La musica de Emily

Most songs I can't listen to for more than a minute because I get bored. Here is a list (in no particular order) of songs that have never gotten old to me. 

1. Iris- Goo Goo dolls
2. On top of the world- Imagine Dragons
3.Drops of Jupiter- Train
4.Hero- Enrique Iglesias
5. Barefoot blue jean night- Jake Owen
6. Cop car- Keith Urban
7. Pompeii-Bastille
8.We can't stop- Miley Cyrus
9.Worn-Tenth Avenue North
10.Sail-AWOLNATION
11.Best song ever- one direction
12.I see love- Passenger
13. Fighter- Gym class hero
14. Beneath your beautiful-Labrinth
15. I don't dance- Lee Brice
16. Beneath your beautiful- Labrinth
17. Headphones-Britt Nicole
18. How to love- Lil Wayne 

Sometimes

I'm the type of girl that people will just look at me and know I play some sort of sport and probably well. I'm also the type of girl that has larger arm muscles than a majority of the freshman, sophomore, and junior boys and they all make sure I know it.  I can't help it. My family has really good genes..........for boys.

One night at youth group, God spoke to me through my youth pastor, Tim. I'm honestly not quite sure what exactly Tim was talking about but I remember him saying, "God made everyone different. He made some people tall, some short. Some people musical and others athletic. He made some people Weak, and others strong. He made each of us different to fulfill our purpose."

After I heard him speak those words, I put my manly hands on my muscular right bicep. I was quickly reminded of how my muscular figure sometimes makes me insecure. But, instead of hearing, Emily, you're not beautiful. I heard, He made you different to fulfill His purpose.

Anyone who knows me probably knows I really, really love basketball.  I'm convinced that there are few girls/guys in this world that love it as much as me. I Have dreams and goals about basketball and my future and I often wonder if God doesn't want me to peruse them.  For some reason, I thought that God wants me to be completely miserable in order to serve and glorify Him. Through my youth pastors voice, God motivated me to keep pursuing my dreams and glorify him along the way.

So, for now, I'm pursuing my dreams at an intense rate.  Thanking God for blessings and asking Him to guide my steps.

Sometimes I fall over when I'm shooting.

Sometimes the newspaper catches precious moments.

Sometimes I end op on the same AAU team as the girl in the white jersey behind me.

Sometimes I bruise my knees and it makes me proud.

Sometimes I plow girls over and get called for the foul.

Sometimes I do a basketball photo shoot....and look like a freak.

 

Sometimes Charcey and I go for the group hug.

Sometimes my hair sticks straight up.

Sometimes I do crazy things just to steal the ball.

Sometimes I jump really high.

Sometimes I make weird faces.

 

Sometimes, most of the times, actually all of the times, I really love my teammates.

I really do love to swim...

Defined

            I struggle. I struggle a lot. I struggle with big things and little things. I struggle.  I struggle a lot.
Recently I have really been struggling with what defines me.  I have valued success, popularity, status, appearance and so much more. I have become deaf to God's voice and I have forgotten what it sounds like when He says, "you're enough. You always have been." Because I have been caught up in worldly things, God decided to talk to me through a secular song, just because He loves me that much.

            I was just sitting there, enjoying pasta and salad with my favorite group of girls-my basketball team.  I was laughing, and having a great time.  We were having a team meal before our first state basketball game and it was kind of a big deal. We were playing the team that had won the state championships three years in a row and were the favorites to win the game against us.  Because I start and normally play the majority of the game, I had been feeling pressure and butterflies in my stomach for a good couple of days.  While I was laughing and enjoying the bonding time with my teammates, I would occasionally remind my self of the game, get nervous, and feel sick.   I was nervous for all the wrong reasons. I was nervous that if I didn't play very well people would like me less or I would like my self less. Then it happened. God spoke.  While I was enjoying time with my friends and subconsciously worrying about myself, Christina Perri's song, A Thousand Years came on the radio. My mind didn't even register with the song until she sang the line, Darling don't be afraid I have loved you For a thousand years.  And that is when I knew it was God.  I heard His voice clear. He was saying to me, "Emily, Don't be afraid. I love you. Nothing else matters." That's all it took.

