More Than Friends.

This is to answer a specific request from my dedicated reader, best friend, and sister: Lauren.

Apparently in a lot of my posts, I use the phrase "More on that later..." But then later never comes. So I am here to deliver the "later" on two things. 
Both of these involve Mitchell, who most of you know as my best friend turned boyfriend.


Exactly 5 months after we "made it official," I moved into my dorm at Mississippi State University, 2 hours away from home. 150 miles from the love of my life. During this time, my "cheesiness" only began to flare up even more. We had to get creative in order to keep our relationship going smoothly. Mitchell told me many times, "I want to be present with you in Starkville, too. I don't want your mind (and heart) to have a Collierville part separate from a Starkville part.." And I wholeheartedly agreed. 
One thing we incorporated into our daily routine was Love Letters. This is an idea I stumbled upon on another blog. (Finally found it again, Read these!!) This sweet couple started writing letters while they worked side by side at a children's summer camp and continued the tradition many years into their marriage. 
Here's an example:

Mitchell and I would send each other an email each day entitled "LL 1, 2, 3, etc" And the results were marvelous. This sweet piece of each other's mind gave us a little something to look forward to and helped us to feel closer even on the days are schedules were anything but alike. I am thankful for the inspiration we found to help us make it through that first semester. 


In addition to that idea, I found another by way of Lysa Terkuerst's blog. Click here to read her sweet words
After reading this piece of her life, I decided to give this as a sort-of gift to Mitchell for Christmas. I chose 2 small jars at Hobby Lobby, labeled them with our initials, and brought the idea up to him.

Thanks for sending the pic, Momma!

Each month, we write on 5 slips of paper thing the other person could do to make us feel loved. Then each week we draw one and do everything we can to complete that little, loving task. Little does M know one of mine says, "Browse Target for an hour!" hehe- whoops!!


Creativity can change things. :)


From the Lake, 

Time for New Leaves.

I figured out the coolest thing today! A synonym for resolution=determination. How nifty is that?! So--- here are my New Year's Determinations for 2012.


As 2011 rolls out (thankfully!) and 2012 saunters in, I resolve/aspire to do the following things: 

Spiritually

I will have a Morning Quiet Time everyday, with my phone turned off.

I will attend church at least 45 Sundays in 2012. Even in Starkville.

Physically

I will not drink carbonated beverages and have only 2 sweetened drinks/week.

I will run 4x each week in training for 1/2s in March and April & continue after.

I plan on slimming down & toning up!

Educationally

I will complete 3 full semesters/atleast 42 hours (Spring, Summer, Fall) with at least a 3.2 GPA.

I will read 12 non school related/fun books by Jan 1, 2013.

Blogally

I will write 100 posts in 2012. That means no more week long breaks for me & lots of reading for you!!

I plan to update you at the end of every month on my progress (yes, there will be progress!! every. month.) for NYResolutions!

Organizationally

THESE ARE HUGE FOR ME!!!

I will use only one purse for the entirety of 2012. Loving my Camel Coach Chelsea Carry All right now :)

&&& use only my Coach planner/agenda. (If you know me, I usually change planners about 37x/year)

Relationally

Mitchell & I are going to complete our jar slip assignments each week!

-more on my cheesyness with that later ;)

No "ifs," "ands," or "buts" about it... at least I hope!! This year will be different right?
This is it. See: Change.


New beginnings are always fun! :) And I am thankful to end this year with so many great friends (and in Pickwick) & start it with them too! See ya next year bloggers! [I am thankful for YOU too!] Here's to 2012!! 

Travels.

I'm sorry I haven't blogged in a few days.. I have been itching to, but completely indulging in relaxation while in Virginia... Little to no cell phone/MacBook use was heavenly!! 
Here I am again, and I have many blogging ideas on my mind (they are always popping up!) but some advise I received told me not to be so "advice-y" .. "punny", I know! So I decided to on this one I will just share my life, or at least the last few days of it- enjoy!


Friday: My Mom took Mitchell, Madeline, and I to the MEM Airport for our flight to Virginia. Lenny's in tow, we were ready for a 1.5 hour flight, a 2 hr layover, and another almost 2 hour flight!

Thanks Momma!

 

The 3 of us :)

Our not so friendly friend. Due to his "preference of an aisle seat to sleep in the entire flight, I sat all alone. If he was a frequent bathroom user, I might have understood his choice, but he was not, and I do not. (It's probably illegal to post other people's pictures online... hopefully he doesn't read random teenagers blogs!)

Finally- We reached VA (and Matt, Mrs. Brenda, and LB!!) at about Midnight. An hours worth of driving later we made it to the house- woo hoo!! Been looking forward to this for months. 

