Category: The All For Jesus Gang

Late Night Ramblings

On By hannahloviisawriterIn The Summer of Our Lives1 Comment

A friend texted me happy half-birthday yesterday, reminding me of how much things have changed since I spent my 21st birthday in a hotel in Seattle six months ago, waiting to board a plane on my first international flight. It was probably the first time in about a year that my whole family spent the night under one roof.

Life changes.

Sometimes a lot more than you expect it to, as in all of our cases this year. 2020 has certainly been full of change.

Six months ago on my 21st birthday I would have never imagined my life as it is now. I was busy planning out my travel plans for the year, most of which got cancelled.

I didn’t make it out to California, or Virginia, but some new life changes I haven’t been expecting has happened.

I had a lot of time during the shut down to work on projects. Believe me, it wasn’t a vacation. I got most of my second book done, “The Bull River Gang; Book One, Thief in the Night.” I’m still working on some final edits and then I have formatting to work on. My goal is to get that out before school starts … in a little under two weeks.

I also finally got my Etsy shop, Hannah’s Honeybees, up and running. It was a ton of work getting the labels created since I had to work from scratch, but it’s finally up! Right now I have four different variations, peppermint, pink grapefruit, lavender, and unscented. I’m working on figuring out a few more to add. I also got a local store to carry them which is super exciting.

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Then just while I was busy with all that, BAM! I got thrown a job offer and now I am a full-time copy editor at the local press.

With my new job and college (at which I’m working as managing editor for the press and senator on student gov), I decided it was high time to move to town. It was sad giving up my beautiful home on the cattle ranch, but everything kinda’ just fell into place so I went along with it.

This morning I drove the 10 minutes from my new apartment to downtown to shoot a session for one of my photography clients. I sat by the beautiful water fountain and thought, boy am I blessed. This is my home.

Thoughts with Hannah

On By hannahloviisawriterIn About me, Christian Walk, The All For Jesus Gang, The Summer of Our LivesLeave a comment

Hi my dear friends!

It’s been a while since I’ve shared something like this (and it pains me to think that as it is the most important thing in my life). As I sit here trying to get through my homework load at my newly arranged yet already cluttered workspace (much like my newly transitioned but already disorderly life), I realize that all too often when times are good, I tend to stick these serious issues in the backseat while I enjoy the drive. It’s not a new thought! But sometimes it takes a change to help me remember and reflect once again on to Whom I owe my joy, and why life is worth the living. And that’s what I’m here to share.  I’d like to talk about the greatest love story in history, and that starts with creation.

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Gen. 1:1. God created us in His own image and breathed in us life. But we sinned against him because we were not satisfied with what He had given us, and our unity with God was broken. But from the very beginning, God created a way for sinners to be reconciled, and that Way was Jesus. “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Tim. 2:5.

Jesus was God’s only begotten Son, fully God yet fully Man, and the only One who had lived a perfect and undefiled life, therefore the only One who could lift the curse we had brought on ourselves. “But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.” Isa. 53:5. Jesus suffered a painful and humiliating death on a cross to pay for the salvation of His people. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Rom. 10:9.

Salvation is a free gift. We didn’t earn it, we couldn’t, and all we have to do to receive it is to believe and confess. While everything in the world we see seems to be changing so drastically, this Truth never changes. Jesus is way to eternal life. Don’t take that lightly! “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:28. Jesus is the reason that we can rejoice in the midst of suffering because He is Enough. He will never leave us nor forsake us!

 “I hadn’t asked Him to forgive me of all the sin in my life, and I realized all along that I had just been depending on my good works, and maybe my parent’s faith, to get to heaven.

And boy is that a joke, ’cause when I was on the brink of death, I realized that nothing I ever did was enough to pay for what I had done.

It had taken me all of just a minute then to recognize that the only thing that stood between me and eternal damnation . . . was the cross. So while I was lying there in that coffin, I asked Jesus to save me and make me His forever, because I don’t think I took it seriously before, but a close brush with death can make you rethink your life all over, and I knew right then that I didn’t want to live anymore without living for Jesus.”

-Excerpt from “The Summer of Our Lives,” some book that will start in existence if this old self will ever get around to finishing it.

We climbed Berray!

On By hannahloviisawriterIn About me, The All For Jesus Gang, The Summer of Our Lives2 Comments

We climbed Berray . . . and it was a blast!

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Elevation: 6,177′   Berray Mountain Lookout

Just like in The Summer of Our Lives, I decided to hike up to Berray mountain lookout, so I could have the same experience that Mary Ellen does in the first book of the All for Jesus Gang!

The gang all showed up at our house after breakfast, since we lived the closest to Mr. Morton. Dad piled us up in the back of the truck and drove us over to his little cabin at the bottom of Berray mountain.
“Look at how high it is,” said Major, cranking his neck back.

The Summer of Our Lives, The All for Jesus Gang book 1    ©Hannah Loviisa

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The trail was 10.6 miles round trip, and ranked as moderately difficult. It took us 3 1/2 hrs to get up, including breaks.

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There was a little pond about 3 miles up, and we followed a creek for part of the way. The mountain was covered in huckleberry and thimble berry bushes.

