Party Boat

So I'm at work. I sort of feel like I'm starting to get sick. My throat is feeling weird. NOT good. I thought that maybe I somehow got past all of the crazy sick people that were around me. I can't get sick. I have a party boat to be on tonight for New Years, can't get sick.
Speaking of the party boat...it's going to be legendary. Just thinking about the ride to the Party Boat, I am already envisioning peeing my pants. 6 people (1 of whom is a big guy) all in a car together. I volunteered to be in the trunk (of an SUV) Jen also volunteered to be in the trunk with me since "the big guy" may take up two seats (...but probably not, he's not that big...she was just looking for an excuse for both of us to squeeze in the trunk together...which in itself would be legendary) We've decided to pack an extra New Years outfit just in case.

Prepare Yourself...

Jill just posted this video on her blog of my mom trying out the kids "carpet skates" that they got for Christmas. Seriously my head is about to explode from laughing so hard. I love my family. I was sad that I missed out on this little incident. But 17 days baby...I'll be there with extra undies. :)

Coffee Shop, Grilled Cheese and a Beer

I've gotten back into the habit of going to chill at coffee shops. I love it. Austin has some unique coffee shops. I love that about Austin.
Tonight Jen and I went to Clementine's. It was excellent. Cool vibe.
They had some cool looking chairs...
We had some panini's. I got the Grilled Cheese. It was cheesy. Cheesy and good.Jen's choice of beverage: Mocha...My choice of beverage: Shiner.
Grilled cheese and a beer at a coffee shop with one of my best friends...can't get much better than that!

Personalized Google Desktop Countdown says...

18 days until Iowa!

I can't wait. I will be home Jan. 16-25. 10 days of goodness. Would love to see any of you that will be around!

It's going to be cold. real cold. snowy cold. I may have to borrow my roomie's footy pajamas.

Men in Women's Stores is Hilarious.

I went to visit Wendy at work the day before Christmas eve, she works at Bath and Body Works. I started noticing how many men were roaming the store aimlessly in search of the perfect gift. It was hilarious.
I started overhearing conversations and about lost my business. Here were a few of my favorites:

One dude to another dude: "Dude! It smells like skittles!"

One guy sees another guy that he knows and goes up to him:
Guy 1: "Hey man...you look clueless."
Guy 2: "I know man, I'm trying to figure this place out."
Guy 1: "Yeah, I'm trying to find a gift for my girl and you?"
Guy 2: "My grandma."
Guy 1: "She wants something like some Japanese Blossom." (which is actually Japanese Cherry Blossom...close.)
Guy 2: "Yeah...I think it's in a purple bottle." (actually it's in a red bottle...close.)
Guy 1: "Thanks man. Good luck."

Middle-aged Gentleman: I'm looking for some sheets...or how about some mirrors..."
Wendy: "Sir, I think you are wanting 'Bed Bath and Beyond', this is Bath and Body Works."

Update

I just read an update from the Medical Advocacy Team regarding Fedna and Bear.
They are running out of time. They really need this surgery to happen now and they need the money to get them over here. This needs to happen in the next 10 days.
Read this post now.
If everyone who reads the blog just gives $20, it could cover the cost of travel for BOTH kids.
DO IT. This is urgent.

Donations Needed

HELP! Fedna and “Bear” are in SERIOUS need of surgery. They need to get to the US as quickly as possible. My friends Jamie and Aaron are hosting sweet Fedna after the surgery while she recovers. She cannot get the care that she needs in Haiti, so a doctor and hospital here are giving that to her for FREE!
But they need to get here.
Would you consider donating some $?
When I think about the amount of money that is spent on Christmas presents it seriously makes me want to vomit. And these kids are in need of $ for flights to save their lives.
Here they are:
"Bear":

Fedna:

Here's how you can help:

Send donations to-
Medical Advocacy Team
PO BOX 340
Albany, OH 45710

You can even use your paypal account, which is easier and quicker, go to the Medical Advocacy Team's blog and click on the donate button.

Spread the word...they need to get here. Pray for them.

Weepy Lights.

One of my favorite things to do at Christmas time is to grab my guitar turn the lights out sit by the Christmas tree and sing by the light of the tree. I love it. There is something soothing about Christmas tree lights. That is how I'm ending my night. After a crazy, long, emotional and up and down week tonight I'm sitting by the tree, reflecting on worship today. It was intense. Intense in a good way.
I'm still in awe of how God has placed me in the position of helping lead worship at my church. It is an unbelievable experience getting to worship with these guys. Seriously. We only had two services today but I feel like I just ran a marathon or something. I'm always so surprised at how spent I am at the end of a Sunday. It's just so intense. In a good way.
These last two Sundays Matt has been preaching on the song "O Holy Night" at church. Y'all need to go listen to it. It will wreck you.

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,'
Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O, hear the angels' voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
His power and glory evermore proclaim.

SO good.
I'm so weepy. And tired. God is stirring in me and I'm trying to figure out what in the world is going on, other than I'm such a girl and I cry about everything lately.
I'm going to get back to my Christmas tree lights and then go to bed.

Sweet Lips

I can't stop watching this video of my sweet nephew Max. He's got nice lips.

I Need a Few More Layers.

