Living and Learning

Well, another several weeks has passed by and while my blogging has ceased to exist, my life has continued at its crazy pace and I continue to be blessed with fun adventures.

C-A-T-S CATS CATS CATS…

Several weeks ago, mom and I had the opportunity to go cheer on the Wildcats at an exhibition basketball game against Transylvania University. Getting to experience my first basketball game in Rupp Arena with mom was so special. At the sound of the fight song, she would morph into her alter-ego cheerleader self and clap and sing along in pure delight, which of course brought me great joy…and made me laugh out loud. I so enjoyed getting to laugh with, talk to, cheer with, and simply spend time with one of the most precious women in my life.

Scratch Came to Visit

Oh Decisions…

During my senior year, I decided that I wanted to become a physical therapist and mapped out my future in my mind. After several months of being a Kinesiology major however, my true passions and desires have been revealed. It’s funny how the Lord opens and closes doors when you submit yourself to His will. It’s also funny how He reveals Himself in subtle ways to make His will known. While visiting the doctor several weeks ago, I watched through glass windows as a physical therapist worked with a patient. After watching her go from patient to patient in a monotonous routine, I realized that my desire to build intentional relationships with people would not be attainable. I began to realize at that moment, that I was not called to be a physical therapist. This was the first time the Lord knocked on my heart.

While talking to Lydia during one of our annual late night talks, we began talking about the future…a frequently discussed topic. When Lydia asked me- “What job would bring you most joy?’ I responded without thinking- “Being a first or second grade teacher.” Talk about getting caught with your hand in the cookie jar. Wasn’t I supposed to say that being a physical therapist would bring me most joy? I quickly shrugged off my answer and turned the attention towards Lydia. Knock knock…

Several days later, while riding in the car with my mom, we started talking about the future. After talking about Kinesiology and Physical Therapy and lamenting about my dislike of science and math, I broke down and admitted that I wasn’t convinced that I was on the right career path. My mom of course already knew this and responded by saying that my joy was her greatest desire and that she would support me and would be proud of me regardless of what I did. One of the greatest desires in my life is to make my parents proud and to not disappoint them, so hearing her say those words out loud was so reassuring. I started telling her about the discussion Lydia and I had had. Mom responded by saying that she had always seen me as a teacher…thanks for sharing that with me NOW. I guess I am not surprised…it appears that a love for teaching runs in the family. As I started picturing myself as a teacher, I smiled thinking about all of the precious children the Lord would entrust me with to pour into and love. I was giddy for the first time thinking about the future. Knock, knock, knock…Okay, I hear you Lord, loud and clear.

After much prayer, more conversations, and reflecting, I am excited to say that I have begun my journey towards becoming an elementary teacher. I am so excited to begin this journey and can’t wait to see where this path leads and who I will have the opportunity meet along the way. While I am at peace with my decision and am excited about what the future holds, there are of course no guarantees that the Lord won’t guide me in another direction down the road. I am going to work hard, pray hard, and continue to keep an open mind and heart and trust that the Lord will continue to reveal Himself to me and will teach, lead, and shape me into the woman He has created me to be.

The songs “Already There” by Casting Crowns and “You Lead” by Jamie Grace have been my theme songs these past few weeks. In “Already There” Casting Crowns sings:

From where You're standing

Lord, You see a grand design

That You imagined

When You breathed me into life

And all the chaos

Comes together in Your hands

Like a masterpiece

Of Your picture perfect plan

Wow- so beautiful. It gives me cold chills to think of the Lord piecing my puzzle together- adding new pieces that fit perfectly with the previous and will fit perfectly with the pieces to come, to eventually reveal the beautiful and unique masterpiece the Lord had in mind when He created me. While it can be unnerving to not know what the future holds, it is amazing to sit back and let the Lord reveal Himself and His beautifully crafted plan to us one piece at a time.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. –Jeremiah 29:11

Shift Retreat...

Have I mentioned how much I love CSF? What a tremendous blessing it continues to be in my life. A few weeks ago, I went to Laurel Lake along with about 50 other freshman and CSF leaders to enjoy fellowship and learn and grow in the Lord. It was so wonderful to get away from the busyness of Lexington and be able to enjoy spending time outside and out of cell phone service. The weekend was full of laughter and great conversations.

On Friday night we played a game called Over the Mountain. Well, unfortunately I experienced yet another “Emi moment.”

In order to fully appreciate the story, I’ll explain how the game works. Over the Mountain is basically glorified musical chairs. You put your chairs in a circle while omitting one and have the one person without a chair go in the middle and say, “I’m (fill in your name). Over the Mountain if you ______” and the person fills in the blank with something that they have done. For example, “Over the Mountain if you go to UK.” After the command is called out, the insanity begins. Everyone who relates to what the person in the middle has said must get up and run to a chair that is not directly beside them. The result is complete chaos.   

Okay, so now that you understand how the game works, I’ll share my moment. Let me begin my saying that we were playing with metal folding chairs and slippery concrete floor. (If you’re thinking oh boy after that side note, you’re onto something…) Okay, several rounds in someone called out something that was applicable to me so I joined the madness and frantically searched for a chair. As my options quickly began to dwindle, I whipped around to see the rest of the circle in hopes that there would be a seat remaining. Well, my head whipped one way and my body whipped another way and I sprawled out, face first on the concrete. Apparently I was already the last one remaining so everyone had a nice front row seat to my wipeout. The whole room filled with uncontrollable laughter as I sat completely unharmed on the floor dying laughing at my unfortunate clumsiness. My only regret in all of this was that the ordeal wasn’t recorded, as I am certain American’s Funniest Home Videos would have thoroughly enjoyed my graceful face plant. Three positive things came out of the fall- 1. It provided the entire room with pure entertainment and laughter 2. Everyone now knows my name (or at least the girl that fell at Shift Retreat) 3. It was yet another hilarious memory that brings an instant smile to my face.

