Bing Crosby, Dean Martin and Decorating for Christmas

Let me preface this post by saying that usually decorating for Christmas this early would be prohibited in my home :) However, this year Justin and I realized that the day after Thanksgiving for us will likely be quite busy and our best bet for getting decorating done would be to do it early... it was the best decision...

Justin and I immediately loaded up in the car, hit the Dollar General Store and bought our $20 tree and some $2 stockings...

Then, off to Walmart to purchase a couple of $2.50 dollar lights and a huge selection of multicolored ornaments for $15 thinking we wouldn't have enough of our own just yet to cover our tree. We then rushed home, drug our booty into the home, shut the door-locked it, turned on The Rat Pack Christmas cd... and put together our tree.

Baby Girl (our pocket parrott) was only too happy to be involved in any and every part of the process, insisting on trying to eat everything... even the lights.

Justin and I finished building the trees and then pulled out our ornaments from home. The amazing thing about both of our families is this: both kept the same tradition. Our parents would by us an ornament each year to remember what that year stood for- all with the intent to give to us when we got married and moved out. Justin and I sniffled a little as we opened the boxes and memories poured out of them....

The very first ornament that was pulled out was from Justin's box, it was the ornament with a picture of he and I in it from when we first begun to date... After soaking in the moment for that ornament the rest came on fast as we quickly rambled on story after story that each ornament stood for. We both found out a lot about each other, just doing a tree :)

After we emptied our boxes we realized that once I put my ribbon that I bought ($5 for 75feet) the tree would be more than full- we didn't even need to purchase that bunch of random ornaments. So, instead of returning them, or letting them go to waste, I moved to my mantle!

After the mantle was finished,... I couldn't stop... My mother, knowing my deep desire for Christmas table settings, gave me a part of my Christmas present early in order for me to enjoy them this season... Beautiful Christmas dishes, silver chargers, tapered candles and a stunning center piece made my table look like it came from a Southern Living Magazine :)

Thank you Mom, Dad, Beverly and Mark for investing in our lives in so many ways, filling our home and especially our tree for our first year together... full of memories and love.

Glimpses Into a Life Infused with Grace

The Lord has been good to my husband and I. He's provided for us (above and far beyond) in every aspect of our lives. He's given us our relationship, family, friends and a beautiful home! God's grace gets me through daily allowing me to be driven by faith and not by my circumstances whether they be good... or bad. May my home ever be a reflection of His never ending, always abounding grace towards my husband and I!

My living room! Please excuse any mess, it's late and company just left!
My fireplace and Harvest Mantle

By bed :) Thank you Uncle Doug and Aunt Wendy!!!

My lovely dining room, kitchen, etc... and... my coach purse from my handsome husband :)

Justin's office

Some apples I bought today to bake an apple pie (hopefully tomorrow) displayed in my lovely bowl from Aunt Wendy!

My spice rack - one of the best things ever!!- I like my food to be infused with different spices!

My fireplace (the fire is dying)

I apologize that the pictures aren't as clear... however, I wanted you to have a glimpse of my home in the moment. It's nearly midnight and my husband is due to be home any moment from work. Welcome my friends to my life.... where circumstances aren't always easy but grace, love and hope abounds endlessly!

Life With My Honey :)

My dear husband and I will have been married officially 2 months this Wednesday... and life has been blissfully busy, wonderfully chaotic and incandescently sweet :)


The sweetness of marriage is beyond my capabilities of describing other than, waking up beside my best friend every morning, having the love of my life at my side when I need him, sharing everything I have and everything I am with him.... is what keeps me going. I love him with every breath I have and cherish every moment that I have with him. I look forward to growing old with him, to raising a family with him as the head of my home... our home :)


Marriage is a lot of give and takes everyone has and would say... and I agree. But, this man's willingness to sacrifice everything... anything... on my behalf leaves me speechless. How did I end up with this man??? He's much too good for me isn't he???


