A Spring In Your Step

Hey Friends,

     Spring is upon us. Spring time in Arizona starts in late March and ends in early May due to weather, so April is about as springy as it gets in Arizona. I love spring so much. Pastel colors, everything is vibrantly blooming, fresh fruit with every meal, more enjoyable walks outside, and of course spring dresses. There's a simplicity about spring that makes it so attractive. Everybody during these two short months appreciates the natural and the simple. The vibrant flowers, the fresh fruit, the natural colors; it's the theme of spring and I'm lovin' it. It's times like these that has me missing Lubbock, Texas. In Lubbock, spring lasted the usual full three months. The weather was more than just bearable, it was perfect. I had a huge green garden, and five ducks with five personalities. It was perfect, and I realize now, I was embracing my inner Johanna Gaines in Lubbock. I may not have a garden any more, or ducks, but there are still plenty of ways to embrace spring in a place where spring lasts for a short while. 

    -- For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the LORD God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations. -- Isaiah 61:11

     Spring is a beautiful time of the year and prolly the most bearable time of the year in Arizona. My mom and I have been hiking so much more, which is lovely, because you get to see a whole desert in full bloom. We've been taking bike rides every day after lunch. But, one of most favorite things to do in the spring time is to go to the Farmer's Market. It is so fun and fascinating to hear all the stories and to sample all the foods. It ranges from fresh local grown veggies, to natural jams and peanut butters. I would seriously eat peanut butter with everything if I could. Spring this year has really inspired me to embrace the season and all that it has to offer. 

     One of my favorite ways to hug the season is with some fun foods. Food is good, but is even greater when you can have fun with it. Most of you know my love for breakfast, and I've recently discovered a quick, healthy, and delicious staple for me. It's simple; yogurt and some fun toppings. All I do is start with a vanilla yogurt base (or any yogurt flavor ) and go crazy with some toppings. In the picture, I used strawberries, bananas, blueberries, granola, one of my favorite cereals, and some raisins. And that's it. A super simple, quick, healthy, and extremely yummy breakfast. And you can't really go wrong with yogurt. Another staple of mine are smoothies. Today, my mother asked me if I could live without smoothies. Silly question, I don't think I could. I love fruit, and adore smoothies. You can make a smoothie out of anything which is the fun part about it.

     Pictured here is a strawberry banana smoothie. Super yummy, super simple. 

Spring time is... messy braids, fresh fruit and vibrant colors :)

• A hand full of ice
• About six strawberries, thinly sliced (Add more if desired)
• One whole banana broke in half
•  lmond milk (a lot for a thinner smoothie, a little for a thicker smoothie, up to you)
• Two tablespoons of vanilla protein powder (optional)
• One heaping tablespoon of cottage cheese (I hate cottage cheese- on it's own, but I love it in smoothies. It makes a creamier smoothie every time, it's like a milkshake)   

     Put all the ingredients into a blender and blend together until the desired consistency is reached. I always thought smoothies were a hard thing to make until I had to start doing it on my own. Follow the recipe and there you have it; an easy, delicious meal. 

     Besides all the fun flavors and colors spring brings, I believe there is one more element to a fully embraced spring. Being you. I see spring as a season overflowing with joy. I mean, besides allergies, what isn't there to love about spring? When you are surrounded with that much positivity and joyous emotion, it's bound to affect you. Let it. Seize the joy and happiness and let it seep into you and overflow within you. Feeling an abundance of joy is not a bad thing. I feel that it really highlights who I am and what I'm all about. Therefore, when you are in a season (literally and figuratively) that is full of joy, vibrant personalities, and constantly blooming; carpe diem.

