Best Friend.

Today, I spent the day with my best friend.
We made dinner.
He made the toast
and I made the ravioli.
Then we ate it- with my little brother.
{Anticlimactic,  I know}

Anyway, here's the thing with my best friend.
He really is my best friend.
Yes, I have girlfriends and I've had boyfriends but through
the ups and downs, the happiness and sadness,
he's always been there.
Sometimes he sticks me in my place by making me realize I'm overreacting,
and sometimes I seriously can't stand him
so sometimes we don't talk...
But as he best said today,
"It's always resolved by the end of the night."
And it always is because he'll stay up till
two am making sure that everything is ok between us.

The people in my life are the most amazing people on earth.
I really am blessed by who surrounds me because in all honesty,
I have about ten friends I could say this about and it'd be true.
And I don't think that's common...
But I'm glad I can say that because the world is a much better place
when you have a best friend to share it with.

Love always,
Ems

Bliss.

Life has brought upon itself a whole new meaning just by continuing on.
In a chat with a dear friend last night, we discussed the beauty of the world.
With Easter on the mind, beauty easily appeared in everything.
We talked of the beauty of this planet,
and how it is the simplest, yet greatest, sign of God's love for his children.
We talked of how it's hard to forgive people and love everyone
and decided that the struggle of getting over your own pride and forgiving is worth the joy that you feel when you really truly love those who surround you- no matter how they differ from you.

As I walked through my day, I was able to enjoy every minute of it.
I enjoyed helping my peers on math problems.
I enjoyed reading kind notes of appreciation to teachers.
I enjoyed the sweet sounds of symphony.
I enjoyed coloring in English class.
I enjoyed teaching all 86 members of my choir
But mostly, I enjoyed escaping to seminary and driving home singing EFY songs.

The beauty of the day was so plentiful.
What a blessing spring is- the Earth just breaths of goodness and rejuvenation.
It defines my bliss.

Love always,
Ems

Sunday Thought.

"My thanks to all you wonderful members of the Church—and legions of good people not of our faith—for proving every day of your life that the pure love of Christ “never faileth.” ⁴ No one of you is insignificant, in part because you make the gospel of Jesus Christ what it is—a living reminder of His grace and mercy, a private but powerful manifestation in small villages and large cities of the good He did and the life He gave bringing peace and salvation to other people. We are honored beyond expression to be counted one with you in such a sacred cause."

-Jeffrey R. Holland


I hope that on this Easter day we can all remember our Savior, Jesus Christ, and live in emulation of him by being the greatest example of him through charity, servie, hope, and faith.


He lives.

Love always,

Ems

This is the Story of a Girl....

Named Naomi.

Or, in my world, Namoi.

 I seriously think I peed my pants when I saw the picture above...

Once upon a time, two girls sat next to each other in a choir of about oh... 84 people. The choir was being voiced and one of the girls asked the other girl why there was a pencil in the clock (the girl is blond, forgive her for her weird/awkward/ridiculous/stupid comments and/or questions.)

The other girl looked at her and said, "I think it's just the wall reflecting onto the silver thingy at the bottom of the clock...."

And so, a friendship was born.

You see, the girl who clarified that there indeed was no "magic pencil" in the bottom of the clock turned out to be the blond's practical soul mate (practical? yes. I don't know why- but yes.) They created a fan club in choir, and got "the look" for talking, and discussed things boys.

They realized that their lives were so very similar and that they would always love certain things. They traveled to San Francisco and went to crafting stores and rode around town with the top of the mustang down.

They played in fake rain, they played in real rain, they talked of kissing Mr. Yup-That's-Who in the rain, and of marrying Mr. He's-The-One in the future. They went to the temple monthly and tried to remember their journals every time.

They ran around town in Ruckah. They ran around town in Roxanne. They learned that Ruckah does not do well on the freeway. They also learned that maybe Roxanne should just take them places most of the time.

