"Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket--safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” -C.S. Lewis

penguins...

Well I've just gotta say work today was hilarious! The people were so funny. This one couple had these really complicated drinks and so they we showing me how to mark them and then they were telling me what they wanted in spanish (which I don't speak) and so once I finaly understood what they wanted I was like ok so what name do you want on this...umm yeah they asked me to write a bad word on it! So I just looked at them like yeah umm your joking but they were searous! I just about fell over with laughter. And then there were these 2 little british ladies who came in with these amazing accents. Then the one spilt her whole drink on the other lady. Oh man they were so funny. And then this one guy was like 'when do you work till Hannah...love' and I was like did he just call me love? weird. Oh and I managed to cover my shirt in coffee splaters because they don't have my apron yet. Pretty much work is really fun and makes me pretty tired.

life...

oh I am just giving a shout out to life...it is beautiful. Sometimes things get rocky but you just gotta keep going and hoping it will all turn out good and you know it does. Oh God is amazing and blesses us even when we feel we don't deserve it.
Here's to anyone who never quit when things got hard.

Tonight I went and hung out with Emma and Kat. So our favorite thing to do is eat fortune cookies. I don't know why but we always do. Here were a few of my fortunes...You are going to have a very comfortable old age...umm ok that is nice to know, but I hope I don't live to long cuz I don't want the last 20 years of my life to be me sitting in an old folks home wearing diapers, not a comfortable feeling. Then one was 'You are very pretty' so not really a fortune but hey I like it. : ) Then I had a couple more that were kinda funny (as long as you know what to add on the end of your fortune, and for those of you who don't well I won't corupt you in that way).
I had such a freaky dream last night! I went to visit this guy I haven't seen in almost 2 years and I was all excited to see him again So I went and asked his parents if he was home and then I saw him and he was an old man!!! And I tried to give him a hug but he was like 'no I can't do that Hannah' so he shook my hand. And now I don't think I want to see him cuz it totally freaked me out seeing him old like that. It was funny in a weird sorta way.


There will be little rubs and disappointments everywhere, and we are all apt to expect too much; but then, if one scheme of happiness fails, human nature turns to another; if the first calculation is wrong, we make a second better: we find comfort somewhere.
Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds. Or bends with the remover to remove. Oh no! It is an ever fixed mark that looks on tempests and is never shaken.
Marianne, Sense and Sensibility
(oh I love Jane Austen movies and books)

Well driving with Hannah is an amazing experince I'll have to say. And if you haven't done it...well you'll have to wait untill november. My favorite thing is turning up the music and hot air and rolling down the windows, yeah not many people will do that with me so for those who do, you are true friends. : )
You know these past couple weeks have been like the worst of my life! Ok not the worst but pretty bad. Like I look at myself and think I'm pretty pitiful. Well you could just say I am an emotional girl. Oh well such is life. I've learned way to hard a lesson these past weeks and I almost wish I could just skip these lessons but I know I need them. But it is getting better, I think I'm seeing the rainbow after the rain.

This weekend was simply lovely...
walking to starbucks, picking flowers, Carl giving me a broken chair so I fell, driving 2 hours in a car that is breaking down, having to pee so bad I thought I was going to die, the freaky bathroom with mirrors everywhere that we finaly stoped at, Kate being cold and almost making me fall of the bed from trying to take my body heat, singing and dancing in the car, being getto, shocking my aunt by listening to and singing along to grilz, my aunt embarrasing me by telling this lady I should hook up with her son while I was sitting there, laughing, spilling coffee on my shirt at church, jumping in the freezing cold pool to get the net out because no on would get in, being coverd in ants, watching a movie on Mike's lap-top and having no clue what was happening cuz I couldn't hear it, gettting some really exciting purses from my Aunt, and well lots of other silly things that I like doing...
yeah I need more weekends like this.

Well here is one of my faviorte pictures from this summer...It shows the fun, the sweat, the dirtyness and some awesome girls all in one picture! We look so silly. Ashley is laughing and has black stuff on her face from sanding chairs, Hannah is showing the coolness of being a barney by holding her frapachino, I am "glowing" from all the work and heat! and my shirt has black smudges on it from who knows what and then Kelsey has black stuff on here shirt too! I wish I was going back to the hay field this summer. It is so much fun. It is even more fun being a barney cuz they are there just to break the rules. Like taking showers everday instead of once a week!! And other stuff but I won't spill all our secrets ; ) I just pretty much think everyone should go on Royal Servants! Hopefully I will be back at training camp next summer...

This is just a cute story I read awhile back and came across it again today while I was helping my mom.


The Garden - by Douglas Wilson

As my horse trotted wearily up the road, I could see the walls of a beautiful garden ahead. Outside the gate was an equally beautiful woman. At the sound of my greeting, she turned and dropped a curtsey. "Good sir... good morning."

