doing nothing today

here 

Today was our sabbath.  We stayed home and rested for all of it.  it's definitely been a lesson for me, the productivity-can't sit still-there's still stuff to do-girl.  it began in my heart about 2 weeks ago when i was in the car, listening to the radio and heard a pastor speak on the sabbath and rest.  Earlier this year, we studied the same subject in Exodus. This was another gentle reminder of how I do not rest well.  Then, this week, as we were pulling in the driveway from a night out with some friends, Chase says, "Babe, we are going to have mandatory sabbath this weekend."  I laughed a little.  If you know Chase, he always keeps his words, but I didn't know what he meant.  He said "we aren't going to cook, work, or do housework from sundown to sundown."  In my heart, I thought it would be easy. After living today, I know that it is not.

In Exodus, God speaks to Moses about the Sabbath. Ex31:1  "Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you...vs 17 It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed."

These verses echo in my heart.  It was a day spent in rest and reverence for Him...definitely sanctifying, because there were several moments that the dishes in the sink and the laundry kept calling my name.   I encourage you, friends, to take and rest your Sabbaths as the Word says.  As my little button says, "do nothing" and think of Him.  You'll love it.

as promised...

well, i got a really great early christmas present.  the wedding pics are up and ready!  jessica pierce of jessica lauren photography is a wonderful photographer.  each moment of the day was captured in such a special way.  i adore the pictures and find myself re-looking at them over...and over...and over again. check out her work here. obviously i am partial to our venue and participants, however, she has some very creative shooting sites and beautiful models.  go see!  BUT before you do, keep scrolling.

here are a few of my favourites.  please take a few minutes to soak them up.  they are so very precious, and i hope that you see the intimate details that came together.  i would not change a thing.

enjoy!

Dad and me on our walk

I adore my parents.  This makes me smile every time I see it.

Love him.

The men.

The women.

 The stud.

oohh it's me.

Mom, Sarah, and me

 Our guests signed rocks as a guestbook.  What a treat to read all of our notes!  Our friends are creative.

 Beyond blown away by the beautiful flowers!

Details, details, details....not one dull space.  I wanted to see all of the things that my mom came up with, so I got a sneak peek the morning of...

Gran's hands.  I love her.

Marriage is simply the best.

Hope you enjoyed these.  Come share coffee with me and I'll show you all 400+ of them. :)

Holy Moly - the month has flown by!

A month ago we were celebrating with a few details...

table arrangements, florals, and pumpkin cheesecakes (photo courtesy: DeAnna Masella)

it's been a little over a month since my last post, but a month ago TODAY we said "I DO" at 10:06 am. what a wonderful day it was!!

for my friends who know me well,  they could tell you that the last month has been an amazing time for chase and me.  honeymooning in mexico, moving into our first home, remodeling our first home, decorating our first home, watching TTU beat TCU :( but celebrating TCU beating WVU, celebrating 2 other weddings and getting to see so many family and friends in 4 weeks has been so exciting!  for those of you who peek in every once in awhile (or hey, wait around for a post), here's the update- we are doing great!

the wedding details:
we woke up to the coldest day of the season (the high was 51 degrees)
the wedding started on time
our guests stayed warm
the rain refrained from coming down
dennis married us and it was beautiful
we listened to our amazing friends sing, and my heart swelled with joy
the food was delish
we had cake, handmade by my friend, Kate
the guests ate pumpkin cheesecake
claudia caught my bouquet
cody caught my garter
we rode off in austin's F-150 and we had ribbon wands cheering us on

my groom (photo courtesy: DeAnna Masella)

the back of my dress (photo courtesy: Ana Contreras)

yahoo! (photo courtesy: Ana Contreras)

the garter throw, caught by Cody Ray (photo courtesy: Ana Contreras)

look at my beautiful momma (photo courtesy: Ana Contreras)

trying to climb my way into austin's truck (photo courtesy: Ana Contreras)

it was so much fun, y'all! (photo courtesy: DeAnna Masella)

More photos to come, promise.

things the guests didn't know:
we rented tents two days before to make sure that all was covered during the ceremony and reception
my parents and closest family and friends spent probably over 50-60 hours the week of the wedding preparing, hauling, setting stuff up for the big shin-dig
mom forgot her shoes
dixie saved the day!
our friend forgot to leave the keys in our getaway car, so austin and james took us to sonic happy hour before we headed back to the venue to truly say goodbye!

