14 Days of Love: Day 14

Well readers, today, as you must suspect, I love,

What a shocker,

LOVE.

So here's the thing; I could ramble on for hours about my love for love, but I actually have leaned something in these fourteen days: love is so much more than courtship and kissing. Love runs through everything we do: from school, to relationships, to friends, to how we spend our time. Love dwells in all aspects of life- it's something that we cannot leave behing or forget because it will always be surrounding us.

And the love that people posses for one another is powerful. I believe that true love will alter lives. And not just in the romantic sense. I can name numerous occasions when the love of  my best friend has helped me through tears of sorrow, or when love of a teacher has relieved the stress and anxiety of school, or when I glimpse a parent kneeling down next to their bed and I realize that they're probably praying for me. As humans, I believe that we have a natural tendency to love everyone around us; even if we believe that they have wronged us or that they are cruel we still, underneath all the negativity, have compassion, or love, for them.

That amazes me. It amazes me that a simple act of kindness can change your entire day around. It amazes me that love has the power to throw you into a state of something greater than happiness like pure bliss. It amazes me that love can endure through anything from fights, to broken hearts, and long distances. It amazes me that  little children have the greatest natural love for everyone. It amazes me that love knows no bounds.

I love that about love: no bounds.

So on this wonderful Valentine's Day, I love love.

Love always,
Ems

14 Days of Love: Day 12

Today, I love...

Two things. Sue me.

1. I love fancy dresses. Naomi and I were in a prom fashion show on Thursday and I LOVE my dress. I wan it so bad. Doesn't it look like Cinderella? It was super fun to wear it around for the night and twirl in it... yup.

2. I love running from Smart and Final to Hobby Lobby for stuco and stuffing everything into the back of my truck. The picture of Morgan and the popcorn and picture frame and the seriously hundreds of granola bars... yup, that was our afternoon yesterday. If only you could have seen us during the twenty minutes we struggled to get that stupid frame in! You would have been rofling because I most definitely was. Super embarrassing....

That is what I love today.

Love Always,
Ems

14 Days of Love: Day 11

Today, I love....

Cherishing this moment of my life.

Sometimes, I get overburdened with the thought of what's ahead. I stand on the precipice of life with my childhood and home life on the sturdy ground behind me and the vast expanse and fall into real, adult life ahead of me. And it's scary. Look back too long and I miss the sunset on the other side of the gorge. Look ahead to much, and I fall flat on my face and miss the fleeting moments that await me on the edge. Looking forward opens up questions that I don't even want to consider, and choices that I have to make but am not ready to. When I do this, I just can't handle it, and I have to take a step back, and enjoy my life as it is right no- which isn't easy. I always am looking forward to something or wishing I could change something, but life, well, it's life, and I can't change it. So today, I have decided that I need to cherish and love every day that I have remaining on the precipice because eventually, I have to descend and start the walk up the other side of the gorge to the rest of my life. I'm going to cherish the moments I have with people that I'll have to leave behing in late August. I'm going to love and adore my family with more vigilance. I'm going to make this last bit of life the best it can be- without any fear... {ok, maybe a little still}. Today, I love cherishing these moments that combine into the wonderful life that I live, and love.

Love Always,
Ems

14 Days of Love: Day 10

Today, I love

Morgan Ray Davis.

It is her 18th birthday today. (I've decided February is the most popular birthing month- awkward sentence much? I think so...) Anyway, she is definitely the my best friend in every sense of the word and she she gets an awesome post.

Here are the top ten Reasons why I love Morgan:
1. Morgan doesn't mind that I'm possibly the most awkward person in the history of awkward land. No, I'm serious here. I really am the awkwardest person: like the whole refriderator shannanigin... it was bad. Anyway...
2. Morgan like to go shopping with me. Last Chance or Hobby Lobby, it doesn't matter. We just like to shop Emma and Morgan style: too long in one store equals unhappy Morgan and Emma.
3. Morgan sleeps over with me on the weekdays- it's awesome.
4. Morgan is seriously funny. I pretty much pee my pants every time I'm with her because she's so dang funny. I love it.
5. Morgan and I love California equally. We would jump in a car and drive there in an instant if we could. I'm not even kidding.
6. Morgan lets me borrow cloths. Our closets are semi-interchangable. Only semi because we don't live in the same place... that'll change next year.
7. Morgan has always been there for me. Even though we hit some SUPER rough patches in our friendship, we were able to become best friends instantly once we started hanging out again.
8. Morgan is super smart. Like really, she's always been smart (she could read before me- yes, I remember) and she hasn't stopped loving school and learning and it taking AP CALC! That deserves mega respect in my book.
9. Morgan is pretty much the sister that I never had, and we both belong to each other's families- we can interchange which parents we want. It's nbd.
10. Morgan is the most caring and loving person I know. She has listened to al my rants and "But I like Him!"s and everything in between. I know that I can always count on her to be there for me- even after a few years apart.