Saturday: We were able to sleep in before meeting Brenda for Mexican and meeting some sweet people at her work! Once we returned home, the day was filled with holiday activities! Everything from dipping pretzel rods (think- burned chocolate x 3), gingerbread people, and fresh baked cookies!

After having a delicious family dinner, we decided to open presents!! I was spoiled beyond belief with Michael Kors, a new ring, Toms wedges, and more from Mitchell on top of Uggs, Hot Sox, Gift Cards, a facial/massage day, and Date Night from Brenda and Matt- whew!! 

 Never imagined- that boy knows me!

 Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!!

 My favorite part was getting to give M his big gift-- 26' Vizio for his dorm room next year! He adored that thing & I heard over and over, "Hey! Ya'll know I got a TV?!" Precious.

Almost as precious as this pic. Just love him!

  

Sunday: Sadly, about 2 am M woke me up telling me he had thrown up :( So sad, we got him a drink and went back to bed, thinking it was a one time thing. Little did we know, it was the beginning a a 24 hour stomach bug (+ 24 for me, + 24 for madeline). Luckily, he toughed it out enough for a full day of shopping! Don't worry, we took lots of breaks- He's a trooper!! We headed to Pop's Diner for dinner, but were sad to see they were only open for brunch on Sundays!! Back to the house for pizza and lots of rest!!
Monday: We had big plans- Panera Bread (Grand Opening!), Ice Skating, and Dominic's. Ahhh... To bad we are as slow as Christmas when getting ready and ended up skipping Panera and going straight for skating! Exited to report I didn't fall even once!! I went in with the worst expectations... Madeline and M agreed when saying "You're definetely gonna fall, a bunch."

So happy to spend Christmas with you!!

Lucky to have a guy who never fails to treat me like a princess!

After skating, we were starving!! & there is no better lunch spot in VA than Dominic's. The absolute best chain of the World Famous Philly Cheese Steak. Ahhh.. unexplainable!! I wish I had a picture for you, but even a thousand words wouldn't do this baby justice!!

Back at the house, we were ready to be pampered!! Facials and Massages all around- best Christmas gift everrr!

We ended the night with Water for Elephants (definitely recommend!!), double chocolate chunk cookies, and a bonfire just me and M :)

Tuesday: Unexpected wakeup call at 7:30 am... the need to throw up!!! TMI- I know. I spent the whole day in bed, barely moving a muscle. A cancelled nail appointment, 8 saltines, 3 bites of applesauce, 4 sierra mists, and 36 hours later, I was stomach bug free- FINALLY! I have never had a day like that in my life!!! YUCK!! And Poor Madeline got it after me. 
Wednesday: Time for me to head home on my first flight alone!! We got up in time to pack, have lunch at Baker Street with Brenda, shop together in Newport News, and read/drink coffee at Barnes and Noble. Sad to go, but excited to see my momma/daddy/matt/j/etc & ready to have M back in Collierville! (3 days!!!)


If I don't see you/blog before Sunday, Merry Christmas!! Don't forget the reason for the season. Jesus Christ, born of a virgin Mary, to save us. 


P.S. I apologize for picture overload!! "This is my life!" See --->http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rbMHLDY1pA

Thought Stirrer.

This is a quick, thought stirring post. All due to a crazy thought that just popped into my head.
I have fallen in love with a blog I stumbled upon recently. (check it out at thingsidothinkwearseelovedream.blogspot.com - she's awesome!! and hilarious :)
Tonight, I snuggled up in bed with the trusty Macbook, a glass of skim milk, and a delicious almond cookie (thanking Wanda for that recipe!!), to read a few blogs.
All the while I read I was texting Mitchell (the boyfriend) back and forth... This is the exact conversation:
E "time to readdd:)"
M "Blogggg addict!"
E "I ammmm!!!! Its so fun! like u w skyrim!"
Now let me explain... Skyrim is a game guys play on xbox that I do not know to much about. But I do know it involves pickpocketing, lockpicking, killing, etc. and M calls it an amazing collaboration of Runescape, Grand Theft Auto, etc etc. Who knows. One time he told Madeline and I, (she's his little sis-cute as can be!) "It feels like I have another life in Skyrim." alsoooo one time I heard "My life in Skrim is better than real life!"Although I realize he is kidding ( I think ;))...

I did begin to think. Is the feeling of having 2 lives what drives this modern age? Social Media/Networking? Blogging? Video Games? Are we a generation obsessed with being outside of ourselves?

I think so. 

I know for a fact when people read my blog they can't see how messy my hair is, or smell me when I haven't showered after a sweaty workout. They can't see the freshman lbs I plan on shedding. I am just a writer. Funny to some, philosophical to others (I can dream ;)... But all they see of me is words on a page (or umm screen.) and maybe a few pictures.