           I still was nervous but not for the reasons I was before. I felt peace and comfort in the fact that how good of a basketball player I am, doesn't define me.  HALLELUJAH! I am not defined by materialistic things.
OH HAPPY DAY!!


Just to let everyone know, we won the game. It was an Upset and it was fun. 

My Brother

If for some reason, I won a million dollars, I would tell my brother first.
If I received two plane tickets for anywhere in the world, I would want my brother to travel to Spain with me. Why? Because we always have fun together and he is big and strong so I know he would protect me.  
If my car was to break down, I'd call my brother first.
If my biggest dream came true, It would be my brothers arms I would jump into and we would laugh.
If I accidentally set our house on fire, I know my brother would put it out. 
If I could smash a pie in someone's face, I would smash pie in my brothers.
If I had to be trapped on an island with one person, I would chose my brother. I know somehow, together, we would survive and probably have fun along the way.  

I just really love my brother.




Recently, I've realized, I'm growing up, and my brother is too.  My brother is in college and I don't see him as much as I'd like.  It's weird to think that someday we wont see each other as much as we do now.  I really love my brother. 

 And right now,  I'm just trying to understand why I have to share him with the world.

ELEVEN THINGS, BRO

1.The Great and Mighty God Of The Universe lifted a huge weight off of my shoulders and I feel so free I can fly and laugh and run and jump and sing and scream and enjoy this bipolar Iowa weather. HE IS SO POWERFUL! I DON"T EVER WANT TO FORGET THAT!

2. Do you ever feel like a plastic bag, drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?
Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin, Like a house of cards, one blow from caving in? WELL DO YA?!
I don't. Not right now.

3. I want to be some sort of writer when I "grow up" and through my creative writing class at school, God has been showing me that a career in English/creative writing is actually realistic... I'M PUMPED!

4. Recently I was being interviewed after a basketball game and whenever I'm being interviewed I try to use big words (It's kinda a game I play with myself because I want to sound smart.) and I was thinking ahead, while talking and there was this word I wanted to use but I honestly didn't know what it meant completely but I basically said yolo and went for it. It was cool. I felt brave.

5. One of the rules I live by is HAVE YOUR TOES PAINTED AT ALL TIMES! (because toes are kinda ugly otherwise) Anyway, I painted my toes bright red and because of that, I am getting super excited for summer! Like, who's with me?

6. High school basketball has been over for 5 days and AAU starts tomorrow. I'm  looking forward to this opportunity God has given me. It's going to be a crazy fun/busy summer.♥

7.  Yesterday it was a beautiful 61 decrees and my friend Sarah and I decided to work on our soccer skills (because the season is approaching quickly) We ended up working on soccer for maybe ten minutes and the other hour and a half we spent putting our feet in the mud and feeling it squish through our toes.  We also cheered on the boys track practice and threw a few snowballs at them too. We had a blast.

8. There once was a smart fish of blue,
His friends told him he looked like poo.
But he was so kind,
True love he would find.
A pretty fish he would soon woo.  #limericks #lyfe #ILOVECREATIVEWRITING #yeah #love

9. Spring break is almost here. SPRING BREAK IS ALMOST HERE!

10. I had an A In advanced biology for this whole semester and I have no clue how that has happened.
I is smart, I is Kind, I is good at Advanced Biology.:)

11. My heart longs for the ocean. I'm convinced I have saltwater in my veins. Maybe I'm a mermaid or maybe because I was born in the water, if I'm away from the sea, my heart aches.  Thoughts I shall ponder.

THAT'S ALL, FOLKS!! 

Time is flying away.

For the first time
Ever
I’ve realized
The days are
       Flying      by
Soon I will be off on my own
Life will be so
     Different
Will life ever be this beautiful again?
Can someone tell me where to find Peter pan
I want him to fly me to never land
I don’t  want to grow up.
I’m not ready

Will life ever be this beautiful again?

