Reminisce with me!

As the year 2012 comes to a close, I thought it only necessary that I write a few thoughts on what the past year held for my life and in the lives of those I love. It's safe to say that this year was unlike any other in the lives of those who surround me, as well as for my own, in that it brought many changes and experiences that were only for the better. Personally, I found 2012 to be one of the most challenging years mentally and emotionally. Each and every experience brought with it a new insight into what it looks like to grow up and discover who I was made to be, without comparison to anyone else.

With many exciting adventures that carry beautiful memories with them, I cannot look back on the year 2012 without thankfulness in my heart. In this blog I am including pictures of my top 10 most memorable and precious moments from the past year.
Enjoy them and remember from Cummings' quote above that I am simply a young woman who is growing up, reaching for the courage to discover who I really am.


Number 10:
Becoming a big sister for the first time :)

I love my Little, Caitlin SO much! You are such a blessing to be able to mentor and love on in Pi Phi! You are a gift that the Lord gave me by granting me a little sister for the first time, and I am always so blessed by your beauty, kindness, and sweet spirit.

Big-Little Reveal Day!

HOWDY!

Firedance!

Number 9:

Being in a great church where I am blessed to teach children's music every week!

Some of my precious kids in the children's choir with their musical Christmas tree art projects!

Number 8:

Making new friends in all places.

Incredible Holly and I at the Opera in Paris!

My stud Firedance date, Sean!!

My spiritual encourager and comic relief, Kyndall :)

Number 7:
Living with 3 of the most amazing, hysterical, and beautiful roomies I could ever ask for!

BME House roomie love forever!!!

 Number 6:
Celebrating the long-awaited marriage of my brother, Justin and my new sister-in-law, Abby!

The Bride and Groom :)

The Bride and Bridal Party

The stunning reception tables

Number 5:
Living a ridiculously crazy and beautiful life with my fellow Pi Phi Angels 0:)

Sing 2012-"Mad as a Hatter"

Firedance 2012

Number 4:
Spending quality time with my amazing family, who have had many changes happen throughout the year. One of these changes has been the blessing of my niece, Quinn who has definitely been spoiled by all of us most of the year :)

All together for Quinn's dedication!

Quinn's first trip to the swimming pool this summer!

Auntie Em and Quinn on Christmas Eve

Quinn's First Birthday Party!

Number 3:
Loving my choir family at Baylor with each and every moment we are able to share together.

In front of Independence Hall. (Jonathan and Blake may be making a vulgar gesture?) :)

The girls before our Fall concert!

After seeing Anything Goes in NYC!

Some of us exploring this campus while on choir tour!

Number 2:
Being able to do life with some of the most incredible friends in the entire world!!

Seeing Kristen Chenoweth perform in Dallas!

What happens when ZLAM and PPL meet :)

At the beach in Galveston!

Meeting the Swingle Singers! It was literally a choir nerd's dream!

Cheering on our Bears at a football game!

One of the best guys I could be blessed to be friends with!

Because this picture is worth too much not to include.....

.......and finally........

Number 1:
Experiencing the most incredible trip abroad to live in Paris for a month! Not only that, but I got to experience it with my best friend, Erin. No doubt this is something that I will never forget, and it allowed me to appreciate the things I have here in America, while giving me so much insight into how other people in this world live. I think about this trip everyday and I long for the day when I can return back to it. Until then, some of these pictures will have to suffice :)

What a joy it was to spend time with these girls!

They made the experience SO incredible!

An outing in London!

The Opera Garnier literally took my breath away....

The entire study abroad group atop a Chateau in the Loire Valley!

Me and Erin in front of Sacre-Coeur!

Nothing says Paris more than La Tour Eiffel

We really liked jumping pictures :)

An incredible piece of history and architecture.

Giggling at Holly in the gardens at Versailles :)

As I scroll through all of these pictures I am overwhelmed once again by the amount of joy and goodness that the Lord has blessed me with this year. It is hard to imagine how anything could top the experiences I was given in 2012, but I am certain that it is just the beginning of the many incredible things yet to come in my adult life.
I am also certain that in each instance of 2012 I was able to come closer to attaining courage in understanding the person that I am made to be; and that alone is a beautiful, beautiful thing.
:)

Until 2013,
Emily

Eat Right, Be Bright

As many of you know (who know me best), healthy eating and exercise have not always had the best relationships with me. I now love eating healthy foods, and I do feel great after having finished a killer workout, but I've decided to take another step in a better physical direction by trying something out that I never thought I could handle before.

