Hey guys!
So, I know y’all are probably a bit grumpy with moi for not posting in like forever – but seriously. Haven’t you guys been having a heck of a good summer, too? Well, I have and I’m super excited for the rest. This fall I start BIOLOGY!!! And, I finally get frozen specimens to dissect *(evil German mad scientist laugh)*. I’m super excited for Math: more hard algebra, more hard algebra, even more hard algebra, geometry, geometry, more geometry, trigonometry, trigonometry, more trigonometry! Maybe you think I’m being sarcastic, but I’m serious. So, don’t laugh 😛 . I’m totally ready (and pumped) for real math.
I learned a lot this summer, and I’ve been dying to post (just ask my mother)!
Anyway, peeps, I wanted to share all the goofy things God put in my path this summer and I hope we can laugh over them together 🙂
May
It all probably started around May 6th with the Civil War. And let me say, that was EPIC! I had such fun…did anyone else freak out when they put Buck BACK TO SLEEP??? I did.
Scarlett Witch was awesome – what’s new? And what’s up with her and Vision??? I don’t think artificial intelligence beings can fall in love with human beings (if that’s what you call it). Whatever. I loooooved Spidey – he was just perfect! Natasha got on my nerves – again. But, she was the only one who really wanted to keep the team together, so she’s one step closer to my good side. Antman was just corny – hate to say it, but he was. I wanted to like him for Evangeline Lilly (God bless her soul), but it just wasn’t happening XD . Everything else was one word: supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
Haha, anyway. Moving on…
Around May 11th we had one of the greatest riding lessons like, ever. My sister Ally started working on her dressage with a mare named Pinta and I started jumping – for real. My lesson horse’s name is Guy – let me tell you, he’s a big ham. That’s why one of his nicknames is “Dennis the Menace” or sometimes it’s “Cookie Monster” around the barn.
My concentration face looks a lot like Elizabeth Olsen’s. Laugh out loud XD
I’m soooo confident my little sister will be the next Christian Charlotte Dujardin (I highlighted Christian for a reason, to all you equestrian news followers)…but 10x better!!! South Korea 2020 here she comes (I think the next Olympics are in South Korea – could be wrong though… XD ).
July
I think it was around this time that I discovered the amazing Disney Infinity 3.0 Marvel Battlegrounds! Oh, it’s just the best Marvel versus 4 player game for Wii U! And the Star Wars games are pretty rad, too.
My Dad is obsessed – and I mean obsessed – with the Black Panther. How obsessed? Put it this way – when he wants to kid around and wrestle with my brother John, he says things like, “Feel the wrath of a king,” or “The Black Panther is for Wakanda!” Ahem. My dad’s cool like that.
My sister is also enthralled – and I mean enthralled – with Natasha Romanoff (say wha?). And I’m still trying to figure out who my go to character is. I love Cap, don’t get me wrong, but he’s a bit slow up against the Panther and Romanoff. Vision’s up there, too, but I don’t know. But Red and Black Suit Spidey are totally totally totally up there. I think he, Cap and Vision are all tied. My mom loves the Hulk and eternally will. He was her childhood hero and always will be – besides Jesus and my Dad 😛 .
I got more into LOTR Extended Editions this month – meaning my Dad stayed awake for FOTR. I still have to watch the Two Towers Extended Edition and Return of the King. But, I’ll get there when I get there.
Our family discovered the Colorado Rapids MLS Team, too! We have had a blast going to the games, and we have TIM HOWARD! He’s done us justice, that’s for sure. We love those scarves to make us look like British fans from the EPL – I think (more like hope) that the 25% European in me is British – maybe. We went to one of these games for the Fourth and they had the biggest fireworks extravaganza in all CO! And I’m not saying that from being excited, I’m saying that because that’s what statistics are showing.
And one of the best things that happened this July was THE LAUREN DAIGLE/HILLSONG UNITED CONCERT!!!!!!! I am still reeling over the power Christ put into that room on July 25th at the Pepsi Center. I took two videos, and I finally uploaded them to YouTube, so here they are:
One of the main things that touched me about that night was the way I was freed from anxiety. As Hillsong sang Prince of Peace, speaking of how God is always there, and we have nothing to fear, I stood, raised my hands, and let the tears stream down my face as I sang my heart out to God asking Him to free me. And I was. I am.
I’m getting ready to move on in this life, and some of you know. I was afraid. I was scared. But the Prince of Peace is holding my hand step by step, kneeling at my bedside every night guarding me with a double edged sword. He strokes my hair and wipes away my tears, anxiety, and fears.
