Favorite things (parody)

Apples with caramel and letters handwritten

 Brown leather saddles and campfire sittin'

People with passions that dream and dream

Theses are a few of my favorite things.

Big fluffy dogs and the word toodles 

Tree climbing and hiking and alfredo noodles
books filled with adventure and Kings and Queens
These are a few of my favorite things

Candles and laughter and basketball passes
Dark chocolate and board games and perfect mustaches
Rain boots and puddle splashing in spring
These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites, when the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

Taylor Swift songs and spring surprise kittens
Running and dancing and beautiful Great Brittan
Big bright birds with multicolored wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Crazy Ballard teachers and school time doodles
Thunderstorms and cuddles with big fluffy poodles
Standing next to friends that really know how to sing
These are a few of my favorite things

Wisconsin cliff jumping and large water splashes
 Reading and writing and 400 yard dashes.
 Haiti and Europe and all travelings
Theses are a few of my favorite things 

When the dog bites, when the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things
And then I don't feel so bad

Werever you are, be there.

“Oh, I wouldn't mind, Hazel Grace. It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you.”


I went to Haiti this August and God taught me a lot about love. Before the trip, I worried about the way I loved others.  I was completely aware of my selfishness and I was terrified it would get in the way of the trip.  What I did not expect is the whole trip to be all about loving people. Because we didn't speak the language fluently,  we weren't going to be able to share the gospel through anything but love.  God broke me and changed me. I heard him say clearly to me, "Emily, you love because I love. Not only when it's easy or convenient for you. Not because you want to. I love them. You love them. Always love. Always."

 I learned about a new part of myself, and to be honest, it's a part I actually like. When I got home from Haiti, loving people was easy and I enjoyed it, but then I started hearing fellow senior classmates saying stuff like, "What's the point of investing in new friendships when I'm just going to leave in a year?" I heard that kind of stuff all the time and I became afraid. I was scared of my heart breaking and I knew it would. I knew it would hurt and I figured it wasn't even worth it, so I tried going through the motions with my everyday life.
  
About two weeks into school, God convicted me and  I started to realize how selfish I was being.  I decided to share my  feelings with my lovely bible study leader, Cinnamon. With God's voice speaking through her, she told me that wherever I am, I should be there.  Both feet planted strong, diving head first, and loving with everything I've got.  

I was hesitant at first because I was so aware of the heartbreak that would occur but eventually God convinced me to take her advice and I've been doing just that this school year. I'm so thankful I did. God has blessed me and I have never felt this loved in my life.

Now, I spend most of my days loving people and I have learned how much I love loving. I love sitting with a group of freshmen girls at lunch on Wednesdays. I love accidentally being late to cross country practice because I was talking to some super cool 8th graders at the coffee shop. I love learning about peoples passions and praying with friends over the phone.  I love running alongside Baby Ray and talking about life. I feel so loved in return when I love others. God has blessed me beyond measure and I am so so so so  thankful. 

I love because God loves and I will keep doing so wherever on this beautiful earth He places me. I am completely aware of the heart brake that is going to happen this year, and I know it's going to hurt. I have loved so many girls and guys so deeply and it will be a privilege to have my heart broken by them. I would do it all over again.

God is good, always.