Time to Grow Up

    I have written on this topic before, but this time it's different. It's also harder because I'm about to be more vulnerable and admit to a more awkward sin in my life. Up until recently, I was a grown-up who threw temper tantrums when I didn’t get my way. Really grown up, eh? Hubby has been rightfully calling me out on it for years, but I wasn't listening. Okay, I was listening but not changing.

    A few weeks ago, we were watching a movie, and I threw a temper tantrum. He rightfully called me out, and then he gave me a word from God. I needed to spiritually grow up as well. I needed to move from spiritual milk to solid food. Something changed that night. God got a hold of me.

    I don't recall what all went through my head and heart that night, but something shifted. Weekend mornings are usually hard because I would rather do my own thing than make breakfast for my family. Which usually end in a fight or argument of some sort

    Well, the next morning, it was the weekend, and I don't recall which day. I made up my mind to make breakfast for hubby and me. I was still struggling with my attitude, but it was a start. I reminded myself that part of being a grown up was doing things that we don't always want to do, but know that we should do them or that we know that they need doing. I was still heightened, and it still landed in a small disagreement. But smaller than usual. Progress.

    I believe within a day of hubby's last 'you need to grow up' speech. God gave him another word for me. God wanted to remind me that I am His daughter. I decided that the next day, when I have my quiet time with the Lord, I would start a Bible study on being a daughter of God. I found a plan that I had saved in my 'You Version' app a long time ago and restarted it. I do find that You Version Bible studies are not always accurate; sometimes, the passages they use are not in context, so you need to be mindful. That being said, the study I read over the next few days was all on point and everything I needed to hear. Praise the Lord.

    I can't fully describe all of what God has done over the last few weeks in me. All I know is that I am a changed woman. Not flawless by any means. But changed. I feel free.

    I have repented to hubby and God, and I do ask that if anyone reading this has experienced one of my childhood temper tantrums, that you would forgive me. I apologize, and I am embarrassed by how I once acted.

    And now it's time to move on and move forward into this next season of life with Christ. I feel more at peace and calm. More than I have ever felt before. Not every day will be perfect by any means, but that's where God's grace comes into play. Progress isn't always linear. Sometimes it's two steps forward and one step backwards.

    I'm practicing apologizing to hubby and not defending or explaining myself. Simply apologizing and asking for forgiveness. Which is a huge step forward for me. I am also practicing saying, 'yes, but give me five minutes,' when hubby asks for something when I'm in the middle of doing something. The old me would get up and storm around while I did what he politely asked for. This new practice is definitely a work in progress. But again, progress isn't linear, and praise God for His grace.

As always, I pray that this blesses, encourages, and maybe challenges you in someway shape or form today, friend.

God Bless

~Hannah

Comparing Platforms

    I recently looked on YouTube for hair care ideas, routines, etc. I researched it a long time ago, and every so often, I go on and see if there is anything new. Usually, there isn't. To my pleasant surprise, there was new information. Or at least new to me. I was very excited about all the info and couldn't wait to share it here with you. But, in the process of being excited, I questioned if anyone would see it. Personally, I go to YouTube for hair information. Not an online blog or article. At least for the most part. And yes, I know that there are people who read my blog, and it blesses me when I hear any feedback. And yes, I know that if you are a regular reader, you already read that blog.

    Anyways, I thought that because I go to YouTube for hair info, I assume everyone else does. But I'm not a YouTuber. And even if I did make a video, I doubt everyone would see it because you need to make a whole lot of videos before anyone's algorithm picks you up. I also don’t think I have the confidence to talk into a camera and make a video. I also know that the amount of time and energy that it takes to edit videos is crazy, and I don’t have it to give.

    I also thought about making a video about what I have learned over the years since I got back into sewing. But, again, some problem. I have hemmed and hawed about both of these items and what I wanted to do. I eventually wrote about all the hair things I learned about. Although I don't like how I structured that post. I'm thinking of redoing it. Making it into two posts. One about all that I learned and another about what my routine looks like. I have considered making a youtube channel for sewing turotirals, but I know that this is not the correct season for that. Maybe down the road. Or maybe I’ll just write sewing tutorials instead.

