Life Isn't Always Peachy

Well, hi.

To say I fell off the blogging bandwagon would be an understatement. It's been almost a year since my last post. I've missed you guys. And I've missed sharing my adventures with you.

But this past year has been one crazy, busy, not-always-great adventure. There have been some major ups and downs.

I finished my first year of teaching. It was rough. Don't get me wrong - I loved most of it, but I was put into a few situations that caused emotional stress almost every day. I was exhausted by the end of the year. But the students make it all worth it. Nothing compares to giving a great concert with my high schoolers or a hug from a still-thinks-you-are-awesome sixth grader.

Next year is looking up, and I'm excited about my new teaching positions.

Along with my full time job, I was also teaching eleven private violin and viola students, helping with an after school orchestra, and playing with four different orchestras. Needless to say, I haven't had much time to focus on my blog or Etsy shop.

A major up happened in December: Daniel and I got engaged!!!

(AHHHHHH!!!)

Story coming soon!

(I still stare at my ring. No shame.)

We're getting married one year from today!

So, life isn't always peachy - sometimes it's downright not fun - but sometimes it's fabulous!

And speaking of peaches, I've got a peach pie recipe for you!

Check back later!

:)

Wedding on the Ashley River

After my trip to Kansas City, I flew back to South Carolina to meet Daniel and attend his cousin's wedding in Charleston.

If you've never been to Charleston, go now. The architecture is so pretty, and the city has so much culture and history!

The wedding was at a mansion on the Ashley River, and the ceremony took place on the front lawn.

After the ceremony, we all moved inside for the cocktail hour and reception.

Daniel has so many awesome cousins! It was kind of overwhelming to meet almost the entire family all at once, but everyone was really nice.

(By the way, I love my red ruffle shoes!)

This is my new favorite picture!

The views of the sunset over the river were absolutely gorgeous!

The newlyweds left by the light of sparklers. Clearly I was excited about this...

It was a beautiful wedding, and I enjoyed attending it with Daniel!

Handmade With Purpose

I'm participating in Handmade with Purpose!

For the month of April, over 20 handmade shops and blogs have joined together to give back. Each of the particiating shops and blogs will be donating proceeds to the charity of their choice.

Please help us give back by:

-buying handmade goods from participating shops

-sponsoring participating blogs

-donating to designated charities

-spreading the word on your blog, Facebook, or Twitter

{#handmadewithpurpose}

Please visit Handmade With Purpose, and specifically this post, to receive updates and to learn about the participating shops and blogs and the charities to which they are donating.

Thank you to Lindsay, of Paint Me a Picture, for organizing this exciting event!

Emerging Em's charity is the American Diabetes Association and the movement to Stop Diabetes®.

Join the Millions^SM in the fight to Stop Diabetes. Help build the momentum needed to put an end to diabetes once and for all. To learn more visit stopdiabetes.com.

"Our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes."

Every 17 seconds equals a new case of diabetes, and I have several very important people in my life affected by the disease. My boyfriend, Daniel, has had diabetes since he was three, and my little cousin Chris has also struggled with the disease for a few years. Both have been hospitalized from complications. I want to help them as well as the over 25 million people affected by diabetes in the United States.

That's why I'm donating

50%

of the proceeds from Emerging Em for the month of April to the American Diabetes Association to Stop Diabetes®!!

You can buy one of these...

or these...

or these...

...and shop for a worthy cause!

I'm so excited about this opportunity, and I'm hoping you'll consider helping me give back!

Dear Daniel

*Warning: Please excuse the extreme mushyness ahead.*

;)

Dear Daniel,

I know it's only been about four months since we started dating, but I feel like I have spent some of the best moments of my life with you.

The long awkward silence when we met for the first time...but then we ended up talking for hours for the rest of the weekend.

You sending me "snow" for my birthday.

Ice skating by The Bean in Millennium Park in Chicago.

Seeing Chicago and kissing you from the top of the John Hancock Building.

You teaching me how to make latte art and the giggles that ensued.

You waiting for me and hugging me at the end of my first half marathon.

Stuffing our faces at Paula Deen's Restaurant on Valentine's Day.

Sharing my favorite coffee shop, Coffee Underground, with you.

(Coffee Underground)

Sitting in a swing by the Reedy River and talking about the future.

Watching the sunset from Caesar's Head.

Dancing with you at your cousin's wedding in Charleston.

Still getting butterflies when I look at you...

Thanks for sharing in our adventures! It's been a wonderful journey so far!

I love you.

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day full of family, good food, and festivities!

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Isaiah 9:6

My mom only makes her delicious coffee cake on Christmas, so it's always a special treat!

(Shelby's thoughts: I hate my life. Get it off.)

I hope everyone has a blessed, beautiful holiday!

Love,



p.s. IT'S SNOWING!

Spread the Love

First of all, I have a new header. What do you think?

I'm still deciding...

Now on to Spread the Love!

Melissa, over at Oh, My Darling, has inspired many bloggers to share some love and kindness with other people in their lives through her Spread the Love week. It has been a reminder for me to take some time to reach out to others, do a little something for them, and hopefully make the world a bit brighter and happier place. I have come up with a list of ten things, most of which I can accomplish in the next week, to help Spread the Love.

(Tangent: I have discovered that spread is a strange word if you think about it for too long.)

Anyhow...

1. Send cookies to a friend from Silver Bay. I had time to pop in World Market the other day to buy British cookies to send to a friend who shares my love of England.

2. Send necklaces to friends. I've been making some necklaces in cheery colors that I want to send to some friends as a fun surprise.

3. Send a note to the chaplain at Silver Bay. I just want to send Bruce a note telling him that I enjoyed my experience at Silver Bay, that I feel lucky to have met him, and what an inspiration he is.

4. Send a note to my ex-boyfriend. We haven't really talked since we broke up, but I still care about him as a friend and wish him all the best.

5. Send an email or text to the organist at my church just to let her know I'm thinking about her.

6. Get notes out to all my penpals. (I'm also participating in Melissa's Dear Darlings penpal project.)

7. Buy peanut M&Ms for a friend at school. She loves them.

8. Send a note to the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra personel manager thanking her for being so welcoming and for the opportunity to play with the orchestra.

9. Make the freshmen at Converse feel welcome. I know when I was a freshman at Florida State, I was terrified of the grad students. Hopefully I'm not terrifying...

10. Cook for my mom and dad. I'm hoping to do this one when I get home from school tomorrow night.

Hopefully Spreading the Love won't last only one week!

Peace

Silver Bay has such a rich and beautiful history. There are families here that come every summer. Church conferences and family reunions happen here. One of the ladies living with me in Sunnyside has been coming since 1944 and met her husband here! So sweet!

I'm on the verge of getting sappy, but I may as well continue. I went to the EMPS musical last night - Nunsense. On the back of the program, the director, Mike, wrote, among other things, "This is a place of healing and peace, of love and compassion, of friendship and family....This is truly a home and ours is a loving one." I can't think of a better way to describe Silver Bay. Besides my own home, I've never been in a place where I've felt more welcomed and loved. Although I am looking forward to going home, I am reluctant to leave such a gorgeous place and wonderful friends, both old and new, that have been so restorative for my soul.

This evening's Vespers was at Slim Point where we could see the sunset and hear the water lapping up on the beach. We took several minutes to just be quiet and still and feel God's presence. It was an inspiring moment, and I am so grateful to have been invited to play in the quartet here. Little did I know that it would be such an amazing experience.

The end. Sappiness over. Probably until tomorrow.

I'll have more pictures soon!

Em