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Berray Mountain lookout

The lookout was awesome! We climbed up the three stair flights and went inside.

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There was a wood stove and furniture.

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360° views

It was beautiful up top, and a little colder, like the Professor said. We all paused and took in the view surrounding us. Almost every way I looked I could see for miles. Something about it made me feel closer to God – just the stillness and beauty of His creation. Overlooking in awe what the Creator’s hand had fashioned made Mary Ellen Tucker feel very small, very small indeed.

The Summer of Our Lives, The All for Jesus Gang book 1    ©Hannah Loviisa

It took us about 2 hrs to get back down. I am looking forward to writing about the hike in the book!

Here are a few more pictures!

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Noxon, Montana

On By hannahloviisawriterIn The All For Jesus GangLeave a comment

Here are some pictures from a fun little road trip I got to take to visit Noxon, Montana – the hometown location of Mary Ellen and the All for Jesus Gang. Bull River was overflowing from all the snow melt, and the little general store was similar to what I’d imagined the Professor’s family’s general store would look like.

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Interview with the cover girl from the AFJ Gang series

On By hannahloviisawriterIn The All For Jesus Gang1 Comment
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Just for you all to enjoy, here’s an interview with Myah Worth, the girl who posed for the main character, Mary Ellen, in the covers of The All for Jesus Gang book series.

Mary Ellen

How old are you? 13

What are your favorite hobbies? Listening to music, motorcycle riding, horseback riding, crafts, skiing, and wake boarding

What do you like to do in your spare time? Be mother’s helper and babysit

Any pet peeves? I HAVE to be organized

Give me an interesting fact about yourself.  I love children!

Favorite Colors? Pink, blue, and green

Favorite food? Mexican and Chinese

Favorite book? Little Women

Tell me about your family life. I have five siblings. I live on a farm and each day starts with my farm chores which are to milk and feed cows, feed horses, chickens, birds, dogs, cats, and pigs. Also I’m in charge of the younger kids. I have to make breakfast, help with their laundry, and get them ready.

What do you want to be when you grow up? Mom of MANY!! I want 10 kids.

Thank you, Myah!

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Click HERE to read the character’s interview, and see how Myah and Mary Ellen are similar and different.

Book #2 in Process

On By hannahloviisawriterIn The All For Jesus GangLeave a comment

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A peek at my messy binder

Well here it’s been a little over a year since I published my first book. So ta-da! I’ve actually been working on this (not consistently unfortunately) for quite some time now. This is the first draft of my second book, The Summer of Our Lives. It will be the first in a short (by that I mean roughly 100 pgs) adventure series of a group of young kids (ages 9-15). The series will be seen through the main character’s eyes, Mary Ellen, as she and her brother and friends rollick the countryside, get into scraps, and learn important life lessons.

Sneak Peak below!

My side smacked the handle of that iron frying pan when we hit the bottom of the hill. Did it hurt! I stuck my free hand in the gunny sack to pull out that bad pan, and I felt something else metal; the handle of a pistol. And then I realized how much danger I was actually in.

©Hannah Loviisa

Excerpt from The Summer of Our Lives, Book 1 in The All For Jesus Gang

Join the All For Jesus Gang in the first of many adventures as they romp in the beautiful Big Sky country!

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Character Interview: Christopher/Jitterbug

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Character Interview: (Christopher/Jitterbug)

How old are you? 10

What do you like to do in your spare time? I like to collect bugs and read about them. I also like to dig holes, fish, and catch wild animals and make them into pets.

Any pet peeves? I don’t like people bothering me when I’m working on my bug collections. That’s not really a pet peeve.

Give me one interesting thing about yourself? When I was born my mom said I almost died and I had to stay at the hospital for a month. I also wear glasses or I see double.

Favorite color? Yellow

Tell me about your family life. I live with my mom in Twin Pines. My Dad was a pilot and died in the war when I was just a baby. My mom works as a seamstress. I also have a lot of pretty pet spiders and other bugs and a turtle I found stuck in a fence. Its name is Armadillo.

Future career plans? I’d like to work in a museum and put together the bug collections, or maybe travel to Africa and catch the animals for the zoo!

Character Interview: Lara

On By hannahloviisawriterIn The All For Jesus GangLeave a comment

Character Interview: Lara (sister of Matt/Trouble)

How old are you? 11

What do you like to do in your spare time? I like to read books and write little plays. Sometimes I can get the gang to perform them. I also like to do school, draw, sew, and cook. Most of all I like to daydream though.

Any pet peeves? Um, not really I guess. I mean sometimes I get annoyed when someone wakes me up early (I like to sleep in if I can) or if someone calls me when I’m out in the woods imagining.

Give me one interesting thing about yourself. Well, I’m always dreaming. Half of my life is imagined.

Favorite color? Purple

Tell me about your family life. I live with my parents and big brother Matt/Trouble on our cattle ranch. I especially like rolling down our grassy hills in the summer.

Future career plans? I don’t really know for sure what I want to do, there are so many options. I’ve imagined myself doing so many different things like traveling as a Red Cross nurse or being a stage actress or a famous author.