On my heart: E. St. Louis

I'm leaving in less than two days for a mission trip. The team from my church youth group is headed to E. St. Louis, the very heart of the city. It is such a broken and hopeless place. People struggling to find hope in something.

It will be the 5th and final time I'll have the chance to surround my self and love on some of the most beautiful baby children. We'll be doing daycamp for children. We have over 100 kids, newborn through 20 year olds. 

This year, I'll be in the 1st and 2nd grade classroom with the best team of 6 people. It will be high energy and non stop the entire week. This is what I live for. I can't wait!

We feed them lunch, play games with them, teach them, make a craft together. Most importantly, we share multiple hugs, kisses and piggy back rides. Oh and did i mention the most legit dance parties ever? Ya, these kids can dance like nobody's business.

My heart is breaking this year because I have to say goodbye. I hate goodbyes. I do.

I've graduated high school, and as amazing as that was, I have to move on and knowing that I'll probably never see these kids again, hurts me. I've grown to know and love them. Each year, we run off the buses to see familiar faces waiting for us. We know them by name and we love them so.

We've watched young girls become moms at young ages, teenagers pass away, and children grow up way too fast. But, these people have left a mark on my heart I'll never forget.

My favorite was praying with sweet Brittany last year! She prayed to ask Jesus into her heart. As soon as we finished, we started dancing and yelling! She went and told everyone that she invited Jesus in her heart! heart. melt. 

If you think of me this week please pray specifically for:

-these precious children; that they would learn through us and the Lord would use us to change their lives.

-safety for all going. we have about 45 people going, youth and chaperons. We are going into a very difficult and scary area. We have to leave by 5pm, because it is very dangerous at night.

-unity for our entire group. we live together the whole week.

-traveling safety for our two big church buses, plus the extra cars going.

I hope you guys have an amazing week! 

oxox,

Emily 

Sunday Randoms

This week has been crazy. It was not normal at all. I like normal. I like routines. In honor of the craziness, I'm brain dumping tonight. 


*The biggest random of the week was the Tornado. Branson has NEVER had a tornado that I can remember. I've lived here 9 years. Floods yes. Tornados no. It was freaky. I posted some pictures here. 


*Branson had National Guard here over the weekend. It was SO weird to see "army men" directing traffic and helping out around town. On a total side note, if Westboro would have come to protest Branson, like they did in Joplin, I would have given them a piece of my mind. Seriously. 


*Today was a crazy busy day. Church, friends over for dinner, 15 min snooze, cleaning, VBS meeting, youth, and mission trip training. go go go!


*Church this morning was incredible. I love my church. The power came back on on Friday (i think) but there were pews missing and carpet torn up everywhere. My pastor did an awesome job of tying in the tornado/tornado damage to our church in his sermon. I'm so blessed to worship there each week. (ps- can't believe i'll be worshipping in Jerusalem next sunday! 

*Pure Joy was Friday night. It was incredible. 3+ hours of worship, skits, testimonies, laughter, tears, and well over 1000 women. I've gone the past 2 years and I've left every year being filled and encouraged. I wish everybody could have attended. 

Photo Credit: Tonya Self 

*I went to wedding yesterday. It was wedding #2 (of 8) of 2012! It was the first wedding of one of my friends. That was weird. Molly, is 19 and she married Leeland Kimmel. I've known Molly since Jr. High. I didn't take 1 picture of the couple because they went off location to shoot pictures immediately following the ceremony :( I did manage to snap a couple of me and my broske, my date. haha


*After the wedding, Kyle and I got a movie, some Starbucks and chilled at home. We watched Water for Elephants. Overall, it was a pretty good movie. There were definitely some sad parts tho! oh and Reese Witherspoon is gorgeous! 


*I leave for Israel in 5 days! Holy cow. I still have so much to do. I haven't even started packing. I'm overwhelmed with so many emotions; excitement, nervousness, adrenaline rushes! It's insane.

*I've realized how white I really am. haha I was thinking about wearing a tank and a high waisted skirt to the wedding until Kyle said, you look like a white attorney. umm thanks?! #broskelove 

*I have yet another speech to prepare for this week. sweet.

*I had dinner with Addie on Tuesday at Olive Garden. I love, love, love her. Then doughnuts at Krispy Kreme. obsessed with her. 


*I bought this shirt from Target yesterday. I love it. 

I have alot more I could brain dump about. Random shopping trips, the cat vomiting on my bed, work, how much i want it to be summer, the music i love....i could write on and on, but I've hardly gotten any sleep all week. I'm about to have a hot date with my eyelids.


Happy almost Monday!


