Hopes

Tonight, we are going to have a sparkling grape juice toast with our boys about where they were this time last year, and where they want to be this time next year...we also will ask them to think about what they will have to do to actually get there.

The hubbs and I thought about our answers to these questions, and we both sighed... this time last year, we were in Colorado with our old youth group and friends' youth group last year...and next year want to be with family.  So many things to do before next New Years....here are my hopes for 2011:

> Live in a different country
> Complete my Master's Degree coursework
> Move back to Texas (definitely more a hope at this point)
> Find a job for the hubbs and me
> Continue to seek God's will for each of these steps

So it's going to be a busy year...but I think what is the most encouraging to me is that I see so much potential love to have and to give.

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

visit Katharine Boothroyd for this adorable penguin design

Christmas Crocheting

My entire right arm was cramping for a day after finishing this Yoda for my cousin for Christmas.

But I pushed through and finished by other Christmas crocheting for friends and family.  Nothing says "I love you" like a gift of warmth :)

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

Speaking of the Story of Jesus...

Here is a very creative take...although, I don't see Joseph and Mary using Facebook...the video is still neat:

p.s. notice the song they use...makes it even better

The Story of Jesus

The older I get, the more precious the role of Mary in Jesus' life and God's will for our salvation becomes  to me.

A women, the lowest of the low in her society, was trusted with the life of the Holy Child.

How about that?

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

one semester down

{12 more months to go}

And the crazy thing is, I think there are some books missing from my pile.

The only way I made it through this semester was by the grace of our God, the love of my hubbs and the prayers of family and friends.  Thank you all so much!

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

Emmanuel

God with us.

I can't help but hearing Amy Grant's Emmanuel, God with Us when I hear this word.  This may be my favorite Christmas song of all times...just because I think the word is so powerful.

God is with us because He loves us...and He wants to be the glory that every second of our lives reflects...

May your holiday season be filled with emmanuel.

Much love,

Emily Elizabeth

freedom

{Salvation}

What kind of feelings settle on your heart when you hear this word?  For me, concepts such as completeness, love and freedom fill my heart.  Knowing that you are saved by the blood of Christ is the most profound feeling you can have.

But freedom, I think most of us think that salvation just brings us freedom from eternity in Hell...but salvation also brings us freedom from Hell on Earth.

So what does it  mean to have freedom here on Earth?  I think it means that we are free to love and to be with God in every second of our day.  We are free to share that love with others and to be who we were made to be by the Creator.  We are free to be.

What do you think?

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

here comes the bride

Congrats to my beautiful cousin, Tori, and her soon to be hubby, Thomas!

Enjoy my picture of the future cusband wedding!

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

the blessing

{May all your expectations be frustrated

May all your plans be thwarted

May all your desires be withered into nothingness

That you may experience the powerlessness and poverty of a child

And sing and dance in the compassion of God

Who is Father, Son, and Spirit.}

Larry Hine

I shared this with my Theology of Poverty class today for our devotion.  

Much love,

Emily Elizabeth

World AIDS Day

Loy is a little girl in Uganda, living in an AIDS infected village...and I am her World Vision sponsor.

What can you do to stop the epidemic?  Everyone can do something.

Much love,

Emily Elizabeth