Are thumb rings ever cool?

Because I've started wearing one again. I'm pretty sure this is a sign of taking two steps backward out of mature adulthood, but I don't really care. I'll take it off in a few days.

On the health front, I've make a determination to go back to, and stick with in a serious way the decision to be wheat free, which in turn becomes being gluten free, because...well, it just happens. When I started working, I was still wheat free, but then one day...I was really hungry. And I ate a sandwich. And from then on, I was eating sandwiches. Frankly, this is not good. I have seen the effects it's making on my body, and I dislike them. Aside from probably weight gain, there are other things like my skin that are clearly affected, and I'm retaining a lot of water (which accounts for weight gain.)

So, that's a boring thing to talk about, but I'm just letting you know. I don't eat wheat, okay? Don't let me do it. Ever again.

In other news, I visited a new church today (remember that lesson I learned about trusting God to bring a Christian man into my life out of the blue? It was that guy's church.)

Although, as I expected, he wasn't there. I knew he wouldn't be. The Lord even whispered something along the lines of this to me: "Hannah, you know that you pursuing him is going to slow everything down, right?" And then I told myself, "Besides, he really probably isn't the one. I'm just crazy."

But I sincerely wasn't going to try and find this guy. What would I have done? Gone up to him and said, "Hey, remember me from the Senior Day? My name is Hannah, and a girl from work directed me to your Facebook profile, and I stalked you, and that's how I knew you'd be at this church."

Lame. And creepy. And awkward. But if I was in that situation, I'm in a place of personal confidence, that I'd probably tell him the truth. Maybe it's desperation. Either way, he wasn't there, but I enjoyed the service. The pastor is a ZBC graduate (I think from several years ago, before they came to Haverhill.) He's very hip and traditional at the same time. Maybe not hip...more like straightforward. Which I appreciate, if it's not too rash.

It was nice. I don't know that I'll go back...because...well, I have a church already, and..I'm not dating that guy yet. Or ever.

Anyway. Lesson re-learned: Strategically placing yourself in a place that a guy might be doesn't work. Let the Lord bring you together.

The end.

Funny story at the end.

"...Not necessarily big, 'ha, ha, ha,' 'laugh out loud' funny, and certainly not make-fun-of-other-people funny but rather something human-funny." - Marie, from Dan in Real Life

I have a job. I have a job that I love. I'm so thankful.

Last night, I set up my banking account for a monthly transfer from checking to savings. I wrote out a check for my tithe. I bought my own car insurance. Today, I bought my transcripts from Mt. Zion, so that I can get back on the ball for school in the fall.

So thankful to the Lord for making this possible. Sure, my car is falling apart. Sure, I haven't been able to go to the gym in a month. Sure, I'm not as organized as I'd like to be. Sure, sometimes my emotions get away from me. Sure, I still live at home and am needing rides from my parents to work again...but you know what? I'm content, and my earthly ducks are in a row for now. Things are not a cyclone of confusion, you know? I mean..I dunno. I can save for a car. I can save for my wedding. I have the ability to take care of myself with financial things, and it makes me really, really, happy.

Things at work are going well, I'm still not the best in the Cafe, but I feel really comfortable on Drive Thru and Bar.

I'm going to be in a wedding this fall! Allix got engaged a few days ago! She knew her boyfriend was asking her dad on Mother's Day, and then a couple days after she got home, they got engaged!! So excited for her. She's totally wife material. It's just where her life is at, you know?

The wedding is in the Fall, and I'm in it. Because Allix and I are biffs. With weddings come fitness, and before fitness comes a girl who has literally not been to the gym or done any major physical activity for a month. Not having a reliable car makes it difficult.

Making lame eating choices also stunts my success. But, such is my story. You've heard it all before.

Either way, I'm on the road again, to success. At least I'm not insecure anymore.

So, funny story. You remember my unrequited love story, right? Maybe you were a part of it, depending on who reads this. 

And there was an underlying reason as to why I continued to unrequitedly love. I didn't fully believe my own belief that God could cross my path with any Christian man out of the blue. I believed it, but I believed that it had to be someone from church, or small group or something. A place where I could be confident that the men were saved.

Obviously, this had led to disappointment, because though I know some godly, single men, I am clearly not in a relationship with any of them.

So I went to Canada. Freaked out, chilled out, had a great time. Came home and declared all sorts of "faith-filled" things about a person who really is...well, great as a casual friend, where his faults don't matter, but as a partner...it's just simply a bad idea. Logically. Realistically. For me. It's okay...I think that logic and reason, and God, have won out in this thing. But my parents were on board, and we all prayed together, and it was nice.

And fast forward to the next day. The day of a Donation for work, at the community center. It was Senior Day, and Em and I were serving coffee to Seniors. Well, made coffee and brought t over with cups, milk, cream and sugar. And we smiled, and looked pretty. 

And what would happen? Now, don't take the rest of this too seriously. I'm not claiming any big future things, but it's a lesson learned. I met someone. We didn't even officially introduce ourselves to each other, but we met, and we hit it off fine, and it turns out this guy went to high school with a bunch of people that I work with. And after some Facebook stalking, he knows people that I went to youth group with, back when I was about 14.

