Goodbye 2011...

     As we all prepare to sing Auld Lang Syne and say goodbye to this year and prepare for the next year, there are so many things to think about and consider. This past year I feel like I grew up so much. There were bad things and good things that happened but the one thing that was absolutely the best was what God showed me. He showed me that I need to rely on Him and let Him choose where and what He wants me to do.
     I am excited for this new year to come and to start it off with going to Passion in Atlanta, Georgia. What a great way to start the year by starting it and praising God and hearing from His Word! :) I am very excited. So to end this year I hope that you all had a lot of adventures and are ready for all that God has in store for you in 2012!!
     Ciao, EmilyAnn

Reading :)

    Reading to me has always been an escape. A time when I an enjoy a story about someone else and be included in someone's journey through their latest predicament. I smile when they smile and cry when they cry and rejoice when the end comes and they finally get everything figured out. To me reading isn't just an escape though, it has become a journey.
    Here is a movie quote that I found on Pinterest that I think you all might enjoy: "If you find girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours, but she will always come back to you. She'll talk as if the character in the book are real, because for a while, they always are. Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful like imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you're better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads."            -Robert Pattinson, in the movie Remember Me.
     That quote can be changed a little I think but what the main concept is that reading makes you believe that second chances do exist and that when the going gets tough the character always finds a way to get through it and move onto a better life. I am saying all of this from the perspective of being careful with what you read. You need to make sure that what you are putting into your mind is good and clean, as well as encouraging. If you are putting trash in, then trash will come out. But if you put good in then good will come out. Like for example, if you read lots of books about murder and hate then what will you be thinking about? Most likely murder and hate. BUT if you read things that encourage you to follow God and make good decisions then most likely good decisions and thoughts will be produced.
     So, read! And when you do.. reflect on it, let it be stories that you can look at and use in everyday situations and if you want an author that can do just that.. read books by Robin Jones Gunn. Comment if you would like to know my favorite books! Have a fabulous day and always... read :)       -Emily

Reunited at last!

     I feel like I have been reunited with an old friend today. I didn't fall in love with reading until one day when my mom and dad bought me a book called, "Summer Promise" by Robin Jones Gunn. Robin introduced me to a family of characters that I "grew up" with. Without those books I don't know who I would be today. There was the Christy Miller books and then the Sierra Jensen books. After those there were three books called, "Christy and Todd: The College Years." Then more recently Robin wrote a series about Katie Weldon. Other characters' stories continue but Sierra's ended with her moving to Brazil. We never find out what happens to her. Does she marry Paul? Where does she go from Brazil? What happens?! But alas, Robin wrote a single book called, "Love Finds you in Sunset Beach, Hawaii" and we finally find out what happens to the beloved Sierra Jensen.

     I am so happy to be reading about her again. I feel sort of like she was one of my childhood friends and I am finally getting reacquainted with her and she's in Hawaii! I am so excited to see what is to come with her. One thing is for sure.. she doesn't end up with Paul. I cheered for him throughout all 12 books in her series because I wanted him to be the one that she ended up with. I guess that since she doesn't end up with him that God has someone greater for her. It isn't easy seeing that though when you are faced with the heartache and pain of someone not being the one for you. I love it when writers write about "real" characters that go through the same things that we do, so when we read about them it's like looking into a mirror and finally receiving the hope of tomorrow. 

     If you get anything out of what I write please get this: never give up hope, never stop trying, never stop caring, never stop hoping for what is to come, and never lose sight of the hope in the Truth. Even when we are going through tough times, always remember that there is hope.

     Happy Sunday to all!