After continuing the game for several more rounds, we ventured outside and hung out under the stars while enjoying the warmth (and s’mores) around a bonfire. Great conversations, stories, and laughter were shared and friendships and memories were made. I’d call that a successful weekend.

Luke 14:12-14…

Southland puts on Jesus Prom each year, which gives mentally and physically disabled men and women the opportunity to experience prom. They provide beautiful gowns, tuxes, people to do hair and makeup, etc. to ensure that each guest feels beautiful (or handsome) on their special night. I had the opportunity to be an escort for the prom and was paired with a sweet boy named Jeremy as my date. Boy did he have a personality. If I got a dollar for every time he called me baby or told me I was hot, I would be a millionaire. Haha. After eating Chick-Fil A for dinner and talking to him about his life, Jeremy’s girlfriend Staci showed up with her “date.” Well, once the lovebirds found each other, Staci’s escort and I became their supervisors instead of their dates. Jeremy and Staci kissed and hugged and loved on each other so many times during the night I felt like a parent awkwardly spying on her kids. While it was slightly awkward, it was incredibly precious to see the way they communicated with one another and cared for each other. Their relationship was so pure and simple. So sweet.

Jeremy and I..."Hey Baby."

Post-Prom Dinner at Steak N' Shake

The night was by far one of the most humbling experiences of my life. While Jeremy and Staci were very high functioning, so many of the promers were confined to wheelchairs or were incapable of walking, speaking, eating, etc. on their own. I was reminded once again of how much I take for granted. I was overwhelmed with gratitude that the Lord had blessed me with an able body but my heart broke for the men and women who would never be able to experience life the way I could. As I reflected on this, I began looking into each of their eyes and was moved to tears as I saw the way their eyes twinkled with joy and how their smiles lit up their faces. It was then that I realized that these men and women didn’t harp on their disabilities but on their ability to love and find joy in the simple things in life. These beautiful men and women are a beautiful testament to the way we should live our lives- with joy and simplicity, how we should live out our faith- in total surrender and absolute trust, and how we should love others- like Jesus loves.

Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or sisters, your relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” –Luke 14:12-14

Learning, Laughing, and Loving

My goodness gracious, it is absolutely ridiculous that I have let this much time pass before blogging again. Have I mentioned how CRAZY my life is...maybe once or twice? Wow. These past few weeks have been a time of laughter, tears, sweet memories, and life lessons.

CSF is in the House Tonight…

After six years, I returned to Woodland Lakes Camp for the CSF Fall Retreat. Unlike my past camping experiences,  I enjoyed every moment of the weekend. God was MOVING in that place.  It was amazing to take a break from the craziness of life and be completely “unplugged” from the outside world and focus solely on building relationships with others and intentionally and wholeheartedly seeking the Lord.

So many sweet memories were made, laughter was shared, hearts were convicted, and voices were raised in praise for our Father. Being able to worship alongside 400 college students with arms held high and eyes fixed on our Father, touched my heart and brought tears to my eyes. Saturday night we had the opportunity to write letters and prayers to our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. It was amazing to have the opportunity to pray for, encourage, and affirm each other in such a tangible way. It was so beautiful to look around and see everyone pouring their hearts out on paper. The body of Christ is incredible. After writing for several hours, I went over to a group of newly made friends and sang worship songs with them until 4:30 in the morning…the three hours of sleep that I had were certainly worth the laughter and fellowship shared. 

Deuces- Winning Dodgeball Team

So awesome, so blessed, so thankful.

Set the World On Fire…

The Lord has been working on my heart and calling me to surrender everything- every fear, every dream, every mistake, every talent, every worry, everything. I want to live a life completely sold out for the Lord and long for opportunities to serve others and bring Him glory. I want His name to be known over my own and to be a source of love and joy in other’s lives. I want to pour out everything I have to the One who deserves it all. I’m tired of dreaming and wishing and saying- it's time to start doing. Giving the Lord everything also means truly resting in the truth that He knows my deepest desires and finding peace in knowing that He- the One who created the heavens and the earth, who knows me by name and calls me His daughter- is in control and is fully capable of leading and guiding me to exactly where He needs me to be. Roy Lessin states- "You're here not by chance, but by God's choosing. His Hand formed you and made you into the person you are. He compares you to no one else- you are one of a kind. You lack nothing that His grace can't give you. He has allowed you to be here at this time in history to fulfill His special purpose for this generation." Wow- cold chills. What an honor and great responsibility we each have. While it's easy to get caught up in trying to figure out "what our purpose is," what I'm learning is it's not about WHAT we do but WHO we do it for. It's not about WHERE we do but WHY we do. And it's not about OUR fame or glory but HIS. I'm choosing to live a life FOR the Lord BECAUSE He has called us to live lives in complete surrender to Him and I will GIVE all glory and honor and praise to the One who deserves it all.

