papa's day

my daddy and me, 1995

Happy Father's Day, Papa! I love you so much, and I thank God for you!!!

My Mama

Happy Mama's Day to the best mama--MINE!

There is so much I could say, but the simple words from my heart sum it all up--Mommy, thank you so much for everything--you are such a blessing and I am so grateful the Lord allowed me to be your daughter. I am so thankful to God for YOU and I love you so much!

My mama, the most beautiful mother I've ever known, and lil' old me, circa 1995

Love you forever,

Emmy

P.S. You's mommin' it like a BOSS!

in honor of a veteran

my grandpa David,circa 1970. photo by my beautiful grandma Janie.

Thank you to my beloved grandfather  for his military service to our great land. My grandpa's vision, knowledge, and love for God, family and his Country are so evident  in everything he does and has done, including serving in the Air Force. I am so blessed to be his grandaughter and we are all so grateful for his example of bravery and patriotism.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

We LOVE you, Gramps!

Note: I fully intended to post this ON Veteran's Day, but ran out of time. After debating whether or not to post it late, I decided I would still post it for him.

Happy Birthday, Beautiful!

She really is this cute.

Happy THIRD Birthday to my beautiful, funny, delightful flower princess!

May our Father in Heaven continue to guide you and bless you! HE is so good!

I love you so much, baby sister!

hello my friends...

 I'm just popping in to say I have not left this little spot to fall by the wayside...my two week blog vacation was, in fact, a real life two-week trip with my family. The Lord truly blessed us with a glorious time at the coast, filling our lungs with cold sea air and our eyes with marvelous sights.
Then the week after we made our way home, I was busy with settling back in; getting re-acclimated
(that's a word, right?) to, although not loving, city life; educating my mind; working at home and our business;not to mention enjoying precious times with my family, I just wasn't ready to blog about it yet.

Now after a bit of time to reflect, you can expect to see our beyond-belief beautiful trip
in photos shortly.

xoxo,
Emily



And a sign of things to come....

my baby sister Elizabeth, photo by hannah

Welcome Sakura

This beautiful baby

is my newborn cousin

Sakura

Sakura means cherry blossom in Japanese.You might think she was named after these...

via

But she's really named after these...

via

...Sakura markers!

My uncle is an artist so her name is an homage to his favorite markers. Pretty special I think.
It's just a sign she will make a big mark on the world.

Look at that cherry blossom! Oh, my heart is a puddle right now.

Dad took this one.

 

My mama with her first niece! Love.

 

The little cousins hands.

 

We are just so grateful to God for this precious, healthy baby! The birth went well, and Ally and Mike are in bliss.  It's just great.

 

 I always forget how amazing it is to hold a newborn-the sweet smell, the soft breathing, the stretches and yawns...it's just so beautiful.

 

We are just in love with this little baby. 

Can you tell?

 

xoxo

Emily

ally/baby/art

This beautiful woodland princess is my uncle's wife, Ally. She is just a gem and over this past year has become such a dear friend. She is such a kind, lovely, open-hearted person and I am so blessed to call her family. I just love her so much. So grateful to God for her.
 They are is expecting their first little one, due in a few weeks ( happy dance!) and we just found out IT'S A GIRL!  I am so happy to finally get to meet and hold this little one. The whole family is so thrilled, this is going to be one LOVED baby. New life is so exciting. Praise God!

I made this for her baby shower. I loved painting it. I really wanted to make something for her because she has been such a graceful pregnant mama, and I know she will be a graceful, natural mama once baby is here!

Much love,
Emily

c. Emily Barish

c. Emily Barish

c. Emily Barish

rosebud

A little sweetness for you.

xo,

Emily

post script: Dad, Mama, Hannah and I are off to our homeschool convention! Ray Comfort and Dr.Voddie Baucham will be speaking...yeah!

Hanky-Boy

My brother/best friend turned twelve years old on saturday.

He is so original, creative, super smart, amazing, fun, brave, good-hearted, Christ-loving... all around great kid.

He is five years younger than me, so I get the best of both worlds--I get to be the 'big' sister and we're also really close. He's my pal.

Meet Henry.

A few weeks ago, he and I went to the park to shoot some photos...we had so much fun. He was very obliging and even wore this snappy vintage outfit, because  he's just cool like that. ( =
Notice the hat? He effortlessly wears hats and has a growing collection. This boy is the man.

Henry boy, just know that I love you so much and you are the best brother we three girls could hope for...you are a gem!
I pray the Lord would continue to grow you into a young man after His Heart!

Love always,
Em

for my father



My dad--drinking coffee of course! photo by mama.

                                                                            ~

      Papa, when I was little I would sit on your board-

straight towards that blue horizon.

