East to West

Here I am, Lord, and I'm drowning in your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I don't want to end up where You found me
And it echoes in my mind, keeps me awake tonight

I know You've cast my sin as far as the east is from the west
And I stand before You now as though I've never sinned
But today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way

Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west
'cause I can't bear to see the man I've been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
'cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other

I start the day, the war begins, endless reminding of my sin
Time and time again Your truth is drowned out by the storm I'm in
Today I feel like I'm just one mistake away from You leaving me this way

I know You've washed me white, turned my darkness into light
I need Your peace to get me through, to get me through this night
I can't live by what I feel, but by the truth Your word reveals
I'm not holding on to You, but You're holding on to me
You're holding on to me

Jesus, You know just how far the east is from the west
I don't have to see the man I've been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
'cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other
One scarred hand to the other
From one scarred hand to the other

"I Can't Believe This; I'm Losing to a Rug." and other Wonderful Disney Quotes

Hakuna Matata. It means ‘no worries.-The Lion King

 

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Don't you understand? You mean more to me than anything

in this whole world!-Peter Pan

 

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Look, you're really cute, but I can't understand what you're saying.-Finding Nemo

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You're not a lady, you're nothing but a sister!-Aristocats

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Keep your chin up, someday there will be happiness again. -Robin Hood

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I Can't Believe This; I'm Losing to a Rug-Alladin

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A Few of My Favorite Things....

...in regards to hair. I am currently in love with red hair.  In my opinion, Amy Adams has hair worth dying for. :)

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...in regards to cars. I want a Volkswagon Bug. So.very.badly! Aren't they just adorable?!?

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...in regards to all things musical. Pandora is my new favorite place to visit. A plethora of music of all genres available to me at a push of a button...I love it. :) My chanels on Pandora have a little bit of everything... from old country (I'm talking Hank Williams Sr. old!) to Disney music.

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...in regards to current trends. I love the "Keep Calm and..." thing that's going on. This is one of the best ones I've seen thus far.

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So....what are a few things your loving right now? I'd love to hear from you....cause, you know, another one of my favorite things is comments...so leave me a little note, k? :) Have a great day!

What I want to be when I Grow Up

When I was little, I wanted to be everything.  I wanted to be a nurse and help people. I wanted to be a secretary and answer phones and file paperwork in an office. I wanted to work as a cashier at a grocery store, scan items and be rewarded with that lovely little beeping sound. Yep...I've always had big dreams...just had a hard time deciding which one was the one I wanted to pursue (for longer than 1 or 2 days-er, hours).

 

By the time I had reached the ripe old age of 13, I had pretty much decided I was going to be a journalist. I love to write, and I decided that getting paid to do what I loved was a pretty good option. I started looking at various colleges and their journalism programs and decided that my dream job was to work at WORLD magazine. Yep...I had everything planned out perfectly.

Then, something happened I hadn't really been planning on: I grew restless. Gasp. Yes...hard to imagine a teenage girl changing her mind on something, but I did. Don't ask me why, but somehow, journalism began to lose its appeal.I din't find it quite as exciting as I had. I had just turned 16, and was feeling rather lost (kind of young to be having a mid-life crisis, huh?). I had no idea what else I was interested in....if I didn't want to go into journalism, what DID I want to do?
 

And that's where God stepped in....have you ever seen the movie "Beyond the Blackboard"? It's a Hallmark movie about a young teacher who poured her heart and soul into teaching and loving a group of homeless kids. I watched it one night and was just blown away. It made me realize that I wanted to be a teacher...a teacher who pours her whole self into helping children discover the joys of learning. A teacher children love and respect. A teacher who can gently, yet firmly guide growing minds down the right path. A teacher who can touch the minds and hearts of her young students. A teacher who can minister love while at the same time teaching fractions. <<I am amazed that God revealed all this to me through a simple movie....He's pretty wonderful, isn't He?
 

So...this is where I am. Maybe I'll change my mind again, or God might reveal a new path to me. Who knows?!? But I do know this much: God has brought me this far, and I'm gonna trust Him to carry me the rest of the way.

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound!-

That saved a wretch like me...
I once was lost, but now I'm found-

Was blind, but now I see!

Twas grace that taught my heart to fear-

And grace my fears relieved...

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed!

My chains are gone! I've been set free!

My God my Savior has ransomed me!

And like a flood, His mercy rains!

Unending love...amazing grace!

The Lord has promised good to me!-

His word, my hope secures-

He will my shield and portion be...

As long as life endures!

My chains are gone! I've been set free!

My God, my Savior has ransomed me!

And like a flood, His mercy rains!

Unending love...amazing grace!

The Girl's Got Talent

Got to do a little bragging here...my sister Mary is pretty amazing. Give her a camera, and she will capture beauty. She has the talent to take something ordinary and turn it into something beautiful. She's always amazing me with how she takes the most ordinary scene and turns it into a gorgeous picture. Here are just a few of my favorites...

 

 

 

 

Senior Year

 

I've always looked forward to being a highschool senior. When I was little, trying to figure out how to do division and work through problems with negative numbers, I dreamt of the day when I wouldn't have to worry about school work. As I got older, I anticipated being able to tell people I was in my senior year of highschool. It sounded so important. So mature.

