Closings and beginnings

Cleaned out my room and semi-packed. Got a used car with great gas mileage. Filled out my application and registration papers for the internship. Come May 20th, I am off for Bend : )

My heart is so eager to just get there, get there, get there.. But I know there is purpose to this time as much as when I'll start missions work in summer. It's simply a challenge to seek out His doing in how to glorify Him while I'm still here.

A few months ago, I felt "ready" to leave my hometown. I still felt split about leaving a place I felt at home with, but was growing distant from in needs and desires. Now, I am over-and-over again shown with convictions of the heart and spirit that I am called elsewhere. My needs are going to be met in a place He is preparing for me, and where He, too, is eagerly awaiting for me to come and take part in community, fellowship, worship, and revelation for the kingdom.

"Patience, Emily. You are SO very close. Let my love here and now be enough to satisfy what you lack and thirst for. Prepare yourself for one of the many journeys of your lifetime."

Gives me shivers hearing His voice in all this, and knowing in the gut of my soul that He is carefully planning my future and so lovingly bringing the time closer where it will be right before my eyes.

Memories

Day 5

A picture of your favorite memory

Mexico. LIVING the culture I had learned about in the classroom. Unexpectedly translating for church messages and conversations. Falling in love with the people and their life values. Being reminded of simple necessities of life. Beautiful weather. Working hard and being dead tired at the end of the day. Realizing just how important missions are to me, and seriously praying about their place in my future. Feeling in sync with the Holy Spirit's rhythms.

Night of Nights

Day 3

A picture of your favorite night

A few nights ago, I just sat outside for a solid time. No excuses- I just really needed time with the Lord to hear Him and give Him a small fraction of the time He so completely deserves to reply to the love gushed out on me each day. While sitting in the damp grass, staring into the space of eternity and all He created on the canvas before me (as a masterpiece created for us!!!) I felt this reassurance and heard this calming voice cover my thoughts of doubt, saying "It is TIME. You are going to love where I take you. Just let go of that hand and take hold of mine."

There are SO many nights I will treasure forever. Nights at camp, goofing off with friends, nights of intentional worship and prayer, nights of profound realizations, and this night of clear, pointed guidance that I had been waiting for, for a very long time. *heavy sigh of relief*

Balanced Controversy

Day 3

• Picture of the cast of your favorite show

I love the concept of Morgan Spurlock's '30 Days'-- You may recognize him from Super-Size me, where he directed a documentary style film about living on a complete Mickey D's diet; this show is very much like that in a social experiment sense. It's like Mythbusters meets What Would You Do? People, including Spurlock himself, go off on a 30 day adventure living in the life of a religion, a belief system, or a habitual way of life completely different from their own. Spurlock visits an Indian reservation, a white Christian man from Georgia lives with a muslim family, and many more controversial pairings. At first, this concept made me nervous-- There is so much potential to make this show a learning experience for the participants and viewers, as long as it didn't end up like a shouting match on the Maury show. I was hoping for something that would break me out of my comfort zone and really challenge me with some thought provoking questions to wrestle with, and I was pleasantly surprised with the results of each episode. People went home with new perspective, and I learned a great deal through their process of how to understand and love others despite their choices. And I prayed through so much of the topics they brought to life, lifting to the Lord what I thought my heart could be tweaked on.

There are three seasons of this out on Netflix-- I believe they are all on-demand (hint hint). : )

Huckleberry Friends.

Day 2

• A person who you have been the closest to for the longest time

I am so privileged to know this gal- We met when I was about 12, and she was 16-17, and hit it off quickly. She was so fun and quirky- Living in the country, collecting vintage wear, and dreaming of being a novelist/playwright... Conversations progressed to pen-pal letters and long phone calls, followed by drama work together with MCO productions. She is one of the best listeners and advice givers I know, and we've really grown through a lot of adolescence with each other's guidance and witness. It's been decided that we be old cronies together, living up our last days together after our supposed husbands are gone and we have nothing better to do than sit on the wrap-around porch and knit. : )

Love you my salty Huckleberry friend (haha).

Prompts.

It's time to start writing with prompts! I've liked the '30 Days' thing people are doing, so here goes:

A picture of yourself with 10 facts

A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest

A picture of the cast from your favorite show

A picture of your favorite night

A picture of your favorite memory

A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day

A picture of your most treasured item

A picture that makes you laugh

A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most

A picture of the person you do the most crazy things with

A picture of something you hate

A picture of something you love

A picture of your favorite band or artist

A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without

A picture of something you want to do before you die

A picture of someone who inspires you

A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently

A picture of your biggest insecurity

A picture and a letter

A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel

A picture of something you wish you could forget

A picture of something you wish you were better at

A picture of your favorite book

A picture of something you wish you could change

A picture of your favorite day

A picture of something that means a lot to you

A picture of yourself and a family member

A picture of something you're afraid of

A picture that can always make you smile

A picture of someone you miss

And that, friends, is what I'll be writing about : ) yay, so excited!!!

1. A picture of yourself with 10 facts

So this is me, Emily, Skeba, Nika, the nicknames go on....

1. I am left handed, and my birthday is November 1st.... Funny thing is, same goes for my grandpa and two cousins on my mom's side. Kinda weird...

2. I have a BIG sweet tooth. Peanut butter + chocolate is the equivalent of candy heaven to me : )

3. I hate it when people's wrists touch... Or knuckles pop. Gives me the squeemish heebie jeebies.

4. I have been in a wide spread of schools over my childhood: homeschooled for pre-school, kindergarten, and first grade, private school for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, public downtown- Portland school for 5th grade, suburban Tigard school for middle and high school.

5. I love to garden. Something about getting that close to the ground reminds me of who made it, and how He makes such beautiful and substantial things out of dust. Plus I love gardening gloves : )

6. I work in a fabric shop and befriend old ladies who like to share about their busy-work projects.

Seriously, these ladies (most of the time) are so incredibly sweet. If not for this job, I would see the elderly in a much less brighter light. They can be grouchy, proud, impatient, and downright rude at times, but theses things and those who extend a courteous kindness in their wisdom inspire me to never really "grow old".

7. I have always wanted to be a missionary. A family who my parents have known since I was in grade school went onto the missions field for a long while, and the whole process they went through fascinated me. It got me thinking and reading into the ministry to see how I could travel, learn, and share with others the message of Christ along with a trade to teach people of another culture. I still want to do this; it all comes down to deciding on a trade I can take along....

8. CAT lover. Dogs are great, too- But there's nothing like having a feline curl up in your lap--- They're like warm, fuzzy, purring heaters you can take with you wherever you go... And they don't need to be let out! haha

9. I discovered how much I love sociology this last term. Social work or teaching, in any way or form, could be a very possible career in my future. I find so much value in working directly with people.

10. Cooking is a new hobby of mine. Can't wait to have a better budget and future friends and family to bless with recipes I dream of making from watching the Food Network or reading in Cooking Light! Love how nutrition can be an art form.

That's all for now- Looks like it's a gorgeous day outside... Most definitely a Sunday, and the first real day that's looked like spring! Thank you, Lord for the promise of new life that's beginning to spring out.