I'm so incredibly grateful for Morgan in my life. A girl could not ask for a better best friend and I cannot wait for all the crazy experiences we are going to have up at BYU. It's going to be so incredibly fun and wonderful.

I love you, Morgan!

Love Always,
Ems

14 Days of Love: Day 9

Today, I love

Dahlya Glick.

First of all, this girl is seriously funny. Go read her blog and you will understand. Plus, she is super fabulous! I'm so glad that we've been able to work in stuco together for the past two years and I'm especially glad we got to MC the talent show together... even if I did completely embarrass myself by doing an obscene gesture on stage. In my defense, I didn't know what I was doing! Anyway... Dahlya is an amazingly talented and determined girl- she applied to TWELVE schools this year! Or maybe it was sixteen... I just remember it was a heck of a crazy lot of schools! And she's been doing auditions at all of these schools, plus speech and debate, plus student council! Crazy much? I think so. And miraculously, she has kept her sanity... at least partially. And yup, she's just super fabulous.  I love her, obviously.

Love Always,
Ems

and p.s. I also really am loving New Kids on the Block today. NBD.

14 Days of Love: Day 8

Today, I love....

The Stage.

Here's a little know fact about me: I really love performing and acting and speaking in front of a lot of people. You see, today, we had our school talent show and I happened to be an MC with one of my best stuco friends, Dahlya. First off, she is so crazy funny, but that is all for another day... Anyway, so we got to do all the corny mc jokes that don't really make people laugh but just take up time for stage crew to do their job and etc. But as we were getting ready for the show, we walked back and forth the empty stage a few times and my heart just soaked it all in. I wanted to dance across the stage, or return to my glory days of playing Puck in A Midsummer's Night Dream or sing Wicked to my heart's content... but I didn't get to. More than likely, I'll never reach my life ling dream of being on the stage because although I love it, I'm not the best actress or singer or dancer. So, I'll be content with my love for the empty stage and the full audience and just continue to dream.

Love Always,
Ems

14 Days of Love: Day 7

Today, I love...

...Student Council.

Yes, I sometimes LOATH it with all my heart and just rant on and on about it but in all honesty, I adore it. Those 21 kids have become some of my dearest friends. We all get along and we all know how to party and yes, we all fight, but in the end, we all love each other like family. That's what's really important in high school: Having people who are like family to you. Stuco is my family and I'm so very glad Haley convinced me to stick around this year after I lost elections.

Love Always,
Ems

p.s. please notice Drew in the background of this picture putting up the last string of lanters because it makes my day.

14 Days of Love: Day 6

Today, I love....
 

Becca Udall.

Today is her birthday- the big One-Eight. As I was sitting in church, I was thinking about how much I absolutely adore her. Really, I do. And the funny thing is, we used to not even be friends. When she first moved into my ward in third grade she was a brat- just ask her and she'll agree- but over the years we've become super close and I'm so grateful for her in my life.

So, without further explanation, here are the top ten reasons why I love Becca:

1. Becca is a free spirit: she loves to go on adventures without any objective behind them and no matter what, you know it will be a good time.
2. Becca shares my passion for world travel: The last two pictures are from our trip to Greece in 2009 and it was probably one of the most memorable trips ever. I hope we get to enjoy Germany and Austria this summer.
3. The amount of compassion she posses is amazing. She loves everyone and wants them to be happy no matter what her own circumstances may be.
4. Art is a very natural talent for Becca. She is so creative and has such a passion for the beauty of art.
5. Becca puts her heart and soul into everything she does. She is a sports medicine trainer at our high school and puts in so many hours at school helping out the athletes because she puts everything she has into being the best trainer she can possibly be.
6. Becca is intelligent. She doesn't play up the dumb girl act: She knows what she's talking about and isn't going to be pushed around by men who think they know more than her.
7. Becca is independent. She can stand on her own no matter the circumstance. She will always defend her beliefs which is a trait I greatly admire in her.
8.  Becca is a book-o-holic. In fact, funny story: One time we were sitting at mutual talking with all the girls and somebody brought up Pretty Little Liars. All the girls got in a huge fit and started chattering away and I turn to Becca (because we're the only girls in our ward who don't watch it) and she has about the same look I'm wearing: "Really?" We  both laugh and then Becca asks, "Well, have you read any good books recently?" And we talked about all the books we were reading. We're such nerds in that way.
9. Gorgeous. One way to describe her. But she's not vain about it, so no worries.
10. I know I will always be able to count on Becca as a friend. She will be there for me no matter what and I hope that I can return half the friendship she has given to me.