The Whole 30: It is technically not a diet, but a changing of eating habits to essentially clean out your system and body of relying on things such as sugars, carbs, and processed foods. (You know, all of the things that taste so amazing...) A lot of people who know this see it as resembling the Paleo diet, except that the Whole 30 requires a shorter amount of time. I have done a lot of research and after weighing my options I have decided to take a leap of faith and try it! The Whole 30 lasts for 30 days and includes a pretty extensive list of things which you cannot eat. (I'm trying to look at it in the more positive way of what I can eat, which will actually be better and more proactive than thinking of what I am restricting myself from.)
The list of "do not eat" items is extensive, but in summary includes:
 -Dairy products
-Sugar, artificial sweeteners (includes Splenda, Truvia, Stevia, Agave, Maple and Honey)
-Wheat products and grains (oats, wheat flour, rice, etc.)
-White potatoes
-Alcohol (not a problem for me, since I'm not yet 21)
-Legumes (beans of all kinds, except for green beans, snow peas, and snap peas)
-Carageenan, MSG or sulfites (the stuff that helps preserve processed foods)
Basically, I wanted to cry when I first read all of the things that I won't be allowed to eat. But as I thought about all of these foods and how I feel after eating them, I understand completely how they can be bad (or at least not very helpful) for my digestive system. I am hoping that through this change in my eating habits I will feel more energized, maybe drop a few pounds, and simply feel more healthy overall. The Whole 30 will also be paired with my regular schedule of daily workouts and or physical activity. (I can be assured there will not be a great change in my physical well-being if I don't include this important aspect.)

In an effort to maintain this change in my eating habits, I will be posting here each week on the results that I find in my overall physical well-being. I will also post some of the recipes for the yummy food that I will make every day! (Those of you who do Twitter or Instagram, be on the lookout for daily pictures of my food and progress as well.)

I am so thankful for the body and the wonderful physical health that I have been given by a gracious God, and I am so excited to treat my temple in such a way that would be honoring to the Lord. This next month is sure to be difficult and I know I will have daily struggles and/or cravings that will stump me. But I also know that with a lot of will power, prayer, and encouragement I can absolutely do this, (and do it to the best of my ability!)
Until next week when I officially begin my journey with the Whole 30,
Emily


"Take off your old self, which follows your former ways of living and ruins you as it follows the desires that deceive you. Become new in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, which is created to be like God, righteous and holy in truth." -Ephesians 4:22-24

The Beginning of the End

Salut from the middle of my last week here in Paris! I am so amazed at how the past three weeks have flown by so quickly! I am looking forward to coming home and sharing all of my experiences with friends and family, but I am so sad to think that this experience is coming to a close. I have learned so much and seen an immeasurable amount of incredible things and I know I will never be able to have an opportunity like this again. For that alone I am grateful!

Last week was a particularly simple one filled with more adventures-some good, some not so good-but definitely ones that I will remember forever.
Monday was a tiring day, as all of us students had just returned to Paris from our travels during the long weekend. But Monday afternoon was a full one nonetheless. Our professors had a visit to the French Senat (and yes, it is spelled without an "e" in French) building planned for us, which was interesting yet very tiring. The tour of the building was given by a woman who spoke to us only in French so it really tested our adequacy to remain attentive and use what we've learned about the language to the best of our ability. The building, originally built as a palace, is beautiful and has many rooms filled with the historic French grandeur that we've become accustomed to seeing as we visit many places such as this. After the visit a few of us girls decided to take a typical French afternoon break with some coffee at a café near the Senat. That is definitely something great I will miss about France: the amazing cappuccinos :)

Where the French Senat holds its sessions

I am so amazed at all of the French architecture!
This is on the ceiling of a large foyer in the Senat.

