The golden hours

//////Lost,yesterday,somewhere between sunrise and sunset,two golden hours,each set with sixty diamond minutes. No reward is offered for they are gone forever.          -Horace Mann//////

And it snowed again….

It snowed again yesterday… People are calling this winter,"Snowpocalypse." Just to let you all know how crazy NC weather is,Sunday was 71 degrees. It dropped on Monday to 25. Snow is beautiful,but I am so longing for spring! I want to plant a flower bed and an herb garden. Also,does anyone have any suggestions for a name for our horse? I'm kicking my self for not getting a picture of her before,but she is a copper brown color,with a white blaze on her face. Her original name was Miracle,but me and my sister want to change it. I'll be happy to hear all the ideas:)
~Emily

Hello Monday

This is late in coming,but our church group took a trip to W.V. for snow tubing. As fun as it was tubing,the lodge gave me such a cozy feeling. All these pictures are taken from the inside. I much enjoyed sitting on the huge window sills,and taking pictures.
This week is pretty full(as every week right?) with work,church,and other activities. Tomorrow,my family and I are going to look at a horse to (possibly) adopt into our family. Nothing is for certain though. Also,tomorrow is the first day of the cake decorating class my mom and I signed up for.:D
I have been trying some different flavored hot teas. I am a big coffee drinker. Not so much tea. Aside from sweet tea,I hardly ever drink hot tea. I find that the hot teas sooth me when I'm tired or under stress. Plus the herbs are good for you. So far I have tried; Apple cinnamon,green tea,peppermint,chamomile,vanilla chia,and something called Passion(Tazo.) Not sure about the last one. It had a very twangy taste. If you have a good tea to try,leave me a comment! I would love to try more.
What is going on for your week?
~Emily

Because there's blizzard

North Carolina almost never gets heavy snow. However,we are in the middle of the biggest snow storm in about 10+ years. So I braved the cold and whipping snow,just so I could document some history. And share on my blog….of course;)

These pictures were taken around 2 o'clock,so now we are looking at at least five inches,and it is STILL putting it down. I had an umbrella,trying(and failing) to keep my camera from getting wet!

Since there is a "blizzard" raging out side,I am using tonight for cinnamon buns,old Audrey Hepburn and Bing Crosby movies,and some catching up with photography editing. The down side is,I have to work in the morning at seven. I will be chauffeured by my grandpa's Dodge truck,but still….it is kind of a bummer to have to get up in the cold. Either way,the snow is fun. Even when it messes up Valentine's day plans and leaves people stuck in traffic for hours. I will have a grateful heart that my family is safe and snugly at home. And there will be plenty for sledding tomorrow!
~Emily

Whatever happened to femininity?

This my dear friends, is a subject that has been pressing on my mind for sometime now. As I go out into the world,all I see is the constant decline of values. People have become disrespectful,hateful,selfish,and downright rude! Another thing I see is that women have cheapened and devalued themselves. I am pretty disgusted every time I see a woman walk into a store in pajama pants and slippers. Or a bathrobe! Most women today either dress sloppy or provokingly. Another thing I see,is that a lot girls(and women) no longer act like ladies. They seem to be blinded by the devil into thinking that being loud,boisterous,and flaunting themselves,is the only way to attract a man. Ladies,this is nothing but a bold face LIE! Why have so many females lost their value in themselves? The world of women has convinced itself,that being provocative and loose is the way to live. Yet,we are so shocked when the men of our day treat a female disrespectfully. We women will be accountable for every man we cause to lust after us. My heart really aches for teenage girls,who display themselves,in hopes to be loved. All it brings them is heartache and a distorted view on everything. They are truly just blinded to the dangers,by the devil himself. Thank the Lord for females who do dress modestly,not to show off!
There is still hope!
Ladies,let's take a stand! I decided to follow Jesus long ago. Now my desire is to want to please and honor Him. I also do not want to be a stumbling block for any of my fellow men. It is a comfort to know that my body is covered,and yet I can still look feminine and pretty. Maybe you aren't a fan of skirts and dresses,but you can still be modest. I have found much help in modesty from the blog Fresh Modesty. She covers all types of modest clothing.
Being a lady is more than just clothing. It is your mannerisms,the way you carry yourself,and your spirit. In acting,and dressing like a lady,when the time comes,God will send the right man your way.
I will leave you all with a few of my very favorite quotes.