As a 19 year old, it’s both exciting and completely terrifying to think about the future. It’s exciting because I know that I’m not the one in charge and that the Lord has a plan for my life far greater than I could ever imagine. However, it’s also frustrating as the “goal oriented” person that I am, to not know exactly where I’m headed. I suppose that’s all part of the adventure though, huh?  I know that the Lord has blessed me with specific and unique talents, abilities, dreams, and passions and I’m excited to see how He uses me to further His Kingdom. I have been listening to Britt Nicole’s song, “Set the World On Fire” a lot lately. The lyrics explain exactly what my greatest desire is- to be obedient to the Lord’s calling and let Him do extraordinary things through this ordinary girl.

Some of my favorite lines of the song are:

“I wanna set the world on fire until it's burning bright for You. It's everything that I desire. Can I be the one You use?”

“Take my dreams come and give them wings. Lord with You there’s nothing I can’t do.”

“I wanna feed the hungry children and reach across the farthest land. And tell the broken there is healing and mercy in the Father's hands.”

Cold chills.

Tale As Old Time…

For my birthday, my parents surprised me with two tickets to the Beauty and the Beast Broadway show.  Talk about a perfect present for a girl who loves Disney princesses (and secretly dreams of being one), loves music, loves costumes, and loves creating memories with the precious people in my life. I asked my sweet Anna to be my date to the show and what a blessing it was to be able to share such a fun experience with her. As ridiculous as it may sound, the car ride to and from Indianapolis was one of the highlights of the day. While the show was spectacular and the actors were phenomenally talented, the stories, laughter, and meaningful conversations Anna and I shared were moments that I will always treasure. The day was absolutely wonderful and quite perfectly princessey. 

My Sweet Anna and I

Joy…

This three-letter word is by far my favorite word in the dictionary.  The latest series at Southland is entitled “Rebellious Joy.” I love that. On Sunday, Jon Weece defined joy as “an exclusive gift from God that is not circumstantial.” He told the story of Paul who, in the midst of pain and torture my mind cannot fathom, continued to praise the Lord with great joy. Amazing. We should all live lives of continual joy and praise for our Father. Jon continued by saying that the amount of joy we experience is connected to the amount of people we share eternity with. This statement convicted me and encouraged me to strive to live a life that shines for the Lord and to be bold in my faith. Jon also spoke of the importance of serving others. He said, “when you’re on the receiving end of the Lord’s love, your love abounds and so does your joy and the focus is no longer on you but on others.” The Lord calls us to be His hands and feet and to give of our money, our time, and ourselves. When we are intentional in serving others for the glory of the Lord, we make ourselves available for Him to work and move through us in unbelievable ways.

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” - Philippians 1:9-11

Candy Corn, Costumes, and Cold…

CSF hosted yet another huge party for “Holla-ween.” It was so fun to walk around and see everyone dressed up, dance, eat, and enjoy the company and conversations with precious friends. While I’m not the biggest Halloween fan, (because making a costume requires “too much effort”) I thoroughly enjoyed seeing everyone’s creativity and hilarious dance moves. Good times, lots of laughs, and sweet memories.

Prima Ballerina and the Greaser Girl

Jen-Bear and I

Oh how I just love my family. Family Weekend could not have been better- family, good food, tons of laughter, sweet friends, and football.  I miss my family terribly when I’m away at school so any time spent with them is always savored and enjoyed. The amount of laugher we always share warms my heart and brings me so much joy. While Family Weekend was centered on the UK vs. Mississippi State (which I lovingly (and ignorantly) referred to as Michigan State) football game, we got our fill of football after the first half of the game and left for dinner/dessert with sweet friends. Yes, we are indeed fair weather fans and are proud of it. I was certainly a happy girl loving life and loving the people in it.

The Gang

Miss Lydia and I

The Family

Since Halloween landed on a Monday, we got to spend our evening with the precious people of Woodhill. We had a little festival for the kids with trunk-or-treating, a moon bouncer, and snow cones. It was wonderful to be able to spend Halloween with our new friends and see the precious kids dressed up in costumes running around yelling “trick or treat!” God is moving in the hearts of the people of Woodhill and it is so humbling to have the opportunity to be apart of God’s work. The Lord is so good and works in incredible ways. All glory and praise to Him.

Sweet Maria and the Gang

The Crayons

In the Life of Emilee Hancock…

Wow- I believe next to the word dork in the dictionary, you can find a picture of me. I make myself feel better by thinking I’m adorkable instead of just a dork. While I have almost daily “moments,” I decided to share a few in hopes that it brings a smile to your face:

Test Anxiety

Most nights I will go to sleep before my precious roomie does. Well, as usual I fell fast asleep while Miss Lydia worked diligently on homework (just to clarify- I was finished with my homework for the night). After sleeping soundly for about two hours, I popped out of bed and began frantically searching for my glasses and put them on. Then the conversation went as followed:

Emilee- (In a long drawn out and sleepy voice) “I don’t wannnna do it.”

Lydia- (Very confused as to why I’m awake) “Do what?”

Emilee- “Study. I don’t want to.” (Long pause) “Do I have to?” (Another long pause) “No.”

After realizing that I did not have to “study” I took my glasses off and fell back into bed. About 30 seconds later I realized what had just happened and started dying laughing at myself. Not only did I not have a test the next morning but it was also about 2:30 in the morning. Lydia and I laughed for about five minutes straight and then proceeded to finally go (back) to bed. I’m still not sure why I felt the need to study at 2:30 in the morning…I guess that just proves how studious I have become as a college student. Be proud.

