Crayons and Disney Prinsesses

There's something about a new box of crayons that has always fascinated me. I treat the new crayons with reverence and make sure not to press too hard when using them. I try to keep them pointy as long as possible. I only use the new ones for detailed work; old ones will suffice to color the sky and the grass; the new ones must be used for faces and dresses. I've always been that way and I believe that I always will.

Today I got out some Disney Princess coloring books, an almost new box of crayons, and my Disney station on Pandora. There's something about doing something that I used to do as a child that brings me joy. Memories come up, and for a moment, I'm a child again, coloring Ariel's hair bright red. I'm listening to the music of the only kind of movies that I watched back then, singing Under the Sea and Be Our Guest.

My three younger sisters and I looked at all of the old pages in our coloring books, pages with careful coloring and interesting color choices. We tried to remember who drew what so that we could label the pictures. It's amazing how I can remember so clearly what I drew. I also got pretty good at identifying who drew what based on drawing style. My sister Rebecca always used unexpected colors (and generous amounts of blush). Elisabeth most likely wasn't quite as careful in finishing every last detail, unlike Abigail, who colored the whole pages carefully and with a heavy coat of crayon. I have always been the careful one, coloring precisely and completely. I color lightly and with soft colors.

Sometimes I want to go back to being a little girl again. I want to play Barbies with Rebecca and watch The Incredibles, thinking that this qualifies as an action movie. I want to play House in the backyard during the fall, pretending that leaves and grass makes soup. I miss tickle fights and reading American Girl books. I miss a lot of things about being little.

But at the same time, I also love being sixteen. I love being able to stay up late watching real action movies. I love baking desserts and being big enough to put them in the oven. I love wearing make up and going to formals. My relationship with God has grown so much. I can drive and type and do so many things that I couldn't do as a little girl.

What makes me sad, though, is when people grow up too fast. You only get to be eight once, don't waste it pretending that you're ten. I'm only going to be sixteen once, and I'm determined not to waste it. I'll have plenty of time to be an adult later. For now, I'm going to be sixteen.

But no matter how old I am, I will never be too old to listen to Disney movies with coloring in my princess books.

Hannah 

Story Time

I love stories. I always have and always will. I love to read them, watch them, write them, and hear them. Now, as I have already said, the best story of all is the story of Jesus Christ, but there are other stories that are pretty cool, and over the years, I have absorbed quite a repertoire of stories that I enjoy. 

When I was little, Mom would read my sisters and I books. We would all sit on the couch in the afternoon for about an hour or so and listen to her read us books like Little House on the Prairie and The Chronicles of Narnia. We called it story time. As I grew older and learned how to read those books myself, story time became more flexible. I was constantly reading. I read American Girl books and countless Nancy Drew books. I read stories about princesses and dragons, spells and fairies.

Image found on Pinterest

During high school, the size of the books I read grew. I read classics, like Homer and Jane Austin, and epics, like Harry Potter. I read fairy tales and adventures, historical and contemporary. I also started watching more movies and TV shows, which also have good stories. It's impossible for me to choose just one favorite book (besides the Bible, which would obviously win), but I will compose a list of a few special books.

Anything Jane Austin. I haven't read all of her books, but I will one day. My favorite is Pride and Prejudice, but I also enjoyed Emma.

Narnia. C.S. Lewis does a phenomenal job telling a story that stays with you for all of the right reasons.

The Hiding Place. This isn't a fiction book, but it is so inspiring.

Anne of Green Gables. I love Anne (spelled with a E)! Her quirky adventures and fiery spirit always make me laugh.

Harry Potter. If I really had to choose my favorite books, I would probably choose the Harry Potter books. They really are that good.

The Goose Girl. I really like any of Shannon Hale's teen books, but The Goose Girl is the best!

The Gallergirl Girls. Ally Carters books are so fun to read! This series was fresh and exciting to read.

There are so many more, but these are some of the top favorites. Another day I shall rant on about movies and television shows, but I'm done for now. After I end with this quote from Samwise that really summarizes why stories are so important to us. 

Frodo: I can't do this, Sam.
Sam: I know. It's all wrong. By rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are. 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 will 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 this world, Mr. Frodo... and it's worth fighting for

Hannah

Thankfall

Thankfall. Yes, I know, Thankfall isn't a word. But I'm thankful. And it's fall. And I'm thankful that it's fall. So, Thankfall came into existence.

I've noticed, that the culture in America today, there's not a lot of thankfulness going on. There's a lot of consumerism. There's a lot of rush. There's a lot of comparison and envy. What happened to the thankfulness?