I want to dare myself (and you, too!) to live a different way. Embrace friends, life, moments, more than this new tech-y stuff.
Could this be leading to a social networking fast? Maybe.

Dreaming.

Oh, blogging.. I've fallen in love. 

I love reading, like for hours.

most blogs i read i feel like are so much better, more organized, more interesting than mine. but this only fuels my fire more. 

I love writing.. like really love...

And I loved the way this conversation with Mr. Lindsey (I like to call him this because it sounds classy, and manly, and it's part of our Daily LL emails... more on that later :) sounded.

Me: "I have go to figure out what to pack for Virginia... Like should I bring my laptop?"

M: "Yeah!"

Me: :"I do want to blog"

just sounds good. And i really like the fact that people take time to read about me. my life. my loves. and my dreams. (Thank you!!)

Dreaming is a big part of my life. I love to just imagine, and think!

Some of my dreams include:

-Running a half marathon (planned for Spring 2012)

+ running a full marathon sometime I'll find my lost motivation, right?

-Get married young I know, so many differing opinions on this, but we will trust God's plan, and do it if we are confident

-Teach Kindergarten Shelby County would be an answered prayer!!

-own my own business I dream of owning Em's Events, being the boss, and having employees!

-own my own house, in Collierville... & I wouldn't mind a wrap around porch, red door, and everything I find on Pinterest.. is that to much to ask?

-being completely comfortable in my body -- I CAN do this

-Being a mom. A loving, fun, playful mom of 5... haha the number may change

-drive a range rover it's called dreaming for  reason, right? ;) Its limitless!

BUT, aside from all the material things I dream of owning, the good deeds I dream of doing, the family I dream of producing, I want to live a life of peace and love and joy, a life that is pleasing to God. For this is why I was placed on this earth.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17

+ Do something big, outside of myself, something unexpected, spontaneous, God ordained.. We shall see.

maybe I am crazy. and ahead of myself,

 but I love it &

As the love of my life taught me, Dream BIG!

What are your dreams? And what are you going to do today to get closer to them?

P.S. What do you want to see me blog about!? 

One year ago.

I made my debut as a singer... Totally kidding.

This hilarious, tear-filled, roller coaster of a story began last November. My friends and I (about 11 of us girls who were inseperable in high school) found our newest addition to the group... Mitchell Lindsey. He was hilarious. Confident. Classy. A total gentleman. We all loved him.

One night, Mitchell invited us over to his house just to hang around and chill. When we got there, he had a guitar in his lap (...what girl doesn't LOVE that?!) and I had just heard a song on the radio (I think Andria may have even mass texted the lyrics to us) that I loved and wanted to hear again. I proceeded to type into YouTube.com "Never Alone- Lady Antebellum".. Mitchell quickly picked it up on the guitar and I began singing.. in a low, quiet voice so no one heard. My next silly, half joking comment is "We should totally do this in the talent show!" Mitchell replied (as he always does..) "ok!" 

This is something I adore about my boyfriend- he has never doubted me a day in his life. Something I cannot say about anyone else!

Little did he know what he was getting himself into...

A month or so went by. We attended practices at school, try outs, our own practices at my house into the wee hours of the morning... and before we knew it, we were on stage. Mitchell hosted so I had barely seen him before it was time. I was FREAKING OUT. Like- could. not. swallow. Luckily, The performance went by without a glitch (well, except for that one verse M forgot to play.. but I chose to forgive him;). As we exited the stage, Mitchell ran to get dressed so he could continue hosting and I, well, cried. A lot.

When everyone asked what was wrong, I replied, "We messed up!!" .... we did mess up. But who cares?! No one but the two of us noticed. At that moment, I honestly didn't know why I was crying.

I walked from outside the auditorium where I was talking to all my friends and family to back stage & asked Jessica and Brittany to come with me. As I leaned against the cinder block wall of my high school bawling, Jessica said, "It's Mitchell isn't it??" Between sobs, I had a realization/epiphany. I was in love with that boy. I fell in love with my best friend.

We always texted before bed so that night I said to him, like I always did & he to me, "Dream Big." But this night, I followed it with, "Let's talk tomorrow."

12-11-10

Mellow Mushroom for lunch. Mitchell kept the conversation going mostly, because I was deep, deep in thought. As we left in the rain, Mitchell kept saying, "Sooo.... What did you want to talk about?" And I replied, every time, "I forgot." (the usual for me.) I had absolutely no idea how to say it to him. Eventually, I got up enough courage to say, "M- listen to this." I plugged in my iPhone (in his car, might I say. He drove. and paid.... always!) My Best Friend- Tim McGraw was the song that played. Mitchell's reply, "Are you serious?" "yes." I said timidly but at the same time confidently.