Still laughing as I type this…

Can You Tell I’m New At This?

Instead of diamonds or dogs, Starbuck’s is a college student’s best friend. While I would love to be a coffee drinker and get the extra burst of energy that’s needed at 2:00 in the morning while I work on homework, I just can’t bring myself to drink it. SO, in an effort to “fit in” (totally joking) I go for either a Strawberry Smoothie or a Carmel Apple Cider. One night after studying for several hours, Lydia and I decided to take a study break and get some Starbuck’s. Well…my lack of Starbuck’s experience was clearly evident. Here is the conversation between the Barista and me:

Barista: “Hi, what can I get for you?”

Emilee: “Hi, how are you?”

Barista: (Awkwardly looks at me) “I’m fine…what can I get for you?”

Emilee: “Can I please have a Strawberry Smoothie?”

Barista: (I think she says) “For here or to go?”

--Side note: all Starbuck’s drinks are technically “to go”--

Emilee: “To go please.”

Barista: (Yet another strange look) “Umm…I said what’s your name?”

Emilee: “Oh (Giggle), Emilee Hancock. Oh shoot, that’s awkward, you don’t need to know my last name, do you? (More giggling)”

Barista: (A third strange look) “Okay.” And proceeds to write my first and last name with an exclamation point- meaning “Hey look what this goofball just did.”

Emilee: I begin to walk away WITHOUT paying…

Barista: “Hey wait, hey…you didn’t pay yet.”

Emilee: “Wow- can you tell I’m new at this?” (Quickly hands her my card and slinks away)

She clearly wasn't talking about me...I don't know who this EmilY character is...

My goodness gracious- I should have spoken with some kind of accent to make my Starbuck’s illiteracy more acceptable. In short, I now listen carefully, give only the necessary details, and take my card out before ordering when I go to Starbuck’s.

MLIA- my life is awkward.

哎 呀 (Oops)

While on-campus food is really not that bad, it gets old quite quickly. After being cooped up in our room all day, Lydia and I decided to mix things up and hike across campus to Panda Express for dinner. After ordering my “usual” meal- Chow Mein and Orange Chicken- I paid for my meal and went to fill up my drink. Well, it turns out that my hands aren’t as large as I thought they were. I balanced my bowl, drink, phone, and fortune cookie in my left hand (not sure what my right hand was doing). I approached our table and attempted to place my bowl on the table...attempted being the operative word. My bowl tipped over, spilling my precious food on the table and floor. Epic fail. Meanwhile, Lydia watched the whole scene from line and turned her head as though she didn’t know me. Some roommate I have. After giggling alone awkwardly and contemplating how dirty the table really was, I decided that I would go back to the counter and try again. After explaining the situation and pointing to the evidence still covering the table and floor, the girl behind the counter made a little plate of chicken and passed the plate to the cashier stating loud enough for me to hear- “I don’t know if she is going to pay for this.” To which I said as sweetly as possible- “I am fine to pay for it. It was my clumsiness that made me drop it.” The lady at the counter looked at me skeptically (let me say once again that the food was STILL on the floor and table. Woman, I’m really not trying to steal your chicken) and turned her head and shoved the chicken at me. I politely said thank you and turned away slightly confused as to why so much drama had just occurred. Goodness, all of that for a few pieces of chicken and cold Chow Mein.  Epic fail.

Sleeping Beauty

I am not a morning person. While I am not grumpy in the morning, I tend to be completely mute with an occasional grunt. My philosophy is- if the sun isn’t up, I shouldn’t be either. My freshman swag is certainly evident seeing as I have three 8:00AM classes. Not a happy girl. Typically I will set my alarm for 7:27, lie in bed until 7:35 and (begrudgingly) get out of bed and leave for class by 7:50. Well…last week my alarm went off at 7:27 so I turned it off and rolled over until “7:35.” Turns out in my sleepy state, I forgot to reset my alarm. At 7:54 I WOKE UP and thought Oh no, this can’t be good. Mind you, my class is a good ten-minute walk across campus. Well, nothing gets your heart pumping like waking up late. I jumped out of bed and quickly changed, brushed my teeth, washed my face, and threw my (uncombed) hair up in a ponytail and bolted out the door with a Special K bar in hand. As soon as I got downstairs I remembered that it was supposed to rain and storm all day. Fantastic. Did I remember my umbrella in my tizzy? Of course not.  So, I power walked- late, cold, and in the pouring rain- to my class and arrived only 6 minutes late. After arriving to weight lifting, I decided that I had had enough exercise for the day already and took my time stretching and catching my breath. I now set my alarm the night BEFORE…lesson learned.

Song Recommendations…

Music warms my heart and often puts the thoughts/feelings into words that I’m incapable of. These past few weeks I’ve discovered some awesome songs that have really touched my heart and are just too good to keep to myself. Check them out:

Lift Me Up- The Afters

How Great Is Our God (World Edition)- Chris Tomlin

We Are- Kari Jobe

Alive In This Moment- Starfield

Found By You- Britt Nicole

Keep Your Eyes Open- NEEDTOBREATHE

The Reckoning- NEEDTOBREATHE

You Are the Beauty- Gungor

This Is Not the End- Gungor

Beautiful Sunsets...
Lastly, I want to leave you with some of the gorgeous sunsets the Lord has created these past few days. HE is SO good and is the ultimate artist. Take time this week to marvel at the Lord's creativity and mastery. The same God that paints the sky each night created you and calls you His precious son or daughter. What an honor.

