Aspire

over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go...

2012-02-13T11:06:00.000-06:00

Snapshots from Sunday. We watched Rugby and ate cheese and generally laughed till we wished we hadn't ate so much cheese. My mom and grandpa's birthday were celebrated with a fruit pizza and another Thanksgiving dinner. In February. That's just how we roll (besides, stuffing never gets old). I'm proud to say that I now understand rugby. That's like saying you can fluently speak Chinese after a day, or you can recite pi to the four hundredth digit. I kid only slightly -- okay, maybe a lot, but have you ever watched rugby before? Until you understand the rules, it looks like a big free for all kind of brawl. A smorgasbord of soccer, football, and capture the flag all rolled into one. But, it's actually an interesting sport. That we may or not have dvr'd. Moving on.

What's on your agenda for this week? I'd love to hear! Especially if it includes chocolate. Valentine's Day is tomorrow (ack!) and I'm definitely still single, but that doesn't mean I won't be celebrating. I plan to indulge in as much chocolatey goodness as possible. Okay, kidding. I'm eating better and running every morning (more on that later), and generally trying to work on creating a healthier lifestyle for myself. But I might make a cupcake or two or maybe a flourless chocolate cake. After all, sweets in moderation is fine. How about you?

xo and all that jazz,

Hannah

cohen // portraits

2012-02-11T05:00:00.000-06:00

This little guy is part of my family (second cousin something or another), which explains the resemblance he and Sam have. It's crazy comparing photos of the two of them -- they're only a few months apart and both alike in so many ways. Not to mention the two of them are oh-so cute and in the fun talking stage of toddlerhood. Love this little kiddo and his sweet smile!

home.

2012-02-09T05:30:00.000-06:00

Cooking reminds me of home.

It makes me think of the main cabin at Woodland, steamy from pots cooking and heavy with the smells of fresh food being prepared. People outside and the smoke from the grill hot against the smell of the water. Family clustered inside and everyone underfoot, offering to cut watermelon or make punch or wash a dish. All of us together, licking spoons and sneaking fruit and pulling the plates from the peeling cupboards painted brown. The slap of the back door banging closed and people rushing up to get in line as we cram into the cabin that's our home for a week.

Or of days spent cutting and coring apples at grandma's house, hands sticky from the juices running sweet. The kitchen muggy and windows open and wearing old-tshirts covered in apple stains. Gripping your knife tightly and slicing through the apples swiftly, pausing to toss the peels in the round wooden bowl as seeds scatter across the table. Apples bobbing in the sink and sitting in boxes and bags reminding you that your work isn't done. And the smell. The overwhelming, unchanging scent of apples, ripe and rich, picked just minutes before from the backyard.

Sometimes, we'd make bread. When I was so little that my head barely reached as tall as my momma's waist, my hands small and willing to knead the sticky dough heavy with the smell of bread. We'd have flour on our faces and our clothes and I'd stand on chairs in the kitchen, watching my mom give that dough a piece of her mind. Hearing the bread machine whir and waiting impatiently for it to be done. All of us hanging around the kitchen until the loaf was cut, heat steaming fast as butter melted on the warm bread in your hands. It was the best bread that I ever ate, because it was fresh and it was homemade and it was my momma's.

A few nights in the summer were for strawberry shortcake, when the evening was lazy and the light golden, we'd sit outside with plates on our laps and forks in our hands. The homemade shortcake still hot, drizzled with the strawberries, and if we were lucky, some raspberries from the garden. Fresh whipped cream piled high on top as we dug into dessert made dinner. Neighbors calling and the sound of games being played and sitting on the deck, legs dangling off the edge as sun streamed soft and day turned to dusk, with strawberries staining our fingers.

Cooking makes me think of memories. Of days and moments and things that may seem inconsequential to some people, but are special because they're mine. Home.

renewed.

2012-02-07T05:00:00.000-06:00

I was gone all weekend at a youth retreat and I came back so refreshed, encouraged, and challenged. I've got a moleskine full of scribbled notes and journal entries from Friday through Sunday and a heart that is renewed. The time away was so good for my soul, and spending a weekend filled with Him some of my best friends was such a huge blessing. It was one of the most powerful, convicting, challenging, and defining few days of my life.

I have so many changes I want to make in my life, a lot of simplification, and much prayer. God has really been changing my heart and working in my life in radical, crazy amazing ways, and I'm so excited to share some of them with you. I've been meditating on Psalm 86:11, and I love how perfect it is for this season of life that I'm in. God is so good! In little things, like giving a verse for a year, to big, life-changing events and doors that are opened. I'm just overwhelmed and full of joy.

One of the things that the Lord impressed upon my heart was how important prayer is for a continually deepening and growing relationship with Jesus. We had prayer in the mornings and at night, and it was so good to gather with Believers to praise and thank the Lord! I've made a commitment to begin my days praying and reading His Word. Starting my mornings with Him is one of the best things ever, and the more I read of the Bible, the more I'm hungry for His truth. I'm being filled to overflowing and still cannot get enough.

All because of Him. He is so good! Praying that your walk with Christ would deepen and your life would be filled with contagious and unshakable joy! :)

Hannah

snow days.

2012-02-03T05:30:00.000-06:00

We had a snow day last week and it felt like winter had finally arrived. Snow dropped thickly on the cold ground at dizzying speeds. The mitten box was pulled out, and hats were pulled on, snow pants pulled up, and I think we even pulled out a face mask. The littles ran outside and made snowforts, attempted a snowball fight with snow that clustered in powdery waves, and generally put made footprints all over the backyard. I went outside and looked stylish with a plastic target bag over my camera (can you say, high class?) and snapped photos. It was cold, but not too cold, with just enough bite to make you ready for some hot chocolate when you came inside, but not too much that you couldn't feel your fingers. As much as I'm ready for spring, these winter days are slowly growing on me. What can I say? I guess I'm a Minnesotan girl at heart.

gracie girl in winter.

2012-02-01T05:30:00.000-06:00

Gracie is the littlest girl, the spitfire, and the sweetheart. She's tough as nails and a crazy talented ballerina. I love her sensitive, comforting kiddos side, and her no-nonsense business demeanor when she's gotta get that job done. I'm so proud of her determination (read: sometimes stubbornness) and diligence. Her heart is beautiful, her laugh is frequent (and loud, but that's the case with my family) and her smile is beautiful. She's my helper in the kitchen, fellow grapefruit lover (that's my girl!), and our family's "baby" of the ladies. I love this chica and am so proud of her.

hayley // portraits

2012-01-31T06:00:00.000-06:00

(part one)
We took some time to snap some portraits on Saturday, but our picture-taking was short-lived outside. Let's face it, even us Minnesotan's have a limit in regards to the cold, and believe me, it was frigid. Even for January. With the wind stinging, we laughed in the midst of our teeth chattering and tried to bend our frozen fingers. So we retreated inside and had a cup of coffee or two (this shouldn't be a surprise), and decided to finish our picture-taking indoors.

Some of my favorite shots.

monkey bread and many laughs

2012-01-30T06:00:00.000-06:00

I like to heart-to-heart talks, the kind where you cannot help but feel inspired, encouraged, and challenged. Preferably over coffee, I love sharing my heart. I'm learning to listen more and to truly invest in people -- learning to be silent and let their words spill out instead of me demanding mine be heard. When you take time to listen to someone else's story, it's a beautiful thing.

My sweet friend, Hayley, has been on the blog a few times before. I stayed over at her house the other night and we had such a fun time. As both of us love to cook (seriously, we discussed how we'd love to study at Le Cordon Bleu if it wasn't so expensive), we made some monkey bread for breakfast. Last time I was over, we made homemade cinnamon rolls, and the time before that, we baked a Boston Creme Pie. We weren't so fancy this time, and just opted for a quick recipe on the back of a Pillsbury biscuit container. Pre-made dough or not, it was delicious.

It's not so much the elaborateness of a meal that makes it memorable, but the quality of the gathering and the friends you share it with. For us, it was just two talking over coffee, laughing as we stuffed ourselves silly on monkey bread and fruit salad. And knowing me, I had to take some pictures. There's a second set I'm excited to share, but for now, here's a little bit of my weekend. So blessed by this girl's friendship! She's on fire for Jesus and is going places.

ps. posting on Fernweh today! take a look.

a normal thursday afternoon at our house.

2012-01-27T05:00:00.000-06:00

2:15 (or so) in the afternoon rolls around, and we'll usually find Grace sitting at the table next to the window (midday sun streaming hot inside) with a book in her hand. She's so serious when she reads, unlike the rest of the time. What's an everyday occurrence at your home? My family has become very talented in the fine art of ignoring a camera, which I'm glad of. I like real-life, not "now pretend you're reading! now smile" kinda shots. Happy Friday!

thankful thoughts

2012-01-25T05:55:00.000-06:00

January is the slowest month for me. I'm itching to get out and make some photos, but the negative twenty degree or so temperatures are not so kind to my fingers (or face, for that matter). I've been busy with work, school, and just life. And it's been good. So this week (or mid-week, as it is) I'm thankful for...

lazy, quiet Tuesdays
gluten free cake and cupcakes
snow falling softly
poetry and words
watching my sisters dance
candles burning
watching movies with my brothers
listening to sammy laugh
running in the early morning (inside -- I'm not that crazy. hah!)
my moleskine, almost filled, and the new one waiting
productive days
spaghetti for dinner
my church family
design jobs
planning crazy amazing things for this summer
going to bed early for once
beyond exciting new projects
fernweh
and...
listening to my grandpa tell stories from when he was younger

what are you grateful for?

the many faces of eli

2012-01-23T05:00:00.000-06:00

The other day at lunch, 'Lijah showed us all of his faces. He demonstrated them in the middle of eating a sandwich stuffed with luncheon meats and veggies while talking to Sam and grabbing a few more chips. "Okay, now, what's your...mad face?" I asked. He crinkled his nose and bared his teeth and glared at me from under his conductor hat. "Show me your excited face?" His scowl transformed into a grin that made me laugh.

One of my favorite things about being the oldest is watching the littles grow up. Hearing their stories, listening to them play piano (chopsticks never sounded so good), reading them books, and tickling them until we can't stop laughing. I love their knock-knock jokes (Eli's are all variations on the same theme), mismatched socks, sticky kisses, messy faces, and giggles. Mostly, I love them. Everyday that passes I'm reminded of how blessed I am to be their big sister.

unite my heart.

2012-01-20T17:26:00.002-06:00

More and more, I've been seeing the Lord work in my life and in my heart. He's showing me all the areas of my life that I have yet to surrender -- that I'm still clinging to with my hands gripping tight. It's a hard thing to see where you fall short. I struggle with my pride, so being less than the woman I want to be is a hard thing to come to grips with. But in my weakness, He is perfect strength. Not He will be, or if you're good enough, He will be, but He IS perfect strength. It's not about us and what we can do. It's all about Him.

"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. "Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God." - Romans 5:1-2
I was reading this verse this morning on my phone, moments after I woke up, and I had to reread it again and again. I bookmarked it with a huge AMENNN and whispered it into the morning, because it's so good. As I read the Bible more, the more I fall in love with the words in it. With His words.

I look at my relationship with Christ and think, "I can't do this. I'm not good enough, strong enough, smart enough, loving enough...I'm not enough!" And that's the point. I can't do this myself. Because of sin, I cannot live a life that is pleasing to God. BUT, in my weakness He is perfect strength. It's His spirit, moving in me, that changes me and enables me to do what I cannot do. He gives me strength, purpose, passion, and a wholeness that is Him. I am a sinner, but He calls me daughter. It's not about what I can do, but it's about what He has done and what He is doing. He's changing lives and making broken hearts new...praise Him from the rooftops!

One of my favorite passages, 2 Corinthians 3:18, talks about how as we walk with God, we become more like Him. From one degree of glory to the next, we are transformed more and more into His image. How cool is that?! By living with Him, we become more like Him. Our love deepens, our hearts opens, and our faces shine, transfigured by His glory. Through Him, we're free to live this whole-hearted grace-filled life. By faith, we can enter into this wildly extravagant life-gift that Christ provides.

Psalm 86:11-13 is my verse for 2012, and I love how The Message translation puts part of verse eleven: "Put me together, one heart and mind; then, undivided, I'll worship in joyful fear." That's what I want for my heart. It's my prayer this year that I'll be a woman who loves, gives, and lives extravagantly, with a heart that is united to fear His name. Whole, because of Him. One woman passionately and purposefully living out this extravagant grace-filled life-gift that He provides, walking with Him from one degree of glory to the next. In my weakness, He is perfect strength.

Not just any strength. Perfect strength.

Teach me your way, O LORD,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.
Psalm 86:11-13

life, celiac disease, & sam. one year reflections.

2012-01-18T05:00:00.000-06:00

One year ago yesterday, Samuel was in the hospital. We didn't know why. He was unsteady and falling over all the time, lethargic, and was losing weight rapidly. He was sick and the doctors had no answers. They told us he was fine.

He wasn't fine. I look back at photos and words from last January and I want to cry. The fear in my words makes me choke and I hate seeing his face when he's in so much pain. He was slowly getting sicker and sicker and he would wake up with rings around his eyes. In the mornings, my mom would weigh him and we would all gather around, hoping that the numbers would go up rather than down.

He was in and out of the hospital for a few weeks. January 2011 was one of the hardest months I've ever gone through. I cried daily and would pray hourly. The uncertainty was crippling, but more so than that, the knowledge that Sam was being dismissed again and again by doctors who claimed he was fine when he was anything but that hit me hard. Some of the things they said make me so sick to my stomach. But my mom pushed and people prayed -- hard -- and God worked.

And that's when we found out he had Celiac Disease.

The rest of 2011 was a whirlwind and a roller coaster in the most literal sense of the word. Food took on a new meaning and our family changed. Slowly, but surely, God worked on our hearts and in our lives in profound ways. Healing came, not only to Samuel's body, but to all of us and our hearts. He blessed us beyond measure throughout that difficult season.

We were filled with a peace surpassing any understanding and a strength that was not our own. It's hard. It's really really really hard. He can never have gluten. Any slight contamination could cause his weakened immune system to go back to square one. Gluten is everywhere -- in the strangest, oddest places. Living gluten-free in a world that's not nearly gluten-free enough is difficult. It's so hard watching him when he knows he can't have something.

Yet, through it all, God's used Samuel's story. He's blessed our family and we've been watching Celiac Disease Awareness grow. In the midst of the hard days, when Sammy was too weak and tired to do anything, and in the days brimming with health and joy, and all the days in between. We're praising God for Sam's life and praying for a greater awareness so that no one else has to go through what Samuel did.

This little boy, who last year, was sick and growing weaker, is now thriving and growing stronger. He's healthy and full of energy. He runs around and has sprouted several inches. He's gaining weight and eating and absorbing nutrients. He's laughing and playing and full of life.

And I am so thankful.

Below are some links my mom compiled about Celiac Disease. They include some posts about Sam and his story and our family's journey on her site. I encourage you to read and share. Thank you so much, friends!

To learn more about Samuel's story with Celiac Disease please click HERE to read his one year post orHERE to browse all past posts. For some initial posts please see these -->> Celiac Disease Journey, Dear Mom of the Little Boy with Celiac Disease What I Learned. For more information regarding Celiac Disease please go to www.celiac.com. For an excellent resource for parents of children with Celiac Disease please visit ROCK {Raising Our Celiac Kids}

a weekend getaway

2012-01-16T10:17:00.001-06:00

I spent the weekend away from home at my grandparents. A spur of the moment phone call led to being dropped off at their place at seven on Friday night. My aunt, Lolly (really, Laura, but everyone calls her Lolly) and I went out to get dinner, and came back with Leann Chinn. We watched the lakehouse and ate Chinese food while frequently pausing the movie just to chat. I slept on the couch and woke up beyond refreshed in the morning. It was quiet, sun glowed behind the curtains, and I could smell tea brewing. So good.

We went out to a bakery for breakfast and walked the streets before perusing a little bookstore. I got stuck in the cookbook section and found several new titles I'd like to add to my slowly-growing collection, but didn't have the couple hundred bucks to purchase them. The rest of the day was lazy till two, when Lolly and I went to a mall to try to find a birthday present for my sister. We may or may not have stopped at Godiva and Teavana.

After our failed shopping attempt, we buzzed by Whole Foods to buy some dinner, and came back with a salad loaded with veggies and some salmon sushi (which was amazing, by the way). I've only had sushi once before (and that was made fresh by some neighbors) so I was a little apprehensive that I wouldn't like it. I didn't -- I loved it. As soon as you can, get some sushi. Please. You'll thank me.

