sometimes it means going after it

have you ever wondered how to get that ever-so-saught-after-cheese? you know the one that will satisfy your belly's hunger while also tasting delicious?  i do.  put on your helmet and tuck in your tail, folks.

this picture speaks.

really, it makes me laugh and for the moment that's what i need.

i have been working really hard lately on certain patients that need a lot of extra assistance.  don't get me wrong, i love my job.  i've just learned the hardest way possible (fatigue/exhaustion) when to call it a day and to say, tomorrow will be.

so, today, as i sit in panera (taking my rare lunch while my phone charges), it catches my eye when an old man passes by outside with a little bag on his shoulder says "one person can make a difference." you're thinking, "hannah! really? this is so cheesy. he's probably be through rehab or cancer or something.  stop being so sentimental." but... here's what's going on inside my head, "those arduous hours that i've spent the past couple weeks, after-hours with patients, unclogging tubes in person, unclogging tubes over the phone, texting how to unclog tubes, talking about diarrhea, constipation and every other normally uncomfortable bodily movements, hearing one of my pts might pass away after days of working to do all i can...those days i might actually make a difference."

there are so many stories.  i've got to become a better story-teller.  it's kind of something chase makes fun of me about...haha.  i try to let the story be interesting in itself.

here i am reminded of all the parables and stories that Jesus told.  obviously, i do not hold his story, however i want to remember that He is the model for the perfect story- the one of His life.

as Easter, so quickly approaches (Hello, April!), i just want to remind you that there is a story to life.  one life can make a difference.  how will yours?

that point when you're drained

what do you do when you almost collapse in a public place? i felt like collapsing in target today. luckily i had my buggy close to me.  seriously.  i was really tired, friends.

it's been an awesome (29 day) month.  i am excited to see the growth that i've made and the new patients that are on my case load, however, i have to admit that i haven't been taking care of myself.

staying up way past 11 pm, waking at 5am to exercise, not eating (enough), and when i do-never a complete meal, doesn't make a great dietitian at the end of the day.  you'd never know, unless you of course jumped in my car and chased me around for 10 hours.  however, you'd get so tired just hearing my 75 phone calls that you might fall asleep in the backseat with all my formula and feeding pumps. :)

but really, as lent has begun, my friends have asked me what i am giving up...i didn't have a strong lead towards anything.  now, come to think of it, it should have been pinterest. but, the pins just keep happening, so i think harder.

i give up overworking myself.

sounds easy, right?!

not so much.
this will mean not working 4 days at 12 hours a piece, not staying up after 11 every night, and not pushing myself to exercise if i haven't had at least 8 hours of sleep.  eating at least 3 meals/snacks and 64 ounces of water a day and way less coffee. i quite possibly drank 6 glasses today and 3 glasses of tea.

my friend, perry, wants me to give up coffee completely. by this, he wants my keurig machine for 40 days, however, i think i'd do more harm than good to those entering my space on a work day. caffeine has become critical these days to mental stamina. sad, but true.  but, drinking more water is definitely a must.

ok my spill is over now.  i need to be reading Ephesians, journalling my new goals, and resting (because I am skipping Perspectives tonight).

now...learn something from me. don't drain yourself to the point of collapsing in target.

women who inspire me

i am thankful for some special people this week.  looking back over the past year, a lot has happened since last february.  i don't like to meditate on the past, events, loss, or areas where I have been broken, but i do like to pinpoint growth, His light that He has shown through key people in my life.

mom and mimi

Most would say that I take after my father's looks, my mom's caring heart and creativity, and I'd like to request that I take after my mimi's steadfast heart in unconditional love and support for family (maybe one day I'll exemplify it the way she does!). These two ladies show more love through their talents and thoughtfulness to me and the people in their lives than any ladies I know. I am truly thankful to share their character with you all.  Everyone deserves to have or adopt ladies like these into his/her life.

sissy

Only 2.5 years apart, but you'd never know I was the oldest. :)  To my sweet sister and dearest friend.  I am so honored to be able to share so many memories (loss and gain) with you this past year.  Yes, I remember all the times I slammed your fingers in the car "not knowing you were behind me" and those times that we played school, bank, OBGYN, massage therapist, and all the nights we've slept in the bed together "because there's really no reason to have two bedrooms for sisters as close as us."  I love you, admire you, and encourage you to continue sharing Jesus' love with everyone you meet and live life with.

