Are you ok?

Ok people, first of all just wanna say I love you all and im so thankful that you are concerned with how im doing. seriously thank you, but to let you know, when you ask me, "are you ok?" you are asking me a VERY stupid question.

Of course im not ok! my best friend just died. duh. So, know that when i say im doing alright or im fine, HELLO, i am totally lying to you so you will stop asking me if im ok or not. So, instead of asking me a stupid question, just give me a hug or pray for me. That is what i need right now, that is what i need to help get me through this time.

On a positive note, just wanna say how good God is. Even though life totally sucks and i miss Sam terribly, (and im still not ok with God taking away my best friend) God has started to put some pretty awesome people in my life who im pretty sure I would be a total mess right now if it was not for them.

Shout out to miss Kadee Rae, talking with you and having someone to relate to is sooooo helpful to me right now like you wouldnt believe.

Shout out to Kelly and Taylor, love you girls so much! were gonna get through this together!

Shout out to B-ran-DON! thanks for listening and talkin to me when i was a mess, when i couldnt sleep at 4am an for helpin me study.

Shout out to my brother Chris an his girl Cat, thanks for takin me out and just getting out of the house to goof off and have a good time.

Love you guys. Thank you everyone who has been praying for Sam's family. Thank you.

"Never Lose Heart" just a simple painting but means so much.

Thats all,
peace!
-em

"Never Lose Heart"....

Samantha Rae Newton- my best friend, my sister, my partner in crime....

I keep thinking this is all just a dream. That im going to wake up from this nightmare and see your smiling face again. Hear your contagious laugh. Go to lunch and talk about the "good ol' days" and every time i realize thats just not gonna happen, my heart breaks even more.

Sam, i miss you. this was not supposed to happen. We had just talked and you were getting better. this was not supposed to happen, not to you, not now. we were gonna beat this cancer. we were supposed to grow old together. buy houses next to each other and raise horses. we were supposed to grow up, make mistakes, live life together...

I know everything happens for a reason and that God has a plan, truly i do believe that but honestly, thats not what i feel in my heart, what ever reason God has, its not good enough for me. I know im being selfish, and I am glad you are no longer in pain, and chillin up in heaven but i miss you so much.

A few months ago, i remember coming back from visiting you in the hospital and just balling my eyes out. it had been the hardest hospital visit i have ever had. I had never seen you after one of your chemo treatments before. I was just so scared. I couldnt stand the thought of losing you...and now here i sit writing this post, balling my eyes out yet again, not knowing what to do. i cant move, cant breath, cant think without thinking of you. i close my eyes and try and sleep but all i see is your face. I miss you so much. I miss all the good times we had together. the awesome trips i got to take with you and your family. playing "veterinarian" at your house. all the crazy sleep overs. walking to and from school for like ever! then your grandpa walked with us one time and carried our bags for us, we loved that day!

I know you are no longer in pain, i know you are in a better place, but i miss you. I want you back. you should be here with me. this was too soon, you were too young. its just not fair.

I love you Sam, always and forever. I cant wait till i get to see you again.
Love you,
em...

"Never Lose Heart"

My life be like Ooh ahh(:

'ello there!!!(:

Figured it was time to update this blog of mine! so here we go!!!!

So last weekend, my mom an I drove to Silver City, New Mexico to visit my dad and then go on a campus visit to New Mexico State University which is in Las Cruces like 2ish hours from SC. Anywhooo!!! it was sooo much fun! thursday was just a driving day which was sooooooo boring and i resorted to taking pictures on my webcam lol then friday was when we went to NMSU. I was soooo nervous to go. Recently ive been struggling on whether or not NMSU was the school for me or if i was just going there because thats what my parents wanted or that it was convenient. Well, after my visit, i know FOR SURE that NMSU is where i need to be. The campus is fantastic! everyone was so nice and helpful. ALready made a few friends(: then i had a meeting with Dr. Timothy Ross who is like the head of the Agricultural Department at the school and he sat down and pretty much helped plan out my next semester of classes and made sure i was on the right track to getting a BS degree in animal science(: woot woot!! The classes im taking are,
-intro to animal science
-biology
-intro to equine sciences
-animal companionship
-equitation (horse back riding)
-kayaking!!!
Im so freakin excited(: the last two are just for me, my fun classes(: im so excited to actually start taking classes that pertain to my career. so done with all this basic crap! ANimal Cruelty Investigator here i come!!!!(: an i decided i need a longboard to get around campus(: everyone had them and it just looks soooooo fun! so im gonna get one(: lol after the visit drive back to SC and just watched a movie then crashed. we were all super exhausted!!! The next morning was coffee and breakfast at the lil coffee shop, Java The Hut(: dad introduced me to all the crazy and awesome folks of the town lol everyone was so nice there(: later we got to go shoppin in the cute lil stores down town!!! So much fun(: i didnt want to leave to come back here lol and it was hard havin to say goodbye to dad but he'll be home in two weeks!! and hopefully he'll get to stay a lil longer this time(:

