This morning as I was walking to class, the sun was shining and the wind was blowing. It seems like perfect weather, cold, yet bearable and beautiful. I looked across the hill and in between the bare leaves of the pecan trees, I saw miles and miles of blue mountains with a little bit of pink in the sky. It took my breath away to see the beauty that God has given me to observe on a daily basis. How could anyone deny God, the Creator?
I am longing for a hike in the mountains. The little town of Dahlonega is really cute with all it's antique shops, Victorian style buildings, and art galleries. But there is something more desirable in seeing just the simple things in nature and hearing the sound of the wind in the trees.
Although nature is one of my favorite things, the people are the things that matter the most. There are so many beautiful people in the Mountain View church of Christ. Immediately we were blessed to be offered help to move in, invited to stay the night at many people's house anytime we want, offered rides to church, and taken in with loving arms and good cooks. We were accepted with open hearts and that means more to me than anything.
I have so much to be thankful for (despite the beer logos on the walls in the apartment and the alcoholic and druggie next door) that I wish that I could only explain the beauty of this place in more eloquent words.
so, I am here in North Georgia and the weather is rainy and yucky. But it makes for a romantic lunch near a lake. I have been moved in for two days now in my little apartment and have a room to myself. But I still haven't been able to meet my roommates. And I signed up for a British Lit. class, Graphic Arts, aesthetics and criticism, and Renaissance history class. It should be an interesting semester! classes begin tomorrow. gotta go.
Yesterday was visitation day. God gave us three different opportunities to visit with people in need of encouragement: the elderly, the crippled, and the burdened.
First we visited with a 100 year old lady in the nursing home whose husband was a "carpetbagger" from the north. She is a very interesting woman with a lot of stories. I am sorry I have only met her now when I am fixing to leave because I would like to get to know her better.
Also, we were able to visit with this amazing woman, whom I have come to love like my own mother. This normally busy, energetic woman has been recently slowed down with a very bad broken ankle. I know it has been discouraging to her to not do the things she wants to do the most, however, I am confident that she will, yet again, be to me an example of perseverance in difficult times.
Thirdly, we visited with a good friend of ours who is burdened with a sickly husband and motherly worries for her grown children. It ceases to amaze me of the smile that she always has and a very positive attitude she portrays despite her difficult situation.
I have been blessed with many opportunities to learn from other godly women and I can't wait to open the door for more. I only hope that I can use these opportunities to also let my light shine.
Aw, you're so cool! I could really use talking time with you -- while your all snug in bed and I'm hanging up my wet laundry. I miss your good advice! :)
It's been a year since Preston said to me "Hannah, I think we could work well together." Of course we didn't start officially dating until April. But the past two days I have been thinking about how much the two of us have grown in our relationship together and as individuals since that day.
Preston is my best friend! We compliment one another, so that we are able to help each other in our weaknesses and support each other in our strengths. He is so patient with me as I learn to be a more godly servant, he supports me when I am discouraged, and he is willing to reprimand me when I am wrong. I cherish those nights we talk on the phone for hours about spiritual principles or deep concepts of life.
Looking back, my favorite things are mostly the little things in our relationship, like the strawberries and chocolate, Hootie and the Blowfish's song "Hold My Hand", the tootsie rolls, that smile that lets me know he's thinking about me, the day we skipped work to go canoeing, and the random "I love you"'s in the middle of studying maps. I even love the things that he does that irritate me, because its him.
I have truly be blessed with such a wonderful gift. I hope that I can become a better person for him as we grow together, because I want to live with him for the rest of my life.
The absence of the abundant excitement and delightful company this weekend has caused the house to seem quiet, large, and lazy. The boys are taking a nap from the long, laughing nights and Zig has nursed on my bed several times today and then has lazily curled up and gone to sleep.
I keep trying to get myself in the Christmas mood by listening to Christmas music, wrapping presents, and sending Christmas cards. Maybe since it is suppose to get in the 30's tonight, it will start feeling like Christmas.
Every year for Christmas, each of us brown kids gets an ornament that represents something that we did that year. We also put up Christmas decorations in every room in the house, including the bathrooms. This year we have three trees-- a Victorian tree, a tree with feathers and other nature stuff, and a family tree with all the homemade elementary school ornaments.
So what are some holiday traditions in your family?
Christmas ornaments are quite cool. My family developed a tradition of our parents giving us each a new ornament each year, but there's no particular reason behind what ornaments we get.
Okay, ready? [rapping while cantering down the hallway]: "Yo, yo, my name is Lima Bean, I live in my crib on the west side, and I eat tuna beans for breakfast. Yo, yo, yo, what's up...
A game called "Quelf." It's a board-game that makes you do silly dares (on cards) to move foward on the board. When I told Emerson about it he burst out laughing. We have to play that game!
our traditions: 1) "Christmas in Florida" party, which was last saturday 2) Each Lester kid gets an ornament on christmas eve. 3) Dinner at Granny and Papa's house on Christmas eve. 4) Lounge around the house in pj's all day on Christmas.
We normally drive around and look at Christmas lights on Christmas eve, but I'm not sure how that's going to work this year because we're putting Christmas off for a whole week!! It's too bad :(
