Rest in peace

What does it mean it rest in peace? Something I thought about in depth this past week as my Papa passed away. He was 84, a Korean War Vet, father to 4 grandfather to 12, and a great grandfather.

My brothers and cousins as pall bearers.

Something most people, if not everyone wonders when a loved one dies is where have they gone? I take comfort in knowing that my Papa gave his heart to the Lord months before it was his time. 

So something to take away from experiencing death is something the Lord tells us in Revelation 21:4 "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

So in my Papa's death, I take comfort knowing that he is rejoicing in the streets of gold with his Creator. He is no longer experiencing pain, or discomfort, but will forever be in peace. 

And someday, we will all join him in his praise, and be together in Heaven forever. 

Oh the places you will go...

As each kid in my family graduated high school, my mom gave us a copy of the great Dr. Seuss' "Oh the Places You'll Go" because she is a brilliant woman and knows the value of a great author!

Recently I was thinking about this book and where I have been since it has been four years (my goodness i'm about to graduate college) since I was given my own copy, and the places that fill my passport and heart amaze me.

Until this summer, I had not been abroad, then I went to 7 countries! At the beginning of summer I had the honor of visiting Nicaragua for a mission trip. This experience changed me and to see the Lord move through language barriers, health obstacles, and traveling obstacles, amazed me.

The village we visited took a 7 hour bus ride into the mountains, but Santo Domingo was well worth the trip.

Upon my return to the states, I took a road trip with my mom and sister to up state New York to visit family. It was here that I visited Canada for the first time. 

Here my twin and I stand on the bridge from New York to Canada, eh?

Next I took my travels to Europe, and what an incredible experience this was! In Europe we visited 5 different countries including Germany, Belgium,  the Netherlands, France, and Luxembourg. Being hugely interested in WWII history, this grand tour blew my mind in so many ways. If you are trying to decide on where to go in Europe, I suggest visiting Deutschland!

My best friend and I upon our arrival in Berlin.

In front of the remaining parts of the Berlin Wall. 

In the French channel.

And I have been all over the United States, from sea to shining sea. 

 I hold The Windy City near and dear to my heart, go cubs?

The National Mall on the Fourth of July was insane, and truly a remarkable experience!

I am a zoo going LOVER, and I can proudly say the San Diego Zoo was my favorite, then the Washington D.C. one and then the Tulsa Zoo!

 Viva Las Vegas, y'all.

Another place our soccer travels took us, The Grand Canyon!

But after all of this traveling and knowing what I know now about the incredible world around me, my favorite place in the whole wide world to go, is home. 

The view from the front porch of my home in Verdigris, Oklahoma

The one place that will always be closest to my heart, as well as the people in it. I hope you have a place to call home, and it means as much to you as mine does to me. Happy traveling!

I'm a big kid now

I've had a revelation:

I am a "Grown Up".

Go back and read that again if you struggle with the concept of me being an adult. I find myself sometimes repeating it to myself seeing if it will sink in. So far, no such luck. I'll keep you updated.

There have been a couple things that have helped me in discovering this and I thought I would share them, just in case you were wondering if you were one as well. So, here goes!

1. I have several jobs. 

Let me explain myself... Having several jobs requires a lot of responsibility and many things come with that. I wake up early in the morning, I have to put on make-up, do my hair, pack a lunch, dinner, and go through a to-do list for the day.

Some of you might say, Emily this isn't anything out of the ordinary, in fact this is kinda lame of you to think I want to read about this. I WILL HAVE YOU KNOW, if you have never gone to school with me, you do not know that I wear workout clothes everywhere. Even if i'm not working out... It's simply what i'm most comfortable in, and it takes me less than 5 minutes to get ready. (I've learned the error in my ways.....kinda)

Exhibit A. Vacationing, workout clothes. Would it kill me to throw on some jean shorts like my twin??

Exhibit B. Hanging out with friends, God Bless Quinn (far left) she is my BFFL. Then there's Brandi... (this was actually on Halloween).

Exhibit C. Brunch in the city, TAKE YOUR DANG HAT OFF EMILY! Good thing my friends are gorgeous!

2. I like Dark Chocolate.

This is something that hit me like a ton of bricks! I have always loved milk chocolate and turned my nose up to dark chocolate. HOWEVER, since my healthy eating, lack of more processed foods, and sweets in general, I now LOVE dark chocolate when I do treat myself!

My sister informed me that this also happened to her in her senior year of college and quickly welcomed me into adult-hood. SHE'S A HOOT!

It is imperative that you try these. YOU WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.