XOXO- Em 

P.S - Please check out my campaign and consider donating!! It would mean so much to me. I'm four months in and am making great progress, but I still need your support. All donations mean so much to me. Thank you!! Emma's Mission - link to my campaign 

The Queen Creek Olive Mill

Hey Friends,

The most common used olives used at the olive Mill

     I've made it to Spring Break!! As a family, we have so much packed into one week. Monday morning marked the start to a much needed break. The Surretts headed for Queen Creek, Arizona to go get some waffles. I don't usually wake up early, but breakfast is a good reason to do early mornings. Why travel thirty minutes just to go get a waffle? Simple, because it's the Queen Creek Olive Mill. The Olive Mill makes waffles the size of my face infused with vanilla olive oil. Fluffy, moist, and topped with whipped butter - oh yes, I ate it all. When you walk into the restaurant, you walk first into a store filled with all sorts of olive oils. Extra virgin olive oil, virgin olive oil, blood orange olive oil, chocolate olive oil, and of course there is a bacon olive oil. The store gave off a rustic farmhouse vibe that totally filled my tank and the environment was amazing. The environment is very welcoming, the company is family owned and the Mill is family grown. After breakfast we roamed around the store, and signed up for the tour of the Mill. We headed outside to get the story behind the business. The Olive Mill's sole purpose is to produce high quality extra virgin olive oil with farming practices that exemplify their dedication to the environment and our health. A lot of thought goes into one bottle of oil, which is reason enough for me to buy a bottle. During the tour we learned that the Mill has at least seven thousand olive trees growing, and that it only takes one hour to process two and a half tons worth of olives oil. It's mind blowing to see how much can be done in one hour. Also we tasted fresh extra virgin olive oil, and let me tell you it's not like the stuff from the store. This was the read deal. When you swallow real extra virgin olive oil it leaves a burning peppery taste in the back of your throat. And evidently in Italy, they leave what's called pomace inside the oil and import it here, so we aren't getting the full experience let alone the real oil.

     My inspired writing juices began to flow. A classic, yet relevant, metaphor played out in my mind. I pulled from Matthew 23:26 - "First wash the inside of the cup and the dish, and then the outside will become clean too." What the Italians do is pretty similar to what we so often do. We are a culture that is so easily worried about our outsides instead of focusing more on our insides. When the pomace is left inside the oil, it's not at it's best or displaying it's best qualities. When the pomace is left inside the oil, the consumer doesn't taste the true oil. When the oil is mixed with other unnecessary ingredients and isn't pure oil. We are the oil and this messed up world we live in is that pomace. When we allow sin into our lives it does two things. It dirtys up the inside of our cups and clouds our vision. We convince ourselves it's alright, because no one sees the inside of the cup, it's only the outside that people are watching. Well, that's a lie. Eventually cups over flow the more they are filled. So, eventually what ever is inside will flow out. Then everyone will see what is really inside you. If you're filled with pride, it'll show. If you're filled with jealousy, it'll show. If you're filled with doubt, it will show. In the same way I can taste the difference in olive oils, I can just as easily see the insides of the cups based on the outsides. Some people's outside may be convincing, but is their inside worth believing?
     Through out this week let's clean our cups, so that it shines. This week my cup will over flow with grace, kindness, and patience. This is a challenging thing for me, to watch what comes pouring out. This week I don't want to worry at all if my cup happens to over flow. I want it to over flow and have it be evident of what I'm full of. "The fullness of Him who fills all in all." -  Ephesians 1:23. Let's rid ourselves of the pomace in our lives and fill our cups with pure and authentic olive oil.

XOXO - Em
P.S. New cards up in the etsy shop- The Art of Stationary
This past week $127 has been donated to my campaign!! That's awesome. Please consider donating, it would mean a lot to me! - Emma's Mission 

