This isn't JUST news

At this moment I am quite a happy girl,

In two weeks I'm going to be going down to Provo Utah and I'm staying with my best friend Briana Petters!

 

This chika filled my high school years with some of the best times a girl could have. It's been over a year since we last saw each other. I know, sad right?

The time has finally come in which we are going to be reunited! Hallelujah! I'm just hoping that nothing comes up between now and then that will inflict on our reunion...cuz that would suck. I cannot wait to see my Petters again!

Eskimo Tales

Ain't it funny how the communication with a guy, even if you've never met him before, will make a  girl giddy as ever? I'm talking with this guy in my D&C class on Facebook and he is so pickin' funny! This kid is making my night-Congrats Brother Paramore.

Due to my D&C semester project I've made it my goal to go to the temple at least once a week. I went this past Thursday and even though the weather was UGLY outside, I was able to snap some cool pictures of the Rexburg Temple. 

Then on my way to the store I saw for the first time a street sweeper for our campus sidewalks-it looked so cool (and made it incredibly easier to walk)! This guy is one of my new favorite people <3

THEN perhaps it's just because of it's colonial style that reminds me of home, but I think this house is one of the prettiest in Rexburg. Every time I walk by it I have to stop and stare and wish I could go inside. It looks so good in the snow!

Well, there are some incredibly small tales from the now ice laden Rexburg, bye!

Psych I've got more!

There was the opening of a small super savings store and this hunk was walking around with a shopping cart full of Twinkies and ho ho's so Abbie and I HAD to get a photo with him! An epic picture and free Twinkies? He made our day. And like Abbie says " Ain't nothing hotter than a guy in a Twinkie suit. ;) " Oh my dear friend, I couldn't agree more.

Hannah Stokes, Welcome

I really am quite happy :)

My life might not be full of exciting, exotic, thrilling happenings...but I can honestly say every night when my head hits the pillow that I am happy and that my day was wonderful.

I think I often take for granted how much peace I have in my life.

I usually wish for this grand adventure to take place...and while I consider my life to be incredible tame...that's an adventure in and of itself.

I am so incredible happy/thankful for all that I have been able to experience thus far in my life because when I look back on it, I realize I've done more than many people will ever get to do or see. And I am so..so thankful for that.

A part of me always wants to be on the fast track, hanging out with the go do'ers and living a life that always appeared to be glamorous and astounding-but once I sit down and really look at my life...I realize I'm not missing anything.

So I've never been to the ice caves, or gone repelling off a bridge, gone hiking in the rockies, four wheeling at the dunes, heck I haven't been to General Conference...but I'm just proud of myself to know that I can live an extreme life without having to measure myself up against those people who have.

Too often I'm comparing myself. I look at them, and think I'm not cool enough because I haven't done these things.

Well I'm tired of that.

I truly enjoy all that I have done. 

I love the friends I have and my roommates and all that they do for me.

I think my family is one of the coolest out there, even if we do spend most of our evenings watching old movies, eating fried chicken wings, and snuggling on the couch. We love to do stuff, but I love my family the most for being able to do normal, everyday activities that we love in the presence of each other.

We are able to be ourselves around each other without trying to measure up to some great expectation.

I'm so proud of myself for having the curiosity and courage to go repelling or rock climbing if the opportunity arose-but I know I'm not going to wither away if it doesn't happen.

I'm grateful for the teachers I have and for the life lessons they keep teaching me everyday-how to live, how to work, and how to be the best possible person who can be. Honestly, our potential is limitless.

Like eternity, there's no end to what we can do.

When I was young, it took me a while to get confidence in myself.

Once I found it, I've never wavered. It's remained so sure with me. I never had to doubt it.

Now it has taken me a while to stop comparing myself to others.

I'm sure I still will, but it won't be in a manner that will cause me to tear myself down in the process.

It will be for self growth or to really appreciate the skill or wonder that someone has.

I hope this new state of mind will remain with me as strong and as sure as my confidence has.

I am so proud to be who I am.

I love being Hannah Stokes.

And there is no way I would ever give up what I have been given.

Creamed Walls Adorned With Spots

Word to the wise, my titles usually have nothing to do with the actual topic of my blog. [I'm sorry for our humanized predictability] ;  

However, in a semester adorned with hunky gingers, no meat, and a reasonable desire to do well in school, it's hard to ever understand the future.

Gah, I'm way tootired to be writing a blog at the current momente'

For all our sakes lets hope a more detailed art project will appear in our mist sooner than later...yes.

