The Close Of 2024

     It’s been almost a month since I posted last. And now it’s 2025, which is a strange thought. 2024, in hindsight, went by so quickly, but so much happened. So much. God was, is, and will continue to be so incredibly good to me and those around me. 

A Year Of Courage

    While I was thinking and praying about this post, though, one word in particular stood out among many in memory of last year, and that is courage. God has grown my courage in so many ways, my courage to trust in Him when things are difficult, and especially when it seems as though they’re going just fine. (“‘seems’, madam? I know not seems”, like Hamlet said.) Courage in love, courage in learning, in literature, in music, and most of all, in my faith. And so my new years’ promise this year is to continue that—continue glorifying God through my music and my writing, striving to increase my faith and the trust I put in the Lord. We can have complete and utter assurance that He is always there, beyond the end of the age. 

    This year has also been one of incredible growth, especially in my music. Of course I’ve always been passionate about violin, but with my experiences this summer, combined with the impactful things people I trust have spoken over me, have led me to see it in a new way. “I know the plans the Lord has for me” (Jeremiah 29:11) and they are good plans. Now all I need to do is heed the call and put in the work to fulfil it. And so my prayer for next year is this: that God will ignite the fire in my blood and give me the courage of a lioness to carry out His purpose for my life. Amen.

Other Updates

    In other news! Because of my many taxing goals with violin, my writing has fallen a bit behind. And while it’s saddening, it’s something I’m okay with. There will be times when I can write a good deal more, and times when I can barely write at all. This has been one of the latter. Fear not, though, because our new years’ eve trip this year afforded some lovely short story ideas, and I will hopefully be posting some of those in the next year!

    Also (and this is kind of a significant announcement) I have decided that I no longer need a pseudonym. When I publish anything, I want it to be under my real name, and so I’ve made the decision to make the same change to this blog. The name Astrya has served me well (and I will still continue to use it, because it’s my Latin name as well!) but I think it’s time. So, nice to meet you. My name is Hannah. Pronounced like Hana, by the way—now that you know it, you may as well get it right! (Because of this, my bio has also been changed, if you ever want to check out what’s happening over there ;P)

    So, happy new year, everyone! May God bless this next year abundantly <3

Namárië,

Hannah