Trust the Plan

Dear Friends,
     Currently I am fifteen and a half. Here in Arizona when you are that age you can get your driver's permit. In order to do that you have to take a test. On that test are thirty questions that gives a concise account of the Arizona driver manual and you can only get six wrong. Well, being fifteen a half I could get my permit. On February eighth I went to take the test. On February eighth I missed seven questions. I was severely unprepared and a little too confident. I was told to come back next week to retake it. Throughout this entire week I've been studying like crazy. I practiced all the one's I remembered getting wrong and practiced all the one's I already knew. February nineteenth was round two for the permit test. I felt way more prepared and genuinely confident. Once again I missed seven and was told to come back next week for yet another retake. I was frustrated, disappointed, annoyed. But, most of all I was confused. I really thought I was going to get it this time. Why didn't I? This morning my supportive and proud parents both said to me that there was a purpose God didn't allow this to happen. That he has a plan for me and God's big plan said, "No, not today Em,"

-- Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant. -- 2 Samuel 7:28

     Numerous times, God has presented me with opportunities to trust him. I feel that has been a reoccurring theme for me lately. I have a difficult time trusting relationships and outcomes based on previous events. I'm not proud of that. But, now this year knowing that these reoccurring opportunities are from God, I look at them differently. I find it crazy, yet comforting, that this is all a part of God's plan for me. God has created a unique plan for Emma, and he has created a unique plan for you as well. Now it's our job to trust God and this plan he has for us. For, within his plan there is a purpose. God has laid out this road specially marked for me. And God has made a road for just you. That was done for a reason, there's purpose to it. He didn't make a plan for me so I could share it with you. All God wants is to be close to us and how much closer can you get when you're on a road made for only two people. Our problem comes when we have a lack of trust, when we choose to doubt God's unique plan for us. OK, just saying the sentence sounds crazy to me. Why would we doubt a God who wants nothing more than to be with us and has created a plan made exactly to fulfill that? Well, we do it anyway.

Seriously my life motto 

     In my day to day life I see God reveal this master plan to me countless times. Sometimes I choose to ignore them, because I don't like the way I see them. Yes, God has created a plan for me, but He's also chosen a way to present that plan to me. Not only do I have to trust the plan, but I have to trust the process just as much. In Jeremiah 29:11 I'm told that God has a plan for me, a plan to prosper me and not to harm me. A plan to give me hope and a good future. Now, re read that sentence and replace the word me with your name. Think about it that way, God has a plan for you and we are told to trust Him. He knows what He's doing, He's got it under control, He promises us all these things and we have to trust that He will fulfill his promise.

     So this is where it will get hard. We first need to trust the outcome. We know that God's plan for us will lead to a prosperous hopeful future. Will lead. Not start out that way, our path will lead to that. God has us all on a unique and different path so He teach us all in a unique and different way. That's where the doubt and hardships come in, when we're being taught. God will lead us towards certain people and away from certain people. God will lead us to a place of plenty and maybe to a place with not a lot. God will lead us where we need to be on His timing. Sometimes you have to live in Texas for a year and a half in order to realize what God wants you to be doing to glorify his kingdom. God took the Surretts to Texas and took us right back to Arizona. I don't regret living there at all, but I now realize that the move there was one of the bigger lessons God was teaching me. My faith grew as a result and I when I returned it became easier to decipher what was from God and what was form the world. Sometimes God doesn't allow you to get your driver's permit two times in a row. I was frustrated and confused. But I know that was all part of His plan and purpose for me. The lessons He shows me on my path aren't always big like Texas, there are also the small ones like permits. The reason for the small ones are because He can present Himself in even the little things.

     Our trust doesn't go unnoticed, that's all God wants from us. He desires for us to seek Him and to trust him with everything. Rejoice that God has a plan for you and don't look at it as a source for doubt. Trust that in everything he does, he does it for the good of those who love him. Always. Trust His covenant made to you because He has promised good things to his servant. You are his good and faithful servant to whom he has promised so much because you trust Him. Yeah, daily life might be confusing, disappointing and frustrating at times, but know it's all part of the plan Stan. And what more reassurance do we need when knowing that a jealous God filled with unfailing love and mercy has a plan made out specifically for you alone and has your life all planed out for his ultimate glory? I don't know about you, but for me, that is quite a comforting thought.