"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD." -Psalm 150:6

Humbled By His Abundant Gifts

19 Years & Counting…

What a tremendously blessed and joyful day my birthday was, full of reminders of how graciously the Lord has blessed me. I am convinced that birthday’s are a beautiful example of how every day should look- showering those around us with love and encouragement and celebrating their life and accomplishments. Far too often we get caught up in the busyness our own lives and miss out on countless opportunities to pour into other’s lives and be intentional encouragers, prayer warriors, and life partners. This year, I am going to be intentional and celebrate life every day. Who’s with me?

My first birthday away from home was absolutely amazing. I got to celebrate from 12AM to 11:59PM (thanks to homework). My day was packed full of sweet birthday texts, Facebook messages, phone calls, hugs, birthday lunch with my precious sister, and a special birthday dinner with my parents. To say the least-it was a wonderful day, full of reminders of how beautifully blessed I am. So blessed. So undeserving. So thankful.

Never Too Old for a Princess Cake, Right?

I was absolutely overwhelmed and humbled by the love I was bombarded with on my birthday. I got teary eyed several times thinking about how richly the Lord has blessed me and how undeserving I am of His abundant blessings. I truly have the most amazing people in my life. People who love me unconditionally, support me always, pray for me regularly, and teach me daily. My immediate, extended, and bonus family are the most amazing group of people- full of unique talents that each use beautifully to glorify the Lord. They are my role models, encouragers, and best friends. They lead by example and live lives that inspire me to dream big, love intentionally, and seek God always. I have received immeasurable joy by having the opportunity to “do life” with such Godly and beautiful people and look forward to the many adventures in store for us this coming year.

My Beautiful Family

The Sibs

Nanny and Pappy

While reflecting on the people in my life, I focused on the ONE, who knows me more intimately and loves me more passionately than any other. Every day the Lord blesses me with the greatest LIFE present anyone could ever dream of- the daily opportunity to live a beautifully blessed life, love others, and enjoy the things that He has so masterfully created. Every year, every day, every hour, and every breath that the Lord blesses me with is an amazing gift. I am so thankful to have a Savior who rejoices over me, loves me, guides me, and entrusts me with the honor and responsibility of loving His Children and being a light for His glory. The Lord has blessed me so graciously and I am so thankful.

My 19 Prayers…

As I begin this year, I pray that it would be one full of opportunities to grow, learn, and serve. I pray for a year full of unforgettable memories. I pray that I would bring joy to others. I pray that I would live in and soak up each moment the Lord blesses me with. I pray that I would be a shining light for the Lord and that His name would be known over mine. I pray that my eyes would be opened to the lonely, hurting, and broken. I pray that I would seek His direction in all things. I pray that I will be obedient to where He leads me. I pray that I would be intentional in every interaction. I pray that I would be able to bless my loved ones the way they bless me. I pray that there would be countless opportunities to laugh. I pray that there would be quiet moments to appreciate the Lord’s creativity and mastery. I pray that I would have opportunities to serve others. I pray that I would be a role model and Godly example for those around me. I pray that I would keep my eyes fixed on the Lord and trust in His divine plan. I pray that the talents and abilities I have been blessed with would be made known and be used to glorify the Lord. I pray that this year would be full of meaningful friendships. I pray that I would be reminded often of how beautifully blessed I am and not take a single blessing for granted. I pray for a year that is God-honoring and glorifying. 

So, here’s to the last year of teenage-hood...bring it on!

All Work and Some Play…

Well, the craziness of college life continues. Each morning I wake up wondering when I’ll be able to fall into bed again and each night I wonder how late I can set my alarm clock and still make it to class in time…forget about looking presentable. Sleep > Appearance. I continue to live off of daily to-do lists and receive great satisfaction when I can cross things off the list. I officially have to “pencil in” quiet time: Pathetic- yes. Effective- yes. I have found such comfort and joy in taking intentional time to be still and read the word. Despite the craziness of this new life, I am thankful for the opportunity to learn here and take another step closer to becoming the person the Lord has called me to be.

CSF continues to be such a blessing in my life. The fellowship, worship, and opportunities to grow and learn in my faith are unbelievable. I am so excited and thankful to be surrounded by such men and women of God and look forward to the friendships and memories that will continue to be made.

CSF 80's Party

My Sweet Sisterbear

Brokenness…

One of our dorm activities going on right now is entitled “Post Secrets.” As the name suggests, the girls in the dorm have the opportunity to reveal anonymous secrets about themselves and have them posted throughout the lobby of the hall for everyone to read. While the concept of this seems fun and harmless, it has become a therapeutic outlet for broken and hopeless girls. My heart was absolutely broken as I read of the pain, loneliness, regret, and brokenness the girls in my hall have and continue to endure. The Lord’s love, hope, and grace desperately need to be shared with these girls and I pray for opportunities to witness to them and be a light in their lives. The secrets don’t have names on them, but I trust that the Lord will lead me to those who need Him most and will give me opportunities to love them, pray with them, and tell them that through the grace of God, our past does not have to define our future. It’s time to start mending these broken hearts…with the Lord as the thread, I pray that I could be the needle He uses to restore these broken lives.

