A day in the park

Well this is going to be a short post but I thought I would share this...this past weekend was spent with my favorite nephew, Asher Haines. I love that little boy. He maybe my favorite boy in the world I think, sorry Koz, ha. This past weekend my parents and I went up to watch Asher because it was Sarah and Dan's anniversary. We got to spend the whole weekend with him. He's growing up so much, he's not a baby anymore, he's more or a little boy. We were coloring and he knows all his colors. He talks so much in sentences that sometimes you just have to tell him you have no idea what he said, then he gives you a look and starts all over again. However, I've become somewhat of a master at translating what Asher says, haha. It's so cute when he gets all excited to see me, and starts off every sentence with "Emmy!" I love that guy. Well, that's all I've got for right now. I thought I'd upload some pictures I like a lot though that Britany took of Asher and I when we took him to the park on Saturday.

"And now the stars aren't out tonight, But neither are we to look up at them"

Well it's been an interesting few days. My phone pretty much didn't work as well as my car. Which just made for a crappy night and next day trying to convince people I wasn't crazy and was right. That added to a week full of business involving lots of babysitting, coaching little kids, classes, and among over other things made me just wish it had gone differently. Sometimes I wish life was how it use to be. Life seemed a lot simpler a year or so ago and was in ways, but I also like where my life is right now. I have an amazing boyfriend who does puppet shows to How the Grinch Stole Christmas via Skype because he knows it'll make me smile and laugh, and will be just the thing that will make me happy. Skype and texting are two things I'm a fan of for sure. Skype dates with Koz are the best. I love seeing his face, his short hair, and his big ears, ha. A lot has happen over the past couple years. But I know that boy that was such a dork that asked to wear my jeans freshman year, who became one of my best friends isn't going anywhere. Even though he's more then a thousand miles away and I've only seen him three times since January, he's now my dork. Anyways, the song that my blog is named from the song Promises by Matchbook Romance. It's become one of my favorites. I love going star gazing on a clear night. It just amazes me how many stars there are and how beautiful they are and that my Creator made such a glorious thing for us to look up at. Stars are beautiful. Also there is one other reason I like this song. I like this song a lot because it reminds me of Koz. But it also reminds me of how much I missing him and of course looking at the stars with him, something that I loved to do with him when he was home. Maybe i'll go and look at them for a while tonight if they're out even but I can't wait to look at the stars with him again. Well, I just thought I would give some insight as to the name of my blog and maybe you'll enjoy the stars a little more each night. Night.

Skype date with my dork ;)

Promise by Matchbook Romance

What would you say if I asked you not to go
To forget everyone, forget everything and start over with me
Would you take my hand and never let me go
Promise me you'll never let me go

And now the stars aren't out tonight,
But neither are we to look up at them
Why does hello feel like goodbye?
These memories can't replace,
These wishes I wished and dreams I chased
Take this broken heart and make it right

I feel like I've lost everything when you're gone
Left remembering what it's like to have you here with me
I thought you should know,
You're not making this easy

I never thought I'd be the one to say
Please don't, well please don't leave me

I feel like I've lost everything when you're gone
Left remembering what it's like to have you here with me
I thought you should know,
You're not making this easy

You're not making this easy (easy, easy, easy...)

Take my hand and never let me go,
Take my hand and never let me go,
Promise me...
You'll never let go
You'll never let go
You'll never let go
You'll never let go
Make this last forever

I feel like I've lost everything when you're gone
Left remembering what it's like to have you here with me
I thought you should know,
You're not making this easy

You're not making this easy
You're not making this easy
You're not making this easy
You're not making this easy

I'll fall asleep tonight, 'cause that brings me closer to you

Thursdays are crazy days.

Thursdays, such crazy days. So for the past Thursdays they've consisted of soccer practices and then babysitting. I started coaching K-2nd grade soccer at JCS elementary with Abbey. They're a handful at times but reminds me why I want to be a elementary teacher, maybe not that young of kids but elementary for sure. Anyways, we've had two practices and they've gone pretty good. We've also have had one game (which we won but apparently our rules tell us everyone is a winner, ha). Our team is called Drive which is kinda ironic because in 6th grade, when I played soccer, I was on the same team at JCS and now i'm coaching it. I look forward to our season and getting know to kids and working with Abbey. K-2nd are little but are a fun age, but just reminds me of when Abbey and I were on the same soccer team in preschool and how I went to go score a goal but I stopped and ran back to Abbey and grabbed her hand, because I wanted her to come with me, haha. Well, my Thursdays and Fridays from now till the end of October will not be boring that's for sure.