XOXO- Em

The Art of Stationary - All Valentine cards were sold out and a few donations were made. But we still have a long way to go. Please check out either my shop or campaign in order to help reach my goal Emma's Mission  THANK YOU!!

Run the Race

Hey Friends,

     I have wonderful news for you all!! My Etsy shop has been suspended for about the entire month of January, but now it's back up and running. I'll be honest, it's been quite a frustrating month, but I've learned how to be patient. Throughout this month I've learned how to rely on God and His timing. All good things happen on His timing. After patiently waiting, the Art of Stationary is back up!! Soon I'll be uploading Valentine's day cards, but until then feel free to check out cards already in the shop! The Art of Stationary . As for my campaign, I've yet to receive any donations. Remember that when a card is bought all the profit will be going to my campaign. This is something I'm very excited to be doing, but I need your help to accomplish this goal. Emma's Campaign. 

-- I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the Heavenly prize for which God, through Jesus Christ, is calling us. -- Philippians 3:14

     Monday night during our family bible study, this passage inspired me. Basically this passage explains that, as Christians, we are in a life long race. But, the most important components of this race is the prize at the end and the way we run. Where we are in the race doesn't matter. All we have to do is run in such a way as to gain the prize. While we are in this race, we need to give it our all and not go back to the starting line. When we mess up along the way, we shouldn't go back to the beginning and attempt a re-do because we weren't please with the way we executed something. We are going to make mistakes along the way, but we aren't going to give up. Our prize and finish line seems further and further away every time we go back tot he start line. 

     When I was a freshmen and still in public school, my parents told me I had to do a sport while I was in highschool. I decided to get it over with my freshmen year. Two facts about me: I hate doing sports and I hate running. Yes, the girl who despises sports and running decided to do track. I thought it would be easy, it wasn't easy at all. The one hour of practice felt like five hours and doing track in march in Arizona is brutal. It's already hot. I still to this day have no clue why I chose track as my one sport. When it came time for my first meet, I was looking for any excuse not to go. I was slightly sick, my legs were very sore, I had a bunch of homework. My parents still drove me to my first meet and were in the bleachers eagerly awaited my turn to run. I lined up for the 100m race, my very first ever race. When I started running I ended up in someone else's lane and dead last. Most of my races were either last or second to last. Yes I was a little disappionted, but I was more proud of finishing than the actual place I came in. I finished the entire season and don't regret doing it. On some days I gave it my all and on others I slacked off. I was never overly enthusiastic about track, but I persevered and saw it through.

     In a lot of ways, track is like the race we're running now. On some days we give it our all, and on others we slack off a little bit. On some days we swerve out of our straight and narrow lane into one that is not our own. On some days we feel a constant urge to go back to he starting line, wanting to try again. On some days we mess up so badly that we just want to quit this race entirely. But we can't. When we committed to this life of following Jesus, we left the start line and we can't go back. God knew we were going to mess up... a lot, but he still runs the race with us. When we feel like abandoning, He doesn't, and He won't. While you are running this race, run in such a way that focuses on the prize rather than prioritizes the place you're in. 

XOXO- Em

The Happy New Year

Hey Friends,
     I just want to share with you about my day yesterday, it was simply marvelous. One of my goals this year is to be hiking more, and lucky for me I've got a mother who is ecstatic about hiking and would love nothing more than keeping me accountable on that goal. Yesterday was the first hike of the year. Me and my momma headed out to Santan Regional Park in hopes for a great hike. God delivered as he usually does. It was prolly one of the best hikes I've had in awhile. In Arizona, sometimes it's hit or miss on the weather, either it's really cold or (usually) very hot. But let me tell you, the middle of January was absolutely perfect timing. The two of us headed out and nobody was there so it was a very peaceful hike. We went at our own pace talking about anything and everything, because we could.

-- Rejoice in the LORD always; again I will say, rejoice -- Philippians 4:4

Joyously twirling while hiking yesterday!!
Because, you should just stop and spin
around when feeling super elated...Am I
right? 

