What's a More Creative Word for "Update"?

I couldn't think of one, either. Brain is tired.
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Wow. The spring semester is almost over! ALMOST. In some ways it seems like summer is just around the corner. In other ways, it seems like summer will never get here. (ever.)

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But I know it will. I just have to face the giant storm brewing on the horizon... finals. But you and I have a God that is bigger than any finals... and greater than any storm on my horizon. Amen?
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I'm about to dive into the last full week of classes before finals begin, so I thought it would be nice if you all got to hear from me before I disappeared off the social radar (at least until I get home). So this is just a quick, scattered peek into what's been going on in my life lately. But you never know. I might take a break from the last two weeks of school to peep in and say hello. (notice I said I m.i.g.h.t. haha!)
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Hope you all have a fantastic Sunday!

Much love!

Hannah
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Easter Sunday. Mmmmm, it was such a GORGEOUS day. And I know it was two whole weeks ago, but I thought I should share this fabulous sunrise that God gave us. A handful of friends and I fell out of bed before the crack of dawn for our own sunrise service. It was definitely worth it.
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If you want me to be mean and get a song stuck in your head for you, it would only be fair. Ever since watching Hello Dolly I've had trouble getting ready for church without at least humming that "Sunday clothes" song... la-la-de-daaaa-de-da-de-da-de-la-la-laaaaaaaaaa... sorry.
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Friday night was rather unusually UNlike college life. (in a gooooood way.) It started off with my choir performing in a special concert on Friday night. (which was simply marvelous!!) 

Afterwards, the school faculty and staff played the all-stars of our collegian teams in girl's softball and guy's baseball. I'd never been at a baseball game until nearly 1:00 in the morning before. I'd also never played v-ball in the grassy area beyond the outfield during aforementioned game. At... midnight.
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And this is us... at late hours. High on chocolate-chip cookies and adrenaline.
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Why, we all look so fabulous, you'd never guess that we needed sleep at all! And that I was up the next morning at 6:30 for Bible club with the neighborhood kiddos? oh, yes. (my friends... a cold shower and an iced coffee will help)
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Besides. I wouldn't want to miss such a gorgeous sunrise.
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Yeah, other than that, college life has been pretty average. Midnight baseball games are rare. But there's an abundance of sweet tea, piano music, studying, and practicing to do. Not as much v-ball as I'd like... and certainly not as many good hair days as the self-portrait makes you think.

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But it's all in the life.

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And it's pretty fabulous.

Hannah | Class of 2012

Last semester, I was just a cocky freshman with big ideas on the outside, but with a scared bunny rabbit heart on the inside. I was in the real, high-pressure world for the first serious time, and life was crazy. But God put special people in my life who helped bring me out of my freshman daze.

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One of those people was Hannah. A senior nursing major, Hannah lives down the hall, so she's in my prayer group. She's a petite girl with a giggle and an alto voice that my entire prayer group can count on for keeping us in tune. A smile lights her face when she talks about her Boy Back Home... the one who gave her the rock on her left hand.
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Oh, and she's got the same initials as me... pretty cool, if you ask me.

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I had the priviledge to shoot her senior pictures a few weeks ago. Let me tell you - she's a blast! We hopped into her car and headed to the gorgeous downtown area, hoping for a pinch of golden hour to make for a fabulous session.  

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Well, we didn't get our sunshine, but we got a big pelican instead. Isn't that... almost.. the same thing?
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Like me, Hannah prefers the other side of the lens (in fact, I think I almost talked her into asking her man for a Canon as a wedding present... go me!). But I think she can definitely rock the model side, too.
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Down at the wharf was this fabulous old ship that we both just thought was super cool. I could hear the Navy brat in me calling...
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See, guys? She's gorgeous!
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Not to mention she has a heart the size of Jupiter.
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At the beginning of last semester, my prayer group did "secret sisters." Over the course of the semester, my secret sister just "happened" to know when I needed cheering up or encouragement or chocolate. Before Christmas break, I got one last gift from my secret sister... an adorable tin of Snickers (my fave!) with a note... "To Hannah P... from the other Hannah P."
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Yes, my secret sister was this fabulous girl right here!
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"Cute car."
"Oh, go stand by it!"
"Use someone else's car?!"
"Sure! It will make a great picture."
"What if they SEE?"
"So what? People pay me to do this."
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They didn't see.
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Gee, I tell you. That Boy Back Home sure found a good one.
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I loved hearing her talk about him. How they met when she was still a teenager and he was just the big dude working down where she was staying for the summer. How their families got really close over the years and he finally worked up the courage to ask her out. And she said no.
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But he worked on her, and, one day, she said yes. And then, one summer, she said yes again.
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I wish I could see the two of them together. Hannah and the guy who held her heart for four years of separation. I asked her if it was hard, having him up there, being down here without her man. Duh. Of course it was. But she made it... letters and phone calls and texts - and now they're getting marrrrrrrried!!
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Oh, by the way... she loves fountains. And we *finally* found a good one that was actually ON. Gotta love budget cuts or whatever...
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I'm really bummed that Hannah's graduating this year. I totally could have gotten used to her sticking around for another... oh, say three years?
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But I'm SUPER excited for her!! Only four weeks left and she'll be on her way home. Diploma in hand, ready to keep doing what she does best. Loving God and loving other people.

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Oh, and making Kallen the happiest man in the world. Hey, Kallen - take care of "the other Hannah P" for me, will you?

Much love!

Hannah