I can't believe...

...that I forgot my blog again. Oh, where to start, where to start. So much has happened since I last submitted an entry.

Last week I was on vacation with my family. We went to TN and NC to visit relatives on my dad's side, visited Washington, DC, (got lots of photos of monuments -- and went to the National Zoo!) and stopped at Cracker Barrel in Pennsylvania on the way back home. All in all it was a very busy week.

I've finally decided on a time to start a group for girls at church. I'm not sure how it will go, or what exactly we'll do, but I do believe that it is God's will for me to do something with the girls in the local community. What I do know is that there will be some teaching, games, and community-helping activities. Maybe helping at a soup kitchen? Maybe writing letters to send to people who need encouragement? Bake sales? I don't believe that I'm thinking too big, but I do need prayer with this. I won't be alone in it, I have my mom's support and help, and of course, the LORD on my side. I only pray that I do what pleases Him...

...speaking of which. What does God say about crushes? Are they good? Bad? Both? Do they teach you what love feels like, can they make you stronger, or do they tear you down to a blubbering idiot? Crushes are a hard subject to deal with. Maybe I shouldn't speak like I know what I'm talking about, although I do feel that God is revealing to me the nature of crushes. I've never had one. Never -- until now. Maybe it helps me that it's not someone I know, not someone my age, not even in the same country, but it's still a crush. A genuine crush. I seem to have become infatuated with Scottish actor David Tennant. Now, I understand that it's a crush, and I think he's "cute." But It's so hard to think of what it's like for girls who are crushing hard on young band members, TV stars, or even people they know, and really take it serious. I feel blessed that I never had a crush sooner. But it's helping me understand what it's like, and what I'm trying to figure out is this -- maybe a strange question -- is God using this crush to teach me what it's like so when I start ministering to other teens, I can relate? I hope I don't sound naive. I really believe this is true though... I may have many more crushes in the future but I pray not. What can I say but this -- HORMONES CAN BE ANNOYING.

Goodness, I'm rambling. I'm almost afraid to go back and read that whole last paragraph in fear of realizing it sounds like meaningless rant, although I don't believe it is...

Actually, if anyone understands me, feel free to tell me. If it makes no sense, feel free to tell me that as well. My biggest problem is that I hope that I never sound all high-and-mighty...like I'm not effected by things like crushes and all that. I'm a regular teenage girl, but one with a passion for learning God's will.

I frequently think about love -- about true love -- not crushes or that stuff... but what will my future husband be like? Many times I ask God that I will find true love soon -- but then I remember that at this age I'm probably not ready in any form.

Well, enough talk of that, for fear of going on too much. Let's talk about something else.

I haven't gotten a ton of finished artwork done lately, so I should probably work on some of the projects I have. I need to send in two of my art school assignments, and on top of that, I want to enter the art competition they have. I have an idea of what I'm going to draw for it. I hope I win something! (:

Thanks for reading my ramblings, sorry it was so long but I haven't gotten to blog at all lately. I need to keep up with it more.

One last request -- if you're reading this, could you post a comment, just to tell me you're out there? If you did that, I'd be so grateful. I want to know if people are actually reading.

Thanks all, and God bless!

Emily