     Ever heard of the phrases: "Do more of what makes you happy." or "Find what makes you happy and do more of that."? Yesterday, I asked my mom if she had a motto and she said her motto was "Right on!", which I totally agree with. Then, she asked me what mine was, and I had to think about it. I came to the conclusion of my motto being one of those phrases. Recently it's become easier to identify what activities or hobbies truly make me happy. I expressed to my mom that taking more pictures of the things we do or places we go is near the top of the list. Writing and reading more frequently almost always puts a smile on my face. (If I'm reading about chemistry though - no smiles there.) Eating more waffles makes everyone happy (I'm sure about that.) Being around my best friends and bringing out the best in each other, my favorite. And listening to a song that just makes you want to get up and dance - that's the best type of music. Now that I know what makes me happy, I need to do more of it. I need to take more hikes, read more classics, take more pictures, write more blog posts. Only if I do more of the things that make me happy, then I will truly be happier. My days will be filled with joy when I make time for the activities that fill me up. I will be a happier person when I indulge in the hobbies that make me, me. My schedule this year will not only have deadlines and projects. It will also include time cut out for hiking a couple times a week and more dance sessions. 

     So, I'm challenging you to do more of what makes you happy. Find what that is and just do it. Make time in you schedule to really embrace the things that just simply make you happy. Your days will be better, your smiles will be bigger, and your perspective will be wider. When everyone else sees you're a happy person, they'll want to know your secret. There's no secret, just a simple phrase your taking to heart. This week let's find the things that make us radiantly cheerful and do more of it. 

XOXO - Em

P.S. My Etsy shop link - The Art of Stationary

The Art of Simplifying

Dear Friends,
     I'll be honest, I'm having a bit of writer's block lately. I hate the feeling of it. It's as if you have something on the tip of your tongue but don't know how to say it. It's like having this marvelous idea split up into tiny little pieces. You know there's a big picture but you're too close to see it. That's where I'm at. I'm too close to it all.

-- Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. -- 2 Corinthians 5:17

     This year, I really want to encourage a simplified way of living as I have before. So, today, I'll share with you my foundation to a more simplified year. Only one week into 2016 and we already have homework, deadlines, overflowing to-do lists, people to see, new bucket lists, goals to accomplish and lives to live. A few words pop out at me here: craziness, stressful, overwhelming, unmanageable. Let me repeat: ONE WEEK INTO 2016!! It's been a week and we're already jam packed with things to do. I'll admit, I'm guilty of it too, but not proud of it. I don't know about you, but that doesn't seem appealing at all. I'm going to share with you something more appealing for not only this week but all 52 of 'em. 

     1. Priorities 

        Our priorities dictate what we do and how we live. If work or school are your top priorities, than they will consume you and demand your attention. We make our own priorities, but that doesn't mean our priorities have to be focused on us. Priorities that support a simplified life are those based on seeking God and strengthening our faith. It's okay to have many interests, but those that are of greatest importance need to be our top priorities. That's why when you have a strong faith and totally trust God, it will be easier to discern what is important. Trust me, I know what it is to totally trust God and to totally trust in self. One life may not be easier, but it is far simpler.

     2. Perspective

        Your perspective is vital to a simple life. After you establish your priorities, you need to establish the way you look at things. What lens are you looking through? Your own or someone else's? I remember all the times I looked through other people's lenses. At first, I liked the way they looked at things, but I realized it wasn't my own lens, my own perspective. We all look at things differently. My lens is different from yours. My perspective is different, my ideas are different too. This year, let's look through our own lenses and appreciate the way we view our lives. Also, focus on that word appreciate. We can't only appreciate the way we see but also what we see. We each have been uniquely blessed, yet we compare our blessings. Through our own lenses, let's focus in on our own blessings and realize how wonderful they are to us individually.

