Blog Award

Hello y'all! 

My dear friend, Brookie (visit her blog, Bungalow of Blessing) nominated me for a blog award.  :)  Thanks, sweet friend.

Here’s how it works:

1. each nominee must answer 11 questions,
2. create 11 questions for the next nominees to answer,
3. link back to the person who nominated them,
4. choose one or more blogging friends and link them to their post, and
5. go to their websites and tell them.

 

Here are the 11 questions that I got to answer:

1. Who are three historical figures you are inspired by?
Stonewall Jackson because he was a great man of God, and spoke/wrote of Him constantly.
William Wallace, Scottish freedom fighter.
John Hooper, English martyr in 1555 - inspired me and truly, if I could choose a way to die, I would choose to be a martyr.
Let me name one more - William Tyndale, known for translating the Bible into the English language and martyred in 1536.
All of these men died while performing their duty.  I want to die in the same way.

2. What do you usually request for your birthday dessert?
Ice Cream!

3. If you had a quiet morning all to yourself, what would you do?
Whew! Tough one! I would probably head outside with a cup of tea, my Bible, favorite devotional books, sit on a porch swing, spend an hour or so in the word, and have a sweet prayer time with my Lord.  Then I would grab my journal and write a prayer, a praise, a scripture from my devotions, and several things I am thankful for.  Then turn on some soundtracks or worship music as I complete whatever is on my to do list.  After that, I would email Brookie and tell her that I had my ideal, perfect morning.  :)

4. Can you describe your life in six words?
I love my Lord Jesus Christ. (at least, I hope and pray that this is what others see in my life.)

5. What is something that makes you smile?
Just one thing!  Impossible!  I love it when someone takes a little time out of their day to bring a little extra joy to someone else, when I see someone else smile (and I know that they really meant it!), great memories, my family, and dear friends.  All of these things bring a smile to my face.

6. What is a book that you could read cover-to-cover without taking a break?
Foxe's Book of Martyrs - totally changed my life!  This is a must-read!

7. Describe a thrilling scenario (big or small) that you have been in and will always remember.
Hmmmm...visiting Mount Vernon and DC last year is definitely up there on my list of thrilling things that I've done.  It was incredible to see the very locations where men I respect and have read of in history lived and died. Also, if anyone ever visits DC, the National Archives are a must see!

8. What is your favorite time of the day and why?
I love the evenings when the whole family is together, worshiping, laughing, playing games, watching a movie, or sitting quietly, enjoying God's creation. 

9. Are you a city girl, a country girl, or a mix of both?
Country girl all the way!

10. If you were to pick one skill to master, what would it be?
Wow!  That's a tough one!  I suppose I will cheat and combine a number of things into one - the art of becoming a godly homemaker.  :)

11. What is something quirky about you that makes you unique?
I love 90% cocoa chocolate bars, I love the Last of the Mohicans soundtrack, I love Scotland, and I would be so delighted if my husband would wear a kilt on our wedding day if he is not opposed to the idea.  :)  Ok, y'all have my permission to think I'm crazy. :)

Here are the three people that I am nominating:
Amanda Richter at Richter Ranch
Wesley Noble at Wesley Noble
Mr. Beach at Beach Life

I can't wait to learn a little bit more about y'all!

And here is a list of questions for y'all to answer:

1. What are some of your favorite quotes?
2. What are 3 scripture passages that have challenged, inspired, and/or encouraged you?
3. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
4. What is your favorite thing about being a Christian?
5. What is one thing you are looking forward to when you get to heaven, other than seeing our Lord face to face?
6. If you could meet 5 people from history, who would they be?
7. Would you rather read a book on theology, history, science, fantasy, fiction, or a biography?
8. How do you show love to others?
9. What is something that really brings joy to your day?
10. What are 5 things that you absolutely could not live without?
11. What is your life's main goal?

Have fun, y'all! 

Quick Update

Hello everyone, and happy new year (ummm...really late!).  :)  I hope to begin posting more faithfully, and sharing little bits and pieces of my life with y'all.  So much is happening, has happened, and, I know, will happen in this glorious new year.  I'm grateful that my God is in control, and that He is leading me.  I have so much to share with y'all but for now, I just wanted to share a quote that made me laugh so hard earlier today:

"Photographers are violent people.  First they frame you, then they shoot you, then they hang you on the wall." 
And Elijah says that after we photographers shoot them, we sometimes blow them up too.  Oh, I do sound like a horrible person!  :)

I hope y'all have a blessed week!  I'll be posting again soon, Lord willing!  :)
Psalm 145

Christian's Philosophy on...

Health Food!

" God made most people without a taste bud for salad. "

Package "Directions" Gone Wrong!

This picture is from a l--o--n--g time ago!  (2008)

Hello everyone! 