I looked at her, and then at the garden walls extending out to the right and left. Behind her was the garden gate. I said, "I am very thirsty...for something clean." She smiled, and her smile made me thirstier still. But she said nothing. "Is there water here?" I asked.

"There is a stream within my garden." Her statement was simply a statement of fact; there was no invitation at all in it.

I asked, "May I come in and drink?"

"No," she said. "The lord of my mother's garden does not permit that."

"Why is this? Other women have let me drink from the gardens that they tend." I glanced at the fruit-laden branches, which were visible over the top of the garden wall. "You have a lovely garden, but those who let me drink had gardens just as beautiful."

She laughed at this, and her laugh was merry indeed. "I have no doubt that you have been in some lovely gardens. But was the water clean?"

"No," I said, and in spite of myself, turned my head and looked down.

She continued with a question. "Is that why you are no longer in the gardens tended by these women?"

I was ashamed so I did not answer her. Instead I looked past her into the garden. The path through the gate disappeared after a few feet, leaving the view of anyone on the road. "It seems like a shame for such a garden to go to waste."

She seemed both puzzled and amused. "How does it go to waste?"

"Does any man drink from your stream?"

"No, but no man fouls it either."

"But is that not a waste? Was not your stream made to quench the thirst of travelers?"

"I'm afraid you are seriously mistaken. It was made to quench the thirst, not of travelers, but of the lord of the garden."

"Oh," I said, "this garden has a lord?"

"No," she said.

"Then I don't understand. Are you speaking in riddles?"

She smiled. "No, I do not. The garden will one day have a lord, although it does not yet. The stream is for him alone."

"And who will your lord be?"

"When my mother's lord gives a blessing, the one whom I appoint."

"How can the lesser appoint the greater?"

"How can it not be so? When my lord comes, I will grant to him my garden. But until I do, he is just another traveler."

"And what do you look for? I am sure there are many who knock at your gate."

At this she blushed slightly but looked straight at me. "I will not have a lord who does not have a lord himself--my lord must have taken an oath of fealty to the Landlord."

"The Landlord? Who is he?"

"He is the owner of all the gardens along this road. In order to come into my garden, my lord must take an oath before the Landlord to tend the garden well. He must also swear that he will enter no other garden."I had never heard such words as these before. "How long must he stay out of other gardens?"

"Forever."

"But what if he is born to travel?"

"Then he is not born for my garden."

"I see," I said, becoming a little angry. "Then why have I never heard of such an oath? I have been in many gardens."

"Yes, you said that before. But was the water clean? Were the gardens tended? That is what happens when there is no oath."

"So that is all? If someone takes an oath before this Landlord, you will make them your Lord?"

"No."

"Well, what else then?"

"There are many men who think they can tend my garden well, and who would be willing to swear an oath before the Landlord saying so. But that does not mean that my mother's lord, or I, share their confidence."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that I know the extent of the garden. I have a knowledge of it that cannot be gained from the road. But no man can share that knowledge until after I have made him my lord and husband. So I must have the measure of the man before."

"So what must a man do?"

"The first thing is to--"

"Yes, I know. He must swear to the Landlord. But after?"

"He must return to me, and ask to see my mother's lord."

"And what would he say?"

"That depends on the man."

At this parting comment, she turned and walked slowly back into the garden, pulling the gate closed behind her. I spurred my horse, which began to trot down the road. I did not know what to think, but I needed to find this Landlord.

Well I am offically not going to college group at my church till october. Oh well. I am to young. Man I really am glad I'm graduating early I just hate being "to young" My dad told me that there are always thorns on a rose and so this is my thorn. I have even been called jail bate now! haha I thought that was pretty funny. Thats me! I think I'm going to just go to college group at a differnt church where some of my other friends go. Anyways no more sad talk I don't wanna be upset I just need to get over it.

I just have to say that my friend Hannah is so funny!!! She makes me laugh so hard. here are some quotes of stuff she has said to me...
"Hannah you are a really messy eater. But that is ok cuz when you make a mess eating it just means you are having a lot of fun"
"That is kinda sketchy , but I think Hannah's like being sketchy so ya know what, I approve"
"I don't get it so lets just pretend likes it funny"
A really funny thing she does is acting getto (whatever that means I still don't know) and she trys to get me to do it also. She really knows how to make me laugh. When she was visiting I think I had a constant pain in my stomach from laughing so hard all the time. Like when I was making malto for our breakfast and she was making our peanut butter and honey sandwiches. I thought I had made enough peanut butter and honey for 3 half sandwichs but she made like 6 out of it!!! That is only because a put a LOT of peanut butter and honey in the sandwichs when I make them and she puts a normal amount in it. : )
Well I just did a whole post about nothing really...oh well.

The Civil War Ball...

Well here are some pictures from the civil war ball we went to a week or so ago. It is pretty crazy how many we have now that people are starting to realize they are fun!haha I have now I think been to six. And then I am going to another one in a couple months with the Macs in Crestline (I've gotta say that is a cool place with cool people)
anyways here are the pictures...

little Lydia on the way to the civil war ball...