    Anyways, the other day, I was sitting on our bed editing a blog post. Hubby came in and hung out for a bit. We talked about my blog, and he encouraged me. He is so sweet and supportive when it comes to my blog. He doesn’t care for them himself, but is happy for me and how God has used me to help and encourage others. I told him about what you just read, and we started talking about all the different platforms there are and how God calls us to different ones. I told him about the cop that I just started following in the States. This cop feels called by God to be a cop and to make videos and then post them online. In the first video of hers that I saw, she addressed the topic of God calling her into being a police officer and how being a woman has given her unique oppertunities to encourage those who are in trouble with the law for different reasons. She was at the scene of a car accident once, and one of the people involved was a young woman who needed her mom, who was not there at the moment, and this officer held her and let her cry in her arms. There was also a time when there was a little child in a situation, and because of the abuse that little boy had suffered at the hands of men, he didn’t trust men and wouldn’t talk to or hug the officer (I don’t remember the particulars). So she stepped in and took care of the little boy. I was in tears for the majority of that video. I went to the comment section, thanked her for what she had said and told her that she had just “earned” herself a new follower.

    Hubby talked about how he likes YouTube and how podcasts are also a great platform. I agreed. I then felt reassured in my spirit that the platform that God has given me is my blog, and I am so grateful for it and blessed by it. I am also equally thankful and blessed that God has called other people to make podcasts or videos and post them on whichever platform He directs them to.

    

    So, I’m going to continue enjoying the platform that God has blessed me with and be blessed by others who have content on other platforms. While Blessing and I were out exercising the other day, I was meditating on this post and thinking about how, at the end of the day, this is all just a comparison game. One of which I do not wish to be a part of. God has made each of us unique with our own gifts and talents, and instead of comparing our lives to others, we should be lifting each other up. I was thinking about how there was someone in my life for a season who was a very quiet person, and whenever I was around them, I felt calm and at peace. I enjoyed their presence. I talked to another quieter person and said how sometimes I wish I were a quieter person because sometimes my big personality gets me into trouble. This person’s response was that she wished she were bolder and less quiet. So, instead of equally enjoying our own personalities and each other, we were simply comparing ourselves to each other.

    I pray that this encourages you in whatever platform or lack there of that God has called you to. Not everyone is meant to have an online presence, and that is good, too.

God Bless

~Hannah

God has each of us on our own beautiful journey.

Journaling Over Social Media

    When I first started writing my blog, I would journal whatever was on my heart and then type it up on my computer and edit it. It was quite a lengthy process, and I struggled to find the time to complete it. But I love writing in a physical journal, so I would. I eventually transitioned into typing it on my phone instead of my journal. I noticed I had more time to sit for a minute on my breaks at work or out and about, and typing on my phone was faster and more convenient. Then emailed it to myself and finished editing it on my computer. Much faster and more convenient to write it as well.

    Recently, I was taking notes after listening to a sermon. I tried to type it on my phone as I had before, but it felt awkward and cumbersome. So I returned to my journal and loved the process. Yes, it took twice as long, but I enjoyed it.

    I found myself doing the same thing after listening to a podcast the other day. Feeling awkward taking notes on my phone, so I went back to my journal. For both messages, I brought my journal to work with me and wrote during my breaks or sometimes scrolled on my phone instead. I decided last week to do a social media fast, yes, some of you are reading this on Facebook. I post it from my blog website to Facebook, but I don't look at Facebook, check notifications or start scrolling. I simply post and leave.

    The other day, I was going through my bookshelf and getting rid of some old books. I saw a handful of journals, both new and used and started longing for them in my soul. At work the next day, I was journaling a reflection of what God taught me through the recent podcast I listened to, and I thought about how kind God is. I am no longer mindlessly scrolling on social media; I'm redeeming the time and using it to journal instead. He has given me the desire of my heart back with journaling, and at the moment, I'm enjoying it during my breaks at work. That being said, there is nothing wrong with social media. It has its place. It's a tool, not a toy. And for the next little bit, I'm enjoying putting down that tool and picking up my pen and journal instead. There is something very therapeutic about journaling.

    So friend, if this encourages, challenges or blesses you in any way, then that is a blessing to me aswell. So, lets put down our phones a little more often and pick up a book or a journal or whatever it is that God is calling you back to and see what God has in store for us.

Happy Sunday, friend

God Bless

~Hannah

Surrendering Certainty

When I opened up Spotify to listen to a podcast recently. I asked the Holy Spirit what podcast I should listen to. He directed me to 'The Proverbs 31 Ministries podcast'. One of my regulars. I opened up their podcast and looked for an episode. I came across this one, “How To Trust God When You Don’t Have All the Answers” with Abby McDonald. I started listening and instantly knew it was the one. One of the first things that Abby talked about was “2x4 moments.” I smiled and shed a tear. For me, it means I have checked and double checked with God, and He lovingly conforms again, usually by saying, 'I already told you,' and it feels like He is hitting me upside the head with a '2x4'. I shed a tear because not only was it relatable, but it also showed me that this really was the episode God wanted me to hear.

