Mid-October Progress Report

Study Hour:  Study hour has been going pretty well. I have been having a ton to read so far this semester; and so I have had to study more than an hour on some days, which is a good thing.

Wake Up "Early": Ahem. Well, during my summer vacation, I made it a goal not to get up later than 9 o'clock. It worked and... has been working this month too. It wouldn't hurt to try to get up a little earlier.

Cook And Bake/Use Free Time: I baked a scrumptious chocolate cake that will do for the entire month.
Just kidding. I mean, it was scrumptious; but that's beside the point.

Altogether, I would estimate that I have kept my resolutions to 60%. Definitely improvable.

Pointless Worry

Some people stress out a lot easier than others. I consider myself an average "stress out-er," and sometimes it's just the little things in life that get me jumping or nervous.
I love what my youngest sister told me once when we were driving in my car to meet a friend at an intersection. This friend was going to follow us on her motor scooter to where we were going; and I was stressing out about meeting her at the right moment, and the traffic, and the cars behind me, and what if she doesn't see us, and where will I stop if she's not there yet...
I was told,

"Worry about it tomorrow."

Of course this piece of advice does not work for everything, but it's meant for those little everyday situations in which one so easily gets worked up. It's for that time when it's not worth getting excited or frustrated. Things will come as they were meant to come and no amount of worry or stress will make things better. When tomorrow comes, it will make no sense in worrying over it and so worrying about it today is just as pointless.

Wishing you a worry-less week!

haNNa

October Resolutions

Starting this month, I will be posting some resolutions I mean to keep or things I want to accomplish, etc. Kelli Taylor on her blog She Learns As She Goes came up with this idea of sharing resolutions and then giving a report on how things went.
So since it is the beginning of October, I thought I'd collect some ideas about things that need to get done this month.











Study Hour
So, maybe some people study for an hour every day - but I don't. I didn't. Yesterday I did, and I mean to on Monday, Tuesdays, and Thursdays at least. Study hour is simply an hour of concentrated studying, reviewing, working ahead... This is a great time to start since my fifth semester only began yesterday.





Wake Up "Early"
On days when I don't have class until noon, I tend to sleep in and be lazy. I would like to get up at a reasonable time so I can get things done before class.

Cook And Bake/Use Free Time
When school starts again, I let it consume a lot of my energy and I don't take the time to cook or bake, read a good book, and keep up with cleaning my room.

What are your resolutions for October? Leave a comment below!


haNNa

Letter from A Thirteen-Year-Old

 Recently I found the letter I had written to myself when I was thirteen. Wow, I was obnoxious. It is comforting that I have - hopefully - matured a little.

Dear Hanna (23),
hey! How are you? Are you in college? Or have you graduated? Are you engaged?
Do you remember _____? Or are you married to him? Just kidding!! Is there anyone else you admire? Is Stefanie married? Are you an Auntie Hanna?
Is Katrina married to _____? Did she go to college with you? Got new friends? Is Liz around?
If you are out of college, where do you live? Do you have a dog(s)? I want a dog. 
Remember our [house in Germany]? I like it here. Please don't forget all the good memories you had in Germany and Canada!
[...]
So, Mom is 54 years old. Laura is 14.
Is John MacArthur still around? Do you still have your MacArthur Study Bible, the German one?
I hope your printing has improved!
Do you have a driver's license? Have a car?

This picture looks not very nice! But I thought it would be funny!
Are your teeth straight?
Do you have a job? Betcha my life you're NOT a teacher!!
Oh my! I kinda want to stay a child, but here you are 23 years old!!!!!!!!
'Member [piano teacher]? Any contact to him? He is 40 know, if you don't know. 
Can't wait to meet you.

I think I am going to write back. Have a nice weekend!

haNNa

I Had a Dream...

... that I had written a nice blog post. When I woke up, however, I did not remember what it was about. I guess it wasn't some special revelation. Sorry.

haNNa

Best of YouTube

I actually really love YouTube. Sure, there's a whole lot of junk on there; but on the other hand, some of it is really great. Some things I particularly like are...

1.) The music. There are a lot of talented musicians on YouTube, and I like them a lot better than mainstream pop stars. There's just something authentic about them.

2.) On The Box. On The Box is a web-based talk show, concerning mainly evangelism, hosted by Ray Comfort and the Living Waters team. It airs live on USTREAM, but I always watch it later on YouTube. Highly recommendable.

3.) The makeup tutorials. It's fun to watch. Enough said.

