Daily Road Map

Wouldn't life be so much easier if we had a road map of our daily lives? Just a quick overview of what's going to happen - what bumps will occur, when we will need to take a pit stop to breathe so we don't go crazy. I, for sure, would LOVE to know when I will be getting frustrated with a child at work so that when it's almost that time I could be prepared and then proceed with more love and patience. How great would that be?!

I think people would learn better time management skills. For example: if Ted knew that he was going to be called into a "short meeting" that ends up lasting an hour and a half, Ted could plan his work time before that meeting much better to where he doesn't feel rushed after he's out of the oh-so-short meeting. That, my friends, would be ideal.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. We do not live in an ideal world. We live in a crazy, scary, unpredictable world where literally anything can happen at any moment of any day. Talk about unstable.

Last night I was running and stopped to take a break at mile 2 of my 4 miles. I was standing on a sidewalk, panting like a dog, sweaty and tired. I looked at the hill I had to run to get back home and said out loud, "Lord, beer me strength." and guess what? I ran the uphill and felt like I was flying. He gave me a fresh outlook and a sense of confidence that had momentarily been lost.

I think one of the big reasons God pulled on my heartstrings to do this half-marathon was to have moments like this with me. To have my mind and body so tired and worn out that the very last thing I could do is to turn to Him for strength, wisdom, and encouragement. This is what has been missing in our relationship and He is slowly helping me restore that.

We may not have road maps to navigate our crazy days, but the Lord has had a plan for you from the beginning of time. He knows when and where the bumps will happen. He knows when your heart is going to be broken AND when it will be put back together. He is so invested and so INTERESTED in you. Not just on your super great days. Not just on your worst days, either. 

EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

I know this is a hard concept for us to wrap our heads around, but start thinking of ways to remind yourself of this. When you're about to explode with anxiety or anger - take a deep breath and ask God for strength. Ask Him for wisdom. Ask Him for a margarita! He wants to know that you can come to Him with anything and everything. and oh my goodness when He provides - He PROVIDES. 

I'm going to leave you with a verse that I think of almost every time I run:

"I’ve been carrying you on my back

 from the day you were born,

And I’ll keep on carrying you when you’re old.

 I’ll be there, bearing you when you’re old and gray.

I’ve done it and will keep on doing it,

carrying you on my back, saving you."

Isaiah 46:4 (MSG)

He is carrying us. Bearing our burdens right along side of us and will continue to do so forever. 

If you'd like to donate to my race and help people in Africa receive clean water you can so HERE.

$50 = clean water for one person for life!

xoxo, 

H

Story Time!

alright friends, gather round, it's story time.

this story is called "Journey to Joy: Hannah Runs"

I may be biased but it's a great one.

this past May an all-staff email was sent out to Franklin Smith Elementary, where I work. 

the email was asking for anyone who would like to volunteer to be a Running Buddy

 for Girls on the Run.

Girls on the Run is a program designed for 3rd-8th grade girls that teaches them just how valuable they are as human beings/girls, and how important it is to practice healthy habits in their every day lives.

I had asked around about this program was already semi-interested and after reading this email, something in my brain twitched and I knew I would regret not seizing this opportunity.

I volunteered.

I was set up to run with a 4th grade girl and my journey of running and inspiration began.

my duty as a Running Buddy was to run a 5K with my girl and I was terrified.

running is not my first choice for exercise - ever.

but this program focuses on more than just running and that is what I love most.

these girls are learning how to be okay with themselves and how to create stable and lasting relationships. I would have LOVED this sort of thing when I was their age! (omg, I'm old.)

we did the 5K and it was awesome. so many girls cheering each other on and being supported by their school's staff and family members. it was exciting and loud and FUN.

a week before we ran, my pastor at church randomly came up to me and said,

"you look like a runner!" 

I laughed in his face.

he then introduced me to a guy about to do a talk on World Vision and the running team our church was going to put together. 

they showed this incredible video of people in Africa receiving clean water for the first time because a person in American ran 13 or 26 miles. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUoLG8uYgrMtbiZdJTKHf9xw&v=6dimArp2TxI

how great is that. talk about a win/win situation. 

soooo after trying to ignore Jesus tapping on my heart and then giving up with that,

I signed up for the half-marathon.

that's 13.1 miles.

insane, but God's plans for us were never meant to be boring friends. 

He plans a life for us that is abounding in adventure and joy. 

I've been training since mid-June and tonight I ran the most I've ever ran - 6 miles.

my dad has been running with me and it has been so good.

he knows me well and knows how to push me and has been such a great piece in my journey!

I still need to raise money. the goal is $1,310 and I've got $100.

fundraising is scary but doable and I'm praying daily that I find the courage to ask my loved ones to contribute - it's going straight to someone in need!

THIS is my fundraising page.

if you would like to donate I will love you forever and you are helping change lives!

(if you decide not to - I still love you.)

race day is October 17th - the day before my 24th birthday. 

I can't wait to say goodbye to 23 - a year of crazy growth and experience by doing something I never thought I could do and by helping people across the world.

also this fall I am an assistant coach for Girls on the Run.
I get to spend 2 days a week with these girls, learning and growing right beside them.

it is going to be a fantastic adventure. 

please keep me in your thoughts and prayers these next 2 months!

training continues up until the day of the race and you can donate anytime before then. 

as always, thank you for reading my words.

it's so fun to share with you and I'm excited to do so more often.

xoxo,

H

Dear Mom...

Dear Mom,

Happy Mother's Day.

I need to say something I don't say to you nearly enough:

thank you.

Thank you for being so incredibly you.

I know I threw a kink in your life when I called 2 years ago telling you I needed to come home. 

I know that it was not the ideal thing to happen - I know this.

