eucharisteo.

the One we need.

2011-08-17T12:30:00.000-07:00

'someday i hope to be this to my daughter'

my love said this last night while we were listening to this song on our way to get dinner.

hello jesus,

thank you for bringing a kickass husband to me!

honesty and love in sugarbrowns

song of solomon 2

first sip of a DP

first days of school

giggles.

2011-08-17T12:17:00.000-07:00

sweet giggles!

his banner is love over me

engaged friends!

sending mail

gifts.

2011-08-17T12:14:00.000-07:00

teacups.

travel journals.

dreaming.

back.

2011-08-17T12:12:00.000-07:00

back to shooting!

new possibilities

overcoming fear

remembering how you used to be

middle school and high school kids worshipping

hope and zeal.

rest.

2011-08-13T20:29:00.000-07:00

resting in Him.

dryness.

waiting.

success.

2011-08-13T20:16:00.001-07:00

yummy ice cream.

sleepovers.

friendship.

2011-08-13T20:14:00.000-07:00

megan kaye lair.

her heart.

friendship!

housewife.

2011-08-13T20:06:00.000-07:00

getting to cook for my love.

making my first batch of grannas homemade ice cream!

love notes.

2011-08-09T09:38:00.000-07:00

my husband.

sick.

2011-08-09T09:36:00.000-07:00

flowers like this inspire me.

my loves new haircut.

being sick and getting to lay around.

the Lord providing.

when heath comes home from work.

still not knowing what ill be doing next.

sun.

2011-08-07T20:07:00.000-07:00

happy sunday from the hobgoods! :)

girls family day by the pool.

margaritas.

food baby in the belly.

loud music above us at 7:30am...every morning.

being awake early.

prayers and cuddles before bed.

alone.

2011-08-06T19:19:00.000-07:00

attempts to braid...and failing. :)

a whole day alone.

friends.

2011-08-06T19:16:00.000-07:00

friday.

playing board games.

losing board games.

friday nights with friends.

messiness.

2011-08-04T22:10:00.000-07:00

messy, box-filled, tiny apartments.

when anger turns into closeness.

i am thankful that this is starting to become a home to us.

cute little children.

james 4:10.

2011-08-03T20:22:00.000-07:00

he WILL lift me up.

season.

2011-08-02T14:49:00.000-07:00

"If we are dying of thirst, passively reading books about water quenches little; the only way to quench the parched mouth is to close the book and dip the hand into water and bring it to the lips. If we thirst, we'll have to drink."

One Thousand Gifts written by Ann Voskamp.

i found and heard about this book at the beginning of this year and told myself i would go get it...and read it. well of course i didnt until may. bought it, started reading it and i think it changed my life. yeah...it did.

i highly recommend it for all you ladies.

and men too if you want :)

eucharisteo means thanksgiving. in this book, ann expresses so much thanks in times of trouble, days when she doesnt feel thankful for anything, and joy of course, too. if you read it, it will make more sense to you, i wont even try to explain how her view on life (which is the attempt to view as Christ views living and breathing life) because its too beautiful, and intimate. it is something that i want you to experience yourself, because i believe it is so very well needed for us all.

"...to name a thing is to manifest the meaning and value God gave it...to name a thing, is to bless God for it and in it"

i am starting something new on this blog. everyday i will post at least one thing i am thankful for. for at least a year. everyday i will give praise to the Lord even when it isnt a joyful day. before now, i did this in my prayers and in my mind and decided it needed to be tangible. an offering to the Lord. so instead of just reading a book and locking away all the emotions i felt during it, i am dipping my hands in the water and quenching my thirst. my thirst to find His beauty in all things.

so here is my first.

i am thankful for

living life with my best friend forever

and the people that have thought, prayed, laughed, cried, and been through little or everything within heath and i's relationship...from friendship to marriage. i will never be able to express the joy i have in my heart for you all. this wedding gift is so special to me. thank you to the one who gave this.

willing.

