on the outside looking in.

[source]

Left out. I was that kid for a long time...or at least I thought I was. All of my friends liked me. Every time I saw them they screamed my name (heh heh) and hugged me and stuff... but still I felt left out.

I felt alone.

Like no one has been through what I've been through.

No one to tell.

No one to ask.

No one to be there for me.

I was on the outside looking in.

[source]

I thought I was stuck.

That I would always be the kid who was secretly hurting.

Until I found out that I wasn't alone.

In my life.

In my memories.

In my thoughts.

Jesus was there. Once I said that I wanted Jesus in my life, the pain didn't hurt as bad...because I knew that I wasn't going through the motions alone.

For he himself [Jesus] is our peace...

and has destroyed the barrier.

Ephesians 2: 14

I was in a storm with my past and I thought I was alone, but Jesus can break through barriers. He can break through your deepest hurt. The walls you've put up that you're too scared to take down, he can break down. And I know what it feels like to feel vulnerable...Jesus won't take down your walls and leave you. He'll replace them with himself to protect you, to guard you when the things you had up before didn't.

But it was hard.

And maybe you're too scared to take down your barriers yourself.

But Jesus can do it for you.

He'll take them down one brick at a time...

and replace them with love.

Real love.

Not the fake kind that you think you can get from guys.

Real love.

The smiling kind, the jumping kind, the laughing kind.

Maybe then you won't feel so stuck anymore.

[source]

And I know what it feels like to wait for the storm to pass.

And I know what it feels like not to hear God,

and I know what it feels like to continue to believe you're alone,

and to be blind from the sunshine in life,

but know that Jesus is doing something.

and maybe you just can't see it yet.

but he's breaking through that barrier.

Be in the inside looking out.

Try to find those people who are still on the outside.

Bring them in.

Love them when they're friends and family haven't.

Make them smile...

laugh.

That's God's love.

Spread it.

emma

[listen to this song :]

48 questions!

I saw this on Paige's blog and I decided I wanted to do it too... :)

[source]

1. What time did you get up this morning? 7:30 for school. Sad, sad day...

2. How do you like your steak? Well done...or a little pink. I really don't care. As long as it's cooked, I'm all good. :)

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Captain America. Best. Movie. EVER!

4. What is your favorite TV show? Either Spongebob or Terra Nova...you pick. :) haha

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Not sure... somewhere cold, but not too cold and somewhere still warm, but not hot. Anybody know where that "somewhere" is?

6. What did you have for breakfast? A Pop-Tart. Life is good...

7. What's your favorite food? Chocolate. That was easy. :)

8. Foods you dislike? Bananas, Cream Cheese, Asparagus...

9. Favorite place to eat? Chick-fil-A. :) Eat more chicken!

10. Favorite dressing? Italian.

11. What vehicle do you drive? Still too young for that...but my mom drives a Toyota Sienna van. It's awesome. :)

12. What are your favorite clothes? jeans and a t-shirt. life is sweet that way.

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? Europe. :)

14. Cup 1/2 empty or cup 1/2 full? usually it's half empty...but I'm workin' on it.

15. where would you want to retire? I have no idea. I plan to work in ministry for the rest of my life, so how can I retire from that? It even happens in heaven!! :) haha

16. Favorite time of day? late at night.

17. Where were you born? Encino, California :)

18. Favorite sports to watch? I don't really like sports (never have been good at them. haha) but probably basketball. :)

19. What is your favorite fragrance? Carried Away from Bath&Body Works, sweetie!

20. What is your favorite face cream? Don't use face cream...yet.

21. Favorite baby/kids products? I don't have kids but Johnsons&Johnsons no-cry shampoo SMELLS AMAZING! :)

22. People watcher? yeah. I'm the person on the outside looking in.

23. Are you a morning or night person? night person all the way! :)

24. Do you have any pets? Yeah. A dog named Baxter. He's a terrier mix. :)

25. Any new and exciting news you want to share? I LOVE JESUS! SHAZAM! (though that's not really new. haha)

26. What did you want to be when you were little? an actress. But when I look back on it now, all I wanted was to be known. I didn't want to act, sing, or dance. I just wanted people to know me for doing something great.

