Words to Live and Write by

I am willing to fall Because I have learned how to rise.

I craft Love from heartbreak, Compassion from shame, Grace from disappointment, Courage from failure.

I am among the brave and brokenhearted, and I am rising strong.

(credit to Brene Brown)

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

No Soliciting!


Okay, I'm a nice person. I am. But nap time is sacred. And solicitors are a pet peeve (I know, they're all just trying to earn money, but still).

So I've got this handmade sign at my door that reads: "I'm not buying; I'm not signing. You can't sway my vote or my religion. And HEAVEN HELP YOU if you wake me or my baby from a nap. Seriously, NO SOLICITING! (Exceptions: Girl Scout cookies and LDS Missionaries.) - That covers most everything, right?

Now, I have a good view of the front porch from my computer, and I often watch solicitors approach my door, read the sign and walk away (or for better entertainment, read, start to walk away, turn around, read again, then walk away a bit faster). I think the capital letters really get my point across.

But today.... Today I watched two men, obviously not starving college students, walk up to my door, read my sign, *during nap time!*, and "knock,knock,knock,knock!"

I sat a while and debated whether to open the door. They began to walk away, and I thought, "Oh no. Not during nap time. Not today. Today I am feeling FEISTY!" And no one messes with a feisty Hannah.

So I opened my door, caught them on the bottom porch step, and said, "Excuse me!" They turned around. "Did you read the sign?"

Open mouth and hesitation. "Uh yeah... Well... We were just at your neighbor's house and they have the exact same roof and we're doing pricing..."

I cut them off, point to the sign, and say with a smile, "Not buying."

Open mouths again. "Okay, but we'll be back tomorrow and..."

I cut them off again and point at the house, smile really big, "Baby's napping! Did you read the sign?"

This time hands are in the air and defensive positions are taken, whispered words, "Okay, sorry. Have a nice day."




I smile and wave them off.

Yep. Those capital letters really get my point across. I didn't have to yell. Didn't have to get all mean. I just smiled and repeated a couple phrases from the sign. Feisty Hannah is still nice - they just knew that "HEAVEN HELP YOU!" was standing behind my pretty smiles.


Leave your thoughts and comments please!

Monday, May 18, 2015

The Refiner's Fire Is Real



 May I learn to see my life's challenges as part of refinement. And may I learn to apply refined qualities in a manner such as this.

God has been schooling me (in different areas) to know how to comfort, to know "how to do it because I've been through it."

May I also bear my own testimony that the deeper the sorrow and the longer you spend in the valley of death, the greater your capacity to experience joy and savor the sweetness of life!



Leave your thoughts and comments please!