He is the perfect picture of how grace works, just in a very down to earth, day to day expression of it in that, there are days, I wonder how it is he's not upset, or disappointed, or mad,... or something with me. I know there have been many times, when anyone else would've given me what for over something... and he doesn't. In fact, the other day, I was having a difficult time, making life miserable for everyone else (Justin) I'm sure... and he gets up earlier than he needed to, got dressed, made up the bed, walked me to the car and kissed me goodbye as I headed to work... When I got home, there was a sweet note on the bed; the laundry was done... etc, etc, etc. Instead of chastising me for an attitude well deserving of it, I was blessed... Wow... He's so good to me.



Well, I guess that's enough gushing... I must go to bed... my day begins early tomorrow.


Oh how I do and forever will, love him!

Sweet After-Thoughts/ Reflections

My friends, I (Hannah McConnell) am officially back from my one week (blissful) honeymoon.

In reflection of the past few weeks, it is nearly entirely impossible to hold back the tears of thanksgiving. My God is so good to me. A whole church... my Harvest Church... pulled together to give me what has been dubbed a Fairy Tale Wedding! It was surreally perfect and beautiful! Then my Harvest Church sent my Justin and I on a surreally perfect Honeymoon! What can I say? Thanks is simply not enough.

Right now "Thank you" card after "Thank you" card is sitting in our bedroom being composed... There are soooo many to write.... That my friends.... is called blessing!

For now though, I must keep everything short,... however allow me to share just a few of the lovely pictures from my "Fairy Tale Wedding"

Breathless

Wow, in just about an hour I can officially say that my wedding is tomorrow. Amazing!

A myriad of emotions are surging through me right now, and I am at a loss as to how to express them... however, I am going to try.

First of all, I am thankful for the man that God has placed in my life to be my husband. Justin is far better than I could have ever found for myself. I am ecstatic about beginning a life with him :)

Second, oh how I love, and how deeply I will miss my family and this home. They've been a rock for me in my life, and my love for them goes so deep, I know not how to express it. Marriage is a bittersweet event. I will not loose my family, however, our times together will look drastically different, esp. considering the fact that I haven't even moved out of this home yet. It is the one home I've known... well, pretty much since I can remember. I am sorely going to miss it while I love the new season of my life with Justin. JUST KNOW!!!! You can't get me to stay away from my family; several visits, etc, etc, etc, will be necessary!!!!

Third, what is a wedding without a Harvest Family?! If I were to sit down and count the hours that loving Harvest members have poured into my wedding, and the sacrifice that they've embraced on my behalf... I would soon be stumped. Wendy Cantrell has taken on the reception to end all receptions! The Bower Family has offered their BEAUTIFUL property along with the most beautiful barn you ever will see. The Damrons have cooked meals, and Christina is doing my hair.... Several people have taken me out, offered their time, gone out of their way to help me.... I cannot mention them all... how can I ever do these good people justice?!

Desirving of Much Thanks

It is time for me to express my limitless gratitude and humble thanks to someone who desirves the moon and more right now.
The scripture says: "Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friend." Today the need for someone to literally die for a friend (well here in the U.S.) is rare to pretty much, non exsistant. However, what is some of the things we Americans hold dearest?

Time,
Money,
Comfort,
Emotional Stability,
Consistency....

In essence, if we were to re-write that scripture in the language of the modern day American it might say something like this: "Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his, personal comforts, time, emotions, money and consistent way of living for his friend."

Wow, and the scripture says we are to love one another "in this way". That is a high calling, that very few will ever attain.

However, may I praise one in our midst who is and has been doing for quite sometime just that for me?

My mother, Sheila Atchley, has been pouring countless hours, her hard earned and long saved money, her comfort, her emotions, her everyday stability, her availability, her physical comfort, etc, etc, etc,... into ensuring that May 15th is a day I'll remember as one of the most beautifully perfect days of my life.
Not only has she embraced the change that is about to come (my marrying and cleaving to my husband), but she has labored to make it possible even far beyond what I could ever dream of putting into it myself.
In times of uncertainty and times never before seen in this family... deep spiritual battles.... she's labored to not only be the mother over her children, the wife to her husband and the homemaker that is the foundation of this home....... but the wedding planner to end all wedding planners. How can one do so much?

