five years late

I can't believe it's been so long since I've blogged! I logged back on today, just for giggles, and saw TWO posts I've started in the last five years, but haven't completed. I scrapped those 😂
I am now happily married for almost 5.5 years with TWO girls, Sarah (5 on Christmas!) And Gwynnen (3.5!) ((Yes. Those are YEARS OLD!)) I am also pregnant with our THIRD child, A BOY due November 20th, so almost 3rd trimester! Poor little man still doesn't have a name. We have strong contenders, but nothing in stone yet.
We now have lived in Alaska for almost four years and still have about 14 months to go. I really am done with the ice and snow. I miss the Florida warmth, my family, and dear friends. Thankfully, I have made a few precious friends since we've been here, but it hasn't been the easiest due to unfortunate circumstances and just still getting used to motherhood.
Life with kids is MUCH harder than I thought it would be! I'm not gonna lie to you, I used to be one of those people who would say "Oh...when IIIII have children, I'm never going to allow them to get away with THAT sort of thing..."
HAHAHAHAHHAHA
God has a funny way of feeding us MASSIVE slices of humble pie, doesn't He!?
Anyway, I don't know if there are any people left out there on blogger or anyone reads these anymore, but I'm going to try my best to start up again! I have become much too reliant on social media and am hoping to start unloading my heart again...readers or no! I'm going to set my weekly alarms to remind myself to sit down and just WRITE. We'll see how this goes 😂

About: Our Story

I think this video speaks for itself...sorry it's so long.
We've had people asking our meeting/courtship/engagement story, so here it is. From MY point of view, at least. ;)

About: Exciting News!!

Hello followers! (if there are any of you left out there...heh.)

This past weekend, we had a fun day of thrifting planned with some of my dearest friends in the whole wide world! We started the morning off at Goodwill and were going to go to several more thrift stores. (May I just add that I ended up finding NOTHING on this thrifting trip? Yes? Good.)
Anyway, we went to Goodwill and I tried SO hard to find something that I could sell online (my new idea of income ;)
 
Everyone had checked out.
Sharon walks up to the group, just after getting off the phone, and says that her dad had called and wanted to meet us in Cocoa Village for lunch. I, being the air-head that I am, didn't really hear the beginning of her topic of conversation and walked away to stand with mom in line as she was about to check out. We had a nice visit with a lady, Emilee, that mom knew from when Isaac was a little boy. Anyway, I get back over to the group and Sharon told me the new plan. We would go thrifting after lunch. Okay, no big deal!
As we left Goodwill, Sharon goes, "EMILY, RIDE WITH ME!" So I did.

Once we arrived in Cocoa Village, Mrs. Becky was running late, so we needed to save her a spot. I jumped in the only one left in our place, bravely risking my life! *cheeky* So there I stood...hmmm...for a good five minutes or so. I could SEE everyone in the park, just waiting for me so we could go out. Mrs. Becky arrived in a few short minutes and she, mom, Sharon and I walked over to the park together. Hannah and Peter (Sharon's brother and sister-in-law/another of my bestest friends) had joined us along with their little son and other son-on-the-way.
<----That's Anna and Jed (Hannah and Peter's son). Yes. Feel free to comment on just HOW adorable he is. His mom will love it. ;) 

Anna and Sharon with her "new do!"

We all just kinda ended up standing around at the park for a while, talking and catching up. It was nice!
All of a sudden, I got a phone call from Tim. Now, if you didn't know, Tim is a "friend of the family" who had special interest in a certain member of the family....*ahem* Anyway, he asked me where we were at, which seemed a wee bit odd, but I didn't think TOO terrible much about it. I told him that I was at the park with his family (Can't we all see where this is going? ;) and we were getting ready to go to lunch in Cocoa Village.


He asked me if I was standing anywhere near Nathan, his younger brother, and I said I was. He told me that Nathan had my birthday card (which was a few days away) and that he wanted to make sure I got it. I walked over to Nathan and asked him for it, when I did, Tim asked me to read it out loud...which I didn't. Seemed a little too personal to do such a thing in a crowd. HA!