Dinner was delicious and as soon as we finished, we played a game with my grandparents. Snow fell, wind blew, and we bundled up to go see The Help. I know I'm terribly behind the times, as it came out awhile ago, but I'm so glad to have finally seen it. Poignant, funny, and sweet. I admit it, I cried a few times. Go see it (and bring some sushi with you).

Sunday morning rolled around bright and early and we drove back to my house, an hour or so late. It was such a fun weekend and I'm grateful to have been able to spend that time with my grandparents and aunt. I love them like crazy and don't usually get one-on-one time with them, which made the few days even more special.

life lately

2012-01-13T05:00:00.000-06:00

We've been drinking lots of coffee, hot cocoa, and tea, and curling up in oversized sweaters. Minnesota is snowless (which is craziness, in and of itself) but not at all warm. It's so frigid outside that I'm ready for spring when I won't freeze the minute I leave home. The days have been shorter, slower, and quieter, but it's a nice sort of quiet. Life lately has been spent inside, with people I love, all who are consuming hot beverages like there'll be no tomorrow.

How's your January been so far?

Happy Friday! Hoping that your day is filled with joy! :)

Hannah
ps. I get asked questions a lot (which I love!) so I thought I'd start a formspring to answer them. have one? ask away!

chloe // portraits.

2012-01-11T05:00:00.000-06:00

My beautiful sister turns fourteen at exactly 11:59 PM tonight. Just like her, to be right on the buzzer (can you say, almost tomorrow?) but still at the perfect time. We're celebrating with homemade vinegar chocolate cake topped with fresh whipcream and drizzled with poached cherries. It's been a favorite since she was two and I was three, when we sat at the table with cherry stains on our shirts and bandaids on our knees.

We were the closet two little girls, from when we played in princess dresses and climbed trees for fun. And we still are, despite the lack of faux silk and tulle ballgowns. I can't believe she's getting so...old. (kidding, coco!) Not to mention downright, completely stinkin' gorgeous. I'm sorry. I've got the best looking family everrr. Not that I'm biased or anything.

Love this girl. Happy Birthday, Chloe! I'm so glad we get to be best friends even when we're old and wrinkled. xo

a little about me.

2012-01-09T05:00:00.000-06:00

In the last week or so, the Lord has been doing incredible things in my life. Changing my heart, fueling my fire, filling me with His spirit. I've been overwhelmed and full of joy -- so much joy that I'm torn between singing and crying sometimes. He's given me promises for this year, and I cannot tell you how crazy amazing it is to see Him work in my life. He who promised is faithful, and I'm clinging to that truth. I'm walking forward in faith, and it's exhilarating and terrifying and exciting all at the same time.

I wrote a little about what I'm learning on my tumblr the other day. Two of the biggest things the Lord is showing me are how much I need grace, and how much I don't get grace. I try to earn grace -- I stumble and fall and fail and try to work my way to a gift that was offered freely. He does not say that we are to earn it. It is not an act of works, but a free life-giving gift.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18

I've been meditating on this verse. The veil between us and the Father is gone, torn away, by the Son. As we walk with Jesus and continually look towards Him, we are being transformed into the same image. We are becoming more like Christ by living with Him! He is filling our hearts and lives as we open our lives to Him. And it's from one degree of glory to the next to the next. Layers and steps and walking alongside Christ on our path till home. We become like Him by being with Him. And He changes us. It's nothing we can do by ourselves. It's His spirit, working in us, doing what we could never do and enabling us to do what we could only dream of.

The more I read the Bible, the more I come away amazed at how it's brimming with truth. It's like being desperate for a drop of water and being given the ocean. I've been praying for a deepening faith, an ever-growing love for my Savior and His people, and for a joy that is contagious. And His spirit, working in me, is opening my eyes, revealing His truth, and giving me a passion for His name. He truly is changing my heart.

I'm full of joy. Ever get a feeling that something is going to rock? That's a term used pretty loosely, so just picture the best day ever and put sprinkles on top of it. Or better yet, top it off with a dollop of whipcream and some raspberries just picked from the garden. That's how I feel about this year. Last year was a defining and refining year. This year is one of blossoms. There's still hard things and bad days and valleys, but I know deeply that this year is going to be a crazy awesome one. Jesus is rocking my socks off and it's only nine days into the new year! I'm overwhelmed with all that He's done and is doing in my life. Overwhelmed and thankful.

So, inspired by Sarah Danaher, here's me. Right here, right now. I'm an analytical artist, extroverted introvert, creamer-in-my-coffee kinda girl, who's a fan of stories, singing at the piano, and lazy hazy summer evenings at Woodland. I like to laugh long, have heart-to-heart talks with friends, and my favorite kind of days are ones with my family. I'm learning what it means to be truly in love with Jesus. I'm learning how to love like He does. I'm learning and growing and blossoming and being and doing.

Even more than that, I am so grateful. For all that He's doing. It's not me, it's all Him. All the glory and praise to Him, always and forever and ever. He is so good and so much more than my words could ever say.

I AM… just Hannah.
I WANT… to change the world, love like Jesus does, and be the woman I was created to be.
I HAVE… a beyond amazing, loving, and completely supportive family.
I KEEP… notes, scraps of paper, journals, ticket stubs, and other whatnot. Also, four billion photos.
I WISH I COULD… travel more.
I HATE… headaches, cold feet, and being late.
I FEAR… needles. I can't stand blood tests.
I HEAR… everything. Music, words, silence -- I can even hear people blink.
I DON'T THINK… that I'll ever be able to cook like my mom.
I REGRET… not spending enough time with my family and wasting time.
I LOVE… Jesus, my family, photography, stories, and a really good cup of coffee with cinnamon rolls for breakfast.
I AM NOT… crafty, always serious, or
I DANCE… ballet in my living room.
I SING… loud, long, and everywhere.
I NEVER… go without breakfast. I like food and I most certainly like it in the morning before starting my day.
I RARELY… sleep in. The latest I've ever slept in is 9:40. No lie.
I CRY WHEN… I'm on the pontoon at Woodland on the last day.
I AM NOT ALWAYS… Neat, tidy, or quiet. In fact, I'm often pretty vocal.
I HATE THAT… celiac disease exists and that people believe the world's definition of beauty.
I'M CONFUSED ABOUT… why it's still green in Minnesota right now. (seriously!)
I NEED… Jesus.
I SHOULD… eat healthier, go to bed earlier, and respond to emails sooner.

That's just me. Who are you? And what has God been doing in your life? Tell me all about it below or shoot me an email. I'd love to hear about it and chat with you! :)

snowfall.

2012-01-05T05:00:00.000-06:00

grace wore snow like a crown
ice her jewels
lit up like rubies by the golden twilight
brighter than any queen's gold.

snow fell
winter flowers swirling from the sky
dropping their petals quieter than rain
on a warm spring morning.

she danced and her feet
made winter flakes fly
white shards that glimmered in the
evening light.

my little sister,
whose eyes shine blue like the sky,
laughed as the cold snow whispered
winter.

fernweh.

2012-01-02T09:28:00.000-06:00

It all began with an email.

That's how everything almost always starts. With something small and seemingly inconsequential. It's the culmination of little things into something bigger. Like how one snowflake leads to another and soon the world is covered in white. In our case, it was an idea. An idea that six people across the globe had been dreaming about and finally decided to do something about it.

For almost three months, we scrambled. Inspiration flooded my inbox in the form of email upon email, and I daresay I never went a day without a new one. We were just six girls, all with the same convictions, determined to take an idea from conception to completion. We worked hard. Hours spent poring over articles, design, photographing for the final product, drafting, branding, building, and doing. We released the site yesterday. And I'm beyond excited to show it to you.

Fernweh is an online magazine dedicated to celebrating the simple life. A collection of thoughts, photos, tips, tutorials, and poetry, Fernweh hopes to serve as inspiration for a life made lovely. Read our manifesto for more about the name and more about our magazine. There are so many talented people working on this, and I feel blessed to be a part of it. I'm ridiculously excited about this project and cannot wait to see where this takes us.

Libby, Katie, Carlotta, Abbey, Kendall -- I'm beyond glad that we're a team. I love you all so much and am so excited for this year. I have a feeling 2012 is going to be epic, in every sense of the word.

Go take a look at Fernweh, follow along, and let us know what you think!

So grateful. Happy Monday! xo

hello 2012. so excited to see you.

2012-01-01T10:19:00.000-06:00

A new year. I sat writing on my bed last night at midnight and found a huge significance in writing 2012 instead of 2011. The culmination of the past year washed over me in the last few seconds of 2011 and I found myself clinging to the fragments of the last three hundred and sixty five days. Thousands of memories from the past year cluttered my mind, and like the proverbial housewoman who sweeps out the old year, I felt like my thoughts were swept clean as 2012 rolled around soundlessly.

Last year my word was rooted. I clung to that word in times where I felt like sand on the shore, swept up by waves upon wave. I reminded myself of rooted, and what it meant, and the verse I chose with it, and repeated them to myself. Looking back, it was the perfect word for 2011. It helped to keep me grounded.

2011 was a defining year for me. My heart was changed, my purpose and passions made clear, and slowly but surely, I began to discover who I am. My identity in Christ, my loves, my likes, my dreams, hopes, and gifts. In the last few months of 2011, I truly found my voice. I'm rooted deep in Jesus and firm in who I am and who I'm created to be, yet like a tree, my roots go deep but I still have abundant room to grow. To stretch my branches and bud, blossom, and flower, and to reach up to the sky, kissing the blue with my eyes.

I'm so excited for 2012. While 2011 rocked me to the core, 2012 is a year full of promises. Of growing and blooming. 2011 was a year of budding, and 2012 one of blossom. I've been searching and trying to find my word for this year, but have had to surrender. I've got a few ideas, but not the right one yet. My heart is ready and I'm reaching and growing under His rain.

This year, I pray that I'll learn to love like Jesus does; that I'll grow deeper in my walk and more in love with Christ; that my heart would be ready; that I would be diligent, steadfast, and hard-working; and that I would surrender all, trust wholeheartedly, and bloom and flourish where I'm planted, continually fixing my eyes on Jesus, running the only race that matters.

2012? Bring it on. Grateful, blessed, and so ready.

Allison // Portraits

2011-12-30T05:00:00.000-06:00

We met a year and a half ago at our ballet studio, with buns in our hair and pointe shoes on our toes. Fast forward to now, and Allison's one of my closest friends. She's one of those people that you feel like you've known your whole life, and really, can't remember not knowing. We met at Chipotle yesterday and went to a thrift store before heading back to her home. The light was nice and her house is surrounded by woods, so we seized the opportunity and slipped outside for some portraits.

It was freezing. We may not have snow, but that doesn't mean our weather's nice and warm. The wind was blowing and her pond was coated with a thick layer of ice. We shivered and shot photos till we couldn't feel our fingers, and then headed inside to make some spiced apple cider. After looking at the photos (and laughing at the many many many outtakes), we played piano and sang before eating a turkey dinner and watching a movie.

This girl makes me laugh and her friendship blesses me. Her heart is beautiful and I've never known someone who can make the piano sing like she does. Not to mention that she makes a mean homemade salsa and her jumping skills can't be beat. So glad I was able to hang out with her and laugh till my face hurt and my stomach ached.

favorites from 2011

2011-12-28T10:36:00.001-06:00

I'm writing this and can't believe that soon, I'll be reminding myself to write 2012 in my journal. This year has passed so swiftly, yet as I look back, I can't believe how much has been crammed into these last three hundred and sixty five days of twenty eleven.

I'm excited and ready for twenty twelve. A new year, full of new challenges, opportunities, and hopes. I've been praying a lot about many things, and there are so many promises in this next year that sometimes I can't wipe the smile off my face. Seriously. The Lord has opened so many doors and blessed so many opportunities, that I'm amazed and incredibly excited about 2012. I'm full of joy at all that He has done -- He is faithful and so so good.

I love seeing how I've grown in the past year. As a photographer, writer, and as a young-woman. My faith has been stretched and tested, and I'm learning how to love like Jesus does. To love Him more than ever, and to love His people. (I wrote a little post on my tumblr about it, if you'd like to read it). I feel like I'm finally beginning to figure out who I am and who I was created to be. What my calling is. Who I am in Him and what He has called me to do. And it's so exciting.

I was going to write, in honor of the close of 2011, and the rapidly approaching 2012, I'm going to share some of my favorites. But it sounds silly to say in honor of the year. The real reason I want to share this is because this year was full of so many defining moments that shaped who I am, so many memories that I cherish, and so much love and laughter that filled each and everyday.

More so than anything, I want to celebrate this past year and all of the beauty and grittiness that came with it. All the days and opportunities and joy from this past year. And by celebrating, I want to give thanks for 2011 and all that came with it. The good days and the hard ones and all the ones in between. The beauty in the midst of the messiness, the joy in the little things, and the many blessings.

Out-of-order, and here are some of my favorites from 2011.

Blessed. And so thankful.

a holly, jolly Christmas Eve

2011-12-26T12:18:00.000-06:00

I made eighty-four chocolate orangettes and we crammed our cookies onto plates painted with red ribbons and green holly. It was snowless and chilly, but there was a whisper of excitement in the air and a promise of the day. My brothers ran down the stairs, yelling, "Merry Christmas!" and "get up, get up!" simultaneously, and suddenly, they were in our room and had flicked the lights on, were shaking us and hugging us and urging us up stairs.

"Merry Christmas," we cried as we opened our grandparent's door, hauling presents in and discarding coats and hats like trees shed leaves. The house smelled like ham and carols played quietly in the background, as we laughed and talked and well-wished. We sat down for lunch and drank sparkling water as if it was our job in the dining room where my dad had grown up in.

The living room was crowded with family and we clustered on the couches, floor, and chairs, claiming our spots and waiting. Presents were passed out and people opened, youngest to oldest. I watched their faces as they opened gifts and laughed, smiled until my face ached and my heart burned, and I cried a few times. Secretly, letting my eyes water and turning my face away, for no reason at all except that I was so happy. My favorite gift was seeing my grandpa's face after we gave him a framed photo of all of us grandkids.

I sat on the couch and read through Matched, munching on chocolate espresso trail mix and slowly sipping piping hot peppermint tea. We all drifted throughout the house, reading, playing games, or resting. Dinnertime rolled around and leftover ham from lunch made sandwiches with a bit of mustard and a bread roll. Afterwards, we pulled out a well-worn copy of Apples to Apples and laughed as we tried to name the closest thing to Outrageous and so on.

We celebrated amidst holiday sweets and music and laughter and pretended there was snow, as late-afternoon light painted rooms golden and the trees whispered hellos through the glass. I am so blessed and so grateful. Today, we have half-crumbled cookies, a living room strewn with presents and paper, and hearts full of memories, sweet like syrup on waffles for breakfast.

Merry Christmas.

Christmas thankful thoughts

2011-12-22T23:22:00.000-06:00

I'm so ready and excited for this weekend. It's my favorite of the year. Celebrating with family, eating more Christmas cookies than I care to remember, laughing, talking, and spending the day together. Rejoicing in Jesus' birth and being with family. Some things I'm thankful for from this past week...

Caleb sitting at the table reading Calvin and Hobbes
and hiding from me, behind the pages
laughing at Calvin's antics

Making Christmas cookies
all gluten free and oh-so-delicious
and eating them
(just one more)

a certain little boys who asked for
just one more cookie
after only eating eight or so

the same little boy frosting cookies
and licking the frosting
that he called "butter"

Shopping with my grandma, aunt, sister, and mom,
part of the day yesterday,
target was crazy, but very fun,
and I love being with them

Gluten-free Thumbprint cookies
topped with raspberry or apricot jam
very, very good
(I have a feeling half of my thankful list will be about cookies)

Gracie, sitting at the table,
writing Christmas cards to family members
wishing them a holly jolly Christmas
hoping they'll like their gifts
and drawing illustrations of Santa and his reindeer
(so cute)

Singing in church on Sunday
and helping lead worship for the Christmas Program
Also, watching my siblings sing, say their lines,
and in Grace's case,
do a worship dance
it was beautiful.
(thanks to my mom for snapping this photo of me!)

