Wacky Wednesday...what extreme sport should you try

You Should Try Adventure Racing

Not only do you have the extreme attitudeYou've the extreme endurance for an adventure race!

What Extreme Sport Should You Try?

Smart Card Sunday/ 5 Reasons me-me

So it was nice to just take a little break from the blogs. I've been hanging outside all day long this past week and have not been on the computer a ton. but i didn't forget about smart card Sunday...

Take
your focus
off of how others
see you. Cease
being obsessed
with the need to impress
your friends and your
foes. Keep your concern
on the vision you see in
the mirror. Don't allow
the approval of others
to obstruct you
view of YOU.
- Travis Smiley

I was also tagged at the beginning of the week by Ashley to participate in this me-me "5 Reasons I Love Jesus" meme. So hear it goes...

1. He is always forgiving. ~ This is incredible! I am just now getting back on track from making some poor decisions that I regret and not being as close to him as I used to; and instead of being angry at me for making some bad choices and being farther than I wanted from him for awhile he welcomes me back with open arms.

2. He leads me in the right direction. ~ As many of you know, 7th grade was a hard year for me. My best friend and I got into a huge fight and we haven't really talked much since, which was one of the hardest things I've gone through. But after loosing her, God lead me towards some of my old friends who I now have reconnected with. Lauren and Kenzie are not only a ton of fun but great christian girls. The 3 of us have actually even started a bible study together this summer which has helped all of us grow a lot.

3. He helps me make the right choices ~ Being in middle school you are faced with hard decisions daily and have to put up with much peer pressure. I've already been faced with situations where God has given me the strength to say "no" to my peers and make the right choice.

4. He works in interesting ways. ~ Last week, I was really tired and not wanting to get up and go to church Sunday morning. I was sporting a frown all morning and didn't speak a word on the way there. But as I sat in church listening to Pastor Todd I felt like the sermon was faced all towards me and was exactly what I needed to hear. It just proves to show that God works in interesting and mysterious ways.

5. He has a reason for everything and will always keep his word of meeting all our needs. ~ You know, sometimes it's difficult for me to understand why God allows bad things happen. For example, why weren't we matched with one of the little girls we requested on the last COP list and why couldn't my mom have any kids right after me but could after Sophia. But we just have to remember that God has a plan for everything. Maybe there is a different little girl out there that is meant to be in our family instead of one of the three we last requested. And if my mom had Daniel earlier would we have chose to adopt Sophia? Then where would she be?
"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus" Philippians 4:19

I have to say, thanks Ashley for tagging me. It really caused me to stop and think! I definitly need to do that more often! =)

what flower are u

Sorry I am getting to this so late. Our computer and cable went out all day and just came back on so I'm just getting to everything. You Are a Carnation

You are down to earth and grounded. You tend to be more traditional than trendy.Your confidence gets you through anything.People trust you and are very loyal to you.

What Flower Are You?

Smart Card Sunday

I decided to do 2 Smart Card Sundays since I've been gone for the last couple. Hope you enjoy them! =) Have a great Sunday!

From

the dawn of time,

God has known you

and loved you. He's not

waiting today for you

to get it together.

He's waiting for you

to come to him with

open, empty hands.

~ Dr. Bruce Wilkinson

The words

you use to describe

others make sharp

YOU-turns.

Your judgments,

criticisms, and

compliments

boomering back

to you. What you say

about others,

you're also saying

about yourself.

-Travis Smiley

Congratulations Gwen!!!

My wonderful Gwen was just recently matched with this beautiful little girl who they are naming Maggie. They are hoping to travel in 2-5 months to bring her home! This baby girl and this family were truly meant to be and I can't wait to see her in her mommy and daddy's arms. I love Gwen and her family so much and am so excited for them to bring another little addition to the family home soon! Stop by her blog to leave her with some warm and congratulating words...she'll love it! :)

Which Dessert are you Most Like?

Sorry I posted this so late but I wanted to wait awhile since I just posted my pics from the trip yesterday! Anyway...hope u all like the quiz!

You Are a Brownie

Decadent and intense, you aren't for the weakhearted.Those who can deal with your strong flavor find out how sweet you really are.

What Dessert Are You Most Like?

Gettin Back into the Swing of things...

OMW I've never had such a busy summer! So I got back from Europe on July 3rd, late at night. Left for Tennessee a day later. I Just got back from Tennessee Sunday night! Was gone at Kenzie's house all day yesterday our Bible study! So I am just now getting a chance to get back on the blog. I uploaded all these pics to Kodak before Tennessee thinking all of you could see them but it wont work so I just decided to upload a couple to blogger! Hope you all like them! I'm gonna try hard to get around to all the blogs today and upload more pics of the reunion soon! (the pictures are in order from the places we went...just like the bottom post)

I'm Back

Hey everyone!! Boy am I glad to be back! I made sure to make time for a quick post as I just got back late last night from Europe and have been trying to unpack and pack since we're leaving tomorrow for Tennessee to meet all the families for the Ping Jiang Reunion. The business just never stops! Overall I had a pretty good trip and saw a lot of neat things...hope you enjoy the pics...