I started reading the card which went as such:

"Good morning, Emily,

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. We've been talking for almost a year now and I can't help but be excited for where things seem to be going. When I look at you, I can't help but be amazed at who you are. The woman God has formed you into is incredible. Your love for our Lord is very obvious, and I can't help but smile when I think about it.
Six and a half years ago, you walked into Grace Bible Presbyterian Church and into my life. The providential happenings that came about so taht we would meet bewilder me sometimes.
But I know that God holds our future in His Hands. And I totally look forward to our future together.
Well, that's about all I can think of to write here.
I hope you are having a grand time with my family! :)
Oh! Yeah! One more thing ---> [meaning turn the card over]

































































 


























I need you to turn around so I can ask you just one more question!"





I about dropped my phone and started spinning around like a maniac, asking him, "WHERE ARE YOU?!" He answered my questions with hanging UP on me. The nerve!

Everyone just kinda stood there, looking at me. All of a sudden, my mom goes, "LOOK! HE'S OVER THERE!" and pointed towards the bathrooms of all things!
My sister Anna decided that I needed a distraction, so she decided to yell, "Look at that squirrel!"

After about the fifth time of turning around, I saw him! (Now, take note: this is a big thing, because as far as I knew, he was seven hours away.)

All this to say....


















































 

I think the pictures can take it from here...mostly. ;)

Okay, back story here...
He opened the box and there was a cheap little thrift store ring.
So I hit him with the card.
Obviously. ;)

Good to know we can share a laugh. :)

Hugging our future mothers-in-law! ^_^

I was talking with dad in this picture. I was so sad he couldn't be there.
I love you, daddy!! <3 br="br">

I'M ENGAGED!!!! 8D

And they both lived happily ever after...so far, at least. ;)

The Beginning.

"Silencing the Cymbals" by David Murray

Silencing the Cymbals

DAVID MURRAY  ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

"We cannot know God without quiet. Every Christian wants to know God more; few Christians seek the silence that this requires. Although our Savior says, "Be still and know that I AM God," we spend our days smashing stillness, shattering knowledge, and using destroying cymbals on our ears and in our souls. With so many gongs and clashes in our lives, it can sometimes be difficult to isolate and identify them. Let me help you do this and provide some mufflers.

    First, there's the din of guilt, the shame and embarrassment of our dark secrets: "I should have; I shouldn't have; I should have; I shouldn't have" clangs noisily in our recesses, shattering our peace and disturbing our tranquility. 

    Then greed starts banging away with its relentless drumstick: "I want it; I need it; I must have it; I will have it; I got it; I want it; I need it;" and so on.

    What's that angry metal beat? It's hate stirring up malice, ill will, resentment, and revenge: "How could she? I'll get her. She'll pay for this." Of course, anger often clatters into the cymbal of controversy, sparking disagreements, debates, disputes, and divisions.

    Vanity adds a proud thud, drowning out all who compete with our beauty, talents and status: "Me up, him down; me up, her down; me up, all down."

    Anxiety chimes distractingly in the background, too, surveying the past, present, and future for things to worry about: "What if? What if? What if?" Is that the little silver triangle of self-pity I hear: "Why me? Why me? Why me?"

    The repetitive, unstoppable jangle of expectation comes from family, friends, employers, churches, and more. Oh, for even a few seconds' respite from the tyranny of other people's demands and our oversensitive consciences. 

    Moreover, smashing into our lives, wherever we turn, are the giant cymbals of the media and technology: local and international, paper and pixels, sound and image, audio and video, beep and tweet, notifications and reminders, and on it goes.

    Is it any wonder that we sometimes feel as if we're going mad? Clanking and clanging, jingling and jangling, smashing and crashing, grating and grinding. A large jarring orchestra of peace-disturbing, soul-dismantling cymbals.

    

"BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD."

