Happy Birthday, Momita

I just wanted to take some time to tell my mother

Happy Birthday!

You are a wonderful friend and mentor...I love it when people say I remind them of you...I wish I could be home to celebrate with you...but I am very grateful that Sissy is there!

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

Relationships

A lot of times I look back at all of the wonderful friends I have had in my life...and think about some that were not so great...and in trying to figure out why we need friends anyway, I have come up with this:

Relationships...whether with friends, family or lovesr...are meant to make us better people. I used to believe that a true friend would just accept me for who I am...but after getting married and looking back on my best friends of all time...it's more than that...in fact, they don't accept you for who you are...they join in a journey to the person that God created you to be

Relationships that are meaningful are the ones that are filled with so much love that an argument or a few harsh words will never destroy...the true friend will honestly tell you how they feel and will let you know what they appreciate about you...they will stand beside you when you realize who you really are...they will join you in the pits of despair...and they will laugh with you so hard that you both pee your pants (ok...so maybe these are just my friends)

I have been very lucky to have more than one friend like this in my life...and I give all the credit to God and to them for the person I am today

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

sweet sweet words

From my friend Janell...the one I can credit all my crochet skills to:

{I love you for who you are because you aren't afraid to be who you are.

When you first told me that you were moving I was so excited for you and the opportunity this is for you and Jon. Then in the past week I realized that it also meant you would be gone from here. That does make me sad, I will miss you. I treasure our friendship as well and look forward to the day we might live near each other again. Whatever the future holds, I am very grateful for this time we have had together.}

God, thank you for friends in every part of my life...You have always known just what I needed from a friend...You have given me a great gift with Janell
 
Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

A lovely weekend

I had a very busy, but wonderful weekend...

It started off with working really late for a {Friday}, but feeling so productive...and then playing water games with kids at our church's last night of VBS...I got to meet some parents of the children I spent so much time with during the week...it was good...scratch that...God is good.

{Saturday}, I woke up early to go to my cousin Tori's apartment for a Texas breakfast...featuring Texas shaped waffles, orange juice and chocolate milk drank from a UT cup, and syrup from Jefferson, Texas...ohhh yes...and to top it all off, we wore Texas shirts...mine looking like this:

Good times, good times...it was the perfect way to finish a memorable birthday month!  As we enjoyed the comedic stylings of Rift Tracks while watching Twighlight and New Moon, my bestie Sarah and I starting chopping up shirts from college for t-shirts quilts...we had so many of the same t-shirts...it reminded me of how God has blessed me so much with Sarah's friendship...we have shared so much of our lives...it's good to have people that know where you come from.  We ended the night with hanging out with our dear friends Ben & Tabatha...and their son Logan...who gave me kisses...and it was awesome.

{Sunday}, our second to last Sunday at CCN, the hubbs got to baptize two of the girls in our teen group.  This was specially meaningful to us because we have seen these girls grow so much in their relationships with God...and it was awesome to see the hubbs pull out his newly ordained Rev. skills :)  I was proud...so proud, of all of them!  

{I also found out today that my grandfather reads my blog...and likes it :)  It always makes me happy to hear that people enjoy reading these posts...especially when it's family...so Shout out to Pawpaw Pitts!  I love and miss you, always!  Feel free to comment whenever you like :)}

Much love,

Emily Elizabeth

VBS

{This is yesterday's "God Sighting"}

Our church has been doing Group's High Seas Adventure VBS program...and honestly, this is the best VBS I have ever been to or participated in.  As an adult, it is even encouraging to my spiritual journey and teaching me things...here are just some highlights from last night:

-getting to talk to a 3rd grade girl about how horrible the cross was for Jesus, but how He still chose to die for her...watching her process the severity of it all...and the wonder of it all was a precious gift

-during one of the centers, there is a time where kids write down their "God Sightings" and stick them on the "Journey of Life" map...I hadn't really looked at the map...at all the detail...until last night when the center leader walked the kids through where they were...we had traveled through the Sea of Sadness, Mountains of Homework, New School, Laughing Point, and the Island of Loneliness....then we went through the Wave of Goodbye...Fishing for Friends...Deep Blue Blessings...and those three things really hit my heart...I thought about crying, they were so meaningful to me....getting ready to go through the Wave of Goodbye in two weeks...and having to Fish for Friends in Pennsylvania...and I know God will lead us through Deep Blue Blessings...it was sooooooooooooo good

-it also has been great to just get to know the kids, watching them enjoy their time at our church AND watching the people of our church come together and give of their time and talents to make this the best VBS ever has been AMAZING...and so encouraging...exactly what my heart needed yesterday...and this entire week

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

Doodly love

So it's come down to this...moving in three weeks...putting together the auction for our special event at work...starting school in three weeks...moving into a group home in three weeks... and trying to focus

Although there is so much to do {which is why I have not really been able to post very often} God has given me a blessing of letting me see so many little wonderful things that happen each day...so I'm going to try to blog everyday until I move...a small post...just to share with you all those things I see.

Today, I saw Him in my new friend Amy Morgan {who writes these wonderful journals you muuuuussst check out}  Amy is one of those people who can read you from the second she meets you...and then, she will meet you where you are...not just expect you to get over yourself and get to know her.  So in our short time together sharing the same corridor at work, she has figured out how I receive love...gifts and acknowledgement...we went to Mardels over our lunch break and I showed her this lovely green "GRACE" that I would like to have for the new Newlin Nest in Pennsylvania...and the next thing I know...she is buying it for me...along with my lunch...and all I can think now is "siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh...she loves me..."

Thank you, SMorgan, for your beautiful heart and spirit...and for allowing God to work through you even when you are having a bad day.

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

Notes

Yesterday began my birthday month!  Yes, that's right...having a summer birthday was always sad as a kid because my friends were out of town/on vacation when my day rolled around...so my parents let me have the whole month to celebrate, ie make my b-day an excuse to do something fun with the family...so I still do it today...the hubbs is being a trooper...I think he will find that just wishing me a "Happy Birthday Month" everyday is just what I need :)

Speaking love into my life is as easy as a couple of words...I got this message on Facebook this morning...

{Hey! How have you been lately? I know I just saw you on wed. but yet it seems like its been FOREVER! :) Anyhow, I feel like I should let you know something.. you ruined my life. Now, before you get upset let me expound upon this idea. Shane Claibore says that Jesus ruined his life.. well you kinda did the same for me.. in a beautiful, wonderful, lovely way though. Emily, you introduced me to ideas, revelations, and facts that I have never even thought of. And, because of the spark that you've ignited in me I've learned more, so much more that my parents call me a "liberal-idealist-Jesus-hippie". God spoke through you to speak truth, life and love into my. You've helped me figure out stuff in my life and I will always be grateful.}

Letting someone know how much you appreciate them can make a bigger difference than buying them a car...or giving them $100...because it lets that person know that they are fulfilling their purpose on this earth...and that they are loved for it...

Do you have someone that has made a difference in your life lately?...a quick note could make their life.

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth