Unapologetic

If it were up to me the words "skinny" and "fat" would be permanently erased from our minds. All my life I've been told I'm too small, scrawny, boney, thin enough to blow away, and things of that sort, like it was okay. Is that really any different than being called fat? It's the same thing, just the opposite end of the spectrum. That fact is that being called fat or skinny, either way, is so wrong and you should NEVER let those terms define you.  Being happy and healthy are what matter. I've always struggled with feeling too skinny and too small. We live in a society where a Kim K booty is what is viewed as attractive, and if any part of you is flat then no part of you is pretty. If you ask my opinion that is a load of garbage. Kim K is beautiful in her own way, just like you, and just like me. Comparison is the thief of joy. Please please please love your body. Woman or man, boy or girl, old or young. LOVE YOURSELF!!! 

Yesterday I came to my senses. I completely came to my selfish, and unreasonable, senses. This is my favorite time of year. The holiday love that seems to infect everyone, the music, the hot chocolate, the shopping, the cooking, the decorations being put up through the small town I live in, and simply the feeling in the air. It all makes me SO overwhelmed with happiness, but yesterday I had a moment of weakness that brought tears to my eyes and a sick feeling sat in my stomach. Every year I have family and friends asking me, "What do you want for Christmas?" and "Write me a Christmas List Emma." The last few years I've found myself struggling to write out a Christmas List when it was the time to, because I couldn't find anything I want enough for someone to spend money on me. So I go LOOKING, and I go SEARCHING, for gifts for people to give me. I am a selfish person. I am such a selfish person when there are children and people within probably less than ...

In the last year I've dealt with some personal experiences, regarding the people I considered friends, that have helped me have better judgement when choosing the people I spend my time with. I suppose everyone comes to a time in their life when they have this realization. Well...I've come to mine. This is for anyone and everyone from children, preteens, teenagers, to adults, or even if you're 99, this pertains to you.  I recently read a quote by Booker T. Washington that said, "Associate yourself with people of good quality, for it is better to be alone than in bad company". Reading that was like getting punched square in the face, and this is why. I've made it a personal goal to work as hard as I can every day to better myself as a young woman. To not be judgmental in any way, to be gracious and understanding, to try my very best to not worry (the biggest obstacle for me), to show love even in the most frustrating situations, and to stay focused on the path ...

I'm reading the book of Job in the Bible right now (I'm not big on reading, but I do love reading the bible). I think I came across my new favorite verse this morning while I was reading. It's Job 37:14 and it says, "Stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God!". So now, set aside all of your problems. Forget where you are, forget all of the mess you may be dealing with. Take the next 10 - 15 minutes and put all of your focus on the good, the blessings, and the miracles. Put all of your attention on dwelling on the positive and chunking everything negative out the window. You have the power to train your thoughts to be good, and you will always see the bright side! Start using that power. Bottom line: each of us could be doing much worse than we are and God wants us to acknowledge that we're blessed even when we reach our lowest of lows. He will always see us through. Never, ever, doubt His ability. 

Okay, I know I know, a lot of my recent blogs have been super serious. So today to lighten it up a little I want to share one of my all-time-favorite quotes with you!  When I was young I read a quote that said "A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor". Those words have stuck with me ever since I read them! The older I've gotten and the more I've thought about it the more sense it has made to me. For me it means a lot of things, but the most important thing it means to me is that it can help you bring light and positivity to any situation. It doesn't matter how rough life gets, the struggles make you stronger. The best part is that it's so very true.  Remember...anything you go through makes you a stronger, better person. Give Hebrews 6:19 a read today! :)  xoxo - Emma 

I've tried to write a blog for the last 2 weeks. I've tried and tried, but nothing I would write made much sense. There's something that's weighed so very heavy on my heart and mind for a while now, so I thought I'd take that inspiration and write about it. Here goes nothing... Proverbs 19:21 says, "Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails." This Bible verse has been my rock and place that I turn to when I struggle with what I thought was the plans and direction for my life. The last month of my life has been one of great realization and a huge lesson of putting all of my trust in God. Sometimes we have to learn the hard way, I suppose. Nevertheless, no matter who you are, or what your situation is, the most comforting thing to know is that The Creator of the universe has a plan for you. There's a purpose for you. His knowledge is far better than ours. So, even though it's incredibly difficult to trust what...

The crown does not define you. You define the crown. You are what people remember when they see a crown. You represent. That is why your attitude, the way you react, speak, and carry yourself are incredibly important. Don't take it for granted, being a representative. There are people who would give anything to be in your shoes. Act effortlessly, give your time passionately, try hard, love yourself, know your beauty inside and out. Take each opportunity and run with it. When it's all said and done and the crown isn't yours anymore you'll be left with a happy heart, a better you, and life lessons you'll cherish forever. I am who I am because of those four sparkly points. And people ask me why I love the Miss America Organization...

I want to share with you something I wrote in my phone last summer around the middle of July about an experience I had on that day and a lady who's impacted my life tremendously. (I don't have the exact date I wrote it). I found it to be an appropriate time to finally share this story that I hold so close to my heart since we sang at her church today, and I check in at Miss NC this week.  So here it goes... "So today we went to visit a really special lady to me in the hospital. She's battling cancer. She's pretty much on her death bed cause she wasn't expected to live past last summer but after today I'm convinced she's not dying any time soon. I was really hesitant and not looking forward to going to see her. Not because I didn't wanna see her, but because I was truly unsure if I could handle seeing her so sick. She's so special to me because she's one of the main reasons I started competing at Miss NC. 3 years ago she was a complete strang...

