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you see, I’ve had more gains than losses, and I’ve known more joy than hurt.
as His grace rolled down upon me undeserved.
God’s been good in my life.
I feel blessed beyond my wildest dreams when I go to sleep each night.
and though I’ve had my share of hard times, I wouldn’t change them if I could.
’cause through it all… God’s been good.
JOSH WILSON >> GOD’S BEEN GOOD >> LISTEN

If there has EVER been a year that this has been true… 2013 was it. I saw so much God in everything. It wasn’t always easy. There were tears, but there were also happy tears. I counted blessings in ways I could never have dreamed up myself. Whoever says God doesn’t manifest Himself in a million small ways, that He doesn’t care about the details that make up our lives… is dead wrong. He brought some of the most fantastic people into my life, sent some of the best experiences my way, overcame some huge things for me. I passed the halfway point in my college career. I spent a summer doing what I love. Looking over these pictures brings back so. so. so many good memories!

The good times outweighed the bad by far. And I’m learning more and more each day to seek His face in everything. The greatest gift 2013 left me with: a hunger and a thirst to know more about who He is, grow ever closer to Him, and live out His adventures. Looking forward to 2014? You betcha. But ever-so-grateful for 2013. We’re parting friends, and I couldn’t be happier.

It was a whirlwind year…

Starting off with New Year’s 605 feet above the sparkling city of Seattle.
Our weekend trip was a last-minute decision… aren’t those always the best?
>>> part one
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>>> part two
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Coming back to the east side of the state and some sub-zero temperatures, I still managed to take my photography outside. First up was Anna – you’ll see her a little later on.

And Dakota. Both are fellow photogs and simply sweet girls.

Before I knew it, Christmas break was over and I was winging my way back to school to wrap up the second semester of my sophomore year.
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It was a crazy good semester. Filled to the brim with all those good college things. Practice, coffee, good friends, stress, papers, the grace of God, prayer. One of the hugest things was my sophomore music platform – a performance that decides if you can continue in the program. God got me through that one, and I was on my merry way!

Sidetrack just a second… if you’re a music major, you’ll get a kick out of this article from the Thought Catalog… because it’s ridiculously accurate! Moving on…
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My first shoot back on campus was this adorable besties shoot for Beckie and Nells. Complete with a sunset.
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I did a little hanging out with my southern second family, and it was the most wonderful thing to have that weekend break by the bay. Even if it was too cold to even take your hoodie off!
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I turned 20.
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This photoshoot with this cute girl and some bright red lipstick brightened a gray spring afternoon.
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As the Florida spring warmed up, it was time to hit the beach. So I did… and in my sunburned, salty-haired state, I instagrammed a boatload of waves that I bring up whenever I want to feel warm in the middle of this chilly Washington white stuff.
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I realize now that I never blogged this preppy bubbles-in-a-classroom photoshoot… maybe someday I’ll get around to it and maybe not. (more like not…)
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Before I knew it, spring was over and I was heading home for the summer. Ready, set…

HOME.
I was so happy to see these mountains.

Starting off the summer right – with a trip downtown to the symphony for Mother’s Day. (and Chipotle afterwards, of course)
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As much as driving takes up a ridiculous amount of my paycheck each summer, I really enjoy the 30 minute commute to work. With views like this? and music playing with windows down? C’mon.
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Ohhh THEN. I shot my first engagement session. I fell in love with this art even more.
Becky + Paul
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Also that thing about where I work? Kinda right down the street from this. Nottttt complaining about where I spent my lunch break.

When the fruit started coming in, we were out in the garden a lot – dirty hands and sun-ripened berries.
What a good, simple life.
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Since we have a few acres of blueberries, we sell them locally… and *that* meant many an hour logged in those blue bushes. With blue fingers.
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My little dude sister… she gets bigger every time I come home. I cherish these moments with her like nothing else.
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More spontaneous adventures with these cute people – including a day in the gardens, wrapped up in a Pizza Hut with extra cheese. Summertime defined.
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July rolled around and I shot my first wedding with Park Road Photography. Claire + DJ’s Walla Walla wedding was a dream come true and absolutely picture-perfect. Also happens to be the only one I ever fully blogged… never fear! The rest… coming soon.