ana

A mi amiga, Ana. Hemos sido amigos desde la juventud. Hay demasiados recuerdos para escribir en este post, pero quiero que sepas lo mucho que están verdaderamente amó y perdió. Nuestros lunes por la noche las fechas de Skype sido perfecto! Estoy muy feliz de llamar a amigos, incluso si a kilómetros de distancia. El Señor se nos revela de manera sorprendente, y su historia, mi amigo es un milagro. Estoy sorprendido de su gracia y amor a través de su vida. Te amo, querida Anita.

the vill: abbi, waverlee, and bethany

I love these girls! Bible study, fellowship, prayer, art, laughter, tears, and food at Samuel's Village on Tuesday nights doesn't even begin to describe this relationship.  I want to mention these special ladies because they are my heart. I love living life with each of them on a weekly basis.  They sharpen me and love me and it's friends like these that Christ intended us to walk with in this world. Love you, ladies.

wendy

My darling-Jesus-loving-getting-kids-fit-Denver-living-Land-Cruising-hiking-friend that I miss so much!  Wendy and I have known each other since before we could drive.  Though we live states apart, we never miss a beat with each other. Whether through picture texts or prayers via phone, this girl is the example of a Christ-loving-seeking woman.  I am so blessed to share life with her.  

There are a two more ladies who I'd like to mention, but I do not have photographs of them. :( 

I will give them a special post when I find or take some....

I pray that those reading this post will seek or nuture relationships that bring out the very best/worst in you, in reverence and obedience to Christ, so that you might be sharpened and used for His Kingdom.  

Have a wonderful weekend. 

~h 

He's glorious

so, as the year continues to rev to full speed, i kind of want to say, "Hold on! Let's take this one day at a time." i am enjoying 2012.  so many things to be thankful for!  the month of january seemed to move along at its own pace, but february seems to be flying by.

so, i strive to live each day intentionally.

the new people i meet get my full attention, my patients get extra check up calls, my loved ones are receiving thank you notes, my bosses are hearing more praises and stories from me, and most importantly He is receiving praises for the glorious opportunities He's laid out for me. it seems that the days go by quicker these days and i run out of time.  haha even falling asleep on facetime just to see my sweet friend ana, all the way in mexico....however, not a day passes that i haven't lived it out to the fullest.

so i ask...what are you living for?  how has your perspective in the new year changed?  what have you been doing to change how you address your daily habits?

the results can be pretty interesting when you start focusing on relevant occasions, people, and give Him the glory.

:) hope you have a wonderful evening
h

how convenient

so, i love my mom.

she and my dad have this entire week off of work and are enjoying it with each other. i got a call from them yesterday, late afternoon, saying that they were in fort worth "mucking around, shopping, and eating treats from j rae's and we would love to see you. oh wait, honey, your daddy wants you to know that his cupcake was 50 calories."

1. great! i'm in arlington, give me until 5pm
2. next, you're shopping?! with dad?! what?!
3. lastly, that cupcake was way more than 50 calories!

so we met up.
i got to browse around anthropologie with mom while dad was sent away to the apple store and b&n; all while we had quality time in our favorite store. :)

we got to pick out mom's new charms for her necklace as well as she found the most beautiful sequin blouse (that i have to keep top secret until further dates) on sale!  the sales woman said the store didn't get them in size small, so this find was all momma's.

hope you find joy in the small, unexpected things today.
xx, h

reminders

who of you has an app that is absolutely wonderful for type A people needing help with organizing thoughts?  for reminders?  :) i am serious.

these days i rely A LOT on reminders.  i am not kidding about setting an alarm for everything!  then, i push a snooze on it and create a new reminder if i haven't budgeted enough time to do it. :) it takes a ton of my brain juice just to remember the in's and out's of the day, not to mention the patients that come in and out of my day that i enjoy pouring into .... just long enough to get me off my track.

many of you would say, you're just doing too much....
i might agree with you at this point in the evening, when i could go to bed at 8pm, yet i absolutely love what i do!

let me share a little story:
i have recently been helping get a family assistance with tube feeding supplies and moving their mother out of a rehab facility back home.  as always, there have been bumps in the road (delayed discharges due to illness, extra surgeries, etc), and the patient has now spent over 60 days in-patient and is yet to be home.  i called her daughter, my main point of contact this past week, to tell her that i was still willing to help them and she gave me the story. she appreciated my call so much....while i was on the phone with her, i mentioned that i had been calling her rehab every other week or so to check on her mother's status.  the daughter paused over the phone, speechless and almost in tears, she appreciated my level of concern and care for her mother even though i had never met her in person before.