~Music for a soothed soul~

BYU-I Round 2

Rexburg, I've arrived!

This Season is Looking Purtier Every Day

These next couple weeks are going to be pretty incredible-not for Christmas...but because of Christmas. Due to this splendorous holiday my older brother Adam will be coming home tomorrow evening, my older sister Jessica will be coming home in a week, and Matt and Jaimie will be driving up from Georgia next week as well! 

It's interesting to think that each person has their own individual love that is felt towards them. I love both Matt and Adam, but it doesn't mean I love them for the same reasons. Oh love. It's such a powerful four lettered word. Huh, I accidentally spelt word as world in the last sentence, but changed it for grammer's sake; but think about it: It's such a powerful four lettered world. When your in love, your in a world completely different than when your out of it. I know I feel mountains different when I'm eating a delicious food, walking down the streets of Downtown Fredericksburg, hanging out with the YSA, being with my family, or making something new than when I'm just by myself finding things to do. I feel like love is a state of being that one can easily jump into at any moment of the day.

Haha, well there's my thought for the day. It is really quite intriguing once you start to think about it. Then like bubbles I feel the different loves can start layering and building on each other. That's when you experience those euphoric, shout out to the world "I love life" moments.

In such cases it's easily to believe that love can never end. 

This weekend the young singles adults are going to see the Nutcracker in Richmond for a branch activity. They've counted that around 45 members are going to be there. For an activity of ours, that's incredible! We're just going to take that theater over. One thing I like about the Nutcracker is that no matter how many times you've seen it before, it doesn't get old. It's like your favorite old sweater, shoot it's like Christmas songs! Just instilling that seasonal excitement within you so much that you can't help but smile the entire time. Being able to watch it with all my friends, and Adam, I sincerely cannot wait.

Life is a Flirt

I tell you what, going to church sure does some amazing things to a girl. I really didn't want to go today. Point blank answer. I had a lesson to teach that I didn't prepare for and overall I was just feeling icky for some reason. I figured using the wedding and the preparation for the  reception and what not would be a perfect and understandable excuse for not going. Oh but did the Lord have something else planned entirely different. 

With faith and dragging confidence I went to church-picked up the fantastic Kelly, got to hear the first act of Swan Lake on the way there, then out of the blue while I was just setting my stuff down on the pew, Becca walks up behind me and asks if I'd be willing to lead the music during sacrament today. I knew how so I said sure, but then...I got to fulfill a childhood dream I didn't realize I'd forgotten about until it was staring right at me. After 15 years of waiting...I finally got to change the numbers on the wall for the hymns we were to sing. Don't ask me why, but something about those ladies who got to mysteriously pull numbers out of no where, change the numbers out so smoothly for the songs, then make them disappear again, I was captivated and couldn't wait until I got my chance. Of course, this would be that incredible day. Your probably laughing at my silly childhood dream, but I'll tell you what, I can live happier knowing that a forgotten bucket list item has been crossed off. 

Waving my hand around in sacrament was actually really enjoyable too. It'll be a first of many I hope; just as long as those songs don't trip me up with their silly fermatas. Not only did I get to sit near the incredibly fun new return missionary whose only three weeks green, but I was able to bear my testimony about the importance of temples and how their multiple effects on me this past month has made me eager than ever to prepare myself to be able to enter into those beautiful houses of God. Haha, as Mom said in one of our recent conversations, "Most girls now-in-days go to the temple to get married, but you want to get married so you can go to the temple." Don't get me wrong, I will be marrying for all the right reason to, I'm not dumb, but I do feel I will be indebted to my future husband for taking me to a place I've dreamed about my whole life. 

Sunday school was wonderful as always, but my lesson in Relief Society turned out far better than I imagined-meaning I didn't have to leave 15 minutes at the end of class for testimonies. In fact, we went over time and had to skip the closing song. The nice thing about Relief Society is that the Sisters do just about as much teaching as the teacher does. Participation in class will make the difference between an unforgettable spiritual experience and just another lesson about gratitude. I love our little branch so much. Staying there long enough has really changed my ideals about what a singles branch is about. Reckon I haven't even been there a full year combined, but the people and the experiences your able to share with them truly make each of them remarkable. I wish never to forget them for the rest of my life.

