12 Years

Caeleb turns twelve on Saturday. I celebrate him and stand amazed at the person he has grown into. He has become a young man, full of his own preferences and ideas. We will soon be entering the years when I will stand back and watch him make decisions, mistakes, and successes. We will mentor and guide him, and we will pray the whole way that he follows Jesus. I can honestly say, I think he'll do alright. By the grace of God.


Every one of his birthdays is a real milestone and time of reflection for me. Caeleb changed my life. I was only 19, having just completed my freshman year at college. My life was confusing; I didn't know who I was. What came as a surprise, became a turning point. Mike and I made a committment to each other and our baby. The transition to motherhood was quick and easy after the initial shock and adjustment. And, oh how I love being a mother. My heart will never be the same. It has been stretched and it's capacity for love and emotion is so great; I know this love is now from me but from Him who is love.

I whole-heartedly threw myself into being a mother and wife. But it hasn't always been easy for me as an individual. I sometimes feel like I have never really discovered who Emily is. What are her hobbies, interests, passions? I am now at a point in my life of growth and self-discovery.

I don't mean for this to sound whiny or pathetic. Becoming a wife and mother, and trying to do it my way left me empty and grasping. When I fully surrendered to Jesus, and agreed to do things His Way, the joy in my life increased. I am happy and recognize the many blessings in my life. I am just now at a point of growth.

It's been 12 years...and I wouldn't change a bit.

These are a few of my favorite things...

• Musicals. Of course, I'm first thinking of Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music, but seriously, I wish life was a musical and we could all spring into a perfectly choreographed song & dance number over mundane things like Saturday Morning Chores or Coffee at Starbucks with my Girlfriend...sigh.
• Lazy Afternoons. I love to curl up under a blanket with a book or a movie. Or sit in the sun on the patio and sip tea. Ahhhhh...now that's what rejuvenates me.
• The smells of fresh cut grass, vanilla and autumn leaves. There are some smells that immediately take me back in memory.
• Burt's Bees lip balm. A winter-time staple.
• The colors of the blue sky. Everything from the palest to the deepest.
• Dark chocolate.
• Socks. I love warm fuzzy socks. I borrow my son's cotton crew length socks to wear around the house. I hate cold ankles.
• Taco Salad. Seriously, I could eat this every day. Crisp greens, fresh tomatoes, corn, avacado, sharp cheddar, black olives, black beans, some of Mike & my homemage jalepeno salsa, and a dab of sour cream.
• Wearing a sweatshirt of my husbands. His smell is on it and I feel close to him.
• Playing board games. Cranium, Balderdash, Monopoly, Pictionary, Scattergories, Sequence (on the homemade board my grandfather made), Scene It, Boggle...it's so fun to sit around a table with friends or family and play, usually resulting in hysterical laughter at some point.
• Reality Game Shows. Top Chef, American Idol, The Amazing Race, Project Runway... love these!
• A good cry. Wholehearted, gutwrentching, hold nothing back. Crying is cleansing and a release. I cry at all kinds of things: songs, movies, commercials, beauty in nature, my kids...

The list could go on...

God's Plan

Moving to Georgia was quite a jump for us. As we started exploring the possibility of it, my prayer simply was: God, if this is meant to be, please show us. And He did. It was something that we had discussed, but we didn't have to move. The whisper in our hearts just became louder. Everything went so smoothly with the buying & selling & moving. Not to say there wasn't stress, but knowing that God was for this somehow made it easier to bear the burdens.

Then my prayer became, Please God, please help us adjust. And He answered that too. We are rooted here after such a short time; we have an amazing church that we call home and are involved in, we are part of a small group that we feel so very connected to, we have friends and are involved with them and their lives, the kids are succeeding in school, have friends, are involved in the church, and participate in several activities. Life is rich and blessed.

We do miss our families and friends in Massachusetts. There's no doubt about that. But distance and time cannot sever hearts that have been knit together.

Revival & the House of Rock

Have you ever been with a group of people and felt totally & completely surrounded & encompassed by the Holy Spirit? Last night, our church held a prayer service for the House of Rock. 150+ people gathered to worship & pray for one purpose. Matt, Joel & the band led us in some of the awesomest (is that a word?) worship that I have participated in in a long time. It was different than a Sunday morning. I think the worship was more powerful last night because everyone was at the service for one purpose. The redemption of the House of Rock is such an awesome vision that God has placed before Oak Leaf Church and in our final week of giving, I pray fiercely that God would excite and revive the hearts of His people. That we would step out of our comfort zone when we give because it is when we give out of faith and not comfort that He does great things. And that the hearts of people would be drawn towards Him and His purpose in Cartersville and Bartow County.