Back from Sabbatical

I am back…and feeling inspired again. I always do this. I journal for a while and then get bored with myself and decide to distract myself with other endeavors. The sabbatical has done me some good…and I am feeling renewed and ready to take on the world.

Things have been going pretty stinking smoothly in my life, so, of course I am super suspicious that something is about to rock my world. Sounds a bit pessimistic you say…I say, that is how God works with me. J Who knows, maybe my life will be puppies and rainbows from here on out…I am smirking to myself as I type that last sentence. Silly Emily…

Recently I found out that I might have the opportunity to travel to Africa to do some church work. I could not be more excited. Service work is something that has been on my heart for a long time and I am so thankful and grateful that this opportunity presented itself. Now, I must get busy on preparing myself in a way God wants me to…to bring those people joy, blessings, and service!

Happy Hump Day everyone…I hope the awesomeness is abounding in your life!

Emily...In Summary

Katie Schultz's sister, who I have never met, posts some great quotes. This one, exactly, sums how I feel!

30 Songs that Changed My Life

The title is a bit dramatic, but seriously...these songs are seriously significant to me for various reasons. In homage to my insanely, rapidly approaching 30^th Birthday…without further ado…

My Favorite 30 Songs (In no particular order)

1. Love Will Keep Us Alive – Eagles

2. Forever and Ever Amen – Randy Travis

3. Stroll Over Heaven – Alan Jackson

4. Livin on Love – Alan Jackson

5. Ramblin Man – Allman Brothers

6. Little Miss Honky Tonk – Brooks & Dunn

7. If You’re Gonna Play in Texas – Alabama

8. Long Way Around – Dixie Chicks

9. Come to Jesus – Chris Rice

10. There’s Your Trouble – Dixie Chicks

11. Two of a Kind Workin on a Full House – Garth Brooks

12. Ace in the Hole – George Strait

13. Amarillo by Morning – George Strait

14. Pick-up Man – Joe Diffie

15. Cotton Fields – CCR

16. Tupelo Honey – Van Morrison

17. Meet Virginia – Train

18. Last Dance with Mary Jane – Tom Petty

19. Take the Money and Run – Steve Miller Band

20. Edelweiss – Julie Andrews

21. Living Fast Forward – Kenny Chesney

22. People Change – Kenny Chesney

23. Life’s a Dance – John Michael Montgomery

24. Gimme 3 Steps – Lynyrd Skynyrd

25. Down at the Twist and Shout – Mary Chapin Carpenter

26. Louisiana Saturday Night – Nitty Gritty Dirt Band

27. Leave it There – Randall Goodgame

28. Ladies Love Country Boys – Trace Adkins

29. Home – Alan Jackson

30. Gotta Have You – The Weepies

Alcohol, Schmalcohol - I'm Over It!

In-de-ci-sion: Reluctance or inability to make up one’s mind; irresolution.

I am terribly indecisive. I make pro & cons lists, gather copious amounts of data, and wear my friends and family down with repetitive scenario analyses. My discussions with “The Doctor” on this topic have led me to the conclusion that I am a hierarchical decision maker…I need data…and plenty of it. The larger the decision is, the more information that I need to feel confident I am making the correct choice; however, in my strivings to place my life in the Lords’ hands, I am required to step-back and determine His will for me in all things.

For years, I have ridden the proverbial fence on the subject of alcohol and its presence, or lack thereof, in my life. I have abstained and partaken in varying gradients dependent upon my feelings at the time and at several points in my life, have been completely apathetic. I have struggled with whether or not I personally believe alcohol is a sin and what the Scriptures tell me about how I should conduct my life. I have had countless conversations with friends and family on both sides of the equation…all in the pursuit of gathering data.

Finally, I have arrived. Weary of internal turmoil, failing to see the value it adds to my life, exhausted in the analysis process, and cognizant of the happiness it brings another - I am finished. As unceremoniously as it entered my life, it exits and I have no doubt this is a continued part of the refining process my life has been experiencing. Sometimes we need that extra perspective to help us along the journey (at least I do)…and I am thankful for it.

Desirous never to return to the valley, I press onward striving for Christ alone to be the author and finisher of my faith!

Thinking about Thirty....

