Stepping towards the light.

                                                                   This is me. photo by my dear Hannah

From my journal:

  April 28, 2012

 ''Seventeen. That's what I am today.It is just incredible to me how the future becomes the present so     

quickly, that growing up is a reality. For the first time in many birthdays, this concept of leaving behind    an age, a part of myself, and moving on isn't bothering me.

 We all move forward--this time I'm excited. I'm excited to grow and learn and live and to walk along the   stepping stones of life, simply in awe that the LORD of the universe is the One directing my path, guiding my steps. Growing older is not a dark threat, it's moving towards the light.''

Thank you,  dearest Kelsey, for taking this beautiful photo!

On Saturday, we had a fun little exploring day with my family--who, may I point out, are my favorite people in the world. I love them to the moon and back.
Then...

We had a little family get-together on Sunday at my grandparents house. It was perfect. Just to be surrounded by people I LOVE  was such a blessing from God!

My heart is so full.

Well. Can't sing I am sixteen-going-on-seventeen anymore. I smile as I write that. Because, you want to know why, seventeen? You're already promising to be wonderful.

of adventure and lovely, simple things

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while...

We've been on an adventure!

Because of our family business, my parents went up to Portland, Oregon, (beloved city!) for the SCAA convention last weekend. They had not flown together, just the two of them, in almost ten years! So, we were thrilled for them to have this opportunity! My sister Hannah was the captain for our first time running the ship on our own! Although we missed our dear parents so much, we had a lovely, exciting,wonderful, adventurous time!
The high points:

• starting each morning gathered round the piano, praising our Creator by singing hymns along with my sister's piano accompaniment. 
• early morning snuggles with the baby girl. Nothing like cuddling a cozy, sleepy two year old. 
• scrumptious food! We're talkin' raw saurkraut and organic uncured hotdogs, quesadillas with homemade guacamole, mangoes and kiwis, root beer floats, smoothies, and my sister's aaaahhhmazing lemon pudding cake...yumsters. Hungry?
• watching Tintin for the fourth time. ( =
• Long talks with my sister and brother.
• cleaning the house while listening to music (have you heard this?), laughing and talking.
• stories! Elizabeth favored those of the Curious George variety.
• Hannah reading puritan devotions aloud from Voices from the Past. Praise God for the Word!
• laughing! My siblings and I can laugh! Cue inside joke: Minkey!
• neighborhood walks.
• breakfast out with dear grandparents.
• swimming!
• our home beach.
• picking flowers from the garden and arranging the blooms in vintage glass milk bottle.
• painting! Baby Elizabeth is a talented little artist. We all contributed to a Welcome Home! sign for our parents, and that was a lovely time.
• playing at the park.
• thanking God for each precious second I have with my siblings.

We had a marvelous time, but it is beyond wonderful to have mama and papa with us again.

Life is either a great adventure or nothing.

Helen Keller 

c.Emily/the song of the sea

over the rainbow

 A favorite song of mine...this just makes me happy. A joy to listen to, and just so infectious to sing! I always feel so free and beachy hummin' this tune.Who can resist Hawaiian music?? Not my family, that's for sure!

                                         

''Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.''

Genesis 9:16

                                            Enjoy!

just lovely

Hi folks,

Well, I have a lovely weekend ahead of me.

In my lovely great-grandmother's lovely house by the lovely sea, with my lovely family.

Lovely.

Another lovely thing is that there is no internet in the lovely house by the lovely sea.

Aaaaaahhhh.

Sooooo...

I won't see any of you lovelies until next week! 

Have a wonderful and lovely Independence Day!

Emily

ocean love

                                                                                                                                  photo by my mama

I love the ocean.

I could say so much more. 

I could, but right now... I won't.

 I'll simply say it again.

I love the ocean.