things i've learned along the way (yep, i am already wising up):
1. boys really are messier than girls.
2. i'm trying to not spoil my new hubby too too much with homemade meals every night, but gosh, it's easy to please a non-picky-always-compliments-the-chef eater.
3. sleep after a wedding is needed.  sleep after a wedding and during a remodel is essential.
4. our friends and family are amazing movers and completely irreplaceable when it comes to finishing out challenging projects.
5. friends are needed to encourage you to get to the gym (insert: thank you Abbi and Stacy) - when you are tired, tired, tired (see 3 above)

i have many more to come...i will wait :)  Happy Month to us, and Happy Voting Day to the rest of the world.  :)  It's a good day.

8 days and counting....

SO, we are now 8 days away.  Writing "it is hard to believe" is quite an understatement.  We have had such an amazing journey through this engagement period.  Chase and I have met with and been encouraged by more of our friends than any other time in our relationship.  It's been so wonderful.

Chase and I met with some of our soon-to-be-engaged friends for dinner and a game of Settlers the other night.  They had several questions about pre-planning, what to do during an engagement period, who should they get counseling from, what counseling should consist of, and much needed advice on buying their first home.  Of course, we enjoyed answering the questions with confidence (now that we are pro's, of course).  However, it led me to my thoughts about the counseling and wisdom that we have received throughout our engagement.
**Side note**Friends, we have some dearly loving and wise people in our lives.  Now, more than ever in my life am I realizing what a Christ-like family looks like, acts like and how being involved with imperfect people, yet who love and model a perfect God, are irreplaceable.

At the beginning of the year, Chase proposed the idea of choosing 5 couples each that we admire and respect, meet with them over coffee, lunch or dinner, and ask them questions about what a Christ-centered marriage looked like to them at the beginning and now....

Some examples:
When did you know that you were ready to be married to him/her?

How long were you engaged?

What is your advice about sex?

Do you believe in date nights?

Out of the ten couples, we met with 8. Yes, our spring was busting at the seams with double dinner dates.  The responses we got were challenging, exciting, filled with laughter and even tears.   As an almost married person, I feared pre-marital counseling.  Would it bring out some creepy monster inside Chase or me?  Would big life decisions change our minds about marriage all together?  None of that happened. Glory! We are still engaged and more ready than ever to walk down the aisle.  Praise the Lord!  He is so good at revealing Himself.

After those sessions with our wise folk friends/family members, I am excited to one day sit across from newly engaged couples and say, "what I am about to tell you is not the perfect story of marriage, but I guarantee that Christ as the center will make all those other imperfections complete dissipate and in the end, you and your soon to be husband, will see Christ.  Standing in all His glory, He will make known to you that you were in His perfect will all along.  Here's how he has and is showing Us.

To my friends and closest family members,
We love you.  We thank you.  We are praying for you.  We want you to realize that what Christ is doing in his body of believers is coming to pass and that you are part of it!  We praise Him for you.  We want to celebrate with you next weekend, not because there will be cheesecake or the fact that my dress is amazing, but because we are family and Saturday Chase and I will become one.  Celebrating with you all will be our greatest delight.

Busy weekend and week ahead.  As a reader, whether you know Christ or not, I pray that you might be touched by what the Creator is doing.  He has made known to us the paths of LIFE; He will fill us with joy in His presence (Ps 16:11) :)

His beautiful ways

it's quite an eventful year for us.  as we have been preparing since may for our wedding this october, i have learned a few things.

1. sleep is under-rated.  i crave it these days as i plan for the big day, manage a full time job, and try to stay involved with family and friends.