It would be more than enough right now for her to just "cope" with everything that is happening right now, and if she did just that she'd amaze many. Believe you me, these are no small, trifling times.... but, beyond coping she rises to be the wife that dad needs, and more, the mother that homeschools and nurtures her children,... even when it's not appreciated, and the homemaker that makes coming home a pleasure.... and does all of this for me.

If anyone is a walking talking testimony of grace right now that would be my mother. I pray for more over her in these coming days... and I pray for blessing beyond measure.

Mom, you'll never know how blessed I've been by you. I know the depth of what it takes for you to do this, only in the smallest sense and even that stuns me.
Your love for me, brings me to tears.

You truly are and forever will be my best friend (other than my husband of course:)

I love you,

Thank you,

Hannah

86 Days and Counting

Time surely does fly by when the mind is set on the extraordinary things that are to come.

I am exstatic to say, that in 86 days and counting I will be Mrs. Hannah McConnell; and things are coming along almost perfectly.
As of yet, I am still searching for a job, however, the Lord has been sustaining me. Just when I felt I hit the bottom He was faithful to refresh my joy and almost even more so, my expectation/hope. My future ... my ability to be Mrs. McConnell is not going to rise or fall with my current job situation or any of the impending circumstances that my or have arisen... the only thing that can affect my future in that way... would be My Savior Jesus.
My Father has plans to "prosper (me) and not to harm (me). Plans for a hope and a future."

It occured to me just last night the reasons for my circumstances. It would seem that the trials point towards a "difficult marriage" -- maybe even bad timing for it all. I say rather, that the exact opposite is happening. You see, the test is pinpointed in the exact area that God has called us to. And thus, we will stand up to the test and "pass" with flying colors because our calling is to be together in order to walk in the ultimate calling that God has placed on Justin's life and in effect my own beginning May 15th.

This may not be the best post, it could be broken and hard to read.... you'll have to forgive me; I'm light as a feather and overwhelmed at God's faithfulness to me just now and I had to share it in as little time as possible:)

Thanks for listening.

"Emo" Fashion

Over the past few years I have had much interaction with several kids from different churches and I've watched this "emo" style/and even lifestyle- turn into a trend. This scares me because, we all know, teenagers don't always understand the spiritual implications of taking part in certain trends. While I was a teenager the trends were mini skirts, belly shirts, low cut v's.... etc. Had mom not made a stand against the trend (believe you me, I wouldn't have gone too far, but my dress couldn't even hint of it... would I have fallen into the sexual stuff? no, but I wouldn't opened up a door for Satan to get a foot in had I echoed even the look of one in fellowship with those spirits) I could have fallen into or strengthened not only in myself but my family and even harvest the pornographic, sexual spirit that was hosted by that trend. The generation of that day has today, become a fallen - generation in those specific areas. Those who are my age hasn't fallen into random sin, but the very sin of sexual immorality which I believe is directly represented by the trend that they sported back when.

I see today, the devil is trying to get his foot in using the same avenue just in a different "seemly harmless" style. We know today, that God is looking for His strong children to be able to stand against the whiles of the devil in these hard times. As such, God needs children who are tuned into His truth and not overly tuned into their own emotions in ANY regard even the seemingly "spiritual concerns". While you may see children who dress like it but haven't gone so far as to tune into the emotion of it; I warn you. Trend is not harmless. You wear the clothes and I don't care how strong you are, you are marking yourself as a target for the devil.

I may be called legalistic over this, but I have seen this as true time and time again. Clothes provide for a young person a lot of their identity. Believe you me, they're identifying with being "different" when they wear the "emo" style clothes.

For an example, and I am sure Sarah wouldn't mind me sharing this, when Sarah was young she loved to wear boys clothes... as a result, when she wore them, she would carry herself like..... drum roll please.... a boy! She would even spit... like a boy. Mom saw this, and decided it was not cute, nor okay. Sarah's identity was not to be that of a boy, but of a young woman. Thus, Sarah was put into dresses, into cute GIRL clothes.... what did Sarah suddenly begin to identify with? Being a girl! Sarah was never "transsexual" or any of the like, however, had a mother not had the Holy Spirit bring some revelation, Sarah wouldn't have been able to early on realize who she really was in Christ AND GET HER CONFIDENCE FROM TRUTH, AND NOT FROM A REALITY THAT CAME FROM WEARING A STYLE OF CLOTHES THAT WAS A LIE!