See where I'm going with this? Aside from this proof of how tiny our planet it, this guy is a Christian. It's fairly clear from stalking his Facebook. Who would have thought? Not I. But it happened. In an unexpected place, I met and got along with a guy who turned out to be a Christian.

Out of the blue. God is able to do things like this. And deep down, I believed it, but I didn't really. Because I'm human, and I desire proof, just like anyone.

So...I don't expect to see this guy ever again, although he works two buildings away, and I know his work schedule (he offered the information. but then failed to get my number. Or name. So...I dunno.)

He also said he's not a big coffee guy. Which is an issue. Maybe he likes tea.

Anyway, I don't expect to see him again. Maybe he'll come into the store one day. We'll see. But until then, I have a renewed faith that the Lord can do quite literally anything. Even cross my paths with a Christian man in an unexpected place.

So there.

[Oh,] Canada.

This is actually from the drive home. :P

Whenever anyone goes to Canada, or talks about Canada, they ALWAYS say "Oh, Canada," or sing "Oh, Canada," or whatever.

Obviously I had to follow suit because..well, it's simply appropriate.

Allix and I drove to Canada on Friday.

To prove it, here's an exceedingly unattractive picture to prove it. Well, unattractive of me. Allix looks lovely. I share it because I have no more shame. Quite literally.

We drove to Canada because our classmate Roman, was thinking about getting married, and asked us to come enjoy the event. The moral of the story is that Roman is one of my favorite people, and I have been psyched about his wedding for a YEAR. Quite literally to the day, because LAST year, at Hannah Eddy's wedding, Roman was like, "Yeah, I think we're gonna get married in May..." And his wedding day was the day after Hannah Eddy's. Just a year later.

Sooooo.. A whole year! Been waiting forever! His wife is lovely, and also perfect for him. The ceremony was beautiful, the reception was great. Lindsay had like, the perfect Pinterest wedding. She pinned things, and actually DID them. I was massively impressed.

Saw a lot of classmates, which was really nice.

So, funny story: Roman's house. Allix and I knew we were staying there, but we didn't quite comprehend that everyone else was staying there. We arrived, got inside, poked around a bit, to figure out who was staying and...well, EVERYONE was staying.

We were like, "What the...?!" and kind of freaked out. Well, I freaked out. If you know anything about my life, and/or have read any previous posts about my bout of unrequited love, then..well...just fit those pieces together and go on your merry way.

But it gets better! Honest! Between the time that we got to the house, and everyone came home from the rehearsal dinner, the Lord did a massive work in my heart.

I knew one thing: If I kept on freaking out, it would be selfish, and it would ruin everything for everyone. I didn't want to be a quiet jerk, like I've done in the past, because it's wrong. I wanted to do what was right in the eyes of God because...well, being selfish is wrong. I'm not that person anymore.

I had determined all kind of ways to deal with the weekend. Don't have a cold shoulder, but don't be friends.  Don't be rude, but don't interact.

All contradictions, really. The right thing to do was to..well..forgive, not hold any grudge or bitterness, and have a nice time. I was there for Roman, after all.

Well...in the end, as far as I'm concerned, everything went great. I love seeing how I've changed when I'm in different social situations, etc. Case in point, I danced at the reception! I have NEVER even remotely considered going onto the dance floor because I have ZERO dance skills, and I don't like looking stupid.

But as I watched everyone, I realized..they don't have dance skills either. No one knows what to do, they're just copying each other and having fun.

So that's what I did. And it was fantastic.

We got to see Niagra Falls before we left on Sunday. They're beautiful, although, I think we all agreed that they're smaller than we anticipated. Oh well. Still beautiful, and majestic, and very, very quiet. It was interesting. I would post a picture, but Zack has them on his phone, and has yet to send them to me.

The drive back was long. We left about four hours behind schedule, which was in the end okay. It was nice to spend the extra time with everyone.

For good measure, here's another picture of me and Allix, being beautimous.

I like this.

This week has been great. I've had some emotional backlash, but I've gotten to see all kinds of friends and drink coffee, and make coffee, and laugh, laugh, laugh. My job is going to give me epic laugh lines.

The seven shots of espresso I had today don't help, I'm sure.

But really, it's been so nice to catch of with the Gable's on Wednesday (over coffee), and with Sam today (over coffee) and then with Sam AND Anna tonight (over pizza), and then tomorrow I'm going to to dinner with Priscilla.

AND ALLIX IS COMING NEXT WEEK! YAY.

She and I are road-tripping to Canada for a friend's wedding. Roman. Love that guy. Obviously his fiancee loves him more, but as far as friendship goes, I like him a whole lot. SO excited for him and Lindsey.

There was one potential cloud over the trip, but I've gotten over it. Ain't got nothing on me.

Well, this blog is really dull, but my life is not. Life is great, and the people in it are fantastic, and today was a great day.

I really should stop writing when I have nothing substantial to say. I don't like these kind if posts. Boo.