4.) Comedy. The good stuff. The really good stuff. A few months ago, I came across Blimey Cow when a homeschooling mom posted their video on her blog. It dealt with the lies about homeschooling; and as a former homeschooler, naturally I could immediately relate not only to the content of that video but to their other good stuff as well. Most likely, not everyone can. 

Anyway, today it has been a year since they started their weekly "Messy Mondays" show, and I thought I'd acknowledge them by posting one of their videos for you to enjoy.

Have a nice week!
haNNa

The Icelandic Horse

Helgavatn

Why Is Discipline Necessary?

Laziness is a sin and reproved in God’s Word.

The best-known verse concerning laziness is probably Proverbs 6:6 –

Go the ant, O sluggard, observe her ways and be wise

The Proverbs are full of admonishments for the lazy, who ultimately lack discipline. Another verse calls the person who sleeps when there is work to be done "shameful", while diligence is repeatedly praised and encouraged.

We are called to make good use of the time for the days are evil.

In Ephesians 5, Paul calls believers to warily walk as children of Light.

Therefore, be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

It is a fight in which we stand.

Especially with the Olympics taking place right now, we can easily picture what Paul writes to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 –

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. Then then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore, I run in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

The writer of Hebrews explains how we must run,

fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Resurrection

As you may know, Jim Elliot is one of my heroes. I don't think there is a book I will ever like better than his biography. I recently listened to a sermon of his from the year 1951. Find it here.

Ecuador (from oceansart.us)

haNNa

And He said who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." Then He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

Revelation 21:5-8

Yes, I'm Back...

... with a fresher look and hopefully some new content over this summer. Every now and then I am struck by inspiration and maybe we can take this blog to another level.
So, here's a toast to ambition and summery days ahead... It's funny that my summer vacation starts practically the week kids get back to school. Oh well, at least that way they won't be in my way when I'm enjoying my free time!

Off to new horizons...

Stay tuned!

haNNa

Blog Roll (Pt. I)

I feel like it is time for an updated "blog roll." That is, I have recently come across some good stuff I'd like to share.
My first recommendation is "The Cripplegate" - a blog by biblical pastors discussing various theological issues. I find it very interesting.

 Here are some sample posts from the blog:

1. The (Lost) Art of Street Preaching - Must It Be Resurrected?
2. The "Problems" with Prophecy
3. An Open Letter to My Daughter


haNNa

180

haNNa

checking out

Hey All,
Here I am checking out for now. Maybe I'll be back in mid-February. I simply have too much to do and nothing to say.

haNNa

P.S. Ooooh, the Yukon Quest starts on February 7th. So excited already and wish I was in Canada.

Happy New Year

  Happy New Year, everyone! 

I hope the last few weeks were good ones for you. Things were quiet but fun here. I slept a lot even though it wasn't as relaxing since two presentations for school, which were supposed to be held before Christmas, were postponed. So that was hovering over my head. (I was quite good at ignoring it though.) But the presentations will be checked off - hopefully - by the end of this week and then I just have six exams to study for. Before I know it the semester will be over!
Oh yeah, and remember that blog I mentioned I had to make for a computer class. Well, it's up... I still need to fill it with some content... More hovering (and ignoring). It's in german, but here it is.

So, does anyone have some interesting resolutions for this year?

This is hopefully what our living room will look like once the Christmas decoration comes down.

haNNa

More Christmas Music

I did a similar post last year, but here are some of my favorite Christmas music CDs -

• Steve Green's The First Noel
• Michael W. Smith's Christmastime and Christmas
• A Christian Ebner Christmas
• I'm not that crazy about Josh Groban anymore, but we still have to listen to his album Noel during the Christmas season

haNNa

CPOTD And 100th Post!

 

"For He Himself [Jesus Christ] is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandements contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the corss, by it having put to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were far away, and peace to those who were near; for through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father."

Ephesians 2:14-18

Another Pic of The Day

So, the Christmas tree is up. Secret Angels have been drawn. I think we've been doing "Secret Angels" for 12 years now. At the beginning of December, everyone draws a name and you have to be nice to, do nice things or favors, etc. for that person. That is, more nice than you already are... On Christmas Eve, you guess who you had and the truth comes out. It's pretty fun.
It still hasn't snowed yet because it's way too warm here! I hope it snows real soon!

haNNa

Christmas Pic of The Day!

The piano that hasn't been tuned since we got it...

haNNa