Welcome! I'm Emma, and I want you to know how happy I am that you are here! In person, I'm kind of a mess when it comes to introductions, so I hope I'm doing ok. I'm a 21 year old living in Washington, D.C., but western Iowa continues to be the place I consider home. Some part of me still resides in Durban, South Africa, where I studied in the fall of 2012. I'm still busy plotting my return.I love cereal, bracelets, design, chai, naps, and ice cream ( among other things, most of which are edible ). The Community of Christ is an important part of my life, though I find beauty in all shapes and sizes of belief. I am nearing the end of my studies in in journalism and religion, and still working out where to go next. Like Charlie Brown here, I'm still trying to figure out what to ultimately do with my life. Writing seems to help me work myself out, and so, here I am.
But here you are, too. I believe in people and you and the power of a story. I find Divine beauty in listening to others and catching glimpses of their deepest passions. For me, the Creator resides in these crossed paths and combined human experience. While I'd much rather be listening to a story, sometimes I write to express my own observations, thoughts, and/or contradictions. I write for myself, but I also write to add my tiny sliver of a story to the bigger picture. This blog is where I collect my thoughts & share my experiences with a growing list of family & friends on this ever-continuing journey.
Admittedly, I'm on social media too often. If you want, you can find me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.
Gates Ajar: Tucked away in small-town Massachusetts there is a cottage named Gates Ajar. Uninhabited for most of the year, she comes alive in the summer as the sun brightens peeling sea foam green walls and the screen door creaks open and slams shut. Sand has trickled in on the feet of five generations returning from a day on the Cape. Beloved for her quirks that spark memories from summers past, she fosters a beautiful state of being. I believe life should be lived with gates ajar.