Multitudes of the parents of these kids that I know today who are supporting a spirit (in they way their kids are allowed to dress) that will cripple the ability of the next generation to be strong and secure in who they are in Christ, to be able to reign over and reign in their emotions in order for the truth and only the truth to be their rock, to be able to be a rock in uncertain times... are unaware of the spiritual war that is being waged right now.

How many know that the devil is pinpointing the very area that will be necessary for this next generation to possess in order to be who Christ wants them to be, in order to make a difference in the kingdom and in order to be strong men and women of the Lord. Without the confidence that you find in Christ in these next years, we're goners. In the last days we need to be stronger than ever... and the devil is trying to setup a "trend" that will earmark the young ones later for FAILURE!

Please,. I beg you, don't be so blind as to see it just as a trend... just as clothes when your child wears in ANY ASPECT something that reflects even in the least this "emo" style. It has been fashioned to cripple and nothing less. Even if your child does not reflect emotionally or spiritually the side effects of this trend,... believe you me, they're at the very least setting themselves up as a target for the devil to see as an opportunity. The devil will try to send as much drama their way... and Lord knows at this age, drama is too easily found as it is. Don't allow them.

Vision

Capture in your minds eye for a moment the ideal of what the church body could do if we had vision. We have the potential to be an unstoppable force if we could only have God-given vision along with the faith to match. What is the scripture?; "if you have faith even the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains." So many of us Christians would claim to have faith, even faith with actions... But, what the church needs more than anything in these times, are visionary faith leaders. Believe you me, faith is vision and visa versa vision is faith.

The most influential church leaders, missionaries, and even secular leaders are the ones who've had vision and tenacity (i.e. faith). History was founded by men and women who stuck to their visionary guns even through hard times. Rather than sitting and working towards figuring out what their future would hold, the took hold of something I fondly call the "now opportunity" seeing the potential instead of searching for their "reality".

What if we stopped searching for "the faith" to witness, and entered into vision- the of seeing a country who's heart is turned back to God. What if we already saw that as potential, instead of searching to see if it is a possible reality. To heck (slang yes, be glad I used it :) with our supposed reality and revel in the possibilities. God is above circumstances; thus, shouldn't we as His trusting children, have the ability to see beyond our circumstances with the vision of God before us. God would will that all would serve him and enter the kingdom of Heaven... therefore it wouldn't be incredulous to claim that vision for ourselves here on earth, in the midst of our circumstances.

Doesn't scripture say that God's desire is to prosper us and never to harm us? Therefore can we capture a vision that is in line with His promises? Much of this is faith, however, there is a whole other step we can take in faith that leads us into the land of vision. This is what I am hoping to portray in this blog.

The founders of our country were visionary men, men who had an ideal of freedom. Freedom of religion and then the freedom to be an independent country. Had there not been this vision... had these men been content with their circumstances and content to just "trust God through them" rather than step into the vision that God would have for them, we would not be here today. It took visionary men to invent much of the commodities we have today; had they been content with their reality, there would be no electricity, medicine, hospitals, toilets, electronics, cars, heat, air, etc. Vision.

What we need as a church, is visionary men and women. People to have the creativity to see outside of reality and grasp in their minds eye the possibility. Then, not only to have some grand vision, but for it to be so real to them, that they walk in faith towards that cause. This should be the place of the church. We should be a creative, innovative people for the Lord; for His Kingdom.

I encourage you, do you have a dream; a vision? Hold it dear and work towards that vision. Vision is what moves things, it brings necessary change and breeds hope. Vision is a source of strength and a wellspring of delight. Productive vision is sincerely lacking today as the devil has found so many outlets to use to zap us of any "need" for creative juices. However, it is time for it to rise up again. It is time for the Apostle Paul's, George Washington's, John Adam's, Martin Luther's, Martin Luther King Jr's, David Livingston's, Albert Einstein's, etc. to rise up again and claim for Christ was what created by Him in the first place.... VISION!