Hillary's Blog

To all my friends that I love (you know who you are) and the members of the "blahblah sisterhood" ( you know who you are) <3

>> Friday, December 18, 2009

I miss you....

>> Sunday, December 13, 2009

Another picture that makes me catch my breath.

Look into his eyes; what do you see?

Dung flingers...

Project: cleaning out the old chicken poo..er..coop.

We considered applying for sainthood, but unfortunately they were out of halos.

Thomas Edison moment:

Puts a whole new meaning to the phrase: "If you've got any poo... fling it now."

Sometimes I look at us and all I can think is... wow... (take that however you like)

If only she knew....

John was helping Leah fix the fence and his run across the pasture to get her something was just so adorable!

Tada! Us!

This amused me to no end...

>> Friday, December 11, 2009

Baby it's cooold outside...

When I went to pick mom up from the airport I came up this hill and all this was packed full about 15 ft high. That is when I turned around and took another route. :)

On my way I went through a few passages in the drifts that were barely wide enough for me to fit. The snow came up on both sides to the top of the mirrors on the big van...

Town :)

I am so blessed to have 3 wonderful hard working gentlemen around here to go out in the frigid temperatures and blade the lane!

And a wonderful sidewalk shoveler!

Ahhhhh I love the sight of that on weeks like this one!

Dont'cha all want to move to Nebraska!

Family Fashion Shoot

>> Wednesday, December 9, 2009

When it comes to deciding what to wear for weddings there is no constructive fashion critic better than dad! He also took the picture for us... Thanks Dad! <3

Repost from 7/27/08

"Good people are wonderful to have, but a person who makes you laugh can not be lived without.

Remember that when you think you bad things about yourself."
-Sarah Hutchins

Vintage

>> Saturday, December 5, 2009

"It is easily overlooked that what is now called vintage was once brand new. "

No one freak out

>> Friday, December 4, 2009

I am working on launching the new look for my blog but I accidentally reverted the old look to the original. Gotta love the domesticated child trying to be a nerd.... :-\
I am sorry about the poll text; I cannot for the life of me figure out how to change the text color... so if you need to see what it says, highlight it ;-)

Stay tuned for the new (and more awesome) look! :D

Introducing

Our newest feature

"Quote of the Day"

My goal here is to post one quote each day that was particularly excellent, witty, brilliant, or just plain amusing! Mainly I will be quoting family, but really, anything that I come across and is worth passing along could show up. ;-)

The quotes will appear on the top right of the page and eventually will have a link below where the archives are stored.

I am going to try to post one each day but don't get mad at me if I forget! Just look at it this way; if I do not post a quote it is because our day was very boring or VERY exciting. ;-)

Mr and Mrs Michael Hipps

>> Thursday, December 3, 2009

November 28th 2009

Excuses Excuses Excuses

>> Tuesday, December 1, 2009

My computer power cord accidentally got taken to Massachusetts in the wedding blur... all my pictures are on my currently battery dead computer.
I will blog, facebook, and everything once my power cord returns... :-)

Republican Harvest Party

>> Friday, November 20, 2009

To all my political peers -- Y'all would have been so proud! After years of badgering Hillary Hipps aka "Miss Unpolitical" participated in a political event and loved it!

The fact that one of my very best friends in the whole world was part of the "make-it-happen" committee" may have had something to do with my diving in to help serve and take pictures at the Republican Harvest Party.
After scooping thousands of pounds of coleslaw (or so it seemed) and attempting to direct people by looking cute the real action began with the arrival of the Nebraska State Governor- Dave Hineman.

Promptly after the meal and salute to the flag the speeches began. I found it amusing that the Veterans carried both flags and guns that they used in their presentation of the colors, and no one even batted an eye. The SS guys did not even mind, but legend has it they were armed to the teeth, so I am not surprised.

I think it was the best group of speeches I have heard since the Rebelution Conference. I listened spellbound as our Governor and Senator explained the health-care bill so that I finally understood it. When our senator got up and begged us to call their offices and let them know what we, the American people, think about the decisions at hand, I was hooked.

This is our awesome bunch of people! Not pictured are (Sarah Hernandez, Nathan Eckstrom and Grace Eckstrom)

A prayer

>> Thursday, November 12, 2009

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting."

-Psalms 139:23-24

Sisters <3

>> Wednesday, November 11, 2009

I love them!

My blog in words...

>> Monday, November 9, 2009

I thought this was unique how it sorted the words I use the most on my blog. Very interesting.. Thanks Wordle!

John Piper

>> Sunday, November 8, 2009

Musings from my heart

>> Friday, November 6, 2009

"Why do we go with the flow Or take an easier road? Why are we playing it safe? Love came to show us the way Love is a chance we should take..."

I have been thinking and praying a lot about forgiveness and love and how they fit together.

I have seen the good side of a loving relationship, yes. However, all to often I look at the hurt side of love.
"Why should I let them in? Why should I let my guard down again? Oh no, once, twice, and y'all expect me to be vulnerable again?! Ha!"
As the age old saying goes: "Fool me once shame on you; fool me twice shame on me"
True in a sense of being wise, but then again, not exactly applicable to true love and forgiveness.

¹⁴For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. -Matthew 16:14-15 NIV

We have all gagged on those words at one time or another. In the past I would read that verse, be horrified, and immediately forgive anyone who I was holding anything against. This time it did not even phase me.
Plowing ahead deeper into my bitterness looked like a much easier option and I took it. I ran those words through my head and listened to countless sermons on the dangers of bitterness unconsciously hoping that something would scare the forgiveness out of me.
Nothing did.
I was starting to get concerned!
"Why is my heart so hard?"
For months I have been praying that God would relight the passion for Him that I used to have, why silence?
Suddenly it hit.
Not like a ton of bricks, but like a strong steady breeze.
"You say you cannot forgive, you are right. You are so full of your flesh that you are unable to see anything past the blinders of your hurt. You cannot see Me. You cannot forgive, until you realize the extent that you have been forgiven. You cannot truly love, without Me, the author of love, pouring My love through you. "

I knew it was true.
Of course it was true!

In my meager attempts to let go and move on I had tried in my own strength.
Halfheartedly at that!

²If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. - 1 Corinthians 13:2

I am nothing.

Without the Love of God running through me I am absolutely nothing.

The first days were hard. Praying good things for the people who I held the offense against, and daily forgiving them within my heart.

I was awed as I felt the layers of bitterness, resentment, anger, and hurt melt away from my heart, replaced with a heart of compassion, love and joy.

Suddenly I could see a part of their side of the story and my heart broke again, but this time for them.

The renewed love for Christ and the people around has begun to grow again as the passion for He who is everything is beginning to splutter and spark once again in to flame.

There is still a very long way to go and this is just the beginning of the trail.
But it is a beginning!

" I loved once and my heart was broken, I loved twice and you walked away. I will love again but this time not I, but my Everything will Love with an everlasting Love"

"Don't let your lights go down Don't let your fire burn out"

*Quotes in italics at the beginning and end are from "The lost get found" -Britt Nicole

Bridal Shower

>> Thursday, November 5, 2009

Our dear neighbors, Rich and Lana, put on a delightful couples shower for Michael and Sarah. We had a wonderful time and the opening of presents was a comedy routine! (has anyone else noticed that doing anything publicly with Michael is a comedy routine?)

Guy vs Girl reactions...

I thought it was cute.
:)

Before opening..

Justin won for the most creatively wrapped present, a cooking pot wrapped in the hood of a Nebraska Huskers sweatshirt. :-) Way to go Justin!

After opening (or rather mid way )

Every bow they broke counted as one child they would have... This was the first one (Billy?) :D