Pitch PERFECT!

Saturday night, my friends and I saw the BEST MOVIE EVER, Pitch Perfect. I mean, it is so good we plan on seeing it at least two more times.

It had an aca-awesome cast, including Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, and Brittany Snow. Anna Kendrick is my favorite actress ever, I wish I could be her. But man alive, the movie is just great! I mean, I don't even know what else to say about it! It's HILARIOUS! Go and see it! You will love it too:)

It inspired us to create our own a capella group, which we have all been practicing for during our off periods! How could you not want to be part of something like this?!

 

These clips can't even give justice to how perfect the movie is. I love it. 

This is what our a capella group's first song is going to be, we are going to be amazing (I mean, we already are from our short practices;))

 

Titanium- David Guetta ft. Sia

I'll be sure to update you all on our amazing a capella skills as time goes on! ;)

xo

Hannah

Exhausted

13 hours of homework later...

But this gave me a good laugh! Just read the reviews!

xo
Hannah

The Girl Who Held the Door For Me

Grief may be a thing we all have in common, but it looks different on everyone.
It isn’t just death we have to grieve. It’s life. It’s loss. It’s change.
And when we wonder why it has to suck so much sometimes, has to hurt so bad. The thing we gotta try to remember is that it can turn on a dime.
That’s how you stay alive. When it hurts so much you can’t breathe, that’s how you survive.
By remembering that one day, somehow, impossibly, you won’t feel this way. It won’t hurt this much.
Grief comes in its own time for everyone, in its own way.
So the best we can do, the best anyone can do, is try for honesty.
  The really crappy thing, the very worst part of grief is that you can’t control it.
  The best we can do is try to let ourselves feel it when it comes.
  And let it go when we can.
  The very worst part is that the minute you think you’re past it, it starts all over again.
  And always, every time, it takes your breath away.
There are five stages of grief. They look different on all of us, but there are always five.
  Denial.
Anger.
  Bargaining.
Depression.

Acceptance.

This morning, when I was on Facebook waiting for my cousin in the car, I saw some statuses from students at my school wanting to know if anyone knew about the student that had passed away the previous evening. I was so confused. Had someone really died? Or was it just another high school rumor? Automatically, I thought about if I had talked to my best friends within the last 12 hours. During choir, my first class, the rumor grew thicker. It was a freshman girl? No one could say for sure. As others were already feeling sad, I honestly was a little sad that a family would have to feel such great pain in loss, but was so happy because A) it had snowed and B) we got our Christmas music in choir and C) Kylee and I were going to Tattered Cover during our off period. In seminar, our teacher delivered the sad news that a freshman girl had indeed died. It gave me such goosebumps, but my life was beebopping along. I said a quick prayer thanking God for my family and friends, and went on with my life. The rest of the day, the school was somber, and I felt like I couldn't smile in the halls. The grey weather outside perfectly reflected the morose feeling inside. 

When I got home from physical therapy after school, my Facebook newsfeed was flooded with sympathy statuses. I did some creeping and finally was able to see a picture of this girl. Then, my breath was instantly taken away.

I instantly recognized this girl. I knew who she was. I saw her every single day. She was best friends with my strength partner. When I went to strength, I saw her in the athletic hall. I saw her when I would go to choir or physics. There's a lot of kids at my school, but I really do remember her face against others. 

When I had my arm in the cast and sling, life was rough. You don't realize how much you do with both hands. If you're holding something with your one able hand, then that's all you can do. One of the toughest things for me was carrying my textbooks and opening the door to the school. After I saw that picture, one thing came flying back at me. She always held the door for me, even if I was far away from the door, she would wait patiently for me to get there and with a friendly smile. This gesture may seem ordinary, I mean why is it that big a deal? People are just kind if they hold the door. But when you're struggling with textbooks, a backpack on one shoulder, and a heavy door, someone kindly holding it really means a lot.

When events like this happen, I always get irritated that kids who didn't really know the person get overdramatic about it. I understand it may bring back memories of their own suffering, but in high school, many do things for attention only. I did put myself in the shoes of one of her friends, thinking if how horrible it would be to lose one of my best friends. I hate that thought, I really do. It gives me a stomachache. These tragedies have only ever happened to people who were strangers to me. But when you can actually put a person with a name, it means so much more. 

Flood this family with prayers.

 

I am counting all my blessings tonight as I think of the girl who held the door for me, who's life was taken far too soon.

Rest in peace sweet girl.

xo

Hannah

High Five for Friday!