Also, I started babysitting Ariel and Elise again on Thursday nights. I wasn't going to this Fall because I had a night class that night, but I changed it and so now I'm watching them once again. I do love spending time with my nieces, I love hearing all the words and sentences Ariel can now. And Elise wanting to do everything her big sister does, which sometimes cause them tobe trouble sometimes. Bowman sisters, they're always trouble but so cute;) Ariel just turned 3, such a fun age where you can have a conversation with her and she still wants to sit in your lap while you read her books. Elise will be 2 this coming January, and she so looks like I did when I was little I think and follows her sissy wherever she goes. I usually have many Ariel stories from babysitting them and tonight I did have a few. We were playing with puppets, Ariel and Elise loves their puppets, and the puppets were "hungry" Ariel said, so of course we had to feed them. So with the puppet on my hand I pretend to have it eat the play food. Well, as my puppet was eating the food Ariel had got it, Ariel suddenly shouted,"Stop! He forgot to pray before he ate!" So, yes, my puppet had to pray for his food numerous few times before I had my puppet it the play food. Haha, only Ariel.

Well my Thursday do kinda seem kid crazy sometimes but I love it. I'm glad i'm getting this opportunity to coach soccer and to spend time with my nieces for a few hours every week. It's kinda cool that Ariel and Elise know who I am and get excited when they see me walk through the door.

Elise summer 2010

Ariel summer 2010

The Bowman girls and I, Fall 2009

Things will get better this I promise you...

I wish tonight had ended differently. I was the outcome was happier. I don't know what else to say really. I just wish I could be somewhere else, oh do I wish I could there. Well, sleep well.

Promise by Spoken

Verse 1

Yet another day seems like it’s wasted

You don’t feel you’re any closer to the prize

A dead end job where there’s no future

Praying that tomorrow things won’t be this way

(Chorus)

Things will get better this I promise you

And I know that you won’t feel this way forever

Things will get better this I promise you

And I know loneliness won’t last forever

Verse 2

Yet another day, another tired morning

You’re catching up to your intentionsYou’re thinking life has to be easier than this

Maybe tomorrow things won’t be this way

(Chorus 2)

Things will get better this I promise you

and I know it wont feel this way forever

Things will get better this I promise you

and I know we can find a way to make it better

things will get better this I promise you

(Guitar Solo)

(Outro)

Things will get better this I promise you

And I know it wont feel this way forever

Things will get better this I promise you

And I know loneliness won't last forever

Things will get better this I promise you

And I know things will get better this I promise you

And I know things will get better this I promise you

And I know loneliness won't last forever

You can have the best of me

Well, I don't have much to say tonight. The song "The Best Of Me" has been suck in my head tonight because it seems to fit exactly how I feel right now. It's late and I should of gone to bed hours of go but I just couldn't sleep. I couldn't stop the tears that kept falling caused from the hurt of being so from far away. Sleep will do me well I know and I wasn't ready for it just then, but I'm ready for it now, I'm ready to fall asleep and dream. Dream of not being so far away and close again. So goodnight and hopefully sweet dreams.

The Best Of Me by Starting Line

Tell me what you thought about when you were gone

And so alone

The worst is over

You can have the best of me

We got older

But we're still young

We never grew out of this feeling that we wont give up

Here we lay again

On two separate beds

Riding phone lines

to meet a familiar voice

And pictures drawn from memory

We reflect on miscommunications

And misunderstandings

And missing each other too

Much to have had to let go

Turn our music down

And we whisper

"Say what you're thinking right now"

Tell me what you thought about when you were gone

And so alone

The worst is over

You can have the best of me

We got older

But we're still young

We never grew out of this feeling that we wont give up

Jumping to conclusions

Made me fall away from you

I'm so glad that the truth has brought back together me and you

We're sitting on the ground and we whisper

"Say what you're thinking out loud"

Tell me what you thought about when you were gone

And so alone

The worst is over

You can have the best of me

We got older

But we're still young

We never grew out of this feeling that we wont give up

Turn our music down

And we whisper

We're sitting on the ground

And we whisper

We turn our music down

We're sitting on the ground

The next time I'm in town

We will kiss girl

We will kiss girl

Tell me what you thought about when you were gone

And so alone

The worst is over

can have the best of me

We got older

But we're still young

We never grew out of this feeling that we won't

Feeling that we can't

That were not ready to give up

We got older, but we're still young

We never grew out of this feeling that we wont give up

Like PB and J...

