It's an Adventurous Journey

Back to Business

2012-01-06T11:20:00.000-08:00

Well it is a New Year...2012 WOW that is crazy to me! 2011 was a crazy, interesting, life changing year. Just to recap, I started out the year alone, hurt, confused, and just overall wondering what the heck was going to happen next. I also met the most intriguing amazing man that at the time I wanted nothing to do with romantically but quickly became best friends with. I celebrated my 23 birthday, learned to heal, embraced my job traveling around for Liberty, and embraced who I am as a person. I watched my best friend celebrate her first year of marriage with her husband, watched my other best friend marry the love of her life, and helped another close friend heal from a devastating break up. I started attending a new church and love it, started talking "marriage" with my best friend, got engaged in July to Aussie and watched him leave for basic training for the army. I endured his absence, planned a wedding, completed one class for my masters, read A LOT, and spent 90% of my fall in a hotel room alone. I also saw all of my brothers in the matter of one week (something that never happens), watched Aussie graduate from Basic, found out my parents are moving to the same city as me, and that I was going to have another niece or nephew come in the new year. I met my in laws for the first time, married the love of my life and my best friend, and finished the year by kissing my husband at midnight!

So on to the new year one of new adventures and just a few goals...

Goals:

*Getting through 3 more Grad classes this spring

*helping others and giving of myself for a greater cause

*helping Aussie get through school and more training

*spend more time on the things I love..i.e. reading, crafts, Cory

*growing into the Godly wife I need to be

There are more but those are my most important ones...I also am going to pick up writing again..just helps with my de-stressing so its a healthy venting method ;o)

Basically I am blessed, I am happy, and I am so so so VERY in love with my soldier and so so proud of my best friend that I get to spend my life with!

Where has the time gone!!

2011-10-09T18:26:00.000-07:00

It is amazing to me that tomorrow is October 10!! The time has just been flying...so here is a countdown update..

40 days till Cory is home from AIT!
70 days until I walk down the aisle to marry my best friend!

On Oct. 23 I get to have my main bridal shower! I am so excited to celebrate my day with my friends here in VA. Oct. 22 is when I go to get my dress altered as well so for the next two weeks its called CRASH DIETING lol...gotta love being the bride!! I wont lie I am loving most everything about getting married but am just so much more excited about spending my life with Cory...

Speaking of PFC Cory here is a quick update on him...

He graduated from basic and ladies let me tell you he looked soo very handsome! We had a great time together just enjoying each other and I finally got to meet my sweet army sister Kim and her sweet family and of course they are just like family to us!! Cory is now in Missouri at Ft. Leonard Wood for his AIT. He is learning all sorts of cool things and seems to be thriving with this MOS. I am of course so proud of him and his determination. He will be coming home on Nov. 19th so of course that is the one date that is currently on my mind. It is so nice though that we now can talk every night on the phone for a little bit...Amazing that a little phone call makes such a difference...

Wedding is going well too...we have already begun to receive some things in the mail so my next three tasks are as follows:
1) writing thankyou letters
2) counting the wedding RSVP's
3) finding pine cones and tree branches to spray paint fun fun

I personally would like to recover a chair and start working on my broach bouquet but I still need to get fabric and more broaches. My sister in law also has me wanting to make a quilt maybe once life settles down in the spring I will try my hand at that!

That is about all that is new around here. I am home until Wed. morning and then I fly to Houston, TX for a few days and then am back and home for a week and then heading out on the road for a couple weeks again! Thankful that it makes the time go faster though!

