Excerpts from my devotional....

I've been reading "My Utmost for His Highest" as my devotional this year, and it's been really, really good, so I thought I'd share a few quotes from today's reading. Actually, if you're one of those people who likes to look things up, it's really November 10th's reading, I'm a bit behind. :P

If you seek great things for yourself, thinking, "God has called me for this and for that," you barricade God from using you. As long as you maintain your own personal interests and ambitions, you cannot be completely aligned or identified with God's interests. This can only be accomplished by giving up all of your personal plans once and for all, and by allowing God to take you directly into His purpose for the world. You understanding of your ways must also be surrendered, because they are now the ways of the Lord.

...I should never say, "Lord, this causes me such heartache." To talk that way makes me a stumbling block. When I stop telling God what I want, He can freely work Hims will in me without any hindrance. He can crush me, exalt me, or do anything else He chooses. He simply asks me to have absolute faith in Him and His goodness. Self-pity is of the devil, and if I wallow in it I cannot be used by God for His purpose in the world

~Oswald Chambers

"Let's Say Thanks"

I thought this was a neat idea, so I did it, and I thought I'd share it with you so you could too!

It's a program that sends out cards to our troops to tell them thank you, and I like it because it doesn't take a whole ton of time, but you can still personalize the note to show that you care.

http://www.letssaythanks.com/Home1280.html

I put a widget thingy on my sidebar - although it's rather big, sorry about that. It still links to the site though. =D

Tournament Pictures!

Last Saturday I had my first speech tournament! I was very excited, and I had a lot of fun. =D Here are a few picture from between rounds.

I love Sophia's face as she's trying to get bunny ears on Grace but didn't quite make it... :P And Rebeka, don't kill me for posting this picture, please. :P

I should also note that Grace and Sophia did an amazing job on their duo. =)

Three of us novice speech-ers...so much fun!!

I didn't place, but I had a lot of fun, and wasn't nervous, and enjoyed it immensely. =) When I get to uploading the video of my speech, I might think about possibly letting you see it....maybe. =P

God is so good!

My computer is fixed!! I have a brand new operating system (Windows 7!) =D but have lost all my emails =( So, if there's an email you sent me and I never replied...well that's why. :-/ It's so awesome how God has continually blessed me with a working computer, even with the number of times it has broken down!

I also remember that I've promised y'all pictures of the Book 1 Recital - and I'm sorry it's taken so long, but hold on a little bit longer! I have not forgotten! Some of our friends took the pictures, so they are currently in their possesion and I have yet to get a copy from them. :)

Meanwhile, I wanted to share my excitement for my friend Tara, who was recently engaged!! It has been such a blessing to me, as a teenager, to see their [Tara and Stephen's] godly example during their courtsrhip.

Here are some pictures that she posted on her blog. :)

To explain the lack of posts recently...

My computer has crashed. :( So I have limited computer time on the computers of all my family members. Hopefully it will be up and running again soon! Please pray that we figure out what happened to it, because we're really not quite sure. :-/

Love always,
Hannah

Who would've thunk??

Cauliflower comes in PURPLE!! I was elated!!! [my new word] Mom made some for dinner last night. And while it wasn't the best thing I've ever tasted, I certainly liked it more normal white cauliflower.



PS - for those of you who didn't get my facebook message, I'm taking a week off facebook and gmail - but not my blog and email, so you can always contact me there. :)
PPS - isn't that purple cauliflower just too amazing for words?????? I love it. =P