Well today was an little of everything in many aspects...hurt, laughter, awkwardness, tiredness, to just name a few. I had much on my mind so my drive home was good in many ways. A somewhat 30ish minute drive is a good time for reflecting on different things and did just that tonight as I do most drives home. I normally have my itouch or a cd playing quietly or loud, depending on the mood i'm in and how tired I am. Well tonight I had the radio playing and the song Shake It by Metro Station came on. There are just some songs that play

and you instantly think of a memory involving someone, a place, time in your life or all three.

That song is one of those songs. I instantly think of the fall of '08, freshman year of college, and the lovely amazing Britany Miller. That song use to play a lot on the radio while we drove in my old car for late night runs to Walmart for Jones and Reese's Puffs or Taco Bell for chicken quesadillas and strawberry fruista freezes. I started to think about Britany and I and freshman year. So much has happen since than. We became the two girls of a group of best friends that pretty much spent every weekend together. We fell in love with boys and both felt such hurt and heartache when they left. We've laid out under the stars and talked for hours about the future and past and present. And we've done crazy things late at night that we know we would have the most fun doing together. We've gone to concerts of our choosing and one we would never thought we were would end of there at the end of the day but we were thrilled because we got to be

together. We were bold and got piercings and spend many of late nights and weekends at SAU.

I'm so glad that fall, September day, in the park by SAU, with our Ben and Jerry's, Britany and I actually made the effort to become better friends. God knew we needed each other in our lives, a best friend at that time. So many of my memories and pictures include Brit, I love that girl. I love how when I'm around her I'm me and I don't have to act any other way because I know she loves me. I love her sense of style and that we are still cool, well think we are anyways, enough to get matching clothes or whatever. She is such a beautiful, intelligent, creative, Godly woman that i'm privileged to have as one of my best friends. And probably if it wasn't for her friendship and introduction, I mightn't have not met another one of my best friend that I love so much and am happy beyond words that he is in my life now as well.

Things have changed a lot since that first semester of college, but Britany is still one of my best friends that I love dearly and thank the lord for her friendship. Plus, she's still always there when I'm having a crappy day, and ready to eat some Ben and Jerry's ice crean with me ;) Well, that is all that's coming to me right now because it is pretty late or early, depending on how you look at it, and I should get some sleep. So goodnight and sweet dreams.

Us and our Ben and Jerry's. We love our ice cream.

The start of our crazy, awesome college friendship.

We knew it was going to be a good year because we would have each other.

Britany's and Koz's fall break 2008

We have many laughs together, especially when we need them the most. May 2010.

I love her. Summer 2010.

"You are the light to my soul. You are my purpose...you're everything."

I miss my summers, especially my mission trips. My summers before this one and lasts always consisted with adventure to other countries, I miss that. I miss going to a different country and getting your expectations of what it's going to be like crushed, and than made new and better than you could of imagined. Just before my sophomore year of high school I experienced my first mission trip to another culture and country. Guatemala. I got my passport and I was on pumped about going on a mission trip. It was exciting and new, and I couldn't wait. Everyone was focused one thing, serving the Lord with their whole heart. It was my first summer I worked at Barakel too, which I was also excited about but this was different kind of missions.

Guatemala, was amazing. I couldn't of had a better group and leaders. Sarah went with me, that was a condition my parents made before they gave me the ok to go. Which I am glad she got to go with me, especially when I got sick at the end of the trip which wasn't that awesome. Anyways we were based in Chichicastenango, the heart of a busy Guatemala market town. The goal of the trip was to build two house for two widows and her families, but we did so many other things too. We help build another house that was located in ChiChi more as well as go to a feeding program to help serve food the the children. I loved every minute of it. I love the feel of experiencing new things and places, but mainly the love of God that I saw and felt in Guatemala.

The love I saw in the teens that made up that team. That took ten days of their summers to go and serve others and their God. I saw love in the eyes of the widow and her family as we gave them a house they could call their own. Love in the eyes of the many children because we took the time to just play with them.

I've gone on two missions trip, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic. Both trips while I was in high school and I came away with so much from each. I learn to love God and show love to others. I was thankful, oh was I thankful for the life and things of it God blessed me with. On missions trips it's so easy to focus on God, he's all around you and His presences is clearly their and pointed out. It's hard coming home and knowing deep down your flame is going to dye down no matter how much to try and say it won't.

I'm trying something new. I'm going to try and rebuil

d that fire I felt my sophomore year of high school. I've been unsure about my future in some areas and not knowing what I really want, but this I know without a doubt. I want to be on fire for Jesus Christ. I want to make that flame burn stronger and longer. I want to love Him even more because he is my best friend and always there. I want to give it all to Him because His plan and timing is soo much better than mine could ever be. I want to love God with all that I am.