Love

2011-09-20T20:40:00.000-07:00

Listen to the song and then this post will make a bit more sense. As I grew up, private school, youth groups, essentially a Christian home, I was that girl in that video. I was running as fast as I could from everything that was right. I was hurting, I was lonely, I felt rejected abandoned and so many other adjectives. The "Christians" I was surrounded by didn't care. I was written off and most of all I was bullied by the Christians which drove me even further away. I will be a bit transparent maybe too much so but this has been laying heavily on my heart because of a certain situation that happened yesterday. I was date raped in my Sophmore year in high school. The girls who found out about it were Christians and totally disowned me and even went as far as saying I asked for it because of the situation I had put myself in. I was judged constantly and became so lost and so alone that I turned every where but Christ to find love and acceptance. I had given up all hope and said forget it and in essence judged all Christians thinking that everyone was the same way. The Lord constantly and persistently pursued me. Even though humans had "forgotten" me God had not. He continued to protect me from paths of major destruction as far as my relationships with men went. He found me in my darkest hour when I contemplated suicide over and over again. It took a praying mother who never gave up and 2 friends (Ashley C. and Katie) to not let go of me for me to realize there was more. To realize there was love and that grace, mercy, and acceptance could be found in Christ. My life has never been the same. As I have continued on my faith journey and grown in the Lord my heart has broken to see that because we are human and we sin churches so often or Christians in general so often judge those who have the "bad" life or look different or think differently. Having been the drug addict, the suicidal one, the hurting young girl I spot it right on and have sadly to say been judged by accepting those who are not "normal" or "good". When I look at Christ because of my life, I don't see judgement, doctrine, theology, I see LOVE I see forgiveness, I see compassion, and I most of all see hope for the hopeless. I stop and look at those around them and wonder what has brought them to where they are at in life. What has caused this girl or this guy to turn to a life of self mutilation and destruction. There is always reason for everything and typically that reason is hopelessness, hurt. abandonment and so forth. Why can't we get out of our comfortable cookie cutter lives and try to meet these people where their needs are at. Jesus spent time with sinners, who are we to say we are better and cant? I am thankful for my journey to where I am because I feel that God has placed a unique calling on my life but I think back so many times and just wish someone had asked or heard me...This all brings me to what happened yesterday. I was at a college fair and I always am praying for the students walking by as I see certain signs of behavior and as they make one of the most impactful decisions of their lives. A young asian girl walked by me, head down the whole way, I knew immediately what that meant (hurt, insecurity, possible abuse? you never know but when young ladies can't look you in the eye something is up) She VERY quietly asked for a brochure another sign of something isn't just right. I smiled gave her one and told her she was beautiful figuring maybe she just needed some encouragement that day. She looks up eyes appearing a bit too red for my comfort and says no and walks off. I watch as she walks away, her head is down, her shoulders slumped, shuffling feet, and she doesn't stop at any other table. I watched her as she stood by the wall not interacting with ONE person my heart breaking the whole time and praying about how to handle this situation. It was a public school so technically I was worried about what was ok and what wasn't especially since the school was overwhelmingly muslim ( I had no idea). I approached the only teacher close by and he waved me off saying she's just shy and quiet. I went back to my table still not at peace and watched as she continued to sit in the bleachers nose in the Liberty view book I gave her. I started to approach her and was told by the teacher to not speak to her. I asked why and she said that it wasn't acceptable for me to approach a student at a college fair. I was stuck...the next thing I knew was that the girl was gone...I say all of this to say I wish I had said I dont care and spoken to her anyway. I have since emailed the counselor about the situation and have yet to hear a response back. This young girl has been on my heart ever since. I encourage you dont hesitate, dont worry about what is acceptable, reach out to those who are hurting, reach out to those who are different than you that may have tattoos, piercings, weird hair, goth, you never know how they may be hurting, you may never know how you could be showing them Christ's love and hope for their lives. It may be a simple hug that changes their eternal destination. LOVE PEOPLE no matter WHO they are! Ashley saved my life 2 separate times when I was in my darkest hour, alone while my mom was at work by staying on the phone with me until she got home and just loving me with Christ's love. That is what it is all about! Praying that this will help us all to be reminded of what Loving is really about!

Ever just need a minute?

2011-09-18T07:42:00.000-07:00

Now that's what I call taking a minute to chill....

So it has been a bit since I have blogged. PHEW! I feel like I have been running around crazy for the past 2 weeks. After I left South Dakota I had only a few short days to get everything together for me to leave for a month...so yep there were moments where I thought I might just lose my mind haha. But I survived! I have been in Dallas, TX for the past week working and it has been HOT! Funny how you never appreciate something as simple as true fall weather until it is no where to be found around you! I have so many exciting things to look forward to in the upcoming weeks! This week I am in Dallas again but then I get to fly to California for the weekend to work and while I am there I will get to spend time with my brother and sister in law and their sweet children! Then I fly straight back to Texas and get to spend an evening with my oldest brother and his family...THEN I will head to Georgia to watch Cory graduate and spend some time with him and from there I will stay the weekend with my brother and his wife and son! I get to see all 3 brothers in the matter of one week...I am pretty sure it has been years since that has happened I cant even begin to express how full that makes my heart.