2011-02-16T19:46:00.000-08:00

prone to wander Lord I feel it

prone to leave the God I love

here's my heart Lord, take and seal

seal it for thy court's above.

im sitting in dead silence in my office at the church, with sweet girls sleeping on the floor close to me, and a handful of them in the youth room.

tonight (or should i say this morning),

we are doing 24 hours of prayer with our students.

its 5:43 in the morning,

and i can barely keep my eyes open,

only a few more hours then i can go home and sleep. all day.

but...

i felt maybe this is a good time to sit and type.

so.

just a few of our engagements.

check out

www.twopairphotography.com

they rock.

im engaged.

and being engaged is rough.

but will be worth it and i am going to enjoy every single moment of arguing over

how many people will be in our wedding,

or what kind of food will be served or where we will live.

because a week after its all over, we will laugh at how silly it all was.

BUT... all the planning has fallen into place, i am very thankful.

and today im wishing all my sweet friends all lived in the same place.

i miss me some pierce family. jamie taylor. kelsee reeves.

for a while, i have been feeling a calling.

the kingdom within me is finally letting down its ancient bridge.

i can see the trees ahead.

they are alive and waving.

i'm remembering what it's like to feel free, delightful, mystical, lovely.

and the liberated soul within this kingdom,

this city i find myself in - it's terrifying.

really.

to come alive again.

to breathe air that crystalizes the lungs

and makes you feel.

to stop being so damn afraid.

to dance to music.

to sing to the wind.

to balance your heels on the brick ledge.

to love without expectation, without requirement.

to be.

to become.

to stop seeing at grey-scale,

and let the colors dress up the mind.

who

or who have i been?

all these pieces werent fitting together, in this place, with these circumstances.

and change is inevitable.

Your love is strong.

and its gotta keep me.

its gotta keep me.

you gotta have mercy on this little girl.

i haven't known how to be.

i don't know how to let love flow from this one.

i'm not sure i know how to love without expectation.

teach me

to live even as the ground starts shaking. and people start fading.

teach me

to resonate that which you are speaking.

teach me to let this spine stand up straight

and rejoice in today, rejoice in tomorrow -

be blown by the spirit.

stop feeling so guilty and charged heavy with iniquity.

i need to read Your story and find myself in its pages.

my patience is counted few tonight,

my burden is heavy.

but

i can finally hear you in the silence of my beating heart.

the bridge has almost met the ground and you're asking me to walk with you along the narrow path.

to go set the people free.

to get past the intro - and

begin to explore.

the wilderness has become my comfort and my barrenness my badge.

but this is the route

to burning...

and i don't like when you wash my feet.

i am beginning. i am beginning.

forgive me. i don't know how to love.

you promised. i'm waiting.

i have tiptoed onto the bridge.

you're smiling, you love to watch this.

your banner over me is love.

heavenly Father, i'm willing.

dancing in the minefields.

2010-12-29T13:41:00.000-08:00

I can say this is the beginning of the end of as life as i know it. And im joyful about it.

here is the story:

Heath and I attended our Christmas Eve service at the church I work at and we both attend. (I guess you could say where the love was sparked also) As we left, our friends smiled, gave big hugs, and said 'Merry Christmas!!' to both of us! Love is thick in that church, and I couldnt be more thankful!

Every Christmas Eve, we spend it at my Granna and Pop's house. Tradition. We go, we eat, we sing carols, we open presents, we open stockings. The carols kill the kids because they are so anxious to open presents...but were all old now so it doesnt matter as much. Well...tradition changed a little this time. Yes, we went. Yes, we ate. THEN.

Heath says, 'Okay, time to go find your present!'

...with a blindfold. A little odd I thought for a Christmas present?

So, He puts the blindfold on me, grabs my hand and starts leading me to my "present"

Opens the back door to my grandparents, and the questions start rolling off my tongue,

"Why are we going outside?"

"What in the world could be out here?"

"Baaaaabbbbeeeee, where are you taking me?"

Bless his heart, he said he couldnt stop laughing.

We keep walking. He keeps his lips sealed.

Then he sits me down in a rocking chair...as Im still asking a million questions.

This song starts playing...

I say,

"Why are you turning on music?"

"What in the world are you doing?"

"Why are you not talking?"