I'm not saying that I am always thankful. In fact, I'm not. Too often I find myself saying, "I want that." Or, "I wish I looked like that." Or, "I wish I danced like her." Too many times I pass over the many wonderful things that God has placed in my life without thanking Him for His gifts. But as the Bible reminds me, "Every good and perfect gift is from above." (James 1:17)

 

(Image found on Pinterest) 

This includes fall. God made the seasons and the years, and at the end of creating all of this He said, "It is good." (Genesis 1) God made the trees turn from green to orange and from orange to red. He made the days become shorter and the nights colder. He made weather perfect for camp fires and hot chocolate, sweaters and boots. He made pumpkins for everything-pumpkin-spice, carrots for carrot cake, and turkeys for thanksgiving dinner. And He said, "It is good."

It is good.

It is good.

Say that to yourself today. Rest for a moment and say, "It is good." That doesn't mean that you think all of your circumstances are good, and they may be the opposite. But thankfulness isn't dependent on circumstances. Thankfulness from God comes from the fact that He is good and has made good things all around you. Thankfulness in God blossoms from realizing that wherever you are and whatever you're facing, God is always enough for you. Jesus has set you free! And that alone is sufficient enough for you to be thankful for for the rest of your life.

As a challenge to be thankful this fall, I am writing down three things each day that I'm thankful for. Whether it be someone's laugh or Blue Bell ice cream, there's always something to be thankful for. The trick is, living a lifestyle that looks for these gifts from God and praises the God who makes every good and perfect gift. I'm challenging myself to live this lifestyle because it sounds so wonderful! Who wouldn't want to have thankfulness founded in God as their constant companion in all situations?

So I challenge you to be thankful this fall. Or, as I like to put it, be thankfall.

Hannah

Designer Clothes and Filthy Rags

What would you do if I told you that you have the option to wear custom-made, beautiful, designer clothes, or you could wear dated, dirty, ugly clothes? I don't know what you would do, but I'd go for the designer clothes. Who wouldn't?

But many times we choose to hang on to the rags that we're used to instead of exchanging them for something magnificent. To understand what I mean, read the following verses.
 
"Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it."

Colossians 3:9-14 The Message 

I had read these verses many times, but when I read them in the Message today, they took on a whole new meaning. Maybe it was the clothing illustration that grabbed my attention, but I'm sure that God was in on it too.  

I like clothes. I like wearing something that fits me and stands out. I like pretty dresses and lace shirts. Yet even the most beautiful gown, extravagant jewels, gorgeous shoes, and flawless make up cannot even begin to compare with the wardrobe God has given me! He has in store for me "compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline." And the Little black Dress of God's style is love. No wardrobe is complete without it, and I should take it with me everywhere I go. 

How wonderful does that wardrobe sound! And, it will never go out of style or get holes or smell musty. They have God's label on them! And the best thing is, I didn't even have to pay for them! How many times have I wished for a true shopping spree? And God has given me the ultimate wardrobe re-do! 

In contrast, my old way of like is like a filthy set of ill-fitted, dated clothes, things I wouldn't be caught dead in. But somehow, I pick up one of those rags and put it on. I hold it close, under the illusion that it is good or at least unavoidable. Satan comes around and tries to sell me a shirt of comparison or a purse of pride. And sometimes I find myself taking his offer, which always comes at a price.

No! I do not need those ugly clothes! Take them off! Throw then in the fire! I never want to wear comparison again! Irritability is so not my color! Pride looks horrible on me! Greed clashes with the garment of love that God gave me! 

Today I ask God that He help us wear compassion instead of comparison, kindness instead of frustration, humility instead of pride, quiet strength instead of vanity, and discipline instead of laziness. I ask that He help us to realize how ugly those clothes really are, and how wonderful His wardrobe to us is. 

Let's have a bonfire. Let's burn those old clothes, representations of our old ways, and put on the shining clothes of God! Every time that we are tempted to put on a bird-hat of vanity, remember that we are already wearing a crown of love. Take that hat and throw it to the birds! (Not that birds will enjoy a hat of such ugly proportions)

Lord, I ask that you start many bonfires. I ask that you have some wardrobe makeovers. What Not To Wear better watch out, because God is coming through, remaking our whole being into something beautiful! 

In Jesus' name, I pray, knowing that You, Lord, are able to do immeasurably more than all I can imagine.

Hannah

Take Up Your Cross

I come to you with a question. At first, this question seems simple, but then it becomes harder and harder to answer. The question is: what are you willing to do for God?

Some people might answer: "Anything. I will do anything for God." Yet their life doesn't show the same kind of enthusiasm. Some people may want to be willing, but fear gets in the way. For myself, I struggle with letting go of comfort and letting God lead the way completely.

