Catching Up- Q&A

So a follower left some question for me this week, and because I have been a bit absent lately, I thought I'd update ya'll! (Thanks Emily for the questions)

What can we be praying for for your China trip?
Well, you can pray for the last $350 I need to raise by June 16th. Then you can pray for my travel and safety, of course! Also that I would be able to emotionally handle leaving when the trip is over. I had a very difficult time leaving a child in Haiti last year and I am feeling that I am going to get attached to a child at Maria's. (Not a bad thing, just hard for me)
What camera gear & editing software do you use?
Currently I am taking pictures with a Nikon D5000, and editing with Photoshop Elements 11.
What is on your wish list for photography gear?
Well I would love to have my own camera. (The camera I use is my Dads) As for a camera body I really want a Canon Rebel T3i and a Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM lens. Also I'd like Photoshop Lightroom.
What is up with Ally these days?
Not much. She is almost done with her math this year, so we can all say HALLELUJAH! 
How are Aaron and Tiffany doing in Guam?
Good I think! Tiffany joined Aaron in Guam a couple of weeks ago and they bought a house.
Would you rather be a giant mouse or a tiny elephant?
Tiny Elephant, definitely! Mice are gross. 
Green pears or the brownish kind?
Green? I'm not a big pear person.
What are you looking forward to for jr. year?
Being closer to senior year!! But seriously, I'm not sure.

Any college plans yet?
I have had college plans since I was about 6! I'm not sure where I want to go yet, but I want to study nursing and become an RN and get a BSN. (Bachelor of Science in Nursing)

Dogs or cats?
Cats! I can't stand barking!!!
Do spiders terrify you?
That depends on their size and how creepy they look. So, most of the time, yes. #baby

If you ya'll like Q&As leave some questions. Maybe I'll do another one! 

Rejoice

Today was a big day! I am very excited to announce that the first half of my mission trip payment has been raised! And... 16 days before I needed it!

I must say that my biggest "issue" (if you can call it that, more like a worry) with this trip was the funding. I had no idea how to raise money. I started with support letters which was kind of hard for me because I hate asking people for things, especially money. But I went ahead and sent a whole bunch of them out, and now I am ready for my first deadline! Also, my new passport arrived last week which was very early for what the passport people told me! 

I have a conference call tonight for my mission trip and I am super excited to get more information! PLEASE continue to pray for my trip and fundraising, i'm about to go into Phase 2 as I call it, openly fundraising at my church. God has been SO good, and very clear about this trip, I am excited to see what it next!

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

{Ephesians 2:8-10}

Vlog #2: Q and A

                                          

Please submit your ideas for my next video!!! :)

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The Real Reason

I am terribly sorry, but today I do not have Easter pictures.. because, well.. I have none.

Only one person went to church on Sunday, and there were no Easter baskets or egg hunts. Anna Grace, Ally, Joshua, and myself were all sick. Last Tuesday, I fell sick with the Flu. The rest soon followed. Yesterday Lily became sick as well. So as you can see, there are no Easter pictures. 

But then again, are we ignoring the real reason for Easter?

We are all guilty of it, myself included. How often is our first thoughts of Easter on candy, and gifts, and prizes? I do.

I won't make this a lengthy post. But I have to post something Christ-related for Easter. 

Luke 24:3

...But when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Hopefully we'll have a do-over next week-end, and try this Easter stuff again! :)

Vlog #1: Favorite Nail Polish's

Redirected

I am in deep love with China. It is the place think of every day. When I think far away, I think China. It is the  only foreign country I have been to. My family knew my greatest desire was to go to China this summer. However, it wasn't working, which frustrated me. Show Hope deadlines were over, and at inconvenient times. They were the organization I wanted to go with. So I was really upset as I came to realize that was not going to be a possibility.  

Thursday I was redirected. A missions trip to Haiti. 

What? God I don't even know where Haiti is.

It was not what I wanted. It was not my China. My immediate thought was no.

I dug my heels in. I wanted China, and only China. 

But God took a shovel and removed the dirt. Suddenly I changed.

What's wrong with Haiti? Orphans are orphans, not matter where they are from.

My frustration turned to excitement and joy. I wanted to go so incredibly much. I couldn't stop thinking about it. It was everything on my mind. I couldn't sleep.

I couldn't get my mind off these precious faces.
If I go...
I'd be there for one week.
I would be helping with a VBS at a local Orphanage.
Spending time with the least of these.

You know how it works. After the happy moments, dark clouds overshadows my hopes.
What could you possibly do in Haiti?
You have no funds to take a trip like that.
Haiti will be nothing like China.
You're not strong enough for anything like this.