27. What is your favorite memory? heh heh it's funny and I'm not telling you. :)

28. Are you a cat or dog person? cat all the way!

29. Are you married? I wish! haha No. That's a long ways off and, besides, I've got to enjoy my kidhood first. :)

30. Always where a seat belt? of course! safety first! :)

31. Been in a car accident? nope and I'm glad.

32. Any pet peeves? being late. AH!!!!!

33. Favorite pizza toppings? Just cheese. That's how I like it. :)

34. Favorite flower? tulips...daisies...I don't know.

35. Favorite ice cream? Baskin-Robbin's World Class Chocolate. Love.

36. Favorite fast food restaurant? CHICK-FIL-A!

37. How many times have you failed your driver's test? Not even old enough to take one. So, so far I've never failed. :)

38. From whom did you get your last email? McKenna. :)

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? I don't even have a credit card! haha But I would say Forever 21. That place is the shazam in my life. :)

40. Do anything spontaneous lately? this is my life. So, yes, I have done something spontaneous lately... :)

41. Like your job? I don't really have one...but I do babysit. And I like it if the kids aren't evil. :)

42. Broccoli? Yes.

43. What was your favorite vacation? I'm not sure. Probably going up to Lake Tahoe and it snowing while we were there. :)

44. Last person you went out to dinner with? My family.

45. What are you listening to right now? My little brother talking.

46. What is your favorite color? YELLOW!

47. How many tattoos do you have? none and I'm proud of it. :) If you're talking about the fake ones that you put on with a wash cloth, I used to have a ton of those when I was little. :) Oh yeah.

48. Coffee drinker? not really. I know, most people call me crazy...but I'm cool like that. :) haha

Want to play along?

Replace my answers with yours!

If you blog about it, let me know. Leave the link and I'll go check it out. :)

emma

goodreads// The Help

Remember when I posted about The Help movie? Well, I read the book! Some people say that the book is always better than the movie and in this case with this book, I think that's true. :)

The Help by Kathryn Stockett has way more detail than the movie. When you read the book, things make more sense. More detail. And the book even has stuff that movie doesn't even mention.

This book is all about love.

Loving when people don't love you.

From left to right:

Minny~ one of the maids. She's got a "sass-mouth" (that's how they say it in the book. Just letting you know) and a strong personality.

Aibileen~ another maid. Her personality is quiet and she loves the kids she looks after. Her motive is to make the kids feel proud of themselves. :)

Miss Skeeter~

She wants to be a writer. She comes up with an idea that risks everything.

Most of these women hired the help.

You'll know who they are if you read the book. :)

It's all about love...and lots of pie.

Read the book and you'll know what I mean. :)

emma

What goes with your hair color?

I'm not really into fashion... more into style. I like to pick colors that go with my hair. I've got dirty blond, so it can pretty hard at times trying to find the right color to match my hair. What's your hair color? I put up some colors that might just match. I'm not professional at this stuff... this is just my opinion. What's yours? What goes with your hair color? :)
emma

I got a tumblr...

I got a tumblr...

maybe you'll want to check it out?

go here! love for you to visit!! :)

emma

let's do this!!

[source]

I just thought this would be cool. :) So, starting today for the next 30 days, we're going to DRAW! Yeah, we're gonna draw. Spread the word! Blog about this on your blogs and link back to here so we can get as many people we can to do this! Comment if you're going to participate or leave the link if you happened to blog about this! :) I'll be showing you guy's my drawings and if you blog yours, I'll go check them out. :) LET'S DO THIS!!!

*emma

fearless.

fearless.
don't stop dreaming.
don't stop loving.
don't stop laughing.
don't stop smiling.
don't stop being you.

be yourself.

be you.

not what people say.

if our God is for us, who can stand against us?

let go.

of fear.

of hurt.

of scars.

of sad memories.

break through.

be fearless.

emma*