Cory Update: He is doing great!! He officially is a US Army Soldier! I could not be more proud of the strength he has shown and the man he has become! He called yesterday and it was so nice to just laugh with him and hear how happy he sounds! This next week will be easy for him because they are just preparing for graduation and stuff. I am praying that I will get to hear his voice more often since for the past weeks all we have had were letters! Cory is a special guy and I am so lucky to be in his life! 10 days until I am in his arms right where I belong :)

Wedding Update: So as of right now, not much new has happened. We made the final decision that all guys would be in uniform. Which pretty much means almost everyone except our dads and 2 groomsmen will be in uniform. I am pretty excited about that now just because it will really make the pictures look great and just the overall effect of the wedding will come together. I also purchased Cory's ring from James Avery and am in LOVE with it :) 92 days until I marry my best friend..a Godly, committed, loving, strong, and amazing man!

Today, I am taking just a minute to breath, to relax, to take in the blessings in my life, to pray, to reflect, and to just rest in the Lord.

Craftyness

2011-09-06T20:51:00.000-07:00

So basically I miss being crafty. I miss painting and sewing and sketching and everything else. Just don't have the time for those things anymore...but my goal tomorrow is to do one thing crafty and to take a trip to the craft store just to get inspired...here are some pictures of some old projects...

XO- H

Army Sister

2011-09-04T19:17:00.000-07:00

I always have thought the quote about "Friends being the family that you chose" was corny but I can honestly say that it is so true. This military journey that Cory and I have begun has not been an easy one. It is hard when people say they understand and you know there is no way they truly can having not endured it. God knows when we need things most and I have to say that despite the amazing support I have gotten from all realms of my life, God knew I needed Kim. She is my Army Sister and a friend that has become just that my family. This picture made me think of us and the close bond that we have formed in such a short period of time with out having ever met. Have you ever happened upon someone and you just clicked? Well that doesn't even begin to describe the relationship we have built. We both stumbled upon the Basic Training facebook page about the same time and found each other. Her fiance is in another platoon out side of Cory's but we both had an instant connection. As we began to interact on the facebook page and pictures started being posted we saw a picture of Cory and Aaron together! We didn't think it was possible at all that they knew each other. At that point we started talking on a 24/7 basis. We have so much in common as far as our personalities, our age, our phase of life and so forth. It has truly felt like we have been best friends since we were young. To make things even crazier or truly just show Gods love for even the tiniest details of our lives...our soldiers had become close friends as well despite the difference between platoons. So much so that Cory and I couldn't imagine our wedding day with out Kim and Aaron there! So Cory asked Aaron to be a groomsman. We truly feel like we are family and rely on each other for support since we understand, we love in our frustrated moments, we share joy when letters arrive, and prayers when it is just hard to get through the day. Kim has been the answer to prayer that has gotten me through this journey and will be a life long friend that I will forever be grateful for. I love her heart and cant wait to meet my sister when I go to Cory's graduation!

Our hearts <3

Sisters <3

XO- H

Last Day

2011-09-04T07:34:00.000-07:00

Today is my last day in the state of South Dakota. Definitely a different culture all the way around. There is a lot of corn everywhere! I have to work again today but I leave super early tomorrow morning to get back to my home in Virginia. This trip despite the oncoming cold that is starting to hit me has been such a blessing. The team members I am with are all great and intelligent people. It has been nice getting to fellowship before we all leave on the road again next week and are alone for months at a time. God has been teaching me so much through these people I am with on a daily basis. Last night one of our recruiters performed at the festival we are working at. He is a talented guy and a Christian rapper. It was amazing to watch him switch between names. To us he is Jason a fun loving dedicated guy, to mostly everyone else he his Humble Tip. This was the first time I had ever gotten to see him perform. I just have to say that it will never cease to amaze me when I can visually see God using someone to further his kingdom. Every one that works for Liberty are such special people. It is neat to see how God has formed our recruitment team with such unique gifts and strengths. We all bring something to the table. I was just humbled this morning as I woke up at the opportunity that God is allowing me to have to impact youth for Him. I am strategically placed for a time such as this to help Liberty create "Champions for Christ". Sometimes I get tired or burnt out or not care about the importance of the role I am placed in, but this journey I am on is an important one it can make the difference between spiritual life and death for a lot of these kids. I am passionate about my job because of the impact and change LU brought to my life. I want to be instigating change in these kids lives! I will continue to strive every day to be used of God to make a difference. That is one of the main goals in my life!