I was never scared you know

I knew you, the strongest man in the world, were right there

It still happens, no matter where we are or what kind of situation we're in

When you're right there 

I'm safe

My dad, the strongest man in the world

Here on earth we are fallen-nothing is perfect.
Only our Father in Heaven, our savior Jesus--only He can love perfectly.

Still,

It's a good example of our Heavenly Father, right?

No matter where we are 

He's with us 

We're safe

Because

Our Father IS the One True God

Thank you Papa

For being my earthly father

For all that you are, all that you teach us, all the adventures.

Thank you most of all

for guiding us towards our Heavenly Father

and our inheritance and abundant life in 

Him.

~

Papa,

I love you so much and I am so grateful to God for you!

Happy Father's Day!

The righteous man who walks in integrity—
     blessed are his children after him!

Proverbs 20:7

the pleasing rhythm of everyday

c. Emily/song of the sea

Life has just started to slow down into the pleasing rhythm of  ( almost, not quite) ordinary days.
My sister Hannah's graduation was beautiful and so much fun! I am so proud of my big sis and the beautiful,godly woman the Lord is fashioning in her! ( Pictures of the ceremony are coming!!!)

My life this week has been full of taking pictures, going for walks with my two favorite littles in the world ( brother and baby sister), cooking, chores, tea, lots and lots of drawing ( want to see some?), family Bible time, singing, studying,history with my brother, music, talking, leftover graduation cake ( =, flowers, coffee, pondering, dish-washing, smiles, sniffles, light, wonder...more comes to mind as I write.

You know, life is simple and wondrous every day.

We just need to recognize it all comes out of our Father's loving hand.

Much love,
Emily

a graduation celebration preparation

My sister Hannah is graduating from homeschool this saturday!

We are in a flutter of excitement and a flurry of busy preparation!

So please don't mind my absence, I'll be back next week!

xoxo.

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.

so much love

c. Emily/the song of the sea

She snuggles into me. I kiss her little head and breathe deeply. She munches on her apple, and I listen. She offers me a bite.You're so kind, I tell her. I give her another kiss. She rests her curly head on my shoulder. I love you. My heart is overflowing. And I thank God for my baby sister.

my baby sister and our dear camera

                                      

My darling baby sister. 

I'm finally posting a photo taken with our new, beloved camera. For those of you who don't know, we've been wanting a D-SLR for ages...and for Christmas, my dad surprised us with a Canon Rebel T2i! This camera is amazing! We love it so much! Can you tell?

xo,

Em

O CHRIST,

All, thy ways of mercy tend to and end in my delight.

Thou didst weep, sorrow, suffer that I may rejoice.

For my joy thou hast sent me the Comforter,

multiplied thy promises,

shown me my future happiness,

given me a living fountain.

 --The Valley of Vision, Joy

I'm thankful for Operation Christmas Child

For the past three years, my family has been blessed to pack boxes for Operation Christmas Child.

We just love it. It is a wonderful opportunity to give, to pray, and to spend some lovely, excited, gift-buying and wrapping, fulfilling, God-honoring family time.

This year, I chose to do a box for a girl, age 10-14. I thought it would be fun to share what was in one of my boxes. I've thought about it, and this post isn't at all to show off. I've hesitated posting it because I don't want it to seem as if I'm doing good for praise from others. My idea in posting this was to encourage you all to participate in the future, if you haven't already, and to share what is going on in our family right now. 

So, without further ado, my box...

Jewelry! I made the necklace with love and bought the bracelet (with love).     

Colored pencils and a notebook. As an artist myself, I wouldn't think of not including these items. ( I put in regular pencils as well.)

Can't forget hygiene! These are necessities. ( I also included a bar of soap.)

Treats! I also added a box of animal crackers.

A hand-written card. This is one of my favorite parts of the whole box-making process. It is so exciting to think I get to wish a little girl who lives in a different country 'Merry Christmas' with love in Jesus' Name. Isn't that exciting? Isn't it? 

I am so blessed to be a tiny part of this huge, wonderful ministry. I pray each child receiving these Christmas gifts would come to know Jesus! And that they would know that they are loved by Him, and loved by Christians all over the world.

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, this opportunity was a wonderful time for me to reflect on the many blessings for which we can be thankful to our Savior. 

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving holiday?

Love,

Emily

she is TWO!

This is the little girl who captured my heart the moment she was born two years ago.

The first day I met her. November 2009, born at home.

What a rose!

Summer 2011

She keeps us laughing!

With mama.

Sleeping Beauty.

Making tea!

Me and my girl. 

Wearing the mama's baby dress (handmade by Great Grandma Bertha).

 So precious is she!

Oh, sweet baby!