Just going to church has totally straightened all my emotions out. I feel 100% about the issues I was having trouble with and I'm confident about the positions I need to take. However I'm still undecided about school. I was looking at housing and classes and trying to feel if going back out there is the right thing. A thought came to my mind while looking around on the BYU-I website: that if it was the right place to go the first time, why would it have become a bad decision now? I don't feel there is a bad outcome of staying home or going back out to school, but I am likely to gain something important if I'm willing to put my heart into either situation. Oh life, you tease and tickle me so. I tell you what, life is a flirt. It's a good thing I grew up in a house of flirts and are one to or else this whole life ordeal would be a lot more confusing.

Christmas Blessing #1

The Lord has in an unmeasurable amount blessed my life lately these past few days; however the text I got from my brother-in-law this morning would have to top anything since Georgia.

JESSICA IS COMING HOME BEFORE CHRISTMAS!

 The idea of her coming home early seemed to be an irrational hope, but now it has turned into an unbelievable dream! That means that all the Stokes kids as well as two new spouses are going to be together for Christmas. This will be the first time that our entire new family will be together. Haha, it's an odd thought to slowly be adding new members to our family, but Ross and Jaimie are incredible people; it'd be hard to imagine our family without them. This is the perfect news to start out the Christmas season. Happy Holidays everyone! Please be thankful for your family, they're the few people we know we'll be with after this life on earth. Love them and don't ever think different or stray from that love.

 

104 Thankfuls

I challenged my friend Jennifer and I to write 104 things we're thankful for over this Thanksgiving Break, this is the list I was able to come up with-these are the things that first popped into my head.

1. Bacon
2. Wind
3. Sun
4. Clouds
5. Color
6. Hair
7. Personalities
8. Accessories
9. Purses
10. Freckles
11. Facial Expressions
12. Variety
13. Cultures
14. Refridgerators
15. Cheese
16. Family
17. Laughter
18. Genders
19. Knowledge
20. Learning
21. Metal
22. Carpet
23. People
24. Beliefes
25. Determination
26. Service
27. Charity
28. Repentance
29. Music
30. Harmony
31. Whistleing
32. Pianos
33. Air Conditioning
34. Love
35. Stripes
36. Teeth
37. Taste
38. Health
39. Trust
40. Smiles
41. Passion
42. Desire
43. Teachers
44. Decorations
45. Voice
46. Sight
47. Touch
48. Hearing
49. Artist Talent
50. Language
51. Forgiveness
52. Watches
53. Scarves
54. State/County Fairs
55. Rain
56. Thunder
57. Sweaters
58. Sturdy Buildings
59. Hair Bands
60. Seniors (Graduating)
61. Devotionals
62. Smores
63. Camping
64. Awkward Moments
65. Tears
66. Floss
67. Onions
68. Journals
69. Goals
70. Kissing
71. Hugs
72. Back Rubs
73. Talent
74. Christmas
75. Temples
76. New Beginnings
77. Flowers
78. Testimony
79. Truth
80. Mirrors
81. National Parks
82. Chairs
83. Beds
84. Pillows
85. Birds
86. Beebee Guns
87. Smile Lines
88. Elderly
89. Play Grounds
90. Toilets
91. Coincidences
92. Random Laughter
93. Bobby Pins
94. Soap
95. Volleyball
96. Athletisism
97. Olympics
98. Honey
99. Church
100. Tame Animals
101. Inside Jokes
102. Legends
103. Change
104. Sweets

A Chance Meeting

This is for you Cody.

Memoirs of our Georgia Trip

Here are some photos of our trip to Georgia-we went for a wedding and I didn't get one picture of the couple. Terrible huh? I will upload pictures of them later though, so stay updated.

Haha, swinging underneath trees results in some pretty pictures.

Watching the LSU Arkansas game-we will not mention the results...

This is Bubba the alligator! The day we went to see him he wasn't feeling particularly social so this is the best picture I got of him.

Blog Blurg

I love how it is possible to be enthralled by a total stranger. You don't even have to meet them to become completely fascinated about all they are. That's something I admire about the human race: they don't have to meet someone to believe what that person stand for. So many people have faith. A powerful faith that has the ability to change lives.

It just amazes me how much time people are willing to put into the ideals they believe in. Example: The protestors on wall street and soon to be capital. They may be bothersome to those outside their cause, but you gotta give them kudos for their determination and willingness to make change happen.

Humans really are strong. Both physically, mentally, and spirituality.

It's inspiring :)

There's my random blog blurg.

3 days till we leave for Georgia!

Which means,

3 days till a 2 week long party.

C'mon goodness!