Gluten-free flours
that help these cookies to rise
and taste even better than
gluten cookies.
(see, I told you cookies were taking top priority here)

Our Christmas Tree
Covered in lights and ornaments
and years of memories

The many peanut butter and jelly (or just peanut butter) sandwiches we've made
a perfect lunch or snack
that is one of Caleb's favorite

The pickle ornament that I put up
without breaking it
for the first time in four years
(I kid you not)

Grace's homemade gifts
wrapped in different patterned fabrics
and tied with sparkly pipe-cleaners

A few flurries falling on Thursday
that made me believe we might have snow
(it's still brown but I'm still hoping)

Photos from when we decorated our tree
when our living room was filled with red bins
and scattered with miscellaneous ornaments
from when my mom was a baby to now

Christmas traditions
like Christmas morning brunch at my grandmas
with all my family (aunts, cousin, uncle, siblings, grandparents, and my parents)
eating homemade cinnamon rolls, bacon and sausage, eggbake, and clementines
scattered throughout the main level

Freshly popped popcorn
drizzled with melted white chocolate
and sprinkled with red and green sugar
that lasted all of an hour

and...

my family
I love them so much, am so grateful for them,
and can't wait to spend all weekend with them.

what are you thankful for?
Have a beautiful, joy-filled Christmas!

linking up with my mom

the little dancer.

2011-12-21T05:00:00.000-06:00

I see her. She walks into the studio with her head held high and chin pointed fiercely. Her eyes shine with determination and she steps into the mirrored room, with the lights bright and floor scuffed with marks from the many before her. Her reflection stares at her, the only person she's trying to do beat.

Point harder, turn faster, spot quicker, leap longer, lift your legs higher, plié deeper, move faster. I've watched her dance, counting inaudibly and focusing intently on the movement, the steps, the ballet. She pushes herself and there is nothing half-hearted in her. It's her turn across the floor, and she arabesques and soutenus as if she was born to do it.

She watches herself, rounds her arms more, lifts her leg a little higher, and points even more fiercely. I see her, proud, as she laces up her pointe shoes, stepping into the studio, the smallest one there, yet the most determined. She grips the barre and relaxes her hand and breathes deep and dances, dances, dances.

Wisps of hair escape from her bun that are repinned -- ribbons become loose and she reties them. She steps away from the barre into the center and looks squarely into the mirror, waiting for her turn. The combination is quickly told and the music starts and she goes, following the rhythm, following the movement, dancing like the ballerina she is.

This little dancer is not so little anymore.

thankful thoughts

2011-12-19T09:01:00.000-06:00

I'm thankful for...
simple scrambled egg lunches
multi-colored and patterned plastic plates
little feet and jammied kiddos
our worn wooden table
lazy late-afternoon lunches
noonday sun streaming in through the window
light and shadows
freckly-faced, copper-haired little boys
my family

Because Christmas is in a few days and the new year is rapidly approaching, I'm taking some time away from the computer. However, I have some thankful thoughts posts coming up, as well as a 2011 wrap-up, and our Christmas Tree Decorating day. I'm pretty much swamped with photos and stories from the past few days and I can't wait to share just a few snippets from this season. What are you grateful for?

lumberjacks and white Christmases

2011-12-16T04:00:00.000-06:00

I can only remember maybe one or two Christmases that have been brown. Minnesota has a good history of snowstormy, freezing winters. Usually we wake up Christmas morning and the world is already thick with white and still more is falling. However, this year, (for the first time since 2006), we only have a thirty percent chance of snow for Christmas. In past Decembers, the grass would have been a thing of a past.

But as we're bracing ourselves for a brown Christmas (oh, it makes me sad to say that), the weather is perfectly suited for snow. Thirty or so below and accompanied by a stinging wind. Yesterday, Caleb and I went outside in that oh-so-cold weather and tried to take some photos, but after only a few minutes of shivering, we laughed and headed inside. Still, we had fun taking his lumberjack photos, as we called them.

Caleb was lamenting the lack of snow while I wished that we'd have a lumberjack winter. Okay, so maybe I made the whole lumberjack winter phrase up, but I think it perfectly describes what a winter is like in our neck of the woods. Cold and white with fat flakes falling and people bundled up until the only skin you can see is between your nose. It's unlikely, but we're still hoping for a real snowstorm soon.

Who knows? Maybe there's still time for a white Christmas.

Sweet and Spicy Cocktail Nuts

2011-12-14T05:00:00.000-06:00

My mom has a big green folder chock-full of recipes. They're spilling from the plastic sheets looped on the metal rings and the whole folder is bursting with recipes. Recipes from magazines, photocopies, cut-outs, printed recipes, hand-written ones, and even some from the back of boxes or magazine clip-outs. It's a book of recipes that we've tried and loved, from the simple ones, like the best chocolate pudding, to the more extravagant, like chestnut cream roulade, or maple-soy glazed salmon.

When she first pulled out that recipe book, I went through page after page of food, and asked her why she had so many different recipes in it. I don't remember what she said, except that it was along the lines of, "these are just some of my favorites." I do remember vividly though, how she said that she'd make one for me someday. It was so exciting to think about as a little girl -- to someday pull my own folder stuffed to the brim with recipes cherished over the years. To tell my own someday littles about the time I made the two pans of dutch babies, or the day that we cut sugar cookies, or how the simple chicken corn tostada salad was one of our favorites.

One of my favorite recipes in the book is one for plum-dumplings, written by my Great-Grandma Dumpling. I was maybe three when we would go to her apartment. I remember the day she taught my mom to make her dumplings, her weathered fingers covered in flour and an apron tied around her waist. Her snowwhite hair was in a low-bun and she gently helped my mom make her recipe, cherished throughout the years.

We sat down at her long table, set with fine china, and ate her chicken noodle soup (homemade, with thick, homemade noodles, all uneven and of varying sizes, and more delicious than anyone perfectly-cut). My feet dangled over my chair and I slurped loudly, as three year olds do. The soup was delicious (and we still make it), but the dumplings were the star.

You drizzled them with melted butter and sprinkled cinnamon and sugar on it, then you cut it up and bit into it. The plums were soft and sweet, the dumplings rich and warm, and the combination of all the flavors made for one of the most perfect bites ever. It's not that the recipe was anything sought-after, but it was special because it was a family tradition. It is a family tradition.

The recipe is scrawled in her handwritten cursive on a folder piece of yellowed paper. Brief, and to the point, like my great-grandma. Easy in simplicity, but not at all simple in the depth. To this day, it's one of my favorite recipes, and one of my favorite memories. That's part of the reason why we have recipes gathered from all over the place -- not because of where they came from, but because of the story behind it.

Sweet and Spicy Cocktail Nuts
recipe from a truvia cut-out
Ingredients
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
dash ground ginger
1/4 tsp. fine salt
1 egg white
1 tbsp. water
1 lb. unsalted nuts (we used walnuts, pecans, and almonds, but the walnuts were our favorite)
Directions
Preheat the oven to 225 degrees. Whisk together the dry ingredients, and set aside. In a separate bowl, whip the egg white and water till foamy and holds a soft peak (about five minutes). Add the nuts and toss to coat completely in whipped egg white, then add the spice mixture and toss to coat completely. Transfer to greased baking sheet and spread out an even layer. Bake for 1 hour, until the nuts are toasty and crisp (and smell oh-so-good), stirring about every 15 minutes. Let them cool and then feel free to snack away!

This is one of those recipes that has found its way into the green folder. Because we liked it. And more-so, maybe than that, but there's a story about a quiet December day that may seem ordinary, but was precious because of that very reason. It was one of those recipes that Chloe made, and it was so good that I whipped up another batch the next day. We made them and ran out of nuts, so we dug through a trailmix bag and picked out almonds (I kid you not -- these nuts were so good that they were worth it). Sitting on a white platter on our island, they were gone within the hour.

I laugh to think about how when we finished it, the trail mix was really only peanuts, m&m's, and raisins. It's one of my favorite memories from December. And now, sweet and spicy cocktail nuts are now some of my favorite holiday snacks. Any sweet memories from in the kitchen?

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum, how lovely are your branches...

2011-12-12T03:00:00.000-06:00

We picked up a frasier fir at Costco last Sunday. December made her presence known with wind and snow and our tree filled the car with its needles and scent. My parents, myself, Eli and Caleb were on our weekly shopping trip and Eli sat underneath the boughs of our Christmas tree, warily watching the snow drip from its trunk.

When Sam saw the tree, he ran up and ran his hand over the branches, crying "Christmas Tree!" (or, really, "Cismas Tee!"). We cut off the bottom of the trunk and the littles sat on the steps, watching as the sawdust and sap made a pile on the floor. I woke up the next morning and the branches had dropped and the tree filled our living room with a coziness only Christmasttime can bring.

My mom strung lights on the branches that night and Eli and Sam stared wide-eyed as the room was lit up with the colorful lights. I remember being that little and I remember the flutter of excitement that came from seeing the tree standing tall and sweet. With Christmas music playing and colorful tins of cookies and promises of December days to come.

How has your December been so far, friends?

a merry meringue mishap

2011-12-09T08:12:00.001-06:00

I have had many disasters in the kitchen. I've had glass pans shatter, have dried out noodles, spilled things, dropped things, overcooked and undercooked things, and made many messes. In the past year, my cooking has become good and tasty, which (my whole family) is actually thankful for. I haven't had any more mishaps or spills, though I admit to quite a lot of messes.

But (there's always a but -- you should know this by now, especially if I'm talking), yesterday, I had my first Christmas Disaster. I hope that it'll be my first and last, but you never can tell. Especially in the holiday season. You see...we've been making meringues lately (probably six or so batches), and I was determined to make a batch that would set properly. Every batch of mine I had overwhipped, so while they tasted good, they weren't melt-in-your mouth or fluffy. (if you're friends with me on facebook, you know where this is going)

So there I was, whipping my meringues and contemplating life (ha!) when the meringue batter (what do you call something that's just egg whites, sugar, and peppermint extract?) started spraying everywhere. And I mean everywhere. The counters, floors, cupboards, and everything in the surrounding area, including myself, got a nice thick splatter of sticky white unbaked meringues.

I frantically tried to turn the handmixer off -- instead of just pulling the plug like a ~~smart~~ fast-thinking person would -- and only when the whisk stopped whisking did I notice that one of the tines had broken off and was sticking straight out. I quickly cleaned up the mess on all the surfaces, while the egg mixture dried in my hair (groooss). My shirt was splattered with white like I got into a bad snowball fight and I was sticky all over.
And I smelled like peppermint. So that was a...plus?

I would have shared some photos from my cooking escapade, but I was so stunned (and sticky) that I didn't take any -- ha! -- so I'm sharing some of sweet Sam. Have you had any holiday or cooking disasters? Or (bonus!) both? I'd love to hear them! We can laugh about them together. And then I'll wash the sugary egg out of my hair (kidding -- as soon as the kitchen was cleaned, so was I). Happy Friday!

a December afternoon.

2011-12-06T10:53:00.001-06:00

I've probably taken about a thousand photos in the past week alone, and I have oodles of stories to share. In fact, I'm guilty of pre-writing posts -- I have about five in my drafts folder, waiting to be published -- from Christmas decorating, to picking out our tree, thoughts about our family to Christmas candy recipes, and back to the simple days that make up our December.

Cardstock candycanes are taped to our cupboards and snowflakes hang from every available surface. There's a warmth that fills the house despite the winter's chill, and it's not just from the many cups of coffee and steaming cocoa being made (although, there's definitely a fair number of that, as evident by our many mugs in the dishwasher). The Christmas tree is up in our living room, the boughs slowly dropping and the smell filling the air, and Christmas lights reflect off the glimmering snow. Our countdown-to-Christmas chain is losing links everyday and the boys each clamor for their turn to take them down.

Christmas decorations, from the handmade to the items acquired year after year adorn our home. They're homemade and made with love by all of us -- from Sam to my mom. That's what makes them special, and in my book, they're perfect. I remember Eli's face as he showed me his green candycane -- maybe it's mint? -- and Sam getting excited over the snowflakes above the sink. I've said it before -- it's the memories that matter, the moments we save.

Yesterday, we put up the tree and it truly seemed to usher in the Holiday season. I have so many memories of past Decembers, and every year that passes, seems to be better than the year before. Christmas cookie making, tree decorating, going downtown, annual family Christmas parties, snow angels and snow forts that you hoped wouldn't collapse, Christmas carols and cups of hot cocoa heaped with marshmallows -- the month is filled with moments and traditions.

Memories that are passed down in the way we save our Christmas tree stumps and the Christmas cookie cutters from my great-grandma. The many ornaments from when my mom was little and the holiday memories and stockings hanging from the stairs. The traditions that have percolated from generation to generation and make up the heart of who we are. Our family.

Each day that passes makes me more excited for the next. This is truly my favorite time of year. Not because of the material or commercialized holiday things, but because of the traditions and memories and simple days that make up this season. I feel so blessed to be living this life I am with the people I love and a Savior who loves me more than I know.

Happy December!

ps. wanted to spruce up my blog a bit! I've been itching for a change, so I'm excited to finally reveal it. Thoughts?

sammy boy.

2011-12-05T05:00:00.000-06:00

When I was littler than two, I had a tweety bird doll with a tuft of yellow hair on top of its head that never ceased to make me laugh. My family tells me about how whenever I saw that silly bird and his wisp of of hair, I burst out laughing and couldn't stop. We still have the doll, and for some reason, whenever I look at it, I can't help but to smile. Maybe it's just because its something that I loved, and when you love something, it tends to stick with you...even if it's a tweety doll. It's the memories not the things that tend to take up room in your heart.

Several things make Sam smile. The color orange. Anything John Deere. And penguins -- or as he calls them, "pengies." My mom found his penguin jammies at Target and he wore them for a couple days (little kids have that kind of luxury). We showed them to him and he laughed and said, "me wear!" Then he promptly proceeded to point at the only patches of orange on the shirt.

Like I said. The color orange, anything John Deere, and penguins. I love this kid.

a december hello

2011-12-02T05:00:00.000-06:00

While it wasn't officially our first snow (the first was a few weeks ago), and it's just a light dusting, something about waking up to a world covered in white is one of my favorite things in the world. Within minutes, I can hear the flurry of activity, as the boys pull on hats and zip up jackets. Sam stands at the window, watching the white flakes falling, and cries, "snow!" Breakfast is warm on the stove, cups of hot cocoa or coffee with mini candycanes in them sit on the table, and we're all clustered in the main level, socks on our feet and still wearing pajamas as it snows.

How perfect that it snowed on the first of December. I have a feeling that this month is going to be a good one. I can't wait for trips downtown, snowdays, making Christmas cookies, getting together with family, picking out and decorating the tree, seeing my siblings faces on Christmas morning, the reading of the Christmas story, caroling, and much, much more. A joyfilled season celebrating the birth of Jesus.

What are you excited for this month?

a muddybuddy morning

2011-11-30T05:00:00.000-06:00

Mornings are usually quiet, laidback affairs at our house. Unless we're making a big breakfast -- usually reserved for special days, such as birthdays, holidays, or hey-it's-a-Tuesday-let's-celebrate kinda days -- we don't have a set schedule. As long as we're up and dressed before noon, it's all good. Okay, some sarcasm there, but honestly, our family is not a at-this-time-we-do-this kinda family. We're spontaneous, creative, and, let's face it, we like to sleep in.

Yesterday we made muddybuddies, and by we, I mean my sister Chloe, although I did offer to lick the spoon (turns out she already had several interested kiddos). We let them cool for as long as we could wait, translated as, as soon as they looked slightly chilled, they were out of the freezer and into bowls. Chocolatey, peanuty-buttery, powdered sugar dusted goodness that is naturally gluten-free, making it not only delicious, but a perfect mid-morning snack for everyone.

Chloe and Brennan played parcheesi while the others looked on, eating their muddybuddies and watching them like it was a game show. I might have even heard Brennan call, "five spaces for five thousand." But I could be wrong. I think Chloe won, although only by rolling lucky -- but then again, that's the whole nature of the game. Whatever the case, it was a perfectly lazy, lovely morning.

What do mornings look like at your house?

Chocolate Orangettes

2011-11-28T05:00:00.000-06:00

Right now, I'm sitting at our kitchen table covered in years worth of stories scribbled accidentally, stains, and scratches that etch it with memories, typing words while listening to the Swinging Christmas Station on Pandora. We've spent the day decorating the inside (my siblings must have made at least fifteen candycanes to adorn our cabinets and countless snowflakes hang from our walls) and I'm in the middle of making Christmas sweets that won't last until the first of December. (hey, I'll be glad if they last until tomorrow)

I've always been a lover of sugar. I'm not a fan of cheap candies, you know, the Hershey's bars and fun-size Snickers (although, I won't turn away a Reese's Peanut Butter cup. We all have our weaknesses). I want the good stuff. The melt in your mouth chocolates and candy sticky with sugar and the homemade caramels slowly spreading in buttery waves. The candy that's oh-so-bad-for-you but tastes like a million bucks (although, I've never tasted a million bucks, I'm sure that's what it tastes like. Trust me on this one) and you can't help yourself from reaching for just one more truffle. Chocolate's one of the major food groups, right?

