Etsy, Etsy, Etsy

I love to sew. And I also love kid's clothes, and color-coordinating, and fashion in general. Sooooo, recently I decided that as soon as I get a real job (like Subway, Starbucks, etc.) with a reasonable income I would start my own Etsy shop (or "Children's Boutique"). Sometime this summer, my Mom was saying I should read this book by Martha Stewart about starting your own business. I'll probably make mostly girl clothing, simply because well I'm a girl and a frilly one at that, but I'll try to make some cute boy's stuff too. I want to get most of my fabric from Warm Biscuit (see link to the right) and set up my sewing machine and other tools on my (HUGE and comfortable) desk. I'm SO excited! Above is the banner I designed. I really like the name. It seems to wrap up my desired style quite nicely. Wish me luck(:

xo Em

What Ensues when Emma Goes to Camp.

This was a VERY encouraging, convicting, exhausting, amazing week. I grew and stretched in my knowledge, respect, and love for the Lord more than I could have hoped for.

Summer camp is extremely fun, the games are awesome, and the performances we do at the end (normally we do a lip sync, but we had one less day to practice for it, so they ended up cutting it halfway through camp and replacing it with a variety show..which turned out just as fun!).

But that's not the main reason I go. They pack so much teaching into those 5 days and that teaching is packed. You'd be surprised at what that can do. It's easier to "ignore" sin when you're going about your day and doing things that don't directly involve God. But when you're at camp, it's constantly up in your face. It's such a great thing...it may not "feel" great, but it really is.

This week, our speaker talked about death, and also dying to yourself and the death of sin. He talked about God commands us to "take up our cross and follow him daily". This means to put to death the things of the world (Romans 12:2) and follow His commands, which the world does not do. He also talked about putting sin to death, and quoted John Owen saying "You need to be killing sin or it will be killing you!" That's so true! During one of our TAGs (Time Alone with God), I read about how you need to stop running towards Christ in order to sin. This encouraged me to stop sinning, because there is greater satisfaction in God then in sinful pleasures.

And I can safely say that sitting around a bonfire with your brothers and sisters in Christ, sharing testimonies, and singing God of Wonders beats partying and getting drunk by a mile; no, by an uncountable number of miles. Thank You Lord, thank You.

Another thing I learned at camp, was that the devil knows of my anxiety problems and also, he would do whatever he could to make me NOT want to be at Camp. He HATES me being there...he hates us ALL being there! Growing in God, singing praises, and fellowship? The devil would do whatever he could to yank us away. I realized this with the help of one of my leaders, when I was starting to have a breakdown. It was a great lesson...I will always remember it.

Anyway, I'm exhausted (sleep deprivation, no good!) even though I slept for a good 10 hours last night. :P But happy, too. I'm so happy and thankful for God's presence in my life.

Now, where's Summer Camp 2011? xP

Other pictures from camp:

We have Theme Nights at camp, where we get points for dressing up on certain nights. Me and one of my closest friends, Liz, dressed up as made-up superheroes "Toothpaste Girl and The Cavity"! It was too fun!

Me and my friend, Alex, were Wilbur and Fern from Charlotte's Web on Country Night. Fun!


I was on Green Team, the "Green Berets". Ha!

And, a video to give you a taste of Summer Camp.



Wow, what a week.

Lastly...please read these lyrics. This was, what I thought, our camp theme song. The lyrics really convict me, and make me want to worship God that much more. So beautiful.

I once was lost in darkest night
Yet thought I knew the way
The sin that promised joy and life
Had led me to the grave
I had no hope that You would own
A rebel to Your will
And if You had not loved me first
I would refuse You still

But as I ran my hell-bound race
Indifferent to the cost
You looked upon my helpless state
And led me to the cross
And I beheld God’s love displayed
You suffered in my place
You bore the wrath reserved for me
Now all I know is grace

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life

Now, Lord, I would be Yours alone
And live so all might see
The strength to follow Your commands
Could never come from me
Oh Father, use my ransomed life
In any way You choose
And let my song forever be
My only boast is You

Hallelujah! All I have is Christ
Hallelujah! Jesus is my life.

xoxo Emma

Summer Camp 2010

Tomorrow is the day I have been waiting for since last summer. SUMMER CAMP! I am getting up at 4 (!) a.m. to go to the church and leave for Roach (LOL, I know, I know...) Missouri and driving 8 1/2 hours (on Coach buses! Alright!) to camp! I am just SO excited!

The above is some of the verses we get points for memorizing and reciting to our leaders. I hope I can do it!

Love you all! MUAH!