XO-H

Miss Independent

2011-09-01T19:46:00.000-07:00

I feel blessed. Why you ask? I feel blessed because of the time that I had to wait for Cory to come into my life. My disclaimer is that what works for me doesn't necessarily work for every one and marriages straight out of college and during college are a blessing for those people too. I am definitely not negating that one bit. Some of my closest friends have wonderful marriages and are strong women and got married right out of college. For me though, I am thankful for the 3.5 years I have had as an independent single woman. I had no idea what those years were going to hold, but I am thankful that God directed my path the way that He did. After my broken engagement oh so very long ago, I thought that my life was over that I was scarred, rejected, unlovable and so on. I had lived in this bubble that if you were a woman and weren't married right out of college then you were a failure. So when my relationship ended I thought that there was nothing else I could do. How was I going to take care of myself, pay the bills, live alone with out a man to support me. BAH! I laugh so much at that now. What the heck was I thinking!?! I realize now that all things happen for a reason. I was in NO WAY old enough or ready enough to be a wife. God still wasn't finished with me yet...There was still so much I needed to learn about who I am as a woman, how much strength I truly have within me, and most of all who I am as a child of God. I have definitely not been perfect these past 3.5 years but I have definitely grown as a woman and in my trust and love for a God who protects and provides. He has refined me through the fire to be first and foremost who I am supposed to be in His kingdom and to be the wife that I will be for Cory and that he so greatly deserves. I have learned that I CAN live alone, I CAN pay my bills, I CAN take care of myself with out the help of anyone else. I have learned what it means to be an independent unmarried woman and have basked in the joy of having this time to myself. To spend time with friends, to work a job where I am paid to travel, to start a masters degree, to just in general care for myself. There is strength and pride in what I have accomplished and learning how to make it through many valleys to the top of the mountain and see what the Lord has planned for me is the sole reason why I feel this time was so important. Back in the day I would say to my mom that all I wanted was to be married and to have a family and even though that desire has never left my heart, I know that I would not trade this time I have had for anything. We need to train our young girls to take their time, that marriage lasts a lifetime but that being out on your own is not the end of the world but a gift and to embrace it. I will be a much stronger wife for Cory now that I know who I am and know how to manage my life and my emotions. We have two lives that we are joining together and not just me adding myself into his life. I also have learned to manage money and survive on one income. All that being said, I am so so thankful for the time I have had to be an independent woman standing on my own two feet because it has allowed me to be able to be a better person in all areas of life. Thank you God for protecting me from making terrible mistakes and giving me the opportunity to grow when I didn't even know I needed it!

XO-H

Missin my Soldier Man

2011-08-31T20:11:00.000-07:00

I got a great letter from Corkins today! He is doing so well but I can certainly tell he is ready to be done. Even though their graduation isn't until the end of September, they are technically done with training in less than 16 days. I know that he is very thankful for that. They are getting fitted for their dress blues this coming weekend. I am excited about that but have still yet to decide whether I will let all the soldiers including Cory wear their dress uniform for the wedding. I wrote Cory to see what he wanted but have yet to get an answer to that letter. It takes about 3 days between our letters to get them to each other. So far I have over 30 from him. He sure loves to write but it certainly helps make this time a little bit easier for me.

God knew exactly what type of man I needed and gave me Cory. He seriously takes time either at the very beginning of every letter or the last page of every letter to reassure me of his love, his respect, and his excitement over me. He continually prays for me and never stops loving me even when I do something stupid. It is so sweet how excited he is about our wedding and lives together. He always talks about our future Texas (a joke between us) home with our children and I love that he is just as excited as I am about our future adventure together. I feel blessed to have such a man of character and strength.

Cory's platoon placed second in gun qualifications last weekend and only lost to the 2nd platoon by .04 in their average. I am sure that was frustrating for them but I am so very proud of Corkins and the entire 3rd platoon for doing so well! He said that he didn't shoot as well as he wanted to but that he felt like he was improving. I dont care how well he thinks he did, I am just so stinkin' proud of him for staying positive and working hard despite his exhaustion.