Wait. Don't tell me, I don't want to know.

When I was littler, and it was just my sisters and I, we'd often go down to this charming town by the water with my parents and grandparents and spend the day browsing the streets. One of my favorite shops to peruse was this old-fashioned candy store that looked as if it came out when my grandpa was a boy. They had all manner of sweets and delicious treats to tempt you, and I remember staring longingly at the rows and rows of candies in glass jars, hoping somehow for all of them. Like I said before, I love sugar. One of my favorite treats was a chocolate covered orange. There was something about that sugary, chewy piece of orange coated in rich chocolate. And there still is.

I'm lucky enough to have a sister who subscribes to Food Network Magazine. As a result, I get to read all of the issues that come in, and I was so excited when the December issue came with a booklet of fifty holiday favors -- all of course being sweets. So when I saw the orangettes, I knew I had to make them (along with the other forty-nine delicious delicacies. redundant? maybe. but so true) They weren't difficult to make, but they were definitely time-consuming. It took me about an hour and fifteen minutes to prepare them, and then they had to cool for eight hours before I could dip them in chocolate.

Overall though, it was so worth it. I think I'll whip up another batch today.

Chocolate Orangettes
recipe adapted from Food Network Magazine
Ingredients
1 orange
1 cup sugar + extra to toss in
around 1/2 cup semisweet or bittersweet Chocolate

Directions
Slice the ends off the orange and score the peel without cutting into the fruit. Remove the peel and cut the rind into strips. Boil the strips in water for about 15 minutes, then drain and rinse. Whisk one cup sugar and one cup water in a saucepan and add the orange peels. Cook until soft, about 45 minutes, at a simmer. Drain and toss lightly in sugar, and transfer to a rack to dry for 8 hours. Dip in or drizzle with melted semisweet chocolate and let harden. Then enjoy and wish you made more.

I put mine in the freezer for about half an hour after drizzling with chocolate, because I like them chilled. Make sure to toss them lightly with sugar, because you want them to be dusted, not drowning. I ended up spooning chocolate on mine, versus dipping them, so it wasn't as smooth as I had hoped, but that's okay. Next time, I'm going to whip up a big bowl of melted chocolate and completely immerse them, then eat the leftover chocolate with a spoon.

Pretend you didn't just hear that. And then go make some chocolate orangettes. They're so worth it.

your story // week 2

2011-11-26T04:00:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite days of the year. Not only does it usher in the beginning of the Holiday season but it's a day of gratefulness. Twenty four hours set apart to specifically be thankful and reflect on your blessings. We spent the day at my grandparent's, playing scrabble and sampling cheese (I kid you not -- the asiago cheddar on the toasted crackers were a favorite), watching football and a movie, eating food (of course), and talking and laughing till my stomach hurt. It made me realize how much I love these people and how truly blessed I am that they're my family.

My grandma made five pies, two of which were gluten free (pumpkin, pumpkin apple, another pumpkin, apple, and berry), and we topped them with cool whip or icecream. Turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, cranberries, sweet potatoes, corn, buns, and a veggie platter consisted of our menu. Thursday was laid-back and perfect. It was a day full of food, family, laughs, joy, and so much love.

Since I'm still not supposed to do much, I didn't take many pictures. That's okay. The moments are sometimes more important than a photo. Now I'd like to hear...how was your Thanksgiving? And what are you grateful for? A few things I'm especially thankful for...

read about the project here

family
the smell of dinner cooking
laughing as we crowd into the living room
poetry and words
games played for hours
dusk falling swiftly and stars shining bright
gluten free food
memories and traditions
life
Jesus and his unfailing love

Want to join? Post a photo of your week, your day, your month, year, or whatever it may be, and tell us about it. Add as many or little photos or words as you want. It's not the length, number, or amount that matters. It's the story. Your story. Grab the button, share your post, and say hello to another friend.

I'm thankful for...

2011-11-23T05:00:00.000-06:00

It's been a little quiet around here lately. For the past week since my surgery, I've been pretty much living from the couch. For ten days, I'm not supposed to walk or go anywhere, so I've been going a little stir-crazy. My ankle is starting to feel better, although it still hurts and aches, and I'm ready to get going on physical therapy to bring it back up to strength. So grateful for all your prayers -- I feel so blessed!

In the midst of it, there's a lot to be thankful for. Like the sweet nurses at the hospital, or the Little House on the Prairie Marathons with my mom afterwards. The first snowfall on Saturday, when I sat on the couch and watched the flakes drift to the ground and coat the world in a layer of white. Caleb praying a sweet prayer over my ankle that made my heart smile. Being able to rest and catch up on work (okay, so seemingly contradictory, but still good!)

Today, I'm linking up with my mom with a fun project she does every year called The abc's of thanks. So here's my own little list of giving thanks, from a to z.

What are you thankful for?

Head on over, say hello
and link up your own list of loves!

and
Happy (early) Thanksgiving!

your story // week 1

2011-11-19T05:00:00.000-06:00

I was going to write about when my dad took my sisters and I out to lunch. I had my post ready, set to publish, and -- boom. It just didn't feel right. It wasn't that it wasn't genuine, but the words and story got lost. You see, I wanted to write something special for the first week of your story, but honestly, because of my surgery, I've been cooped up inside on the couch, tired, aching, and somewhat miserable.

I haven't done anything glamorous or exciting this past week -- hey, I haven't even taken many photos. Truth is, I've been so busy with life that I haven't had much time. And what time I've had has been spent sitting on the couch with my foot elevated in a big 'ol boot.

But I thought back to Woodland, our early vacation in July, and wanted to share that. Because it's so much a part of my story. You see, every year, my whole family -- siblings, aunts, uncle, grandma, grandpa, cousins -- all go up to the lake. We stay at Woodland resort, a place that's been around since my mom was eight (when she started going). Small, quaint little cabins with the backyard a few steps down to the dock and a water.

We stay for a week, each year, and celebrate life. We celebrate family. We eat and fish and and play cards, we laugh loud and have late breakfasts and do silly things with water toys. We have campfires and game nights and days spent swimming, till your skin is red and your face freckled and sand squishes in your toes. Our days are filled and crazy and lazy all at the same time.

Each year seems better than the previous. More stories, more laughs, more life. Early morning breakfasts in Grandma and Boppy's cabin, with the cast iron pan sizzling with blueberry pancakes and sausages, while we play trivia games. Nights spent on the boat, the sun dipping below the trees and the sound of the lake and the smell of the air. In between moments when nothing special is happening, but everything special because the whole day is ours for the taking.

So, when I thought about Woodland, I wanted to write on that. Because it's good. It's not just a vacation, not just a tradition, but a symbol of our family. The turning point of the year. Of family and life and good food (because believe me, we eat good at the lake) and laughter and lazy days and love and adventures and generations.

And that's a little more of my story.

What's yours?

read about the project here

Want to join? Post a photo of your week, your day, your month, year, or whatever it may be, and tell us about it. Add as many or little photos or words as you want. It's not the length, number, or amount that matters. It's the story. Your story. Grab the button, share your post, and say hello to another friend.

Happy Saturday!

interview with Jessica Shae!

2011-11-16T05:00:00.000-06:00

photo credit: Photography by SM
Hello friends! I'm featuring the lovely Jessica Shae here today! I'm a huge admirer of her work and am so excited to share her interview with you! She's a wedding photographer in Texas who's the oldest of seven...like me! ;) Her faith is such an encouragement and her work is truly amazing. Ohhhh, and she met a boy...and they're pretty cute together. ;) Read on and prepare to be majorly inspired!

photo credit: (left to right) Rachel Leigh, Kristen Leigh

Share a little about yourself!

Hi y’all!
My name is Jessica Shae and I’m a 22 year old wedding photographer who is obsessed with nail polish, cowboy boots, sweet tea, big trucks, and summertime, amongst a lot of other things.

I’ve lived in Texas for most of my life, with a few years in Denver and Chicago mixed in. I’m the oldest of 7 kidlets and therefore people are always telling me I’m from a big family—I just say it’s a party round the clock, there’s always something interesting going on! I love them all oh so much.

The boy I’ve liked for over 8 months made me his girlfriend this summer, therefore making it the most exciting and happy summer of my life. He’s the smart/funny/responsible/witty/wonderful half of the equation, and I’m the dramatic/fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants one. He very kindly lets me take a million and one pictures of us together…so obviously he’s perfect for me ;)

I like to read and cook (when I have the time), I’d rather be barefoot, I tend to procrastinate and I obsessively take pictures of e.vri.thing. around me with my iPhone. (let’s hear it for instagram!) I collect quotes, old books, and memories. And I love Jesus. My “…determined purpose is that I may know Him. That I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly.” Phil 3:10a

How did you get into photography?

My story is not one that starts out explaining how I’ve been obsessed with photography since I was 3 and ½ and held a camera in my hands for the first time. I didn’t get my own camera until I was 15, and it was just a point and shoot digital camera. I bought it because we were living in Colorado at the time and wanted to be able to take pictures of the mountains and all the gorgeous scenery I was constantly surrounded by. I definitely had no thoughts of making it a business or becoming a wedding photographer. Slowly but surely I started taking more and more pictures of people along with all the landscape/nature pictures I was taking and then decided that people were actually a lot more fun to shoot.

Over a period of about 2 years I got a nicer camera, took a couple of classes, and started a portrait business. The last 2 and 1/2 years since then have been spent building up my business into a full time job and I’m in my second year of shooting weddings, which is my absolute fav. Photography is not my all-consuming passion, there are a lot of things in my life that are more important to me than my job and business. But, I do adore what I do. Documenting love and happiness is one of the greatest things ever--in my humble opinion.

What is your favorite part about photography/being a photographer?

The fact that I get to be a part of the most intimate, happy, and exciting days and moments of people’s lives never really gets old. I see their tears, their laughter, I get to catch the adoring looks a couple exchanges during an engagement shoot, and their ecstatic happy smiles as the fact that they’re REALLY MARRIED sinks in during those first few moments after the wedding ceremony. I get to take the pictures that they’re going to show their children and grandchildren someday as they tell the story of how they fell in love. Pretty special I think.

One lens you couldn't live (or at least shoot) without?

50mm 1.4, HANDS DOWN. It’s my baby and I sometimes shoot whole weddings with that one lens—that’s how much I seriously love it.

Five favorite images from your whole career are?

Oh dear, this feels a little bit like having to pick a favorite child or something, I could never pick absolute favorites, but I guess these are some top picks:

Your biggest inspirations?

Mmmm, not sure if we’re talking photography inspirations, or life in general inspirations, so I’ll give you a little of both.

Photography:
The Poser (he actually only lives about 15 minutes away from me, so I'm hoping that means that someday I'll run into him at the grocery store or something.)
Jonas Peterson
Jose Villa

Life:
Ann Voskamp: A Holy Experience: her blog A Holy Experience is a daily read for me, and her book “One Thousand Gifts” is one of the most challenging books I’ve ever read
Oswald Chambers – Favorite author of all time, hands down. I’ll never get tired of reading his words, and consequently being challenged by them.

Best tip for any aspiring photographer?

As cliché and boring as it may sound, take LOTS of pictures! There's really no better way to learn than to take hundreds and hundreds of pictures, every week if you can! And then critique those pictures, think about what you like and don't like about each one, and what you'd do different if you could take the picture again...and then apply what you've learned the next time you take pictures!

Find mentors in your area that you can take out for coffee or lunch and just pick their brain. Ask if you can go along with them on shoots and even just hold their bags or be their assistant so you can see them in action and learn how the "pros" do things.

And don’t ever let your equipment hold you back. Nice equipment can be helpful but it’s not absolutely essential to becoming a good photographer. Learn to work with what you have and then as you are able to buy nicer equipment your job will just become easier and easier!

Funniest (or most embarrassing story) from a shoot?

I’m sure I’ve had them…and blocked them from my memory :)

Anything else you'd like to add?

Thanks for reading, friends!

And thank you Hannah for interviewing me, I’m so honored to be featured on your blog!

Isn't she great? And don't you just love her photos? Thanks so much again, Jessica! Make sure to head to her blog and check out more of her wonderful work. Also, follow her on twitter and like her work on facebook! Make sure to leave some comment love as well!

On another note...I'm having surgery later today to remove an extra bone in my ankle that's causing impingement. It's what's been the source of the intense pain in my foot, so I'm definitely ready to have the surgery to get it fixed so it can begin to heal. However, to say that I'm a bit nervous would be an understatement. Would so appreciate prayers today!

your story.

2011-11-14T09:02:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I feel like blogging has become too commercialized and impersonalized. The trend seems to be to blog to gain traffic or get comments. To post because you want your words to be received, not because you have something to say. In the midst of all the noise, it's easy to lose your voice. It's easy to feel that you have to do/photograph/write/be like someone else. It's easy to discount your gifts and talents.

But at the heart of it, blogging is truly about your story. Step outside and breathe in the smell of leaves and remember why you write. Bake with your littles in your kitchen, flour on your face, and remember why you make pictures. Spend a day surrounded by family, and remind yourself of who you are and who you want to be.

Remind yourself that you have a story to tell, and it's precious. It's something that only you can share. But if you want, you can tell it to us. And we can celebrate it with you. That's the heart of blogging. Sharing, celebrating, and growing. As we tell our stories, we see that there are others like us. C. S. Lewis said, "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one."

Blogging builds friendships. It's not about the stats, comments, popularity, numbers, or any of that. It's about the people you meet and the stories they have to tell. Through our words, we can spread joy. We can tell our daily stories of the deeper story that Christ is writing. And we connect with others who say, "what! you too?"

So with that, I'd like to offer a new project. Appropriately called, Your Story. It's a weekly link up on Saturdays celebrating your story. Post a photo of your week, your day, your month, or whatever it may be, and tell us about it. Add as many or little photos or words as you want. It's not the length, number, or amount that matters. It's the story. Your story.

It could be of the day you went to the pumpkin patch. Maybe it's of the sun hitting the leaves just right on your walk home. It might be the photos you took of a client turned friend. Perhaps its of the way your siblings or kiddos eyes lit up as you hung Christmas lights. I don't what it is, but that's the beauty of it. Whatever it may be, share it with us and little by little, tell your story. It's important, unique, and wonderfully, perfectly, yours.

And I would love to hear it.

grab the button and spread the word.
tell your story.

thankful thoughts

2011-11-12T05:00:00.000-06:00

This week I'm thankful for...

Mad Libs at Barnes and Noble with friends, twenty minutes till closing, and the laughter from it
Tall Peppermint Mochas + Gingerbread Lattes at Starbucks
Starbucks' Red Cups (yay! I admit it...the fact that they're back made my day)
Playing Mancala with my sisters and mom
Orange juice and tonic water at the Table
My Grandparents over for dinner
The sun breaking out from the clouds
friends and photos that are so inspiring
Rereading Food Network Magazines
the arrival of Kinfolk Mag
a brisk chill in the air that speaks of snow
pictures of my family
silly Eli playing with his sword
portraits taken at 11:11 AM on 11/11/11 (yes, I did.)
early morning movies + chats with close friends
meeting people in the most random places who are gluten free, and hearing their stories
Samuel's cute face
Caleb talking to my dad, asking if, "his folks," were coming over. (he makes me laugh)
yummy gluten-free chocolate cake
laughing with my mom
the fact that the Halloween has been replaced by Christmas at Target
Journaling (is that even a word?)
finding so many recipes that I want to make
socks, scarves, and sweaters
this video and these photos
change and business with a dash of craziness
sunsets and golden hour and light in general
and
my family (so very thankful)

what are you thankful for?

padawan no longer.

2011-11-10T05:00:00.000-06:00

He turned eight and built legos at the worn table. Hot cocoa, an obi-wan kenobi costume, and a lego game were his favorite presents. In fact, we went outside and he showed me his jedi moves. Did I mention this boy is going to take martial arts soon? He was twisting, kicking, jumping, and whirling, while jabbing his blue lightsaber and using his force powers. And he stood just a bit taller than the day before.

The wind whipped his hair and chapped my fingers and face and we laughed. Winter is coming and we ran around the backyard with leaves crunching underfoot and trees shooting limbs bare and tall to the sky as the wind stole our breath. I laughed and took photos and couldn't stop thinking how blessed I am to be his sister. I'm so proud of him.

Love you, Brennan. You'll always be my favorite jedi.
ps. and yes, heis air-borne in the photo third from the bottom. he's the real deal.

happy birthday, Brennan-man.