2. planning weddings are over-rated. yes, i mean this.  i believe that if i had this to do all over again, there would have been a destination involved, 50 people, and a much less time in between saying "yes!" and "we do."  it's been an amazing adventure.  i really think that time creates other stresses if you let it, so...i am trying not to "let it" :)

3. Jesus' love is so sweet.  it's an amazing thing, really.  i smile when i type this.  if you know me, i have struggled/still struggle with a multitude of self-perfecting, imagine-driven, and people-pleasing tendencies.  selfish-yes. sinful-yes.  lack of trust in our Savior-yes. this is where i tell you that planning a wedding, marriage, and a new home doesn't make that any easier.  however, even in these silly things, He has shown me even clearer-- His truths and never-changing love for us, His children.
-  His amazing grace after a day of hunting for krylon mirror spray
-  His provision of our first home
-  His guidance and helping me grow relationally with the most fabulous women i've ever known
-  His provision with a car and free service even when mine has broken more than 5 times
What is my favorite thing He's showing me? how my time spent for Him, multiplies my chances of seeing His beautiful ways and giving praise to Him for all of it!


Praise Him for this journey.

sometimes it means going after it

have you ever wondered how to get that ever-so-saught-after-cheese? you know the one that will satisfy your belly's hunger while also tasting delicious?  i do.  put on your helmet and tuck in your tail, folks.

this picture speaks.

really, it makes me laugh and for the moment that's what i need.

i have been working really hard lately on certain patients that need a lot of extra assistance.  don't get me wrong, i love my job.  i've just learned the hardest way possible (fatigue/exhaustion) when to call it a day and to say, tomorrow will be.

so, today, as i sit in panera (taking my rare lunch while my phone charges), it catches my eye when an old man passes by outside with a little bag on his shoulder says "one person can make a difference." you're thinking, "hannah! really? this is so cheesy. he's probably be through rehab or cancer or something.  stop being so sentimental." but... here's what's going on inside my head, "those arduous hours that i've spent the past couple weeks, after-hours with patients, unclogging tubes in person, unclogging tubes over the phone, texting how to unclog tubes, talking about diarrhea, constipation and every other normally uncomfortable bodily movements, hearing one of my pts might pass away after days of working to do all i can...those days i might actually make a difference."

there are so many stories.  i've got to become a better story-teller.  it's kind of something chase makes fun of me about...haha.  i try to let the story be interesting in itself.

here i am reminded of all the parables and stories that Jesus told.  obviously, i do not hold his story, however i want to remember that He is the model for the perfect story- the one of His life.

as Easter, so quickly approaches (Hello, April!), i just want to remind you that there is a story to life.  one life can make a difference.  how will yours?

that point when you're drained

what do you do when you almost collapse in a public place? i felt like collapsing in target today. luckily i had my buggy close to me.  seriously.  i was really tired, friends.

it's been an awesome (29 day) month.  i am excited to see the growth that i've made and the new patients that are on my case load, however, i have to admit that i haven't been taking care of myself.

staying up way past 11 pm, waking at 5am to exercise, not eating (enough), and when i do-never a complete meal, doesn't make a great dietitian at the end of the day.  you'd never know, unless you of course jumped in my car and chased me around for 10 hours.  however, you'd get so tired just hearing my 75 phone calls that you might fall asleep in the backseat with all my formula and feeding pumps. :)

but really, as lent has begun, my friends have asked me what i am giving up...i didn't have a strong lead towards anything.  now, come to think of it, it should have been pinterest. but, the pins just keep happening, so i think harder.

i give up overworking myself.

sounds easy, right?!

not so much.
this will mean not working 4 days at 12 hours a piece, not staying up after 11 every night, and not pushing myself to exercise if i haven't had at least 8 hours of sleep.  eating at least 3 meals/snacks and 64 ounces of water a day and way less coffee. i quite possibly drank 6 glasses today and 3 glasses of tea.

my friend, perry, wants me to give up coffee completely. by this, he wants my keurig machine for 40 days, however, i think i'd do more harm than good to those entering my space on a work day. caffeine has become critical these days to mental stamina. sad, but true.  but, drinking more water is definitely a must.

ok my spill is over now.  i need to be reading Ephesians, journalling my new goals, and resting (because I am skipping Perspectives tonight).

now...learn something from me. don't drain yourself to the point of collapsing in target.

women who inspire me

i am thankful for some special people this week.  looking back over the past year, a lot has happened since last february.  i don't like to meditate on the past, events, loss, or areas where I have been broken, but i do like to pinpoint growth, His light that He has shown through key people in my life.