One more week till Fall Break!

1. Taking the children to get after school treats!

 2. Choir concerts:)

 3. Gold nails for the fall

4. Beautiful fall colors

5. Hooked on this show.

 

xo

Hannah

Seldom Have Truer Words Been Said

Finding contentment. It's a hard thing to do. It is SO much easier at times to find every little bad and negative thing in life.

I had to go outside in the 40° weather this morning for physics.

We ran out of almond butter.

Olivia spilled all of my Essie blue nail polish on the counter...

and used my licorice body wash in the shower, and dumped half of it down the drain.

My wrist hurts and is big and swollen.

I had an AP Euro test.

My room is cold.

I don't understand the speaker on the Spanish video.

See? It's easy! But this school year, I've noticed something. Despite starting the year off with a nasty broken arm that was quite the burden and is not making for an easy recovery, I've loved this year. I don't feel as stressed, which is completely opposite of what I would expect to feel. I see things so much more positively.

I have an off period, with one of my most favorite people ever.

I have As in both of my AP classes, what?!  

I've actually read some books for fun.

I like every single one of my teachers.

I was accepted for National Honor Society.

My room has only been a horrible mess once.

I've gotten so much better at prioritizing.

I've figured out new handy study techniques.

I've got a abs of steel because of my daily 200-250 sit ups.

I've found so many new TV shows I love (a good/bad thing;))

The homecoming dance was the best ever.

I went to my first concert, and it was perfection.

I reconnected with an old best friend.

I've had so much fun with my family on the weekends.

I started my gallery wall.

My grades are all high.

I have gained more focus and get more done.

I've made more friends.

I've become so much closer to God.

I have gotten so much better at seeing the good.

I've had hardly any bad days.

I have found peace and balance.

My grass is green. I've worked for it. I can't have anyone else's green grass but my own, so why bother being jealous? To keep it green, I have to use my energy in the resources I've invested in, not wish I had others.

I see my blessings. I have chosen to be happy. God has given me so much. Life is good because the Giver is good, and when I make the most of this life, then will I continue to find contentment.

I am exactly where I need to be.

xo

Hannah

 

For the Love Of Classical

If there is one thing about me that is pretty different than the sterotypical 16-year old girl it's the fact that I love classical music. LOVE it. Now recognize, I do enjoy other music too, but classical music brings me back to center. I enjoy turning on the classical station sometimes on my way to school and turn it up REAL loud and completely be taken away with the music, the power, the peace, the perfection.  Today in choir, our teacher showed us this video. Watch it. Benjamin Zander is quite a character! But what he has to say is oh so true and beautiful.

Benjamin Zander: The transformative power of classical music 

I love the piece that he plays. 

Frédéric Chopin - Prelude in E-Minor (op.28 no. 4) 

We are basically told nowadays not to like classical music because it is 'boring'. I disagree so so much. It is not music merely for entertainment like so much of the junk nowadays, but solely emotion. There is a story behind every song that conveys a message so much stronger than 'being at a payphone trying to call home but not having enough money because it was all spent on some person'. That is a catchy song, don't get me wrong, but just not to the same caliber as a piece by Chopin or Mozart. If classical music is boring to you, you're probably a boring listener;)  Just find a composer you love (my faves are Chopin and Bach) and really think about what you are listening to and what it is trying to tell you.:)

xo

Hannah 

PS- Guess what it is supposed to do tonight... SNOW!!!

OCTOBER!

It is finally October!!! That means the season of holidays has begun! Halloween, Thankgiving, {MY FAVORITE} Christmas!, and New Years! I just love it all!

It is truly fall! The leaves are changing, the air is crisp, the sunset was ravishing, there was a gorgeous full moon, God knows we want fall! I woke up this morning to the sound of a Pumpkin Spice Latte being placed on my nightstand... pure happiness. Thank you Mom and Dad:)

Love when my room is illuminated by the warm light

Slowly changing!

I love where I live.

I cross my fingers for snow soon. It is the best. Three years ago, towards the end of October, we had the best snow storm ever (besides the 2004 one). I love blizzards, and being trapped in the house with hot cocoa constantly being made, snow gear going on and off, and the glee from all children having the day off. 

We were little babies!

Our sledding hill is incomparable, just look at all the air Liv would get!

Snowboarding down, the best.

I am in love with fall, can you tell? 

xo
Hannah

PS- To my wonderful friend Riley, who tore her ACL playing soccer:( Feel better soon!!! I hope your treats cheer you up!