“If God is for us, who can be against us?”
– Romans 8:31
And that’s one of the biggest things I’ve learned this summer: My God is for me. My family lasts forever. My sister and crazy bros are my greatest friends above all.
Which brings me to my last point – today.
Today was my youngest brother Joshua’s birthday. His first birthday. I remember this day last year so clearly.
5:00 A.M. July 31st 2015:
“Emily, wake up.” Mom was hovering over me. She was smiling sweetly and she tapped my shoulder. “Huh?” I mumbled, still drowsy from sleep. She smiled bigger and added, “Hun, my water broke – I need to go to the hospital. Joshua’s coming!” I smiled too, this time and kicked off the covers and rushed to Mom’s room. Dad was on the floor putting towels down over spilled amniotic fluid. He smiled as we came in – I don’t remember, but he might’ve given me a thumbs up. Mom put my cell phone in my hand and told me to text and watch for texts always. And Skype every morning they were away. I took a deep breath. Ally came in about ten minutes later, walking like something out of the zombie apocalypse. Mom and Dad showered, dressed, and before long, they were in the car and off to the hospital.
9:00 A.M. July 31st 2015:
I opened my eyes to a bright sunlight streaming in the window. I glanced around. “Why am I in Mom’s bed?” I thought. Then I remembered. Mom and Dad were both gone – off to deliver Baby Joshie. I woke, made some waffles, read my Bible, and I was ready for anything. Soon after, Ally and John woke up, I made them waffles and they watched Curious George for about two or maybe three hours!
1:00 P.M. July 31st 2015:
John took his nap everyday at 1, so I put him to sleep. I pulled some frozen pizza rolls out of the freezer and stuffed all 40 onto a baking dish and put them in the oven. Ally suggested we watch Avengers, so we did – each of his eating 20 pizza rolls each. I smile thinking about it. John woke up about the time when Stark flew into one of those weird Asgardian things. I still don’t know what they are. But, they look like zis:
If someone knows what this is, please tell me! I hate being inept even in tiny ways to my favorite fandoms…
Anyway, that’s when John woke up. Dad sent me pictures of Ma in her hospital bed from time to time and every time my phone buzzed, I pounced on the Message+ app. We didn’t Skype that first day, but I could always see Ma’s face and Dad’s in my head. I tried to imagine what Joshua would look like when he finally took his first breath.
3:00-6:00 P.M. July 31st 2015:
We played outside on the trampoline, swings, fed the horse two flakes o’ alfalfa (that was when we still had ol’ Sunny), played fetch with the dogs, all that jazz. We came in, ate some left over frozen pulled pork Ma had made about two days before! I put it on some warm sandwich rolls and let all the yummy pork juice get soaked into them.
7:00 P.M. – 12:00 A.M. July 31st 2015:
I put John to bed, and Ally and I prepared for our night. Mom and Dad had texted us and given us permission to watch Captain America the Winter Soldier for the VERY FIRST TIME EVER!!! We bought it on Amazon Instant Video. Every time I see it on our video library or go to watch it, I think about Joshua’s birth.
Anyway, we were pretty excited to watch the movie, so we slipped under the covers in Ma and Dad’s big queen bed and turned on the TV.
I think it was right as Steve said, “On your left,” the first time, that the phone in my lap buzzed. I picked it up urgently, not putting the movie on pause. I pounced on the Message+ app for the fiftieth time, and there it was. A picture of Mom, holding a screaming, baby boy in her arms. The message: Joshua – 7 lb. 11 oz.
I almost cried when I saw it. I put the movie on pause just as Steve passed an annoyed Sam Wilson. “Ally! Ally!” I whispered loudly, nudging her with my elbow. “Look!” She took my phone and looked at it. She gasped and said, “Oh yay! He’s here!” “He sure is!” I answered, taking my phone back.
I’ll never forget that day. Never ever. The day my little brother – my new 3rd best friend – came into the world.
And to all my whole family: I love you. You guys keep me going and without you, I don’t know what I’d do. I thank God for all o’ you everyday…
To my beautiful parents: You’re always there for me cheering me on over the next jump. You’ve never given up on me – no matter how many times I’ve given you pretty darn good reasons to! I will always love you and thank you for the care, support, and love you pour into me. I love you guys with all my heart. You are my heroes and I want to be just like you as a wife and mother, Ma when I grow up. And Dad, I hope my hubby’s got the same “cool” that you have! I want him to be just like you in his walk with Christ and in the way he loves me.
And God, I’m thankful to you for teaching me great nuggets this summer.
Amen.
Until we next meet,
Emily Greenleaf 😛
