Let Me Light Up The Sky.

"i will go. Lord send me, i will go."
many times i cried those words from my heart in the darkest hours of the night.

This is my story.
October 30,2008. On this night the Lord set in my heart the kindling of a flame that over the next mounths would grow into a fire that spread through my mind, heart, soul and life.
A passion. A purpose. A dream. From the moment I began reading that Compassion magazine to where I am today that passion has grown each and every day. My heart has broken and bleed. For every pierced and unreached soul. Every heart that has witnessed war, famine, sickness and despair. Every eye that has seen a family member marched away at the point of a gun. Every child that's body was whipped into a killing machine. Every person that has experianced the work of the devil. My heart goes out to them. On that snowy October evening I found myself gazing into the eyes of the children whos pictures and small bits of their stories had been printed on the page. I began to wander what the depth, the joy and pain of their story held. As the tears began to run down my cheeks, I heard my Sweet Jesus begin to knock on the door of my heart. He whispered "My child are you ready and willing". The months that have followed October 30 have been a truly incredible journey for me. My heart has moved from passive comfort, to a raging fire that is burning up all that I am and desire and refining me to who God is and what He desires for my life. i am not but i know I AM. This journey has not been easy and painless, my heart has been filled with much fear and doubt, but daily I am reminded of my intense smallness in light of Gods greatness. Realized my ability and all that i am and am not lie in the hands of the One who set the stars on fire, the One who sets the rivers in motion, the One who gives the birds wings to soar, the One and Only God who knows my every thought, who has caught every tear and heard every cry. I have nothing to fear.

I hear Gods call to me from Uganda. A tiny country, a country with a huge heart. A heart that has been broken, scared and bruised by war. A country that has known much pain. I pray that someday I will find myself looking up to the sun and stars that shine down on that land. May God find me faithful, ready and true. Until that day I will be here on my knees, thanking God for His blessings and asking for His grace. When that day dawns.......
i will go.

princess for my King

just another call in the rain.
another heart in a sea of pain.
this world hurts me,confuses and deserts me.
i try to be strong,
butagainst you God i can't fight long.
what have i done?!what have i become
i have never deserved your sweet precious son
here i am on my knees again
in this place again
crying for your love to begin
i have to let it go
i have to give it up
to you God i cry, i don't understandbut i know that this is all part of your plan
i am humbled
i am lame
i am alone
yet i am not
in it all your call comes through, so gentle and smooth
and as i cry it all begins
it carries through from beginning to end
slowly my heart becomes broken, at my Jesus the words you have spoken
sweet Jesus you saw when my trust was betrayed yet your grace i found on that day
you called me to love, to speak and forgive
you showed me the beautiful way i could live
i ran away
i ran away far
and when i fell, i fell hard
i fell so fast and so long and then my savior i heard this song........
I hear You say,

"My love is over. It's underneath.It's inside. It's in between.The times you doubt Me, when you can't feel.The times that you question, 'Is this for real? 'The times you're broken.The times that you mend.The times that you hate Me, and the times that you bend.Well, My love is over, it's underneath.It's inside, it's in between.These times you're healing, and when your heart breaks.The times that you feel like you're falling from grace.The times you're hurting.The times that you heal.The times you go hungry, and are tempted to steal.The times of confusion, in chaos and pain.I'm there in your sorrow, under the weight of your shame.I'm there through your heartache.I'm there in the storm.My love I will keep you, by My pow'r alone.I don't care where you fall, where you have been.I'll never forsake you, My love never ends.It never ends."

God you said you would be by my side
you would be my all and hear every call
when you saved me, when you caught all my tears
oh beautiful Savior you understood all my fears
and here i am now broken and bruised i'm crying oh God just to be used
used for you glory and used for your fame
take everything that i am
i'm clay within your hands God on that night of my pain and my pity
you showed for me a heavenly city
a place you are preparing for me
a place that i will soon see
here tonite you have shown me who i can be
if i just open my eyes and learn how to see
you have given me reason to live and to love you are watching over me from above
Lord take me and use me
yes this is my plea
this is who i am
i am a princess for my King
for my King i will everyday sing
you have given me beauty that i will shine
i will shine for you my Jesus on you i will lean
wait.
i will wait.
for my warrior built poet
to have and to hold from this day forward
till that day comes may he find me faithful, worthy and true
may my life bring joy to you
take me and break me
forever i will be your pure spotless bride till for the joy i will sit at your side
Sweet Jesus i love you
i am your Princess, your Daughter, you Friend
i am your Jewel, your Girl to the end.
-EmilyElizabeth

becoming.