now onto some other stuff like i dunno, AFRICA!!!(:
The team leaves for Africa june 2!!! Its coming up sooooo fast!!! Im super excited(: Theres more infor regarding the specifics of our trip in my two previous posts(: as i said before, im super excited for the trip but funding is being a pain in the butt!! We gotta have all our money in by April 28th sooooo If you feel led to support me financially, you can mail a check to my home address. (Email me at daddzgirl9262@aol.com and let me know if you want to do that) Make all checks payable to Sun Valley Community CHurch with my first and last name on the memo line, or you can visit www.sunvalleycc.com/onlinegiving and make an online donation using debit card, credit card or echeck. After creating an account and logging in, please select "South Africa 2011" from the "Fund" drop down menu and then my name from the "Sub Fund" menu and i will be notified of your gift. Know that all donations are tax deductible and documentation will be provided by the church at the end of this tax year.

Moreover, I ask that you pray for my team and i as we prepare to embark on this journey. We need prayer support while we are traveling, working and sharing the gospel. This community is in desperate need spiritually and it will take lots of prayer to soften some of their hearts to the message of Jesus. Pray that God prepares my heart as well as the hearts of my team members, for this mission and that we always have faith in His great power and mercy!
Thanks guys!!!(:

well thats all for today!!! Im sitting in my economics class typing this so i should probably pay attention now :p but before i go, some quotes of the day(:

in the car drivin to NM with my mom it was late and dark outside...
" I keep thinking im seeing shooting stars but its just bugs"-me
"Yes, those are bugs."-mom
"hmm lets see if i can catch one! (as i stuck my hand out the sun roof)"-me
"EMILIE! Seriously?! You wouldnt catch one, it will just go SPLAT against your hand. gross em."-mom

best thing ever...
"Whenever Satan reminds you of your past, remind him of his future."-not sure who said that but my friends quoted it on facebook and i love it so i figured id share(:

thats all for now!
Peace!
-em(:

South Africa Update an me crazy life!(:

well hello there peoples!!(: Havent been on here i a while! so lets get this party started!!!

First with a South Africa Update!!
We had our first fundraiser last saturday! We held a garage sale which went wonderfully!! We made over $450! Not bad for something we threw together in a week(: we are holding another one this Saturday as well. check my facebook for the info on it if you are interested in coming!!!
In my last post, i said that our team was going to Cape Town, well we have had a change in plans! We are now going to Mafikeng instead. We will be doing the same things just in a different location(: I am soooo stinkin excited for this trip!! We are about 80-something days away from leaving, and to be honest i am struggling with funding. If any of you would like to help me make it to Africa, heres the info!
**If you feel led to support me financially, you can mail a check to my home address. (Email me at daddzgirl9262@aol.com and let me know if you want to do that) Make all checks payable to Sun Valley Community CHurch with my first and last name on the memo line, or you can visit www.sunvalleycc.com/onlinegiving and make an online donation using debit card, credit card or echeck. After creating an account and logging in, please select "South Africa 2011" from the "Fund" drop down menu and then my name from the "Sub Fund" menu and i will be notified of your gift. Know that all donations are tax deductible and documentation will be provided by the church at the end of this tax year.

Moreover, I ask that you pray for my team and i as we prepare to embark on this journey. We need prayer support while we are traveling, working and sharing the gospel. This community is in desperate need spiritually and it will take lots of prayer to soften some of their hearts to the message of Jesus. Pray that God prepares my heart as well as the hearts of my team members, for this mission and that we always have faith in His great power and mercy!
Thanks guys!!!(:

now, an update of my crazy life!!!
Well, school is boring as usual. I love my philosophy class even though its kicking my butt!! Economics....not so much. It just doesnt fit into this brain of mine!! History is pretty fun, my professor is awesome and my online class is ehh. Just so tired of taking basic classes i want to get onto the fun stuff!!! With that being said, my application has been received by New Mexico State University!!! and here we goooo!!! Its crazy, ive always dreamed of this happening and now it really is....CRAZY!!!

