Veteran's Day

My Grandpa Sebastian. Medic during D-Day in WWII. Hero.

Nine days

AHHHH!

I am leaving for France in 9 days.

I have a billion thoughts going through my head!

Trying not to doubt that the Holy Spirit is going to work through me.

This is intense.

I am trying to reject these thoughts:

"Who would want to listen to me?"

"I am too young."

"What if I freeze?"

"What if I don't make sense?"

"What if I teach wrong things!"

"What if I am dull and boring."

"I could look like a REAL idiot."

"What if I run out of material?"

"What if I contradict myself?"

... I am glad that these are my biggest concerns. Because I know that if I yield to the HOLY SPIRIT > God can speak through me. So... nothing is on my shoulders and I shouldn't have to worry one bit. (I will keep my mind renewed in this reality and not fret!)

Let's do this thing Jesus!

I am not a security threat. And, my middle name is "Kurt", not "Fart."

For the Young Adult Costume Party... I came as Dwight. I like me.

And for some kicks... some Dwight quotes:

If I could menstruate, I wouldn’t have to deal with idiotic calendars anymore. I’d just be able to count down from my previous cycle. Plus, I’d be more in tune with the moon and the tides

Babies are one of my many areas of expertise. Growing up I performed my own circumcision

I keep various weaponry strategically placed around the office. I saved Jim’s life with a can of pepper spray I had velcro’d under my desk. People say, “oh, it’s dangerous to keep weapons in the home or the workplace”. Well I say, “it’s better to be hurt by someone you know accidentally than by a stranger on purpose.

The eyes are the groin of the head.

In two weeks time:

In two weeks I will be on a jet plane headed to the land of Napoleon... oui! FRANCE!

The reason for this trip is to teach "Identity in Christ" at the DTS (Discipleship Training School) with YWAM (Youth with a Mission) in Le Gault, France (1.5 hours east of Paris). The internationally diverse students and I will be plunging the depths of the Word to find out and establish WHO WE ARE in CHRIST! It is going to be flat out awesome! I wish I could bring all my dear friends and family with me!

A few days before the week of teaching: I will be checking out the grand city of Paris. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and tons of other ahhhhhmazing sites! *fit of giddiness* And a few days after the teaching I will be exploring the fair city of Dublin, Ireland.

***Took this picture in 2007, when I was in France***

I am just so happy I could skip around like a jolly ol' lass. ... actually... I already did this morning. hahaha

Nothing beats Jesus and Travel! :D

And for whoever cares, yes. I voted.

Modern-day abolitionist.

Recently, my heart has been struck with a passion. It is the ending of Human trafficking. I always thought that it was too big of an issue to put enough concern into. I mean... 27 million people are slaves. Yes, slaves. That number is too big for me to even grasp. That number is too big to ignore though. And if I know anything about Christ, I know His heart is wrenching. He wants to liberate these children and woman. And I am taking a stance today. I am saying "Yes God. You can use me." That is a dangerous prayer. I am determined that I will be an answer to the cries of the helpless.

If you want to do something about it too... join me:

http://www.thea21campaign.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=150&Itemid=308&lang=en#21things12

I want to live beyond myself, my problems, and even my desires. I want to be CHRIST in this world. I am a light, ready to plunge in and purge darkness from this world!

Ten Ten Ten

Yep. Folks, that's right. Today is 10/10/10.

Wow. God amazes me. He is so GOOD. When I take a look at this world and what big deals it makes, I laugh. But I also feel so sad, because some people have nothing to live for more than what this world has to offer. John 10:10 say that we can have LIFE and have it more abundantly. Jesus is kind of like rain-x in my life, when the dreadful rains of life come, they just roll right off and don't damage me. I am protected from the worries of life because of Christ (Matthew 6).

Now instead of being concerned with the world's pressure to be beautiful, successful, perfect, powerful, and driven in my own power... I am those things, just because I am His child. He is beautiful, successful, perfect, powerful, and driven; and HE is my inheritance. Just because Christ is my daddy. How cool is that?

When I live in this reality, I find myself at an unspeakable peace. I experience true peace. You can too.

*sigh of content*,

Hannah

Reflections of LOVE

Hello WORLD! I can't believe it is October already. I love this month.

I just wanted to share a little tidbit of somethings I have been thinking about lately...

Last year, I was a little Rhema student sitting under the instruction of a Mrs. Karen Jensen. She is ahhhhmazing. Every morning she would have us read 1 Corinthians 13:4 in the amplified... out loud. Every. Morning.

Repeat after me:

"Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.

It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. Love never fails."

Sometimes... we would replace the "Love" with "I".... like "I endure long..."

This passage still rocks my world. It is so opposite of the world perspective of Love. What really hits me it this... Love does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking.

Being a girl in this day and age is a tough thing. Society screams for us to be powerful and take the world by the horns... and it teaches us fight for our rights in relationships. Read any magazine with a pretty girl on the front and the pages will tell you to be selfish and look out for number one- that's how you keep from getting hurt. The Bible tells us the opposite: don't insist on your rights, don't be self-seeking.