Out for some cappuccinos after our Senat visit :)

On Tuesday afternoon we made a visit to the Musée d'Orsay. I was really excited to finally visit one of Paris's many museums and was extremely satisfied after viewing so many stunning pieces of impressionist and late classical paintings. One of my favorite painters, Edouard Manet, and many other favorites such as Monet, Renoir, Degas and even some Van Gogh were the main attractions in this stunning museum.
After our visit some of us spent a couple of hours going in and out of some of the shops near the museum before heading home for dinner and homework.

Wednesday's classes were canceled so we could travel as a group to the town of Chartres and visit the very large and very old cathedral there. The tour was given by the most precious old British man by the name of Malcolm Miller. He knew almost everything about the cathedral and its large collection of stained glass windows which made the overwhelming size of the cathedral much easier to appreciate.
We were allowed to spend the rest of the afternoon in the village center of Chartres where we had lunch and moseyed around until it was time to head back to Paris. The weather was one of the best days we've had since coming to France, so I didn't object to simply relaxing in the sun with some of the girls until we had to board our train back to Paris :)

The Cathedral at Chartres

This is only a small display of the many
beautiful stories on the stained glass windows.

Relaxing on the steps of the cathedral after our tour :)

Our adorable tour guide, Malcolm doing his thing!

I was particularly excited for my plans on Thursday afternoon after class only because I was finally going inside two of the most beautiful cathedrals in Paris: Notre Dame and Sainte-Chapelle. Both of these stunning churches are large attractions for tourists, and justly so. I wish pictures could do justice to any of what we were able to see, but I think the best way to appreciate them would be to visit them yourself :)

Inside Notre Dame of Paris!

So glad I shared this visit with my sweet friend, Holly!

This view as I walked into Sainte-Chapelle literally took my breath away!

The large rose window in Sainte-Chapelle

Friday included my partaking in the most Americanized meal I've had since coming to Paris from the tex-mex restaurant Chipotle. Let me tell you, nothing has ever tasted as wonderful as the spice of jalapeño and cilantro than it did in the burrito and guacamole I enjoyed from there :)
After indulging way too much at Chipotle, my friends Laura, Melissa and I decided to finally tackle part of the Louvre museum. We hit most of the main attractions such as the Mona Lisa and the sculpture of Venus de Milo, but I feel as though no amount of time in that incredible museum can do it justice. We spent three hours walking through all of the main wings but didn't even begin to make a dent in all of the many sculptures, paintings and ancient remnants that make up the museum. I hope to go back there someday when I can fully understand and appreciate all of the talent that is on display there, but I can only hope I manage to return there soon :)

Saturday was a very odd and long day of travel to the northern coast of France in Normandy. Our plan as a Baylor in Paris was to visit two beaches and portions of the coast where the invasions on D-Day during World War II occurred, but unfortunately we weren't able to see much because of our long journey on a bus. The view of the coast and the beach were absolutely beautiful, I am just very disappointed that we weren't able to stay at either place for very long. Again, I hope that someday I can go back and appreciate it more for all of its beauty and history.

Pi Phi's love Normandy!

Just playing a casual game of banana-grams on the cliffs of Normandy

Words cannot describe my love for these girls :)

Basking in the sun and the sand at the beach :)

On Sunday morning Erin, Holly, Laura and I decided to go to Hillsong Paris so we could experience a contemporary Protestant worship service here. Hillsong Paris leads its services in both French and English, but I will say that singing contemporary worship songs in French among many enthusiastic Christ followers that are close to my age was an experience like nothing I've ever had before. It really opened my eyes to the reminder that God is moving, alive and is working on every corner of the earth. I have so much love and hope for the people of Paris and France and I hope to be able to see the Lord move in incredible ways here in the near future.

I have only 2 full days left here in this beautiful and bustling city, and I am still unsure how to best take it in and make the most of it. I wish that I could have this opportunity for the next 5 years of my life, but here's to wishful thinking :)
It's hard to imagine that I will be writing from home in the United States next week, but I so look forward to my return and the chance to reclaim myself as a student and follower of Christ at home in Texas and at Baylor. I am very thankful that I can now approach the world with a little more insight and understanding outside of my small world that I am so accustomed to in the US.

Please continue to pray for all of us here as we embark on this last week, and for our travels back to the states!
Bonne journée until I return to the USA!
Emily