They deiced to choreograph 86 people to Michael Jackson. They sometimes regretted that. They mostly loved it though. They laughed at Michael Jackson in Slow Motion. They ended choreography sessions with Root Beer Floats and singing songs to strangers at the top of their lungs.

But mostly, they loved each other as best friends do. They realized that no matter what, they would always be friends and always love that "certain someone".

They learned that life is about the little moments.

They learned to cherish those moments in every way possible.

---------------------------------------------

Happy birthday, my friend. Life would not be the same without you.

I love you to the moon and back and then to Michael Jackson's grave.
And that's a whole heck of a lot.

Love always,
Ems

Ten Things I Know You Don't Need {want?} to Know.

{yes, this I've posted this picture a thousand times but FB dislikes me and won't allow me to steal another one so... I'm stuck with this one. Plus, it's adorable.}

Here, learn ten things about me.... GO!

1. What did you do ten years ago?

I was definitely in Ms. Pesek's second grade class with that girl above, Morgan. We probably were busy with about eight million hours of dance as Jeanne's Power Force Dancers and our soccer team, the purple dolphins. Along with spending all the other hours of the day at the home of the third essential to our trio, Jessika Bodrero. And I may have been taking piano lessons from piano Paul... But that's a different story.

2. What were you doing one year ago?

Went back and read my journal... and a year ago, I had just broken up with Ryan. Don't know how to follow that one up so it'll stand as is. haha

3. Five snacks you love...

Chocolate Chip Cookies, Apples, M&Ms, Oh's, and...... Slushes. Yup.

4. Five Songs you know all the words to....

This is embarrassing. Belle (opening song to Beauty and the Beast), A Whole New World, Just Haven't Met You Yet (slash all MB songs...), When Will My Life Begin (from Tangled) and Can't Wait to See You Again (yes, by Miley Cyrus). Moving on....

5. Five Things you would do with a Million Bucks.

Open my bakery (em's) in Northern California. Travel across Europe with my best friend. Fly everyone to Scotland for my reception. Have a dream Kitchen. Hire people to clean my toilets and tubs and baseboards and fans for he rest of my life ( I was only going to say toilets and tubs but the list of chores I dislike kept growing...)

6. Five Bad Habits....

Blogging instead of Homework. Reading too much too late. Watching Starting movies at one a.m. Excessive hand movements while speaking. Being Ignorant of the ways of the world (aka talent show moments)

7. Five Things You Like to do...

Be a Beach Bum. Ride my Bike. Read. Write Poetry. Spend hours with my family and friends.

8. Five Things You Would Never Dress in or Buy...

Jeggings. Cow Print. Snake Pants. Heels higher than 3 inches. Wonder Woman Get-up.

9. Five Favorite Toys.

My books (Does that even count?). My laptop. My piano. My brother's mustang. Roxanne (my truck).

10. Five people you tag... No pressure.

Haylee, Morgan, Alisha, Lauren, and Karli.

Love always,

Ems

p.s no editing went into this so... sorry. 

Sunday Thought.

When we speak of those who are instruments in the hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods. Some of them gave birth to us, and in my case, one of them consented to marry me. Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelicis the only word that comes to mind.

-Elder Jeffery R. Holland

Love always,

Ems

HP Madness.

I don't know if anyone else has noticed.... But Tumblr is having a Harry Potter Frenzy... and It's making me have a frenzy. I'm dying for some Harry Potter. Here are some of my favorites that I snagged off various tumblrs....

Holy crap. I need to read the books now. In fact, I think I'm going to go do that.... again. Is anybody as excited as I am for the last movie? I cannot wait.

Long Live Harry Potter.

Love always,

Ems

The Perky Hello.

Today, I walked past this random kid during class. I smiled, said, "Hello!" and was greeted with a gigantic smile and equally as cheerful, "Hello!"

As I finished waking to my destination, I though of what a perky meeting that had been. I have no idea who he is, but it made my day that he and I had the same happy face as we walked to wherever we were going. And then I saw him after school, and it brought a smile to my face, yet again.