                      -Emily

pure serendipity ;)

     I can't help but wonder what life would be like if we all just took a moment to stop and think about our lives. Think about what it felt like when we were little and believed in magic and that no matter what our mom and dad were invincible. And that no matter what we were princesses, awaiting the arrival of our prince. What happened? What changed? Why is it that after you get to a certain age that you stop believing in magic and that a prince is on his way to meet you? I still believe. I still believe that there is such a thing as magical moments that that serendipity happens. Why do I still believe, you ask? I still believe because I know that there is a Prince out there that has already fought for my life and loves me so much that He puts clouds into the sky during the day and stars at night so show me that He takes His time to make sure that I know I am loved by Him. I love my Prince and I cannot even begin to tell you how wonderful He is. I honestly wouldn't even know where to start because there are just too many things that I could tell you. I hope this is a good start to letting you know how I feel about Him...



    I found that on Pinterest. It is a great start to knowing what our Prince is. Remember that He is the most serendipitous person ever.. not only because He created it but also because He loves us so much that He wants us to know it and give Him the credit. So, when something serendipitous happens, give Him the credit because He allowed it to remind you just how much He loves you!      -Emily

I think my motivation died when I heard Christmas was coming...

     Motivation is a funny thing, there are times when we have so much we don't know what to do and then there are other times when it seems like motivation died and will never come back to life. I have to write a unit plan and I don't want to write it. Why you ask? Well it's like this.. I have new wonderful book awaiting me on my nook and it's the Christmas season! I will never understand why professors choose to add piles of homework and tests in our lives when it's almost Christmas and they know all we want to do is enjoy the most wonderful time of the year. I came across this poem by Emily Dickenson and I hope that you will enjoy.

Before the ice is in the pools,

Before the skaters go,

Or any cheek at nightfall

Is tarnished by the snow,

Before the fields have finished,

Before the Christmas tree,

Wonder upon wonder

Will arrive to me!

What we touch the hems of

On a summer's day;

What is only walking

Just a bridge away;

That which sings so, speaks so,

When there's no on here,

Will the frock I wept in

Answer me to wear?

     Now I am off to work on my lesson plan. Maybe some coffee will help me get through the dread of it all. Have a delightful Saturday!          -Emily

To new things and second chances

     Good evening blogoshere... or should I say good morning? No matter, I wanted to tell you all hello and let you know that you are cared for. Even if you live alone or don't have a "significant" other in your life don't let this season of joy and happiness bring you down.. there is someone who loves you and His name is Jesus. Yea, I know people toss that phrase around and act like it isn't a big deal but it is a big deal! He does loves you and He loves me too!
     I went and saw "New Years Eve" tonight with a group of friends and it was a lot of fun but now I am sitting here in my cozy chair thinking through my life and all the things that have happened. What should I do next year? What resolutions do I need to make? Honestly, the only one that I can think of is the resolution to be me. Yes I am myself now but I know that I hold back. I hold things back from the world that I am too scared to let anyone else see.
     Easier said than done really but there is such a thing as second chances and I am ready for that to take residence in my life. I am ready for my second chance to be myself and to not let what people say and do dictate my very thought process. College is tough enough but when you add all the pressures of work, being on your own, friends, and all those other little things that are really big things but you don't realize that until they are big things... things happen, life happens.
     Dr. Seuss said, "Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you." If you act like someone else and aren't the person that you are meant to be than who are you? We all have specific callings and things that God has put on our hearts and we are called to be peculiar. Someone that is different and unique... but mostly, someone that is just them.
     Daily Challenge: Be you because no one else can!!! Let God be your superhero, because we all know that He wins in the end... ;)

                            Lots of love, Emily

a merry little CHRISTmas

     I'm back! After a long time of no blogging I have decided to come back to it! No promises on how consistent I will be but since the end of the year it getting here maybe that will be my new year's resolution.

     I am loving this Christmas season! I absolutely adore Christmas and it is so much fun to celebrate and enjoy the happiness that comes along with it. My parents are in town for the season and I got to spend the last few days wit my mom. My dad is flying in Saturday and I'll see him next Thursday! It seems so far away but then I start thinking about everything I have to do until then.... ugh it will be a long week.

     Okay, moving onto happier things! It's the Christmas season and I am ready for it! I have a "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree and I have also decorated my dear Oliver's bowl! :)

     

     Merry Christmas to all! I'm off to studying for my finals! :) 

                                                                            -Emily