He Loves Me

Around a week or two ago, I went through a really rough time. In a way, though, I'm almost glad it happened. Through it, I was able to experience God's love in such a deep and personal way. I am so awed and humbled that the powerful and amazing God, seeing the darkest parts of me, would love me anyway. I could go into detail here about what the situation was, how I felt, etc., but none of it matters, and I would probably end up feeding you with so many words that you'd miss the point. So all I'm going to say is this: I am not worthless. I am not a mistake. I don't need makeup, or boys, or nice clothes, or praise from others to know that I'm beautiful. And, really, those things don't measure beauty at all. I am beautiful, simply and entirely because God, the creator of heaven and earth, made me. Sometimes I look at myself and hate what I see, but God looks at me and sees His beloved daughter, whom He created and redeemed. He loves me, and that is all I could ever want or need.

From a Versatile Blogger

 

I was awarded with the Versatile Blogger award by Kayla from Adventures with Kayla; Ysabella from Ciao Ysabella; Jodie from Heart Strings; and Arielle from Spaceship to Infinity! Thanks, guys! :)

The rules:

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you and include a link to their site.
2. Add the Versatile Blogger Award picture to your blog post.
3. Nominate 7 fellow bloggers that you've recently discovered or follow regularly and include a link to their site.
4. Let them know that you have nominated them. 
5. Share 7 random facts about you. 

 The 7 facts:

1. God-willingly, I'm going to study graphic design in post-secondary school and become either an art director for a magazine or a freelance graphic / web designer. :)
2. I feel like people have such high expectations of me just because I tell them I like art.
3. If I could re-live any part of my life, I would definitely go back to when I was 10-13. That was such an awkward and cringe-worthy time in my life, and there are few things I wouldn't give to fix the mistakes I made then. 
4. Although it would be awkward at first, I much prefer speaking with people face to face instead of through a screen.
5. Sometimes I like certain things just because people don't. Or I start to lose interest in something just because a lot of people like it. #truehipster #justkidding
6. I am the worst procrastinator in the history of mankind.
7. I love people who can make me laugh.

The nominees:
I'm going to change the rules a bit and nominate you. Yes, you. If you are reading this and you would like to participate, you are tagged! Leave me a comment below so I can read your post. Have fun! :)

Valentine's Day

This Valentine's Day, I wanted to do something different.

So I bought some erasers,

{pardon my photography skills} 

some lollipops,

 

some chocolate,

 some stickers

some candy,

 

printed a little message,

 

 wrote cards,

 and put them all in little bags.

 

 Then I went around our neighborhood and dropped them in my neighbors' mailboxes.

And you know what? I discovered that once in a while it's good to turn the tables. It's good to give instead of receive. I spent some of my own money and a lot of my time for people I don't know very well, and I know I won't receive credit for it. But today is a day that celebrates love, and part of love is doing nice things for people, even if it requires a lot of work on your part and even if you get nothing in return. So I encourage you to do just that. Do something nice for someone and don't expect anything back. I promise you, it'll be absolutely worth it. :)

Breakthrough (I've Returned)

Bonjour, tout le monde! I have returned!
Now, before anything else, here is a list of what has happened recently and what is to come soon:
Un) I’ve decided to retain Footprints on the Moon. As some of you said, it does have a somewhat whimsical feel to it that I’d hate to give up. Also, I’ve mentioned that FOTM doesn’t feel like me because I’m not inspiring anyone yet, but I realized that I want to rise to the challenge of blogging with that goal. (And thank you to those who said that I already have inspired people! That really encouraged me.)
Deux) With a new year comes a new look. I hope you all like the updated blog design. Don't forget to grab a blog button! :)
Trois) I would like to apologize to everyone who emailed me a month or two ago regarding ad swaps and header designs. I must have sounded rather snobby to refuse, at that time, simple blogging requests. I will be getting back to you soon, if I haven’t already. Thank you for your patience!
Quatre) I finished my final exams last January 29th. Now, I have officially entered high school (also known as Grade 10 in America and Third Year in the Philippines)! I am now at the stage of life where I will begin to work more and drive more and start to plan for college. Truth be told, I am terrified and I feel so old. But it’s also quite exciting too.
Cinq) Speaking of old, it is now 2013, which means that I am turning sixteen later this year. Six-freaking-teen. I know that some of you are already in (or done with) college, so sixteen is still quite young. But it really feels like only yesterday when I was eleven and crushing on Joe Jonas or when I was thirteen and moved to a different country so...holy cow, I feel very old.
Six) The hiatus has been good for me. I was able to step back for a bit and clear my head, and it has been unbelievably refreshing. With exams finally over and done, as well as the start of a new year, I’m ready to turn the page and begin a new one. (And now I come to the late new year message part where I share my word of the year. You ready? Here it is.)

 

B R E A K T H R O U G H

a significant advance, development, or achievement that removes a barrier to progress

{dictionary.com}

For years, I’ve made plans and goals for my life, but again and again I failed to accomplish them. This 2013, I will break through my past failures. With God's help, I will be kind, I will be patient, I will be productive, I will be thankful, I will finally begin to grow into the person He made me to be. This task will be difficult, I know. It will be slow at first. There will be trying times and mundane times and everything else in between. But my God can do anything, and He will be my strength.

As I start out on this little journey, I would like to invite you to come along. It won't always be pretty, and it won't always be exciting, but it will be real. And I wholeheartedly believe that it will be worth it.

I hope you all have an awesome day. It's really good to be back. :)



Hannah G.