"Are you serious?...SHUT UP!"

He takes the blindfold off.

Were underneath THE tree

Twinkle lights in THE tree.

Candles all around us.

Flowers on the table.

The song is playing.

Heath is on one knee.

I push him (opps! I think it might have hurt!)

I said yes!

This tree is at my Granna and Pop's. This tree has my whole childhood written all over it. When we were young, all of us cousins used to play outside at our grandparents house every time we were there. They live out in the country, with a lot of animals, and a bunch of junk all around. You would of thought we found buried treasure every time we were there. But this tree...this tree was magical for us. We would play under its big branches and around its massive stump. There used to be these tin chairs we would just sit in. They were either red or blue, Im not sure because I have a bad memory.

Heath remembered me telling him about this.

Special.

Told you it was a magical place!

Well ‘I do’ are the two most famous last words

The beginning of the end

But to lose your life for another I’ve heard is a good place to begin

Cause the only way to find your life is to lay your own life down

And I believe it’s an easy price for the life that we have found

dancing in the minefields- andrew peterson

So, I am getting married to Heath Hobgood.

I am getting married to a man that I am thankful for every bit of him.

For his ability to love Jesus before me, then leading me in that.

For praying over me, even if its just because my tummy hurts.

For loving me when Im showing him all sides of who I am. Good and bad.

For knowing me better than I know myself sometimes.

For his love for adventure, and mountains.

For his pursuit of me even when I wasnt ready to date.

I am so very lucky.

And this holy, invisible force that brought us together - in this oneness - is evidence there is a God. A beautiful, loving God who wrote this whole drama to point to a Godman who chose a wife for Himself. His love and his story is stamped even in the most mundane of life. He is going to rock as a husband, I cant wait to walk through all of life with him. Father, may our marriage bring You glory and honor.

Cause we bear the light of the son of man

So there’s nothing left to fear

So I’ll walk with you in the shadow lands

Till the shadows disappear

Cause he promised not to leave us

And his promises are true

So in the face of all this chaos baby

I can dance with you

dancing in the minefields- andrew peterson

Thank you all for loving and sharing life with us! We are so excited for you to be a part of this journey, and look forward to sharing it with everyone! The big day is July 23rd, 2011, mark your calendars! :)

a year later.

2010-10-17T13:11:00.000-07:00

how funny it is to type words again.

sort of like coming home, welcoming but sometimes different.

I’ve rarely written.

I’ve rarely written much on anything for others to read.

I've been keeping prayer journals, something I have always wanted to do.

And anyways,

I thought I should share.

Because who doesn’t like an open soul,

A little exposure.

I love it.

My own, and others.

And so here it is.

The last time I wrote anything of substance for others to read was this day

January 16th, 2010

http://taradonaho.tumblr.com/day/2010/01/16

"but everyday i will wake up with joy in my heart that He has a plan, even when i cant, i will. and go to bed with thankfulness in all of that truth."

You will never understand the massive transformation He made within me from the moment I spoke those words.

I will never be able to use words to explain.

The gospel is so glorious.

The gospel has changed my heart over these past how ever many months.

The invitation is beautiful.

I, who have nothing good within me to offer man nor God,

A desperate sinner, loving self, lazy and confused…

I can be made whole, set free, eternally saved through the work of Jesus Christ.

And it’s more than a ticket to heaven,

It is a ticket for grace to overcome EVERYTHING in this age…

Despair, despondency, anxiety, impatience, anger, lust…

My hope to live well and live full, to have enough money for tomorrow or be a successful in areas in my life,

To have joy and to be free,

To not be entangled by the darkness of sin,

To grasp and behold the glory of the Father,

To understand the Word, to serve my brother,

To actually live everyday – that grace, that EMPOWERMENT, that infusion of supernatural strength –

Is because of and entirely through Jesus Christ.

Now for us perfectionists…

The over analytical, introverts.

the first born, overachievers, dreamers,

Self-aware and journaling souls…

This is how we survive this age.

My worry ceases in the truth that all things will work for good…

Death and my own brokenness, Suffering and delays in promises,

They are there for our benefit – to make our lives into something good.