But how? We can silence the cymbal of guilt by taking faith to the blood of Christ and saying, "Believe." Believe that all your sins are paid for and pardoned. There's absolutely no reason to have even one bit of guilt. Look at that blood until you grasp how deep, wide, and long it is. It can make you whiter than snow and make your conscience quieter and the morning dew.

    Greed is not easily silenced. Maybe muffled is about the best we can expect. Practice doing with less than usual; practice not buying even when you can afford it; practice buying nothing for six months except necessities; and practice spending time in the shadow of Calvary. How much less you'll find you need when you see how much He gave. Make your budget at the cross.
    Our unholy anger can be dialed down by God's holy anger. When we feel God's hot rage against all sin and all injustice, we begin to chill and calm. Vengeance is God's, He will repay.

    The doctrine of total depravity is the ultimate dampener of personal vanity. When I see myself as God sees me, my heart, my mind, and even my posture change. I stop competing for the top spot and start accepting the lowest place. "He must increase, I must decrease."

    Hey, I'm beginning to hear some quiet now. But there's still that rankling anxiety chiming away. Oh, to be free.

FATHERHOOD

The Fatherhood of God turns the volume of anxiety to zero. He knows, He cares, and He will meet your needs. Mute your "what ifs" at the bird feeder.
    Oh, and call in total depravity again when self-pity starts up. "Why me?" cannot stand long before "Why not me?"

"SHE HAS DONE WHAT SHE COULD."

Don't you love that? What an expectation killer. Every time the despotic Devil or your tyrannical conscience demands more than you can give, remind them of Jesus' calming words, "she has done what she could" (Mark 14:8). That helps us, in good conscience, to disappoint unreasonable people.

    Isn't that growing silence golden? But it can become fully golden if you go the extra mile and deal with the noisy intruders of media and technology. There is no spiritual mystery to this. Look at your finger. That's what stands between you and the still quietness without which you cannot know God. You know where the "off" button is. Why not try it one full day a week? Why not flex that finger every day at 8 p.m.?

    We'd like it to be different. It won't be. Ever. God has inseparably and irrevocably joined quietness with knowledge of Him. What God has joined together let not man put asunder."

Dr. David Murray is professor of Old Testament and practical theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is the author of the book Christians Get Depressed Too.

 

About: I Blog therefore... I Blog? O.o

When there are no words, music speaks.
Or in this case, I'm going to make pictures speak. Also, I'm going to make them funny pictures that speak...because I'm in a laughing mood.
(many thanks to pinterest and Bill Watterson for the following pictures.)

.....

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8)

About: Let's See if I Can Do Any Better...

My, my. Hello blog!
Wowwy, two whole months since I've posted. Life has changed a lot since then.
Just a short summation would go as such...*ahem*
1) The family band has REALLY taken off! God has been good! You can go HERE (click on the "Stone Family Band" link) to see one of our most recent (and currently our largest) performances from a couple weeks back :)
2) We've moved. Yes, that's right. LONG story short, God provided people who wanted to rent our farm, we accepted, moved, cleaned, stored away and renovated our new home all in 3 weeks. Anna, Olivia and I all share a room now. That's quite interesting ;)
3) We have sold hundreds of CDs of both albums! Super stoked about that! (If you would like to purchase one, you can visit THIS page for purchasing details :)
4) I gave BB a haircut. Here's proof.

  See? Ain't she cute? ;)
5) We've played at probably 20-25 venues since September. Not exaggerating.

6) I turned 21. My best friend, Sharon's birthday is 2 days after mine so we celebrated by going to Busch Gardens together. We had a lot of fun. 

7) We celebrated Thanksgiving with my dad's family. A blast as always!
8) Anna and I were asked to be bridesmaids in our cousin's wedding. EEP! 8)
9) Mom and I have been very sick. Thinking it's from stress...*cough*
10) Olivia's still shorter than me. Just for the record ;)

All that to say... I'm going to bed since it IS 1:30 a.m.
Goodnight readers (if any of you are still out there.)

A Small Sorta Post...

The Stone Family Band's One Small Child Christmas CD is FINISHED! We've ordered and the shipment should be in within the next week or so making CDs available then!

