Lovin' a Place

Just as easy as you can love a person, emotion, type of food, activity, thought or an idea I think you can also love a place. I’ve come to love this place I currently call home. I am amazed by this beautiful city called San Diego. Sometimes I feel like I’m on a permanent vacation. Since I’ve been in a season of rest and waiting as I’ve been unemployed I’ve been able to explore San Diego. For that I am always very grateful!

One of my favorite places that I truly love is Sunset Cliffs. I live literally less than 2 miles from this incredible place. It’s where the West Coast meets the Pacific Ocean resulting in dramatic cliffs, seaside wild flowers, a surfer’s playground, private/hidden beaches and one of the most serene and beautiful places to watch the sunset. The name says it all I guess. I’ve felt like this place has been a haven of sorts for me. I’ve spent countless days wogging (walking/jogging) along the coast here, reading a book while soaking in the sun, praying, listening for revelation and guidance in my life and people watching. I think most people go there to think, journal/write, find serenity, solve world peace (hopefully), find themselves, find God or just gain perspective on the beauty of creation.

This place has captured my soul.

What places have captured yours?

Where do you feel alive or free?

I hope you have found places like this in your life.

If not, please try to get outside and explore this wonderful world.

To Whom It May Concern

Over Thanksgiving my brother, who has much better taste in music than me, introduced me to this amazing group called The Civil Wars. Their soulful melodies speak to my heart's core. I love them...borderline obsessed. They are now blowing up and getting really big....which is always great!
I have been loving the song below...it's beautiful and so encouraging. If you are single out there and hoping for love...know that there's a plan and you will have a lovely romance story one day.
I too am "still waiting patiently..."
Lovin' Love
EEG


"To Whom It May Concern" - The Civil Wars
(I HIGHLY encourage you to go directly to iTunes after reading this and purchase all of their music....it's EPIC!)


Why are you so far from me?
In my arms is where you ought to be
How long will you make me wait?
I don't know how much more I can take
I missed you
But I haven't met you
Oh how I want to
How I do
Slowly counting down the days
Till I finally know your name
Ooo the way your hand feels round my waist
The way you laugh
The way your kisses taste
I missed you
But I haven't met you
Oh how I want to
How I do, How I do
I missed you
But I haven't met you
Oh how I missed you
I haven't met you
Oh but I want to
Oh how I want to
Dear whoever you might be
I'm still waiting patiently. 

2 Valentine's Day "Love Nuggets"

On this day of love I feel an additional amount of pressure to write something brilliant about love. But when I think about it…I’d like to share two of my favorite lessons about love/gifts anyone ever told me about. Two little “love nuggets”of wisdom if you will. I hope this inspires how you show love to others on this Valentine’s day and throughout the year.

1) I started dating this guy one time and the day he asked me to be his girlfriend, he also asked me one thing, “Promise me it’s ok that we will never celebrate Valentine’s Day?” Laughing I said, “Sure that’s nothing. It’s always a holiday full of lots of expectation. Why don’t you like it?” He then explained how he somehow always seemed to mess it up every year. He followed all of this up by promising me that he would make sure I felt loved and special every other day of the year and that I would never miss celebrating Valentine’s day. Now how romantic is that? And he stayed true to his word.

I just wish we would all take this same stance toward one another every day. Why not love out of the abundance of your heart every day? Why not write a thoughtful affirming card every couple of weeks to someone? Why not buy someone flowers just because? Why not hang with all of your single buddies and share in community? Why not tell the people in your life how much they mean to you always? Why not romance your partner or spouse the other 364 days a year? I hope this blog helps inspire that type of spontaneous and thoughtful romance. I am no “Debbie Downer” on Valentine’s. I mean I love pastel colors, sweets, hearts and letters of affection more than most of ‘em. I just think we should inspire this type of romance daily.  

2) A boyfriend once taught me one of the best lessons when it comes to giving gifts. He said “The best gift is an unexpected gift at an unexpected time.” SO TRUE! This statement is brilliant. I love a good surprise. Surprises may be one of my top 5 favorite things in the world.  So take this gem of wisdom and next time you think of it surprise someone with a gift at an unexpected time for an unexpected reason. It will brighten their day, warm their heart, grow their affection toward you and others, bless them and make them feel like the special person they are.