In the spirit of my quickly approaching 30^th Birthday (2 months from yesterday), I have decided to intermittently include Top 30 Lists to pay homage to my first three decades. I hope you enjoy. My first 30 List is affectionately titled:

30 Things I Have Learned in (Almost) 30 Years!

• Always follow your gut feeling…always
• Even your closest friends and family will let you down… forgive them and move on
• Taking a bath helps a stomach ache
• A little mascara and lip gloss go a long way
• Bleaching your entire head of hair is not a good idea
• Raw cookie dough will not make you sick
• It is ok to dislike golf
• When people tell you who they are….believe them
• You can not singly be responsible for another person’s happiness
• Exercise always requires a sports bra J
• If you can not tell whether it is a shirt or skirt...you should not buy it
• The rules do apply to you
• Sweet, good, kind men should always finish first
• Tell people how you feel about them…even if they don’t reciprocate
• Live life without fear and experience true adventure
• It is ok to say “no” and free your schedule for things you enjoy
• Black and brown can be worn together if done tastefully
• Be kinder than necessary
• Cute high heels are almost always worth the pain
• Mistakes foster compassion for others. Never say never…someday you might find yourself there
• Lamar’s Long Johns are worth the calories
• Single guys normally don’t just want to be your friend
• Applying makeup in the car is sometimes a necessity
• American blow dryers do not work in Europe…even with an adapter
• It is better to be overdressed
• People notice hard work
• Repeating the same behavior will bring you the same results
• Expect speed bumps and freight trains…God often teaches us the most valuable lessons at our lowest.
• Accepting a challenge simply for the purpose of having a challenge…is pointless
• Nerds win…embrace it!  J

I love the Mountains...I love the Rolling Hills

As I get older, I have slowly realized the things about myself that never seem to change. I like sleeping late, rainy nights, long runs, and slow music in the morning. Lately, I am in love with the song "Come to Jesus" by Chris Rice. It comforts me, gives me hope, and reminds me that God always calls us back to Him. It is my hope, that one day I can fully live my life in response to my desires to serve God - completely.

This weekend was extremely productive. I was truly blessed. I was humbled by my mom's willingness to help me in the yard without even being asked and am so thankful for her support. I also got to spend some time with my grandfather and my sweet friend Lindsey. Lindsey has been such a wonderful friend to me over the years. I feel so blessed for my amazing friends.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention the fantastic week that I had at Mountain Camp. I felt so privileged to be among the youth and to spend time in the presence of the Lord. Every year I am humbled and amazed by the campers preparation, intelligence, and humor. Serving them is easy. The Lord blessed us completely with great weather, not-so-great weather, beautiful hikes, and the opportunity to serve a person in need. There is nowhere I would rather have been that week than at Mountain Camp serving with my friends and brothers and sisters in Christ. I returned home to more amazingness. Thank you!

I have so many things to be thankful for and completely recognize that my blessings are only through God's grace. Onward I climb up the mountain...looking for Christ alone to be the author and finisher of my faith-

Traversing My Heart

Trite but true, “The only guarantee in life is that things will change.” Self-admittedly, I like change; however, change often stirs up your life in unfamiliar ways. These past few months have been full of rapid cycles of change. I am thinking differently about this world and my relationships with those in it.  

God has been putting on my heart things that I need to reconcile within myself and those I need to reach out to with arms of forgiveness.  When I think about the relationships that I struggle with – by far- my biggest struggle is that with my mother. Due to my own neurosis, and my life experiences, I have somewhat limited my relationship with her by how much I let her in. When I think about who I really am, it saddens me that she really doesn’t know or understand me fully. Now, my responsibility is to change that – to the extent that I can; however, the problem lies in not knowing how to do that. How do you open up when your instincts are yelling for you to protect yourself?

I often think that I haven’t given my mom the full opportunity to see who I am. I withhold details about my personal life due to fear of how things will be received and as a path of least resistance. Unfortunately, that precludes me from reaping the benefits of maternal support and love.  Deep within my soul, I know that my mother loves me more than herself and would do anything for me. How do I bridge the gap between that knowledge and actively opening up to her?  I am able to openly discuss compartmentalized topics with her with little to no reservation…the challenge becomes opening the flood gate and allowing her access to otherwise prohibited parts of me.  Here’s to the journey for continued growth. God’s patience with me is astounding.

Go thy way unto thy brother, and first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I will receive you.

3 Nephi 5:72