Shew! It's been a while. As many of you know I spent last week, Monday-Friday, at Falcon Children's Home. In order to complete the last level of the Duke Of Edinburgh Award that I've been working to achieve for the last 3 years, I had to do a residential project. I've been around Falcon, NC my whole life. Naturally that was the first place that came to my mind. My family has been affiliated with the International Pentecostal Holiness Church for decades. I've always had an enormous amount of respect for the work that FCH does, but you never can truly appreciate something until you experience it. I wrote 14 pages in a journal in 4 days. I'll be sharing parts of what I wrote during the week too. So, my spill begins. I arrived Monday around noon. I felt ready, confident, and excited to feel some independence! The minute my mom hugged me bye all of that flew out the window, and I knew right then, this was going to be a LONG week. At the same time, I was so happy ...

I ran across this quote on Pinterest today, and it's like it screamed at me. Literally, screamed at me from inside of my phone. Ive focused hard lately on bettering myself with each day. Not by making drastic changes at once, but by slowly, each day, working towards being the woman God wants me to be. I've never heard/seen it worded this way. Be always blooming!! Every day bloom a little fuller, a little brighter, a little happier, a little more confident, a little more kind, a little more selfless, a little more loving. Work hard to strive for your pontential. It's the best thing you can do for yourself! Learn to love who you are. Each morning when I wake up I go look in the mirror and look for the good in myself and don't dwell on the flaws. I simply work towards bettering my flaws, not dwelling on them. That's something I feel like we as humans do too much of. We all have flaws! It's nothing worth dwelling on :) Be always blooming, know your worth!!  -Em 

My inspiration for this post comes from a bible verse I've always found to be a favorite of mine. It is Matthew 6:22-23 and it says "Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dark cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows what a dark life you will have.". This to me is a reminder for myself to be always forgiving, open-minded, tolerant, and acceptant of others. If I'm not being those things I can't imagine how bitter I would feel towards the world and others. The last few years I've naturally discovered my message and mission as I've spoken to people of all ages. That bible verse ties right in to my personal mission as a young woman, acceptance and tolerance. Don't live life with your eyes shut towards others. Open your eyes! See the beauty that everyone has to offer, and you'll begin to see a greater beaut...

One of the biggest pieces of advice I love giving to girls is: find what makes you feel pretty while keeping your dignity. Our society forces us to search for ways to feel pretty but NOT in the right and healthy ways. There are plenty of awesome ways to feel pretty! Today when I went to the gym I pushed myself a little harder than I did yesterday and later I wore my favorite nude heels, and those simple things made me feel confident. Take silly pictures, find your favorite kind of lipgloss, fix your hair a different way, write a note to yourself about how beautiful you are. We are all created so wonderful in our own way and my heart cries for everyone to understand how incredible they truly are! Don't lose your soul in society, keep your dignity, know your beauty! 

WOW!! What an incredible weekend I have had! Saturday night, February 15th, I was honored to be crowned Johnston County's Outstanding Teen 2014. My journey in the Outstanding Teen program of the Miss America Organization is sadly coming to a close this year because of my age, but what an awesome opportunity to serve Johnston County my last year as an Outstanding Teen! I'm truly thrilled and motived more than ever to reach for my goals and achieve them! Saturday night after it was all over I described to my best friend, Kari, that it felt like a big humbling slap in the face. I have never been awarded so many awards at one time! I've worked and prayed very hard for it, but I was never expecting all of that. People's Choice, Community Service, Fitness, Talent, and the Johnston County OT crown was placed on my head. All I could do was thank God!! I found the words "I'm SO excited" slipping off my tongue nearly every minute! My Miss, Kensley, is such a preciou...

This is to all of the young girls, teen girls, young women, and grown women out there. Let's take a minute to discuss the importance of being a lady. Being beautiful, talented, and smart are all wonderful things to be and portray, but what I love is a girl who knows how to be a lady. I'm not talking about how proper, conservative, and perfectly mannered you are. I'm talking about morals, valuing yourself to a higher standard each day, being intelligent and using the common sense the Good Lord gave you. I'm talking about standing your ground in a composed manner and not taking any "mess" from anyone. You are your own individual and you ARE a lady. Let that come out of you! Be the lovely lady you were created to be, in your own way! Women don't lose the power that our sisters before us fought for. Take a stand for the things you believe, never let anyone talk down on you. Be graceful, take pride in yourself, dress up for no reason at all, don't wear paja...

Lately I find myself stressing, worrying, fretting over the simplest things. Why? I have no clue. That's just the human in me, I guess. I'm learning the older I get the glory of prioritizing. I'm learning to do what makes me happy and what benefits me and the others around me most. I'm learning "don't sweat the small stuff, Em". Spend time with the people who make you happy, lift you up, and encourage you most. I've learned in my short little life that chasing after the people who stress you out are not the friends worth having. Friendship is a two lane road and if you find that you're the only one ever traveling it, you might want to consider turning around. I believe that God puts certain people in our life for reasons. Some only for seasons, some for a lifetime. You'll figure out who goes where sooner or later. I guess the point of this post is, focus on what's important in your life and don't let the small things weigh you down. We...