    For Abby, a '2x4 moments’ refers to a moment when you seek after God for an answer, and when He gives it to you, it's crystal clear with bells and whistles. If I recall corectly, she mentioned that leading up to those moments God did answer, but they were queiter answers that she may have missed.

    She goes on to tell a story of how God's leading in a situation was unmistakable. Now. That being said, there were months of prayers leading up to that answer. It wasn't instantaneous for her. She shared that after God gave her and her husband the answer.  Then they started moving in the direction of the answer, but as they did that, they had some roadblocks. Which I imagine we either have experienced those situations or will someday. So, every time a “roadblock” would appear and they started questioning God, they reminded themselves that God did, in fact, give them clear direction earlier, and they clung to that.

    She shared that as the years went by, she has less of these big '2x4 moments’ and now receives smaller nudges. On her walks with her dog, which is one of my ways to connect with God, too. God has now given her a ministry to help encourage others when they are struggling to hear God's voice. She reminded me and anyone else listening to that episode that God also speaks to us all differently, and it's beautiful to watch. I have recently come to love how differently God speaks to hubby and me. Or at least I’m working on it. I still struggle to compare how the Holy Spirit speaks to each of us, but I am working on it. Sometimes when one of us is praying for something, God will tell the other person the answer, and we can then enjoy the confirmation of whatever we needed/wanted to know.

    She shared how she connected with and understood God while she was growing up, and how everything changed about her perspective of God when she had her own children. She learned that God wants to hear about all her desires. She noticed that not only did her children trust her and felt safe with her, but they also freely and openly came to her with their requests. Just like how God wants us to come to Him. She learned over the years, like many others I imagine, that God also speaks through our hearts or a burning we feel in our soul. After seeing her children approach her the way they were, it encouraged her to approach God the same way. She noticed that God was shaping and moulding her into the woman that He wanted her to be. Which is such a beautiful thing. The idea that as we seek God, He moulds us into the men and women that He desires us to be.

    She spoke on the story in John 10. The story of the Shephard and His flock, and how in vs 9 Jesus says that He is the gate and if anyone enters by me, he will be saved. From this verse, we learn. 

1. The sheep aren't standing around waiting for direction. They are moving around. They aren't waiting for someone to tell them to graze in the place that God has led them to. They simply grazed. It also reminded me that after we pray for an answer, we are to wait, well, what do “waiters” do? They serve. So, while we wait for the answer, we continue with our daily tasks and serving others.

2. They are enjoying the provisions that God has already given them. Ouch. That preaches. I don't know about you, but I have definitely complained about something I prayed and asked God for. They also aren't waiting for another door. They have already walked through the gate, Jesus. How many gates do we want God to open up for us, but He already has, we just don't want to go through it. I'm walking through one of those doors as we speak.

3. The Shepherd, Jesus, never leaves the sheep (us). He is always with us.

    Abby admired that more often than not, she questions His voice rather than act on Him. We ask for a sign and then question God when he gives us one.

    She hit the ball out of the park when she said that the question that the serpent asked Eve, 'Did God really say that?' is the same question we are asking today. Now, we are asking with a different spirit, but the same question. We think that if God just gave us all the answers, we would have more faith. But that's not how faith works. Hebrews 11:1,2 NKJV “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtain a good testimony.”

    She reminds us that we think the more info we have, the better. But our world of tech and the internet at our fingertips has taught us the exact opposite. We have so much stress, anxiety and worry these days. We have more answers than ever before and less peace of mind. Because God is infinite and we are finite, He knows that we can only handle the information that we need for today. He isn't keeping it from us to harm us, rather to protect and love on us.

    In Matthew 11:28 NKJV “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and My burden is light.” He says He wants us to bring our burdens to Him. Even if we don't feel like He is there or listening. He is there. He is likely working behind the scenes. We are trying to carry a yoke that doesn't fit us. We are trying to take on more knowledge than we can carry because we think it will help us, but in reality, it just hurts instead.

    God taught the speaker and is now teaching me to not only trust God's voice but also His character. Because God is trustworthy. I'm reminded of the phrase 'WWJD', what would Jesus do? When you are in a situation, and God feels quiet, think about how He would respond and do your best to act accordingly.