Well, thats all i got for now! Need to get back to homework...woooo....love you all!!!
Hope you have a fantastic day(:
Peace!
-em


quotes of the day.....
Dont really have any funny ones this time, sad day!! :/ but i got a few good ones!

from a great movie, Temple Grandin...
talking about slaughter houses and cows...
"Nature is cruel, but we dont have to be. We raise these animals for us, therefore we owe them some respect."-Temple. (you NEED to watch this movie!!!)

"I am a canvas of my experiences. My story is etched in lines and shading, and you can read it on my arms, my legs, my shoulders, and my stomach. But like everyone else, i was born naked and screaming, waiting for my life to write itself on my skin."-Kat Von D from LA Ink

"I dont understand why people dont have tattoos. They are just like blank canvases. WHats the point?"-Margaret Cho

"A lie only works because someone trusts you."-my PHI 101 professor

South Africa here i come!!!!

Dear everyone!!!

With the beginning of the new year comes more opportunities to serve the Lord and His people. Sun Valley Community Church (my fantastic church home) partners with a ministry called Helping Hands in Africa. Their mission statement is, "dedicated to restoring hope in disadvantaged communities by providing opportunities for the individuals in the community that will equip them to take responsibility for their own economic, health, educational, social and spiritual upliftment." Helping Hands has devoted programs to address issues that come about due to extreme poverty: AIDS prevention and patient care, Orphan Intervention, Foster Care, Poverty Alleviation, Social Grant Access, After School Learning Centers and much more. On June 2, 2011, 11 other adults and I will be traveling to Cape Town, South Africa for a week to partner with Helping Hands. Our group will be the first to stay in Cape Town and help the organization set up their programs. There, we will be assisting the organization in any way they need as well as helping out with the feeding program and just loving on the children and families. Sounds amazing, doesn't it? I know its a big commitment, but I am ready for it! I want to experience God in a whole new way and I want to show the people of South Africa the same wonderful and generous love our God has shown me. For more information on Helping Hands in Africa, you can visit their website at http://www.helpinghandsinafrica.org/.

Siguatepeque, Honduras 2010

In order for this mission to be possible, my team and I are going to need your partnership in financial support and prayer. I cannot do this without you. Each team member is responsible for raising $3,700 by April 28th. Would you pray and consider supporting me? If you feel led to support me financially, you can mail a check to my home address. (Email me at daddzgirl9262@aol.com and let me know if you want to do that) Make all checks payable to Sun Valley Community Church with my first and last name on the memo line. Or, you can visit www.sunvalleycc.com/onlinegiving and make an online donation using debit card, credit card or echeck. After creating an account and logging in, please select "South Africa 2011" from the "Fund" drop down menu, and then my name from the "Sub Fund" drop down menu and I will be notified of your gift. Know that all donations are tax deductible and documentation will be provided by the church at the end of this tax year.



Moreover, I ask that you pray for my team and I as we prepare to embark on this journey. We need prayer support while we are traveling, working and sharing the gospel. This community is in desperate need spiritually and it will take lots of prayer to soften some of their hearts to the message of Jesus. Pray that God prepares my heart as well as the hearts of my team members, for this mission and that I always have faith in His great power and mercy.

Thank you guys so much for your time!!

In His name,
Em!(:



p.s.

If you drink soda or any other beverage that comes in a can, SAVE THEM! I am collecting cans for Africa as well. Just let me know if you are saving cans and I will come by every week or two weeks to pick them up, just let me know! You can email me at daddzgirl9262@aol.com.

ponder. platypus. loquacious. triceratops. wigwam.