2011-11-09T10:04:00.001-06:00

Brennan turns eight today. We've celebrated with a birthday breakfast of gluten-free pancakes and bacon. He's opened his presents and the boys are sitting at the table, building all his new lego sets. Soon, he's off to Target with my mom to get a coffee (a special birthday treat) and to buy something using his birthday money from family. I'm sitting in the rocking chair writing this, listening to my family talking. Birthdays are a special thing at our house. I'm so proud of this boy. He's brave, funny, sweet, tough, smart, and such a good brother. I love him very much.

today I feel...

2011-11-07T05:00:00.000-06:00

Apprehensive.
If you follow me on twitter, you might have seen something about my ankle. I injured my left foot last year and it's been significantly weak since then. For the past year, it's been bugging me off and on and progressively getting worse through the summer. The pain has intensified since September, and in mid-October, I took a couple weeks off.

Last Tuesday I went into an orthopedic center and got an x-ray of my foot, then an MRI later that night. The deal is this...I have an extra little bone on the back of my ankle (like a spur). When I dance (or run), that bone gets impinged between other bones and causes intense pressure and pain. On top of that, my bone is really swollen (funky weird), which is similar to a stress fracture. The cartilage in my foot is wearing very thin and is rumpled, causing little cushioning. It's not arthritic yet, but unless it heals it will lead to that.

I'm at the point where it's painful to walk around too much. I'm meeting with a surgeon this morning, and will most likely be having surgery within the next few weeks. I'm very apprehensive and nervous about it, but am at the point where I'm ready to have the surgery so I can deal with the pain and heal. If you all could be praying for me, I would be so grateful!

thankful thoughts

2011-11-04T05:00:00.000-05:00

This week, I am thankful for...

$2.50 striped socks from Target that I'm currently rocking
The chill in the air and frequent frosty mornings
Ben Rector's music (thank you Camila!)
storytime with mom and Sam
cut-out turkeys decorating our house
our Thanksgiving chain
orange ramekins
friends, old and new
November (as much as I love October, I love November even more)
this post and this post
random dance parties with my sisters when our favorite song comes on pandora
my grey boots from kohls
(store-bought) gluten-free cupcakes that actually taste good
The start of our Lord of the Rings watching marathon with my sister and dad
the fact that Thanksgiving is so close
candles that smell oh so good
emails and messages that bless my heart
sunsets that burn the sky purple and pink
boppy and gramma's apple sauce with cinnamon for breakfast
my family
Things to do in November chalkboard (it was so fun to make!)
opportunities, dreams and hopes
the last of the autumn leaves, yellow and bright
a Savior who loves me and is always GOOD
singing Christmas music
homemade hot cocoa with chocolate, cinnamon, and whipcream and/or marshmallows
salty foods to eat after drinking the above
Eli laughing
planning Christmas presents (shh!)
and...
lunch at panera with my mom

what are you thankful for?
a weekly little series that I'm doing this month in celebration of Thanksgiving

our nerdy, silly, gun-slinging, sword-fighting, pumpkin family.

2011-11-02T07:32:00.000-05:00

We had a nerd, clown, cowboy, warrior/ninja, and pooh bear pumpkin trick-or-treating at my boppy and gramma's house. Sam wanted to be a pirate, so we called him the pumpkin PIErate. My favorite was Caleb. He walked around proudly, ringing the doorbell and crying, "I'm a NERD!" instead of "trick or treat!" People ate it up, as evident by the bags of candy on top of our cupboards. Even Sam took home a big candy haul (and seventy percent of his candy was gluten free!) He also kept asking for more "canny." Overall, it was a fun, candy-filled, pumpkin carving night, where everyone came home exhausted and sugared out. How was your Monday?

(sidenote...isn't Caleb's face the best?!)

say hi, sammy

2011-10-31T05:00:00.000-05:00

Sammy has been (intentionally) camera-shy for the past few weeks. Perhaps shy isn't the right word. He's so used to me taking photos that lately he'll turn, look at me, cover his face, and cry, "no piwtures!" Mostly, he does it to tease me. He's a little stinker in that sense. But he loves seeing pictures and videos of himself and other people. So we filmed a couple this past weekend...sharing one of my favorites today. Happy Monday!

he decided that he wanted to see his video while we were taking it, which is why I kept moving to get him. silly sammy.

hayley // portraits

2011-10-29T03:00:00.000-05:00

The clock is one tick and tock away from one and I'm sitting at my computer, writing words and editing photos. I had my last fall session tonight with one of my closest friends. She's one of those friends I know I could call at two in the morning and we'd talk till three. I've known Hayley since third grade when pig-tails were still cute and you could get away with a stain on your shirt. At seven years old, we were just friends. We saw each other at church and various homeschool get-togethers but I never saw us becoming good friends.

Fast forward till now and she's one of my best friends. I love talking about faith, life, and art with her. Spending hours chatting about today's generation, what we're passionate about, our hopes and dreams for the future, and, of course, laughing our heads off over who knows what. She has such a heart for the Lord and it's so cool to see God work through her life. I'm so blessed to call her my friend and so thankful for all of our long talks at coffee shops. And for owners who don't kick us out even though we stay and stay and stay.

As soon as we finished taking photos, we drove to Starbucks and picked up a couple of Pumpkin Spice Lattes. We sat at the wooden tables and chatted about mission trips and plans for this summer while sipping our steaming drinks. My cold fingers warmed and my heart was happy. I'm somewhat introverted, but it's so nice to just get together and just talk. Coffee with one of my closest friends was a perfect end to my last shoot this autumn.

ps. I love her scarves. the end.

a peek into our afternoon

2011-10-27T03:00:00.000-05:00

A glimpse into our life. Crazy, busy, but filled with laughter. We made gluten free cookies, ate chili, did school, and read Food Network. It was a typical afternoon, but a good one. These simple days are my favorites, these ordinary moments some of the most special. In fifty years, I want to remember this. How Sam's face looked as he asked for one more snickerdoodle, Grace's little ballet bun, the smell of sugar in the air, watching the boys play with each other, touching the wood of our table, and stepping back and realizing that these days are truly what make life sweet.

for the love of bread + super easy crostinis

2011-10-25T03:00:00.000-05:00

There's something almost comforting about bread. Some of my favorite memories from being little are making bread with my mom. We'd stand in the kitchen, flour on our hands (and, I can remember distinctly, dusting my hair and face), kneading the soft, sticky dough. The smell filled the house with a heavy, cozy scent that made you want to breathe deep and sit awhile, just chatting and enjoying company over coffee.

I've always loved bread. Beer bread, brown bread, naan, cornbread, focaccia, flatbread, monkey bread, whole wheat, white, brioche, baguettes, pita, pumpernickel, gingerbread...I honestly can't get enough. Biting into freshly-baked bread, butter melting and the heat still radiating from it -- the richness and thickness -- is one of my favorite things. Sadly, this bread wasn't homemade (we haven't used our bread maker since Sam was diagnosed with Celiac Disease), but it was from panera, so it was still delicious.

Super Easy Crostinis
Ingredients
Crumbled Feta Cheese
Salami
Cherry Tomatoes
Spinach
Baguette
Olive Oil + Butter

Directions
This was really so simple. Cut the baguette into thin slices and spread with a little butter. Drizzle olive oil on top and pop them in the oven. Broil them on high for about 1-2 minutes -- make sure you watch them closely! They can burn quickly. Take them out of the oven and sprinkle feta cheese on top, then put salami (pre-toast the salami in the microwave till slightly crispy), tomatoes, and spinach on top of that. Put them back in the oven for 1-2 minutes until the feta is melted gooey into the bread. Pull out and enjoy for lunch or an afternoon snack.

They're crispy on the outside and gooey inside from the cheese. The salami adds a perfect crunch, the spinach a little green, and the tomato lightens up the crostini. Of course, the olive oil takes the deliciousness to a whole new level. I love olive oil so much that I should have been born Italian. Definitely try the recipe...it's super easy, quick, and yummy. Happy Tuesday!

mornings

2011-10-22T03:00:00.000-05:00

I'm not a winter child. I love the season as much as one can when living in negative thirty degree temperatures. It's not to say that I don't like it, but in Minnesota, the world is somewhat frozen, and come December, chilly is and understatement. I love winter up until January second...then the magic of the season is gone and I'm ready for the snow to turn into slush.

Yesterday we had our first frost. The world was covered in a thin sheet of sparkling white ice and the air tasted like snow. I threw on a sweatshirt and stepped outside, breathing in the world. My fingers were numb as I pressed the shutter and my toes were cold. It was quiet and still as my feet crunched on the fragile ground and my breath came out in frosty whirls that reminded me winter was not far away.

The trees had dropped most of their leaves and lay on the ground, gold and red covered in shimmering white. There are still many days of fall ahead, but as the season looms to a close, with winter just in sight, I'm ready for it. I'm ready to enjoy the last month or so of autumn, these fleeting golden days of bonfires and hot apple cider steaming and pumpkin patch journeys and the last few leaves still to fall.

However...the thought of cozy mornings, staring out the window at a world thick with a blanket of snow while sipping a mug of steaming chai, doesn't sound so bad to me. Hot oatmeal, cooked overnight with apples and cinnamon, for breakfast, woolen socks, and mittens covering the littles fingers, all red with cold. Cheeks flushed and eyes bright as they make snowmen or angels or even have a snowball fight. And then there's the promise of days spent making cookies, the weekend when we put up the lights, and the day we go downtown. Thick white flakes falling and trees covered in frost, Christmas music, roaring fires, and hours spent with family, tucked inside warm houses with people I love so very much.

It sounds contradictory, but secretly, I'm excited for winter to come. And all because of a first frost.

tom + camila // engaged

2011-10-20T03:00:00.000-05:00

This is Camila.

This is Tom.

Tom likes Camila.

Camila likes Tom.

And they're getting maaaaaarried!

Tom is actually family and I remember being the little kid that totally looked up to him. Now he's grown up and he and Camila are awesome -- I look up to them both so much. These two are literally on fire for Jesus and it's so visible in their lives. Both of them are ridiculously funny and so great to be around. I had such a good time hanging with them and taking their photos while simultaneously laughing. (and smiling at their cuteness, because, come on -- these two are ridiculously attractive)

These guys don't just like each other...they love each other too. A lot. Their relationship is such a Godly example of what love should be. The Lord is using them radically for His kingdom and they are going places. Tom and Camila are world changers.

Like I said, they're the best.

treasure.

2011-10-18T03:00:00.000-05:00

it's in the quiet moments,
when I sit with my bible in my
hands, clutching the words that are so full
of Your truth.
I long to be like you, O God!
Let me love you more,
when words fail and my hands grow weak, my
head heavy like autumn leaves falling,
and heart heavier
breath Your life into me,
let me be filled with you,
filled with wonder --
You Alone are good!
all these thoughts run through my head,
as the light fills the room softly
and I read Your Word,
breathing it In,
and letting it sink in, not through
my skin, but instead into my mind,
write your truth on my
heart.

This past month has been extremely eye-opening and life-changing for me. While it's been busy and filled with some exciting things, the impact has been hitting home in my heart. I've been really thinking about Luke 12:34, "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Where is my treasure? Where do I place the most value in my life? There's so much truth in that verse that I sometimes feel like I gloss over. It's deeper than just how I spend my time. It's an integral part of my thinking -- it's where my heart is at. We are called to guard our hearts, because from them flow the springs of life (Proverbs 4:23). If my heart is found in treasures that are things of this world, then I am not guarding it.

I am committing to guarding my heart in all areas of life and looking to Jesus as my only treasure. I want so badly to live an intentional, radical life for my King. Not just living an image -- I don't want to be like Christians, I want to be like Christ. And to be like Him, I need to know Him.

To know Christ and to be called His own; to be saved by His blood...I cannot think of a better gift. I am chosen, loved, and redeemed because of my King. This truth should shape every decision I make, because there is no love greater than the love of Christ. That is why my heart should sing and my spirit rejoice -- why I am free!

My treasure is Jesus.

overdose of color

2011-10-14T03:00:00.000-05:00

We like sweets.

We like colors.

And we like popsicles.

However...

We do not like popsicles that:
a. stain clothing
b. are ridiculously colorful
c. glow in the dark
I kid you not.
okay, maybe I kid a little bit.

These popsicles were all of the above, plus with the added benefit of being very sweet. And I admit it, kinda tasty. However, this taste left itself in your mouth in the form of bright blue stains, resulting in celli green and turquoise lips, skin, and clothing. Let's just say that the washing machine had an extra "load" on its back...

Get it? Load?

I think the sugar's going to my head.

little sister and big brother.

2011-10-12T03:00:00.000-05:00

Pason is almost two years old. Nora is a little over two months. They are the cutest little brother and sister duo and are such sweet siblings. I had so much fun following them around (at least Pason!) and taking their photos. We snapped a few inside while they played with animals (Pason told me all their sounds) and made puzzles, or in Nora's case, stared wide eyed at the world. Afterwards, we slipped outside into their backyard for a few fall photos full of leafy goodness.
thanks for all the sweet comments! just want to clarify that these are not my siblings, but are some kiddos I took photos of the other day!

apple cider saturdays

2011-10-10T03:00:00.000-05:00

My grandpa built his own apple press years ago, and every fall, we spend several Saturdays making cider (and apple sauce) out of the apples we've picked. Some of us are in the kitchen, cleaning apples, cutting and coring and slicing them, stewing them, drying them out for dried apples, or mashing and stirring them. The rest are outside, feeding the apples into the apple grinder, then putting them in the apple press, and finally, straining the apple cider into jugs. Busy Saturdays in a steaming kitchen, or a sticky (hornet happy) outside, but the result is the most delicious cider ever. We have seven milk jugs full of the sweet stuff. Homemade is truly best.

life as of late

2011-10-08T03:00:00.000-05:00

on the way to ballet, we passed a random field and my mom pulled over, jumped out of the car, and said, "quick! let's take a picture!"
so we did.
This past week flew by so fast that I woke up yesterday and couldn't believe it was Friday already! It always amazes me that even when time flies, I still feel so busy. Ballet, school, work, and several short outings filled up my days fast. But sunrise watching, leaf-raking, and a coffee date with a friend were lovely respites in the midst of the craziness. However, I can safely say that I'm so glad that it's the weekend. Have any special plans for the next couple of days? Would love to hear them!

just raking some leaves.

2011-10-06T03:00:00.000-05:00

Dear trees that are dropping their leaves,
I really like you. did you know that?
I think you're lovely.
really.

Dear little boy who decided to pick leaves to add to the pile,
why, aren't you cute. and thank you. you've saved us the chore of raking them.
even though those aren't exactly the "right" leaves...

Dear leaves,
what's your secret? how do you manage such great color?
I wish I knew.
You're really some of my favorite things about fall.

Dear early morning sunrise,
I like watching you creep up over the horizon and spread out tendrils of color like smoke.
Especially while sitting outside in a sweater, eating some freshly-made french toast.
It made for another good, sunrise watching morning.

Dear Samuel,
boo! gotchya. you don't mind, do you?

Dear ridiculously attractive sister,
Seriously? how can you be so cute?

Dear pumpkin,
Pumpkin spice lattes, bars, cakes, pies, scones....
oh, goodness. I'm kinda sorta completely smitten with you.
My jeans are not so fond.
But that's another story.

Dear little boy,
It's a bird! it's a plane! it's supersam!

Dear crazy-copper-haired caleb,
Dude. You're really rocking. I mean, it's not everyone who can boast of flying copper hair.
I just might love you.

Dear Brennan,
How can you be almost eight? You're getting so big.
I remember when you were born. You were the first boy and everyone was so excited.
I mean, after three girls, a little boy was huge.

Dear super cute sweater on sale at Green Planet,
You just totally made my day. A chunky, woolen knit sweater that's perfect for fall. Long, loose, and oh so comfortable
(and just my style)
My day was made.

Dear Sammy,
Thank you for helping! You contributed about three leaves to the pile, and took away half.
Your help was greatly appreciated.

Or maybe we just liked watching you trying to rake like your brothers.
Whatever the reason, it sure was cute.

Dear busy days,
Aaaah!
okay, I'm done.

Dear blurry photos + baby toes,
You're not so bad. In fact...I kinda dig you.
Did that just date me?
shh. I never said that.
Moving on.

Dear fall,
You're really my favorite. I don't know how you can even get better.

Oh, wait.
You just did.

early morning drive

2011-10-04T09:08:00.000-05:00

I woke up when it was still dark outside. There were the faintest tendrils of light reaching up from the horizon and the blackness of the sky was tinged with soft light spreading quickly. With the morning quiet, my mom and I did something impulsive and went on an early morning drive. Watching the sun rise over the trees and touch the sky with gold was a perfect start to the morning.