"I often wonder,if more girls were willing to be ladies,would more guys feel challenged to be gentlemen?"
-Unknown

"It is a man's job to respect a woman,but it's a woman's job to give him something to respect."
-Unknown

"The fact that I am a woman does not make me a different kind of Christian,but the fact that I am a Christian makes me a different kind of woman."
-Elisabeth Elliot

~Emily

A daring adventure…or nothing

/////Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature,nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure,or nothing.    -Helen Keller/////////

Bucket list for 2014

So I have done something scary……
First off,I have,like so many of you made a list of the things I really want to do before I leave this world. But if I am perfectly honest…I am not getting much done. Any how. This year I made a "bucket list" of the things that I want(and intend) to get done within 2014.

And the list goes on….

-Take a cake decorating class. (already signed up!)

-Win a photography contest(gonna take some work.)

-Take a road trip.

-Make a new friend.

-Go to Carowinds. (theme park)

-Start my Etsy.

-Have my pictures in a newspaper or magazine.

-Make a portfolio of my work.

-Visit the theatre again.

-Take a collection of photos.(A collection shot of one subject. I'm thinking either horses or neat trees.)

-Go to the state fair.

-Have a photo shoot with Brendan.(We have been trying to do this forever!)

-Visit an elderly person once a month.

-Go ice skating.

-Take a picture from the top of a ferris wheel!

-Stand on top of a waterfall.

-Go swimming(I've done this before of course;P)

-Use my Polaroid.

-Find and visit and old fashioned bakery.(I'm talking coffee,doughnuts,cookies,atmosphere,the whole nine yards!)

-Try iced Chai tea

So I will be documenting my progress through out the year. We'll see how I do! I want to accomplish things this year. I want to be able to look back and see change.
-Emily

On a rainy day….

So today was nice…..
It poured down rain all day long. I was off work this morning so I got to sleep until nine-o'clock! Something that never ever happens. I woke up to some delicious homemade cinnamon rolls. (my mother is amazing.) After munching my cinnamon roll,I got my devotion. The rest of the morning was spent settled down on the couch,listening to records,and working on a crochet project. Listening to the rain is pretty soothing. Even though I had planned to take pictures today and couldn't,it was nice to have a nice,calm,rainy day.
-Emily:)

This little space.

     I realize my posts here have been random and spontaneous. 

I will be honest,I'm pretty bad about actually sitting down,uploading pictures,

and typing out a blog post. It is something I have to make myself sit down and do.

 Not because I don't enjoy it. I do. I just often face a lack of words to describe my feelings,

or a lack of inspiration. Sometimes I wonder if what I write is even of interest to anyone. 

Until now,I really couldn't decide exactly what I want this blog to be. 

I know I want it to be happy. 

A place of connection. A place of encouraging thoughts,

and yet still a place for me to connect and share my personal life,thoughts,and ideas.

Photography is a passion of mine,so of course there has to be a lot of that too! 

The blogs that I read are mainly photography,or homemaking,

or just wonderful cliches of amazing things I love. 

Often I find myself comparing my little corner to the others on this big Internet world.

I get discouraged,and then I quit posting. 

    So here's to a new year. 

This year this little blog is going to be exactly what I want it to be. 

It is going to be a part of my life,like a journal.

I want to document the things in my personal life(but not too much) and offer inspiration to others. 

I want this to be an encouraging place. A inspiring place. 

A place of crafting,photography,random whimsy,color,laughter,joy,food,happiness,and of course faith in this wonderful Jesus I've found. 

This is going to be my place. My happy place. 

I want to share with you,the precious things that I am privileged to experience,

in hopes that you will create your own happy place. 

Here's to the new year on This Lovely Life!

-Emily

Welcome 2014

Happy New Year to all!

To be perfectly honest,I normally make tons of resolutions that I don't keep. I don't even know where my list is by the end of the year! But this year is different to me. I have so many dreams and plans welling up in my heart an mind. I can't NOT get together my game plan for this year!

2013:
God gave me grace in a hard situation.
I lost someone unexpectedly.
I learned that even in the valley God is good.
We visited several states.
I discovered where my passion lies….photography;)
Had fun with family and friends.
Went kayaking for the first time.
Saw a giant Sting Ray.
Had a great year!



Plans for 2014:
Develop a closer walk with Jesus.
Work on my photography.
Keep an open mind.
Be positive.
Enjoy every breath of life.
Travel.
Be a friend to someone that doesn't like me.
Be a better servant.
Love people.
Be a better witness.
Be a better friend.
Volunteer in my community.
Complain less and rejoice more.
Let go of personal struggles.
Focus on my business.
Live happy:)