Thanks GJR.

Veux-tu m'épouser? A Lovely Parisian Engagement

I love Paris. It’s one of the most romantic and lovely places I have ever been and it will always be one of my favorite places in the world. I mean really…who doesn’t love beautiful flowers, history, artisan farmer’s markets, romance, French onion soup, cheese, wine, fresh baked bread (remember I am from the South and love me some carbohydrates) and oh yeah again…cheese?! 

All that being said, I knew about Steve and Sarah's particular love story in advance. I am the WORST liar in the world. I knew that Steve had already worked really hard to organize their engagement. Sarah text me the day she was leaving and I had so much fun “playing dumb” and asking her about the modeling shoot she was going to do.

Little did she know her love story was about to continue…

Steve’s Parisian proposal from Sarah’s point of view:

Steve and I had been dating for over 3 years—on my detailed, impatient clock, 1,235 days. Informed from my modeling agent that I was heading to PARIS for a job, I packed my bags in sheer delight, going to my all time favorite place on the planet.

Upon arriving, I wandered about the "location" my agent had given me—the famous Trocadéro terrace and gardens, shadowed by the magnificent La Tour Eiffel, and looked for the "balloons" and "Julian," my supposed contact.

Finally spotting some balloons, I headed over to the railing they were tied to. After checking my phone once more for details, I glanced up and saw a gorgeous man in a white shirt, tie, and black coat who looked like Steve. Then I did a double-take, realized this man was Steve, and my heart dropped—Steve + Paris—I thought this was a result of too many daydreams about my proposal story…

But when he walked up with strong intentionality, got on one knee, and told me he "wanted to be a part of my story forever," I knew this was it. He pulled out a stunning old, wooden ring box…before he had a moment to put the diamond on me, I had already pulled it from the black cushion and placed it on my finger. A French photographer captured our bliss—man, did he think of everything—and Steve told me he staged the entire thing, and we were going to explore Paris for three days! I am forever in awe of the creativity and detail he poured into this surprise to show me his love.

Congratulations Steve and Sarah! I love you both so much and am so blessed to have gotten to watch you both fall in love! 

Wishing you lots more adventures and many more love stories.

ps- S&S are a really fun couple too!

Loving a Miracle

Sometimes in life things happen. Things that you can not overcome without a completely different perspective. Things that leave you forever changed. This is the story of a miracle I survived by only the grace of God. Exactly a year ago today I was involved in a horrible car accident. I remember thinking to myself earlier in the week that I had never experienced a miracle. I had heard of miracles happening in third world countries and from friends and family, but until this day I could not have said I had seen one for myself.

This is the story of my miracle…

Later that week I was on the 101 in Los Angeles (a very busy freeway during rush hour.) I was excited to be attending one of my first events I had been working on in Los Angeles. I was cruising along in the far left lane when another car crossed 3 lanes of traffic side swiping my car and sending me directly into the median as I was going 65mph. I distinctively remember grabbing the steering wheel ready to brace for the impact and saying, “Ok God here we go.” I don’t know what happened exactly after that I just remember opening my eyes, being in a lot of pain, feeling blood dripping from my face and body and knowing that I needed to get out of the car. (I had seen too many movies where the car blows up after a wreck, so I wanted to make sure I got out of there as soon as possible. Too much late night Rescue 911 I guess.) I then saw two men running over to me looking at me like I was a Zombie. They were shocked to see me alive and helped me get out of the car and carried me to the side of the road. Of course I went into adrenaline mode and asked them, “Are yall ok? Oh my goodness what happened! This is a miracle….wait I need to call work!” (I was worried about being late for my first event….haha) In confusion I then asked them, “I was hit by another car and spun around, right? Did I hit you?” (Realizing that it would have been impossible to not have collided with another car on one of the country’s busiest free ways) The one gentleman said, “No, you didn’t spin you flipped 3 times!” Looking to the scene of the accident I noticed my car now looked like the DeLorean from Back to the Future with the wheels flipped inside themselves. Analyzing my car I realized that I had just been involved in and experienced a miracle. I then started talking to the ambulance workers and the two men helping me and said, “I am so thankful for yall. Thank you! You don’t understand what a miracle this is. God bless you! God saved me…Also can you please leave your business cards because I am a firm believer in thank you notes.” Then they both smiled at me and said, “You’re not from Los Angeles are you?!”

