fall is coming.

My pants reach to my feet...

Raindrops on the leaves...

My hat feels just right...

The fact that fall is coming is more than alright...

crisis, plans changed, and lessons learned.

On Friday, my oldest brother, Zach and his wife, Tonya, and two kiddos came to visit us.
We hung out, visited, ate supper, and went to the park Friday.
Our plans on Saturday were rather fun and delightful, but they wouldn't become a reality.
For now, anyway.

Friday night my nephew and I had a sleepover in our living room. We stayed up late, giggled
about ''staying up ALL night'', and watched his pick of cartoons. Spongebob VS. Yo Gabba Gabba or something. ;) After Austie fell asleep, I watched an episode or two of some of my favorite shows before hitting the hay.

   I woke up Saturday morning to Austin crying. My Mom and Dad were stirring in the other room and Mom came in to hold Austin while he was waking up. I blew it off as him having a bad dream, waking up scared. Within minutes my nephew was having a seizure. It didn't happen five hours away, in the other room--out of my sight, it happened within ten feet of my unbelieving eyes.

I won't go into detail about that... I don't want to drain you the way that this unknowing has drained us.


       My nephew has type 1 diabetes. We thought
that his sugar was low, but it was fine. We don't know why it happened even today.
It seems like it was an eternity ago. We had a LLOOONNNGG weekend.

     My Dad and I held down the fort at home with my niece until he was transferred to a big children's hospital 2 hours away and took care of. All he wanted was to go home. We went to the hospital and Tonya's fam came as well.
We played in the play room, watched my younger neice, and watched Andy Griffith in the waiting room. Thankfully, now, he is in the bed and home that
he longed for... and will make this Aunt feel old this Wednesday! He starts KINDERGARTEN!

    We rushed out of the house Saturday. Some belongings are still all over the house.
We ate supper at 10 Saturday and got home at 12:30. We are mentally exhausted although we are ''recovering'' quickly. BUT Austin is safe. So many people in that hospital were off much worse than we were.

Austin and I at a family friend's baby shower awhile back.

     They didn't do any tests. We don't know why it happened. Hopefully, soon,
we will. If not, God knows. He knew that our plans were going to be changed.
I wish they wouldn't have been. I wish I wasn't mentally drained and somewhat, ahem,
cranky. This is the way it was and is, though. Nothing has ultimately changed.

Here is a few bottom lines of what came out of this... some lessons new, but most old reaffirmed.

1. I am closer to Jesus than ever before when crisis hits. No matter how small or big the crisis. Ultimately I come out better on the other end. It makes me tune into dependance on HIM and not my ''weak strength'' My lungs were filled with a new song, an urgency, and it drew me nearer to Him.
2. Life is fragile. God seems to be slapping that in my face lately. So, I will listen. :)
3. An appreciation for close friends. Even if some friends didn't get a text, call, or e-mail throughout the whole ordeal that doesn't mean I devalue their friendship. It just means that certain friends knew us well enough that they would have been disappointed if they wouldn't have known right away. Although, I know more friends would have responded just as quickly as others, it is good to know you have people nearby that you can count on. And, in the past, we have lived without that. It isn't something we take for granted.
4. We can't plan. We plan, God laughs, what can I say? :) He knew. We didn't. Write your plans in pencil... Ultimately, something may have to be erased. We don't know why, but that's okay.

Another lesson that I have been beaten over and over with:

1. God doesn't call you to be authentic when you're confortable. He has called me to be authentic. Period. It seems, that I like being an imposter much better although. It is easy and I'm not to bad at it. It may seem harmless, but in the end it isn't.

God provides. Abide in Him. Have an awesome week... Lookng forward to coming to write again soon!

In Abba,
Emilee



Love this handsome little man.

when I stray.

When I stray from unceasing prayer and my relationship with Christ I...

Long for His presence. Missing all of its sacredness and His beloved mercy washing my everything.