Fasten Your Seat Belt…

I have been struggling lately with the uncertainty of my future. Being the goal-oriented person that I am, I have often become frustrated by my lack of a specific end-goal. While the obvious goal is to graduate and be successful, I long for clear direction as to what I am supposed to become and where I am supposed to go. The Lord has placed on my heart a strong desire to serve, love, and invest in other’s lives and I pray that He would bless me with an opportunity to do just that. I know that the Lord’s plan is far more beautifully crafted than I can ever imagine and trust that in HIS time, His will will be made known. I know that this is another opportunity for me to grow closer to the Lord and fully surrender my life to Him and trust that He will lead me where He can best use me to love others and further His Kingdom. I know that He will never leave me or forsake me and will guide my every step. I know these things and am comforted by the certainty that God is in control. My prayer now is that I would have an obedient and open heart and mind to whatever the Lord has in store for me and that I would go where I felt led, wherever that may be. I’m fastening my seatbelt and am ready to embark on this crazy adventure with the Lord as my guide.

“No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.” - Philippians 3:13-14

A Crazy Life

To Be Still…
Psalm 46:10 states, “Be still and know that I am God.” To be still means to stop and let go of the reigns of life. To be still means to stop and let God work in and through you and to listen for His voice. To be still means to stop focusing on the daily stress and responsibilities each day brings and to turn your attention to the Lord. I am guilty of being anything but still. My life these past few weeks has been an absolute whirlwind full of late nights, early mornings, and long days. I have been dependent on to-do lists, iCal events, and alarm clocks. What I’ve recently been convicted of however, is that all of the things I have devoted my time, energy, and thoughts towards, are incredibly insignificant when compared to the plans God has in store for my life. He doesn’t care about my never ending to-do lists or color coded iCal events…no, He cares about His lost, lonely, and broken children on this campus. He cares about the opportunities He blesses me with to be a light and source of encouragement to His children. He cares about the lives that would be forever changed if they heard about the overwhelming love and grace of God. Instead of getting wrapped up in the next task I need to accomplish, I need to focus on the next life the Lord can save through me. While college is intended for learning and earning a degree, it is also a vital time to grow closer to the Lord and an opportunity to take one step closer towards becoming the Emilee God has called me to be. I’ve realized this transition is impossible if I don’t stop and simply be still and let the Lord speak to my heart. I have to rid myself of distractions and keep my mind focused on Him as well as spend intentional time listening for His voice and reading His word. It is extremely easy to get caught up in the craziness of life, but by focusing on Him and seeking ways to bring glory to the One who deserve it all, I know that this time will be so much more rewarding and worthwhile.

“I Lift My Hands” by Chris Tomlin perfectly describes this desire to be still and surrender everything to the Lord in order to bring full glory and honor to Him.

College Life…

I think it’s safe to say that I have officially transitioned out of the “church camp” stage of college and am slowly but surely settling into the rhythm of this new life. With that comes the overwhelming sense of responsibility and stress. A few lessons I have learned in the short time I’ve been here:

• I am a walking stop sign- “I’ve got the power.”
• While cars follow the "pedestrians first" rule, they do not follow the "bikers first" rule...I saw a poor biker get hit by a car. I was ready to jump into "hero" mode if necessary but luckily, he was totally fine.
• Showers are an exact science and are no longer a time for relaxation
• Sleep is overrated
• Yoga pants, sweatshirts, and ponytails are extremely fashionable…or at least extremely comfortable
• College textbook reading is extremely boring, or as I like to say extremely snoring
• Contrary to popular beliefs, naps are a girl’s best friend…not diamonds
• Time moves at a freakish rate in the afternoon/evening
•  Meal swipes are beautiful things
• Walking all over creation in the rain is not something I thoroughly enjoy
•  Getting a second wind in college is dangerous as there is no place to redirect my energy
• Interpretative dancing and balancing on our bed frames are extremely entertaining and hilarious at 2:00 in the morning
• Facebook chatting your roommate as you sit next to her is hilarious
• Fire truck, police car, and ambulance sirens at all hours of the night make for a beautiful lullaby
• Hearing UK’s fight song and spelling C-A-T-S each time we score a touchdown is quite exhilarating

First Football Game

This new stage of life has been one that has challenged me and blessed me in ways I didn’t know were possible. Recently I have been struggling trying to figure out what God is calling me to do with my life. I have such a love for people and find such joy in bringing others joy and pray that the Lord would lead me to a place where I could witness to and bring honor and glory to Him and further His kingdom. I know that by continuing to keep my eyes fixed on the Lord and keeping my heart open to where He leads me, I will eventually wind up exactly where He needs me.

I’ve also been struggling with a desire to no longer be “1 of 4,326.” I have already met many amazing and beautiful people and am thankful for the joy and encouragement they have already blessed me with but continue to pray that the Lord would continue to guide me and bless me with friends that would help me grow in my faith and as a person and who I could laugh with, talk to, and do life with. I’ve recently joined a “Shift Group” through CSF that just might be the answer to my prayers. After meeting only once, I am already certain that the Lord is going to work in tremendous ways in each of our hearts. It was absolutely beautiful to see a group of girls come together, each from different walks of life but all with a common love for the Lord and desire to grow closer to Him. We are studying the book of Mark and “King’s Cross” written by Tim Keller. After only reading the first chapter, I am already convinced that this book is going to teach me and help me grow in my faith. The first chapter was entitled “The Dance.” Tim Keller wrote about the beautiful and never-ending “dance” between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and the invitation we have been blessed with to enter into the dance. Keller writes, “You are made to enter into a divine dance with the Trinity.” How powerful is that? When I imagine this dance, I picture a joyful little girl clinging onto her father’s leg as he effortlessly glides across the dance floor. I am that little girl, desperately clinging onto my Father’s leg as He guides my every movement and effortlessly leads me through the dance of life. I take great comfort in knowing that my Father guides my every step and has a beautifully orchestrated plan for my life.

