For the Beauty.

As I've spent numerous hours in churches, I've grown a great love for the way in which the catholic church makes their houses of worship. These churches are incredible. Each church I walk into, I reflect on how it portrays the beauty of religion and the devotion of the people. Many of the great churches we've visited took decades, if not a century, to build.

We were able to visit Chartres last weekend, and it was magnificent. We had a tour from the man who wrote the book (quite literally) on Chartres Cathedral: Malcom Miller.  He explained to us many of the stained glass windows, as well bestowing some facts about the various fires Chartres survived, and the competition between Chartres and Notre Dame de Paris.

After enjoying the beauty of Chartres Cathedral, we had some free time to wander the town of Chartres and we stumbled upon the most beautiful church- Église Saint-Aignan. We weren't completely sure we could go, but since the doors were open, we decided to head on in. In Alex's words, "I'm really glad we're go-inners."

 

One thing I've come to appreciate while walking through these churches is the Catholic practice of saints. Saints usually illude my religious understanding, but as I've sat in the chapels built to different saints, I've come to understand the comfort in saints. While Jesus Christ suffered for the entirety of our existence, these saints experienced specific things, or did specific things, that we can relate to. It's hard for me to explain in which ways I understand prayers to saints, but the more I see candles lit for saints, the more I understand the practice. 

I love the opportunity to visit these beautiful places of worship and to reflect upon God nearly every day in an awe-inspiring church. The craftsmanship of each building is astounding, and while none of these buildings are where I worship, I cannot deny the presence of God in each of them. I believe that any building built with such devotion to God will welcome God's spirit and touch your heart. 

Love always,

Ems

Plans and Dreams Crashing.

We all make plans, right? And most of the time, the small plans work. Sometimes, the big plans work, and sometimes they don't. In fact, I feel like most of the time, the big plans don't pan out the way I envisioned things.

Coming home after a semester of college, I sat on my floor and thought. I just sat, and I thought. I looked at the pictures of graduation scrolling across my screensaver and I went back to that blissful night in May. I still feel like I can remember the exact thoughts and plans I had. I could see the future ahead of me and it was bright and glorious. It was filled with lots of dates, and lots of close, new girlfriends. It was filled with lots of studying, and lots of good grades. It was filled with the moment of sitting on my floor back at home after the first semester and being absolutely content with life.

And yet, tonight, I sat, and I thought, and really, none of those things happened. Not a single one. How did that work out? Well, I can go back and point to a few things. But overall, it's just kinda... life.

Here's the funny thing about life and plans and dreams. They all crash together and end up in one huge mess on our lap. They 're not like airplanes. They don't listen to you when you're directing them from the tower. They don't even land in the right place most of the time. They just fly around, carrying all your precious things in them, and they don't care what you have to say. They don't care if you have a dream that needs to be fulfilled by Christmas because gosh darn, if that dream wants to arrive next christmas or even, well hey, NEVER, it's going to arrive then. If it decides to show up.

I have lots of dreams and plans. I think they're all currently crashing in the air, but somehow, God will be able to sort them all out and send me the ones I need and really want. And isn't that something to be grateful for? Eventually, everything will all just work out, because that's what happens in life- things work out.

Love always,
Ems

Growing Up.

Our good friend, Blake Savage was called to serve in the Chili, Concepcion mission today.

Slowly summer is drifting by and adulthood is commencing.
The moment I've anticipated is looking more and more uncertain
as I realize all that it entitles.

Saying goodbye to home as a place that I reside in
and saying hello to it as a place I visit.

Seeing boys off who have been so wonderful to me,
and remembering the hours spent talking late at night,
texting an unfinished story back and forth, and asking if they know what love is.

Perhaps, for myself, discovering that, "to die for love? what could be more glorious?"
is a real concept that still exists today
and maybe finding a boy who feels the same.

I suspect that life will be frustrating,
but magnificent and full of happiness
and the same old contradiction it's always been.

I'm expecting to see changes in myself,
and in others,
that I thought would never come.

And I know,
that no matter how hard I try,
things will never be the same.

And that's all right by me,
for life is a glorious story,
that I can't wait to have told.

Love always,
Ems

Oh the things you learn! :)

So, I've decided that most certainly, you learn something new everyday! Just in case any one else out there hasn't figured it out yet... I know I just barley did {don't judge... I'm a slow learner}. Here is a list of things I've learned recently!

1. How to spell 'defiantly'! Yes, it's probably the most difficult world in the whole entire world to spell!!! I probably spelt it defientely for like... my entire life. Ya, go through, read my blog, you'll see it spelt wrong about a bazillion times, promise. nbd. But hey! I know how to spell it now! Thank goodness for spell check and might mouses that work! :)

2. Boys can actually be super dang cute! remember when I said boys are stupid? Ya, take that back in full totality! They have their super adorable moments and I gobble them up. :) like in this moment :
3. Parents act like children when they do not have children to attend to! In example: my parents were in NYC all last week and it's fall, right? right. So they {as in NYC city worker dudes} are sweeping up the leaves in Central Park and as my parents walk through on their way home from Wicked my dad decides to jump in one of the big piles.... ya, not even kidding. My mom got video of it. Probably, I peed my pants it was so funny. That's my dad for you!

4. It hurts to part your hair on the other side if you have a huge callick... I don't advise it. at all. But maybe I just have weak sauce head... who knows. But it sure hurt me today!

5. Lastly, it's freakin hard to do RACKs! Like, no joke! I think about it on the way to school but get caught up in school and ALWAYS forget. Geesh! Recommitment, now... okay, done. :)

There are just a few things I have learned! :) Today was a fantabulous day filled with LOTS of skype :), cookies, cleaning, and singing multitudes of songs to my empty house {well, seffers was here but he's pretty much a ghost... he never talks to me! haha} Also, Mr. R answered me to Winter Formal! In such a cute way! He wrote this note:

Emma K. Barton, {did you know I love it when people put in my middle name/initial??}
I am happy you decided to 'Think of Me' to ask to the dance. It will truly be a 'Masquerade'. My answer is of course, yes, however, 'All I ask of You', my 'Angel of Music', is that we have the best time ever dancing away to 'The Music of the Night'. And now that I've answered you, you've passed 'The Point of No Return' so I hope you truly wanted to go with me.
R.K.
{just in case you were having trouble connecting the song names. :)}

He printed it on fancy paper and then sealed it with wax and left the book of violin music along with two red roses tied with black ribbon on my porch. I was so very happy! And it was especially wonderful because Phantom is like, 'Our Thing'. We both love it to death and not even kidding, he knows EVERY song! oh my, it is so very funny to watch that movie with him mouthing every single thing! :) I cannot wait for the dance :)... now it's dress shopping time! Whoopie! :)

I've decided that probably I should go to sleep... And probably I should stop blogging at one a.m... I dunno... it might help with the sleep deprovation... possibly! :) Goodnight all! I love you tons!

Love Always,
Ems