^^^^^^ my top 5 favorite words ever. very fun to say.

anywhoooooo! So my second semester of college has begun. dun dun dun. not too excited about it. My classes aren't that bad or anything, im just tired of all the basics, i want to get into stuff that actually relates to my career!! Hopefully, once im done with this semester its of to NMSU!!(: wooo!!!! To be honest, kinda freaked out about that, but in a good way. Living in a new state, going to a new campus, wont know anyone at school. Bring it on. lol but seriously, im excited to start this new part of my life. Maybe grow up a lil more since ill finally be on my own. Woooo!! Cant wait to see what NMSU has in store for me!!(:

Went an hiked to the top of the Superstition mountains

a few weekends ago! Thought i was gonna die lol but nope! i was making it to the top, no ifs ands or butttttts! an we did it!!! made it up in about 2 hours and 7 min. and oh my goodness, the view is incredible! you dont realize how far up you are until you see that if you fall, you will die. no question about it lol crazy! but totally awesome! Hopefully doing that hike again for my birthday(:

ummm got my ear pierced! (the messed up one that ive gotten pierced about 5 times but it never healed lol) my bestie Jacque did it for me! :p but before that, i got to pierce her ear! muahah!(; good thing is, they are both healed up now and were still best friends!! hahah

so one of my classes this semester is a philosophy class which i already love. it scares me at times, specially when we talk about religion and God though. Like last semester in my anthropology class, my professor talked about religion and how in todays society, when people question their faith, people see that as a sign of weakness or whatever. Well, i dont. I admit some of the talks we have already had about God have brought up questions, not nescessarily doubts but questions, and made me really think things through. But, Gods not going to get mad at me for questioning things. With these questions usually come answers that help strengthen my relationship with God. If i didnt question things, then i truly dont care. ya know? just a thought!

my dad got to come home for this past weekend(: i sure do miss him when hes gone! Sucks getting to see him for only a few days every few weeks. But luckily this time when he was home, i got him for a whole day, just me an him!!!(: he of course wanted to be productive and do things around the house or work on the cars an stuff so i decided to take advantage of that. We worked on my jeep together. and let me tell you, i havent had that much fun with my dad in a long time! who would have thought workin on a jeep, gettin grease under your nails, learning about car parts would be so fun! best father daughter date ever(:

^ the story behind the smiley face....

was painting at church with katelyn and jacque. The guy in charge came over and was surprised at how clean we were after hours of painting which then started a paint fight between us girls. Finally called a truce, or so i thought, i bent down to get paint on my brush and katelyn decided to paint two dots on my butt. Then she of course had to make it look like something, so she added the mouth. haha an yeah, the paint wouldnt come out so now these are my painting/work out/cleaning shorts.

Well, thats all i got for you today! hope you enjoyed hearing about my boring life! lol now i get to go do homework! wooo!.....

peace!

-em(:

while nannying...

"Say cheese!"-grace

"Grace, were trying to build a bird house, no time for cheese now."-PJ her big brother lol

"youre going to have to wait, you cant just start pulling on it."-mom

"thats what she said."-me

"Emilie! seriously?!"-mom

my dad thought it was funny!! lol

"I need a bandit hat."-Jesse

"For what?"-kate

"Banditing."-Jesse

why hello there 2011, ive been expecting you..

Man, I havent been on here in FOREVER!!! Life has just been crazy busy.....as usual....anyways ill just give you a quick run down on the past month.........

December: umm got pretty hectic and stressful with finals and all that.

But, long story short got A's in all my classes except calculus, i got a B, but a very high B!(: an i studied

my butt off for that final so im proud of the grade i got(:

----> Went dove hunting with my brothers an Angie, dont remember when but it was awesome!!! There are four birds, only three have heads...muahahaha!

lets see....oh Thanksgiving! i know thats not in December but i didnt talk about it; it was quite fantastic! My cousins from Utah came down and my cousins from Cali. We had a blast together. Those are the best holidays is when you can just hang out with your family and have a good time. I just love them(:

Now ill skip to CHRISTmas because i really dont remember much lol CHRISTmas was quite fantastic as well! Once again, another time to hang out with the family! Plus this was my first year as an "adult" so i got to participate in the white elephant exchange! I scored some pretty

sweet tools (it was the gift my dad brought lol) there was no rule against it! ;p Then CHRISTmas morning was great too!!! I was house sitting so i didnt get to wake up at my house but i drove over early and only my dad was awake lol then my brother an his wife came over an we opened presents. Fun stuff!! Hung out the rest of the day then gave them my present that night, The grand opening of the Staffeldt Family Drive In! We sat outside an watched, Despicable Me on a huge screen using a projector. It was AWESOME!!(:

Ugly Sweater Party at Jacques(: fun times!!