I have no answers. I have no idea what I could do in Haiti. I have absolutely no money. I am probably not strong enough. But I am nothing by myself. It's God.

But when I fix my mind on all that you are
Then every doubt I feel deep in my heart
Grows strangely dim
All my worries fade and fall to the ground 
Cause' when I seek your face and don't look around
Any place I'm in grows strangely dim.
~Strangely Dim~ 
Francesca Battistelli 

For now I am waiting, until I hear differently. But for now it is a clear, "Go."

Isaiah 6:8- Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

 

True Valentine

I am sure you all know what "holiday" is on Thursday, Valentine's Day. Personally I enjoy Valentine's Day, and it's not because I think it's romantic, or because I spend it with the perfect person. I just like the candy involved! ;) As I was talking to a lot of people, I realized I view Valentine's day very differently than others. I noticed some of this:

"Gosh, I really wish Thursday would just come and go."

"Valentine's Day... Ain't nobody got time fo' dat!"

"Maybe this Valentine's day will actually be enjoyable."

Don't get me wrong, I have crushes and stuff, but I don't mourn on Valentine's Day.

I have never once thought: "I wish I had a boyfriend to spend this Valentine's Day with." 

Am I weird?

I was reading a magazine (Christian), and it was talking about the different types of love. Eros (Greek for "Romantic" love) and Agape (Greek for "Christian" love). It emphasized that they were very different loves. It talked about how we should strive to act on Agape love, not Eros.

This brought me to a thought. "Why do we need a man-made holiday to express our love for one another?"
As Christians we should be showing Agape love everyday, all the time.
We shouldn't be showing love one day once a year, but all the time.

Here is my challenge to all your girls out there (myself included), this Valentine's Day lets strive to seek out Agape love. For now, put Eros in the closet. Truly act upon Agape and seek to love God more.

Not Just Another Face...

     1 year ago I sat here. A day like any other, yet nothing like any day before. A day that will live in my memory forever. 1 year ago, I saw the face of my angel. A precious boy who was alone, and hurting. A boy who need the love of a Mama, a Baba, and Jia Ting (family). I had no idea the journey that face would take me on, nor the joy that face would bring me.  

Did I realize that face would be forever etched in my mind.

Did I realize his laugh would forever echo in my ears.

Did I realize his name would be forever in my head.

Did I realize he would never leave my thoughts? 

Did I realize he would kiss my cheeks?

Did I realize that he would call me Jie Jie?

No

He was just another face. 

Another orphan, another boy, another child.

At that time.

Today I look back and realize I had no idea.

No idea that the face I was watching was the face of my brother.

That boy was my Di Di. 

The more I saw him the more I wanted him.

He was precious, adorable, and sweet.

I believed his name would be Levi. I wanted his face to belong to that name. Joined in Harmony was the meaning. As time went on and the name was rejected, I realized that was not his name. I honestly believe one day I will have a son named Levi, and he will be missing his arm(s).

**When I first saw Joshua it was in a video, not a picture. To see the video I watched a year ago, click here. (Password jake1)**

Nutcracker 2013

I'm not one for making a post specifically about me.. but... I had too! :)

I posted about it last year so I thought, why not again!

The past week has been a very tiring week. I love and hate shows. Seriously, they're ridiculously fun, but SO stressful! I get to spend long nights with my friends, laughing, and dancing. However, at the end of the day, your toes hurt, you're hair is gross, you smell bad, and you're oh so sore.

Don't get me wrong, I love being a dancer, it just has it's moments.

This year was big because all the 'advanced' seniors weren't here. So everyone stepped up.

I was SO excited when I found out I was in Arabian.

Watching the dance it looks SO simple and easy, but no. That dance is crazy tiring!  

I know this picture stinks but I had to show of my splits. It took long enough to get them there! :) And there's a story...

So about a month ago in rehearsals, Margaret (My partner) and I were practicing Arabian. We go to do the splits and I failed to go down.. er.. smoothly. My back, be wonderful like it is, decided, "Ow, Emma, that hurt..". So I was in utter back pain for at least a week and a half. Then it finally felt better, but my splits were hideous looking, because my back hurt every time I did them. Any other time I wouldn't care, however the splits are the main part of Arabian, they had to look good. Thankfully yesterday it didn't hurt and they looked good, so yeah!!

Well I guess I've bored you guys enough with myself! Have a good week! :)

Belated Birthday

In the Christmas post I told you that my birthday is on Christmas Day.

Whenever someone hears that they always ask (at least) one of these questions:

"So.. do you get more presents?"