Emily's thought of the week.

  How much sleep do we actually need? I remember this last summer when I got 30 hours of sleep in seven days. That is a little over four hours of sleep a night, and I was fine.

Recently I've started to realize how selfish I can be with my time. For example, This last Christmas break I took about 5 naps that lasted about 4ish hours. Meaning, In my 10 day Christmas break I spent 20 hours napping and if you include actual sleeping, I probably averaged 8ish hours a night. So in my 240 hours of Christmas break,  I slept about 103ish hours. That is actually pretty close to HALF of my Christmas break if you add in the few days I got wayyy more than 8 hours of sleep and the random naps in cars etc.

Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, about half way through my winter break I started to feel really selfish with my time. I was feeling as if there were better things I could do with myself like, make a new friend,  invite a bunch of friends to go sledding, spend time with Jesus, Talk to a friend I haven't seen in a while, take my sister out for coffee,  or maybe even spend time playing a board game with my family. there are obviously many more things I could do with my time but I decided to sleep away my Christmas break.

Because I became aware of this I started to think about the amount of sleep we deserve. I believe that rest (solitude and silence, taking walks, talking with God) Is VERY important but is sleep?  are we entitled to naps every Sunday? Are we so mentally weak we cant overcome a sleep deprived headache?

I'm not saying you should get four hours of sleep because you've been writing every person you know a letter of encouragement. I'm not saying to not sleep when you really do need it (sleep is not bad) especially when you're sick. I'm just saying you should try to be a little more intentional about the way you spend your time because that 100 plus hours I slept during Christmas break, I will never get back.

Anyway, Often I have thoughts that I feel I should share. If you agree or disagree I don't really care. Remember this is just a thought from a overly passionate 16 year old and I hope you enjoyed a small part of what keeps my brain distracted during Spanish class. That's all.

I am from...

I am from August 11th 1997
I am from the water. ( literally I was born in the water.)

I am from denim overalls and my red rain boots,
I am from baseball hats on backwards and matching football jerseys with my brother.

I am from my backyard.
I am from mud fights, water fights, kickball, singing to the flowers, and basketball on my driveway 
I am from our maple tree, play house and a stomach full of raspberries. Red, black and yellow.

 I am from familiar words.
I am from "you can do it" and "you have a purpose in this life."

I am from saltwater.
I am from sweat, tears, and the sea-it makes me feel alive.

I am from  red, memory-worn basketball shoes and a gym full of loud people.

I am from dressing my dog up for every birthday party and blowing out ALL the candles, the first time, Every time. 

I am from athletics
I am from flag football with the boys, cross country and hating every minute of it.
I am from Swim team, Horseback riding, track, softball, ballet, soccer,and my love, Basketball.

I am from Breaking the rules.
I am from illegally riding the eighty-five year old  tortoises at the blank park zoo, breaking in to my own church and running barefoot in the hotel hallways.  (rebellious? you know it)

I am from walks with The King Of The Universe.
I am from the creators hands, crafted the way he wanted me to be.
I am from his beautiful grace and because of that I am beyond thankful.

I am from the Knittel athletes and the Hanson writers.


I am from the stories I can tell of my scars.
I am from falling out of a mulberry tree and getting trampled by a horse.
I am from my permanently scarred legs due to one too many soccer games played and several burns from the basketball court.

I am from laughter,
I am from pain,
I am from loss,
I am from joy.

I am from my bonfire scented hair, and the words I never said. 

I am from Ballard high school.
I'm from our great basketball program,
and our wonderful teachers and coaches.

I am from laying under the stars, and discovering so much about life under them.

I am from all the books I've read and find myself lost.
I am from all the poems that have written me and the paintings on my walls.

I am from Wisconsin.
I am from the whitewater rapids and the cliff jumping.
I am from the tall trees that smell like memories.

I am from the freckles on my lips and my sunflower eyes.


