why does it always seem that once I've updated my blog once in a day about a particular thing I find in that same day so many other things with which I want to update my blog? In those situations, I often find myself trying to wait until tomorrow or in a few days from now so that my blog-readers aren't faced with a downpour only to go through a drought for another week, month, etc.
Well, today, while I'm thinking about it, I'll post another. I've been doing a lot of thinking about writing recently. Probably in part because I just watched Woody Allen's new film Midnight in Paris yesterday. It was a film that seemed made for me. I don't want to spoil it for anyone, and I do highly suggest going to see it, so I won't go into too many details. When I stopped and thought about why I think that film was made for me, and how a writer/director like Woody Allen could write/direct a film for me is when I realized this: although we're veryvery people, we're both artists. We're both writers, we're both driven by the desires and frustrations of making art, bringing meaning to life.
Thinking those sorts of things, that I might have something in common with someone who is known for their art, gives me hope, and a desire to try to keep pushing through those walls-of-fears that I've built that keep myself safe from my own desire to create art.
Well, that's it for now, I guess. Maybe later there'll be another post...
Monday, June 27, 2011
blessed
it's not very often that I talk about much else on here than leaving for Scotland. But after church last night I just needed to pause and say a few things about the amazing blessing that Rock Harbor Fullerton has been in my life.
Week after week I'm continually amazed by what I've seen God do in this place and how I watch Him continue to work in the lives of the community He's gathering to himself in this place. I have been grown and stretched and loved on in and by this community that it will - no matter what happens in the rest of my life - be a very big part of my heart.
One of the hardest parts about leaving for school in Scotland is leaving this community*family*body of Christ (each of those words on its own isn't expressive enough, therefore the combination). My excitement about what God is doing and will continue to do in North Orange County, in the City of Fullerton, in and through RH Fullerton has only grown from those first days we met to pray together for what this campus might be. As it's Summertime we're moving into our summer rhythms as a church, but that also includes murmurs, thoughts, plans for what's to come in the Fall. Every time I hear about those I experience a very bittersweet excitement. I can't wait for this family of mine to move into these adventures. I long to be praying for them from wherever I am about whatever is happening here. However I can't shake the slight sadness of being able to see it first-hand. Which is when I'm reminded of the amazing things I'll be getting to be a part of where I am and the prayers from this family that I know will follow me and surround me all the way out to Scotland.
As I walk and drive around Fullerton I can't help but imagine what this city can and will grow into as the Church (both RH Fullerton and the body of Christ in Fullerton) continues to pour out themselves into it.
Week after week I'm continually amazed by what I've seen God do in this place and how I watch Him continue to work in the lives of the community He's gathering to himself in this place. I have been grown and stretched and loved on in and by this community that it will - no matter what happens in the rest of my life - be a very big part of my heart.
One of the hardest parts about leaving for school in Scotland is leaving this community*family*body of Christ (each of those words on its own isn't expressive enough, therefore the combination). My excitement about what God is doing and will continue to do in North Orange County, in the City of Fullerton, in and through RH Fullerton has only grown from those first days we met to pray together for what this campus might be. As it's Summertime we're moving into our summer rhythms as a church, but that also includes murmurs, thoughts, plans for what's to come in the Fall. Every time I hear about those I experience a very bittersweet excitement. I can't wait for this family of mine to move into these adventures. I long to be praying for them from wherever I am about whatever is happening here. However I can't shake the slight sadness of being able to see it first-hand. Which is when I'm reminded of the amazing things I'll be getting to be a part of where I am and the prayers from this family that I know will follow me and surround me all the way out to Scotland.
As I walk and drive around Fullerton I can't help but imagine what this city can and will grow into as the Church (both RH Fullerton and the body of Christ in Fullerton) continues to pour out themselves into it.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Accommodation!
Today I received some more exciting news from Aberdeen! I have a place to live! This year they started a new discount scheme for International Student housing that provided places in a particular group of residence halls at a significant discount! So, when I could I applied for that. I'm not sure who my flatmates will be, and I'm not sure if Aberdeen will supply that information or if I'll just have to wait and see. If you could be praying for whomever they may be, that would be wonderful! The residence hall I'll be in is named Hector Boece after the first president of King's College in Aberdeen (one of the schools that would become University of Aberdeen).
After receiving this today there's very little left that I need to procure in order to start making my application for a student visa! It's crazy how quickly things seem to be moving despite what has felt like endless waiting before this point. It's becoming more real and more exciting every day!
allons-y!
After receiving this today there's very little left that I need to procure in order to start making my application for a student visa! It's crazy how quickly things seem to be moving despite what has felt like endless waiting before this point. It's becoming more real and more exciting every day!
allons-y!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
oh, and these are fun reads....
http://thoughtcatalog.com/2011/dont-date-a-girl-who-reads/ (there are 2 pages, read both of them)
and then read the response:
http://littlemissdorkette.tumblr.com/post/3118512524/date-a-girl-who-reads-by-rosemarie-urquico
enjoy!
and then read the response:
http://littlemissdorkette.tumblr.com/post/3118512524/date-a-girl-who-reads-by-rosemarie-urquico
enjoy!
Monday, June 6, 2011
It's Been A While...
Wow, blogging. I feel like it's been an age since I last was on here to properly update this - to inform everyone about what's been going on.
Well, since my last update, I've been kept rather busy. Between work and church and trying to live as presently as possible while I'm still here in Southern California - soaking in ever last sun ray. And despite my complaints of feeling like I've been waiting forever, the year has flown by. Somehow it's already June and next thing I know, I'll be in Aberdeen.
