I flew through a tree...

and face planted into the dirt. I'm so glad that I ditched trying to look like a cool person and wore my handy-dandy helmet! After church, several friends from church and I went to Peace Valley Park and rode our bikes around the lake. 5 miles! It was kind of hard when we had to go up hills because I have a road bike, but it was so pretty and the wind was so refreshing. I was smiling the whole time...I bet I ate a bug =/

Anyway, there was a steep hill and I was cruising down. I kind of got a little scared so I tried to slow down. Little did I know, my bike chain popped out and my bike started to fishtail and then I cursed...and then I knew I was doomed to crash into a tree and I flew through it. It happened so fast. I just have a few bruises on my legs and a scrape on my ankle. My bike now needs to go to the shop to get a tune up and some new tires. Thankfully, it happened towards the end of the trail so I enjoyed most of my time. It was kind of scary though...so...I'm still thinking about it.

I didn't have my phone on me, so I couldn't take any pictures to share...but it was GORGEOUS! I'm definitely going back...and now...I want a mountain bike...

My next two "big" purchases:










Fujifilm Finepix x100

and some kind of nice mountain bike that won't fling me into a tree when I'm going down a hill.

^_^ I love being outside on days like this. I LOVE FALL!!! Have a blessed week, ya'll!

Smile,
E.H.

Chocolates or Flowers?

It's rather the norm to get a girl a box of chocolates or flowers (or both if you're generous ^^) when you want to show her you care for her. In fact, I think people consider it a cliche, which, in my opinion, isn't a bad one. However, I used to really dislike chocolate. While most people enjoyed its melty feature, it grossed me out and I really hated the aftertaste. And, flowers? I didn't understand why people smelled them. They don't smell that nice! I don't know why, I just didn't enjoy them the way I thought you were supposed to. Well...these days, that's totally not the case. While I still delight in gummy bears (best candy ever!), I've come to truly adore flowers and how beautiful they are and there are days when I'm crazy for chocolate...it's the weirdest thing ever! I don't know why this new appreciation for chocolates and flowers has suddenly made its way into my heart, but it has~

So, flowers or a box of chocolates? Yes, please! ^^















































(Top to bottom/Left to Right: Purple twirly flowers & Hibiscus from Bartram's Garden-Philadelphia, Yellow and white and purply-pinkish flowers from Temple Ambler's Arboretum-Ambler, & Hot pink flowers from Chinatown-Philadelphia)...I sad I LIKE flowers...I don't know a thing about them, though! =P Hehe~ Photos were taken by my phone...not too shabby, right?!

Flower make me smile,
E.H.

It took a Killer movie to get me back on here...

Kind of been awhile since I've written in here...so here I am! I don't know if you'll see this, but Willis, thanks for reminding me about it at the school fair =P

Life has changed a little bit...a lot. I'm currently in graduate school, working, tutoring (same kid as before), and trying to have a social life. AGH! It's really hard to prioritize...

Tonight, I hung out with a few friends and watched Killer Elite (keke...get the title now?!). Can I just say, Jason Statham is like a very, very attractive man? Like, okay. I know that killing is bad. It's horrible! It's the worst. But, like he's always trying to escape that world and he's such a man about it and like...the way he loves a woman...oh my gosh. There is something really attractive about him. He's so badass.

Back to reality: No one like J.Statham exists and his facial hair probably, actually hurts a lot if you kissed him. HAHAHA =P

Movie Review for Killer Elite: KILLER AWESOMEEEE! The chair scene in the commercial is way more awesome in the movie. I was looking forward to Clive Owen being his hot self but that didn't happen so that was kind of a let down. I'm going to stop writing because I think I may potentially ruin the movie for the 2 people who may read this... =)

Back to Tree-hugger McHarg and my paper...

Smiling,
E.H.

Love of my life

Isn't she beautiful? 96 and still happenin'. I love her!

Smile foh yo grandparents,
E.H.

Darkness into Light

Last year was an extremely hard year for me. I attended five funerals, two of which were within one week apart. Many people have died during my lifetime, people my parents knew, but aside from when my uncle passed when I was in 4th grade, last year, I have a personally tie to each person who passed. Some were tragic, some for old age. Generally, I don't have a hard time moving on or letting go, but each funeral was hard for me to deal with.

Since last year, this year has been much lighter, but this morning, reality hit me again as I woke up to news to about the tragic death of a dear friend's colleague/friend. A young man of 25 died on his birthday. And although my only connection to this late young man is my friend, I can't help but be reminded of how painful it is to lose people we know.

For some reason, whenever I am facing loss, two songs always come to mind. One is "This is my Father's World" and the other is "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus". They are near and dear songs to me and God has lifted me up from so many tough circumstances in my life. I couldn't find a version of "This is my Father's World" that fit the way I generally sing it but here's "Turn Your Eyes...":



<3 Thank you for saving me.

-E.H.

"When the storm is raging all around me, you are the peace that calms my troubled seas.
When the cares of this world darken my day, you are the light that shines and shows me the way."
-"Beautiful Lord" by Leeland

I love this song. I've shared it before and I'll probably share it again. It always captures everything that it inside of me, how I see God, and how he works in my life. It's how I rejoice and cry out to God.

I am a mess.insecure.a hypocrite.judgmental.brutal. But, while the world tells you to take a look in the mirror to see the "real" you, God never says that. He tells us to look at him, the cross, and his love because that changes everything.

<3 I hope everyone has a blessed Sunday.

Smile big,
E.H.