Here is a small sampling of what's coming! :)

Mamalala, I thought you and Z would like to see this ;)

About: My Restless Night and Why...

God was good in giving me a brother for the first sixteen, almost seventeen years of my life.
I've been thinking a lot recently on Isaac.
For those of you who don't know the story, you can read a snippet of it here...aaand my hyper linking isn't working *sigh*...
Read it here -->> http://theredeemerliveth.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html

Anyway, since Isaac's in heaven, I've found myself wondering countless times, "What would life be like if he HADN'T died..?"





*Takes break... The shuttle just came back and scared me pretty much right off the couch! O.o -pant,pant-*

Ok... BACK to my post...

So, while I've been pondering these things, I've realized all the good that has come of his passing (though it's taken me almost FOUR years to realize ANYTHING good from it.)
Counting my blessings: The Stone Family Band, Debbie's salvation... Actually, there's more. I can't think of them at the moment.

What has he been up to? Does he miss me? Any of us? What would he think of me now? Would he like our music? Would he still be riding? How many times would we have visited since then? Would his family have come and visited us? Would we have gone out there? What wacky things would he do to his hair again? How many more hugs would there have been? "I love you's?" Phone calls? Would he have facebook? ^_^ Would we text all the time? Would he have come to our graduations? Grandpa and PopPop's funerals? I KNOW he would have been at our weddings...whenever they may be.
The list... It's endless.

Nut shell: I miss my brother.

If you have a brother (or ANY sibling, for that matter)...cherish them. You really don't know how long you will have them. Try your best not to nit-pick at each other. Love each other. Do things together. Talk to them. Eat food with them! Remember everything you've done with them! Make time special together! *crying*

I'm in earnest... Once your loved one is gone, there is NO turning back. You can never talk to them again in this life. No regrets.

People forget about people like us...the siblings. When someone passes away, it's, "How is your mom?", "His wife?", "His kids?", even "Your grandma?"!
Now... I'm not saying these people's loss is any less or ANYTHING like that. People just forget the sibling of the deceased. And honestly, that hurts. I guess just losing someone in general is super painful... no matter the relation.

Four years... Going on four years! Where has the time gone?!


Well... All in all, God is good and has a plan.

I'm sorry if this seemed like a rambling rant of a blog post... I guess the point to this post was, "Love your brothers and sisters."
I know they can get annoying at times (I know because I can be one!), but try your best to appreciate them. They're human beings created in God's image as well and deserve to be treated with respect.

I pray God blesses you, dear readers.
-Emily

About: Laughing Penguins!!! ^_^

So... this is about the cutest thing I've ever seen! (Well... maybe not THE cutest, but it's pretty darn adorable!)

I love penguins. I love laughing. WHAT then, could POSSIBLY be better than a laughing penguin?!? ^_^

About: Evolution.

I love Evolution.
Especially when as related to the Stone Family Band!

This first piece, Rock of Ages, was the first video recording that was done of any of our performances.

This next song is a SFB original titled Maiden Voyage.

I love just watching these two videos and comparing how everyone's changed in the last 2 years! :^D

Enjoy!

Just Short and Sweet...

This is just a short and sweet blurb that I posted on my facebook on Sunday... Thought I'd share it here as well... Be encouraged.

"Everything happens for a reason. God allows everything. I DO NOT believe that means, though, that God CAUSES everything to happen. People create hurt. God allowed sin into the world and to allow people to hurt others. God is perfectly holy, just and sinless, therefore; He can NOT sin. What a mighty God we serve!"

On another note... Just got back from Colorado with my sister... What FUN we had! ^_^
Check her blog for pics soon!!

About: Preparing to be a Help Meet- Pure Thoughts

"Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)

Pure Thoughts

. . .

"She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness" (Proverbs 31:26)

It is human nature to climb on someone's back if you are drowning. People, especially girls who are frustrated with their lives, have a tendancy to want to bring others down. They rationalize to themselves that they are just telling what happened, just being honest, and so forth. This need to bring others down will follow you into your marriage, job and life, for there will always be those whom you will decide need "telling on." It is a death trap of Satan's. Not their death trap; yours.