Well, I have tested both of these theories. And well, the bible version takes alot of guts, swallowing of pride, and death to self. It is HARD. But it is very worth it. The Glamour girls was easy, but brought more pain to both parties of the relationship.

So... Go with God. He knows what he is doing.

Well, that's my little quip for today.

My heart is bubbling a bit because I bought a ticket to go to the top of Eiffel Tower, visit the Louvre, and booked a hostel in Paris for a couple days before I go to speak in Le Gault, France for YWAM. *Giddy jump and hand clap* haha

Au revoir reader! Remember: GO ALL OUT IN LOVE (TRUE, BIBLICAL LOVE) AND YOU WILL NOT FAIL!!!!

Thoughts...

Hello Reader,

I don't have anything clever to share. I don't have anything monumental to share either. My life has been pretty normal of recent. I think most of my friends have had normal lives recently... at least according to facebook status's... which most of my friends are about the weather. Sometimes life is dull, but I don't think that is a viable reason not to savor it. And life is easier to savor in the autumn for me. Bike rides are slightly healing along paths of color changed verdure.

Speaking of bike rides... my dear bicycle, Berlioz... is broken. His brake/ gear cable busted and the chain came loose. Either I can persuade my bike-fixing-savvy brother to fix him or take him in and pay the bucks to get him going again. Plus, I only have a few more weeks of bike riding season left. Do I wait until spring? :(

Within the next month or two, I will be featuring my art at my work place; Coffee Corner in Kewaskum, WI (Most if not all will be available for purchase). I just finished three 5x7 paintings (done with real espresso) Pretty simple work, but I think it's cute ;)

Be not discouraged; for I am your God.

Isaiah 41:10

My verse for today :)

To Iowa

When one hears about watching three toddlers in Iowa for the weekend, you would not suspect to be thrilled. But I was, and that is exactly what I did. I went with my cuz, Molly (shout out!) and two of her college buds to North-eastern Iowa for 3 days... and they brought Ava, Addie, Josiah, and baby Sophie! Four of the cutest ball of flesh you ever laid eyes on!

A four hour drive (longer actually, since I was the worst navigator, being distracted by conversation... we had to re-calculate numerous times)... and we found ourselves in the hills of Iowa. Yes. Hills. Way to surprise me Iowa, not all flat corn fields (tons of corn fields, just not ALL corn field). Staying in a cabin in Iowa sounds... not appealing. But wow. The cabin was brand new... more like a rustic house (4 bedrooms). And the view was gorgeous, and the weather was sooo temperate. Ahhhhhh.

I didn’t spend the whole time watching the chillins’... I just got to hang out with them a bunch! And that is my element. Josiah and I went down the slide a bazillion times, I did every animal noise I can think of, ran around, read books, and I got to hold 2-month baby Sophie for hours! The mom in me was overjoyed!

One of my favorite parts was when we were about to roast marshmallows and we went to go find sticks! Josiah, being only two found a big one! And with his cute little voice, he said, “I found a big dick!” I understood he meant “stick”... but I still laughed ;D

Well, with the trees starting to change color and babies a plenty to quench my mom desire, I’d say it was a pretty good weekend!

We also went to a Norwegian Heritage Museum. I am part Norwegian, so I thought it was pretty cool... even though I spent half of the time pushing Josiah in the stroller making car noises :)

And speaking of fall... OMIGOSH! I LOVE FALL!!!! The colors are starting to change, it’s so beautiful, my heart is so warm and happy. I wish I could pause the world and have it stay like this (plus I’m not prepared to get any older! haha)

Josiah and Ava swinging.

Iowan driving... cows on gravel roads. haha

Ava and I during a McD's pit stop

Building a fire. Successfully!

A day of productivity.

Hey :)

I must say that yesterday was a day full of productivity. My accomplishments include: sewing the most dainty apron, re-upholstering my computer chair, sewing three custom headband orders, embellishing a cardigan, and sewing some curtains. I also made a delectable omelette for breakfast, stopped at my coffee shop for a bit, and went to church. I am content, I love to create.

Other blogworthy things:

Today I had my first pumpkin spice latte of the season! Mmmmm :)

-My starbucks opinion: It is faux pas for baristas to like starbucks and I am not an avid lover of the bucks but.... I must give them this= they have consistency, convenient locations, some drinks are winners (ie- pumpkin spice latte, peppermint mocha, and eggnog latte). So there.

I have been thinking of this time in my life as a transition. Like moving home, in my father's house, having a part-time job, just being back in Wisconsin. Well I have made a conscience decision that this is not a transition, but a period in my life. I am here, and I must face that, and make the most of it. As I think about it more, I love it. To make a living: I am a barista. My lifestyle: church goer, craftser/ artist. Ministry: short-term missions. I LOVE ALL OF THOSE THINGS. I must say that at this point in my life, as a single lady... this is exactly how I would want my life to be. It took me a little while to realize I am living my dream :)