"How do you celebrate your birthday on Christmas?"

"Do you like having your birthday on Christmas?"

A few, it's complicated, sort of.

I do get a few extra presents.

We do celebrate. I get a candle on my breakfast, and they sing 'Happy Birthday'. However Christmas is a little full, so we have a belated celebration usually in January.

As for liking my birthday... it's a yes, and a no. I do like it because it is such a unique day (and special) But everyone else is getting presents on my birthday! I know I'm selfish! :)

Our belated celebration was on Tuesday! My Mom took me out to find my shoes! That I will hopefully be getting next week.

Then we went to Ulta, and had lunch a Tropical Smoothie. After that she surprised me by taking me to see the Hobbit! Which I Oh So wanted to see! (Lord of the Rings fan here!)

When we came home, Dad had made the dinner I requested.

He also made me a cookie cake.

So we celebrated! A little late, but.. whatever!

The 5th Casts

Today Joshua got his 5th casts!! (Sorry don't have pictures)

Dad, Anna-Grace, and Josh got back around 3:30.

Josh an I took this opportunity to be silly in front of the camera! 

I love this child! <3

We're just so cute!

 Hope ya'll having a good Monday!!

 

Pinned It, Made It! Monday- Curls

So, I saw this picture of Pinterest, and was like... "I want to curl my hair now"

Source: jolie-glamoureux.tumblr.com via Emma on Pinterest

So, I did, and it looked good so I was like,

"Hey Dad, take a picture!"

Now I have a Pinned It Made It Monday!

Where is the Joy?

So this it not an "Ooo! Merry Christmas, I love decorating and singing Christmas Carols"

Sorry, wrong post. That not what you're going to hear.

Some people might end up saying, "Oh, Emma is such a Grinch, she doesn't like Christmas." If that's you opinion, fine. However it is definitely not how I am trying to come across.  

I was waiting until 'my time of the month' was over for this because I tend to be a bit emotional. Okay VERY emotional. But I think i'm pretty good now. 

So the title says it all. I don't have the Christmas joy. Most years I can't wait to put decorations up and sing carols, all the 'stuff'. This year I'm just kinda 'blahh' about Christmas. I was kinda like, "Oh it's December.. again".

Some of you may know what happened last Christmas. Other may not know, so I'll do a little overview.

Last Christmas we had our Grandparents from Florida, (and Virginia) over. Our house and hearts were full.

However our joy was crushed when we heard Luke died the day after Christmas

Two days after the agency called us my Mom had a seizure in her sleep. 

 Not really a Happy New Year.

So now your caught up, and know all that happened last December.

Okay here is the To Be Honest section.

TBH I have a had a really difficult year.

TBH I was in a depression stage for a while.

TBH I really thought everything was over, my life had fallen apart.

I don't think you really know how it feels when someone losses a close family member unless you've experienced it for yourself. I know I never did.

It like someone takes your heart and rips out part of it.You feel this terrible emptiness.

For some it might be the memories you made together. For me the memories we'll never make together.

Never being able to tell them how much you love them. Never kissing them good-night, and comforting them when they have boo-boos. Never teaching them songs, or reading them stories. These are the things that make my heart ache. 

The ache was SO big a year ago, I thought it would never end.

And I don't think it will end. Because I still ache. Not as much as I did them, but it still hurts.

I had this dream (not joking either), and it was like in heaven, or something. I saw Luke, he was running and jumping, and laughing calling my name. It was SO incredibly sweet, and sad.

Really weird, last year during school. Everyone was at the school table and I looked over, and for a split second I like saw him. He was just sitting at the school table smiling. I'm not even kidding. It was SO weird.

  Another time I was just laying bed and he was there laying next to me. For only a second. 

Maybe I weird. And I little crazy, but it's so true. I saw him.

I've never told anyone about it though.

I started a Pinterest board the other night: Bible Versus & Words of Wisdom  

There were some pins that really spoke to me.

(From Random Board)

(From My Passion Board)

So there were a lot of them.

I guess that good, right?

Many of you know this summer we adopted Joshua. What a healing that was. But as I looked back on that time I was reminded of how I felt while visiting some foster homes/orphanages. 

Loving those children was like loving Luke.

So while I was holding him..

and him...

and her...

 and of course him!

It is like i'm holding (and loving) him.

I feel better writing all this. It been locked away inside waaay too long.

I know this Christmas will have something new for me.

But for now I'm hanging low.

Am I rejoicing over our Savior's birth? Oh course.

Am I excited about presents and family time? Not yet.

By the way, I could never EVER express this out loud. I don't work that way.  

(From Me, Myself, and I board)