we get to meet each other tomorrow for the first time face to face.  she called me today to tell me how much of a blessing it has been to work with me and my company.  she feels like she knows me.

i like that. :)

these are the stories that continue to remind me that i am exactly where i am supposed to be.  it's all about being a blessing because we have been blessed far beyond imaginable.

go and be, friends.

xx

this 4 day weekend

i am thankful for you, friends.

it's been a wonderful weekend so far.  hoping that time will slow down a bit before christmas.  i enjoy the end of the year so much, and i hate to see it go so quickly.

what are your holiday plans? 

shopping or making presents...

drinking hot drinks... 

perhaps napping....

have a restful weekend friends. xx

ps. two things that i've stumbled on recently that i think you might enjoy.
the red stamp app on the iphone
a peppermint latte from starbucks (peppermint mocha minus the mocha, with skim milk if you choose)

month of thanks

it's november!  

inspired today by a couple ladies who are sharing what they're thankful for on the web:

 Connie at Daydream in Color

Sarah at Note to Self

i am thankful for my family and one day family. :)

what are you thankful for?

(here's to last november 1!)

not the halloween-y kind of girl

it's been a full weekend of people watching -- seeing adults of all ages dress up and walk the streets of fort worth looking interesting (actually silly).  it's never been my thing to dress up for halloween.  so, for the parties that we went to, i brought yummy baked goods.  last night- sugar cookies with sprinkles.  fan fave at the party...and it took me back to the days when i got to bake every week.

so today- being a sunday.  resting, and watching lottsa football.  i baked a pumpkin loaf at the boys' place.  by the time, the loaf came out of the oven, they were both drooling over it and saying my baking always makes their place smell better. ;) ladies we know the way to a man's heart...don't we??  make their condos smell like baked goods and let them eat them. :)

on the baking note, it's definitely reached fall in north central texas, and it thrills me to wake up in the morning and need a sweater!  i love the fall.  not quite ready for the christmas tunes, but i am getting there....  just a few weeks and it'll be thanksgiving.

what do you enjoy about the fall?

here are a few of mine:

fall walks via here

Grilled cheese and tomato soup via here

hot drinks via here

tweed, stripes, and florals found via here

boots and boats found via here


have a wonderful week!
xx, h

sales, thank yous, and oldies

so 1/2 my job is marketing/sales.  i told my mom tonight, "I am quite the little sales woman." and, regardless of what all my past professional dreams (oh you know, age 6 gynecologist,  age 10 banker, age 15 teacher, age 18 artist, age 19 interior designer, age 20 chef, age 25 dietitian....), i sit in awe at where the Lord has brought me.  haha. i never thought medical sales would fit, but it does, and i am learning that the most genuine people have the hardest time breaking into the realm of sales (ie field of hyenas in Lion King), yet gain and sustain the best relationships (i like to think of Jesus, here).  i laugh as i write it....thinking as humans we will never be complete in our jobs, life, etc, but oh, how thankful i am to have a Savior who is complete and exhibits to me what  "not lacking in anything" as referenced in James (1:4) looks like. it takes faith, perseverance, and being open to trials.  thank you Lord for showing me the ultimate faith, perseverance and being willing to undertake the ultimate trial, death.

so, this leads me into thankfulness.  i thank the Lord for my current situations (instability, missing answers, missing questions, uncertainties, etc) and He reminds me of the grace He gives and the complete control He has of my situation.  what have you given praises for?  what is the Lord revealing in you in this season of your life?  how is this tearing you down and humbling you?  have you witnessed the hope that is there with sacrifice?  if not, what are you waiting for?

i am always reminded of life when i visit my residents ( i know you're thinking, but they're 80+ years old!). true, but as i visited two of my favorites tonight...helping them pick out their pajamas and turn on the rangers game, i thought to myself how life looks so different for us...yet we all have the chance to live it.  i am so amazed at how different the times were in the 30s and 40s compared to now....yet people remain people.  all i can think of is what my life represents, and most importantly why would i even consider living it on my own or for my own good....

i'm going to think on that for awhile.

have a blessed night, friends. :)

found via here