The fall foliage filling the world was so lovely and the crispness in the air added to the whole drive. We laughed and chatted while watching the sky and land change colors. There's no beating a sunrise, especially when it's autumn. This is one of my new favorite things about fall. I have a feeling it will become a weekly thing.

we started the drive with this, and ended with this.

It was a good morning.
ps. make sure to check out aspire's lovely sponsors!

happy october!

2011-10-02T09:57:00.000-05:00

Bonfires crackling with their smoke
as the smell of autumn hangs
heavy in the air, leaves fall lazily,
and are picked up by whooshing breezes,
singing their symphony of autumn,
the sun sets the world
on fire, and I walk the fields
trying to put memory to the
beauty blazing around me, pressing
leaves to my face as they
crinkle, smelling the musky
scent of fall, while I run across the burnished
plains, and they crunch under my feet,
like thousands of waves of
crimson, gold, and coppery pumpkin;
letting this moment be a
fingerprint on today -- oh!
let me always remember what
it's like to feel this alive.
hannah nicole

A little poetry to start off October. This is one of of my favorite months -- September is almost too warm and November is nearing the chill of winter. October is the in-between and chock full of autumn glory. It's so beautiful outside right now. The leaves are shifting and flashing colors in reddish shades and the weather is the perfect mix of warm and cold. This is my favorite time of year...and it's just getting started.

ps. last call for sponsors! email me if you're interested. I'm a little late in putting them up, but you'll see all their lovely faces soon!

little boy and his trains.

2011-09-30T05:00:00.000-05:00

Samuel loves trains. He makes choo-choo noises and pushes them around, drives them up and down furniture, and can name them all. I love listening to him go, "Thomas, Pewcy, Jawmes." He'll say, "no diesel!" and smash them together. He's especially fond of linking them as well as stacking them...then subsequently knocking them down. These are just a few moments from everyday that I like.

This little boy makes me smile.

ps. am accepting sponsors for aspire again! email me if you're interested in advertising in october!

dear sam,

2011-09-28T03:00:00.000-05:00

I don't know how to write this. You officially turned two on Sunday, and I'm a little overwhelmed by that.

How can you be two already? I remember the day you were born, when we all awaited anxiously for the phone call telling us of your birth. Telling us of you. We didn't know your name until daddy called at 3:16 in the afternoon. Samuel Josiah.

They gave you a good name.

I remember when you were only a few months old, and had a long, funny tuft of hair on your forehead. We were afraid you'd lose all your hair, because you had a little bald spot on the back of your head from rubbing. Like a little monk. You were such a cutie, with your chubby face and little toes.

I remember the day you swallowed the sequin, and how scared I was. You were so little and I was so terrified that we were going to lose you. To have you for such a short time and then to have you no more would have been unbearably hard. But God had big plans for you! I was never more relieved when I heard you were okay. As soon as you got home, we all crowded around you and cuddled and kissed you and cried.

And then in January. The day you went to the hospital. But it had been months before that full of worry. There was something wrong with your stomach. You couldn't eat. You were always sick and tired. There was always pain in your eyes. It hurt my heart to see you not feeling good. And it scared me sick when you went into the hospital. For a second time in your short life, I was afraid we were going to lose you. Not again, I thought.

Those next couple of weeks were the hardest I've ever experienced. Mom and you were gone at the hospital for a couple days, then you came home and were back in and out of that place for several weeks. I tried my best to run the household but it was hard to pretend everything was okay when the little ones asked why you and mom weren't home. I couldn't pretend. But I didn't know. That was the hardest part, the not knowing.

When we found out you had Celiac, Sam, our world was rocked silly and knocked upside down. I was terrified of what it was, terrified of the implications, and terrified for you. There were so many hard changes and difficult choices. It's a long journey that we're still walking along. But you're better now. You're healthy and growing and thriving.

Like I said before, the Lord has big plans for your life, and these trials and hardships are preparing you for something greater. You've been blessed and have blessed our family so much, sweet Sam. I don't know what we would do without you.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, I love you, Samuel, and am so proud of you. I love the way when you laugh your whole body shakes because you're overcome. I love the way your blue eyes smile and your cheeks dimple and you pretend to be shy. I love your roars and your love of john deere and the way you say "me gwooten-fwee!" I love your heart and I love you, sweet Samuel!

And so today, I'm praising God for you. For your life.

You're my absolute favorite Sam ever. Hugs and kisses and so much thankfulness.

Love,
Hannah

steph, mack, and chlo-lo.

2011-09-26T03:00:00.000-05:00

My friend Stephanie is a friend and mentor to her little ones as she calls my sister Chloe and her friend Mackenzie. She called and asked if Chloe wanted coffee, and I tagged along and snapped some photos. It was probably the last day that was warm enough to not be sipping some steaming mochas, which made for a fun afternoon of photo taking. What can I say? I'm loving the fall weather and foliage oh, so much.

harvest pumpkin spice bars.

2011-09-23T07:58:00.000-05:00

The days have slipped into cold winds, crisp air, and fall foliage filling the air. I love watching the transition from the steamy summer months to the invigorating weeks of autumn. There's something special about this season -- with the winds wild and world glorious in hue. Along with the transitions outside, there's absolutely cozy transitions happening inside. We've been wearing woolen sweaters and cozy socks, board games have been pulled out, and our dinners have shifted from fresh garden fare, to hearty soups, stews, and freshly-baked treats.

Every year, as Autumn rolls around, we eagerly await the arrival of the delicious pumpkin bars. My mom has been making these for as long as I can remember. I can see her standing in the kitchen, smoothing the frosting over the bars in the long tray. She'd sprinkle walnuts on top and slice them into thick wedges that were just heaven to bite into. The sweetness from the bars isn't just from the sugar. The memories baked into every tray make fall a little better than it already

The recipe is stuffed in a huge folder of my mom's, jam-packed full of clippings and photocopies of recipes from books and magazines, while hand-written directions are scattered among the various sheets. This was my first time attempting the treats, and I daresay they turned out delicious. We were out of walnuts and went without this time, but the little sprinkling on top adds a crunch that is the perfect finish to an already perfect dessert.

Harvest Pumpkin Spice Bars
Adapted from a Betty Crocker recipe

Ingredients
The Bars
4 eggs
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
2 cups flour (we used gluten free flour)
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

The Frosting
1 package of cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla
2-3 cups powdered sugar (sweeten to taste)

Directions
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease the bottom and sides of a jelly roll pan. Beat the eggs, sugar, oil, and pumpkin in a large bowl until smooth. Stir in the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, ginger, and cloves. Spread the batter in the pan and smooth. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until light brown. Let cool completely for one hour. While cooling, make the frosting by mixing the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla. Gradually beat the powdered sugar in until smooth. Frost the pumpkin bars, sprinkle with walnuts, and cut into 7x7 rows. Enjoy!

Based on how you cut them, there should be about 30-49 servings. Refrigerate any leftovers if you have any. We usually end up eating most of the treat the first day, and the remainder serves as a delicious breakfast the next. Oops. Yes, I mean it. Don't laugh at me! We're not so good about the whole breakfast-for-breakfast thing, as evident by our love for sweets.

It's a tasty way to start your day...and I'm planning on including this homemade pumpkin spice latte into my morning as well. What can I say? I love fall and the changes that come along with it...especially food wise. And what better way to celebrate the first (official) day of Autumn than some oh-so-yummy-pumpkiny treats?

Have a favorite fall treat? Please share! I think I might be on an Autumn cooking kick.

tuesday night thoughts

2011-09-20T19:58:00.002-05:00

Lately, God has been showing me that His plans are always better than mine. There have been so many choices that I've had to make and life decisions I have to figure out. I've been stressed out with everything -- work, school, ballet -- and have been living in a state of overwhelm.

I think that so often, especially for me, I focus more on the problems (and the fear) instead of leaning on God. Instead of completely relying on Him, I try to "fix" it myself. I've been learning more and more that the Lord has a perfect plan for me and my life...and I just have to be willing to take that step. He has plans for good and not ill, and I just need to trust Him. He doesn't promise that this life won't be hard, but He does promise to give peace during the storm. He promises to be there in the midst of the hardship.

It's such craziness that I can't even speak. We have such a wonderful God! Despite everything I've done, He loves me. His love isn't earthly and flawed, but eternal and perfect. He wants to have a relationship with me. I am chosen, redeemed, and loved by the creator of the universe. Feeling rather overwhelmed with the Lord's goodness right now. I fail and mess up time and time over, yet He's always good. How blessed we are to have a God who loves us despite our actions. His love makes me want to love Him more and more.

That's a good kind of overwhelm to have.

Sorry for the lack of words lately...my computer got hacked/infected with a nasty virus and it's been getting fixed since Fri/Sat. So I'm using a teeny tiny netbook and looking forward to when I can upload my photos and get my laptop back!

birthday celebrations.

2011-09-16T07:20:00.001-05:00

My sweet brother Caleb turned six yesterday. I can't believe that he has to use two hands to count his age now. Caleb is smart, funny, loving, tough, and so very brave. We celebrated his birthday with a small party at home, just with us. Homemade stew for dinner (with veggies from the garden), and gluten free chocolate cupcakes for dessert. He told us that yesterday was the best day ever, and after he blew out his candles, said, "you know what I wished for? that every day could be like this one."

He makes my heart happy.

brothers and best friends.

2011-09-14T07:44:00.000-05:00

Aren't these boys the cutest? I had so much fun taking photos of them. I babysat the oldest before the littlest was born, and now the youngest is celebrating his second birthday. Oh goodness. They're such sweet kiddos and they both have the most precious smiles. I loved watching them run around and play with each other -- they both were super to photograph and gave the biggest grins for the camera.

this is my story.

2011-09-12T07:55:00.000-05:00

My story is one of sticky fingers and early morning sunrises. It's a yearly trip with all my family to our beloved Woodland resort; it's the smell of cider in the fall, the chill in the air as the apples are plucked from my grandpa's orchard, the steamy kitchen where we cut and stew them and make apple sauce. It's every last song and every new beginning, it's lying on a blanket outside in my grandparent's backyard watching the northern lights in the chill night, it's years of ballet and a box of pointe shoes.

My story is made up of my grandpa's art studio with paint jars in every color, of long walks with my family, of movie nights and heart to heart talks at home. It's albums of old photos and yearly get togethers, it's songs that are sung and trips that are taken. It's freckles on faces and Sunday's at grandma's and pages of sketches filled up with dreams. It's notebooks covered in writing, games played while laughing, flannel sweatshirts and birthday breakfasts at the pancake house. It's the days that I've cried, the years that I've grown, and the hopes that I've dared to hope.

My story is stacking rocks on the shores of cold Lake Superior and browsing the streets at Duluth. It's the smell of books musty with stories, the campfire under the dusky sky deep with stars, the cooking catastrophes and days spent reading. It's the smell of crepes in the morning as my family and I make breakfast, the slap of card games at the lake, the retreat where I sang. It's the family I love, the friends I adore, and the life that I truly believe is worth living for.

That's my story...and it's still being written.

Stories are an integral part of my photography. Not the once upon a times but the stories you hear while sitting at a worn handmade wooden table, light filling the room and streaming from the windows, cookies littering every available surface. Icing in hand, when your grandma and aunts speak of when they were little and did just this. The stories of the everyday that are lost in the bigger picture -- yet so often, we forget that the big picture is made up of the little moments. These moments are the stories that make up the fabric of who we are. And they need to be told.

I've struggled with brand before, yet more and more, I realize that brand is not a pretty website or logo, but an identity -- one that is reflective of who you are and what you love. My style and my voice is a photojournalistic approach to real life and the stories that you have to tell. So I'd like to hear...what's yours?

remembering.

2011-09-08T08:55:00.001-05:00

This post was inspired by the lovely Katie

The summer drew to a close on Monday, and despite the calendar stating that the first day of fall is in fact on the twenty-ninth, you can't fool me into thinking that Autumn doesn't begin as soon as summer ends. I'm an autumn girl, through and through, and sometimes wish I could live where it's forever fall.

With this summer being a lovely one, there are several things I want to remember. A good summer doesn't necessarily equate a busy one, and while most of it was spent in simplicity, it made it all the sweeter.

I want to remember...

Eating gluten free berry-full shortcake for dinner, sitting outside on the deck as the sun dipped between the trees and nestled in the middle of leafy branches, shining in dappled rays on the yard.

Waking up at the tent at Woodland, with the light streaming in and the sound of the lake lapping the shore with the woods awakening. The sense of peace and love that filled the week as we were together -- the joy that was found in the simplest things. And the laughter.

Late night movie nights with friends, chewing popcorn quietly so to listen to the movie. Feeling like family with the closest of friends.

Apple-picking Sundays, game-playing Saturdays, and lazy Friday's where we do nothing but enjoy the company of family. Filled with much popcorn eating and tonic + lime drinking.

The sound of crickets in the morning. I sometimes wish I could bottle up the sound and share it as easily as a photo.

Reading books till the early morning with a cup of tea and the night peeking through the windows. Not being able to put them down despite the fact that the clock slowly ticked on and on and the dusk soon turned to dawn.

Lying on the deck journaling with the sun shining down in slats of light on the pages.

And...celebrating the beauty of simple life with people I love.

What are some things you want to remember?

sammy boy.

2011-09-06T07:44:00.000-05:00

This boy turns two on September 25th. In his short life, he's had numerous doctor/hospital visits. From swallowing a sequin last summer to being diagnosed with Celiac Disease in January, the past couple of years with him have been a full, joy-filled (and a little bit of crazy on the side) ride. I love him so much that it makes my heart hurt. I'm incredibly blessed and unspeakably glad that I get to be his big sister. XO Sammo, I love you.

birthday breakfast

2011-09-04T08:21:00.000-05:00

My grandparents (on my dad's side) have a tradition where every year on our birthday, they take us out for a birthday breakfast. And it's ineveitable that each year, we head to a lovely little place tucked in a small mall called The Original Pancake House.

Several of the waitresses there remember me from when I was little -- about three -- when I would color the sheets of animal drawings they gave and make the various noises. A cow goes moo, horse goes neigh, and pig goes oink. They also had Disney coloring sheets and I can vividly remember coloring Simba yellow and Ariel's hair a deep red.

Then, when the food would come, I'd push the pictures aside and eat my pancakes slathered in syrup and lavishly filled with sweet, hot blueberries. With a mug of hot cocoa (topped with a generous helping of whip cream), next to my orange juice, I'd ask for a sausage from my grandma and a bite of my grandpa's Dutch Baby Pancake. It was one of my birthday treats and I would stuff myself silly, knowing that it only happened once a year.

This past year, my grandparent's took both my sister Grace and I out for our breakfast at the same time on my birthday. I watched her slide into the back booth and order the blueberry pancakes along with a piping hot cup of cocoa as well. She chatted happily and dug into her pancakes as soon as they arrived, determined that she would try and eat the three massive blueberry pancakes that were placed before her.

It was a bittersweet year for two reasons. One, the mall that had the pancake house in it was set for demolition in August, so our beloved breakfast place is no longer be there (although I believe they're reopening at a new location). And two, by bringing Grace along, it made me see how quickly and fleetingly childhood lasts.

When I turned fifteen in June, I cried. It sounds silly, but it seemed so official. Like I was truly growing up. Stopping time may be no more than an often wished for fable, but that day, I wanted to bottle myself and everyone I loved in it so that things could always stay the same.

But change isn't always bad, though more often than not, it's bittersweet. I'm excited for this new stage of life and I'm determined to not let it pass by without truly cherishing and seizing the many days of this season. I love looking back to where I was a year ago and seeing who much I've grown. The changes that have come; the dreams that have become realities; the person I'm slowly discovering that is truly me.

For some thoughts prompted by a post on pancakes, my heart is feeling pretty full. Sort of like the feeling after Thanksgiving dinner when you can't eat another bite and barely have the energy to talk, but you're surrounded by family who love you and that itself is enough. It's a good kind of full.

early mornings

2011-09-02T07:44:00.000-05:00

Mother
You stare at him with love,
His eyes wide and smile true,
And I cannot help but wonder,
Was I that little too?

He runs around the grassy yard,
Hiding in plain sight,
You chase him while he giggles,
Laughing in pure delight

A worn book in your arms,
And a baby nestled close,
As you read words with love,
To the ones who you love most.
Hannah Nicole

It's a ritual in our home that whenever he wakes up, Sam has a book read to him. It varies depending on who's up, but more often than not, it's my mom. They'll sit in the worn old rocker and go over the pages. I'll hear her point something out and he'll excitedly cry, "dohn deere!" (john deere) if they're reading a book on tractors. I love listening to him laugh as the room is filled with light streaming through the curtains. It's one of my favorite parts of the day.