Also, a few days on that backroad to the river made this summer fly by.
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Still possibly one of my favorite shoots to date – Anna’s senior pictures. This post sent some of my followers into the biggest Pinteresting frenzy of my stuff… and I give all the credit to that amazing sunlight and Anna’s perfect curls. It was literally the best senior session ever.
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I wrapped up July second-shooting Becky and Paul’s Spokane wedding… and this is next up on the posting list!
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It. was. beautiful. (and it’s already in my drafts, so it’ll be up before I head back for the spring semester!)
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We headed over the mountains to discover another lake – clear water and small towns characterize that county and I could spend a little more summer over there every year.
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I headed down to Oregon to second shoot this backyard-DIY wedding for Tiffany and Chris. It was a hot, dusty summer afternoon, but they rocked it.

One of my favorite memories from August? Driving back from that wedding… five hours under a perfectly warm, starry sky… windows down and some throwback 80’s music (along with Philip Philips!) to stay awake. More on that when I finally post the images…
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If you have instagram… check it out! That’s where little details of my life are photographed. (username: farmgirlinflipflops… no surprise there!)
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This sunflower-field-at-sunset shoot with a princess dress and tiara and two photogs? Alsooo… coming soon. ish.
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At the very end of the summer, my brother got to come home for a quick visit! Having him down in Texas all summer long was interesting… in a sad way. But we made the most of our time up here!

Wrapped up wedding season before heading back to school with Lindsay and Derek’s Spokane winery wedding. On a mountain. At sunset. Ohhhh goodness… be still my heart. I think this was actually the only wedding I didn’t post a sneak peek for… oops. But it happened!
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Then it was back to the flipflops for me. Back to the books, and school, and the busyness of college life. But also… those wide, sandy beaches and a little more salt air.
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Mom flew down with me and we spent an amazing week bumming around before the start of school. I could get used to this lazy life… but soon Mom left, I cracked my books, and dove headfirst into the life of a Junior.
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One of my best moments from 2013: The Color Run! If you never have, you should.
Juuuust saying.
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Fall *finally* found my southern state and the leaves started turning… better late than never!
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In keeping with this being a year of new experiences, I carved my first pumpkin!! With help from Pinterest, my carving partner, Liz, and I created that adorable owl and named him Pablo. Maybe not the biggest highlight of my year… but definitely a great memory!
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My sister flew in from Cali and we spent some great time in coffee shops and on the water with local friends. It was great to see her – and it had been quite a while!
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Much studying took place…
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As you can tell, I have my favorite study spots. They usually involve food, coffee, or sweet tea. Or some combination thereof.
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I shot my first sporting event – collegian volleyball playoffs.
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Okay, THIS was *definitely* a huge highlight of my year… my brother flew in and completely surprised me for Thanksgiving! It’s a huge deal in my family, and spending Thanksgiving away from home is never ever ever ever ever cool. But even though I’d done it before and was ready to do it again, this surprise blew me away! High on the list of best weekends EVER.
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The day after Thanksgiving, we wandered down to the beach and walked barefoot on the sun-warmed sand. How many people can say they did THAT on Black Friday?
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This is us… trying to take a selfie. *cough*
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Before I knew what happened, that weekend was over, Thanksgiving was over, and Christmas break was right around the corner. After a whirlwind of finals, of course… and a few other stresses unforeseen. God took me through that experience, and as He worked miracles, I finally wound up in the airport and on my way home. If you don’t believe in miracles anymore… you should.
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Coming home. Home for Christmas.
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It was a perfect Christmas season. Filled to the brim with laughter, joy, just enough snow to make it perfect, friends, music.
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Ice skating with my sisters and a friend and catching a movie downtown – more wonderful, instagrammable memories in the making.
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Sarah and I wrapped up the year with some epic boarding down these frigid slopes at night. A perfectly clear (but cold) sky full of stars… and even though it had been 2 years, it was so good to get on the board again!!

It WAS a good year. It was a GREAT year. That song is getting stuck in my head again…

“lately I’ve been looking back along this winding road
to the old familiar markers of the mercies I have known
I know it may sound simple but it’s more than a cliche
there’s no better way to tell you, than to say…
GOD’S BEEN GOOD.“

I hope that your 2014 is terrific. Blessed beyond your wildest dreams.  🙂

xoxo,
and HAPPY NEW YEAR, peeps!
Hannah

ps… if you’re not on insta, check out this 15-second instavideo of my 2013 posts. Don’t ask me why the first half loaded blurry… my apologies from my lack of technoality… technoability… whatever. You get the general idea.