way back when...

Remember when you were a little kid, and nothing ever seemed to go wrong? When you would jump from couch to couch to save yourself from the lava? When you felt so grown up whenever your mom or dad would make you your very own cup of tea? When you had to think so hard about 3 x 3 = ___?
And every single evening right before you went to bed, you would say goodnight to all of you stuffed animals individually? Remember getting together with your friends to  play with barbies, but then you spend so much time just dressing them up that your mom came to pick you up before you were able to start the game? And of course, you thought you were so grown up? The thing about all this that interests me the most is that in five or six years, we will all be thinking about "how grown up we felt when we were ___" (whatever age you are now). In the future, when you will be looking back on right now, you  might think about things that you have recently just gone through, or something you're going through right now. maybe it will sound something like: "Back then when just because someone who used to be your friend didn't like you anymore, you felt like there was something wrong with you, or the whole world was falling apart? Or whenever something really sad or bad was happening, every tiny thing that went wrong ticked you off? Remember when what people thought of you was the most important thing?" Memories are some of the most precious things we have. Maybe one of the reasons is because they never change. Memories always stay the same. And that can be very comforting, especially when going through hard times. Knowing that you can look back at good times and think, "at least I'll always have these."

Memories.

Memories.



- Emi

Winter Musings

What makes winter feel so, well, wintery and christmas so christmasy (to me).


comfy sweaters that almost swallow me up

the pop and snap of the sparks in the fireplace

cool breezes floating through the air

looking everywhere for more things to put on my already lengthy Christmas list

getting a blanket, a book, and a cup of cider and sitting down on my bed to read

warm, comfy boots

jackets, sweatshirts, and other long-sleeved layering items

that indescribable feeling that i feel that i feel whenever i walk outside

the leafless trees that still look stunning

scarves and boots

being able to see extended family

christmas shopping with friends

christmas parties

christmas songs


- Emi

Hanging with Emma

Today I hung out with a great friend of mine, Emma, and we went to Starbucks. We decided to get a few cups and decorate them with sharpies and pens. It was SO much fun! Here are some pics. Tell me what you think! :)

 Emma

 

   me

 the finish product of my mini cup

 Starbucks and Sharpies - the best combination.

 Emma's finished cup

 

 

 

Emma also has a blog called "Living fully by Faith." here's the link: http://emmavogelsang.blogspot.com/ . Check it out!

A way to make a difference is by donating a water filter to places around the world, like Africa, where their water is filthy and sometimes even deadly. It's about 100-150 dollars for one filter. I dare you to donate a filter this week. Tell me where you donated down below in the comments.  

 

 

- Emi



Sunset

Hey, I'm really sorry i haven't posted in a while! I will do my best to put something else up soon. These are pictures i took a while ago of the sunset. I actually did not edit them because i like to show the true colors in sunsets. I hope you like! :)


A way you can make a difference is by helping someone. Maybe a friend of yours complimented you on your bracelet, so you offer to show her how to make one. Maybe someone expressed how they're having trouble witha project that they're doing. I dare you to help someone this week. maybe if company is coming, you can help your family get the house ready. Or maybe your mom come home from the store, and befroe she asks, you go help her load the groceries up. If you have chosen to take my dare, comment below on how you helped someone this week.


- Emi

Julia

This past Sunday I went to see some family I hadn't seen in a while. While I was there, I took some pictures of my cousin, Julia. Isn't she gorgeous? Tell me what you think of the pictures by commenting below.

 

 



 

 

 

 

A way you can make a difference is by complimenting someone. But don't make all of your compliments on how their hair looks, or how they're dressed. Make some of them about the person's character. Maybe if someone hears about something sad that happened to you, and they tell you how sorry they are or they write a note saying how sorry they are you could tell them how thoughtful they are.Or maybe if a all your friends are busy and not paying much attention to you while you're with them at a public event, but one friend comes and talks to you, you could tell her how thoughtful she is. I dare you to compliment at least one person every day this week. It doesn't have to be something you saw in them right then, though. i can be something that you've seen the be to you and other people for the last few years. maybe it's something you've seen them grow in. If you chose to take my dare, and if they're not too personal, comment on some of the ways you complimented someone this week. 

 

 

- Emi



The Truth

 

Currently I am reading a book called "Kisses from Katie" about an 18 year old girl, named Katie Davis, who left everything she knew in America and went to live in Uganda, Africa as a missionary. This is a quote from the book.

"Meet Rose and Brenda. The truth is that they are orphans. Abandoned and living in an orphanage. Now two of 143 million. The truth is that when they go to bed at night no one tucks their blankets in around them and kisses their foreheads. The truth is that when they wake up, frightened, in the dark, no one runs to comfort them. The truth is that due to someone else's carelessness, Brenda will die of AIDS.

"Meet David and Bashir. The truth is that these precious little boys were child soldiers, abducted, sold as property, and forced to kill. Now that the war is winding down, they are not permitted back in their villages because they are seen as traitors, so they beg on the streets.

"And the truth is that is that these are only the children I know, in a very small fraction of a very small country. The truth is that there are children like this all over the world, sick, starving, dying, unloved, and uncared for. The truth is that the 143 million orphaned children and the 11 million who starve to death or die from preventable diseases and the 8.5 million who work as child slaves, prostitutes, or under other horrific conditions and the 2 . 3 million who live with HIV add up to 164.8 million needy children. And though at first glance that looks like a big number, 2.1 billion people on this earth proclaim to be Christians.

"The truth is that if only 8 percent of the Christians would care for one more child, there would not be any statistics left."

                                                           Katie and one of the orphans
                                                        

                                                                      Katie's book

"This is the Truth. I have the freedom to believe it. The freedom, the opportunity to do something about it. The truth is that He loves these children just as much as He loves me and now that I know, I am responsible."

A way you can make a difference is by supporting needy people. Maybe you could sponsor an African orphan, or maybe you could buy a tee-shirt or jewelry from ministries that give all the proceeds to starving people all around the world. I dare you to support needy people, even if it's local. maybe you could volunteer a local animal shelter or homeless shelter. If you chose to accept my dare, then comment below on how you supported the needy this week.


- Emi

 

Last Few Days at the Beach

These are a few more pics from Panama City that I thought you guys might like!

  the ocean had LOTS of seaweed, so some people made art with the it. You could see seaweed words and "drawings" all throughout the beach.

 Five Guys is one of my family's favorite resteraunts that we only eat at in Florida. It's awesome!

This guy was way out in the water and I snuck up on him with my zoom lens . . . creeper 8 )

                                           Another picture of the ferris wheel in Pier Park.

                                                        The carousel in Pier Park.

A way you can make a difference is by telling someone you love or appreciate how much they mean to you. You can talk to them, write them a card, or give them a gift to express your love. Maybe it'll be the person who always helps you with your homework, maybe it'll be the person who stuck with you and helped you while you were going through a rough time. maybe it'll be the person who is always the first one to say hello to you every day when you walk into school, or every week when you walk into church. It can be anyone! I dare you to express your love or appretiation to a friend or family member. Really tell them how much they mean to you.  If you chose to take my dare, and if it's not too personal, comment below on how you expressed your love or appretiation to a friend or family member this week.


- Emi