Reset for a New Year

Happy New Year, Friends!

How many places are you hearing about setting goals and focusing on self-improvement these days? Too many, right?!

Too often it seems that lists of goals and “to-do’s” make us feel like we can earn our own health, joy, peace, etc. And then when we fail to live up to them, they seem more impossible than ever.

But what if we instead chose to look more to the One True Source of all we desire? 

The more I learn about neurology, the more amazed I am at the ways God has built us to renew and rewire our minds around His way of truth for life. (See John 14:6) And yes, this deeply impacts us at the physical level as well.

Let me share a bit from a brain rewiring coach who has had a positive impact on my life and faith (and healing journey) the past few months.

I’d like you to meet Brea.

Picture a strong, athletic blonde about my age. Life and love for God and others shine from her eyes. Enthusiasm rings in her voice. But it wasn’t always that way…

About 7 years ago, Brea was homeless, living outdoors in the desert far from her little children, because her body had become sensitive and reactive to everything.

Then she learned of Brain Rewiring. And then she met Jesus in the desert.

To put it mildly… that changed everything.

Last fall I signed up for a group coaching class with Brea to take my rewiring deeper. I saw so many new wins during this time and got the fresh boost and perspective needed to continue in this journey.

That’s why I’m so excited to invite you to join me for her first, free workshop, starting next Monday: New Year New You, 5-Day Reset!

Let’s hear straight from Brea: “I don’t know what kind of 2024 you’ve had. If you’ve been doing your brain retraining practice consistently, then chances are you’re leaving 2024 better than when it started. Perhaps your life has been turned right side up again like many I have coached. Or maybe you can’t tell much of a difference. If so, I invite you to either revisit your journal or simply think back to where you started or ask a close friend or family member. You might just be surprised at how much better you are now! And guess what? If it’s not good, then He’s not done yet!  “If you haven’t started your healing journey with brain retraining, then friend, 2025 can be your year to heal! Wouldn’t that be great?! “You can dip your toe in the brain retraining waters with my free New Year New You 5-Day Reset that starts Jan 6th. This mini-workshop will be delivered via email over the course of the week and includes some special printable handouts and exercises to get your healing journey started.”

Want to join? Simply follow this link to Brea’s website and sign up through the pop-up form. Or email Amber and ask to join the 5-Day Reset: info@breakatrin.com Then let me know how the Reset goes for you! ~ Hannah: BrainRewiringforLife@gmail.com Learn more in my latest newsletter HERE. P.S. - I'm waiting for more snow to get out snowshoeing with my nephew again!

December 2024

Remember how I mentioned birthday season began with Mom's a couple months ago? Well, it turned out differently than expected as the flu took over two December birthdays. But first, we gained a new one-year-old!

Hopefully the yak-down sweater I made him will last our big boy a couple of years.

He already loves books... especially if they have real paper pages, which are usually off-limits. But having his very own board books is great too!

Dad still looked and felt pretty awful from the accident, and we were all traumatized to be among any traffic as I drove the hour from home, but we were so grateful to still be all together to celebrate!

A week or two later, Dad was up to getting back to camera club, but still not able to move his body freely enough to drive, so I drove him in. Praise God, He had restored the joy of driving to me again by this time!

On the way, we stopped by to get our last belongings out of the wrecked van, and it looked even worse out of the snowy ditch. What a miracle to see Dad standing by this! The miracle of one or two seconds delay in his turn kept this hit from being full on his door.

With Dad's ongoing pain levels, this was my first year to cut down the Christmas tree on our property. 

Elsa helped me each step of the way!

While later than usual, we got it up just in time for Elsa's birthday!

The new fireplace looks great, but still requires open windows and an exhaust fan as we continue to burn off the new smell on warmer days.

I have even gotten out to knit in the warm corner of the deck a couple of sunny afternoons!

Due to that flu I mentioned earlier, our two birthday girls got to celebrate along with Jesus' birthday party this year!

Three year old hands needed new, wool mittens!

"Grandpa, you look better!" Yes, he does! Still dealing with pain and lack of stamina, but even his numb teeth are starting to feel better, thank God!

The day after Christmas was perfect for exploring on the kids' new snowshoes.

And the snow was perfect for building a snowman!

Then we warmed up by the basement wood stove with a sweet and spicy project: orange pomanders.

And there was even time to try out our old, candle-powered steam boats in the bathtub. What a hit!

Now the days are getting longer, and we look forward to a new year, knowing that our Good Shepherd will continue to lead us in His love and grace.

Happy New Year!
~ Hannah

Tidings of Comfort and Joy

Question: Can you name the source of this quote? 

“Tidings of Comfort and Joy”

Hint: It's a Christmas carol.

That was the inspiration for my latest phone wallpaper design above. (Feel free to tap it and download for personal use.) I don’t know about you, but if I keep the same picture on the background of my phone for too long, I soon don’t notice it anymore. And since that is something I see throughout the day, it’s a great place to put what I want to be reminded of.

Have you figured out the name of the Christmas carol yet?! Answer: “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen”

I have heard the old English of that title explained as follows:

Rest = Keep

Merry = Mighty

And don’t forget to put the comma in the correct place! This is not talking about rollicking men in top-hats, despite all the illustrations and musical arrangements to the contrary. 

Thus all mankind is being told, “God keep you mighty! Let nothing you dismay!” 

And why? What could give that sense of wellbeing? Read on!

God rest ye merry, gentlemen,

Let nothing you dismay;

Remember Christ our Savior

Was born on Christmas Day

To save us all from Satan's pow'r

When we were gone astray;

Oh tidings of comfort and joy

Comfort and joy

Oh tidings of comfort and joy!

Find the rest of the carol's verses for more of the story of the one true Source of comfort and joy. And...

Have a Mighty Christmas! 

~ Hannah

(Photos taken today, on a frosty Christmas Eve)

Counting Plants... and Blessings!

Today I am camped out in a room full of plants hiding out from the sub-zero (°F) temperatures coming into the house as a new fireplace and chimney liner are installed. I started counting plants and ended up laughing! Guess how many plants live on our main floor alone (answer below)!

Each plant feels like a smile and gift from our loving Heavenly Father! Each one showcases His creativity and imagination. Each green leaf is a testament to His life-sustaining power.

And I thrill to know that I, Hannah... sitting among all these plants, am an even greater example of God's creative power. But not only that. I am a testament to His love and grace!

And I keep seeing His blessings wherever I look:

From my mug of green tea,

To the sunshine on snow...

From the new fireplace,

To the big air-scrubber my creative Dad built for these years of dusty house projects...

What blessings are you counting today?

Mine include 47 plants in this room!

~ Hannah

How a Biography Sparked So Many Memories

If you've read many of the YWAM biographies in the Christian Heroes Then and Now series, you may have a guess as to which book our family recently finished when I explain that the photo above is of my sisters and me straddling the equator high in the mountains outside Quito, Ecuador back in 2006.

The book reminded us of the vast mountains and jungles...

...waterfalls and volcanoes...

And we were especially reminded of the people in this varied country who have been touched by the gospel through the ministry of HCJB and other mission organizations our family was privileged to come alongside for three weeks all those years ago.

That's right, it was the biography of HCJB's founder, Clarence Jones. 

But don't worry if you couldn't guess. I had actually never heard his name or story before - even though he was also connected with the Salvation Army, Moody Bible Church, and Awana Clubs. But I would highly recommend this book even if you have never stepped foot in South America. These pictures may just help bring it more to life...

The main reason we all packed up and flew down in 2006 was so that Dad could help with the telephone systems on the HCJB hospital compound and missionary school (run jointly with MAF) in Shell Mera. He had done a bit of this work the year before when traveling down to get my older sister settled into her semester of student teaching at the Nate Saint Memorial School, and there was much more to be done.

Meanwhile, the rest of us enjoyed getting to know Maren's "other home" and friends in Shell while helping get the school cleaned, organized, and set up for the school year. We also got to teach 2nd and 3rd graders the first day of school, "spring clean" for missionaries coming home from furlough, hold orphans, tour the Nate Saint house when it was crumbling under the relentless onslaught of termites, shop the local produce and bakeries almost daily, walk on a hot and smelly volcano 3 weeks after it erupted and wiped out whole villages,  and much more.

Elsa and I had the amazing experience of flying out into the jungle in a 6-seater MAF plane and visiting one of the Waorani villages. These remote people, formerly known as the Aucas, made international news in 1956 when they speared 5 missionaries to death on Palm Beach after spending some friendly days with them and even getting a ride in their little plane. (This story is powerfully told in the 2005 movie The End of the Spear as well as a 2002 documentary called Beyond the Gates of Splendor.) 

The most amazing part of our visit was meeting one of the men who did the spearing! He came out to meet every plane that landed on their grass strip and prayed for us (center man in photo below). His smile was beautiful as he radiated God's love! We also met his grandson who was studying to become a pastor, plus we saw the foundation for the new church they were building up on a hill.

These people who used to live in fear and hate now love to have fun! They painted our faces with the bright red juice of the achiote, made us headbands from nearby plants, sang traditional songs, and laughed with us as we tried to use a blow-gun to hit a banana!

On a more sober note, we were privileged to get in on some of the work of the HCJB hospital in Shell, helping to try feed a toddler every few hours day and night. Marlin had likely suffered from meningitis in his jungle home before his family called MAF to fly him out to the hospital. We saw first-hand the way the missionary doctors and nurses shone with God's love and compassion in hard situations.

And we also enjoyed meeting the Salasaka Kichwa (their current preferred spelling of "Quichua") up in the mountains where the air is so thin that we got headaches! 

And yes, that is the shortest I have ever had my hair cut! Between short, blonde hair and a foot or two more of height than most of the locals, I stood out like a sort thumb. (I am the tallest in the center of the photo below, if you can't tell. Those on the left are standing on a step and thus reached higher than my shoulders.)

How sweet to be reminded of all of this through an audiobook!

An Extra-Thankful Thanksgiving!

This is not your typical Thanksgiving photo, I know. But it sums up why our family is extra thankful this Thanksgiving!

Yesterday my parents were run into less than a mile from home. Mom was unscathed even though pens and a sturdy glasses case inside the purse at her feet were mysteriously broken during impact.

Dad came through all the ER tests and scans with no bones broken and no brain bleed or organ damage, which were huge answers to prayer! He is in a lot of pain from cuts, bruises, sprains, and deep contusions, and his face looks pretty awful. But we are so thankful to have him home and healing.

He was even able to join us in singing around the supper table last night, "Praise God from Whom all blessings flow...!"

Time to get ready for a quiet Thanksgiving supper with the 4 of us at home. (Dad is grateful that much of the meal is soft for his painful teeth and jaw!)

What are you grateful for today?!

~ Hannah