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

It's OK Thursday

It's OK that:
*I'm still scared by the fact my town got hit by a tornado Tuesday pm.
*I freaked and sent out "are you ok" text to about 20 people.
*I cried when I found out everyone was safe and accounted for
*My house was filled with people w/o electricity and water! party central last night :)
*I'm a little weirded out by the fact that Tay Swift and Tim Tebow might be an item 
*I just made my packing list for Israel. I leave in 1 week! 1 week!
*My toenails and fingernails never match
*I can't wait for The Voice to begin competitions next Monday! whoop!!
*I can't wait for a wedding of a childhood friend on Saturday! 
*I want spring to come right now! I'm ready for shorts and flip-flops!! 

Monday Randoms

*big brain dump ahead*

~I'm back from Kansas City! Our varsity team from church went up to KC to complete in "olympics". We left Friday afternoon and got back late last night. My weekend was filled with lots of pictures, tons of snacks and eating out, uncontrollable gut laughter, and taking 4th place. Not too shabby :)

~Friday morning, my dad completed my FAFSA and set it off to CofO and Evangel. I didn't think all the necessary paperwork would be received/done it time, but we got all of it and it's DONE! Such a relief! Now I wait and see what happens! CofO's priority deadline is February 15th. That is where I really want to go to college. Waiting is the hardest part.

~I officially completed week 4 of C25K last week! I'm half way there. Crazy. I'm finally getting my endurance up and will begin longer runs this week. I think I can. I think I can. I'm actually starting to enjoy running, something I NEVER thought I'd say.

~The high today is 65 degrees. Branson has had one of the mildest winter's I can remember. I think this calls for a run outside this afternoon :)

~I haven't worked since Black Friday weekend at the ziplines. I miss it like terrible. I miss my 2nd family. I miss my big brothers. I miss taking pictures of crazy tourists. I miss answering the phone a thousand times a day. I miss driving the ATVs. I miss eating Jimmy Johns 6 days a week. I miss watching the sunset over the zipline towers. March come quickly!!

~I have been doing a ton of homework for my Israel trip. I've been researching major cities, religions, and other important information. It's coming up so fast. In 39 days I'll be boarding a plane and flying halfway across the world. It's still so surreal to me.

~One of my childhood friends, had a sweet baby boy last week. I've known her since I was 4 years old. I'm 18 and she's 21 now. I can't believe that she is married and starting a family. After 30+ hours of labor, Winston Daniel made his arrival. I'm so happy for her!

~Speaking of marriage and children, I've had several friends get engaged recently. I have 7 weddings on the calendar and I'm sure there will be more. I on the other hand, am happily enjoying my singleness. That will be another post soon.

~On a more serious note, I've really been realizing how fragile life is; how special and priceless it is and how much I really take it for granted. One of my friend's cousin passed away last night in NY. It happened so fast and it is heartbreaking for me to watch her grieve like this. If you think of her, please pray for K today. Then yesterday, one of my guy friends was in a car accident with his mom. They are ok, but the car is totaled. I saw both of them yesterday morning and hugged them goodbye, not having a clue what events would happen later in the day. I hugged my family a little bit tighter last night.

~I'm so excited for my new link-up tomorrow! Top 10 Tuesday! First off, will be Top 10 Foods we love. Easy and fun! Be sure to link-up!

~Saw this quote and loved it: once you realize your mess can become your ministry, you actively look for ways to provide security and protection for others with that struggle.

~Cait has an awesome giveaway this week! make sure to go check it out!

Happy Monday Lovelies!

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