Michael and Brittany

a picture from our little photo shoot before the dancing started

Southern belles
Kaleb and I waiting for the dance to start

Well tonight at youth group we were singing this one song and I really started to miss my little park that I used to walk to and do my devos at. I decided next clear day we have I will walk there again. I love sitting outside on the grass with the trees and blue sky as my ceiling. Even though I always seem to go when school is getting out and all the kids look at me funny, But hey I'm ok with that. That picture of a tree is one I took one time at the park.

I just finished reading 'The Great Divorce' It took me a long time to read it because I would read a chapter and then be like 'umm what did I just read' and then read it again. But I finished it. I really enjoyed reading it.


"Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning, Great is Your faithfulness.
"The Lord is my portion." says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!""
Lamentations 3:22-24

I love the rain...today driving home from youth group I turned off my music so I could just hear the rain and I even rolled my window down cuz it feels amazing when the rain hits your hands. It's days like this I want to drink hot tea and read a book, well more like drink tea and make my civil war dress seeing as that is what I've been doing all day. But I am happy to say it is almost finished! It should be done tomorrow (hopefully).

I will leave you with a funny picture of me and Britt and 2 of our friends Chris and Kyle. We have known them pretty much forever, well since I was about 2 because that is when we have a video that says how my best friend is Christopher. Then they moved and now we only see them about once a year. It is pretty funny to look back and see how much we've changed.

"I believe in Christianty as I believe that the sun has risen; not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything" C.S. Lewis

"You can't love someone for what they stand for, who they seem to be, you have to love them for there detals, for the little things that are true to only them." Roselee Futch (with a date with Tad Hamilton)

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength" Corrie ten Boom

"God didn't call us to be successfull, just faithful." Mother Teresa

"There is no half singing in the shower you are either a rock star or opera diva" Josh Groban

Well today I went hankie shoping with some friends. We went to this awesome little, well actully it was pretty big, antique store that had tons of hankies in it. I got one white one with some lace on it and then another white one with a chicken on it! So it was random and I had to get it. Then I went crazy getting ready for our friends to come over for dinner. It was a fun and really busy day!

Happy St. Patricks Day!!!!!

Joanna Grace (aka Grumpy Gracie)

So Jo is pretty much the funnest little 4 year I know. Me and her are little buddies and we pretty much just mess around and laugh all day. Except for when she decided she doesn't like me. I have never met such a little drama queen in my life!!!

She always finds something exciting to do. Like using markers as lipstick or having me dress her up like a pirate and then she'll chase everyone around the house.

One of the things she loves to do is sing Josh Groban songs. And then her new thing she always tells me about is how she is going to marry my friend Josh.haha

Yeah she is a crazy little girl.

The other day me and my mom had to go to a meeting that was an hour away so and on the drive we talked about submission. yup. It is an amazing subject. It breaks me heart to see the way women are leaving behind God's will of women submiting to there husbands. I am actully reading a book right now called 'created to be his help meet' by Debbie Pearl. So maybe it is a book for married women but I mean come on why wait to get married and mess up and then read the book? I might as well learn now. I could pretty much write pages and pages about it but I won't, I will just say I am excited to submit to my husband someday and be his help meet and through that honor God. In Titus 2 it says "older women likewise...that they may admonish the younger women to love their husbands, to love thier children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." I am so greatful that God has given me so many examples of Godly women.

Crepe party

I finaly learned how to make crepes! thanks to my great teacher Emma : ) A week or so ago my friends had a crepe party. it was pretty fun. me and Emma ended up pretty much making crepes for everyone and there were like 10 people there so making crepes for that many people takes a while.

in between making crepes for everyone me and emma found time to take pictures, lots of pictures but i'm only going to put a few cuz we took a ton!
There really were more people at this party it is just that me and Emma made the crepes so by the time we sat down there was no room left at the table they we all at. and we have this thing that whenever we see each other we take a million pictures together


this was probably the funnest picture we took all night. I don't know what we were thinking when we took it because we look like total dorks.

This is a list me and my friend made of everything I did for my first time in MN last summer.

Hannah's Fisrt time list:
-going to Minnesota
-going to Wisconsin
-tubing
-swiming near (almost in) a waterfall
-gotten a leach on the leg
-hiked tettegouche
-saw split rock lighthouse
-swam in lake superior-a "great lake!"
-worked at a camp (camp lebanon)
-went in a paddleboat
-saw a loon
-caught a fish
-took a fish off the hook
-got a hook stuck in finger
-went to a twins game at the metrodome
-rode the MN lightrail
-went to the mall of America
-gagged over cleaning bathrooms
-grew an irishman-'seamus'
-had sweet and sour meat balls with pinapple and rice
-ate fruit with ice cream
-watched National Treasure
-made carepacks
-ate rhybarb
-had crepes