I’ve said it before and will say it again- Southland Christian Church is amazing. Each week I walk away with a passion to know the Lord in a deeper and more meaningful way. The worship, preaching, and fellowship are simply amazing. Sunday was the start of a new sermon series entitled “Serial Dating.” I highly recommend watching the sermon, but here are a few of the points Jon Weece made that really resonated in my heart:

• “Your present will someday be your past and your past will be present in your future” –Andy Stanley
• It’s not about finding the right person, it’s about becoming the right person
• Rather than focusing on finding “Mr. Right” we should be focusing on “becoming the person we are looking for is looking for.” –Andy Stanley
• Do not give your heart to someone who has not given their heart to Jesus
• Your dating relationship should not be the primary relationship in your life—your primary relationship should be your relationship with the Lord
• Don’t date someone based on potential
• Find someone who helps you become more like Christ
• You have to know Jesus before you can recognize it in other people
• 1 Corinthians 13 is a guide to love and provides us with practical ways to love others the way God has intended us to
• True love is acceptance of all that is, has been, and will (or will not) be
• Your past does not define your future

Check out the Sermon: Serial Dating

Serve the City…

The Lord calls us to go and be His hands and feet and share His love with those around us. Through CSF, I have the opportunity to go to low-income neighborhoods each Monday and build relationships, witness, talk to, and pray with the people there. My eyes have been opened to the overwhelming needs and struggles people in our own backyard face every day. It has been so humbling to hear their stories and see the pain, exhaustion, and desperation on their faces. My heart breaks for them and I desperately long to share the hope and grace the Lord offers. I am so excited to see how He works through us these next few months and pray that hearts would be forever changed.

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.” -1 Peter 4:8-11

The Madness Continues

Breaking A Guinness World Record…

How many people can say that their weekend consisted of breaking a Guinness World Record? Only about 8,957. At 11:55PM on Friday night, CSF hosted the Worlds Largest Water Balloon fight.  175,141 water balloons were strategically lined across the Johnson Center field and over 8,000 people gathered to partake in the madness.  After months of planning and preparing, the water balloon fight was over in less than three minutes. Mass chaos are the only two words I can use to describe this event. Another ridiculous and fun memory made with my amazing friends. 

To Fully Appreciate the Madness- Check Out the Official Video:

Pre-Water Balloon Fight

Mass Chaos

When You Mess With the Bull, You Get the Horns…

I am so incredibly blessed to have such an amazing home away from home church. The 608 service at Southland refuels me every week and reignites the fire within me to begin the new week excited for what the Lord has in store for me and the opportunities He will bless me with to bring glory to Him. This weekends service was focused on grace and seeing others the way we were intended to be seen. Hebrews 12:15 convicted me to bring glory and honor to the Lord in every aspect of my life and to love others the way He loves me. The scripture states “See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God.” No pressure. As Christians we have the honor and responsibility to be a reflection of the Lord in EVERY interaction we have with others and in all aspects of our lives. We were not put on this earth to be self-seeking and self-glorifying, but to shower the broken, lost, and “unwanted” people of this world with grace, love, and encouragement. The Lord commands us to simply LOVE each other in John 15:17. As Jon Weece said, “To love a person, is to see them the way God intended them to be.” It is so easy to get caught up in our selfish desires and too often use the word “need” instead of “want.” What we NEED is God’s unconditional love and relentless grace…everything else is just icing to the cake.

After a phenomenal service, Southland hosted a “Ride the Bull” party in an effort to welcome students back to school and help them get plugged in at CSF and Southland. Well, as the name of the event suggests, there was a mechanical bull to ride for anyone brave enough to “take the bull by its horns.”  Being the “in the moment” kind of person that I am, I decided that riding a mechanical bull was definitely something worth experiencing. Waiting in line, the anticipation grew as I got closer and closer to facing the bull. Words can’t really describe the experience so I decided to attach the video of the ordeal. They say a picture’s worth a thousand words…so how much is a video worth? Y’all can be the judge of that…

**Side note- I now have a beautiful purple "battle wound" to prove my bull-riding skills**

As I begin this first FULL week of classes, I pray that the Lord would help me to focus on Him and cast my anxieties and stress upon Him. I also pray that I would be blessed with opportunities to bring other’s joy and love others the way God has commanded me to.

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen." -1 Peter 4:8-11

Reality Check

One Day Down…How Many To Go?

Well...I’m an official STUDENT at the University of Kentucky. I was reminded today once again of how amazing the power of prayer is. I woke up with such a sense of peace, knowing that the Lord had fully prepared me and would never hand me more than I could handle. The only downer of the day was that I had to wake up at 8:00…not a good thing when you are not a morning person. All of my professors were very kind and seemed genuinely passionate about teaching, which was extremely encouraging and beautiful to see. After ensuring a “good” seat in each class, I met some of my fellow classmates and am excited to see how the Lord will use me to be a light in their lives and look forward to building friendships with and learning alongside of them.