 I tried to have that same happy greeting with the other random people I walked past after school and I got coldly walked pass oh... every time. I guess everyone isn't as open to hellos... But change comes in small steps, right?

Give a perky hello to a stranger for me, will ya?

Love Always,
Ems

Sunday Thought.

"Let your families be filled with love as you honor the Sabbath all day long and experience its spiritual blessings throughout the week."

-L. Tom Perry

I do love Sundays and the blessings that keeping the Sabbath day holy brings throughout the week.

What a beautiful and simple gospel this is.

Love Always,

Ems

Life is Good.

Ordinary Life

-Barbara Crooker

This was a day when nothing happened,
the children went off to school
without a murmur, remembering
their books, lunches, gloves.
All morning, the baby and I built block stacks
in the squares of light on the floor.
And lunch blended into naptime,
I cleaned out kitchen cupboards,
one of those jobs that never gets done,
then sat in a circle of sunlight
and drank ginger tea,
watched the birds at the feeder
jostle over lunch's little scraps.
A pheasant strutted from the hedgerow,
preened and flashed his jeweled head.
Now a chicken roasts in the pan,
and the children return,
the murmur of their stories dappling the air.
I peel carrots and potatoes without paring my thumb.
We listen together for your wheels on the drive.
Grace before bread.
And at the table, actual conversation,
no bickering or pokes.
And then, the drift into homework.
The baby goes to his cars, drives them
along the sofa's ridges and hills.
Leaning by the counter, we steal a long slow kiss,
tasting of coffee and cream.
The chicken's diminished to skin & skeleton,
the moon to a comma, a sliver of white,
but this has been a day of grace
in the dead of winter,
the hard cold knuckle of the year,
a day that unwrapped itself
like an unexpected gift,
and the stars turn on,
order themselves
into the winter night.

---

I hope that someday I can write about how beautiful my ordinary life was in such breathtaking words. 

Because really, 

ordinary life is wonderful.

You just have to look at it that way.

Life is good.

Love always,

Ems

A Dress Haiku

Pure happiness: The dress
Unique jem, vintage beauty
And here it is: mine.

Yes, I just wrote a crappy haiku about finding my prom dress because let me tell you,
I have never had a more perfect dress.
I want prom to be next weekend.
My best friend, Zack Jarvis, will be the perfect date and I'll be clad in the dress of my dreams- literally.

Totally Cheesy?

Yes.

But that's how my happiness comes out.

Love Always,
Ems

Happiness.

Do you ever look at life and realize that you're blessed?
Realizing that really, you don't have it all that bad because
your best friend, the family next door, or that kid you met last year,
is going through life with a smile on their face but a darker battle underneath.
Sometimes, I forget to look to all that is beautiful in my life-
not just the immensely beautiful things like family, and the gospel, but the little things
like the singing birds, and the dazzling sun that fills my body with warmth the
moment our paths cross.

Joy, I have found, cannot always be found in the same place.
Families aren't always perfect, and the gospel blesses, but it also tries
in ways that, quite simply, are tough to endure.
However, I know that life was meant for us to find joy,
and even though I sometimes have to escape into that joy
through poetry or books, I know that I can always find glimpses
of it somewhere because God intended me to be happy.
Happiness isn't always easy, and sometimes it slips away all
too quickly, but it's always hidden somewhere in life.
You just might need to prepare for a bit of a dig, because it,
like all good treasure, may be buried deep.

Love Always,
Ems

To a Friend, from a Friend.

Two simple words,
that's all I needed.
The proof, that you,
like I, were struggling.

"I'm struggling." Why,
So am I, but do you understand
the strength your words lent?

I knew I could do right
because you showed me I could.
I had your faith, and we both knew,
that I knew what  had to be done.

And so, I thank you with sincere
gratitude of everything I am.
Because, I, like you,
am struggling too.

----

My best friend is one of the greatest blessings I have.

Love Always,
Ems