No matter how early it is, my mom always has a smile (and a mug of coffee close). She'll read and reread the same book over and over again, simply because Sam likes it. And I'll listen to them in the next room, talking together as the world wakes up. The most wonderful thing about mothers is that they teach you about life by simply living it.

joining my mom for friday favorites

apple cinnamon muffins

2011-08-31T08:04:00.000-05:00

With the abundance of apples overflowing in boxes on our counters, we've resorted to making some tasty apple filled treats. Which is a good thing, because I've found all sorts of yummy recipes to try out. Some have to be adapted to be gluten free, but in the case of these muffins, they were made that way from the start. Sweet and filling with an undertone of cinnamon, the muffins are delectable, especially with the bits of apple sprinkled throughout the batter.

Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups Pamela's Baking Flour
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
2 Eggs
1 cup chopped apples
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon

Directions
This recipe is really very simple. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine all the dry ingredients and stir together, then in a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients together. Pour the wet ingredients in with the dry and mix. Peel, core, and cut the apples into small chunks, then gently fold them into the batter. Fill the muffin tins three fourths of the way and put in the oven to bake for 18-20 minutes. Serve with a glass of milk or some tea, and enjoy!

Like I said, a simple and really lovely recipe that's a perfect start to any morning. Especially with fall weather coming, these muffins are hearty, yet light enough, to add a bit of warmth to your day. The only problem at our house is how to make them last longer than a few minutes. As soon as I pulled them out of the oven, I was surrounded by a swarm of hungry kiddos holding up plates. Whatever the case in your home, make sure to share the fall muffins with family and friends!

Edited to add:I'm not sure how to make this recipe non-gluten free. Sorry friends!

apple picking sundays

2011-08-28T23:50:00.000-05:00

Fall doesn't only bring changing leaves and cooling winds, but also harvest time. Fresh vegetables, berries, and fruits, ripe off the bush, vine, plant, or tree. And that includes apples. My grandparent's have twenty one apple trees and every other year, our fall is filled with a flurry of picking apples for cider, sauce, pies, and just to eat.

Yesterday was apple picking day. Two trees were ready and heavy laden with apples; bursting with fresh fruit. While my grandpa and uncle worked on building my grandpa's shed, and my aunt and grandma were in the garden going through the many rows of veggies, we headed off to tackle the task of apple picking.

There's hardly anything so sweet as chomping an apple plucked seconds before by your own hand. With the boys gathering the apples we picked from the higher branches in small lacrosse nets and dumping them in cardboard boxes, we made short work and finished both trees in a couple of hours. Afterwards, we sliced some apples and made apple sauce which was quickly devoured at dinner.

Driving home, the car was heavy with the scent of apples, full with the smell of fall. We've now got a rather large box of apples sitting on our counter, plus some peppers, as well as a box of tomatoes. (we also brought home a big container of raspberries but ate most of them already. fresh berries are hard to resist)

Apple picking Sundays are some of my favorite days. I'm looking forward to when more of the trees are ready; to when we'll spend whole days picking, slicing, and cooking apples for sauce and cider. Yesterday was a small taste of Autumn. And a delicious one at that.

my boppy's vineyard

2011-08-27T08:30:00.001-05:00

a continuation of [ reflections ] my gramma and boppy's house.

My grandparent's are movers: they like to do things; plant things; create things. My family talks about the many roadtrips my grandparents have taken, and every year, we head up to Woodland. We're seeped in traditions and our whole family is filled with a passion for creating. One of my grandpa's newest projects (by new, I mean in the last couple of years) is his vinyard.

He has four rows of grape vines and several different varieties. I've tasted a few, and while the grapes aren't ready yet (sour in your mouth), they're sweet and have a good flavor. He has several varieties, but my favorites are the small purple ones (for lack of the technical name).

The grapes were only long rows linked by string holding small little sticks when he planted them. I remember clearly when I first saw them -- we walked out to the back and ambled around some apple trees while angling towards his vineyard. The grape plants were little and I remember wondering if they'd ever be large enough to eat from. I asked him, "so they'll really be grapes?" and he said, "oh, yes." We talked about grapes and plants and he told me about growing things. For some reason, hearing about the earth and why things grew and how best to grow them thrilled me. Perhaps it was because my boppy loves that sort of thing and it's hard to not love it with him around.

I can't explain what it is about my grandpa that makes you excited about life. I've spent many days picking peas or cutting apples from his orchard while listening to him tell stories from when he was young. He's full of facts and info and advice on nearly everything -- gardening, growing, building, and making a mean plate of sausage for breakfast. I love him and my grandma so much.

I'm excited for when the grapes are fully grown and ripe for picking. The vineyard is now tall and leafy and another project that has been completed. And now, I can't wait to hear what the next one will be.

a fan of naan

2011-08-25T01:33:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite places to grab a little lunch is Noodles and Company. The streamlined modern design, delicious meals, and the peaceful atmosphere lends to a welcoming place to sit and sip izzes with friends. My favorite meal is pasta fresca with parmesan crusted chicken, topped with feta cheese and paired with the cucumber and tomato salad. However, I always look forward to their flatbread at the end of the meal.

When I saw this recipe for naan, I knew I had to try it. I substituted gluten free bread flour for regular flour and despite a slightly denser texture, it was delicious. If you go the gluten free route, I would recommend flouring your hands before kneading it, because it was a little sticky. It also didn't rise as much as normal, but that was due in part to some really old yeast.

Naan
adapted from this recipe
ingredients
1/2 cup warm water
2 tsp. active dry yeast
1 tsp. sugar
2 1/2 cups Pamela's Gluten Free Flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup canola oil
1/3 cup plain yogurt
1 large egg
Olive Oil (for drizzling)

Directions
Stir the water, sugar, and yeast together and let sit until foamy. After five minutes, stir in the flour, salt, oil, egg, and yogurt. Knead until the dough is soft and malleable, then cover with a towel and let rise for an hour (all while waiting impatiently as the clock slowly ticks). Roll the dough out (make sure to flour the rolling pin and the surface) and cut into circles (as large or small as you'd like). In a hot skillet drizzled with olive oil (on a little lower than medium heat), cook each naan until they're nice and golden and are fairly blistered (though not burnt). Serve with honey, jam, curry sauce, butter, syrup, or whatever you'd like. Enjoy!

Everyone loved the naan. In fact, by the time I had finished tidying up the kitchen, there was just a half piece left. I cut it into a small circle and attempted to grab a photo, but due to a hungry boy who wanted his share, the photo-taking was short lived. Luckily, I made another batch the next day and topped it with a smear of butter and a drizzle of honey.

Baking and cooking have been exciting me lately and I would love to hear and try out your favorite recipes!

three six five

2011-08-23T09:41:00.000-05:00

sixty six

sixty seven

sixty eight

sixty nine

seventy

seventy one

seventy two

seventy three

seventy four

seventy five

The past week has been a cross between a flurry of preparations and a final goodbye to sweet summer days. School doesn't officially start till after labor day, but there's so much to do before then that it already feels like summer has slipped on by. Truthfully, I'm ready for fall. I'm an Autumn girl, through and through. Red leaves drifting lazily, the crisp feel in the air, hot apple cider in mugs, warm fall jackets paired with skinny jeans and boots, and the feeling of being fully alive -- I love it all. What are you most looking forward to come September? And like every week, which photo is your favorite?

the infamous vegetable

2011-08-21T07:55:00.000-05:00

I'm not a huge zucchini lover. I find the flavor to be somewhat flat and not nearly as fresh as other vegetables, such as cucumbers. But while making dinner the other night, I found our fridge depleted of nearly all vegetables, save a lone pepper and a couple of zucchinis. I did what any not-a-fan-of-zucchini-but-needing-to-get-dinner-on-the-table-girl would do. I made a side dish.

And I actually liked it. In fact...I'm planning on making it again. (say what?!)

Zucchini and Tomato Sauté

Ingredients

One Green Zucchini

One Yellow Zucchini

Can of Tomatoes

One Green Onion

Olive Oil

One Clove of Garlic

Fresh Basil

Oregano

Salt & Pepper

Directions

Heat up some olive oil in a small pot. Finely chop the onions and toss in the olive oil. Peel the zucchinis and chop into slices; sprinkle with salt and put with onions. Let cook until the zucchini is tender, then pour half a can of tomatoes into the pot. Crush one clove of garlic and mince it into fine pieces. Put a dash of salt, black pepper, and dried oregano in the pot and stir in the garlic. After it's reduced for a few minutes, put the basil leaves into the pot and stir. Top with some fresh basil and serve as a side or eat as a snack.

If there's not enough tomatoes to appease any tomato-lovers, simply add the rest of the can. The flavor is reminiscent of spaghetti and the basil adds a wonderful depth to the dish. Season to taste, but go easy on the oregano. Next time I make it, I have ideas for making it into a pasta sauce instead. Wish me luck!

I love...

2011-08-19T09:20:00.004-05:00

...Fresh yellow peppers

...peaches

...the fact that this list has only been about food so far

...little boys watching rain

...schweppes tonic water

...planning for fall

...dreams of leaves, pumpkins, scarves, and cinnamon

...trains tracks all over the floor
...a clean room
...sunlight streaming in through windows

...homemade cookies made by our neighbor

...cookies in general

...the fact that fall is coming and that means lots of baking

...which means lots more cookies

...which also means pretending to have more willpower than I actually do

...and consequently, losing to this so-called willpower

...grace and belle coloring outside under the umbrella

...lazy summer days

...the fact that the library is only about five minutes away

...zucchini with tomatoes (recipe coming soon)
...making dinner up on the spot
...dinner on the spot turning out delicious
...reading books to the boys before bed

...newspaper toenails

...realizing I just put a picture of my ballet-mangled toes on my blog

...friends who paint my toes

...driving all around looking for a beach with friends

...not finding a beach so instead making icecream sundaes

...laughing

...laughing mostly at myself

...tomatoes from the garden, almost ready to eat
...the light at 8:15 at night
...homemade gluten-free naan (another recipe I'm excited to share with you!)

...and the list continues...

what are you loving on this lovely summer day?

linking up with friday favorites

corncakes hot off the griddle

2011-08-16T10:27:00.001-05:00

We're breakfast people at our house. Sometimes we'll make dutch babies; other times omelets filled with all manner of delicious vegetables and meats; french toast; waffles drizzled with maple syrup; scrambled eggs and bacon; and my favorite, crepes smothered in fresh whipped cream and berries. All that being said, sometimes you can't beat the sweet simplicity of pancakes in the morning. Which is why we love this new pancake recipe. Coupled with the fact that it was easily adapted to being gluten free, it was a delicious start to our day.

Corn Cakes
Recipe from Food Network Magazine

Ingredients
1/2 cup flour (we substituted gluten free bread flour for white flour)
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 tablespoon baking powder
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 tablespoon salt
1 1/4 Cups milk
1/2 stick of melted butter
2 eggs
a little vanilla

Directions
Whisk the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, sugar, and salt. In a seperate bowl, whisk the milk, butter, eggs, and vanilla, then whisk into the dry ingredients until combined. Ladle onto a griddle or hot skillet and cook until slightly golden. Top with whatever suits your fancy. (recipe makes 20-30 pancakes, depending on size)

We slathered the corncakes in triple berry jam and ate them hot off the griddle. The sweetness is contrasted perfectly by the hearty taste and flavor reminiscent of corn bread. There's a bit more crunch to these pancakes and a perfectly scrumptious texture. Everyone loved them and clamored for more. I have a feeling that we'll be making them again soon.

Interested in why we're gluten free? Click here to read Samuel's story.

three six five

2011-08-14T05:00:00.000-05:00

fifty-four

fifty-five

fifty-six

fifty-seven

fifty-eight

fifty-nine

sixty

sixty-one

sixty-two

sixty-three

sixty-four

sixty-five

The past two weeks have been filled with a frenzied business that has finally slowed and stopped to allow for a peaceful remainder of August. Partly due to that, my three six five photos were shot, but not uploaded. I took some time last night to go through them and loved recalling the days in photos. As always, which one is your favorite? Sixty-three is mine, because of a certain blue-eyed, freckle-faced, silly-but-oh-so-sweet boy in it.

love letters

2011-08-12T06:50:00.001-05:00

Dear summer,

I really love you and wish that you weren't ending in less than a month.

Labor Day never looked gloomier.

Summer campouts, smores by the bonfire, laughter, late-night talks, gatherings with friends, even the mosquitoes! I love it all.

Okay, maybe not the mosquitoes.

Dear mosquitoes,

I wish you'd die. The end.

Dear little boy who is soaked with water from the sprinkler,

I love you. That's all.

Dear black and white photos,

I've forgotten how much I've missed you.

Dear summer dinners + fresh produce,

I really love you. And by love, I mean, really really really love you. Cheap store-bought veggies pale in comparison. Although, in retrospect, they're anything but cheap. Five bucks for a bunch of mushy, flavorless tomatoes or fresh, ruby red tomatoes from the garden, free of charge.

I'll take my pick.

Dear garden,

We're really loving your fruit. And by fruit, I mean veggies.

And by veggies, I mean tomatoes, beans, and onions.

Especially the onions.

(we're weird like that)

Dear feet that hurt really bad from ballet,

I have nothing to say to you.

Dear eli,

I love your scrinched up nose, freckly face, and big blue eyes. You make me smile.

I love being your big sister. I love watching you grow up.

Your stories and silliness are some of my favorite things.

I love how you're goofy one moment, then sweet the next,

and then a mischevious little stinker,

who makes me laugh laugh laugh (and repeat myself)

Even though you say "how about three?" when I tell you I'll read you one book.

(And then I end up reading two, because, well, I love you)

Dear sprinkler photos,

I'm sorry. I just can't get enough of you.

Dear Woodland,

I miss you.

Dear Dear,

Dear is kind of a quaint funny old word...but I like it.

Dear life,

You're my fav. I pretty much love you.

linking up with friday favorites

life as of late

2011-08-10T06:15:00.018-05:00

Our days have been filled with a lot of ballet dancing, rootbeer float drinking, farmer's market visiting, dinner eating, mud-pie making, and general summer-loving. With a ballet intensive for the past few weeks, my sisters and I have been gone all morning, which makes coming home sweeter than ever before. Busy afternoons complete with and lazy evenings spent laughing with family, being outside, reading books, and devouring fresh fruits and veggies.

Life as of late has been busy and smothered in preparations for fall. However, it's a good busy, complete with exciting promises of change. Change for me is a bit scary. I like things to stay the same -- I get stuck in my "comfortable" routine and I want to stay there. But I've come to realize that change, while sometimes painful and difficult, can be good. The Lord closes doors and opens them, and I am determined to be grateful in whatever circumstance.

sunday stills

2011-08-08T07:02:00.000-05:00

Sundays, we try to gather at my grandparents with my aunts, uncle, and cousin. Nothing fancy, just a casual get-together with people we love. Games are played, movies are sometimes watched, and this week the project was roofing the shed my grandpa started building a month or so ago. Loads of food is made and we eat ourselves silly with my grandma's homemade cooking. Berries are plucked, vegetables picked, and come fall, we'll be harvesting apples from my grandparent's orchard and making apple sauce and cider with it. And we laugh...a lot. Spending time with family usually does that. These days are some of my favorites.

homegrown salad of sorts

2011-08-06T08:47:00.000-05:00

Fresh vegetables and fruit from the garden is one of my favorite things about summer. It's a quintessential ingredient to a perfect summer day. The taste of food plucked from the branches just minutes before eating is unbeatable. For this plate, I blanched homegrown beans then tossed them with a little olive oil and salt. The tomatoes and salad greens have a drizzle of balsamic vinegar. A delicious addition to an overall sweet day. How was your Friday?

a snap happy excursion

2011-08-03T07:34:00.000-05:00

The Halvorson family are friends of ours and their mother wanted some photos of her and her daughters before her middlest heads off to tour with Disney on Ice. After a stormy morning with pounding rain, we had a sunny evening with lovely light and a cool breeze. I snapped pictures and pretended that I did this everyday, all while swatting mosquitoes and laughing with the sweet family.

tonic and lime

2011-08-01T08:34:00.001-05:00

I'm not an avid supporter of pop. Occasionally I'll grab a coke if I'm in need of something cold, but I'm more content with lemonade or iced tea. Perhaps that's the reason I love our new drink staple — it quenches my longing for something chilled while still slaking my desire for a fresh, fruity beverage. My mom introduced this drink to us after her trip to Hilton Head. The tangy and slightly bitter taste is doubly refreshing on a humid day, and the sugary undertone will satisfy any sweet tooth.