I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else. -C.S. Lewis

First, I love C.S. Lewis. He was just an amazing man. I love this quote of his, it's perfect and so true. I feel like this is what mission trips are all about and the life Christians should lead. We should show others God's love by being love. Because then if other see God's love in us, even just a little bit, it opens their eyes. It opens their eyes to see and question the world and views that they believe to be true. People in Guatemala might not of accepted Christ as their Savior right then and there, but it open their eyes to see something bigger than themselves. The love we as believers showed them could of opened their eyes just a little bit to the love of Jesus Christ.

Anyways, as it's very late and I should of been sleeping hours ago. Oh well. As I finish typing this the song Everything by Lifehouse has been on my mind. Such an amazing song, I truly love it. So, goodnight, and remember to love God and show His love to other.

Guatemala 2006

With the widow and her family as we give the their new house

Feeding Program

Singing with the kids at a feeding program

Working together to building the widows house

Well, I don't have much to say tonight. The song "The Best Of Me" has been suck in my head tonight because it seems to fit exactly how I feel right now. It's late and I should of gone to bed hours of go but I just couldn't sleep. I couldn't stop the tears that kept falling caused from the hurt of being so from far away. Sleep will do me well I know and I wasn't ready for it just then, but I'm ready for it now, I'm ready to fall asleep and dream. Dream of not being so far away and close again. So goodnight and hopefully sweet dreams.

The Best Of Me by Starting Line

Tell me what you thought about when you were gone

And so alone

The worst is over

You can have the best of me

We got older

But we're still young

We never grew out of this feeling that we wont give up

Here we lay again

On two separate beds

Riding phone lines

to meet a familiar voice

And pictures drawn from memory

We reflect on miscommunications

And misunderstandings

And missing each other too

Much to have had to let go

Turn our music down

And we whisper

"Say what you're thinking right now"

Tell me what you thought about when you were gone

And so alone

The worst is over

You can have the best of me

We got older

But we're still young

We never grew out of this feeling that we wont give up

Jumping to conclusions

Made me fall away from you

I'm so glad that the truth has brought back together me and you

We're sitting on the ground and we whisper

"Say what you're thinking out loud"

Tell me what you thought about when you were gone

And so alone

The worst is over

You can have the best of me

We got older

But we're still young

We never grew out of this feeling that we wont give up

Turn our music down

And we whisper

We're sitting on the ground

And we whisper

We turn our music down

We're sitting on the ground

The next time I'm in town

We will kiss girl

We will kiss girl

Tell me what you thought about when you were gone

And so alone

The worst is over

can have the best of me

We got older

But we're still young

We never grew out of this feeling that we won't

Feeling that we can't

That were not ready to give up

We got older, but we're still young

We never grew out of this feeling that we wont give up

So here I go...

So, I realized I had a blog today. I was thinking about starting one and then realized I apparently was a blogger already. In one of my classes at the beginning of college one of my professors had us start one, I had completely forgotten it till today. I decided I would start over new with it though, new background and all. So here I am. Starting over. I'm not sure really what I think about blogging actually, it's definitely not my thing. But I'm willing to start and where I go with it. So here I go...

It's been along few weeks, three to be exact. I've been working with fourth graders at the Dahlem Center day camp. I worked along beside a teacher so that was great. This is my second summer working at Dahlem, and I'm so glad I got to go back again this year. It's a nice summer job working with kids even though they can drive me crazy with there need to argue or ignore whatever I say to them at times. Over all though, I love working with fourth grade. They are at the age where you can have conversations with them. They are figuring out who while their life is so simple and carefree. I love having conversations with them, and they either think i'm pretty much awesome because i'm so much older or lame, ha. Either way this past few weeks have been fun. Tiring that's for sure, getting up at 7am and isn't my thing. Plus I would go to bed at like midnight or even later some nights, so i'm sure that didn't much. However, I was back to my normal routine of going to bed late last night and I slept in this morning. It was nice. Well, I don't have much else to say for now. I'm listening to some Matchbooks Romance, which I would have to say their cd Stories and Alibis is pretty good. The song If All Else Fails has become a favorite of mine. Well I'm going to split, so until later goodbye.

My week one fourth grade boys from last summer

My week one fourth grade girls from last summer

Some of my girls and mine hands on my last day of camp this summer

Nina and I acting a little silly after water olympics:)