The truth is, God didn't save us so that we could read the bible and go to church. He saved us for so much more. Those things are not bad; in fact they are very good and necessary for a strong relationship with Christ, but they aren't everything. God created and saved us for so much more than a comfortable Christian life. God doesn't just want us to go to bible studies and tweet verses; He wants us to follow Him. 

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever wants looses their life for me will find it.'" Matthew 16:24-25

Now to understand this verse, we must first understand what Jesus means by "cross." When I think of cross I normally think of a large wooden cross, like the one Jesus died on, strapped to my back. I think of it almost like a heavy burden. But this thought doesn't seem to be consistent with the scriptures.

"For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:30

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Galatians 5:1

So the cross isn't a burden; in fact, it is a rest. When we can't carry our crosses, it is because we are too busy holding on to everything else, things like pride, laziness, or possessions. These things are much heavier than the ways that God has planned. They weigh us down with worries and stress. We try so hard to keep things under control, and then everything falls to pieces around us.

 But, when we give these burdens to God in exchange for His cross, we experience freedom. All of a sudden, the pressure isn't on us. All we have to do is trust God. This life isn't always easy, and is often times very hard. But we are not doing it by ourselves. We have someone to lean on, Someone who never gets stressed or tired or confused. We end up becoming free in His wonderful love, free of those troubles that we tried to handle ourselves.

I have a challenge for you. I challenge you to let go of whatever you are holding on to and take up Christ's cross. It sounds so simple when I put it that way, but in reality, this requires sacrifice. We have to sacrifice our wants and desires. We have to let go of what little control we think we have on our lives. We have to daily give up what is normal and comfortable. But God is worth it. He is, in fact, the only thing worth our lives. Everything else will fail to compare.

So, will you day by day take up your cross and follow Jesus? Will you sacrifice your comforts and old ways of life for a new life full of joy in Christ? Let Christ lead you in an exhilerating and joyous journey with Him!

Hannah

The Most Amazing Story Ever Told

The above title may give you some questions. You may be thinking, "Hannah, it may be good, but your story can't be the most amazing story ever told." And you're right. My story isn't the most amazing story ever told. It's God's story that claims that title.

And so this afternoon, I will try to capture, in the best way that I can, the most amazing story ever told. And the thing that makes this story so wonderful, is that it is true! This really happened! Here is goes.

There once lived a little girl who lived in the Kingdom of Darkness. Why did she live there? She lived there because her family was a criminal family. Once, a long time ago, her family lived in the Kingdom of Light, where peace and glory reside, but they had disobeyed the King; they had tried to overthrow Him so that they could become kings themselves. And so they were banished to the Kingdom of Darkness.

This girl grew up in the Kingdom of Darkness, where the streets were filled with filth and muck. The kingdom was ruled by an evil Tyrant, who oppressed the people day and night.  Sin filled the kingdom, because it knew no other way. People lied, pretended, worried, bragged, stole, and even killed.

This girl had heard stories about the Kingdom of Light, and she wished and wished that she could go there. It sounded so nice compared to the despair that filled her world. But how could she get there? There was no road connecting the two kingdoms. And even if there was, she was far too dirty to walk the pure streets of the Kingdom of Light. She was a criminal. How could she ever live in the Kingdom of Light?

Her story would have ended there if the King of the Kingdom of Light hadn't stepped in. His heart broke for the girl trapped in the Kingdom of Darknes. But what would he do? He knew that the Tyrant over the Kingdom of Darkness wouldn't easily give over the girl. He also knew that in order to let her come into His kingdom, a road would have to be built, and He would have to wash her of her filth.

So He sent His Son.

The Prince of the Kingdom of Light build a road connecting the kingdoms. He stepped into the Kingdom of Darkness and walked among the people, telling them of the Good News that that they could enter into the Kingdom of Light. Even though He walked the grimy streets, His feet never got dirty. He never sinned.

The girl followed the Prince around everywhere, hanging on to His every word. He let her stay with Him, and told her much about the Kingdom of Light. She could hardly believe His words were true! But how would the Tyrant let her go? And she was still covered in dirt.

The Prince knew of the cost that must be paid in order to rescue the girl from the Kingdom of Darkness. He knew what the Tyrant would demand. The Tyrant would command death.

And so, the Prince offered Himself as a sacrifice for the girl. He died to save a criminal, a girl that had sinned against Him. The Tyrant drug the Prince through the streets, rejoicing in His death. The girl didn't know what to do. Her only hope had been crushed, beaten, and killed. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she was filled with despair.

But the Prince didn't stay dead.

Three days later there was a bright light coming from the very edge of the Kingdom of Darkness. The girl followed this light and before her eyes stood the Prince! He was alive! The girl ran towards Him with tears of joy, and He opened His arms to embrace her. He hugged her and cried with her.