This was taken with real film! My mom is an amazing photographer.

This is my baby sister.

My heart swells with thankfulness to Jesus that He made her my baby sister.

I love her more than words can say. I love her so much I think I might just burst.

Today is her birthday.

Happy Birthday, my little lady of loveliness.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Your doting sister,

'Eminy'

Wonderful are Your works;

my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 139:14b

thoughts on blogging

I've been thinking about my blog lately... 
It's about to grow.
I began this blog with the intent to post about daily happenings, my walk with the Savior, photo-journaling my life, my family, chronicling my little siblings childhood, my art, creative endeavors,  
natural living, food and cooking,  little and big things that I love... the list goes on. I didn't intend to post sporadic writings that, because I was in a rush to 'finally post something', did not convey very accurately who I am and what I had desired this blog to be. I would say 'My blog isn't the one I would like to have, but I don't have time for it to be different'. Not enough time. Could that really be true?

Everyday it seems I have something I would love to write about, pictures I would love to post, adventures I would love to share, that it can no longer be an option for me to not have enough time. Obviously, I have very little time. But time can be made. Thinking of all the little, unimportant things I waste time on...I realize that blogging can be squeezed in somewhere. It has to be. I had been thinking about all of this, and talking to my mama, and she told me that she wanted me to blog the way I'd wanted to in the beginning, sharing my life with writing and photos, creatively and productively...as a family record, and for my grandparents to enjoy. Well, having mama say that in her kindness and wisdom clinched it for me.

I want this blog to thrive. I want it to be productive.  It is something I've wanted to do for such a long time. I pray the endeavor will strengthen my skills in writing, photography and creativity
(and time management *grin*), I pray that  it will bless my family as I journal our life, that it would encourage and inspire you in some way, and most of all I pray that the LORD would receive all glory and praise.

 I won't be posting all the time, but I hope my blog will start to take the shape I had originally intended.
I'm excited!

Thanks for being on this journey with me.

~Emily

 This post needed a picture, so here's one  I took this summer. It's no longer summer, but today has to be the warmest day we've had this year...so a summer flower photo is appropriate. ( = 
My mama told me this lovely flower is called Jupiter's Beard.

beautiful, amazing things-part one-the baby shower

So much has happened lately. I hardly know where or how to begin. I haven't been blogging for a number of reasons, mostly because we've been so busy, but when I'd have a free moment to actually blog about what life has been like, I would just get completely overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of writing about it all. Honestly, since the start of September, life has been a whirlwind. Beautiful, amazing things have happened...so I suppose I shall just start at the beginning. I'm going to split-up all the recent goings-on into a few parts, because there is just way too much to squeeze it all into one post!

I'll start with the baby shower.

My last post (ahem, written almost a month ago...eeep!)  was about the baby shower we were throwing for my auntie. My mama was the party planning mastermind, my grandma was the talented go-to, and my sister Hannah and I were the 'assistants'. Wow, I had so much fun. It was delightful to spend time with my dear mama, gramma, and sisters. We held the party at our coffee shop, and we had a wonderful time transforming it with the whimsical decorations. My mama is a creative genius. ( =

The theme was 'A Child's Garden of Verses' and I think it came across really beautifully. My mama worked so hard. It was truly a labor of love, and it showed. 

I would love to post pictures I'd taken, but alas, in the hectic last minute party prep crunch time ( whew!), my camera was left behind. Yes. Hard to believe, but sad and true. However, there is good news. Our lovely friend Cassie took some GORGEOUS photos, so I'll share them with you. 

Here are a few pictures.

The spread! We had too much fun making all of that food! 

My little brother Henry helping to serve tea. He was such a cheerful helper!

I love this boy!

This my friends, is my baby sister. She is a constant source of delight and I love her with all my heart.  She was loving the tea.

We made Lemon Verbena Lemonade, and Pink Sonoma iced tea. They were so good.  The pink sonoma is a new white tea our tea supplier came up with. It is delicious. ( For any of you new to the blog, my family owns a coffee/tea shop.)

Darling, yes? This was one of my favorite decorations. ( =

The table decorations. Definitely one of the most fun parts was making the centerpieces. photo credit: Cassie.

Sisters! My lovely sister Hannah and me. That's me on the left. Photo: Cassie

 Elizabeth + me. I am so in love with this little  baby.  Isn't she the most cutie beauty little girl? God has blessed me more than I can even express with this one. photo: Cassie.

I just love this photo. For the tea, we served Lemon Chiffon Rooibos. My favorite. I think.  ( =

                                                   My dear auntie and her first baby.

            It was a delightful day, spent praising God and enjoying sweet fellowship. 

Much love in Christ always,

Emily