Catching Up ...

It's been a long time ... I haven't been as frequent in my writing as I'd like. I think it might have a lot to do with my time. Sure, that's an easy excuse ... but it's true. I just don't use my time as wisely as I should. It's my own fault ... but, there is so much going on these days, it's hard to find time to just relax, let alone write something thoughtful and meaningful. And you know ... I think that's what I miss. Writing about those thoughts ... those feelings that are still there ... those ideas that somehow, brought meaning to not only those of you out there who happen to read my nonsense, but also to me ... I think they just might be bottled up a little more ... However, I'm learning ... I just wish time could simply stand still for a moment; just to catch up ... to slow down for just a second to breathe ...

Blessed

During this time of ‘Thanksgiving’, I’m reminded of how much I have; how much I have been blessed to receive ... how much I take for granted ...

I know this is so simple, but so many times we focus on the things we DON’T have, that we forget about the things that we’ve been incredibly blessed with ... the things that are staring right in front of us that we simply miss in passing ...

On this day of Thanksgiving, I'm reminded that life is not a series of events that make us ... but a series of moments that define our lives ...

So sit back, take a break from the chaos around you, and be thankful for LIFE ...

Twilight

I always thought that passion was something innate in all of us. Perhaps it's something we learn? Not sure, but I've been thinking about it quite often these past few days.

I read this book ... now don't laugh, but it's about vampires and forbidden love. Yes, sounds corny and unbelievable, but really ... there was so much depth to it, so much heart and passion within it … I couldn’t put it down … It was the kind of book that after you finish reading, you say to yourself, ‘wow, does that kind of passion really exist’?

I’m not entirely sure if it’s the romance inside the pages, which makes me want to be inside the reality the characters live in, but there is something to the story. The human girl who finds love with someone who could take her life because of the ‘creature’ he is. Yet, because of the connection they share, the passion they hold for each other, they both choose life and choose forever, together. Their love is intense and real … their hearts are intertwined and connected … it’s a beautiful display of self-sacrifice …

Now, I don’t really know how this ties into anything spiritual, anything really meaningful at this juncture, but I do find it interesting and consuming the passion and love that these two characters possess for each other. The story is rather mesmerizing, compelling, while the images and detail of the characters are almost too perfect to keep reading. Yet again, the story of these two ‘star-crossed’ lovers, keeps you turning the pages, hoping and pleading with the author to make them timeless … together forever.

It begs the question, if you could live forever, what would you live for?

Ah, this Crazy Thing Called Life ...

It’s been a long time … for that I’m sure. Life has been a series of twists and turns, but amazing nonetheless. My new nephew, Max John is a beauty and a blessing. I couldn’t be more ecstatic that I know him and that I get to watch him grow.

I am amazed by life in general these days. The people in it; the ups and downs … the daily struggle to just be the people we are. Life shouldn’t be about the things we don’t have, but about the things that are right in front of us. It’s a shame it takes us so long to figure that out. But, perhaps that’s why new beginnings and second chances are a part of it all.

I don’t have it all figured out just yet, but I’m learning … and learning to embrace life for what it is … where I go from here, that is still a mystery.

99 Balloons

It's amazing how precious life is ... how fast it goes and how fast it can be taken away ... it's learning to cherish the days and moments that we have that leave a lasting legacy and impression on those around us ... I'd ask that you watch the video below when you have time ... I hope it moves you as it has me. God Bless ...

Justice and Love?

While I wish I could write more at the current moment, I can't seem to get my thought processes in order at the present moment ... however, in this moment, I'd just like to share a quote:

"... Justice is what love looks like in public ..."