Only when a girl learns to control her need to tear down, when she lets people go unmolested by her "truthful" information, will she begin to grow as a person. Every argument, evey misunderstanding, every hurt feeling--every black depression stems from someone "supposing" another meant evil toward them, used them, thought offensively toward tthem, or whatever else the mind contrives. Imagine being free from all these misapprehensions! You can be free.

"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit" (Proverbs 15:4)

The word perverseness mans unreasonableness. Everyone thinks they are reasonable and that the one they hold in distain is unreasonable. If you have conflict with someone, chances are you are unreasonable at least half the time. If you have some irritation, scorn, or conflict with more than one person, then chances are you are the culprit in most of those relationships. No matter how sweet you think you are, it is you who lacks a wholesome tongue.

Some families, even some communities of people, seem to have a hereditary predisposition to bitterness and strife. Those raised in such an atmosphere come to accept jealousy, suspicion and evil thinking as the norm. They just assume that everyone is critical of them. Believe it or not, there is another world where people love one another and there are no feelings of bitterness toward anyone, where one never imagines that another is thinking ill of them, a world of daily peace and contentment.

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (II Corinthians 10:5)
Right now, as a single young woman, ask God to give you the wisdom to clear your soul of this plague of negative thoughts. . . Fill your soul with the beauty of a good thought-life. Expect good from people. Get busy serving others--not just your friends, but anyone who has a need. You may get treated unfairly (but probably not) and in the meantime your soul will be free to soar.

The Psalmist sung out in chapter 15, "LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor."


By Debi Pearl

About: Disney Princesses! ^_^

Last weekend I had the pleasure of going to see Tangled with several friends! To honor the occasion of a new Disney Princess movie... we obviously had a Disney Princess Party! Mind you, I don't believe there was a single female there under 12... ^_^ Yes... we had fun ;)

Anyway, we all got to choose Princesses we wanted to be, or just dressed up real pretty.

I chose Briar Rose from Sleeping Beauty... She was always my favorite!

"Once Upon A Dream"

I had a time of it, I tell ya what!!

But eventually got it!

Not exact, but close enough that people would look and say...

"You're Briar Rose!" Yeah... it was fun.

Who knew an old black tank top flipped upside down and cut up could make the perfect Briar Rose bodice?

Who knew that when I bought those shoes that match my skin almost that I would need them to have the appearance of bare feet at the mall *ick*

Who knew when mom got those little birdies from the Dollar Store that I'd need them to complete the outfit?

Not I!

All in all, it was a fabulous time had by all! The movie was great, we had a splendiferous time all together going to see a child's movie, and the cupcakes were "to die foah!"

Thank you, Amanda for hosting this wonderful evening!

Ciao y'all, till later!

-Emily

About: It Just Makes Me Giddy!

Well, y'all...

Weddings are a lovely thing. They make me grin... ^_^ See?!

Anyway, like I said, "weddings" make me grin... but what makes me giddy (hence the title of the post) is when "weddings" is translated "ISAAC AND LYDIANA'S WEDDING!!!!" *ahem*

A dear friend/brother figure stepped into my and my sister's lives just a few short months ago...

We've known Isaac for a few years now, but we never had the opportunity to become as close as we have become since about January. It's amazing to me, really. God took one brother Isaac and gave me another!

NOTE: I am NOT saying that this

Isaac replaced my original brother Isaac... he just did a swell job of stepping up to the plate of "being a brother" that I really do believe he was a gift from the Lord!

Anyway... rabbit trail ^_^

So... Isaac was playing with us for a few months earlier this year. We went to Barberville... and met Lydiana.

*Yeah*

Pretty much.... the rest is history ^_^

ALL photo credit goes to my WONDERFUL photographer of a sister, Anna Grace!

About: From One Home to Another...

Well, y'all...

today is a bitter-sweet day for us...

