Oh, this week....

It's only Wednesday and this week has been ca-ca-ca-razy!

Monday was the worst and Tuesday wasn't much better at work... 

Same old story, loads to do and no time to do it...

By the end of each day I was burnt out and cranky... 

Fortunately, I have the sweetest friends around... on Monday these girls came over and helped cheer me up... We ate mint M&Ms (current obsession), watched Gilmore Girls and laughed until we cried.

Last night Freddo and I had two of our favorite people over for dinner. Then we all hopped in our car, grabbed some peps ho cho (peppermint hot chocolate) and went on a true Christmas adventure to see twinkle lights and the Home Alone house! How neat is that??

For such horrible days, the past two nights were an amazing trade off. Sometimes a girl just needs her friends... and this girl, has the best.

Hugs and Mint M&Ms, 

Hans

**Don't forget! The Shop is open and all items are ready to ship same day! You can still get presents in time for Christmas!**

At the bottom of the coffee cup.

I started drinking coffee in college. Mostly because I've never been the girl to swim against the current. Mostly because everyone else was doing it. And because I'm a sucker, who's easily peer pressured I drank it in. Cup by cup.

Over the years I've realized certain things happen when I'm drinking coffee.

My heart, no matter how cold- is generally warmed. My thoughts, no matter how chaotic- are generally slowed. My emotions, no matter how erratic- are generally calmed.

Let's be honest, it's not really the coffee that does all of this. It's more the habit. The habit of sitting quietly with little more than a warm cup in my hands and a few minutes to rest. It's in these moments of rest that I pray. It's in these moments that I'm challenged. It's in these moments I'm made ready.

But.

What happens when you sip that last sip? What happens when you've drank the last drop? What happens when you reach the bottom of the coffee cup?

During those moments of rest... During those moments of aloneness with my coffee I usually dream... set mental goals... work up motivation.

The sad part is that often when I get to the bottom of my coffee cup it all ends there. I'm jolted back to the dozen of e-mails in my inbox, the zillions of items on my to do list, the general insanity that is, well... Life.

The other night I went to hear a man speak about about his faith. I heard him talk about the God he served and the Bible he believed in. He asked the question- What if we weren't just readers of the Word of God, but doers of it?

And immediately, I was brought back to the bottom of my coffee cup. What happens after I've brewed my morning cup and stirred in my hopes, dreams and goals. What happens when I reach the bottom of the cup? What do I do then? Do I go back and pour another cup just to sit and dream a bit more?

Or-

Do I take my last gulp and stand up and move? Move on to what I've been "called" to do. What I was made for. What if I reached the bottom of the cup and actually did something?

It's a challenging thought. One I hope doesn't stop there.

And after the other night, hearing that man talk about it all...

Well, I am commited anew to take steps to start doing rather than keep sipping.

So, raise your mugs sweet friends... Let's sip and dream. Sip and hope. Sip and plan. Sip and pray. Pray hard. And then, stand up and move. It might just be the best cup of coffee we've ever had.

Hans

**To hear/watch "the guy" I was talking about drop in HERE (ps. there are a few speakers listed, coffee-cup-inspiration guy is Francis Chan under the 2/8 7:15pm session.**

In one week.

In one week I'm flying home to see my family.

I've got a massive list of things on the "To-Do" List to complete... grade my student's final papers, pack, clean the house, finish up some Christmas crafts, actually go Christmas shopping, etc...

But- in one week I'll be home. 

In one week I'll be sitting around the dining room table with a strong cup of coffee in hand, surrounded by my millions of siblings.

In one week I'll be running around town taking hilarious pictures with Rachey Pooh and making fudge with my Mama. 

In one week I'll be having deep theological conversations with my brother Mike while making sure my brother Eddy doesn't whack me on the head again.

In one week I'll be cuddling with Ina and squeezing baby Iz.

In one week I'll be catching up with old friends and cracking up with my family.

In one week I'll be sleeping in late, watching old movies, sipping on coffee and playing in the snow.

In one week I'll be home.

Yes, my to do list this week is long.
And thinking about it kind of exhausts me.

But- In one week I'll be home.

*sigh*

And that is just perfect.

What will you be doing in one week?

fa la la la la,
Hansie

5 for 5: Hannah's 5 Reasons she didn't die this week.

So, I've been coughing like crazy and my chest has felt like an elephant's been sitting on it all week.

-Talked to my Dr. and she told me that I am the lucky recipient of "walking pneumonia"...

Ugh.

Why do they call it that?

The last thing I feel like doing is taking a walk.

I'd really rather be cuddled up in bed.

"walking pneumonia" my foot!

That said, I've got 5 reasons this week was wonderful... or rather... 5 reasons I didn't die.

1. Halls Triple Soothing Action Throat Lozenges.

Heaven I tell ya... heaven.

2. It's application deadline time in the college admissions office I work at, which means that instead of taking extra sick time my boss is actually allowing me to go home, cuddle up in bed and read applications! Hooray!

3. Tea.
Never ever in my life am I thankful for tea (I love me some strong black joe),
but when a throat is sore and a chick is sick,
a little peppermint tea with honey is JUST what the doctor ordered.

4. Christmas lights. How in the world can a girl be expected to be sick without having cheery lights to warm her heart.

5. Rachey Pooh. She picked up the slack without me and my lameness even asking... keeping up with the blog and allowing me some extra shut eye. Love you Rachey Pooh. Oodles and oodles!

Sneezes,

Hansie.

My secret BFF.

I'm sure you've all heard of Syd. I call her Syd because we're secret BFFs... and I can use her nickname as her secret BFF...

and by "secret" BFF, I mean that we're so secret even Syd doesn't know it... but, I think that makes our friendship even more special... hmmm... or maybe that' just awkward... er... awesome.

