Easter SUNDAY

Today was the first major holiday (if you’re Christian) that I spent away from my family. Not just away, lets remember- 3,000 miles AWAY (like way the hell away).Easter is the celebration of the core of my faith and the core of Jesus! It’s actually my favorite holiday. Good Friday is always such a deeply powerful day and then Easter Sunday is the best celebration ever. Have you ever gone to your birthday party alone? No. Because that doesn’t even make any sense. But that’s how I felt today! I went to an awesome celebration alone. I googled a church out here in the desert of Palm Springs by myself. I went to the same church on Friday for the Good Friday service. The church (Southwest) was wonderful and I was very impressed with how carefully and thoughtfully the message was given. Plus- the pastor talked even faster than I do so it was a magical time, really. What I learned today, though, is the importance of community!

I’ve always understood the friend who says, “I love Jesus but I don’t need to go to church to do that”. You’re right! You don’t. BUT from somebody who has recently found a church home and family, THAT’S where you see the face of Jesus. I felt the Holy Spirit at church today and I so loved the song choices for the worship team. But what I felt most deeply was the longing I had for my church, my family, and my people! I missed walking into church and having that same feeling in my chest that you have when you finally made it home from a long drive to your parents house and it still smells like it always did and your mom is waiting to give you a cup of tea and a blankey and a bear hug while she giggles about how happy she is that you’re HOME. What I’m saying is, Jesus loves us through people. He loves us with the Holy Spirit that is in each and every one of our hearts. So when you connect with people at church who SEE you, welcome you, and love you- you’re connecting with the Hands of God. Don't get me wrong, You can talk to Jesus and feel the presence of the Holy Spirit; your car, your bed, the shower, the grocery store when you find the crunchy Cheetos- wherever! BUT when you’re homesick, or simply needing anything- it’s best to go get hugs from the hands of God at home. God gave us the church FOR THIS REASON.We need people! Hell, it’s why I struggle so much with many churches and their values. The church is supposed to welcome you home like mama does. EVERYBODY. So, I encourage you to find a church that does that for you. I encourage you to find people who are committed to you and your life so wholeheartedly that you can't even have a bad day because when you’re about to you’ll get a Facetime from Bailey telling you how much she misses you before you even had to say it(thank you, little sister). Jesus, that’s who that was, is, and always will be.

I’m gonna be honest- I was getting really hard on myself about the fact that this is the first Monday of my blog and I’m supposed to have this kick ass post that I feel confident in. However, I’m Emily & if you ask any of my professors in graduate school or even my teachers in middle school, they’ll tell you the pressure of a deadline is only seen as a fun game for me. “How long can I push this off and who do I have to say died in order to get out of this.” Terrible, I’m a terrible human.

But instead of actually believing that I’m a terrible person (eye roll- we’re so mean to ourselves) I’m going to talk to myself the way my mama, my church, and my God would talk to me. I’m currently in Palm Springs for workand with 6 kids under the age of 5 I am practically running a preschool. It’s been beautiful & exhausting. The nights have been long and the babies haven't been napping. I spent the biggest Christian holiday away from my church family and my family family in Pennsylvania. Homesick is an understatement. So- with that being said, there will be a pretty dope post for you all to read VERY SOON. It’s just not going to be this Monday morning. I’m going to get some much-needed rest, put on some Jesus slow jamz & take deep breaths while I reflect on how much love was resurrected that first Easter Sunday. I encourage you all to spend some quiet time with yourself today, too. Lets do this together- Be kind to yourself, talk to yourself how your mama and God talk to you (unless your mama is rude then pick your favorite person and talk to yourself how they talk to you). REST. After all, HE IS RISEN so we can rest eternally in our faith in the future. And rest is what I will do. Cheers, to a week of joy and home!

I love you guys so much!

Thank you for all of your subscriptions and patience with this new baby blog. Started from the bottom *we’ll get there. (Drake, get it?)