I am from today,
walking in the school hallways, eavesdropping on students conversations hearing stuff like "HE SAID WHAT?!?" and "GUESS WHO ASKED ME TO WINTER FORMAL!!!"
I am from right  now, this very moment, learning about life, God and myself.
I am from these very words I write while trying to understand this crazy, beautiful thing we call Life. 

A few of my favorites

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zWKm-LZWm4
I love love love love love this video. Please watch its wonderful! 



 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6T3MwMBqBU
I don't know what it is but I love whenever someone starts talking with a normal voice and ends all riled up and filled with passion. This video is beautiful.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnnSS0_-xoA
back in jr high my youth pastor showed me this video and I've always been amazed by it.  "just stop and think"


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=387xDaK_VAo
I think spoken word poetry it the bomb.com and I love this.  enjoy:)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYrmKlAR0g0
This video sometimes gives me chills.  Ever since I watched it, whenever I hear the song sail, I say (in my head or sometimes out loud depending if anyone is around and weather or not I could possible embarrass myself) "WHAT IF YOU WERE BLIND?" anyway, you probably don't know why I just said that so you should probably watch the video.  

What makes me smile.

Smiling is one of my favorite things. I love  getting my picture taken or smiling because I'm simply happy but, my favorite thing is making someone else smile. I love it when people laugh obnoxiously and although it may sound arrogant to say so, I love being the person that made them laugh like that.  I love making someone's day by writing them a note or giving them a Carmel apple sucker. I love cracking a witty joke that everyone cant help but laugh at. I love love love laughter.
Even though I love to laugh and smile there are some things that never fail to bring a even a smirk to my face on my worst days. 

*A good grade on a test you thought you failed.
Because what is better than doing better than you expected?

*A basketball game won in overtime.
it may just be an athletes thing but there's something I love about giving everything you've got and succeeding. It makes you feel like all the extra work was actually worth it. It is truly a wonderful feeling.

*My friend, Katie.
I am a strong believer in the fact that every friend you have brings out something different in you and my friend, Katie brings out my giggly side and she never fails.

*Knowing I don't have to wake up early in the morning.   
my schedule is probably busier than 89.9 percent of this worlds teens.  I'm involved in over ten extra curricular activities and I have a job.  When you finally get to sleep in for once, It sure is a beautiful, beautiful thing. 

*Letters
I love writing letters but I also love getting letters.  I especially love the random, unexpected letters I get from friends. 

*Long horse rides.
I don't know why but whenever I'm having a bad day, If I go ride my horse, my day will get better almost automatically. 

 

*Chocolate.
DARK DOVE CHOCOLATE!
DARK DOVE CHOCOLATE!
DARK DOVE CHOCOLATE!

*The first snow.
I get so excited I will run around my house and then  I'll run out in the snow barefoot!


* Elderly couples holding hands.
Seriously so presh!

* The laughter of babies/small children.
They are seriously the cutest things when they laugh.  

* When you witness any sort of kindness being done to a stranger.
It reminds me that there still is good in this world.

* When you observe “friends” who so obviously like each other as more than friends.
This is my favorite but ONLY if its cute. Meaning, the friends that have a significant other that causes lots of drama and they are constantly Breaking up and get back together and they're obviously no good for each other, THAT IS NOT CUTE!!! I don't know if I smile because I just really love love or I smile becauseI think to myself  "ahahahah and they think I don't  know"

*  Remembering a fond childhood memory.
I seriously have the funniest childhood memories ever. If I ever need a laugh simply thinking or how simple and wonderful life was will always bring a smile to my face.



* Finding something you’ve lost.
I lose my phone about three to four times a day and sometimes it will be gone for about three days.  I also lose things like, my journal, books, hairbrush, ipod, clothing items, and soooooo much more. When I finally find them I get sooo very happy!

* Unexpectedly running into a long lost friend that you miss.
Isn't it the coolest thing when you really really miss someone and then BAM you run into them. It's definitely a wonderful gift from God. 


*My brother. 
We always laugh when we're together. I love him.