I watched as the young child excitedly waited for her Dad to catch up. He looked tired and stressed, she, well she looked elated. She was holding a brand new package of light bulbs, he was pushing a cart piled high with bundles of insulation and sheetrock, boxes of nails and screws, and a brand new weed eater. The had just emerged from the deep caverns of Home Depot. It was a bright sunny day, I was sitting in the car, windows down, radio softly humming in the background of my thoughts. I watched this older man and young child. She skipped along singing at the top of her lungs, blonde wispy hair playing in the wind, eyes full of life and happiness. She looked about 5 or 6. Her pink sweater had several blueberry stains down the front, signs of a muffin enjoyed. She slowed to a walk as she approached their vehicle. Turning and smiling she waited for her hero to come. As he approached pushing the large cart she sang out "Daddy you are so strong to be pushing such a big heavy cart!, I love you!". A smile played on his lips. Admiration and awe shone in her eyes as he lifted the heavy bundles into the truck. She proudly presented her package of light bulbs. "Thank you honey bunches." he said. Finally when all purchases were loaded into the bed of the truck, there was one bag left in the cart. He smiled and suspiciously opened the bag as she looked on in excitement and annticipation. The young girl squealed as he produced a white chocolate Kit Kat from the bag. "Thank you Daddy!" she said. "Your welcome honey bunches, I love you!" I smiled as I saw the man take his princess into his arms and kiss her cheek so tenderly. They climbed into the truck and drove off down the road. A man and his girl.

10 years earlier that was me and my Papa. Where has the time gone? Where have those days flown to? And then I realize.........those days aren't gone. Those days are still here. Thank you Sweet Jesus. I'm still the little wild black haired girl. The girl that still looks with annticipation and excitement to see whats in the bag. I'm still the helper. I'm still my Papas girl. I still remember the days of riding in his truck, drinking Dr. Pepper, laughing, smiling, singing, making memories. Thank you oh God for the man that I am proud and privleged to call my Papa. My heart starts to look forward and dream about the man that will capture my heart. The man that carries the same qualities as my Papa. The man who loves, fears, and serves the same God as my Papa. My heart dreams, and hopes for that day. But until then I am my Papas girl and I will just keep singing, laughing, smiling, making memories. I will keep waiting under the shadow of my heavenly Fathers wings and my earthly fathers authority. Thank you Jesus, for the love note of the man and his daughter in the parking lot. Thank you Jesus for the love note of the man and this daughter. Thank you Jesus for my Father, my Hero, my Papa.
love from your girl, EmilyElizabeth

Attention!

Dear Readers,
I just wanted to let yall know that I have started another blog that focuses more primarily on my photography. So venture over and check it out if you like. I would enjoy comments, observations or perhaps even criticism if need be. The address is www.elizabethimages.blogspot.com
Thanks again.
~EmilyElizabeth

With all this in mind

The thermometer read -9, the wind whipped and whirled, coldly around me as I ran down the road, scarf flying in the wind, shoes pounding and crunching the snow on the ground, my bag slapped against my legs, I was on the way to piano lessons, a smile creased my face and i'm sure I heard a laugh spill from my mouth, I was happy because the sun was shining. After several months of bleak and dark, the sun returned to brighten our days and to shine the glorious, overwhelming glory of God! Rich and yellow in the sky, it shines with depth and passion, filling every nook and cranny with light, soon color and beauty will return to the earth.

Beauty: The very Word

Often when I write these few and far between posts, I often write of thoughts, quotes, reflections and weather, I promise to my readers, that in the near future I will write of my life and what has occupied my days, but for today I have yet another reflection to offer you. So please enjoy.

Beauty. What is the truest and deepest essence of that word? The simple beauty of a calm lake. the unquenchable delicacy of a wayside flower. The rich loveliness of this sky, ever stretched overhead. The intense depth and character of a human eye. All these things we caption beautiful. Why? Propablly for this simple reason. Beauty is untouchable. Beauty captivates us, and beauty was inspired, made, and is enjoyed by the bearer of the greatest beauty. The greatest beauty was displayed by the heavenly father. The beauty of sacrifice, love, devotion, and the beauty of a promise kept and fulfilled. The uniqueness and grace in everyone of us is a beauty that shines in different shades, textures, and patterns. Some beauty or loveliness is seen more keenly in different things. I find a string of white Christmas lights, a score of music, an old book, or a skein of yarn, all things that posses a matchless amount of beauty and uniqueness, that we always seek to find in the face of a woman or in the petals of a hothouse flower(those things are very beautiful to, but we should look and admire beauty in other places) God created beauty and we can find it in everything that his very fingers were laid upon. These are my simple reflections on the power and essence of beauty. All these things can be said in many other ways and examples. But the very word is powerful to the core. Beauty is deep. Beauty is essential. Beauty is powerful. Beauty is captivating. Beauty will save this world.
~EmilyElizabeth

The Christmas Season of my life

God has given me so many things to anticipate about the Christmas season.