Anywho.

In honor of my pal Syd we're joining in on the fun with our "Awkwards and Awesomes" of the week!

Awkward & Awesome:

These pics Racha and I took a while back...

Awkward: The fact that I'm pretty sure I have worse syllabus shock that my students...
Snap out of it Hannah. You're the professor... that syllabus answers to you! Humph.

Awesome: Officially being called "Professor Tung" for the first time.

Awkward: The elderly woman in the locker room who insists upon being unclothed at all times while wanting to have a lengthy conversation with me- Every. Single. Day.
(Clarification- This situation does not seem to make my elderly friend awkward at all...)

Awesome: My little, old, lady friend has some pretty insane and an obviously great body image! You go little old lady... You go!

Awkward: Being called "ma'am". For realz?

Awesome: Being called "ma'am" by the ca-utest little southern boy there ever was and then being given a bag of "thank you" M&Ms by said southern boy...

Awkward: The little "tiff" the Hubs and got into on the way to work this week.

Awesome: The beautiful flowers the Hubs brought home after work, because it was time to make up.

Awkward: My bangs... they've grown out much too long... and the side swept look isn't really working for me... I've been rocking out some pretty hard core "split bang" action.

Awesome: Sadly, there is nothing awesome about split bang. Nothing.

That's the awkward and awesome of my week!
What about you guys?

Wishing you a splidge of awkward and loads of awesome-
Hansie Bear.

PS. You know what else is tots awesome??? Our giveaway!!! Last day to enter! Wahoo!!!

Work Prom.

When I was in high school... holler at ya girl late 90's peeps!  It was all the rage to have prom on a cruise ship....

I didn't go to prom... wasn't really in to it... 
But- I always had those cruise ship dreams lingering in the back of my heart...
Years went by... until one day, those dreams became a reality. 
My office had "work prom".
aka A dry run for an event we're throwing in a year.... but still. prom, right?

all the girls at "prom"

Work prom is the best.

Especially when it means that you get to miss more than half a days work to eat fancy food... on a fancy ship... and set sail off a fancy dock... and float around a fancy city.

Work Prom, I'll take you any day!

dance like no one's watching-
Hans



*Also- really??? Vegetarian for a month? Rach... You. have. GOTS. to be kidding.
I'll give you a week- Starting Monday.
Mostly because committing to certain nail polish colors make me nervous, much less committing to not eating meat. Only my 2nd favorite thing in the world to eat... right after nutella. ugh.
PS. You got a week out of me, only because you promised it would make me cooler... and we all know about my deep desire to be a cool kid.  

*Also also... The Hubs and I decided about Michigan vs. Chicago...
We're staying!!!! Hooray!!!
We prayed a TON throughout the process and appreciate so much all of your sweet prayers... they were felt... BIG TIME. Thanks friends... We feel total peace and joy about our decision!

5 and 5: Hannah's Five Reasons To Stay and To Go.

There are a lot of things that made this week tougher than most... and a lot that made it wonderful...
It's funny how a silly little thing like this blog can help me gather my perspective.

 This week and last week, the week before and probably next week the Hubs and I have been sifting through one of the biggest decisions we've had to make so far as a married couple. 

The decision of whether or not we should leave Chicago and move to a new state for a potential job...

We've been praying a ton about it... and while I haven't felt any unrest over the whole situation... 
I have allowed myself to worry a bit... which is actually kind of lame silly. 
Because, really... either way, we've got two great options.

To stay??? Or to go??? That is the question...
So instead of our typical Friday "5 for 5" post... you're going to get "5 and 5"...
5 good things about staying... and 5 good things about going....

5 good Reasons To Stay In Chicago:

1. We're close to family (the Hubs)

2. We're close to "Frien-amily" (especially, Si-Fri and Elz-a-Bells)...

3. Shopping.... museums... restaurants... theater... music...
4. Our church is here....
5. Loads and loads of memories are here, stuffed in every nook and cranny.

5 good Reasons To Go:

1. The Hubs and I will have our first opportunity to live an adventure just the two of us.
2. Life in this new little town will be much more quiet than our big city... and will give us a chance to sloooooow down.
3. HUGE promotions professionally for both the Hubs and I.
4. We get to add one more state to the list of places we've lived.
5. We would most definitely be challenged and stretched... which would push us to grow.


Ahhhh... to stay or to go? That is really the question!

I'll definitely keep you all posted in the upcoming week(s)....

xoxo- Hansie.

all photos found here 

What happens when you actually jump off the cliff?

Dear...





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Most people who meet me would never guess that I struggle fairly regularly with fear.

Sometimes my "fear" is camouflaged by the word "worry" which seems at times to make it more okay in my mind and heart...
Other times it's full on.. all out... scare the britches off of me... straight up... fear.

I worry fear a lot of things... Some big... some small... Will I succeed at all I feel called to? Will I be any good at school? Work? Blogging? Friendships? Running? Designing? Wife-ing?

Recently I was asked to evaluate this fear (oh school papers, you know just how to get me)...

And I realized that this fear I have
is lame.
It's irrationally crippling me at times... It's not of God.
This fear... well... it gets in the way of my hope... my peace... it can steal joy and rob me of calling.

So with this new realization... I've decided to push away the fear... to take a deep breath... plug my nose (don't judge... you know that helps sometimes...)... cling to this verse... and jump off the cliff. 



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  Abandon my fear.

Because you know what?

I wasn't made to fear. I was made to press on... to jump.

For, in my weakness... He is strong!

Are you ever fearful?
Want to jump with me?



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Thanks for letting me put that out there... it's silly how even with this letter I've had to work on being brave... oh goodness! Ba-less my little heart!

Luv yous,

Han