3. My eating habits.

This may be the funniest part. I eat like a grown up. I meal prep, I shop at multiple stores for specific items, and generally try and stay on the outer parts of the store to avoid the junk!

I have some form of fruit every morning. A banana or an apple to be specific (I tried a grapefruit, too much, not enough reward...).

There are some mornings where I HAVE to have coffee. The only coffee I used to drink were frappuccinos. Not anymore. I love lattes, macchiatos, iced coffees, really anything but just plain black. 

So there you have it. It's happened/is still happening. Is this a part of being a senior in college? If it is, I guess i'm on track. To the rest of you going through this...brace yourself, I have a feeling we're in for a bumpy ride.

What about love?

With Valentines day approaching I thought I would address the obvious... LOVE.As soon as the Christmas and New years decorations are up, here we are thinking about Valentines day.

For some, the question of who, if anyone, looms over their head. For others, how will they surprise the one they love and then there's when, when does it get to be your turn to be so deeply in love and find that one person that will forever be your valentine and never look back?

So, i've decided to try my best at defining love this valentines day.

The greatest definition of love in my book was demonstrated on a cross. 1 John 4:19 says it best, "We love because he first loved us."

For someone to love the human race so much that he gave his life, that someday we might live was is the best example of how we should love. John 15:12 says, "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." 

My own definition of love is a simple one. Loving someone means you put their own needs before your own. You forgive them when they mess up, because they will. You pray for them more than you do yourself, not being able to imagine life without this person or people, doing whatever you can to make their life a good one.

When I think of love I think of my parents. For 36 years they have been the second greatest example of what love is, not only between the two of them, but the love they have showed to their six children, and anyone in need of love they have gone out of their way to help.

And then theirs my own love, the love of my life, the man who has my heart, and happens to be born on Valentines Day. There were times where I was worried I wouldn't have what my parents have, but being a hopeless romantic myself, I can't say I ever gave up on love. 

God had something planned for me and I for that, I am truly thankful! So this Valentines Day, whether you've found that special someone or are still searching, try and show someone true, unadulterated love.

Losing weight or losing my mind?

It consumes my thoughts, my dreams, my stomach. DIETING. It is my least favorite thing it the whole wide world to talk about, yet I find myself talking about it constantly. 

It's true, I am not the size I was in high school. And while most people will tell you it's unrealistic to think you could go back to that size because you are a grown woman and things change, I refuse to believe it.

While I am only one size bigger than I was four years ago, to me I feel like I'm more like 10 sizes bigger and about 1,000 pounds heavier. It is something I am having to work on spiritually and in every other way. I got on the scale earlier this week to see I had gained a pound and had a FULL melt down...

Left is now. Right is Senior year of High School.

SO, why would I be working on this spiritually you ask? I am created in the Lord's image, he knitted me together in my mothers womb and made me exactly how I am for a reason. 

Psalm 45:11 says,

 "The King is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your Lord."

For me to be as critical about my body as I am, I am not honoring the Lord, and criticizing how the Lord made me. Now that isn't to say that I should let myself go and not worry about how I look because the Lord also says I should treat my body as a temple.

1 Corinthians 6:19 says, 

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own..."

So as I am on this journey of becoming the best version of myself, it is a constant battle to stay positive and not be overly critical of the body I am in. 

If you are dieting yourself, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Keep on keeping on, WE CAN DO THIS!

Phil said what?

So, in lieu of yesterday's events in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, I have a serious bone to pick with a certain groundhog. 6 MORE WEEKS OF WINTER MY GOODNESS, how will I ever survive.

Let me fill you in on how I feel about winter. It is only slightly okay of it to be cold through Christmas, but once that tree is put away and school starts again, the cold is a pain in my ears, face, fingers, and everything else it chooses to pierce through.

I took this picture at my home because one of the only things I enjoy about winter is how it looks. Winter is peaceful, quiet, serene. The only other thing that I enjoy about winter is the clothing, because who doesn't love an oversized sweater and your favorite pair of booties?

However, that is besides the point, the point is I want to be able to run outside, go on a bike ride, take a trip and pack light, go camping, go to the drive-in, swim all day and have one of the things I work hardest on be a sun tan. Whatever it is, I DON'T want the weather to spoil the fun!

Have you ever wondered why Californians, Floridians, Hawaiians, are so happy and people take their Christmas vacations to such places? Because warmth and sunshine are good for the soul.

Summer. Hair gets lighter. Skin gets darker. Water gets warmer. Drinks get colder. Music gets louder. Nights get longer. Life gets better. 

And as one of my favorite artists, Ben Rector, would say, thank God for the months after May.