chapter of the story, a section of the journey. But the goal isn't to get to the end; the goal is to enjoy the story and give glory to the One writing it.




So the time of not-quite-yet, is also the time of hard work. The time of what-will-I-do is also the time of joy. The time of does-he-like-me is also the time of peace. Why? Because God is with us, and He is making all things beautiful in their time.

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end." (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

We aren't "there" yet, because we aren't created for "there." We're created for eternity. And as we wait for eternity, we don't just sit around and feel sorry for ourselves because we haven't finished writing that book. As we hope for the day of the Lord, we don't tweet about how we dislike being single on Valentine's Day. Waiting doesn't mean wishing for the goal, waiting means making every effort to welcome the journey.


"But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him." (2 Peter 3:13-14)

Fellow waiters, let's move in God's plans. Let's sing in joy for the now, keeping our hope in eternity. Let's embrace the journey, knowing that we aren't created for "there," but we are created for forever. God created us for growing, unfolding, working, and moving as He tells His Story in our lives one moment at a time.

Do you feel that? Eternity waves at us. It beckons us to start living even in the constraints of time. How will we respond?

"Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory, both now and forevermore." (2 Peter 3:17-18)

Princess Hannah
Hannah
14 Comments

2/5/16

Cats GIFs Galore


Let me tell you a story about how cat gifs saved my life.

Okay, I exaggerate a bit. But cat gifs did save one of the longest, hardest days of my life.

It was the fifth week of my ballet intensive with AAB. Rehearsals piled up around me, and sleep was a thing of the past. Emotions decided to go haywire, and determination thinned. I just wanted to nap, but instead I drank watered-down, black coffee from the morning and lay on a hard couch for ten minutes to regroup before another rehearsal.

What did I do during those ten minutes? Well, I say without shame that I cried. And then I prayed. And then I looked at cat gifs.

And that, my friends, saved the day. Crying. Praying. Cat gifs.

I believe that a good cat gif can lighten any day. What's not to love about prideful and sophisticated creatures making fools of themselves? How can you resist a kitten falling asleep in three seconds? If cat gifs don't make you smile, then... well, I'm not sure if you should read the rest of this post. Because I'm about to lighten up your day.

Today, let's smile in the simple grace of silliness and cats. Let's giggle a bit at how God created humor in the shape of little balls of furr. Let's look at cat gifs!

1. Can't Touch This do-do-do-do do-do do-do

Scatter! | 27 Cats That Just Can’t Handle It











2. Furry-Go-Round

The Catmobile!

3. Taking Off in Three, Two...

Cat / gif















4. *Insert Sigh of Happiness*

I can't handle the cuteness!!!

5. If You Can't Get In, Lick the Door, Duh 

Why does he lick the door?

6. When Life Takes an Unexpected Direction

cute funny cats gif. more here http://artonsun.blogspot.com/2015/04/cute-funny-cats-gif-more-here.html

7. If It Fits, It Ships

“I may have overestimated how large this box was.” | 22 Cats Who Went Too Far With Their "If I Fits, I Sits" Motto

8. Got Those Ninja Moves

The Best Cat GIF Post In The History Of Cat GIFs

9. When You Accidently Drink Sprite Instead of Water

The Best Cat GIF Post In The History Of Cat GIFs

10. My Precious

The Best Cat GIF Post In The History Of Cat GIFs

11. The New Meaning of Hit-and-Run



12. The Introverted Cat

19 Cats Who Are Seriously Lacking Social Skills

13. The Royal Parade Just smile and wave, smile and wave

19 Cats Who Are Seriously Lacking Social Skills

14. I Drive a Ram

funny cat gif. more here http://artonsun.blogspot.com/2015/04/funny-cat-gif-more-here_93.html

15. What Are Friends For? 

31 Marvelous Cats Who Truly Define Sophistication. My check hurt from laughing!

If you die with laughter, please say so in the comments. I want to know these sort of things. Which one made you laugh the most? Have cat gifs ever saved your life? Do you have a cat?

Y'all, this post was super duper fun to create, and I hope that you enjoyed it!

Princess Hannah
Hannah
14 Comments
No