I love St. Simons!

Mom and I got to St. Simons last night. Dad and Camilla are coming tomorrow. Katie, Art, EK, and Harper are just down the beach from us. We had a great day today. Mom and I woke up, had coffee and breakfast, and just sat on the porch for a while. Katie, Art, EK, and H came over and we swam in the pool for a bit with EK the swimmer! Then we went down to be beach to look for seashells, pick up some sticks, look for crabs, run around, get sandy, and much more! We had a great time down at the beach. Mom and I walked down to the King&Prince and then back to our house. Now we are just relaxing before going around town for a little bit. We love to chill and to ride around. Mom and I are having great fun! We are having pizza at the house with Katie, Art and crew tonight. 

This is just a fun picture of Emma Kate the other day!

I have many more updates to share. The Toney-Pierce wedding is at the top of my list! They are married!

I am off to run around town with Mom for a while!

BJ's Abroad Blog

http://www.auburn.edu/~haistbj/chinablog/bj_in_china/bj_in_china.html

Go to this link to keep up with BJ's travels, site visits, lessons, stories, and much more. 

Another Good Day

Good Morning Blog World!

Today, Payton Mann Haisten graduates from Prattville High School! Payt, we are all so proud of you and love you so much. Enjoy this precious time in your life because is sure flies by! BJ and I are both so upset that we cannot be there today. I hope we can make it up to you soon! In the mean time, just remember that you are loved. I cannot wait to be your sister! WAR EAGLE!

Right now I am sitting in my kitchen at home eating Frosted Mini Wheats, drinking coffee, and blogging. That is a pretty good morning, huh? I will hopefully talk to BJ for a moment before he goes to bed in Shanghai. They are exactly 12 hours ahead, and so far, the time change has worked out great! It is oddly comforting to know that while I am awake, he is asleep. I do not worry about what he is doing or if everything is safe. I just know he is sound asleep! Then, when I am asleep, he is running around China having a fabulous time! He is really really enjoying it and keeps telling me how much he loves traveling. Hopefully we will get to travel a lot together throughout our lives. What an exciting thought!

Mom and I have been doing all kinds of wedding stuff over the past two weeks. Katie and Camilla have been such a great help. I do not know what I would do without these people. Dad has been so sweet and supportive. We love you, Dad! 

So far we have a Church, reception spot, band, DRESS, bridesmaid dresses, etc... And the florist and photographer will be nailed down soon! I think I am forgetting some stuff. Anyway, the hardest thing is going to be getting everyone's addresses. The addresses for people my age are going to be hard because most of them have no idea where the will be living in the fall! Oh well- if this is the worst thing, then we are doing good! Thank you Mom for being our team captain! I love you and am soooo thankful for you. 

Today we are just hanging around the house, cleaning up, still unpacking, and probably going to see Grandmama. Mom is out running errands with Emma Kate right now. If yall do not already, you must follow my older sister's blog about she and her precious little family - http://www.thedouglasfam.blogspot.com

Lauren Hayes spent the night last night after getting in from DC, and Lauren Widman is coming in town this evening! Widman and I are going to drive together to Elizabeth's wedding in Huntsville! We could not be more excited!!! Another blog to begin following- http://www.elizabeth-pierce.blogspot.com Elizabeth is a pro blogger and is so much fun. She is marrying Caleb tomorrow!!

That is all for now. I am sorry that it took so long to update! Sometimes I just have to wait for some inspiration. Happy Friday everyone!

Correction

The previously stated blog address for BJ is no longer correct. He is trying to set up a new one. I'll keep yall posted.

BJ is off to China

BJ left early this morning for China. He flew to Newark, and is now in the air on the way to Shanghai. He should be landing in 2 hours.

This morning we all got up at 4 to get BJ to the airport at 5. Mrs. Barbara and I drove him and all went well...or so it seemed. I was feeling OK and had gotten my emotional stuff out the night before. We watched him go through security and then began walking to the car. When we were almost to the car I got a text from BJ that said, "Did you pack my computer charger?" 