And so on this final leg of my past 12 months,

i weep at the thought of this.

Because the Same Faithful God, who pours out the mercy He loves to give,

Who gave my soul the opportunity of amazing grace,

Saved me from hell,

whispered to my heart his secrets at the tender age of 14 and 15…

Who stirred my heart to fall in love with the His calling in high school,

Who burdened my heart to intercession before I even knew what it was called,

Who opened my eyes to His Second Coming,

Who brought me the absolute greatest community,

Who kept me away from those who have hurt me and brought me someone who knows how to love me unconditionally with His direction,

Who put me in a place where all I do is love youth kids and talk about Jesus...as a job.

Who put breathe back into my lungs when I selfishly was not alive anymore,

Who gave me a ministry to be equipped to learn more about His word and calling to His people,

Who healed the hearts of my friends and family, and who delivered me from NUMEROUS BONDAGES,

This God…

He’s the same, today, for me.

He has never done me wrong, ever.

He has never let me down, ever.

He has always come through, always always always.

I am saved – and this salvation cannot be stolen away…

He is good. What He does is good.

His love for me exceeds everything that ever mattered before.

Salvation is beautiful.

Eternity will be glorious.

And the Son of God has stolen this heart.

With all of that being said.

It is more than well with my soul.

I am an assistant youth minister to a handful of kids yearning to know the Fathers heart! I am a daughter and sister to a kick-a family that I couldnt live without. I am a lover of art, dance, music, photography. I am a girlfriend (I dont really like that word for some reason, it feels silly) to a very wonderful warrior of our Father, that awakens the beauty of the Lord in the mundane. I am friends to so many beautiful people who love Jesus!

I would keep going, but I will stop because you will probably die reading.

Just know I am in a sweet season in life, sweet busy crazy season,

but

sweet.

Im going to be updating often...

along with my sweet friend Jade Pierce. again and again.

http://jadempierce.wordpress.com/

love.

dust, love, rest, and shame.

2008-09-16T12:51:00.000-07:00

i have a stirring

within my heart.

rid me of myself.

2008-08-11T11:56:00.000-07:00

the last time i wrote for you to see was nearly four months ago-

time seems to pass quickly through my hands.

prom

graduation parties

graduation

roadtrips

camps

saying goodbye

high school

college

it seems to all be a dim memory in the corner of my mind.

He has pressed His life into mine

-or moreso i have really ironed my ransomed heart into His skin

through all those listed above.

...thats all i remember running through my body,

all the rest seems like routine were all expected to fight through until death.

although those things were covered in His grace and couldnt be more thankful.

when i sit.

when i think.

when i gaze upon Him who holds the seven stars within the palm of His hand.

and walks amidst the lamp stands.

then. then.

then.

everything is okay.

my heart settles like a raging tempest subduing into the sea,

and i can taste His beauty within my spirit...

like dewdrop water surrounding the stem of a youthful flower.

for His eyes are flames of fire,

and His voice is so much louder than the rushing waters,

and His face, it does, outshine the brightest sun.

this heart eeeerupts,

a messiness of passion caking that which remains within

still grey, chipping stone.

how many times can i write about this " being undone."

how long before i run the language dry and have only untitled emotion

to deal with.

for You are in exhaustible.

there is this weight, to leave here,

stop standing behind the bedded doorknob,

pick up the brass skeleton key

and set myself free.

my barefeet cant wait another second to step foot on thick ground

in africa,

the wrinkles in my hand yearn to touch the pure skin of the children.

to giggle and give my heart to them.

i cant stand it,

i want to be free.

i am stumbling in this journey.

i feel His jealous flames burning away the darkness hidden in my heart.

And

until the day breaks, and the shadows flee away,

i will go my way

up the mountain of myrrh,

and the hill of frankincense.

lead me to the cross,

where Your love poured out,

bring me to my knees,

Lord, i lay me down.

RID me of myself,

i belong to YOU.

for i am my Beloved's, and He is mine.

and His desire is for me.

----

btw-

this is a public blog.

anyone who views it is welcome to comment,

you dont have to be a member,

so have at it. :]