love them like Jesus

Typing this from my phone.

I don't have a whole lot to say right now. This past weekend has been a time of heartache for too many families. Three families in my hometown, and one more not too far from there. 

Please be in prayer for the Tellifero family, from West Monroe, LA. Even more specifically, you can pray for my friend Hope.  Hope lost her 13 year old little sister, Sarah Grace Tellifero,  in a tragic accident yesterday afternoon. I can not begin to understand the heartache and devastation. 

I've spent years trying to understand why, why, why tragedies take people we love from us so young.  I still don't know why. I don't have any apology for anyone. I don't understand. It isn't okay.  

My Aunt said this morning that yeah, sometimes God does give us things too big for us to handle. He does this so that we have to depend fully and completely on him. 

Hope, I love you.  

"You don't understand now what I am doing, but someday you will." John 13:7 

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." John 17:3 

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All of these things are gone forever." Revelation 21:4 

"Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, for I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light." Matthew 11:29 

"good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die." Isaiah 57:1-2

My Dad, Lance Armstrong??

My dad has always been my voice of reason. He's played the role of a counselor,  comedian, Hitler (hahah), friend, but most importantly, a supporter. Whenever my teenage boyfriend broke my heart for the first time, Daddy was there telling me that "not all the shoes we like fit us." Whenever I was failing chemistry in high school, Dad recognized the way that I learn, and he showed me funny rap videos of the Periodic Table of Elements on you tube, and helped me to pass with all A. Whenever I got too high once, and realized that was NOT the life I wanted to live anymore, Dad was a parent, and he helped me to find the right direction again. Whenever I decided I wanted to move (all 500 times) spur of the moment to try life out somewhere else, Dad let me go. He has always given me his advice and his input, but still supported me no matter what decision I make. Why has he supported me and what I do? Because he believes in me. I'm not always sure why.

It's a lot easier to support something that you believe in. 

Not only does my Dad believe in me, but he also believes in helping other people around him. One particular cause that he believes in is Multiple Sclerosis research. Multiple Sclerosis is "an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body." (National MS Society). Because this disease is basically the entire nervous system under attack, people with MS have problems like constant pain, numbness, tingling, blindness, and even paralysis. Not only do scientists have NO clue what causes this disease, they also haven't found a way to cure it. 

Now it's my turn to support my Dad and what he believes in, because I believe in him.  A couple of years ago, he decided he wanted to make a healthy change and get more active. Well low and behold, my pops has shocked me and turned into quite the cyclist. 

In a few months, my dad is participating in Bike MS: Bike to the Battlefield . This is a 150 mile bike ride through Mississippi put on by the National MS Society. This is not a race, soley a ride of bikers coming together for a cause.  The participants of the race each raise money which is then donated to the National MS Society. The money raised helps in multiple sclerosis research efforts, so that no other person should have to suffer from this terrible disease.  And my Dad needs supporters. Just like we need people to believe in us, he needs people to  believe in him! 

Please click on the attached link to view his biker profile, and help him to reach his goal in beating MS!! 

 ****    CLICK HERE    ****  to read more about what my dad is doing, and to learn how to support him and MS research efforts! 

Thank y'all so much in taking the time to read this. I know I have really not been on my A game in posting, but sometimes life just happens, you know? Update on my life: it's still confusing, and I'm still searching for answers, and I still don't necessarily like a lot of the changes that are happening. ...but then again what other almost 23 year old doesn't feel that way. One step at a time. One change at a time. One day at a time. One goal at a time. I haven't had a soda in 19 days, and have been off of fb, insta, pinterest, and vine for 9 days. It's definitely weird sometimes that I no longer have 24/7 access to every detail of my friends lives... but a good weird? No offense but I am realizing that I actually do not care what you guys do every waking second....and I'm sure my insta followers have been thankful for a break from me... hah. Isn't it kind of creepy though, to think of the way we have total access to everyones lives ALL THE TIME? Anyway. I have to go be productive. Support MS research and donate on my Daddy's page! Remember your worth. Remember you're not alone, and sometimes, yes, life does just totally suck. Tough it out. It will get better if we work for it. 

Much peace and love to you all.
 Emily 

(p.s.- Mom,if you're reading this, I think you're awesome too)