a love letter to my sisters.

Funny, but Gretchen's blog about me, totally inspired me to write a blog dedicated to my sisters. I haven't really had time to write it yet because of all of the world traveling. :) I've decided to write it as though its a short letter to each one, just so they know, and so others can get a taste of how much I adore them.

To Gretchen First; My Teacher, Counselor, Close Friend,
How to begin? The amazing times I have been able to sit and talk with you, to just pour out my spirit, to cry and laugh and be as dramatic as they come...you don't mind you just listen and return the drama with earnest. My memories of you when I was little are strong, I think of you as a person who liked school and shopping, definitely loud and always over the top, funny how your still a lot like that. So short were the years before you left for college, but somehow that's OK because I grew to know you so very much deeper long after that time in your life.
Me, a person who hates change, never once was sad about you marrying Josh, but instead was so thankful that you married him so that he could really be a part of my family.
The year that you taught us was the best of all my high school, the memories of all of the exciting things you planned for us, are endless...You kids are going to be so extremely lucky! History club, PE, science out on the deck, the list is endless..
I think it's you who has taught me to love my family the way I do...I am so amazingly blessed to have them...I really am, and I cannot fathom them not being the wonderful part of my life that they are. You, because you are like Dad, and always love a party, have made our house what it is to me..a place of endless memories of good friends and food and late nights, a place that I now welcome my friends as you once did yours...
Lastly (this is WAY too short, I could go on and on)I don't know if you even comprehend a corner of the amazing spiritual influence and accountability partner that you are and have always been to me, everyone needs someone like that and you are definitely that to me, you are one of the very few people who I actually trust to tell me when I have done something wrong, I know your opinion is always scriptural and never just because it's the way you personally want me to be.
Thank you Gretchen,for loving me, I love you,
Emily
PS--what was my imaginary friends name that you drew the comic strip of?...Amy Something, right?


Next to Anna, My Look-alike, Mother #2, Fellow Scrapbooker, Confidante,
When I think of you I just want to start laughing, I don't know why, but I think it's because to this day I'm a little bit self-conscience around you, still somewhat thinking of you as that cool teenage sister who I wanted to be just like. You probably don't know this but every time anyone says that I remind them of you or that they think we look alike, I get so excited because that means I'm cool like you! Obviously, we are much closer friends then we were when we were younger but I still kind of look at you in this awestruck kind of way. You are my scrapbooking sister, and as such would never dream of making fun of me for spending my money on paper and stickers (unlike Gretchen or Abby).
Anna, you are scarily like me, or rather, I am scarily like you....we look alike, talk alike and have similar personality traits..(though there are some ways that Abby is far more like you..:))For this reason you understand me in ways and about things that are far more difficult for other people in my life to understand. Things that may sound like bragging or boasting to other people, you understand as being truly difficult (example: situations with boys...) I feel as though there have been few times that it has been just us two, but there have been a couple and I see that you kind of read me deeper almost than anyone else, like right away you can see past any front I put up..
Anna, do you realize that you are my only sister that wears make-up (no Abby, you don't.), I love that though, because it's another thing that we can talk about. You are also the only one who would come over and steal half of my wardrobe while I'm away in a foreign country.
I have endless things to thank you for, so I'll just name a few 1.) reasoning with mom and dad for me..heehee...you talked mom into letting me wear that dress to be in your wedding (remember she didn't like it because it only had one strap?)...also HP5 was totally because of you....you rock..;)2.)Thank you for being my adventurous sister, the one who likes to ride roller-coasters, "rough-it" in Canada, Own wild beasts (Rigella and Nigella)and eat cookie dough with raw eggs in it, honestly are you afraid of anything besides spiders? 3.)Thanks for being a girlfriend who I truly have a great time with, and who would never want to say no to going out after nursing home...:) You are a great role model to me in your efficiency, and care for people..
Oh Anna, I love you SOOO much and I already loathe the day that I leave you and go off to Louisville...
Thanks for letting the good times roll,
emma
PS--"If you took that book case would you paint it?"..."PSHTUGHLTSHT", Translation: "Duh..."


Abby, Babster, My Baby, Pudding Cup, little Feather, Charm Chee and my BEST friend,
Oh Geeze, Abby....How do I begin....funny when I think about you my whole attitude changes...I all of a sudden feel years younger...Do you want to go plays barbies in the game room?....sadly you probably do..:)
My favorite thing in the whole world about you (or one of my favorites) is that you take your being the youngest very well...I mean yes, you have always had an almost abnormal affection and fascination with babies and small children, but it's like you know we [me, Gretchen, Anna] don't want you to grow up, so you kindly stay young by watching cartoons, sleeping in my room, and thinking boys have cooties...
You and I have shared some wonderful experiences (Disney World, all those fancy dinners with Mom and Dad, camp, our sisters' and brother's weddings, playing at dress-up at Shea's, Monical's, The Chill, and so many more good times) I guess we have experienced sad stuff too, and hard stuff...everyone knows we've fought A LOT and still do, and yet we always end up right. It's funny to me how I still ask you what to do in a lot of situations, even though I'm older you have such an influence on me, you have no idea...It's weird, Abby, because it's like your such a part of my daily life that when you say something nice to me it kind of shocks the heck out of me...like I remember one time you told me my hair looked pretty (or something dumb like that) and I couldn't really believe you had said it...that was the type thing that boys said to flirt or that other girls said to be nice,but not you, it almost made me feel weird...like our relationship is far past the point of pointless compliments.
Abby, you will probably be the only sister to be in my wedding...if the the Lord so leads...as I will hopefully not be having the traditional "bridesmaids" but just you alone to stand beside me as my best friend. I think I can confidently say that you know me so much better and truer and deeper and at my worst and best, then anyone else on this earth...Daniel has barely unearthed a corner of the knowledge you retain about me and who I am...in some ways it scares me, because I so want to spare you from any sin I have committed, but it is good to have someone know me so well, and still manage to love me like you do.
Thanks for being my kindred spirit, my listener, my playmate, my shadow.
I love you Char,
Emma