Kinda had a rough week after Christmas though, quite a bummer! Luckily my friends were persistent an ignored my stubbornness. I love them(: nothin beats a late night run to Dennys for cheesecake or taco bell for crappy food! ;p

On a much more serious note, for those of you who may not know, my best friend Samantha is struggling in her battle with cancer. I got to visit her in the hospital last thursday, one of the hardest hospital visits i have ever had. So please, please, please keep her in your prayers! I cant lose her.

Got to visit my baby girl Abby, i miss having a goat in my back yard more than you can imagine! :/ but shes got a good home now.

In the last week of December, i developed a love for two new things; yoga and painting. Got me a sweet yoga mat an work out DVD for CHRISTmas, and since ive started workin out an eating better, ive lost 5lbs already!!! My goal was to be 115 bef

ore 2010 was over, an SUCCESS!!(: Now the painting was inspired by reading a book i got from my brother an his wife for Christmas, Kat Von D's High Voltage Tattoo book. Very

artistic and just awesome, so since ive started reading it, i have now completed two canvas paintings that are pretty sweet. One is a collage of "Me" in 2010. and the other is my Peace Tree, based off the drawing Jacque did for me like forever ago!!(:

<-- Painting #1, "Me" collage. sorry its sideways

<--- Painting #2. Peace Tree(:

Oh an, before December was over, i got my nose pierced(: been wantin to do that forever. Its just a tiny lil stud, nothing big!!(:

NEW YEARS!!!(: Party at kates house!! Good times!!! Lit some fireworks, played pool an other variations of the game lol stayed the night since my parents didnt want me drivin home that late. took some crazy pics to start of the year!

2010, like every year had its ups and downs, but

looking back, i wouldnt change a thing! Everything thats happened has gotten me to where i am today, a lil bit older, a lil bit wiser and a lil bit stronger. Now to do it all again! (but better!!)

Great day starting off my new year, came home way early from kates an finally got to sleep a bit in MY OWN BED!!! i love house sitting an all, but some times it gets old lol then hung out an cleaned up the Christmas stuff with my parents, went to work, got schooled by the kiddos on the Kinect thing for XBOX, got off early, now chillin with the family gettin ready to do some yoga!(: all in all a great day(: Hope you all had a wonderful start to your new year as well!!(:

My new years resolutions and goals!!!

1. Not be so sarcastic to everyone, maybe even be nice ;p lol

2. Dont spend so much time on facebook (seriously its a problem)

3. Participate in Pat Tillman's Run

4. Run a half marathon

5. Go on the college groups Africa mission trip

6. manage my time better

7. Talk to God more

8. actually STAY in shape lol

9. be a consistent volunteer at Wild Horse Ranch Rescue

10. NMSU!!

those are just a few(:

Quotes for the day!!!(: i may be repeating some of these and im too lazy to check my last post so just deal with it!(;

"Man, i waste so much paper!"-me

"Yeah, maybe cause you write like a monster!"- kid in my math class

"Wow, thanks, thats just what a girl loves to hear."-me

"Yeah, i know. God gifted me with words."-kid

"You and dad are like old cars, once you replace one part, you gotta replace everything else. Right now its your radiator and hoses."-Randy

"Crying was different in Jamaica than Honduras. Jamaica was, ah im exhausted. Honduras was, ah im dying."-Robert

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow's a mystery and today is a gift; thats why it is called the present."-old turtle on Kung-Fu Panda

"Why is your head so big?"-Randy

"One size fits all."-dad

"Yeah, one size barely fist all."-randy as dad was trying on his hunting beanie

"...I wonder how much a whole football team weighs."-randy randomly as we were watching a movie that wasnt even about football

"WHat?! Making candy is cool! Everyone and their grandma, no literally EVERYONE and their grandma makes banana bread. Pun Intended! Like lemon drop, HELLO!"-my big brother Josh

"Thats it! Ive had it with you and your emotional constipation!"-Tantor on Tarzan lol

"I dont want to make your mom mad."

"Dont worry, it will be great."

"Yeah, thats what they said about the Titanic."-on some show we were watchin

"I had to start using Sensodyne toothpaste."-Josh

"Why?''-mom

"Cause i like Skittles and Ice Cream."-josh

thats all i got! hope you enjoyed this!! lol

Peace!(: