02/13/15 | Love is not abuse.

I have debated back and forth for a few weeks now about sharing this on here,but I strongly believe that everyone has a voice. No matter how big or small the influence may be,I believe that I need to speak out.

I am sure that if you watch the news at all,you have heard about the movie 50 Shades of Grey. The movie is set to release tomorrow,and although I have never read the book,nor plan to watch the film I have a very big problem with it.

I have always been taught and strongly believed that an abusive and disrespectful relationship is unhealthy,sad,destructive,and dangerous. Being the victim of physical,mental,or emotional abuse has never been something that I consider to be amusing,exciting,or romantic. Unfortunately,this is the rep that the movie/book 50 Shades of Grey is getting. Contrary to the way the media has spun the upcoming release,there has been a lot of controversy over the film and it's content. The fighters of domestic violence have launched a proposal to donate $50 dollars to a domestic violence shelter INSTEAD of going to see 50 Shades of Grey. There are a number of Christian and secular websites that are protesting this film. Even the feminist website Jezebel slammed the movie,calling it,"50 Shades of Abuse."

The scary thing to me about this movie is the fact that Hollywood is glamorizing a dysfunctional and sexually abusive relationship. They are taking porn and spinning it as romance. I have read several articles boycotting this movie,and from what I have read,the movie should just be labeled as pornography. If you think that is over reacting,consider the fact that the director of the film himself admitted that out of the whole 90 minute film 20 solid minutes of it is sexual scenes.

Despite the critics,I am sure that this movie will bring in mega bucks at the theatre. It has already been released in some areas and the news showed tons of women coming out of the movie saying it was great. One woman even claimed,"I want more!" I'm sorry,but we definitely do NOT need more of this junk!

Think about it. How is a movie about a young,vulnerable woman and a sex-crazed,abusive man in a sexually abusive relationship a good thing to go watch? How is that a healthy thing for the minds of our young men and women? How is this film Christ honoring or praiseworthy? It's not.

I wish I could convince every girl of her great value. It doesn't matter where you come from,or what your past may be,you. are. valuable! The world is glorifying this image of a weak woman,who is trapped in a relationship where she is tortured by a man who cares nothing about her as a person.
When I think of love,I think of respect and honor. I think of being treasured by someone. When I think about love,I don't see it as being any of the things that Hollywood is portraying. If someone loves you,they are going to love you as a person. They are going to care about you and your wants and needs. They are going to put you before themselves.

So before you go buy a movie ticket,think about what this movie is supporting. I think that it is a film worth MISSING.

01/20/15 | Fields of Gold

There is a sea of gold stretching out for miles in front of me. There is nothing to hold me back as I walk across this beautiful plain. Life is so messy,so unorganized,and yet so beautiful. I cry a little too often. I question things. I turn myself inside out,trying to decipher my feelings. Walking here,I forget all of that. I forget the deadlines. I forget the pressure of real life and the damage that time has done. I can see only the fields of gold. I can feel it's gentle rustle against my skin,and the wind whipping through my hair. It is here that I remember that everything is going to be fine. God is faithful. Life is good. There are good things that lie ahead. It is here that my soul finds rest,among the fields of gold.

~Emily

(Poetic Fiction)

12/29/2014 | Pursue

As we approach the new year,I have been trying to figure out my word for this year. I am excited for another year of firsts. A fresh start always gives me such a renewed feeling inside. I cannot wait to see what adventures 2015 holds. Last year my mom's word was fearless. I didn't choose a word for 2014,but when I reflect on this past year I believe I would have chosen fearless as well. 2014,you were a great year,and I'm not knocking ya,but to be honest this year was full of emotions. I have fought myself more this year than any other time I can remember. I fought with who I am,and who I want to be. I went through a time of fear and anxiety. Through this year,I felt the Holy Spirit whisper to me so many times,"Be fearLESS." I learned to depend on my Heavenly Father more in everyday. I found peace in the blessed thought that my soul is secure in Him. This frightened,weak human found strength in His love. God has brought this frail little heart of mine through,and made it stronger. Still I am reminded everyday to be fearless,by knowing that God is bigger than any giant that may block my path.

The word that I have chosen for 2015 is pursue. I want to take off after all these dreams. I want to pursue a closer walk with Him. I want to pursue my dream of being an artist. I want to pursue the life that I dream about. The biggest stumbling block for a dreamer is the failure to DO. We cannot be content to only dream about what we want. We must go out and pursue it,create it,DO IT! So that is my word for this brand new chapter. 2015,I'm ready for ya!

~Emily

12/25/2014 | To say Merry Christmas to you

Someone racked up on Ninja Turtle action figures…...

Grandparent's tree.

Sibling/cousin love<3

Today I woke up excited. Not the,"Oh my gosh it's Christmas and we get to open presents!"excited,but more of a,"Wow,it's Christmas. I get to spend the whole day with my family,eating and being happy." Christmas has changed for me since I have grown up,but not in a bad way. The first two years that I was in the work field,it didn't feel like Christmas at all. It was just here and gone,and I never got to taste it. This year I made up my mind that I was going to enjoy the season,no matter how busy my schedule. I have been one of those annoying *listens to Christmas music in August* people. I put my tree up November first,and I had all of my family's gifts bought and wrapped early. So Christmas came,and I found that my favorite thing about it was simple. PEACE. The peace that comes from remembering the reason for the season. The peace that comes from being with your family. The peace that settles around you like a fuzzy blanket and warms your heart. I was happy just being at home. I was perfectly content to watch my siblings open their gifts and watch their faces. It was amazing to just think about how blessed I am. God has been so good,and today was saturated in His goodness and amazing love. My heart is merry and full,and although I am prepared for that after Christmas sadness,I am ready to charge into this new year,and all the new adventures that are to come. Merry Christmas friends. I hope your day was merry and bright.

*I also may have eaten four cinnamon rolls in one day,but it's Christmas and they were too good to be true.

12/20/2014 | December

(This may be cheating a tad. I am not quite sure that the last pictures are from December)

December has come and (almost) gone so quickly. It's like I blinked,and poof! It was gone! Christmas is this week,and I think I am finally brimming with the spirit of it all. Life has been conflicting schedules,Christmas shopping,gift wrapping,church activities,and working like mad. These last few days of Christmas,I am trying to savor it all. Keeping my schedule as free as I can,so that I can just be at home. My favorite things about the season is to relax with a hot coffee,read a book or watch a Christmas movie,and listen to my man,Bing Crosby. It is also a good time for me to reflect on my life. I stand in awe of God's goodness to me. I have been blessed much much more than I can understand. I have a loving family,some of the best friends a girl could have,a wonderful man who respects and understands me,and the peace in my heart that I am being taken care of by a King. My life is not perfect,and I know it never will be. There are always the good days and bad. There are the times when I don't understand what's happening,and times I may get depressed. Through it all,I have the peace inside that everything will be alright. My life is held in the hands of the Master. There has never been a time that I have had to be in want of anything. And for that,my heart is overflowing with gratitude and love.

I wish you all a peaceful Christmas.

10/02/2014 | "to have really lived.."

///// If I have learned anything in my short lifetime,it is that life should never be taken for granted. I have failed bitterly at this so many times. I get so caught up in this life,that I forget to really live. Life has taught me,through so many storms that you have to hold on to what is really important. Through loss,I have realized how much today truly counts. There may never be a tomorrow. Enjoy every hug. Soak up every,"I love you," and truly mean it when you say it back. Love those you have,because you never know the last moment you may have together. When a dear elderly person tries to give you advice,shut up and listen. Learn from all the storms in life. When they're over,and the smoke clears,you are going to realize you are a survivor and you are going to get stronger. You must never forget who you are. You are a spirit,a soul,and a human. Always remember that. Remember your humanity and do your best to offer hope to those who have none. Stay strong when you feel your world is going to come crashing down. When the tears come,let them go. Above all,you must remember Who put you here. There is a path set for you that no one else can walk. There is a task before you. He chose you. You are valuable. A precious jewel that can never be replaced. You matter. This life is not and never was easy. But that's ok,because life is one big adventure. And as in any adventure,you can't have the joys without the sorrows. One day it will all be over. I don't want to come to the end and look back at a trail of regrets,wasted time,missed opportunities,and risks I wish I had taken. I want to have really lived,not just existed. //////     ~Emily Grace

08/12/14 | Words to ponder

• Life,I have learned is made up of memories. Good times,bad times,hard times….it all makes up who we are. All throughout my life,I have been picking up pieces of who I am. As soon as I think I have found myself,I find another piece that fits into my life. So I wonder,do we ever find ourselves? Do we ever find the complete us? Or do we just keep walking through life,making memories,and finding pieces of ourselves. It is kind of like we are a puzzle,and all the pieces won't be put together until the end. Is that how life is? Do we only find ourselves one moment at a time? Will we only be complete when we come to the end? If that is how it is suppose to be,I can't say I hate it. I have enjoyed finding myself. Each time I find another piece of myself,I get such a feeling of excitement. If I get to go through life finding that feeling,over and over,I can't say that it's a bad thing. In fact,I think it makes life that much better.

                                                                     

08/08/14 | Here at last

                    

*above via Pinterest

~C.S. Lewis-The Problem of Pain

08/05/14 | This world

This blogging world is a funny thing. Sometimes I feel like I am blogging exactly what I feel,and then sometimes I think I am just typing what I think people want to hear. It is a struggle to be the actual ME on here some days. When the words don't come (which happens far too often) I compensate with photographs. I leave it up to the frames to explain exactly how I feel. I think that is one thing that I love about photographing. A picture is worth a 1000 words they say. Sometimes finding your voice can be difficult when the words won't come. I have a voice. I have things I want to say,funny stories I want to share,and joy that I want to write out in words. But one thing I am learning is that I have to be Emily. I have to stop comparing my self to all the other bloggers and photographers out there and just find myself. This blog is like my public journal. I love blogging and would never want to give it up. It has become a part of who I am. This is where I can let my voice be heard. Some days I might write half a novel of a post,and other days I might just share a photograph that makes my heart absolutely stop. This is my space to be creative,to be poetic,to be me. If you follow me here,I want you to know that I appreciate it deeply. If you happened to stumble across me today,welcome:)

• Welcome to my world.

08/01/14 | To camping we go

We had a weekend camping trip planned. The truck was packed,the firewood chopped,and the bed rolls wrapped and ready to go. We were blessed to get our camp up and ready,and then here came the rain! Honestly,I thought it would be just a quick shower! God let it stop so that we could cook our supper and sit around the fire to dry a while. Unfortunately,it rained all night,but we had a good time and made some nice memories. We came home early this morning and spent the day warm and snugly in the house. I was able to get some nice  digital pictures before the rain and I used up a whole roll of film on my Nikon N60! Super excited to get them developed and share! I want to shoot with film more,
I just know very little about it!

Have a great night!

~Emily

Deep breathing

{The long promised beach photos}

(above^. We found an abandoned camp ground. It was like stepping into Narnia.)

///Sometimes you have to take a step back and remember who you are. Remember where you're going,what your striving for,and who you love. Take some deep breathes. Stop comparing yourself to every other person you see. They are not you,and you are not them. You have your own path to walk,and your own story to write. Be happy in your own skin. Because the only person you can ever be happy being,is you.     ~Unknown///

The traveler….

///"The traveler was active;he went strenuously in search of people,of adventure,of experience. The tourist is passive;he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes "sight seeing."///   ~Daniel J. Boorstin

Currently

Currently://

Reading-The Shack:by Wm. Paul Young

Snapping-A beautiful friend is going to be my model today. Yay!

Listening-Nickle Creek,The Wailing Jennys,and other random bluegrass/celtic

Loving-My sneakers and ball cap

Missing-My best friends

Traveling-Beach in two weeks!

Learning-God can show you answers,even when you aren't searching for them.

~Emily