    She reminds us that when we fall for the deceiver and try to be like God and have more knowledge, we are being like Eve and failing. God gave Eve all the knowledge she would need for her life, and we need to trust that God has given and will give us all the knowledge at the correct time. He wants us to have freedom, and part of that freedom is freedom from worrying about tomorrow. Matthew 6:34 NKJV "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

    He wants to speak to us and have a relationship with us if we will only listen. If we are honest with ourselves, we may come to see that we treat our faith like a checklist or a to-do list at times. But God wants so much more for us than that, and if we will approach God with an open heart. He will reveal Himself to us. Something I'm working on. I have recently discovered that the Holy Spirit talks to me through reading plans. I don’t absorb very much of the Bible if I just read it. But if I follow a reading plan, the Holy Spirit uses it to transform me.

    It can also feel frustrating when you are earnestly seeking the Lord and an answer for something, and he hasn't answered yet and so you don't know what to do.

God also can't speak to a heart that is closed off to him. So check and see if your heart is turned off from him. Also, don't get upset and turn your heart off to God when He isn't answering you. I am guilty of that.

    If you are struggling to hear from God while waiting for an answer. Ask a friend to pray for you and with you. It's funny, just the other day I was feeling frustrated and waiting on God to answer a prayer. I got home and shared with hubby my frustration. He prayed, and God answered. Unfortunately, I didn't like the answer and wanted to pray again and get a different answer. But that's not how God works. So I accepted the answer and moved on. I decided to be grateful for the answer I had received and go from there. Don't close the door of communication with God. Keep it open. Be honest with Him. Emotions are okay. Good Infact. God gave them to us so we should bring them to Him. Read through the Psalms for comfort. The Psalms are full of lament and worship. Pray through the Psalms and share your heart with God.

I pray this encourages, challenges and blesses you today, friend. It certainly did for me.

God Bless

~Hannah

Hair Growth Routine & Guide

    Six months ago, I chopped my hair off. It was causing me issues, so I cut it off. I should have spent some time figuring out why my scalp was struggling, but I didn’t. As per usual, 2 months later, I started to regret it. Not the haircut itself, but the loss of length. I still stand by that decision, though. I have since decided to get back on track with my hair growth techniques that I used in the past. So I decided to go back to YouTube and see if there was anything new for hair growth. I researched as a teenager, and every few years, I look for updates. I figured there wasn't going to be anything new because there never is. Well, I was wrong. Okay, it may not be new information, but it is to me. Some of what I am about to share I already know and just maintaining it in my routine, or getting back on track, and some is new information.

    When it comes to products, don't judge a book by its cover. Meaning give the product you are using more than 15 min before you decide if you like it or not. Use it a few times to determine if it is good or not. This point isn't really a hair growth technique, more just interesting information that I didn't know about prior.

    

    Hot oil treatment. I have been doing hot oil treatments on and off for years now. Warm up a combination of olive oil, coconut oil and castor oil and apply it to your scalp and through out the rest of your hair down to your ends. All of these oils have their own benefits, I don't remember which ones were which, just that they complimented eachother. I also have a hot oil cap. So I apply the oil, cover my hair with a plastic bag, then put the cap on, plug it in and turn it on and sit under the heat for about 30 min. It's my understanding that to get the full benefits from the oil, it should be warm. Hence the cap. Plus, it’s really relaxing to just sit under that heat for a bit.

    You can detect the quality of your shampoo and conditioner by how many days you can go without washing. Again, interesting information/perspective. I have spent the majority of my life washing every other day. And when it's short, every day. I figured some people could go longer between washes if they had dryer scalps and such, or more often if they were more oily.

    Heat. Using heat on our hair tends to be a rather controversial topic. The second you mention growing healthier hair, everyone says throw out the heat tools. And sure, they aren’t wrong necessarily. You can use heat protectors for both blow drying and straightening. Yes, there are two different types of heat protection. You can use a cooler setting on your hair dryer, go all natural and get rid of all the heat tools or not change a thing about your styling tool usage. Personally, I am in the latter. I blow-dry it after each wash, and I don’t use heat protection. I am debating using a heat protector for blow drying, though. I was also encouraged years ago by a hair dresser that our hair can take some damage. It's not totally helpless and weak. That being said, my hair does not currently look good if I air dry it. It looks better if I air-dry it. I used to be able to do either one, and it would look great. Maybe once it's longer, I will be able to go back to that. I am also trying to research why it doesn’t look good air-dried at this time.