I tell this story not to scare anyone but to truly celebrate the love, compassion and grace that was shown to me a year ago today. I am forever grateful and humbled that God chose to save me in that situation. It was/is a miracle! Every doctor, paramedic and family friend has been able to attest to this. My life has a purpose and a meaning and my work in the world is not yet done. God saved me and I am even more in love with him today because of this miracle.

My life is a miracle…so is yours…its knowing that...and what we do in response...that defines us. Love the life you live and bless those around you!

Old School Love

Alright I have to share one of the most all-time beautiful “i love love” moments ever captured in a movie. The most recent version of Pride and Prejudice is epic. One of my very favorites and I am guilty of watching it at least 20 times…I’m not exaggerating…don’t judge me. 

But honestly…it’s a period piece movie, based on the Jane Austen classic, which has two strong and amazing characters (Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy), then throw in Joe Wright as the director (one of my favorites directors as well) and then add music that makes your heart melt from Dario Marianelli…it’s just so lovely and good! 

I love the honesty and vulnerability of these two characters in this moment. If you ever need a love “pick me up” be inspired by this clip from a beautiful old classic story that just so happens to be one of the best love stories of all time.

Jam packed old school romance in 2 minutes and 52 seconds. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqidX_5ZsLg&feature=related

i love love.

This has been a while in the making and I was inspired by this blog idea a while back.

To put it simply…I love love. I always have and I always will.

As a single woman in her late 20s I have not given up on one thing…love…romance that is. The type of romance that knocks you off your feet, gives you butterflies in your stomach, is straight out of a “rom com” (romantic comedy), the kind that makes you want to laugh and cry at the same time, the kind that inspires you, that blesses you, makes you want to play Frank Sinatra and dance around the room, the kind that you recognize in your favorite couples in your life, and that makes you want to run out and tell everyone in the world “I’m in love, I’m in love and I don’t care who knows it!” (If you know where this quote is from I can tell you that you are definitely going to love this blog and I already like you.)

I believe that chivalry and romance have not completely died; I just don’t think they’re encouraged. The point of this blog is to inspire love again. I want to encourage our generation and others to embrace romance, the most authentic and selfless kind. Let us be people that are inspired by the past and positively influence the future. Both women and men are worth far more then we have been told. We are precious and are greatly loved. So please stop by and be inspired by romantic stories, movie clips, photographs, love letters, poems, song lyrics or just inspiring thoughts.

Lovin’ love,
Emily

For my first entry I want to share the story of how my Grandma Katie and Grandpa Bus met. They are no longer alive but their love story is one straight out of a Nicholas Sparks novel. I knew I would have to start this blog with this story…as it is one of my very favorite love stories.

My Grandpa Bus raised and trained racing horses in Wyoming. (Hint: He knew the trainer in the movie “Sea Biscuit”) He was really good at breaking horses and had gotten this young beautiful colt. He tried and tried and could not break the horse. (Breaking a horse=to tame a horse to be able to use a harness or saddle) After many attempts he asked several of his colleagues to help and they couldn’t break the horse either. He asked a good friend of his in final frustration and confessed how angry he was that he bought a horse that was now really no use. The gentlemen turned to him and smiled and said, “You know what, I know someone who can break that horse for you. But before I tell you who that person is you have to promise me one thing…” My Grandpa quickly responded, “Yeah, of course I'll do whatever I have to to get this horse tame.” The gentlemen quirked a smile and said, “I know who can fix this horse, but you must promise not to fall in love with her. She’s my daughter.”

My Grandma Rosemary Elizabeth (who later changed her name to Katie because she liked it better) showed up, tamed the horse, and the rest was history.

In the end my Grandpa wasn’t very good at keeping his promise.

Grandpa Bus and Grandma Katie photographed here on the way to a race later in their marriage. 

(Note: She was 13 years younger than him.)