Emily! OXOX

Sunday Randoms

~I did watch the Miss America Pageant last night! It was the first time I had ever watched. I LOVED it! There were so many good stories, talents, and pretty girls for lack of a better term! ha! I loved Miss SC's suit. She rocked the white and the bikini and looked fab! I loved Miss Oklahoma's Irish Dance. I'm really not a big fan of Opera tho (Miss NY). Miss Iowa did an amazing job singing You Raise Me Up! It was so pretty! I really wanted Miss OK to win! But, congrats to Miss Wisconsin for winning Miss America!

~On a side note, I watched the MAP in sweats, ponytail, no makeup, and stuffing my face full of food!

~Yesterday, I did a mini-road trip to Springfield with some girls from church. We're having a pillowcase party on Monday night for our upcoming trip to KC! We bought fabric and had lunch together at Chick-fil-a! Branson doesn't have a Chick-fil-a :( There are rumors that Branson might be getting one in the near future! SO excited if that actually happened! haha

~Our family finally took down the Christmas tree today. It's been long overdue! This is the new record for how long our family has keep it up. January 15th.

~Speaking of overdue, I know y'all are dying to know my countdowns: 111 days till graduation and 54 days to Israel! I can't wait. They are both sneaking up SO fast! I'm glad time is flying!

~I had to give a speech in my public speaking class on Friday. Scared.out.of.my.mind. I hate public speaking, but I made it! We had to speak for 3 minutes so it wasn't too bad! I spoke on my mission trip to E. St. Louis. I've gone every year since 8th grade and it's something I'm passionate about, but still.

~I finished week 2 of C25K! Enough said. Tomorrow is a new day, a new week, with more running. baby steps.

~I'm reading Kisses from Katie right now. Incredible book. You might also fall in love with her blog! She is so inspiring and I can't wait to do a book review post on her book soon!

~Tonight, I met with our Lead team from youth group. I'm excited to see everything that God is doing and what He will continue to do through us in 2012.

I've got a crazy, full week ahead!

Happy Sunday!

Emily

Carolyn and Aaron's Wedding 1.08.12.

Carolyn and Aaron

1.08.12

One of my favorite couples got married last night in a beautiful ceremony at Integrity Hills Chapel. Carolyn was one of our youth helpers for many, many years! She spoke into numerous lives every week and poured into my life as well. It was so fun to be able to go and see her and Aaron get hitched! :) This is the first wedding of 2012 that I got to go to. There is at least 5 more on the calender! I can't wait! I went with my friend Hannah and my younger brother, Kyle! Hannah was so sweet to come over and do my hair before we left. I LOVED the final product! It was such a fun evening filled with laughing, dancing, eating and lots of pictures! They brought in a photo booth for everybody too! so, so fun. enjoy the pictures!

Hannah burned my nose on accident :)

We snapped a couple of pictures right before we left!

I LOVE how they turned out!

Miss Julie is awesome!

She leads our mission trip every year!!

Miss Lori is our smallgroup leader!

and we LOVE her :)

Carolyn was stunning.

so happy for her.

We sat with the Conner Fam :)

I LOVE Brianna! She sang last night

and did a beautiful job. She was my

team leader the first year i went on mission trip,

in 8th grade. so, so sweet.

Happy Monday!

Emily

Sunday Randoms!

~Ladies and Gentleman! Drumroll please...... I have a graduation date!!!!! I could not be more excited! Details SOON :) lots and lots of details soon!

~My friend, Emily, had her wisdom teeth taken out this week. :( this obviously called for multiple trips to Starbucks and McDonalds for shakes and frappes! I of course, shared in the splurging.

~My friends left for Israel on Friday. I am SO excited for them! They get back next Sunday. Can't wait to hear the reports and stories.

~Friday night, I spent the night with Caitlyn! I carved pumpkins for the 1st time. I made an absolute mess. My pumpkin fell apart, literally in pieces. But hey, it was fun!

~Saturday I worked with at the Ziplines all day with Caitlyn! It was gorgeous weather, and perfect lighting!

~Today I'm enjoying my family, catching up, napping, cleaning, and good music!

~Speaking of good music, Justin Biebers new Christmas album comes out on Tuesday!!! Yea, I have the "fever"!

~I had my 1st Cold Stone in over a month yesterday. Cake Batter, my favorite kind!

~All of the leaves are changing in my backyard and in Branson! Beautiful!! I really love Fall.

~This morning, at our church is Mission&Me Sunday. We have various ministries, and pastors from our area, our state, nation etc come and represent and speak. I was able to talk to Pastor Prowell and Julius from 15th Street Baptist Church in E. St. Louis. Made my morning!! Mission Trip is a highlight of my year. I LOVE those kids SO much! I don't know if I can wait 200+ days to see them again!

Summer 2011

~ Remember to enter my giveaway!

Happy Sunday!

Love,

Mighty Mini Camp 2011

I love Mighty Mini Camp! This has been my 3rd year to help and I just love them! I was with 1st and 2nd grade this year; I taught Session 2 (day 2) on Sin! I have a pretty awesome and crazy team to work with :) Enjoy!