I go to South Dakota tomorrow. I am excited to travel with the team! I am going to have to focus on eating gluten free so that I dont upset my Celiacs which is hard to do when I am around a lot of people. But I am determined to embrace this lifestyle and get my health where it needs to be. I am probably going to start posting gluten free recipes one day a week to help myself and for my friends who like to eat healthy.

This is also the first post of Soldier Man Wednesdays where I will do my update of Cory's military journey this fall.

Love to all...will try to write while in SD but no promises!

XO-H

Cooling Down after 8 mile full gear march

He is the last on the right so good lookin'

What's next you may ask?!

2011-08-30T19:09:00.000-07:00

Well my life is on the verge of craziness but at least it is exciting craziness! Fall travel season is one of the most intense times to be a National Recruiter for the University I work for! We all do non stop college fair tours and in between college fairs visit as many schools as possible. My schedule looks pretty crazy...I go to South Dakota then to Dallas, TX then on to Temecula, CA on back to Waco, TX then from Waco to GA to see my future hubby graduate from BCT then GA to Houston, TX then home to VA then Back out to Texas. That is just until the 2nd week in October!! It is great though, I get to be in wonderful places, catch up with family, see old friends and just experience life to its fullest. Does it make for one very tired Hannah? Yeah but it is so worth it in the end!

28 days until I get hugs from my soldier!

111 Days until I am forever with my best friend!

God is good! and He sure does answer prayers right on time!

XO-H

A New Day

2011-08-29T19:04:00.000-07:00

Ladies it is a new and wonderful life I lead.

I travel all over the great nation we live in. I recruit a variety of unique students to attend the World's Largest Christian University and the 8th Largest University in the Nation. I enjoy it and enjoy seeing new places and meeting new people.

I am planning my wedding for December 19, 2011 to the greatest blessing God has ever given me. He is a wonderful man who loves me more than I could ever have thought possible. I am enjoying every second planning our future life together!

I am preparing for my future life as an army wife. I am excited about all the possibilites for my future hubby and I. I feel that I have been preparing for this type of life since I was a little girl.

I am working on my Masters in Public Policy and feel that it is going to open so many doors for my future life. I will graduate in May of 2013 and am excited to walk with my best friend Katie who will be walking for law school.

I am blogging again to keep track of every precious moment that I am being blessed with. This journey called life will be documented through this blog. It will have a variety of things like my travels for work, Cory's (Corkins--his Aussie nickname) journey with the military, wedding plans, and our journey together as best friends and husband and wife. I am excited to do this again. I guess I just needed a break to breathe as everyone does every now and then. But I am back and ready to blog!

Here are some pictures of Corkins and I over the past couple months.!

Winner!

2011-06-28T19:49:00.000-07:00

We have a winner! I did a random drawing and have emailed the person who won! Thanks for all who participated. I will be doing another one soon! Have a great day!

$25 Visa gift card GIVEAWAY

2011-06-21T14:24:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Thanks to those who have entered so far. I am going to extend this until NEXT Monday! That way more people will have a chance to win. All you have to do is go to facebook, search for Mia Bella in Lynchburg, VA and LIKE their page. Leave a comment and let me know if you are entering! GOOD LUCK! Be sure to tell your friends!

$25 gift card GIVEAWAY!!!

2011-06-17T19:56:00.000-07:00

Hey all of my beautiful followers!! I need some help! I am working on the marketing for the hair salon that I go to. They are super awesome and are trying to get their feet off the ground. Even if you don't live where I do there are 3 ways you can help me...The number one way is to go to Facebook type in the search bar Mia Bella (it is in Lynchburg, VA) and "like" their page. If you do that comment on my blog and let me know you have and I will enter you into a drawing for a $25 dollar gift card. If you also leave a comment on this blog giving me a solid Social media marketing tip that will enter you again! The last way to enter is to mention this giveaway in your blog. Leave me a comment letting me know if you have done 1 2 or all 3 of these entries. SO this is a simple free $25 dollar Visa gift card! You can't beat that just go to Facebook "like" Mia Bella and then coment on the blog and let me know you have. Tell all of your friends and get people to do this! The giveaway will close Wed. June 22,2011! Good luck and may the best one win!