*Cranberries
*Christmas Eve
*Eggnog with Nutmeg
*White Lights
*Christmas Trees
*Christmas Music
*Frozen Lakes
*Majestically misted mountains
*The pureness of the new snow
*The joy and togetherness of my beautiful family
*The laughter from a happy, thankful, blessed heart
*Hot Chocolate with whipped cream
*Christmas Morning
*Stockings
*Caroling
*Special Christmas Mugs
*Love
*Quiet walks in the falling snowflakes
*A busy kitchen
*Papa's Cinnamon Rolls
*Warm blankets
*Taking pictures
*Making memories
*Making paper snowflakes with Sam
*Ice skating
*Hope
*Reading
*The realization of God's love for each and every one of us
Merry Christmas!

joyeux Noël !

Somedays we neglect to gaze around us, sometimes we don't realize the joy that surrounds us.
We become so involved in ourselves, we take what we should give.

So here tonight I pray for what I know can be
On this day I hope for, what we still can't see
It's up to everyone of us to become the change
Even though we can all do more
We have so much to be thankful for

Oh to look beyond the need of ourselves, to the sorrow and despair, to the lost and those in fear
It's much to late for me to say, "I will go and find them on another day".
Each of us must seek and find God's truth. With every dawning day, it's so long overdue.

So here tonight I pray for what I know can be
On this day I hope for, what we still can't see
It's up to everyone of us to become the change
Even though we can all do more
We have so much to be thankful for

Even though we all can do so much more, it's up to every one of us to become the change.
And even though the world needs so much more.
There's so much to be thankful for.

Merry Christmas! May God bless your holidays with the richness of his blessings and the joy of his Sons birth!
~EmilyElizabeth

About, Me and My Family

About Me? Doesn't that sound a little selfish? Hmmmm? Maybe not. Well I will tell you, reader a little about me. I have an amazing family! My Papa is a man dedicated, first to the Lord, second to his Family and third to providing for his family by means of working. He is a construction worker and a very good one at that. He is very involved in the lives of his beautiful wife and 5 children. He loves to dance with his girls, and canoe with his son. He is very encouraging, has an awesome sense of humor, and he is just altogether amazing(by the way, he is very handsome!). My Mama is an extraordinary woman of dedication and joy. She is the mother of 5 children and has home schooled all of them,(she has two years left). She to has a amazing sense of humor. Besides being a beautiful and unique Mother, Wife, and Teacher she is the authoress of 5 exquisite books. She is currently working on three others. She to, like my Papa is dedicated to the Lord and to her family. She is very awesome! (By the way she is very beautiful!) My oldest sister is very cool! She is a hard worker, amazing cook, wonderful encourager, and awesome personal physical therapist. I believe her dream is to one day become a nurse. She is a great hands-on person and really wants to make sick people feel better. She has a spark of determination and is alot of fun to get "riled up". (By the way she is very beautiful!) My brother is an extraordinary man. He is a man who is fully dedicated to the Lord and shows it in his life. He is the Dean of Men and the Sports Director at a Bible College in Alberta, Canada. He loves his family and shows great respect for his father. He is a great adventurer! He has determination and stability. He is a true gentleman. He is very cool. (By the way he is very handsome!) My next sister is what we like to call the carbonation in the Minatra Family soda. She is funny and outrageous. She really knows how to make us laugh! She is very dedicated to the Lord and is attending a Bible School in Texas. She is blonde and that is all I will say about that. She is amazing. (By the way she also is very beautiful!) My next sister is prolly who knows me the best. We fight alot. But we have awesome times together. She is quite and "shy" in public, but get her with her best friend, Rachel and she is just as crazy as the rest of us. She is very interested in traveling and is a great writer. This is her last year of high school. She is also dedicated to the Lord and working for him. She is very neat. (By the way she is very beautiful!) Well well and then there is me. hmmmm. I'm the youngest and actually don't really mind it. I am very wierd and random, but that is a Minatra trait. I like to make people laugh. I can be very determined sometimes, like my oldest sister. I like to take pictures and draw and write and play the piano and dance, but i'm not very good at any of those things, but i'm ok with that. I have two years of school left and i'm tryin to put a good face on it. I, like the rest of my family is very dedicated to my Lord! Well as you can prolly tell I have a very awesome family! I'm very thankful for them(or I try to be)! Well thanks for persevering and reading! Grace and peace to you from God our Father!
~EmilyElizabeth
P.S. Here we are.

