#SPEDlife

This past week we were assigned a project in which we had to adapt a book using boardmaker. While others complained about this being an obnoxious project, I was super excited for it. 

I love kids with special needs.
I love using Boardmaker.
I love doing projects that are actually worthwhile!!

And so I began the process of adapting my book. And I am loving it :)

Stay tuned for pictures of the final product :)

I was so meant to be a sped teacher. 

I'm gonna make it

This week has been challenging. The week to come will be even more so. 

But I'm gonna make it.

I'm gonna make it because there is a God who loves me watching over me, right this minute. He has planned out my days and knows what they will bring. And he will provide.

He is already providing. He is showing me how faithful He is, each and every day. 

This weekend I have seen him working in pretty awesome ways. 

1) friendship. The Lord has begun to heal a friendship that was very broken; one I had nearly given up on. But slowly and surely this past few months The Lord has been working to heal and to grow this friendship back into something beautiful. I'm not sure what changed, but I am soooo incredibly thankful. I have been blessed greatly through this friendship this past week. I can't wait to see what the Lord does from here.

I spent time with these two... 

Max came to visit trinity these past few days. It has been so fabulous to have him here with me! There is something so incredibly wonderful about having him near. I am blessed to have a brother that I can trust and rely on. 

And tonight, I danced the night away with some pretty incredible students from Elim Christian school. And with that, I danced away(more like the Lord took away) all my fears and nerves about this coming week. I am doing what I am supposed to be doing. God is providing. 

And I'm gonna make it. 

Blessed

Update #2- Housing

Let me start by saying I absolutely hate this time of year. Housing is so messy. 

And because the whole thing actually kind of exhausts me- I'm going to skip writing about how we picked roommates for next year and just tell you who they are.

My roommates for next year are Ashley Olsen, Lindsey Hegarty, Alyssa Slinkman, and Melissa Stalman.

I really don't know much about Ashley and Lindsey. I know Ashley is quiet and is a sweetheart and overall I think she'll be really easy to live with. I know Lindsey is a good friend of Melissa's, so that will be fine. I also know she doesn't like kids (She's gonna have to get over that one). But that's really all I know about her at this point. I am eager and excited to get to know them both more next year. And Alyssa is by far one of my best friends. I'm not anticipating any trouble living with her. 

Obviously, I know Melissa. I can't imagine not living with her, so I am so thankful we were on the same page about living together next year. This girl has become one of my best and dearest friends and I can't imagine going into senior year without her.  

Lindsey 

Ashley 

Alyssa

Melissa

Because I don't feel like doing my homework- Update #1!

My motivation to write my research paper is quickly dwindling. I'm hoping that I find some inspiration for writing while writing this blog post. ;)

So in the past month I have been very successful at neglecting all my blogging responsibilities. Because of that, I have not yet blogged about any of the exciting events that have happened in my life. So this week I am blogging a series of what I will call "Updates: The Exciting Events I haven't yet Blogged About." (Original huh? #springbreak)

So here you are: Update #1: My 21st Birthday!

Let me start by saying that I don't feel any older than I did the day before I turned 21. I think I've been asked that question at least 21 times. :P

My birthday celebration started on Tuesday (my actual birthday was Saturday). Both of my roommates go home on the weekends, but they wanted to make sure they celebrated with me. In true Emily fashion, we celebrated in the most outrageous of ways. We ordered a pizza, watched a movie, and ate cake. (Big shocker eh?). It was wonderful. We watched the Freedom Writers...such a powerful and inspiring movie!

Then on Friday night I hung out with Kari and Alyssa...we watched Freedom Writers becausae Kari hadn't seen it and I was on a kick. At midnight they sang to me and within a few minutes some other people had shown up to sing as well...Kari's roommates came, Molly and her roommates came, Woody came, and Katie. It was a small group, but it was most of my favorite people, so it meant a lot. I am thankful they decided to sing to me in the safety of my bedroom instead of the lobby :)

Kari and I finally went to bed around 3am- she slept over in my room which was super fun! We slept in until about 9am and then she left to go to her basketball game. I spent time doing devos and spent time reflecting on the past year before leaving at 11am to go hang out with Kara, which was by far my favorite part of the day.

I have really struggled this year (no surprise to those of you who read my blog regularly) with the very limited amount of quality time I get to spend with Kara.  It was really hard for me to go from meeting with her every week (sophomore year) to only being able to spend actual time (time that has been specifically set aside) with her once every now and then. So this time with her was really precious to me. 

We went for coffee/tea first at this little place right near Trinity. It's become a place we visit frequently when we do end up spending time together. We ordered our drinks and then sat and talked for about a half an hour before heading out for our next adventure.

She took me to the Little Red Schoolhouse in Willow Springs, IL. I can't believe I had never been there before! It's a nature center, sort of like my dear Lake Katherine, but bigger. Inside there were tons of different kinds of things to explore. My favorite thing was by far the turtles. They were SO cute!!

Kara and I sat in front of the turtles for at least a half hour just talking and laughing. We were really the only people there, so it was perfect. Also, this place has crocodile turtles. They are creepy.

http://gapersblock.com/airbags/archives/rearranging_turtles/

Overall, that time with Kara was needed and SO SO appreciated. She made me feel so super special. I am so thankful for that time I got to spend with her.

The next several hours were spent hanging out with my dear Alyssa, who also did a fantastic job of making me feel special and loved on my birthday. I swear, this girl is a beautiful gift from God. I am so thankful for the friendship we share!

After that I went out for dinner with my family and Molly (who might as well be family) and we had a lot of fun just talking and laughing and telling stories. The food was great, the company was great, overall it was just a great time together.

Then I came back and just hung around with people- whoever I could find. And I celebrated by going to bed early. Yiipppee!!

My birthday was celebrated again later the next week when Lette and I went on our own set of adventures. We went for coffee and hit up Lake Katherine in the freezing cold. It was pretty fabulous all the same.

Words cannot express how thankful I am that Lette is back from Ecuador! It's been so wonderful to have her back right down the hall from me. I am blessed.

So there you have it! Thank you all who helped make my birthday a wonderfully fantastic day. I am so thankful for each and every one of you!

Stay tuned for Update #2: Housing! 

Bliss

It's 5pm. 

The sun is still shining. 

I have a cup of warm coffee sitting in front of me.

My brother is playing the guitar.

My dog is resting at my feet.

Life is good friends. Life is good. 

Stay tuned for updates on:

• Classes
• My Birthday
• Other Trin happenings