Angel Tree Pep Rally- Dec 10, 2010

Me & Mitchell as Mr. & Mrs. Clause

His reply was, "Oh my gosh." And that was that until he dropped me off at my house and called to say "You never told me what you wanted to talk about" Oh, great!! I had been caught. Couldn't he just forget about it? 

He came back to my house to run an errand to Kroger with me. While driving down White Road, I handed him my phone with 10 pictures of texts between Lauren and I. I knew that if I described to him how I felt, I would cut corners and leave things out.. so I had him read the way a girl tells her best friend about a boy. Minutes later, Mitchell says "Wow." And puts the phone down. 

The next few hours were a blast!! I told him he didn't have to say anything back just as long as he knew how I felt. We were able to spend the rest of the day as usual, goofing off and always smiling!!

The following evening, (now we are at Sunday night 12-12-10) became what we lovingly call the "but.." night. Mitchell asked if we could talk and I vulnerably and hesitantly agreed.. The conversatin went something like this, although he probably remembers it differently: "Emily, I have loved you for so long and wanted to be with you since the Arlington vs CHS game.. But..." Then came, "I'm not breaking up with her." ( did I leave out the small detail that my best friend had a girl friend?! I in no way wanted to mess that up.. only to tell him my feeling and let him choose) Alright, thanks, great, TEARS. 

Long story short I left bawling to the Taylor Swift song that states "I can't breathe without you, but I have to.." and said to him, "If you let me drive away, I may never come back." Total girl move, huh?

After lots of awkward situations, nightly "Dream Big. Wait for me, I promise It will be worth it" texts, coniving girl schemes and pros and cons lists, Mitchell was mine. 

And I would say the rest was happily ever after, except for that one hiccup/hesistation of mine. But let's save that long story for a rainy day... 3 exact months later, it became officially official. Happily ever after. I couldn't be happier.

Sorry this post is so long & detail filled! But its so fun to watch everything that changes in just one year!!

What is different for you this December compared to last?

Oh to have the mind of a child...

Bad moods can lead to pretty bad days, at least in my life.


Let me set the scene for you... Early December, freezing, constant rain, Monday morning, early... get the picture? Avoiding Bad Moods 101: DO NOT participate in any activities including the above!!!
I even saw a Facebook status stating, "When it rains, it pours." Amen, right?


As my morning began today, I was not nearly as bright as sunshine. In fact, pretty gray!! (and not fun to deal with!!) But I began to see some hope in the way it laid itself out:


1) K-Love playing Laura Story's "Blessings"
The line "What if your blessings come through raindrops? What if healing comes through tears.." really hit home. Can it be that these days we see as terrible and no good are the best of all? That is a beautiful thing!! I am always waiting for the right moment, the best moment, for life to really hit the high point! But maybe the highest point (where God is working the most) is in the lowest point of all..


2) A children's book.

Obviously, it is a verse paraphrased.. but it came to me by way of a work of literature made for ages 4 and under. Sometimes that is exactly what we need- simplicity :)
God is in control!!


Maybe in all areas of life the Lord of all lords is closest when we are the furthest away, or the most down. Wow.


Think about it.
Thanks so much for reading!

"How To" is easy, what about the "Want To"?

As Lysa Terkeurst explains in one of my favorite books, Made to Crave (a need to read for any woman!), "It is not the 'how to' I am missing. It's the 'want to'... really [and truly] wanting to make changes and deciding that the results of those changes are worth the sacrifice."


This particular quote applies to so many areas of life. Today, my thoughts are on running... in particular, running 13.1 (and someday 26.2!!) In the Spring of 2008, I was MOTIVATED and decided to run track as a high school freshman. After lettering on the Varsity team with personal records of 6:34/mile and 2:43/half mile, I fell in love with running. Not because it is exciting (although it is), or because it keeps you in shape (although it does), but because it made me believe in myself.

In Fall of 2010, I was MOTIVATED and signed up for the St. Jude Half Marathon, but by the time the cold weather swept in and race day drew closer and closer, I never ran, and never showed up that day. I was upset that I allowed myself to get unmotivated..
Once again, I was MOTIVATED in September of this year and signed up to run my first half marathon in Nashville, on April 28, 2012. This time, I am determined; I want to stay motivated and run this race with endurance. I can't give up... I have the how to, for sure. But do I have the "want to"? (or only the want to give a 13.1 sticker a home beside my Phi Mu one?) :)


Can I believe in me again?

April 28, 2012.. 146 days from today.


I want to give a BIG congratulations to all the runners who ran in The St. Jude Half or full Marathon today!! Amazing!! Any good tips are appreciated ;)