 

Now here I am. I'm finishing up on my last few months of highschool, looking at different colleges and their programs, and feeling like life is passing me by entirely too quickly. I just don't feel like I should be in 12th grade. It just doesn't feel right. Being 17 and on the verge of graduation was something I would dream about-it wasn't supposed to happen so soon. Ninth, tenth and eleventh grade weren't supposed to end so quickly. I just don't understand...where has time gone?

But, this where I am. This is my senior year-and I'm going to do my best to enjoy each moment of it. I'm looking forward to my senior picture photo shoot. I'm counting down the days till I can throw a big graduation party. I'm thrilled about designing my graduation announcements.

It's going to be a good year.

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone, my hope is found-

He is my light, my strength, my song.

This cornerstone, this solid ground-

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm!

What heights of love, what depths of peace-

when fears are stilled, when strivings cease.

My Comforter, my All-in-All-

Here in the love of Christ I stand!

In Christ alone Who took on flesh-

fullness of God in helpless babe!

This gift of love and righteousness-

scorned by the ones He came to save!

Until on that cross as Jesus died-

the wrath of God was satisfied!

For every sin on Him was laid-

Here in the death of Christ I live!

There in the ground, His body lay-

Light of the world by darkness slain!

Then bursting forth in glorious day-

Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory-

Sin's curse has lost it's grip on me!

For I am His, and He is mine-

Bought with the precious blood of Christ!

No guilt in life, no fear of death-

This is the power of Christ in me!

From life's first cry, to final breath-

Jesus commands my destiny!

No powers of hell, no schemes of man-

Can ever pluck me from His hand!

Till He returns, or calls me home-
Here in the power of Christ I stand!

Just singing and signing and loving life....

This is one of my favorite songs. It has a rather special place in my heart....

Quite a few months ago, I was having an awful day. I mean, bad. I spent much of my morning in tears.  Things were just not going my way. Later on, I had to go into town for my college classes...before dropping me off at school, my mom stopped at a grocery to store to grab something. I waited out in the car, just praying and asking God to improve my day. I turned on the radio, and this came on. I felt so blessed. And amazed...amazed that God could change my day, improve my attitude and dry my tears with this song.

God is so good.

 

 

The video below is the song "Hold Me" being signed. I am a huge fan of sign language, so I just had to share this with y'all....and hope you fall in love with this beautiful language as much as I have!

 

 

 

Current Loves...

I am a book lover. If I find a good book,  I will eat it up like there's no tomorrow. People marvel at how quickly I read...but it's not my fault. It's the author's. Some people just have a way with words that pulls me into the story and will not release me until I come to the final page. Such authors include Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games), Beverly Lewis (Amish fiction), Beverly Clearly (Ramona books...yes!-I'm 17 years old and I love Ramona! :)) and now Jerry Spinelli. I just discovered him yesterday. I stopped by my public library yesterday, and noticed his books sitting pretty in the young adult section. I am currently in the middle of his "Stargirl". It's a pretty fabulous book. Narrated by her soon-to-be-boyfriend Leo, it follows the story of Susan, er, Stargirl as she lives life to the fullest.

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"She laughed when there was no joke. She danced when there was no music. She had no friends, yet she was the friendliest person in school." 

 

 

 

Another current favorite of mine is Dr. Seuss's "The Lorax". It's a pretty splendid movie. It's happy. It's sad. It's fun. It's serious. It's humerous. It's inspirational. It's a fabulous family movie...kids will laugh at the cuddly bears and the fluffy Lorax. Parents will appreciate the hidden truths. There are great Christian messages in this film. It's not a Christian movie, but watch carefully, and you can't help but see them! 



 

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"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,

nothing is going to get better. It's not."

 

^My favorite new quote^

 

And on that note, I shall wrap up! Hope y'all have a super day! Later! :)









 

We Will Never Forget

 

 

Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children.” -President George W. Bush, November 11, 2001

Allow Me to Introduce Myself..

Hello there, my new friend!

My name is Emily and I am just so excited you've stopped by! Welcome to Walking on Sonshine...a place where you'll find my thoughts, dreams and other such tidbits! :) You'll read my thoughts on a plethora of topics...everything from movie reviews, modesty and Tim Tebow! Yep...you get a little bit of everything on here.

But, first, I should probably tell you a little bit about myself. Like I said, my name is Emily. I'm a Christian teen who is passionate about glorifying my Savior, Jesus Christ. I'm a senior in highschool....one who's just counting down the days till graduation rolls around. Not because I hate school (quite the opposite, actually. I'm what you would classify as a "nerd".), but because I'm excited to close one chapter in my life and then begin a new one.


                              
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There are a great many things I love. I love good movies. I love a good cup of coffee (preferablly Starbucks!). I love a good book. I love pink fingernail polish. I love old country music. I love sweet tea. I love blogging (what a suprise! :)). I love sign language. I love learning. I love Almond Joys. I love history. I love laughing. I love being with my friends. I love rolling my car windows down and blaring my music...just because I can. I love singing at the top of my voice. I love reading aloud even when there's no one there to hear me. I love being helpful. I love Snoopy. I love Beverly Clearly's "Ramona". I love zebra stripes. I love old records. I love my Jesus.

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I have a wonderful family, fabulous friends and an amazing God. Life is good. I have my more Eeyoreish moments, but I remind myself that God is in control. He's got a plan for my life, and it's up to me to find it and live it. It's not always easy, but as long as I got my Jesus, I know things are going to be okay.

Thanks for stopping by...come again!