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HannaCallihan
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Country: United States
State: Ohio
Interests: God, Music, Art, Travel, Photography
Expertise: I'm an expert talker...in fact I used to do it for a living. HAHA! I'm also pretty sweet with a crochet needle.
Message: message me
Member Since:
7/4/2005
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| Looky here, it's summer again! My ambitions to keep this site as an online journal have utterly fallent to pieces. Nevertheless, I return from 8 months of online slumber to give an update on the "deets" (That's for you, Eileen) of my life.
2006 has definately been a fulfilling year so far. You know how you work really hard day after day in hopes that someday it will all pay off? You don't really know what the pay off will be, but you're sure it's out there...so you keep working. Right? Well, I don't know about all that. I'm reaching a point where I'd like to just start living life to the fullest instead of in little sprints...work 'til you can't move, enjoy the nap and the pay off just so that you can do it again. I'm not in for that lifestyle.
All that to say, I've been finding fun things to do and have MADE ROOM for them in my busy schedule. I work 40+ hours a week, in addition to the 15+ I spend with youth group. Add in a generous 8 hours of sleep each day, subtract driving time....and that leaves about 50 hours in the week for personal time. (That is, assuming you have laundry and dust fairies who do the house work for you). So let's take out another hour each day...so we're down to 40ish hours of personal time.
So, 40 hours each week. What can you do with those hours, after you've already worked your hands to the bone, cleaned from top to bottom and tried to get some good rest? I'll tell you what I've done: Learned how to ski and attempted snow-boarding, visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, learned how to west coast swing, cha-cha, meringue, and salsa. I've taught a weekly drama class and organized a fundraiser. I saw some great movies, read a few books, took some pictures, learned some new songs and made some new friends.
In two weeks I'm going to Mexico. I'll be relaxing on the beach with a close friend, listening to the waves and soaking up the sun. We also get to cross off 2 or 3 of the "1000 Places to See Before You Die"...my life list for traveling.
Any day now, my sweet friend will be moving in to town for the summer and I can't wait to catch up with her. Things are good here. And you know, I can't help but think about this scripture "Assuredly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life." (Luke 18:29-30) I'm thankful to You, God, for all that's happening in my life today. And forever, I'll turn my affection to You. Amen.
-Hannah
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| Well, well, well....looky here! It's August!
One big event we've been thinking about, praying for, and just plain getting excited about this summer is a little thing called Youth Invasion. Our youth group has prepared for this 4 day conference for the last few months and all the effort paid off hard core.
We drove to Midland MI on Tuesday morning without really knowing what to expect for the week. We only knew that we had prepared our hearts and asked God to do something huge in our lives. "Change us, heal us, fix us...Lord, what do we need from You?" was our prayer. And the Lord answered.
Each teenager and leader was impacted by the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit and the healing power of the Almighty God. "I hated my life and just wanted to quit" one girl admitted. "But now I have more clarity and peace than I ever have before. He really just wiped the slate clean."
"It's hard to think of what it was like a few days ago. We were all 'bleh' on the way here and now, on the way home, we're all like 'yeah!'" Another girl said with a huge smile and a laugh.
Others said:
"Things will definitely be changing when I get home."
"I didn't realize strife had been a barrier between me and God, but now it's gone. And He's given me a vision for my life."
"I realize we need not be ashamed of our God."
"God is on the inside of us and His light should be so powerful that darkness just flees when ever we're around."
"When I asked God what barrier needed to be moved I didn't hear Him speak. But as I sat there and continued asking, I felt a stirring warmth all over my body and right from my belly I started to say 'I trust You, Lord. I trust You, Lord' and I realized my faith had been in myself. Not anymore. I trust You, Lord."
We came home inspired, encouraged, healed, restored and ready for what's next. No more pretending. No more hiding. We've hit ground zero and it's all changed for the better. "All things are of God."
Praise God.
-Hannah | | |
| Well summer is really in full swing and what a welcome site it is! Sun is shining, temperatures are high, pools are packed with mothers and children who have been aching to get out of the house and soak up some of those hot rays. It's great.
For me, this summer is not what is has been in the past. There's no Impact summer camp, no mission trips, and no time off. (Why was I in such a hurry to "grow up" again?!) I really miss that feeling of total release that hits just about two days after the end of the school year, when you realize you're really home free for the next three months. What can beat that? Somehow you forget that school and responsibility even exist. MAYBE...just maybe....schools and parents around the world have collaborated on this issue and have decided to give it to children as a special gift, because as soon as high school and/or college are finished summer break is nothing but a sweet distant memory. Today I saw a school marquee reading "Eight weeks to go, Keep reading!" What kind of meany would even think to put that on there? I tell you who....a bitter teacher who got stuck doing summer tutoring from 8-3 every day. Misery loves company. Anyway....
Tricia and Stephen, close friends and high school sweethearts, were married two weeks ago. Tricia's dress was beautiful and actually was her "something borrowed". She was the most considerate bride I've ever known and really showed her close friends and family the secret to her beauty, her heart. Speaking of beauty....has there ever been a more lovely bride? I think not. The couple took a week honeymoon in Palm Springs and will live in Canton to complete school at Malone. Tricia is entering her last year studying early childhood education and Stephen is starting his junior year, majoring in English. It's exciting to see your friends grow and increase.
A new addition was added to our family last weekend. Andrew and Eileen had their second baby, a girl, Naomi Eve. She was born at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, weighing 1 ounce short of 7 pounds and measuring 19 inches. As I stared through the nursery window, my eyes misted over half a dozen times and without even holding her yet, I knew there was something so different about her. She's a special baby and I know she's here for a very special purpose. She'll be raised by the word of God, and that fact alone is enough to change countless lives. The Lord needs her and our family is so happy to have her here. Welcome Naomi. This is a good place to be. I love you. (And you may be wondering how the older sister is handling it? Esther is proud and loving and very picky as to who can hold her little sister. You're going to have her permission before you take a step towards the new baby!) :)
More news to come.... | | |
| Welcome to my Xanga site. I'll update it regularly to keep you posted on the many exciting happenings in the world of Hannah. Stay tuned for wonderful tales of ...well, I'll let you be surprised. | | |
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