I just thought you might enjoy a good laugh over these goofy advertisements/package directions sent from us by our Uncle Tom and Aunt Barbara (pictured above):

Illiterate?  Write today for free help.

Auto repair service.  Free pick up and delivery.  Try us once.  You'll never go anywhere again. 

Stock up and save.  Limit: one.

3-year-old teacher needed for pre-school.  Experience preferred.

"Keep away from children." On a bottle of baby lotion.

"Do not use while sleeping." On a hairdryer.

"Do not take if allergic to aspirin."  On a bottle of aspirin.

"Do not light in face.  Do not expose to flame."  On a lighter.

"Some assembly required."  On a 500 piece jigsaw puzzle.

"May be harmful if swallowed."  On a shipment of hammers.

"Instructions: Put on food." On a bottle of ketchup.

"Do not attempt to stop the blade with your hand."  In the manual for a chainsaw.

"These earplugs are non-toxic but may interfere with breathing if caught in windpipe."  On a package of earplugs.

"Warning: may contain nuts."  On a package of peanuts.

"Warning: may cause drowsiness."  On a bottle of sleeping pills.

"This product may cause harm if eaten."  On an aluminum chair.

"Do not turn upside down."  On the bottom of a dessert package.

"Do not iron clothes on body."  On packaging for an iron.

"Contents may catch fire."  On a book of matches.

Have a blessed and joy-filled day!
To God be the Glory,
Hannah

Rush Hour...

...from the perspective of a little person.  :)

Safety First!

Elijah was treating the dogs to a little pizza...

...and Teddy decided to choose "safety first"! He wanted to protect his cute little begging eyes from any flying objects. :)  Doesn't he look goofy in those glasses!?!  They're such sweet dogs.

Here's what Rosie looked like a few nights ago.  She was sleeping but popped her eyes open as soon as I clicked the shutter button.

The Cowboy

I was walking past our white board earlier today and this picture that Jonnie drew made me smile... :)

My Bunny

When I was 6 or 7, my Grandma and Grandpa bought me this bunny and it has been special to me ever since.  Just this year, the boys have enjoyed setting it up in different positions.  They are a never-ending source of enjoyment to me and I love their sense of humor.  Life just isn't the same without brothers to make it better!  So here are some photos of the "misery" that they have put my poor bunny through!  :)  ENJOY!  :)

Eating my almonds...

...reading my mail...

...eating my breakfast..

...helping with my Greek...

...I guess that it got some interesting styling ideas...

...it has been shot once...

...twice (the boys just had to have something "gruesome"!)...

...and my poor bunny was finally executed and, as Jonnie put it, "eaten for supper".

Though it may look a bit "gruesome" in these last few photos, it is all in fun and it makes my day!

I hope that everyone has a blessed weekend.

To God be the Glory,

Hannah



Leaf Piles and Photos

It is the typical fall weather today - perfect, breezy, and beautiful!  :) We were outside playing in the leaves - that is to say, the boys were raking leaf piles for fun while I was snapping pictures!  They ended up making three huge leaf piles and combining them into one giant pile.  I, the photo-crazy older sister :)  just had to have them pose for some pictures, which they very willingly did ( I have wonderful brothers!).  Mama got some pictures of all of us kids in the leaf pile and we had a really great time!  I love fall, but I hate to think of what is coming afterwards - at least for us northerners! 

I hope y'all have a very blessed weekend.

To God be the Glory,
Hannah

A cute little grasshopper that the little guys found.

(at least, I think he's cute)

He's truly an incredible creation that brings glory to God!

Those silly dogs :)

Chillin' out after a "hard day's work".

...and there is the dog again, chasing her poor brother.  :)

And the hard-working Jonnie-boy.

I love all of the different leaf colors!

This is a very small maple tree growing in our neighbor's yard.

Rosie Gone Wild

Here is a really funny (ridiculous?) video that I took earlier today.  She is going after a spot of light on the ceiling that Elijah reflected off of a piece of plastic.  My suggestion is that you turn off the sound the first time that you watch it. 


I am posting this especially for a friend who tells me that her cat acts somewhat like this (eyes dialated, all intense, etc.) when she is chasing a laser - maybe that's what we need to get for our dog!

ENJOY!  :)

My Devotions and Random Photos from Today {Happy September}

Today is one of the warmest days that we have had for quite some time.  As a result, the boys are enjoying a refreshing swim in our pool.  Here are some of my favorite shots:

Elijah and Christian were playing a game together and I think that Christian was enjoying it!

Jonnie consented to jump off of the diving board for me!

And Jeremiah was kind enough to make lots of splashing for me!

Christian didn't know that I was getting these pictures,

which makes them that much cuter!