    Well, one video I watched suggested giving your hair two days of rest before using heat again. Which I get. So wash and blow-dry on day 1, and then on day 4 wash and blow-dry again. After watching this video, I started wondering about my hair and if I could get more days between wash day. I started questioning my shampoo and conditioner. Long story short, I learned that I have an oily scalp and need to change my shampoo and conditioner. I learned that I cannot have any oils or hydration ingredients added to it. Some people can even if they have oily hair. I cannot. So I went to YouTube to find some review videos on different shampoos for oily hair, and lots were suggesting L'Oreal Paris and other brands that I didn't know. When I went to Walmart, I figured I would read the labels and see which was the best choice. I kept seeing bottles that advertised oil and hydration, things I don't want. From the few minutes of searching. The only bottle I found that didn't have hydration attributes in it was L'Oreal Paris Hyaluron Pure shampoo and conditioner. So I brought it home and am using it now. It's been a few washes, with more time in between them, and I can see less oil on my scalp.  A few more washes, and I should have a good feel for this new shampoo and conditioner.

    Silk bonnet. I have been sleeping with one on for 6 years and love it to pieces. I think every woman should wear them. They prevent friction from your cotton pillow case. And because you don't wake up with bed head, it greatly reduces the amount of time brushing and handling it in the morning, aiding in keeping it cleaner longer. I was wearing a cotton bandana to work for a few reasons, but with my recent decision to up my hair game. I have switched to silk bandanas instead. Better for your hair. I will also wear it anytime I leave home. To protect my hair from the elements, including my bike helmet and my sun hat.

    Diet and exercise. We all know we are what we eat. Our hair is the last 'organ' to receive nutrients after everything else gets taken care of. So make sure you are eating healthy so that there are enough nutrients to go around. That, of course, looks different for everyone. Your hair especially needs iron, protein, biotin, omega -3, vitimans C, A and E.

    Exercise is also important. Moving our bodies and getting our heart rates up gets our blood pumping and endorphins flowing. That also looks different for everyone.

    Haircuts. Many people have bought into the idea that you have to trim your hair regularly in order to keep it healthy and growing strong. To get rid of the split ends. Which is both correct and incorrect. Yes, get a trim when you can see/feel your ends splitting. But if you trim every 6-8 weeks, you are likely just cutting off any progress that you have made. I also learned though one of the videos I watched, that your ends are not protected, which is why they eventually split and that to prevent that, you can use hair oil. I haven't looked into it much yet, but the principle sounds interesting. We never hear of people talking about split 'mids' just ends. Meaning that by constantly trimming off your ends, all you are doing is shortening your hair.

    Drinking lots of water and keeping your body and hair hydrated.

    It's also best to use a special hairbrush when brushing wet hair. The tangle teezer is  apparently the easiest and is good for thin hair, so I will likely invest in it shortly. Otherwise, I don't brush my hair when it is wet. I do use a barrel brush when I dry it, but I'm not trying to get tangles out when I'm drying it. Oh, I was led to believe for a long time that hair brushes were bad and wide-tooth combs were the only acceptable “brush” to use. Turns out that was also incorrect. There is a hairbrush for pretty much every part of your hair care routine, but you don’t need them all, though. And apparently, according to one YouTuber, the only time to use a wide-tooth comb is when you curl your hair and want to separate them a little and loosen it up. But of course, everyone will have a different opinion and experience with all of this information. Do what works for you and your hair.

    I also use leave-in conditioner after I shower. And at some point, I suspect I will use some hair oil for my ends once it gets a little longer. One of the videos I watched suggested that your hair only grows as far as your products/routine will allow. Again, interesting theory, likely has some exceptions, but still something worth looking into. I expect my hair is too short to bother with hair oil yet (it's now passing my collar bone.) but we shall see.

    I also only wash my roots, and the runoff washes my length, and I condition from my ears down. I do not need to condition my scalp. My scalp produces its own oil quite nicely and therefore doesn't need extra help. Also, your length and ends don't get dirty. You can likely see how far down your hair shaft the oil from your scalp has gone when you wash your hair. I noticed that I can see the line even more prominently now that I switched to a silk bandana for work and wear in general.

    Proper sleep. I don't have any evidence to back it up, mind you, but I do notice that when I'm sleeping well, my skin does well. Our cells are healing themselves while we sleep, so we need to give them their proper time to do so. So I suspect that our hair also benefits from proper sleep.

    Lastly. Scalp massage. Not only can it be relaxing, but it also stimulates the blood flow to your follicles below the surface of your scalp, encouraging hair growth. Some say to use your fingertips to avoid damaging your scalp. You can also buy massage tools. I just use my nails and scratch my scalp instead. Technically not a massage, but it does feel nice.

    Well, there it is, friend, my updated hair care routine that no one asked for. LOL I so enjoyed learning all this new information about products, routine, tools, etc that I just had to share with you all.

God Bless

~Hannah

My new silk bandana for work. Not a glamorous picture by any accounts, but an honest one. Taken right after I put my bandana on upon arriving to work. My favourite way to wear it is with the bow at the tip of my forehead.