"You are mine now," He whispered in her ear. "I will never let you go."

"But what about my filth?" she asked. She looked at herself and gave a scream of joy. She was clean! The Prince had made her clean!

"You are free from accusation and without blemish," the Prince said. "Now how about you come with me into my kingdom?"

She took His hand and she waked into the most beautiful place that she had ever seen! It was pure and loving and peaceful and righteous. He held her hand and guided her to the most splendid castle that she had ever seen.

"Where are we going?" she asked Him.

"We are going to meet your Father," the Prince said. The girl's stomach fluttered as she wondered what her new father would be like. She walked with the Prince into a large room with a throne standing in the middle. In that throne sat the King.

"Come here, my daughter," the King said.

"I don't understand," the girl said, "I am supposed to be meeting my new father." The King just smiled.

"I am your new father," He said. The girl could hardly believe her ears! Just a few hours ago she was criminal in the Kingdom of Darkness. Now she was a princess in the Kingdom of Light! Nothing nothing could ever describe the joy that she felt inside. She finally felt alive and loved and cared for.

"Thank you," she told the Prince. He just smiled.

"How can I repay you?" she asked.

"Just follow me," the Prince said. And so the girl did follow Him. Together they had many adventures and led many other people into the Kingdom of Light. It wasn't always easy, and there were many struggles, but the Prince never left her side, and the King always loved her. And so, the girl, who was once a criminal, but was now a princess, lived forever in the presence of her King.

And this story has no end.

"And giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgivness of sins."
Colossians 1:12-14

That my friends, is the Most Amazing Story Ever Told, because it is God's story to us! It is real!

Therefore, I write this as, not just Hannah, homeschooled ballerina, but as Hannah, daughter of the King!

Live in His story today, 

Princess Hannah

A Homeschooler's Day

I'm sorry that it's been so long! I am still not in the habit of keeping up with a blog, but the habit will come over time.

Summer is over. School has begun. You may ask me whether or not I did the things that I said I wanted to do last post. The answer is yes, I did achieve most of them. I did a photo shoot, made desserts, had many sleepovers, and much more. In fact, the last two weeks of summer rocked. My family also took a little vacation on the beach last week which was fun and relaxing, filled with sandy feet and salty hair, not to mention good food.

I had a pretty great summer. Busy, but memorable. Hard, but fun. And God was with me the whole time, teaching me how to be a beautiful woman of God.

But now, summer is over and I must get back into the rhythm of the school year. I never truly dread the school year. To me it's almost like an adventure, filled with new ideas and big books. Of course this idealistic view of school wears out quickly, but I enjoy it while it lasts.

I may not have mentioned before that I am homeschooled. Well, I am. I have been homeschooled since I entered Kindergarten. Some people think that homeschooling is weird; they just don't understand why I wouldn't want to be with a peer group all day. Some people think that I just sit around all day in my pajamas doing nothing. Homeschooling (at least for me) isn't like that. There are advantages, but I still have to work.

My typical school day starts around nine in the morning. (I know some of you just shout out in envy. Yes, I get up at nine; it's pretty cool.) I get up and do a short devotional to focus my day around my King. I will get some breakfast and eat in my room, reading history while I eat. I will then proceed to do my school. I do a curriculum that is self driven, so I have to make sure that I get all of my work done without Mom reminding me when to do what. I have lesson plans that tell me what book to read. I don't do very much on the computer, most of it is in textbooks.

I take a break for lunch, and after lunch I finish anything that I couldn't do before lunch, normally literature reading assignments. I take the quiet time around two in the afternoon to spend time with God for a while. I may have to write a paper or do a science experiment in the afternoon, and then I am done.

Then I have ballet.

Ballet doesn't start until after Labor Day, and I am slightly enjoying all of my free time that I have in the afternoons and evenings without it. At the same time, I miss it. I am ready to work hard and come home sweating, satisfied with a good days work. Ballet takes up a lot of my time, but I really enjoy it, and it had taught me so many things.

That's my school day. I don't just sit around all day, and most days I get out of the house and see people my own age, whether at ballet or at church or something else. I love being homeschooled. I don't wish that I went to "school." Yes, I do sometimes wish that I could see more people my age, but I believe that God has placed me here for a reason. I believe that He is training my up, teaching me, all for His purpose. My school curriculum is Christ based, so every day I get to learn more about my Savior. I get to learn about the world through the gospel's lenses, and that is an education that is valuable beyond just this world.

I'm not saying that everyone should be homeschooled. I am saying that I m thankful that I am homeschooled. It's not for everyone. (Okay, I just felt like I was voicing a medicine commercial.)

That's a homeschooler's day, or at least my day. And now I am off to watch Duck Dynasty. See ya!

Hannah