Geraniums Red and Delphiniums Blue.

Today is a beautiful day. I'm thankful for it.

Recently in my life....

Hello!

Autumn has descended on our small community, and as quickly as it came it is almost gone. The trees now stand bleak skinny and grey against the piercing blue sky. Mountians rise in the distance becoming ever quickly covered in a heavy dusting of "powdered sugar". The ground is now shod in a blanket of yellow, orange, and crimson leaves. My morning walks now demand scarf and gloves. The dogs are becoming ever more invigirated and "frisky" with the crispness in the air. I can't honestly say that i'm eagerly awaiting the winter, but I must admit that Winter does bring several things that I do enjoy. Such as: White christmas lights, Christmas music, gloves, sledding, reading(more), soup, bread, walking in the falling peaceful snow, watching(and laughing at)Daisy our corgi tunnel thru the snow like a minature submarine, sweaters, getting together with family, snowflakes, hot chocolate, wood stoves, lighting candles, and over all just enjoying the peace and quiteness of God and his AWESOME creation!

I have been recently reading Fearfully and Wonderfully Made by Philip Yancey. It is a fascinating book that presents the amazing principles of the human body, thru the form of stories, pictures, and everyday experiance. Philip Yancey partners with Dr. Paul Brand to write this extremely unique and interesting book. Dr. Brand approaches the subject of the human body from the interesting perspective of being a leprosy doctor. His words and observations bring the human body into new and deeper light, the light of God, the creator of the human body! Mr. Brand often refers to the Body of Christ as very much like the physical human body. Individuals must work together to bring God the glory that he deeply deserves. This book has opened my eyes to the wonder, complexity, and awesomness of the human body.

I like music. Alot. At this moment my new favs. are Everything Glorious by David Crowder Band, I'm not who I was by Brandon Heath, Blessed Be Your Name by Tree63, Big Yellow Taxi by Counting Crows, I Worship You by MercyMe, Because of Jesus i'm Alive by Casting Crowns, You Raise Me Up by Josh Groban, and Searchlights by Falling Up. Yeah. I like music.

Have I ever mentioned that "I" have a dog? Hmmmmm. Well in case I didn't, "I" have a dog. Well two actually and a cat and a guinea pig. But they aren't mine! Daisy and Milly are the dogs. They are alot of fun to have around. They like to play and run around and do crazy things, oh yeah and chew and pretned to fight over HUGE moose bones.


This is Daisy. She is a Welsh Pembroke Corgi.


This is Milly. She is a Chow/Lab/Mutt....thing.

Well it is now 10:50, so I think I had better skip, or run, or walk, or crawl to my bed. I hope you have enjoyed my "thoughts". Goodbye.
~EmilyElizabeth

I AM A DREAMER.

Love woke me up this morning with a memory
Love came and whispered a story that awakened a dream
Imagine a beautiful castle and a beautiful king
He left the comfort of his throne to fight for victory

I am a dreamer
Take me higher
Open the sky up
Start a fire
I believe even if it’s just a dream

Love woke me up this morning and I ran to see
The king in the winners circle on the horse he won for me

Only a king would do anything
To protect the kingdom
-Bethany Dillon
I AM a dreamer!
I dream of my King.

My Friend, Geoff

My friend Geoff and I were talking today and I was telling him about my blog and how i'm excited about it and all. And he asked me to post a picture of him and have me tell a little bit about him. So him being my friend and commrade, I did. And here he is.



Random "observations" about my friend Geoff:

*He is very old, but is still very young at heart.
*He enjoys sitting on my window sill.
*He is a great believer in fresh air.
*He is very fond of sweet potatoes.
*His father was a professor.
*His favorite color is sunshine yellow.
*He aides in the composing of all my short stories.
*He is very friendly.
*He is not a avid reader.
*But he can draw excellently.
*He has two green spots, two red spots, two blue spots, and two orange spots.
*He is very proud of his spots.