If I could properly remember what's happened in between I'd tell you all about it. Unfortunately, that's not possible as my brain doesn't want to cooperate with me at the present. All I know is that it has been a very full year. From my first vacation without my family to watching many dear friends get married to growing up a little more and learning more every day...I really wish I'd been better at keeping this thing up, it would be useful to go back and look at what's happened. Oh, and as I've not documented all of the projects, I'll just have to hope you trust me when I say that the cooking and baking has also been still going on. In fact, I made a Red Velvet cake from scratch - and it wasn't just any red velvet cake, it was a red velvet TARDIS cake!
Well, that's all for now. I'll hopefully keep updating this more regularly, so you'll get to join me in this coming year, instead of waiting - like this year - many months before you get a lacking update.
Well, since my last update, I've been kept rather busy. Between work and church and trying to live as presently as possible while I'm still here in Southern California - soaking in ever last sun ray. And despite my complaints of feeling like I've been waiting forever, the year has flown by. Somehow it's already June and next thing I know, I'll be in Aberdeen.
If I could properly remember what's happened in between I'd tell you all about it. Unfortunately, that's not possible as my brain doesn't want to cooperate with me at the present. All I know is that it has been a very full year. From my first vacation without my family to watching many dear friends get married to growing up a little more and learning more every day...I really wish I'd been better at keeping this thing up, it would be useful to go back and look at what's happened. Oh, and as I've not documented all of the projects, I'll just have to hope you trust me when I say that the cooking and baking has also been still going on. In fact, I made a Red Velvet cake from scratch - and it wasn't just any red velvet cake, it was a red velvet TARDIS cake!
Well, that's all for now. I'll hopefully keep updating this more regularly, so you'll get to join me in this coming year, instead of waiting - like this year - many months before you get a lacking update.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
I'm apparently bad at this blogging thing....
For those of you who prefer to not have too much in your various "reader" feeds, then my lack of posts probably has been a good thing. I apologize to those who have been hanging on the end of the last post since September. It's so strange to think about the fact that I haven't posted since September of last year. There'll be an update or two soon. And then I intend to get better at this posting thing because this'll be the place I keep updated with the coming adventures!
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
upate time!
Dear Friends and Family,
I hope this little update letter finds you all doing well. I just wanted to let you know what's going on in my life. As you may know, back in February I applied to the MLitt. Programme in the Novel at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Although there was a good bit of waiting, I found out in April that I was accepted! Of course, at that point, I knew that didn't necessarily mean I'd be going this Fall, simply because, well, school - especially internationally - is expensive. In the meantime, I searched out as many of the various scholarships and other funding sources that were still available to me, and I used some of my own means - from recycling to hosting several murder mystery parties for the cause - to try to raise some of the money. And, praise God, I did raise a good amount of money, unfortunately, as I drew closer to the end of the Summer, it looked like it would only barely scratch the surface, leaving a significant amount that would have to be covered by student loans.
I spent the month of July in prayer about whether I should go; taking on nearly double my school debt and whether that would be the wisest way to steward God's resources. After seeking God, and asking many of you to join me in doing so, I also sought counsel from my parents and others in my life that I trust as wise advisors. In the end, as you may have been able to figure out, since you're getting this update, I contacted Aberdeen and requested to defer my enrollment date to next September and will be spending this year applying for scholarship after scholarship and continuing to seek God with this now-and-not-yet part of my life.
If you could keep me in your prayers for this year, I would greatly appreciate it! I've decided to see this year as a time to live and grow in the relationships God has brought me into here, but also with an eye towards what the next year will bring as I head to Scotland. Already, in the month of August, I've seen God show up in working on my heart as I have been dealing with the disappointment about not leaving for Scotland as soon as I would have hoped, as well as the ways in which He's blessed me with great friends and church family! Also, be praying about the scholarships as I go searching.
Thanks for all of your love and support from the beginning of this process and your continued prayer through these next stages!
grace and peace,
Janelle Hann
I hope this little update letter finds you all doing well. I just wanted to let you know what's going on in my life. As you may know, back in February I applied to the MLitt. Programme in the Novel at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Although there was a good bit of waiting, I found out in April that I was accepted! Of course, at that point, I knew that didn't necessarily mean I'd be going this Fall, simply because, well, school - especially internationally - is expensive. In the meantime, I searched out as many of the various scholarships and other funding sources that were still available to me, and I used some of my own means - from recycling to hosting several murder mystery parties for the cause - to try to raise some of the money. And, praise God, I did raise a good amount of money, unfortunately, as I drew closer to the end of the Summer, it looked like it would only barely scratch the surface, leaving a significant amount that would have to be covered by student loans.
I spent the month of July in prayer about whether I should go; taking on nearly double my school debt and whether that would be the wisest way to steward God's resources. After seeking God, and asking many of you to join me in doing so, I also sought counsel from my parents and others in my life that I trust as wise advisors. In the end, as you may have been able to figure out, since you're getting this update, I contacted Aberdeen and requested to defer my enrollment date to next September and will be spending this year applying for scholarship after scholarship and continuing to seek God with this now-and-not-yet part of my life.
If you could keep me in your prayers for this year, I would greatly appreciate it! I've decided to see this year as a time to live and grow in the relationships God has brought me into here, but also with an eye towards what the next year will bring as I head to Scotland. Already, in the month of August, I've seen God show up in working on my heart as I have been dealing with the disappointment about not leaving for Scotland as soon as I would have hoped, as well as the ways in which He's blessed me with great friends and church family! Also, be praying about the scholarships as I go searching.
Thanks for all of your love and support from the beginning of this process and your continued prayer through these next stages!
grace and peace,
Janelle Hann
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