As I was doing my Bible reading this morning, I read Ephesians 4:1

"...walk worthy of the calling with which you were called."

and Philippians 1:27

"Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ..."

I was so convicted!  So challenged to actually live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ.  As I thought of the way I live my life, I was so ashamed.  I am not living as if I really love my King.  If I really, truly loved Him, my life would look so much different, be so much different!  We Christians have the highest, most holy calling of all humans, to glorify God (all humans carry out God's purposes to His ultimate glory in one way or another) and to enjoy Him forever (only Christians have this blessed privilege!).  We are to preach the good news of the gospel to all men, definitely an area that I fall far short in.

I asked myself the question "do I live my life as if I really love Christ and do I, in my words, actions, and attitude etc. always seek to glorify Him?"  The answer was an emphatic "NO".  I am ashamed of that, terribly ashamed.  Since my life's goal is to glorify God, why do I not strive to do so with every breath!?!  This sin alone, not including all of the others that I have committed, is enough to separate me from Almighty God for all eternity, but, because of His Son, my future with Him is assured.  My hope is in Christ and in His work ALONE, I will not glory in myself, but in Christ!  Christ ALONE is my hope of salvation.  His perfect life fulfilled the law, and His perfect death assures life to all of His elect.  God could have left us in our sins to perish, to bear His holy and perfect wrath forever, but in His mercy, He has made a way for sinners to come to Him, through the blood of His Son Jesus Christ. 

I am so thankful, happy and blessed to be alive today, because I know that my life has a purpose and I know that through Christ, my life does do credit to the gospel, my life is being sanctified, and I am becoming more like Christ.  I know that I have a High Priest who is interceding for me before the throne of His Father (Hebrews 4:14-16), and that is hope and joy beyond words.

"This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!"  And let us, by God's grace, strive to live a life worthy of the gospel and worthy of the calling with which we are called.  I am not worthy in and of myself, but Christ has covered me with His blood and I am now seen as worthy and righteous before the Father.  Praise the LORD!

To God be the Glory,

Hannah

Amanda and Me { Informal Photo Shoot }

We were at the Richter's for Family Group last night and Amanda and I decided to have some additional fun after the dinner and devotional time were over.  Elijah and Jeremiah went outside with us and Elijah got all of the pictures that are outdoors. 

Notice Jeremiah up in the tree.

Can you believe that it's still snowing

up here in MN...at the end of April!!!

Yes, all of the plaques on the wall ARE

 Amanda's ... and those aren't all of them!

THE WINNER!!!

CONGRATULATIONS

 AUSTIN!

You are the official winner of the Armour Family's blog "anniversary" contest!!!!!

You can go through the blog and choose any photo for your very own.  Leave me another comment letting me know which photo you want and if you would like to receive it by snail mail or e-mail.  We love you guys!!!!  May you be blessed today and every day!

Soli Deo Gloria,

Hannah 

P.S.

SO great to hear from y'all!  :)

Sorry, I'm on the laptop and can't get to any photos of y'all to put on this post!

CONTEST!

Hello to all of my wonderful blogging friends!

     Today is the one year "anniversary" of my blog.  One year ago today, I published my first post on unconditional love.  How fitting that yesterday was "Resurrection Day" and I published a post entitled "He is Risen".  If it were NOT for His unconditional love, Jesus would never have gone to the cross and because of that there could have been no resurrection. I am so thankful for all that I have learned in the past year and for all of the relationships that God saw fit to  grow and deepen in my life and that of my whole family.

     As a small celebration of this day, if you are the third person to leave a comment to this post, I will send your choice of any photo contained in the blog.  I can print and send it to you via snail mail or by e-mail, your choice. I will not publish any comments until I have received the third reply. One comment per person, please. I will announce the winner with a new post, and you can then send me a comment with your address or e-mail which I will not publish.  Thanks for reading!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Hannah

This picture was so funny that I just had to share it with y'all!

It looks like she was smiling for the picture - sort of!

What do you think of it?

Smart

Here's a funny poem from the book,

 Whatever Happened to Penny Candy?

I hope that you enjoy a good laugh as you read it!

SMART

My dad gave me one dollar bill

'Cause I'm his smartest son,

And I swapped it for two shiny quarters

'Cause two is more than one!

And then I took the quarters

And I traded them to Lou

For three dimes -- I guess he didn't know

That three is more than two!

Just then, along came old blind Bates

And just 'cause he can't see

He gave me four nickels for my three dimes,

And four is more than three!

And I took the nickels to Hiram Coombs

Down at the seed-feed store,

And the fool gave me five pennies for them,

And five is more than four!

And then I went and showed my dad,

And he got red in the cheeks

And closed his eyes and shook his head --

Too proud of me to speak!

Candy Thieves

As you can see, they're not happy about being caught...

... especially this one!