I immediately panicked. I packed his computer up for him this morning and remembered taking it off the charger. I had not packed the charger. I totally forgot. In the midst of trying to be sweet and sneaky and leave him a note in his bag, I left the durn computer charger. BJ is going over there to do his thesis, which is all done on his computer. He could have shared for a while, or tried to find a new one, but nothing made me feel OK about it. I was so worried and Mrs. Barbara was racking her brain for any way to get that thing to him.

Once we got home we realized that BJ's friend Tommy was going on a later flight and meeting them in Shanghai. Long story short, Mom drove me back to the airport and I dropped the charger off with sweet Tommy who is traveling with it right now en route to China.

After all of that ended, we took a breather and began a long and fun day of wedding planning!

More to come soon.

And I cannot get pictures to upload?!

P.S.- BJ has a blog specifically about his travels. Check it out- bjdoeschina.blogspot.com 

Graduation- Sad or Exciting?

Well, I (Emily) graduated from Auburn on Saturday. It was a great day, and a fabulous weekend. My parents and the Ames threw us a little party Friday night and it was perfect. We also got most of our best friends together to take pictures in front of Samford hall on Friday afternoon. It was hot, but they turned out great! Thanks to Milla for taking the pictures! 

Graduation was bittersweet. The actual ceremony was actually lots of fun. I sat amongst many good friends. I was in between Lauren W and Caroline. Kathryn Lee, Elizabeth T, Sara Beth, and Mel Jo were all on my row or right in front of me. It was really special. Bo Jackson did the commencement speech. Emma Kate and Harper attended graduation and were very well behaved from what I hear! We went to Momma G's afterwards and enjoy a sandwich and some nachos.

I cannot believed college ended. It just ended. Abruptly. Over. That's it. It is done. Finished.

Wow.

Where did it go? What happened in those four years?

My four years of Auburn were filled with friends, family, and love. It was perfect. I went to Auburn with best friends, met many more best friends, and I even get to marry an Auburn Man!  Whoa! 

Although I may have spent to many hours worrying about nothing, and could have studied a little harder, I would call my time at Auburn a success. The Lord was with me through those years and even when I was not seeking Him, He was seeking me. Thank you, Jesus! He has been very faithful. My time at Auburn was such a gift and will continue to bless me. I will take my friends with me forever, and obviously my husband too! 

Thank you to everyone who made my college experience what it was! 

And thank you DAD for providing for me and letting me go to Auburn. 

I will add some pictures soon! They are having trouble uploading. 

Finishing up the Semester.

BJ and I had a great night out on the town. For us, this means going to tiger town where we visited places like Kinnucans, Moe's, Ross, TJ Maxx, TARGET, and Kohls. In that order. Am I missing anything, B?

I have my last final exam ever tomorrow. It is Art History III. I have studied a little bit, but am planning on getting up and studying all morning at my favorite coffee place in Auburn, Taylor's Bakery. I have spent many hours there during the past 4 years, and I figured that my last morning of studying at Auburn should be spent there. It will be bittersweet. 

Graduation is on Saturday. Lord willing. Leave it to me to worry about worst case scenario not graduating possibilities. I know I will graduate on Saturday, but I worry about the craziest things that could happen that would steal my dreams. Haha. It wont happen. 

Speaking of worrying...We just finished a series on Worry at Auburn Church. It was a great series by Andy Stanley that I highly recommend. Worry has been something that has plagued me, and I refuse to let it plague me forever. I tend to worry about everything, big and small. As my Dad says, worry is the opposite of faith. That is the bottom line. Who are we to worry about our lives? When we worry, we are saying that we do not trust the Lord with our lives. We are such control freaks that we think WE know what is best. 

I will leave you all with that.

Off to bed! Only a few more nights here in Auburn as a student...

War Eagle.