It's All Because Of Jesus, I'm Alive - Casting Crowns

Giver of every breath I breathe
Author of all eternity
Giver of every perfect thing
To You be the glory
Maker of Heaven and of Earth
No one can comprehend Your worth
King over all the universe
To You be the glory

And I am alive because I'm alive in You

It's all because of Jesus I'm alive
It's all because the blood of Jesus Christ
That covers me and raised this dead man's life
It's all because of Jesus I'm alive
I'm alive, I'm alive

Giver of every breath I breathe
Author of all eternity
Giver of every perfect thing
To You be the glory
Maker of Heaven and of Earth
No one can comprehend Your worth
King over all the universe
To You be the glory

And I am alive because I'm alive in You

It's all because of Jesus I'm alive
It's all because the blood of Jesus Christ
That covers me and raised this dead man's life
It's all because of Jesus

Every sunrise sings Your praise
The universe cries out Your praise
I'm singing freedom all my days
Now that I'm alive

I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive

These lyrics are from Casting Crowns latest album, The Altar and the Door. This is a beautifully written song, with excellent insights and awesome statements of faith and truth. It's all because of one man that we are alive. Alive = Living, Breathing, Learning, Enjoying, Making mistakes, Laughing, Crying, and Experiancing. It's an astounding thought for me.

Because of Jesus, i'm Alive!

What did we ever do to gain God's favor and his only son's life? There were those individuals who may have given the passing stranger shelter from the rain. Those who may have shared their miniscule lunch, washed his weary feet, or patched his worn robes. There were his best friends and companions. Those that were near to him and he had a reason in which to give his life for. There were also those who kicked and scoffed him at his passing. Those who tormented him at every village. Those who haunted his every steps, waiting to find a reason to condemn this man. Yet with the cross looming on his horizon and many men against him, he lived with walking stick in hand, sandals on his feet, and joy in his heart. When brutally nailed to a crude arrangement of wood, he cried out to his father, not to curse, but forgive those that put him there. With the weight of the world pressing down upon his broken body, he cried out for his father to forgive.........us.
~EmilyElizabeth

Autumn Observations

These pages will be filled with the events that happen in my life, exciting observations, and any simple joys and blessings that I would like to share with you.

Today the sun shines brightly thru the trees illuminating the clearness and vibrancy of the Autumn colors. Several clouds wisp the blue sheet stretched overhead, but they do not present a threat of a sudden downpour. My walks and hikes are no longer silent but are filled with the sounds of leaves crunching under my feet and nearby creeks swelling with the coming of winter. Often when I reach my destination, which is usually an altitude of considerable height, the panorama is simply BREATHTAKING!!!! Mountians rise in the distance. Mountians whose shoulders are ever quickly becoming cloaked with a soft white mantle. Valleys below stretch for miles only to be often enhanced with a silverish hue ribbon of river water. Only several miles in the distance a Glacier blankets the foot of the rising mountian. All these things are quickly becoming accented by shades of gold, cinnabar, emerald, and brown. The Autumn is a time given to me by my savior. A time of reflection, quiet, and beauty.
~Emily Elizabeth

Music Favorites

Anberlin
Allison Krauss
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Bethany Dillon
Big Daddy Weave
Brandon Heath
Bryan Adams
Building 429
Caedmon's Call
Casting Crowns
Counting Crows
Chris Rice
David Crowder
Downhere
Eric and Leslie Ludy
Falling Up
Fernando Ortega
FFH
Foreign
Grammatrain
Go Fish
Hans Zimmer
Howard Shore
Jack Johnson
James Taylor
Jars Of Clay
Jadon Lavik
Jeremy Camp
Jeff Deyo
Josh Groban!!
Josh Turner
KJ52
Kutless
Klaus Badelt
Lazlo Bane
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Lonestar
Mark Shultz
Maroon 5
Matt Redman
MercyMe
Micheal Buble
Micheal W. Smith
Natalie Grant
Newsboys
Nigel Westlake
Nicole Nordeman
Nickel Creek
P.O.D.
Plain White T's
Rachel Portman
Regina Spektor
Randy Travis
Relient K
Sara Groves
Selah
Seventh Day Slumber
Starfield
Shaun Groves
Shawn McDonald
Spoken
Sixpence None The Richer
Stellar Kart
Switchfoot
Technical Difficulties
Third Day
Thousand Foot Krutch
Todd Agnew
Tree63
38th Parallel