After a very full weekend from wedding to Barberville, we came home... intending to rest up.

I was awakened this morning by my mother, "Get up, Emily... no more sleeping." She had a look of extreme duress on her face... that worried me.

"Mom?...Mom?" I could feel my pulse quicken as she just stood there looking at me with anguish in her eyes.

Anna and I followed her to her room where she broke the news to us.

Poppop died this morning.

I knew it was coming... Poppop has been very, very sick and was in hospice care for about a week. We went to visit him twice last week... on Monday and Wednesday. We took our instruments the second day and got to play quite a bit for him. (I'm crying.)

Poppop was always so supportive in everything we do! He loved our music, but could never make it to any performances because in the later years of his life, he couldn't travel extensively. So we brought performances to him. He would puff up with pride every time we played for him... I'm a proud guitarist now because of the influence he and my father have had in my life!

He was very musical (in fact, he and Mimae met in church choir 58 years ago!) He played the guitar and he and Mimae sang together like two love-birds all the time! Their harmonies were beautiful... oh how sad I am to never hear his voice again...

He was drifting in and out of consciousness when we visited him on Wednesday... Apparently it was "a good day" for him, but honestly, he was looking really rough. The last thing he said to me was, "I love you too, baby." (crying again... golly)

Anyway, please be praying for my Mimae, Dad and all his siblings and the rest of us as we are dealing with the loss of this wonderful man! I know he's in Heaven how with Isaac and all the other saints that have gone before, but it's still really hard right now.

I thank God that this goodbye is not forever.

Till then, Poppop... I love you and miss you like crazy ♥

About: "Awesome Autumn Giveaway!"

One of my dear friends, Lauren Brittany, is having a giveaway on her blog!
She makes all sorts of lovely bath essentials (AWESOME sugar scrubs *yaaaay!*) and other splendiferous accouterments for body care!

Head on over to her blog for YOUR chance to win!! ^_^

About: I ♥Faces: Beach Fun!

This weeks photo challenge from I ♥ Faces is "Beach Fun!"
And boy, oh boy, what fun we had this day!
Little Miss. S. checkin' her diaper for sand... such a sweetheart :D


Head on over to their site for more great entries!

About: A Short and Sweet "What I've Been Up To" Kinda Post ;)

Well, fellow bloggers...
I've been at it again :)
I just redecorated my room [again] and I'm quite happy with the results!

When you first enter my room... this is what you see! :)
I painted a mural based off of flowers from a pillow I got from a thrift store that I absolutely LOVE!

Here is the pillow compared to the mural... the colors aren't exact, but they're close enough! :)

This is my bed... obviously :)

And now I'm done... Hey... I said it was gonna be short and sweet ;)
Hope you enjoyed!! [cause I sure did!!]

About: My Newest Love... ;)

Well... it's official... I think I'm falling in love!!!
It's the greatest feeling in the world... something new in life, fresh, lovely, dear!
I just sigh with contentedness when I think of this new and exciting adventure!

Alas, I talk not about a male, but a new hobby/pursuit I do believe that I've fallen for! ;)
I do believe that I'm really loving photography and am looking into buying a camera sometime in the near future! :D (sorry all Nikon users, I'm going with Canon. :)

I took some pictures of two precious little gals at the beach this past Sunday and I'd like to share them with you... (keep in mind that I don't have professional editing software yet, so this is a very basic edit job :)

(Also... i have NO idea how to comment on some of these pictures other than, "aaawww" , "I love this adorable little female" or "LOOKIT HOW CUTE!!" , so bear with the whole "no comments on the pictures" thing)










This one makes me laugh hysterically :)
I asked the Sparlings if it would be ok if I posted this picture...
Here's the response I got!
"S****** says it is okay so long as she remains anonymous. She says, "It's not me!!!!!!" She has talked to her lawyers and they will sue for defamation of character if you post her name with it."
Thus the reason why i struck her name out ;)


Tired little lady :)




I do believe that this one is my favorite!

Hope you enjoyed :)