2009

Maybe its typical to say, but I really think that 2009 has been one of the best years of my life thus far.

It’s been a year of growth and closure. It’s true, friends have come and gone, and there are some that I miss greatly, but I love the new friendships that have formed and grown stronger throughout this year and what they’ve taught me about life.

Watching my younger sisters growing into wonderful, independent women makes my heart happy and finally making time to get my driver’s license got me some more freedom (Yea, about time.)

Finishing my degree and potentially saying goodbye to university life (whatever my next step may be) brings on a new season as well. It’s been a big year.

Looking back on these last nine years and seeing how much I’ve changed in some areas, and stayed the same in others is somewhat relieving. It’s been a decade of firsts, a lot of painful experiences with growing up, but I’ve seen a lot of strength through that. Part of me is petrified to let go, the other is ready to embrace the uncertain. Every year is the gift of something new, but this new decade is going to bring some big changes. Funny that these changes are ones that I had not expected even a year ago, but am excited for. I like the person that I’m becoming and I’m looking forward to what God has in store.

Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010!

happiness and cheer

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

music is a total constant

"Music is a total constant. That’s why we have such a strong visceral connection to it, you know? Because a song can take you back instantly to a moment, or a place, or even a person. No matter what else has changed in you or the world, that one song stays the same, just like that moment."
-Sarah Dessen

Merry Christmas from Newfoundland!

(ps. sorry for the lag in the audio. i don’t know what happened)

listen to | lisa mitchell

Lisa Mitchell | Clean White Love

A woah ah oh you’re my clean white love

A woah ah oh you’re my clean white love

What are you doing?

What you doing, what ya doing to me?

What are you doing to my head?

I want to live in this music video. And I want her red boots.

work

work @ the merk brings out the crazies.

a happy list

-sleeping in

-sunshine

-family visit

-cute craft making

-pizza + learning about UFC salaries from boy roomies haha

-coffee + drive + city-lights-at-night + mixed cd’s

———

all add up to a pretty good day.

Her Morning Elegance

I like watching this from time to time.

Last night part of my dream involved playing that corn hole toss game (whatever it’s called) with some of my favourite people.

I think this means someone wants to be in the south real bad.

Indie Day

Had a fun day with Robyn and Jess today. We ate at the Bagel Cafe, took pictures with Jess' wide angle and made crafts. Oh, and wore v-necks, for the indie factor. Kind of a joke, really.

learning to swim

I was feeling a little nostalgic this morning as I drank my coffee and watched some toddlers going about their swimming lessons. The seating area of the Tim Horton’s on campus looks into the Aquarena, our swimming pool, so for a short while this was my entertainment. As I watched there was one little girl who was afraid to jump from the side and into the arms of the woman teaching her, unless she was holding her hands. She then trusted and made her leap.

One year when I was a kid in swimming lessons, there was a girl in my group that was afraid to swim out to the teacher, even though they would never allow her to sink. I wasn’t afraid, but for some reason I pretended I didn’t want to do it either. Part of me wanted to give support, searched for solidarity and a friend to bond with. Even at this young age, I regretted faking it. I knew I was braver and stronger than that.

It still catch myself doing this, but I'm getting better.

I was also reminded of my favourite part of swimming lessons: the SLIDE! I would always look forward to the end of my lesson because of the ‘big’ slide we all got to go on. It was scary at the top, but with the exhilaration of zooming down I always knew that the instructor at the bottom would catch me and keep me from going under. Watching the children’s faces light up with joy upon reaching the bottom was simply adorable.

As I watched, I started to make some spiritual comparisons. When life is going well we just slide into his arms of grace. Other times maybe we know everything is going to be fine, but we allow those around us to hold us back.

One thing we need to accept is that in every situation we can have faith that in the end he will not permit us to falter. If we fall too deep or lose sight of what’s important, he does not let us sink too far.

He is always there to catch us whether we believe in it or not.

simple pleasures

This dorky little sketch simplifies my needs. I'm a girl of simple pleasures.

I like to know someone is thinking of me; I like little notes, random hugs, and spending time together doing anything from a picnic or road trip to cuddling or a movie.

I will absolutely love you if you embrace my picture taking habits, even more still if you take some with me. I don't want to feel apologetic or lame for wanting to capture memories.

You'll thank me later when we're 80 and I have a scrapbook full of all the fun we've had.

november

November rolled in on a warm wind today. It’s hard to believe how fast this semester is going.

I’m finishing the last few courses for my French degree, which is both exciting and terrifying at the same time. Next year holds so many possibilities, all of which are a mystery to me. I’m finally seeing how choices that were made before I graduated high school have brought me to where I am this year.

I never thought I’d be where I am now. The future seems so open to me right now and while I’m scared, I know He’ll take care of me.

jeremy larson

Make a sound, a tune you know
Don’t be silent now
Sing it quiet, sing it slow
And I will listen loud
———————————-

These lyrics are from one of my favourite songs by Jeremy Larson called Make Believe. He’s a talented musician from Missouri who creates beautiful songs with the rich sounds of piano and cello. He’s one of my favourite discoveries, one that I happily found a year or so ago of my own resources, rather than by a friend, which is usually how it goes.

Not only does he make lovely music that I enjoy painting to, I’ve learned that he’s a genuinely nice guy. I was slightly broken hearted when I found out that he was playing a show with Sleeping At Last in Greenville near my boyfriend and friends. Sad because I already have withdrawals for the South and my friends there, and this was just one more reason to want to be in that area, particularly yesterday, on October 29th.


So, after a wonderful week long visit in Canadaland, Chandler left me yesterday morning. It went far too quickly for my taste. Later in the evening he told me to call him, that I’d want to stay up and it’d be worth it. I took him at his word, called him and had a little chat. Next thing I know he passes the phone off to someone else who wanted to speak with me.

Yes. The voice of Jeremy Larson was on the line.

Turns out Chandler attended the show after all, and afterwards spoke with him and mentioned that I really wished I could be there, and said it would make my day if he wouldn’t mind saying hello. The fact that Jeremy willingly made that small gesture really says a lot about what a kind guy he is. He was very pleasant to speak with and it definitely made my day! And well, I gotta say that Chandler gets the best boyfriend award for making that happen. I want to hug him, then hit him for putting me on the spot like that. haha! It was also lovely to speak with Taylor too. I miss that pretty girl. For such a hard morning, it was a very good way to end the night.

Anyways, if you haven’t already, do yourselves a favor and check out Jeremy Larson’s music!
www.myspace.com/jeremylarson

dinosaurs by candlelight

My windowsill is romantic.

hello

Hi, I'm Emily. 

I like taking too many pictures and writing everything down. It's more of a need, really, to immortalize the details of life's journey because that's what the mind forgets. 

I wanted a place to keep the events of my life in order. A place beyond facebook albums with short captions, and the mere reblogs of tumblr.

The next year of my life has the potential to be the most chaotic of my entire 22 years on this earth and thus this blog is born to help me enjoy the journey.