I'm a little embarrassed by my lack of blogging. Seriously. So sad. I'm sorry!

I know that I shouldn't complain, because the high in Iowa is 9 degrees and my roomie is in N. Dakota right now visiting family and the high is -4 degrees, but I'm FREEZING!!!
We had a high today of 36 degrees...that is cold for Austin. And what is worse is that the heater in our apartment is not working. A boiler is out and won't be fixed for another couple of weeks. They gave us space heaters, but since our apartment is not renovated and is completely ghetto when Hilary and I both have our space heaters on at the same time we blow fuses, light bulbs...not good. The electricians now have to come in and install a new breaker box so that we don't blow up our apartment.
Two little space heaters does not really heat up an apartment well. I'm laying in bed right now with 3 blankets on socks, and you don't want to know how many layers of clothes, I would get made fun of more than I already do about my layers. It's a little ridiculous. It's seriously 50 degrees in our apartment. Maybe not 50 degrees...but it's below 60 degrees...for sure.
I completely admit that I have become a total wimp since I've moved to TX. I admit it.

Layering Math Problems

For those of you who know my love of layering will find this funny.
My bro-in-law always like to make fun of me about it.
I read this on my sister's blog:

Noah and Joe were doing math problems the other morning. This is what I overheard...

"Emily was trying to decide what outfit to wear. The first outfit was 17 layers. The second outfit was 22 layers. How many layers is that in all?"

Nice.

I Am Second

check out this testimony from the former drummer of the band Korn.

My Heart

For some reason Africa is on my heart and I can't shake it.

Elderly Ghetto Gospel Choir

What in the world?!

Noises of the Year

so here is the video of my surprise visit home for Thanksgiving. We all pile in to their house and I'm at the very end...you will be able to tell when she finally sees me! Noises of the year!

64 degrees and FREEZING.

It's FREEZING in our apartment.

Our heater/AC is controlled by the owners of the apartment complex. They control whether it is on AC or whether it is on heat. Well I don't know what in the world is happening but it has been running non-stop and it is COLD air. It just keeps running and running. It's 64 degrees in our apartment. Even if I turn the thermostat down to 60 it still runs. It is FREEZING!!!! I'm seriously layered up, with my hat on, covered in blankets, and socks.Wimp, I know. I'm a wimp.
But really...64 degrees?!?! It makes getting out of bed in the morning...REAL hard!

Luke Warm Worship Leader

Read this today on a blog today and thought I would pass it along. SO good. Check yourself. Are you this person? Am I this person?
Also check out this blog where he got this idea.

A lukewarm worship leader:

• Prays more on stage than off stage.
• Is almost exclusively dependent on others songs to sing than writing songs for where their local church is at.
• Cares more about how many songs he or she is leading than the overall shape of the service.
• Is overly sensitive to criticism.
• Is jealous or critical of someone else that God is blessing.
• Spends little if any time in the Word preparing to lead His Church.
• Sings more songs on stage than in personal worship.
• Spends more time mimicking other worship leaders then being shaped into the worship leader they we made to be.
• Says things on stage that his or her family NEVER hear them say off stage.

Iowa

So I realize that I have been a MAJOR slacker in my blogging. Sorry!

I need to get better at this.

I just got back last night from a last minute trip to Iowa! I surprised my mom. She had no idea. We had bets going as to how she was going to respond. The majority of them being that she would pee her pants.
No one was expecting the noise that came out of her mouth though. It was amazing. We have it all on video, I'll post it as soon as I get it put together. I already warned my mom that it was going up on the blog...it's too good not to post it for the world to see. She was ok with it.

I loved being back, even though it was short. I'm used to 10 day trips!

The kids all looked HUGE. It was so great spending time with them and snuggling with those who would let me snuggle with them. The McCarragher boys seem to be getting too old for that. :( The Brown boys are very affectionate and so I can always get hugs out of them! But Max was still getting used to me, he would try not to make eye contact when I would talk to him and then sometimes he would just close his eyes. He is very expressive and has lots of funny lip expressions that he does. There were a few times that he would actually snuggle with me and play with me. I LOVED every minute of it! Sweet boy. Each day was a new day though, and he had to start over with getting comfortable with me!

Lily Margaret was as girly as ever and I LOVE IT!!! She is very girl amidst all of those boys. She is lovely, so lovely. When we weren't together she would always ask, "Where's my Emmy?" I love her. We got to snuggle and watch "The Wittle Wormaid" (the little mermaid) together on Sunday morning. She didn't mind that I sort of dozed off. :) When you get a sweet little girl laying on you with all sorts of blankies and stuffed animals you can't help but get sleepy! It's the best feeling ever.

We played a crazy game of charades that put another check on the "someone almost peeing their pants" chart. Be looking for videos on that too!

I got to spend some time with my friend, Meghan, which is always a blast. She was my roommate for several years and we always laugh a lot! She is expecting her second child in 3 weeks and I loved looking at her belly. I just find it so fascinating! She said that it's not so fascinating when you're the one that's 8 1/2 months pregnant. :) She is beautiful!

It SNOWED!! Saturday night into Sunday it started snowing. It was beautiful...but I'm glad that I got to leave it. It was cold. VERY cold.

I will post pics and videos when I get a chance!