Nancy, Nannoo, Nanc...etc.
Without you I would no nothing of Boy Bands or Disney channel, though you've spent less time with me then all of my sisters, I still wonder if you don't know almost more about me, and how easily I am prone to sin.
You have taught me so much about how forgiveness is still possible even when you have been wronged greatly, something with which I struggle like crazy. You also deal with what seems to me as unfairness with great poise, conduct and love. How can you love me when I have so many times treated you unfairly, or let Abby win an argument against you just because it's easier.
You most definitely make life far more exciting and interesting than it was without you...you make me think in different angles and you make me see life as something to be laughed at.
You are so dramatic which helps you fit in with all of us, and you have a really great gift with children...I have yet to see a child not want to play when you are in the room...
You, like me, have had to learn to give in to others...and it is a difficult thing, but I have seen you grow greatly in this area...

I love you Nanc, and I have no clue where my life would be without you,
emma


I have one more thing to say, just a little note to my other "sisters".

To Alyssa, My Tirantafu, one of my closest friends, my secret-keeper;), my text-messaging buddy,
Thanks for letting us be the sisters you never had, and for all of your secret languages and dance moves, you have to know how much I love you!
-emma

To Janet, my only sister-in-law,
Thank you for being the beautiful image of a godly woman to me, your inward beauty shines through you so radiantly, and I love you so much for that, and I can't even remember life before you.
-emma

To Shea and Misty, my true friends,
Thanks for teaching me the importance of sisterhood, and how being a girl is so very wonderful! I love you both, and your willing hearts,
emma

A Cup of Tea.

I suppose I should report back on my wonderful and very blessed trip to England.
I learned so immensely much, that I doubt I can report it adequately.

First we had Boot Camp at the WOL Bible Institute in Schroon Lake, New York for about five days. I was extremely stretched because of the mixture of not knowing anybody, camp-like condidtions, HEAT, and rigorous training in every kind of evangilisim you can imagine. Needless to say I was so ready to get on with the trip!

I met Jessica Menard and her best friend Katy near to the last day of Boot Camp...thus far, I was wondering if God had heard my prayer asking him to send me a friend...It wasn't that the other girls weren't nice to me, because they were, and I got along with them very well, it was just like I hadn't found anyone who I truly meshed with, or wanted to talk to. Jessica was my roomate but she was never really in my room because her best friend was rooming across the hall so she was often there with her. Toward the end of Boot Camp I noticed that Jessica carried a Beatles Purse, and being a big fan of the band myself, I inquired about it...that started our one-of-a-kind friendship. Katy too, became a great friend of mine and after that, the three of us were basically inseperable.


When I arrived in England it was everything I had dreamed of and so much more! Not unlike stepping into a children's storybook. I had quite a bit of jet-lag at first but I perservered and actually quite enjoyed the touring of Windsor castle at what was 6:00am our time.

When we were seperated into three smaller groups Jessica and I were seperated from Katy, which was kind of a sad moment. We went to a town called Wantage, near Oxford, and she was in Milton Kenes (a couple of hours away) At that time I began praying that they would let us stay with the same host family. My prayers were answered and she and I stayed with an amazing English couple(Mr. and Mrs. Frith) who's grandchildren (Christopher and Lucy)came over every morning for breakfast. The house we stayed in was actually an old barn from the early 1600s that had been converted into a house, it was beautiful! Everything was done to make sure our time spent in England was lovely. Friday we were able to go to Lodona so that was another prayer answered! Though I do admit that it really made me wish I had longer...next time.;)

The ministries we did, varied greatly from cleaning out a brook to VBS to a "Culteral Exchange Night" on the fourth of July. I felt that we were greatly used and the ways that we were used were greatly effective.

The two things I learned most of all, were Patience and Prayer.

I couldn't believe how many times I had to just be patient and hope that someone somewhere knew what we were doing, because we sure didn't. Everything was.."Oh yeah, and Emily could you sing a solo in about three minutes..thanks"...and so on, if you get what I mean, I had to be extremely open and available and ok with the fact that I didn't always know what was going on.

I learned prayer through millions of things, God answering each little request, giving me peace and hope around every turn.

My verse that God gave was often quoted by one of the guy counselors and caught on untill it seemed in any annoying circumstance you would hear someone quoting the first part of James 1:2.."Count it all joy, brothers..."

It was an amazing time where I learned so much about myself, the World, and God. All in 18 tight packed days.

"The days seemed like forever, but the weeks flew by."-Katy