Church Camp

I celebrated my 12th year at church camp last week...and it's going to be a sad day when I have been a counselor at camp more years than I have been a camper...not there yet...but I will arrive shortly!

I have to say that I began the week with not very high hopes and dreams about my bed at home...our youth group arrived three days before everyone else to do some service work at a church nearby...so when everyone else was arriving...we were already settled...and feeling like we had already been there for three weeks...

All of this to say that I am so glad I went this year...I've missed it! I love being with my girls...and meeting new people...and drinking lots of water...and acting like a fool for the sake of "I can and its cool here"...but more than that...I love that camp is a place to connect...with new and old friends...and God...the music was wonderful (minus the rock star egos of the band at times), the speaker (Tim Milburn) said things to these teens that I had never heard when I was their age...

{life is going to be hard...and you will have pain...but if you are living for God and letting Him live through you, you will have a life that surpasses all expectations and dreams you could have come up with on your own!}

I LOVED IT...I saw some of my youth stand up and be counted as ones who have received a call into ministry...I, myself, even met God in a place that I have missed for some time...we sang a song that included the lyrics:

{here in your presence, heaven and earth become one}

in the moment I sang that with my whole heart...God allowed me to be there...the place where heaven and earth become one...at His feet...it was beautiful

I love church camp...but more than that, I love my teens that the hubbs and I have the honor of serving and spending so much of our time with.

All aboard the crazy bus....this was a GREAT game!

Aren't they soooo cute...and yes...that's Kendra...another counselor on Sidney's shoulders :)

Thank you, God, for a wonderful week and thank you CCN youth for being so cool.

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

"Year in the Life"

Here is a preview of the new Mission Year documentary that follows Chicago 2009-2010 team members.  I am so excited to see the entire project...Hassan, featured here, is in the same neighborhood , La Villita, that I spent my Mission Year in!  SOOOOO EXCITING! 

Next personal goal:  Get a story of Mission Year on NPR...maybe even This American Life????

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

RE: Shout Out, baby!

Dear Abs:

Thanks for the shout out...LOVE THE PIC...even though the brown looks a little pink...these booties were for a boy :)...and I told Abigail that I would LOVE to see them make a post on her blog...success!

To show you my thanks and love, here is the picture I told you about from our wedding:

LOOOOOVVVVEEEESSS and can't wait to meet Baby Ransom, even if it is only through Facebook and Blog stalking

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

the love bucket

My cousin Tori and I have a long running tradition...I don't think we have practiced it in a while...but it is still ours

A love bucket is a bucket/basket/bag full of small presents that are specific to the receiver's favorites..for example...Tori LOVES orange tic-tacs, orange gum, cookie and cream Hershey bars...and anything with Buddha's doodle :)  So, for many a birthday, we have given each other these containers overflowing with things the other loves...and since we share the same birthday month...we go over the top for each other!

Love buckets made for Tori...purple one from me
(click to see larger)

There is nothing that speaks love to me more than a thought filled gift...especially when those thoughts are from my closest friends...and cousins :)

Thank you Tori for always thinking of me and making my birthday extra special!

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

The chills...

"You are the face that changed the whole world
No one too lost for you to love
No one too low for you to serve
So give us the grace to change the world
No one too lost for me to love
No one too low for me to serve

Let us see... let us be your face"

Every time I hear this Sanctus Real song, I get chill bumps...I LOVE CHILL BUMPS...they are the product of truth and beauty physically resonating with my soul.  Those are the moments to cherish and are just another way I feel God's love.

Thank you God for good music and for the soft heart that allows me to enjoy the simple things of Your world!

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

What a great album cover, too...right?

I heart him

After being 6 hours apart for our Memorial Day weekend...the hubbs and I spent a wonderful evening just being close...and he even picked up the apartment a bit before I got home...making it even easier for me to relax. 

Thanks Hubbs...I love you more everyday!

Much love,

Emily Elizabeth

p.s. more pics to come from our 1 Year Anniversary photo shoot with Kaskas Designs!