But you never wavered. 

The night I decided to end my life - the time I was at my absolute darkest - your voice (and Jesus') came into my head clear as day - 

"come home." 

So I did what every child should do - I listened to my mom.

and that was the best decision I've ever made. 

Thank you for supporting me in every way possible. 

For pushing me to follow and pursue my dreams.

For teaching me how to speak on the phone with adults.

For helping me understand that having a boyfriend is not the most important thing in life.

For teaching me about modesty and humbleness.

For being silly and so funny. Especially when you fall asleep on the couch in the evenings :)

For reminding me that love (and life) is hard - but worth it.

I have seen you triumph in so many areas of your life.

I have seen you push through and up during times when there was no light.

Pressing into God and leaning on His guidance, you have shown me and Josh what it means to be a true woman of God.

When our lives turned upside down you were the rock of our family and I don't think I could ever express how much that means to me. 

You showed me what strength looks like and I can only hope to model that in my own life.

You have quickly become my best friend since moving home.

My forever shopping date. 

My forever Dollar Store candy and a movie date.

Those things are little but MAN I love them - we should never stop.

I am so thankful to have such a light in my life.

Thank you for being you and creating me to be who I am supposed to be.

I love you.

I'm so glad I get to be called your daughter.

Love,

Hannah

Life in Pictures

hey dear ones. 

here are some pictures about my life. 

Easter was beautiful - we spent time with my mom's side. 

My dad's mom was able to come and spend the weekend with us, too.

 I love our crazy family!

We had miniature horses come pay our room a visit at school. The kids LOVED them - they were so stinking cute. It was awesome.

We've got babies right outside our front door again! Can't wait to see these birds begin life!

I was able to go to the zoo with the second graders - Ms. Morgan was PUMPED. It was a really great day.

Our kindergarten classrooms at school did a science unit on baby chicks and they got to visit our room - talk about CUTE.

I found this quote/photo on Pinterest and it really hit me hard. 

The best is yet to come, y'all :)

I love you!

H

Kids Say the Wisest Things..

Welcome to the part of the show where I take something a tiny human said haphazardly and turn it into a life lesson blog post. I'm glad you're here :)

On the playground on Monday morning, I was surprised to find out one of my kindergarteners, G, could climb up the dome jungle gym like a pro. We call him our little orangutang in the classroom and he really put his monkey skills to use. Another kindergartener came up behind him and was encouraging him as he climbed on the sides of the dome,

"All you have to do is put your feet in front of you and then pull yourself up!" she said with gusto.

 I laughed and told her she was right. 

And then the wheels in my brain started to turn. 

On Sunday night I was dumped. 

If you've ever gone through a break up you can probably sit here and nod your head in agreement that they just suck. 

There are no fun feelings and it's just obviously not a happy ending.

I hate that. 

But when this little human said those words, it was really what I needed to hear.

Life is silly. and hard. and when life gets hard...we get stronger. We are able to learn from our mistakes, as well as others' mistakes. We get to see how things change over time and that progress is what makes our journeys just that much more interesting. 

After a dinner at Chick-Fil-A with my parents and some Ben & Jerry's ice cream, my heart is feeling much better. 

Yeah, break ups suck - but life doesn't. 

It goes on. I promise.

A Return to the Words

Dear Readers,

That's right. It's me. 

The girl who hasn't written anything since August. 

The girl who was really good at posting once a month about her life and showing you her puppy. 

The girl who REALLY wanted to be good at this whole blogging thing.

The girl who REALLY wanted to be trendy and hip and totally cute with her little journal of life on the internets.

The girl who is such a human. 

That girl is BACK.

I have missed writing, posting pictures, and attempting to make you laugh and I am tired of torturing myself with thoughts like, "well no one was reading it anyway" or "they probably didn't even notice that I left for awhile.."

Now I'm just telling myself,

WHO CARES. 

No one is perfect - ESPECIALLY on the internets. HA

When I last wrote, I was going to school and working with kids. Oh my friends - so much has changed but at the same time not much has.

Let's just jump into it - my life. 

(I found this little quote on Pinterest tonight and it sparked this whole post.)

Sometimes doing what's best for us can be the greatest decision we'll ever make.

S C H O O L

//

Speaking of what's best for me...

I am currently taking a break from the higher education adventure.

Some adventures are just too...hard.

I won't lie to you - I need time to figure out how to human. 

Going to school was proving to be a task that was too grueling for me. 

I will go back, I will graduate, and I will pursue a career.

But for now, I have closed the books and opened a new chapter.

J O B

//

In November I applied and interviewed for a position at an elementary school in Blue Springs.

The school was looking for a Paraprofessional in their K-2 Special Education classroom.

They chose me.

Talk about a God thing. I am not certified, had no real paraprofessional experience, and had never worked in the district. I can say that the interview went well, and I prayed - a lot. 

I explained to the principal and her assistant that yes, I'm taking a break from school but I still want to pursue my passion for Special Education. I want to pursue my passion for kids and for education. This job is the perfect fit. It is not the perfect job - my perfect job would be laying on the beach with a fruity drink in my hand. No it's not perfect, but it is where I am supposed to be right now.

I have learned so much in the three short months that I have been there.

 I've learned about myself, about education, and about LIFE.

This job has changed me.

I now go to bed before 10:30 - sometimes before 10:00.
I have never loved weekends more.

 I have a new appreciation for the couch at home. 

I also somehow love that puppy of mine even more. 

I'm learning and really enjoying the ride.

I am really glad I've returned to writing all the words.

xoxo,

H

OKAY OKAY here's Monster....

Coming Soon...

Oh friends.

Get ready.

I'm coming back.

Stayed tuned.

xoxo,

H