Our drink was bereft of blueberries due to some fruit lovers in the house, but you can substitute peaches or any other berries to create variations on the beverage. Two tablespoons of sugar adds a sweet accent to the drink, but for those who want a more bitter taste, one is perfectly acceptable. On the flipside, use three tablespoons if you're craving something especially saccharine.

Ingredients
Four to Five Strawberries
A Handful of Blueberries
One Lemon
One Lime
One to Two Tablespoons sugar (or more for those with an especially sweet sweet tooth)
Schweppes Tonic Water

Directions
Chop the strawberries and any other fruit or berries that you may have. Pour the sugar into a bowl and dump the fruit in the container. Thoroughly stir the fruit into the sugar until the mixture reaches a syrupy consistency.

Pour two and a half cups of Tonic Water into a protein shaker. Cut the ends off of the limes and lemons, then quarter them and squeeze the juices into the tonic water. After squeezing, put the citruses into the water as well. Take the berry mixture and pour it into the water. Put the lid on and shake it until the water is pink (if using strawberries) and foamy.

Put several ice cubes in a glass, pour the tonic and lime drink, and enjoy.

ps. like the new design? I've been itching for a redesign for a bit now and have been planning it for several weeks. Make sure to check out the updated about me and faq page!

three six five

2011-07-30T14:50:00.002-05:00

forty five

forty six

forty seven

forty eight

forty nine

fifty

fifty one

I'm finding that the diversity and diligence this project requires is welcome. It excites me to think about the day when I take the last photo...who will I be then? My memories are caught between moments in the images; each day is a chance to save a little bit of that time. Which causes me to wonder as I see myself in each photo. I love this challenge mostly because it's helping me find my voice.

As always, I'm interested to hear which photo is your favorite. Have a lovely Saturday!

ps. changes coming to the blog soon!

running in his footsteps

2011-07-28T10:45:00.000-05:00

The sun dipped below the hill, touching the grass with dusk. People cheered for their team and the boys ran swiftly from each end of the field, kicking the soccer ball. Wet grass filled the air with its heavy scent and the wind whistled softly.

And this boy? He watched from the sidelines, running back and forth from the field to the grassy hill behind it. Cheering his brother on, with words in his eyes saying that he wanted to play too. He laughed and wrestled with his friend, all the while glancing back to the boys running across the field.

I watched him bite his lip and focus hard on those boys, memorizing what they were doing. Mentally practicing for when it would be his turn to be out there, racing back and forth. He's following along in his older brother's footsteps, racing alongside him.

Laughing, like he's known to do.

Have any sweet memories from this summer?

homemade fudgesicles and messy faces

2011-07-26T11:39:00.001-05:00

We've been enjoying some summer lovelies lately. With August approaching fast, along with whispers of back-to-school sales and the end of summer, each and everyday becomes more fleeting and precious. For now, I'm just breathing and enjoying the month we have left. And what a glorious month it's going to be! With a ballet intensive, some possible trip plans, and a meetup with Kiley, August is something that I'm looking forward to.

That being said, some of my favorite memories from this summer...

...are these ones.

My sister Chloe (our in-house cook and chef extraordinaire) decided to make a homemade fudgesicle. Without a recipe. Using only her imagination (and a good amount of knowing how to cook), she took it upon herself to craft the perfect chocolatey treat for a hot day. Or really, for any day. Because who doesn't like delicious fudge goodness on a stick? (or a spoon in our case)

With just icecream, vanilla, cocoa powder, and a secret ingredient she won't share, her recipe remains a mystery even to me. I can only guess at her measurements...but I'm definitely not left at a loss regarding the flavor. The icecream treat was one of the best things we've had all summer.

Sam seems to agree. Especially considering he ate about half of the fudgesicle.

But really...who can resist that cute chocolatey face?

Not me.

Have a favorite summer treat? I'd love to hear about it!

Loads of love,
Hannah

weekly three six five

2011-07-23T11:10:00.002-05:00

The latest photos from my three six five project
days thirty seven to forty four
also
my mom's coming home tonight
we're all really excited

as always
do you have a favorite?

thirty seven

thirty eight

thirty nine

forty

forty one

forty two

forty three

forty four

Loads of love,
Hannah
ps. thank you for your sweet comments on my last post! it made this adorkable gal smile. :)

adorkable.

2011-07-21T11:17:00.006-05:00

I'm not sure what prompts me to put up these posts.

Perhaps its my great humility.

Maybe it's the fact that it's been a hard week and Sam's been sick, so I need to write something lighthearted.

Or, really, it could just be because I like to laugh, and don't mind doing it at my own expense.

You decide.

Anyways, I'd like to present my brand new e-book...

Aren't you excited?

Wait. Don't answer.

This book is for the photographer in all of us. There's all sorts of tips on how to flip your hair and fail, use sunflare to the worst advantage, and, oh yeah, make a mean Leia Organa hairstyle.

Y'know. Everything you need to know to go pro.

Okay, not really.

My favorite chapter is chapter five. It's all about getting that crazy burning-hair look that's so popular. Believe me, have your clients attempt this and you'll be a winner everytime.

Because seriously, who doesn't want a picture of themselves with flaming locks?

And of course, no one can forget the Killer Model Looks on page fifty-two. It's gold, baby. Or at least something like that.

Moving on.

It's on sale right now on Amazon for a limited price of only $999.99 -- hurry and get it while it's still hot!

What? You thought I was serious? ;)

Happy Thursday!

Loads of love,
Hannah

love note tree.

2011-07-18T16:00:00.002-05:00

My mom is gone all week on vacation with some of her closest friends. She left around three in the morning on Sunday and we've been missing her something fierce.

I wanted to make something with the boys for her and decided originally to create cards. After going through our craft shelves, I recalled this lovely project by Miss Emily Rose, and decided to attempt to make one for our mom.

Gathering what sticks we had in the yard (and there truly was next to nothing), I put them in a mason jar and tied them together with a blue ribbon. After assembling the various items needed for the love note tree, I folded colored construction paper in half and cut out leaves, that when opened, became hearts.

We all decorated our leaves and wrote little notes to my mom. Then I tied a ribbon through a hole I had punched previously at the top of each leaf and simply looped that onto a branch. Our love note tree.

my leaf

It's sitting in our kitchen now, waiting for my mom. A little tree of hearts; small love notes waiting to be read. Sticky with glue, punched with stars, and decorated with buttons -- scribbled words written by little hands.

What's your favorite project to do when you're missing someone?

Loads of love,
Hannah

project three six five

2011-07-16T09:01:00.001-05:00

photos twenty three to thirty six. the first seven from our vacation
as always
which one is your favorite?
mine is either
twenty three or thirty three

twenty three

twenty four

twenty five

twenty six

twenty seven

twenty eight

twenty nine

thirty

thirty one

thirty two

thirty three

thirty four

thirty five

thirty six

I've got some exciting news and ideas that I can't wait to share with you all. And of course, Woodland photos are coming up. Still going through the images right now.
All this to come soon, friends. :)

Happy Saturday!

Loads of love,
Hannah

Woodland :: a preview

2011-07-13T10:03:00.002-05:00

coming soon

I am convicted.

2011-07-11T16:07:00.001-05:00

Woodland refreshed me -- it sharpened my goals and dreams, helped me to realize what I need to work on, and enabled me to see what truly matters. Faith, family, and fully living life; spending days together while living out your God-given purpose. Being a light for Christ; passionate, intentional, and bold.

And I am convicted of several things.

Media

I waste too much time online. While my work is almost completely on the computer, I do waste hours of time that could be spent doing so many other things. Time that is lost because of my lack of discipline. I'm convicted to set guidelines for myself regarding how much is too much, as well as set specific limits for media use.

Time

My time management skills are severely lacking. I get done what I need to, but usually not in the right order. I procrastinate and put aside what should be done first. Work before play; necessary things need to be accomplished first. I am convicted to set aside time to do what I need to first, as well as structure my days in ways pleasing to my Savior -- not wasting the precious gift of life He's given me.

Food

I'm in good shape -- I exercise regularly (think 15+ hours of ballet a week), but, I do not eat the healthiest. I am convicted to eat mindfully. (it's helpful now that our garden + raspberry bushes are fully blooming :)

Faith

I haven't been putting the Lord first in my life. I don't want to go through my days putting God in a box -- Lord, help me not to get so wrapped up in my own world that I forget who created it. I am convicted to live in JOY - Jesus FIRST, others second, you (myself) last. I am convicted to spend time praying or being in the Word every morning, as well as living my days wholly for Christ. I am convicted to live completely for my Savior, fully surrendered; I love Him because He loved me first.

This is my journey; this is what I need to do. I'm convicted and encouraged, because I see what areas of my life I need to fully s. I know I can't do it on my own -- but when I am weak, then I am strong, because HE is perfect strength. Would definitely appreciate prayer -- so grateful for all of you!

Loads of love,
Hannah

in less than a year...

2011-07-09T17:58:00.003-05:00

...I'll be here.

But for now, now I'm home.

It's hard to believe that this morning I was trekking along the muddy ground, walking the path from my grandparent's cabin to my own. Or that simply hours ago, I stood on the dock under a slate gray sky; I can still feel the water on my fingertips, the harsh wind whooshing by, the smell of the world after it rains.

I miss it. At the beginning of the week, I wrote in my journal that going to Woodland was almost like coming home. And it is. This was my sixteenth year and even though it's just ended, I'm so excited for next year. For another chapter to my story.

Less than three hundred and sixty five days until I'm back. Feeling doused in memories like lake water splashing something fierce. And now, off to unpack and journal and breathe in the reality that I'm home. Joyful and sad at the same time. And that's okay.

Indescribably grateful for the week. Blessed.

So much more to share with you, so many thoughts and ideas, dreams and plans that seemed spun out of sand, built into castles on the shore. Many more pictures to post and tales to tell, but for now, sitting and soaking it all in.

Loads of love,
Hannah

late night thoughts at woodland

2011-07-06T21:17:00.002-05:00

I'm sitting in my grandparent's cabin right now, lying on the big orange comforter in their bedroom. The windows with the white paint are open and I can hear the distant hum of boats, slicing through waves. The water laps at the shore and smoke from bonfires just beginning, fills the air.

And I sit here. There is a sweet serenity in listening to the lake's roar, the sound of the birds chirping, the whooshing way the wind blows through pine trees laden heavy with needles. Blessed stillness. Beautiful peace.

The rest of the family is fishing but I was tired so I decided to stay back at the cabin tonight. From out the windows, I can see the first soft tints of the grey sky being touched with flame, sun setting and clouds turning orange and purple, light filling shadows with warm hues.

Woodland always gives me a new perspective. The emphasis on family, the simplicity and sweetness of life, the feeling of fellowship with one another throughout everything. Be it through washing dishes by hand, swimming to the raft, fishing from the docks, or laughing in the early morning while eating breakfast.

More than anything, it makes me realize that this is what life is supposed to be like -- uncluttered, filled with family, days spent living to the full. Breath by breath, throughout whatever may come.

this is real life.

I'm so grateful.

Talk to you all in a few days.
Loads of love,
Hannah

friday favorites ( five very happy things )

2011-07-01T08:31:00.006-05:00

( one ) project three six five

photos 17-22.

seventeen

eighteen

nineteen

twenty

twenty one

twenty two
instead of posting them all tomorrow
I'm posting the first six today,
and the seventh
tomorrow, because...

( two ) our vacation is on Saturday!

We leave tomorrow morning for Woodland.
This is the day I've been waiting for
all year.
So excited. So ready. So blessed.

( three ) A year ago

Looking at old photos of Woodland

from last year

makes me smile.

( four ) playing card games till midnight

our family (especially on my mom's side)
is a big game-playing family
and one of our favorite games to play at the lake
is Cheat on your Neighbor

And this past week
Chloe, my mom, and I
have been playing it
sometimes until twelve at night,
we're ready. ;)

( five ) tomorrow at seven

my mom decided to create
a facebook event for Woodland
just because
it makes me smile
because that's our family
we're sometimes silly, often goofy, definitely funny,
and we love to laugh.

And I'm grateful. What are your Friday favorites?

Off to pack, clean, and get ready for tomorrow. :)
Loads of love,
Hannah

not just dreaming — doing

2011-06-28T07:56:00.002-05:00

I love being able to type away and find my words slowly unraveling, thoughts untangling and words revealing color. But sometimes I have so much that I want to write that I can't find enough words to adequately express myself. My voice gets caught and my fingers slip and I end up with half finished sentences and words clinging to my thoughts.

Lately, I've been thinking about life. About dreams. And about the desires of our hearts — the things that we so deeply long for that they seem to be God-given gifts, given to be pursued and realized.

Psalm 37:4 says,

Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

So often, I put my desires above the real deal. "Lord, I will read my bible — I truly am planning to spend some time praying, but I'm really busy with this job. I'll do it as soon as I finish!" I procrastinate and put off the important, only to find out that the day is done.

If my dreams and desires are God-given, to fully realize them, I have to be truly living. Delighting myself daily in the Lord — because that is the good life. That is the only type of life where my dreams can be wholly fulfilled.

To live a life recklessly in love with God, we cannot let passion be the only substance to our dreams. Passion without pursuing is dreaming without doing. Reality hits and we're left with soil that's clogged with weeds and rocks; dreams lying dusty amidst rubble. And somehow, we're left without a shovel. Our dreams are planted and buried, the seeds lying dormant in the soil, choked with the weeds of the world.

We are called to be bold witnesses for Christ — to have our love and life be a verb. When we live and serve for God because we love Him, He works through us and does amazing things. Authenticity cannot be disguised — it's not an act of face but the truth of how we live revealed in our everyday walk.

I want to walk everyday with intentionality and purpose. To let my light shine and my good works — the desires of my heart — be seen by men so that I may bring glory to my God. (Matthew 5:16) The deepest desires of our soul can only be realized through a life lived for Christ. Walking daily with Him, amidst bumps and smooth roads.

Letting our love be more than a word, instead, becoming an action. Showing our passion to have purpose, something that we pursue. Living out the truth that this is what we were made for — to be the body of Christ.

Being not only a hearer of the word, but a doer.

Loads of love,
Hannah

Aspire

over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house we go...

cohen // portraits

home.

renewed.

snow days.

gracie girl in winter.

hayley // portraits

monkey bread and many laughs

a normal thursday afternoon at our house.

thankful thoughts

the many faces of eli

unite my heart.

life, celiac disease, & sam. one year reflections.

a weekend getaway

life lately

chloe // portraits.

a little about me.

snowfall.

fernweh.

hello 2012. so excited to see you.

Allison // Portraits

favorites from 2011

a holly, jolly Christmas Eve

Christmas thankful thoughts

the little dancer.

thankful thoughts

lumberjacks and white Christmases

Sweet and Spicy Cocktail Nuts

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum, how lovely are your branches...

a merry meringue mishap

a December afternoon.

Happy December!

sammy boy.

a december hello

a muddybuddy morning

Chocolate Orangettes

your story // week 2

familythe smell of dinner cookinglaughing as we crowd into the living roompoetry and wordsgames played for hoursdusk falling swiftly and stars shining brightgluten free foodmemories and traditionslifeJesus and his unfailing love

I'm thankful for...

your story // week 1

interview with Jessica Shae!

Share a little about yourself!

How did you get into photography?

What is your favorite part about photography/being a photographer?

One lens you couldn't live (or at least shoot) without?

Five favorite images from your whole career are?

Your biggest inspirations?

Best tip for any aspiring photographer?

Funniest (or most embarrassing story) from a shoot?

Anything else you'd like to add?

your story.

thankful thoughts

padawan no longer.

happy birthday, Brennan-man.

today I feel...

thankful thoughts

our nerdy, silly, gun-slinging, sword-fighting, pumpkin family.

say hi, sammy

hayley // portraits

a peek into our afternoon

for the love of bread + super easy crostinis

mornings

tom + camila // engaged

treasure.

overdose of color

little sister and big brother.

apple cider saturdays

life as of late

just raking some leaves.

early morning drive

happy october!

little boy and his trains.

dear sam,

steph, mack, and chlo-lo.

harvest pumpkin spice bars.

tuesday night thoughts

birthday celebrations.

brothers and best friends.

this is my story.

family
the smell of dinner cooking
laughing as we crowd into the living room
poetry and words
games played for hours
dusk falling swiftly and stars shining bright
gluten free food
memories and traditions
life
Jesus and his unfailing love