And that is why I love Becca.

Love Always,
Ems

14 Days of Love: Day 5

Today, I love...

Yup. Water Heaters.

Would you like to know why I love water heaters today? Because ours died. And now we only have cold water... and it's making it very hard to get myself to go take a shower. So, be grateful your water heater is working because cold showers are not awesome during the coldest days of the year {ie this past week...}. As for now, I am going to go uh.... survive... my cold shower.

Love Always,
Ems

14 Days of Love: Day 4

On this fabulous Fourth day of February, I love...

The Girl right in front...

Alexandra Crandall.

Today, being her birthday, it is only natural that I love her. Here are the top ten reasons why:
1. Alex loves to go get ice cream, and watch chick flick after chick flick. Girls need a friend like that.
2. Alex is the most amazing dancer- I'm so glad she's continued dance through high school so that I can still enjoy my favorite art form.
3. Her piano skills are madness. Seriously, you have to see it to believe it.
4. She has a youtube video! Click here to see it. Having a friend on youtube makes me feel five zillion times cooler.
5. Alex was converted to the love of Jane Austen: I love all Jane Austen converts.
6. She will always listen to my crazy boy stories. And she gives me advice which I should follow but normally don't...
7. When I don't, she's still right there for me, helping me through and making me feel loved.
8. She and I are book exchangers which = awesomeness.
9. Alex teaches me a lot about life... which is something I need in my little mesa bubble.
10. Alex is a best friend that I will forever cherish.

And that is why I love Alexandra. So, Happy Birthday to her! :)

Love Always,
Ems

14 Days of Love: Day 3

Today, I love...

...Cupcakes.

I made some cupcakes tonight with some help from Mr. Zac Velarde... well, I guess that's depending on your definition of help.... he mainly helped by smearing the batter on my face... But he did do the dishes! So that counts for something. Anyway, I believe that cupcakes are a little slice of happiness. You cannot be upset whilst eating a cupcake. It's impossible, I'm sure of it. I even wrote my biographical sketch for college on making and sharing cupcakes.... I seriously love them that much. So next time you're down, give me a ring and I'll make you a cupcake. Pinkie Promise.

Love Always,
Ems

14 Days of Love: Day 2

Today, I love

Sara Bareilles.

I put her cd in the other day, as in yesterday, and it's made me happy whenever I drive somewhere. Especially since it brings back wonderful memories of her concert  {Why yes, I did in fact take the above picture.} All the girls {minus becca :(} went to her concert in Tempe at the beginning of the year and we had a seriously good time.

I love how talented Sara is and how true her songs are. Excuse the oddness of this comment, but her songs are pretty much raw emotion. And they're fabulous to sing to at the top of your lungs. I also love that my little brother likes her: I love when he and I like the same music, it's like a secret bond we share that nobody else can share.

Anyways,

Today, I love Sara Bareilles.

Love Always,
Ems

p.s. what is up with the freezingness that is currently Arizona? Somebody save me: I was wearing shorts on Saturday and now I can't walk outside without dying.

Something New.

Seeing as it is February, the beautiful month of...

I have decided to do the 14 days of love. Similar to the 12 days of Christmas but cooler and not overdone. Plus, I feel like I came up with this idea {even though I'm well aware I probably did not, don't tell me}.



So today, I can't decide what I love. Because there were a lot of wonderful things.

But I finally decided that I love this kid:

Zachary William Jarvis.

You see, Zack and I are kindred spirits: seriously. And he is one of my very best friends. I'm pretty sure I would not be half the person I am without him and I am super thankful for him. Zack has always been there for me and puts up with me even when all I want to do is be mad at him till 2 a.m.  Now that, my friends, is dedication. Why does he do it? I have no idea. I'm pretty sure the treats have something to do with it, but I also like to think that he actually values our friendship as well. And I know he does. I do plan on staying friends with him for a very long time.

So today, I love Zachary William Jarvis.

Who do you love on this first day of February?

Love Always,
Ems