     3. Happiness
        This is a big one guys! So often in the world we live in today we become easily discontent. We focus on what we don't have and what we don't do instead of the opposite. Everyone's "happy" is different. My happy is when I'm doing what I love or when I'm with people I adore. Happiness is making time to do what YOU love to do (not what other people love) because it ends up empowering you. That's happiness. Do things that inspire you, encourage you, and empower you. It will fill you with happiness. It works every time, trust me! When we focus on our own "happy" instead of that of others, it will lead to a more simplified life because we're not worried about over complicating or mixing up all the "happy's" we're trying to be. Our own is good enough.

      4. Crowd Control
          Alright, last one. Crowd control. This year I did what most people do: I looked back on 2015 to analyze what I should be doing differently. Although a few things came to mind, a big one was the crowds. Why am I following so many? I realized they don't lift me up, they lower my self esteem. I've got to get out. So, in 2016, I will. I looked back on everything and everyone I was trying to be, and man it's exhausting. Take a minute and stop to evaluate who you want to be and why. Then, do not go looking for it. You will find it inside you and God. Your truest self is found within you, not a crowd where everyone's the same. That's not very exciting, and let me tell you, you are worth so much more than a crowd. This year I told myself that I should lead the crowds instead of follow them. How revolutionary would that be?

     This is the art of simplifying and it's not that hard. All that's needed is straightening out a few areas of our lives in order to achieve simplicity. It's not that far from our reach, it's right in front of us. The only thing holding you back is your lifestyle. When our priorities, perspective, happiness, and direction glorifies God and brings out the best us, only then can the simple life take over. This year let's be the best versions of us by living the life best for us.

XOXO- Em

P.S. NEW CARDS UP ON ETSY!! LINK - The Art of Stationary

2016!!

Dear Readers,

     Happy New Year!! I don't know about you, but 2015 was definitely full of changes and growth. There was my transition from public school to homeschooling, new additions to our church, growing closer to friends, while losing some along the way and growing closer to God through out all of it. This year I learned to really rely on God, while learning what it means to trust Him with all I have. I'm also thankful I've realized what I want to do with my life and the direction I want to take.

-- Don't merely listen to the word and so deceive yourself. Do what it says. -- James 1:22

     2016 will be different. This year, I didn't make resolutions. No, this year, I sat with my family, in a lovely coffee shop in Sedona, AZ and we worked on setting goals. I know the two sound similar, but a resolution is a change you want to make in your daily life, while a goal is something you want to accomplish. It's something you set out to do with the expectation of growing in the end.  Committing to something you know will make you better. That's a goal.

     So I made a few goals this year. I'm aiming to be more consistent in my walk with God and to have a bolder faith in all I do. I want to be a more godly example to my family and friends. I want to read and write more. Honestly, I'd like to exercise daily, but I'm still working through that one. And lastly, I'm going to stick with whatever I start, because I want to do what I say I'm going to do.

     Last year, (more like a month ago), I felt a prompting to serve more, which hatched an idea. Some of my favorite things, as you know, are serving and handwritten notes, a.k.a stationary, so I decided to put the two together. 

     

     1Mission is a community development organization, giving people living in poverty the opportunity to earn a house by serving in their community. I've had the opportunity to be a part of several projects with this organization, beginning when I was 9.  I'll never forget the feeling of watching a family receive the keys to their new home.  What a blessed experience. 

     Through 1Mission, campaigns may be established in order to raise money for families in need and that's what I'm doing.  Check it out here: Emma's Mission. The stationary comes in as my way to raise the money. I've opened an Etsy shop called The Art of Stationary.  I'm selling handmade stationary where all the profits go to my campaign. This is my number one project and one of my top goals for 2016. I'm so excited about this and even more excited to share this with you. Please take some time to browse my store.  Of course, I'm partial to these designs, but I think you'll love them too! When you make a purchase, be sure to spread the word, as no one ever changed the world all on their own.  Let's get as many people involved in this as we can. 

    As I stated in the beginning of this post, 2016 will be different; I can feel it. However, the only way it's going to be different is when people like you and me set out to make it so. 

XOXO- Em