More Than You Think I Am

It's finally SPRING BREAK!!! Sorry for the lack of posts. I've been busy & sick...and lazy. I sat down with the intent of writing this post a couple of weeks ago and I am just now getting around to writing it out and finishing it.

The whole basis of my blog, is to have an outlet where I can express myself, and maybe even show a different side of myself that others may not recognize in me. I tend to be shy and quiet in new situations or when I feel inferior. I can be socially awkward. I've bee labeled "sweet, cute, quiet". Not necessarily bad qualities, but sometimes it feels like I've been put in a box. That's why I started this blog. For those of you haven't read my original post, the title "Closet Hippo" comes from most people thinking that hippos are just lazy and fat funny looking creatures. I grew up thinking hippos were fairly harmless, and then I saw a documentary when I was a teenager showing that hippos are actually ferocious beasts. I have identified with hippos ever since.

So when the song "More than you Think I am" by Danny Gokey came on the radio, right away I was thinking "Yeah! I'm more than you think I am!" Then I listened to the song more and it hit me: God is more than I think he is. That is what the song is saying. How often do I put God in a box? I get caught up in my circumstances and I shut God out of the equation. I'm too busy trying to prove myself and show that "I'm more". If any being were to deserve to have a chip on their shoulder, it's God--it's Jesus. God is kind and loving, and he's the ferocious protector.



You always think I'm somewhere on a mountain top
But never think behind bars
You'd be amazed the places that I'd go to be with you
Where you are

So forget what you've heard
What you think that you know
There's a lot about me
That's never been told

I'm more than you dreamed
More than you understand
Your days and your times
Were destined for our dance
I catch all your tears
Burn your name on my heart
Be still and trust my plan
I'm more than you think I am
More than you think I am

Rumor has it there's a gavel in my hand
I'm only here to condemn
But let me tell you secrets you would've never known
I think of you as my best friend

So much has been said
Even done in my name
But I'm showing you now
Who I really am

I'm more than you dreamed
More than you understand
Your days and your times
Were destined for our dance
I catch all your tears
Burn your name on my heart
Be still and trust my plan
I'm more than you think I am
More than you think I am

Let me open your eyes to see the heart of me, differently
Come closer than you've ever been
Let me in like never before
Bring me every broken part
The wounds and scars of who you are
And hide in me and you will see

I'm more than you dreamed
More than you understand
Your days and your times
Were destined for our dance
I catch all your tears
Burn your name on my heart
Be still and trust my plan
I'm more than you think I am
I'm more than you think I am
More than you think I am
More than you think I am
I'm more than you think I am

Happy Monday!

1 Year of Blogging!

Today marks 1 year since I started this blog! Last year at this time I was stranded, home alone in a snow storm, my husband was in California, and none of my family and friends lived near by. So with all of that time alone I decided to get creative and start something I had been thinking of doing or a while--start a blog! If you are interested in reading the story behind the title of my blog, checkout my very first post ever here.
 In the next year, I will continue to charge ahead, trying to let my inner hippo out, and do some good in this world. It seems like every day there is something trying to snuff out my hippo and sometimes I feel like giving up. I have come to the conclusion that I need adversity in my life, because if I'm honest, when life is easy, I get lazy. When hard times come upon me I am forced to rely on God for strength and peace, and to try harder. So, here's to a life full of great joy, hardships, and perseverance.

Thanks for reading!

Hippo Home Style

I had been eyeing this hippo bust on Modcloth for a very long time, and then when I finally had the money to buy it, they sold out. Several months ago I found it for a cheaper price on Amazon!

Me with my spirit animal :)

Diamonds are a girl's best friend? How about spray paint ;)

While the hippo does look nice white, I'm a girl who likes color, so I decided to go with something fabulous like metallic bronze.

I gave her some generous color.

And Voila! She is beautiful & ready to hang.

And this is why my home will never be featured in HGTV: I have an acrylic chandelier hanging over my lamp and the bust of a hippo hanging under a Maxwell Parish Print. Oh well, it makes me happy!

Here's to channeling your inner hippo today :)

Happy Monday!