mom and mimi

Most would say that I take after my father's looks, my mom's caring heart and creativity, and I'd like to request that I take after my mimi's steadfast heart in unconditional love and support for family (maybe one day I'll exemplify it the way she does!). These two ladies show more love through their talents and thoughtfulness to me and the people in their lives than any ladies I know. I am truly thankful to share their character with you all.  Everyone deserves to have or adopt ladies like these into his/her life.

sissy

Only 2.5 years apart, but you'd never know I was the oldest. :)  To my sweet sister and dearest friend.  I am so honored to be able to share so many memories (loss and gain) with you this past year.  Yes, I remember all the times I slammed your fingers in the car "not knowing you were behind me" and those times that we played school, bank, OBGYN, massage therapist, and all the nights we've slept in the bed together "because there's really no reason to have two bedrooms for sisters as close as us."  I love you, admire you, and encourage you to continue sharing Jesus' love with everyone you meet and live life with.

ana

A mi amiga, Ana. Hemos sido amigos desde la juventud. Hay demasiados recuerdos para escribir en este post, pero quiero que sepas lo mucho que están verdaderamente amó y perdió. Nuestros lunes por la noche las fechas de Skype sido perfecto! Estoy muy feliz de llamar a amigos, incluso si a kilómetros de distancia. El Señor se nos revela de manera sorprendente, y su historia, mi amigo es un milagro. Estoy sorprendido de su gracia y amor a través de su vida. Te amo, querida Anita.

the vill: abbi, waverlee, and bethany

I love these girls! Bible study, fellowship, prayer, art, laughter, tears, and food at Samuel's Village on Tuesday nights doesn't even begin to describe this relationship.  I want to mention these special ladies because they are my heart. I love living life with each of them on a weekly basis.  They sharpen me and love me and it's friends like these that Christ intended us to walk with in this world. Love you, ladies.

wendy

My darling-Jesus-loving-getting-kids-fit-Denver-living-Land-Cruising-hiking-friend that I miss so much!  Wendy and I have known each other since before we could drive.  Though we live states apart, we never miss a beat with each other. Whether through picture texts or prayers via phone, this girl is the example of a Christ-loving-seeking woman.  I am so blessed to share life with her.  

There are a two more ladies who I'd like to mention, but I do not have photographs of them. :( 

I will give them a special post when I find or take some....

I pray that those reading this post will seek or nuture relationships that bring out the very best/worst in you, in reverence and obedience to Christ, so that you might be sharpened and used for His Kingdom.  

Have a wonderful weekend. 

~h 

He's glorious

so, as the year continues to rev to full speed, i kind of want to say, "Hold on! Let's take this one day at a time." i am enjoying 2012.  so many things to be thankful for!  the month of january seemed to move along at its own pace, but february seems to be flying by.

so, i strive to live each day intentionally.

the new people i meet get my full attention, my patients get extra check up calls, my loved ones are receiving thank you notes, my bosses are hearing more praises and stories from me, and most importantly He is receiving praises for the glorious opportunities He's laid out for me. it seems that the days go by quicker these days and i run out of time.  haha even falling asleep on facetime just to see my sweet friend ana, all the way in mexico....however, not a day passes that i haven't lived it out to the fullest.

so i ask...what are you living for?  how has your perspective in the new year changed?  what have you been doing to change how you address your daily habits?

the results can be pretty interesting when you start focusing on relevant occasions, people, and give Him the glory.

:) hope you have a wonderful evening
h

how convenient

so, i love my mom.

she and my dad have this entire week off of work and are enjoying it with each other. i got a call from them yesterday, late afternoon, saying that they were in fort worth "mucking around, shopping, and eating treats from j rae's and we would love to see you. oh wait, honey, your daddy wants you to know that his cupcake was 50 calories."

1. great! i'm in arlington, give me until 5pm
2. next, you're shopping?! with dad?! what?!
3. lastly, that cupcake was way more than 50 calories!

so we met up.
i got to browse around anthropologie with mom while dad was sent away to the apple store and b&n; all while we had quality time in our favorite store. :)

we got to pick out mom's new charms for her necklace as well as she found the most beautiful sequin blouse (that i have to keep top secret until further dates) on sale!  the sales woman said the store didn't get them in size small, so this find was all momma's.

hope you find joy in the small, unexpected things today.
xx, h