I get cranky. About everything. And is shows.

I forget. What He did then didn't really matter... Right?! Of course it matters. I drift... Not all the way, but enough to take my eyes of the prize.

I don't think I'm beautiful. I lose sight of His love words and hold fast to laws and judgements. Who am I to separate the two? I am not doing anyone any favors by thinking terribly about myself.


I'm miserable.

I judge all those who are doing the exact same thing as me: living with spiritual drought... Even if for only a few days.

Rain on our hearts, souls, and your weary inheritance, Abba. We thirst for you.

Lord, you can make me new. May I not be a hypocrite. I beg for You. Be. Come. Work. Renew. Help me, thank-you.

I miss You, but, after all, I ultimately know that YOU are missing me. Love you, Lord.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Be driven by delight and not by duty.
It makes a difference- I promise.
Be blessed today treasures!
You have a purpose... You have Jesus.
Get to know Him. Don't stray, please.

We're running to Your arms, Jesus.

In Abba,
Emilee

Remembrance.

Sipping sweet tea. In my corner. {Which I don't get the pleasure of doing very often} Dreaming.
Looking forward to sleep. That moment, every night, when I say ''Have I really been in my
room 2 hours already?'' When the quietness goes by fast... when the journals, perhaps Facebook, and my book just have to wait until next time my schedule allows. When coziness settles in and I remember.

   Remembering has been the theme of this last week. We talked about anniversaries at church Sunday and then our testimonies Wednesday night at my Bible study. This week I have been reading through older journal entries and that sparks alot of memories that get thrown to the wayside too quickly.  So, I am digging them back up again. Remembrance is so valuable.  
   The Israelites had a duty to remember all that God had done for them. He set them free... They forgot at times, too. When they forgot, though, they sinned against God. He sets us free... and what do we do about it? How are we acting as His children, set apart? He has worked in our lives in such an intricate way. How do we portray it? How do we tell our ''children'' about our memorials? How do we thank God for delivering us from the pit? How do we stand in awe in a crazy world that pleads that we would be distracted? Why do we have to remember these silly stories, definitions, or happenings?
   As Christians, the root of most sin is forgetfulness.

          In the dark, remember that Christ knows you are dust, but that He sees more than that.

    It's hard to put a finger on what God has done when perhaps you don't feel like He is doing anything right now. Remember the peace. Remember His peace that transcends all understanding. Remember the calm in the storm. Remember that God sent rain for Noah when the world thought he was crazy. Remember that the Lord heard Hannah's cry and sent her Samuel. Remember His faithfulness shown over and over again. Remember that Sarah laughed at the thought of having a child in her old age, but God stayed true to His covenant. Remember Jesus' words on the cross ''Forgive them, for they know not what they do.'' Remember that He will answer your prayers... just maybe not the way you would like. Remember that there is any empty grave. Also, remember, that there is still a battle and you have a role in it.

     Remember what Jesus says about you...

     Remember how Christ has worked in your life.
     And tell a few people about it along the way.



Remember...
Life is a mist.
In Abba,
Emilee

jasmyn's images are here. :)

Finally! The pictures of Jasmyn! WARNING: You may say ''Awwww'' really loud. Don't read this in a library, etc. ;)

The canvas I made for her room... 6ish hours total. Finished the afternoon before she was born.

How darling are these??

''Don't take a picture of me!''

John showing the boys their little sister for the first time. There is that ear-to-ear grin I was talking about! :)

Our first view of her black hair! :)

Isn't she beautiful? Don't answer that. It is rhetorical. :)




The following pictures are from last Sunday, the 15th, when we first held her and visited her in her home. :)

Finding her thumb...

Me with Miss Tiny in my arms! :) I love her.

Another close-up.... holdin' my finger.

A portion of my visual journal entry July 15th! {inspiration: the dress} :)

Thankful for this little lady.
Jasmyn is so precious.
Let's end it on that note... :)

In Abba,
Emilee