Annual First Day Picture

Sup Noob Freshman

I quickly realized that I have not fully transitioned into “school mode” as I sat squirming in my chair. After attending my classes for the day, I walked back to the dorm completely overwhelmed, exhausted, but excited and thankful for such a positive day. Once back in the dorm, Lydia and I decided that the most logical way of processing the day’s overload of information would be to take a nap. SO, being the little freshman that we are, we curled up in our comfy beds and fell fast asleep.  After getting our beauty rest we buckled down and began the daunting task of reading our syllabi and mapping out our semester. Goodness gracious, I am certainly not in high school anymore. Praying that the Lord would keep my sights focused solely on Him and that my school work and stress of succeeding would never come before Him. HE is so good and deserves my full attention and praise.

Healing Is In HIS Hands... 

After a day of selfishly devoting my thoughts and prayers to my worries, stresses, and desires, my thoughts and prayers were refocused when I heard the news that some of my dear friends had been in a car accident. My precious little friend, Ally is at Children’s Hospital with life threatening injuries. Sweet Ally is so full of joy and love and has been such a tremendous blessing in my life. I am praying that the Lord would be the doctor’s hands and give them clarity and direction on how to best treat her. I know that HE is the ultimate Healer and has her in the palm of His righteous hand. All we can do is pray and TRUST that He will heal her. Please join me in praying for strength and healing as well as a sense of peace that transcends all understanding for her parents. Reality check. Life is precious and is taken for granted far too often. Rather than focusing on MYSELF as I walked from class to class, I should have taken that time to pray for the broken, lost, and unsaved peers I passed by and searched for opportunities to share the love, hope, and grace our amazing Lord offers. I don’t want to squander my life away by spending my time and energy on temporary things, but desire to live an intentional life giving glory to the Lord at all times. I have taken great comfort in knowing that HE is in control and have been reminded of Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

My prayer now, is not that I would have the most fun or be the most successful, but to live the most intentional and God-honoring life possible and seek opportunities to be a shining light to others and touch as many lives as possible. To HIM be the glory.

Calm(ish) Before the Storm

Oops I Did It Again…

In an effort to avoid getting lost on campus and not have FRESHMAN banners across our foreheads, we decided to explore campus and find our classes. After successfully finding each building, we parted ways to attend our “College Meetings.” I was told to go to the “Taylor Education Building” so naturally I put the address into my GPS and began my trek. After arriving at my “desired destination” I became aware of my surroundings and came to the realization that I was indeed NOT where I was supposed to be. Being the directionally challenged girl that I am, I quickly became frustrated that I had “done it again.” Since this was of course not the first time, I headed back in the direction I had come from praying I would have an idiot savant moment. Well…that moment didn’t come. After back tracking and aimlessly walking all over creation, an HOUR later, I finally stumbled upon (literally stumbled, as I tripped on stick walking up the drive and now have a perfectly round bruise on my toe) the education building- sweaty, frustrated, tired, and late.

After this traumatic (and now hilarious) adventure, I decided to map out my aimless walking in red and the direct pathway in blue just to show you how ridiculous this whole ordeal really was. I’ve convinced myself that the whole adventure was really just my desire to become acquainted with the campus and take Robert Frost’s advice by “taking the road less traveled by…” I’ve decided to become a campus tour guide and will be passing out business cards soon. Forget physical therapy, I have found my true calling...

Thankfully the College of Education staff were extremely kind and welcomed me with warm smiles and sympathetic head nods as I explained my dilemma. Laughter aside, I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to begin the journey towards my dreams and look forward to seeing where the Lord takes me. He has instilled in me a desire to love and bring joy to others so I am comforted in knowing that wherever He leads me, I will be able to serve and love His people. To HIM be the glory!

Lesson learned, campus explored, and accidental exercise complete!

We ended the night with Shift at CSF, a service completely focused on building relationships with freshman and having intentional time to meet, learn, and grow together. CSF has already been such a tremendous blessing and I look forward to the opportunities I will have to pursue my Prince and learn more about HIM as well as make unconditional and lasting friendships with my fellow brothers and sisters of Christ. We were also able to sign up for our “Shift Groups” where we will be studying “King’s Cross” by Tim Keller and growing closer to HIM as we grow closer to one another and fully embrace being Princesses of the King. I am so excited to see what doors GOD will open (thankfully I won’t have to) and will gladly and enthusiastically follow wherever He leads.

I Actually Have To Do School Work?...

I am armed and ready to truly begin my college experience with the start of this first semester. I am convinced that the Lord will work in and through me in amazing ways if I fully surrender myself to Him and glorify Him in everything I do. My goals for this semester are:

I would be blessed with countless opportunities to be a SHINING light for His glory

I would grow closer to the Lord and be intentional in my pursuit for Him

I would stay focused and motivated in all aspects of my life

I would serve others and be His hands and feet

I would build intentional and lasting friendships

I would create memories that would last a lifetime

I would maximize every opportunity I am blessed with and maintain a positive attitude

I would live a life pleasing to the Lord and inspiring for those around me

I would be successful in my academics

I would develop strong and effective study habits both in the Word and in my studies

 “Be strong and courageous. Do NOT be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” –Joshua 1:9

“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” –Matthew 6:34

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” -1 Peter 5:7

“I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.” –Philippians 4:13

“This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” –Psalm 118:24