Click here to see a slideshow
updated: ok I know you're all dying to see pics....I'm working on the slideshow as it's not working

What we did in Europe

Amsterdam:

Ate at Hard Rock Cafe

Van Gough Museum

Ricks Museum

Corrie Ten Boom House

Saw the Rembrandt statue-Night House

Germany:

Visited DaKow (first made concentration camp)

Visited Castle in Heidelberg/saw huge wine barrel

Drank and danced at beer garden

Austria:

Swaraski Crystal Museum

Italy:

Boat ride to Venice

Shopped for purses in the black market

Visited St. Marks Basilica

Shopped and hung out in St. Marks Square

Rode in a gondola down the canals

Verona Coliseum

Toured Romeo and Juliette's house

Switzerland:

Great Mountains

Rode to the top of Mount Pilateus

Boat ride on Lake Lucern

Shopped for Swiss Knives and chocolate

France:

Shopped at Galleria Lafitte (one of the largest department stored in the world, 7 floors)

Visited the Louvre(largest museum in the world)/saw the Monolisa

Visited Notre Dame Cathedral

Went to the top of the Eiffel Tower

Boat ride down the river

London:

Rode on the London eye (largest ferris wheel in the world)

Toured Windsor Castle

Stopped Buckingham Palace

Saw Big Ben

Ate in a city called Convent Gardens

Went to see a Broadway show (called Wicked)

With Love

I missed you soooooo much Lulu......I can't wait to see you tonight!

Love,

Mom

Leaving for Europe

Well we're about ready to leave but I just remembered I told all my blogger buddies I would tell them where I was going. I was going to post my whole itinerary but mom said I shouldn't just post that on the Internet for safety reasons so I decided just to tell you the places I'll be visiting.

Here's where I'll be the next 2 1/2 weeks....
Germany
Amsterdam
Venice
Switzerland
Austria
Paris
London

I'll post pictures as soon as I get back of the places I went. I didn't get a chance to visit all the blogs one more time before I left as I have been so busy packing and cleaning up today but I'll be sure to get all caught up when I get back! I'll miss you all! Keep me in your thoughts and prayers please! Lots of love...Emmie <3

Mom's 40th Birthday Party

OMW am I so behind on the blogging or what!? So this may be a very long post but I have so much to share. I'll just go day by day to make it less confusing...

FRIDAY: So Friday morning my good friends Lauren and Kenzie came over for our first Bible Study meeting. We are reading the Secret Power Girl books and studying the Book of Philippians. We had a great meeting and made pictures frames as our craft afterwards. Then later my dad and I dropped them off at their houses and picked Gwen and Becky up at the airport. We had my mom meet us at the grill at about nine since both girls flights were delayed (hope you liked that hair gel Gwen :)) and we totally surprised her by having the girls there. We were the last ones in the restaurant chatting until nearing 11:00 and then dropped the girls off at a hotel in Grand Rapids. My dad, Gwen, Becky, and I have had this all planned for over 2 months now and were so excited to see them and surprise my mom!

SATURDAY: We picked the girls up in the morning and brought them back to the house. We layed in the sun, went out on the boats, had a nice lunch (made by me, lol ), gave mom her presents, primped and got ready, and then headed to Yen Ching (a Chinese Restaurant) for the party. Mom had a great time continuing to chat with the girls and all our other friends and family that were there. Lauren and Kenzie were there as well so I had someone to hang with. The food was great, I said a speech which not only made my mom cry but ME TOO, and there was a comedian as well. Even Kimberly from Red Mary Janes was there which was great. After the party my mom, dad, Gwen and Becky headed back to the hotel to chat the night away. Unfortunately we have said our goodbyes as they left this morning but luckily we will see them all in just 3 weeks for the Reunion in Tennessee.

SUNDAY: Today I am busy packing and getting ready for my trip! We leave tomorrow night!! Right before I leave I'll do a post to show you all what I will be doing and where I'll be going, don't worry! I'll try to get around to all the blogs 1 or 2 more times before I leave. Hopefully I won't get too behind while I'm gone! :( Also Happy Father's Day to Dad! We are going to have a nice dinner tonight and have just been chilling at the house all day.

So here's some pictures of the party. The slideshow wouldn't work so I just had to list them like this. And my mom's good friend was in charge of taking pictures of the whole party and all the people so I don't have many of those (just of us) but oh well, I took quite a bunch for y'all! :) And my Oma wanted me to post my speech on the blog so she could print it out and have one of her own so that's right underneath this post if you'd like to read that. I couldn't believe I started to cry while reading it! Ugh, little miss emotional here! Anyway, I didn't forget Smart Card Sunday either Mr. Brian! Here it is...

We're all here for
a purpose. Meditate
on your mission, then
use your gifts and
talents to live your life
on purpose. In doing
so, you'll become an
unending magnet
for miracles.
-Travis Smiley

The Girls, what a great surprise!

Gwen and I...:)