The Gift of Life

Dear Friends ... so sorry I haven't posted in some time ... life has been hectic, beautiful, tragic, and wonderful, all at the same time! Will write more soon ... but I wanted to share a few photos of my new, gorgeous, chubby new nephew, Max John! My twin sister had him on October 2nd at 9:43AM ... he was almost 10 pounds ... if you can believe it! He is beautiful and wonderful!!! And ... it's amazing how you can love someone so much you only just met! Thank Jesus for babies! God Bless! More writing to come! ~Emily

Freedom in the Unknown

Life is too short to become entangled in the things you have no control over … I’ve often thought that in those moments, when you realize you have no control over a situation, there is some ‘freedom’ … freedom in knowing that no matter how hard you try, you’re not going to change the moment … the ‘thing’ that you couldn’t control … that could be reassuring to some … that could be failure to others … I'm not entirely sure ... but, somehow … I find freedom in knowing that no matter what, firstly, God won’t give me anything I can’t handle, and secondly, what doesn’t kill me, will only make me that much stronger … because after all, life is too short to worry about the unknown …

Dare to be Great ...

It is not the critic who counts;
not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled
or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man
who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood;
who strives valiantly;
who errs and comes short again and again;
who knows great enthusiasms,
the great devotions;
who spends himself in a worthy cause;
who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement,
and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while
DARING GREATLY
so that his place shall never be
with those timid souls
who know neither victory or defeat.

Theodore Roosevelt

The Power of Love ...

It’s amazing how love can change you …

When I was a kid, I remember moments when my parents were happy … truly happy …
And … I remember moments when happiness was far away … far, far away …

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized the ‘genetics’ or the ‘DNA’ that I’ve been given, and I’ve learned those good ‘genes’ and the not so good ‘genes’ …

I believe my parents did the best they could … they loved us and they tried to love each other …

I don’t blame ANY of my behaviors, choices, or actions on my youth, or my parents … however, I do recognize, from my youth, those things that I saw, those moments where life was all but a happy ‘American Dream’ … I saw in my parents relationship, what I didn’t want to become in those moments… I realized what I wanted to avoid when I met the person I would spend the rest of my life with …

When I met my husband … I thought the love he had for me and the love I had for him could help make me become the person that I always knew I could be … however, it wasn’t that easy when we said ‘I Do’ … I had to confront the very things I never wanted to admit were a part of me …

But … the amazing thing is … although life hasn’t been peaches and cream, and there have been many ups and downs, HIS love has changed me … it has made me a better person … it has helped me become that person that I wanted to be so long ago … sure, I’m still a work in progress, but aren’t we all?

Through the LOVE of my husband … I have learned and continue to learn how much God loves me … He gave me a man who not only loves me in the good times, but also in the not so good times …

So, in the midst of a world ‘falling out of love’ … realize that love … can forever change you, if you truly let it …

The Motions

Heard a song today ... was blown away by the lyrics ... thought I'd share them here, with you ...

It's a song called 'The Motions' by Matthew West ... listen to it here ...

This might hurt, it's not safe
But I know that I've gotta make a change
I don't care if I break,
At least I'll be feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
Without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

No regrets, not this time
I'm gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love make me whole
I think I'm finally feeling something
'Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of this life

'Cause I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

take me all the way (take me all the way)
take me all the way ('cause I don't wanna go through the motions)
take me all the way (I know I'm finally feeling something real)
take me all the way

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

I don't wanna go through the motions
I don't wanna go one more day
without Your all consuming passion inside of me
I don't wanna spend my whole life asking,
"What if I had given everything,
instead of going through the motions?"

take me all the way (take me all the way)
take me all the way (I don't wanna go, I don't wanna go)
take me all the way (through the motions)
take me all the way

I don't wanna go through the motions...

A Lonely World ...

Being alone is somewhat of a nuance … it’s this ‘shade of grey’ that you can’t really tell where it ends … where it begins …

I don’t know if you’ve ever been ‘alone’ … or felt as if you were ‘alone’ … but I have to think that we’ve all been there at one point or another in our lives … perhaps it’s just a ‘feeling’ that goes away, or it’s a feeling that is always lingering …

I’m not entirely sure why we feel alone when we’re really not … but perhaps, it’s a feeling we must feel to truly understand it … and in return, understand why the world feels it …