Taylor Swift.

Today, I bought TSwift's new album Speak Now and I have fallen in love with Taylor once again. Every word that she writes reaches me in some aspect. Every one of her songs can describe how I felt about someone or something at some point in my life.

Taylor is a great role model. She personifies class and poise. When I saw her in concert in May, I was overwhelmed with a sense of connection with her. I felt like she was singing for me; I felt as though she was sitting with me in my bedroom with an acoustic guitar and we had be trading stories about life and love... mostly love. 

It's so refreshing to have "Girl-power" mean something other than the power to be sexy and wear nice clothes [although, Taylor makes it VERY clear that she likes sparkly things and dresses]. 

She taught me how to be Fearless.

In this new album, Taylor encourages her listeners to SPEAK NOW; To always say what you need to say, and that you always regret the things you need to say, but don't. This is something that has been on my mind since starting my blog. This has just made me feel almost like I am a part of her music.

I will leave you with some TSwift lyrics that always encourage me.

Change - Taylor Swift - Fearless

And it's a sad picture, the final blow hits you
Somebody else gets what you wanted again and
You know it's all the same, another time and place
Repeating history and you're getting sick of it
But I believe in whatever you do
And I'll do anything to see it through

Because these things will change
Can you feel it now?
These walls that they put up to hold us back will fall down
This revolution, the time will come
For us to finally win
And we'll sing hallelujah, we'll sing hallelujah

So we've been outnumbered
Raided and now cornered
It's hard to fight when the fight ain't fair
We're getting stronger now
Find things they never found
They might be bigger
But we're faster and never scared
You can walk away, say we don't need this
But there's something in your eyes
Says we can beat this

Because these things will change
Can you feel it now?
These walls that they put up to hold us back will fall down
This revolution, the time will come
For us to finally win
And we'll sing hallelujah, well sing hallelujah

Tonight we stand, get off our knees
Fight for what we've worked for all these years
And the battle was long, it's the fight of our lives
But we'll stand up champions tonight
It was the night things changed
Can you see it now?
These walls that they put up to hold us back fell down
It's a revolution, throw your hands up
Cause we never gave in
And we sang hallelujah, we sang hallelujah
Hallelujah 








Love, Emma Cate

Title.

Many of you may be wondering how I came up with the title for my blog. Well, here it is.

C.S. Lewis Song - Brooke Fraser

If I find in myself desires nothing in this world can satisfy,

I can only conclude that I was not made for here

If the flesh that I fight is at best only light and momentary,

Then of course I'll feel nude when to where I'm destined I'm compared

Speak to me in the light of the dawn

Mercy comes with the morning

I will sigh and with all creation groan as I wait for hope to come for me

Am I lost or just found? On the straight or on the roundabout of the wrong way?

Is this a soul that stirs in me, is it breaking free, wanting to come alive?

Cause my comfort would prefer for me to be numb

And avoid the impending birth of who I was born to become

Speak to me in the light of the dawn

Mercy comes with the morning

I will sigh and with all creation groan as I wait for hope to come for me

For we, we are not long here

Our time is but a breath, so we better breathe it

And I, I was made to live, I was made to love, I was made to know you

Hope is coming for me

Hope, He's coming

I love Brooke Fraser's song writing, and I feel like the title of my blog, along with this song describes my mission as a Christian in a non-Christian world.

Love, Emma Cate

Time.

I was thinking about time today. There's never enough, and always too much. Everyone hates waiting, but when the time comes, you can't believe how fast the moment came and went. Things like your first kiss... You wait and wait for it to happen, and when it finally does, it's over and you'll never have another chance to make that moment special.

I had my first university midterm exam today... I am almost halfway done my first semester of university.

WHAT is up with THAT?

One thing I have learned is that you have to take in every moment. Every single one. Even if it hurts.

I miss when time didn't matter, and I could play outside with my friends, and the worst thing that could happen would be when my mum called me in for dinner.

I miss being young.

Love, Emma Cate

Thankful.

This weekend was Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving because it gives me a chance to gain perspective on people, places, and things. Perspective of people in the sense that I remember how thankful I am for all of the people in my life and how they have changed me; whether it be for better or worse.

Today, I want to talk about Paul Wallis. Paul is one of my close friend's dad and also my first employer. Mr. Wallis built a business that transfers tapes, film, slides and photos to DVD called YesVideo Canada [he bought the technology from the company in the States].

When I met my friend Elisabeth, we were instantly best friends and she wanted me to come work for her dad. Needless to say, I went in to the office and met her dad for the first time. He joked and laughed and made me feel at home. Over the next few months, I spent copious hours with Elisabeth in the film splicing room, chatting about school and boys. Mr. Wallis would take us out for lunch, and then scold us when he came into the room and found us doing more talking than work.

Over the next year, I spent most days after school at the office. I loved going into work because I felt comfortable to be me. Mr. Wallis would always chat with me about what was going on in my life. He was genuinely interested in what I had to say. 

Because Elisabeth and I were both very artsy fartsy and were involved with theatre, Mr. Wallis always gave me time off when I needed it for rehearsals. He always encouraged me with my acting, and came to see my shows, and videotaped my high school musical, and made DVD copies for the entire cast and crew. 

"If I ever hear that you are not getting your schoolwork done because you 'were at work', You will be fired SO fast." 

It was nice to work for someone who understood the value of school. That was Mr. Wallis. Always encouraging me to do my best. He always saw the best in me.

As the time passed, Mr. Wallis became like a second dad to me. He always asked me about boys, and told me what he thought about the one I liked. He always told me that I deserve the best. He took care of me when I had a hard break-up, and encouraged me to move on by letting me know that God had a plan for me.

God always has a plan.

Yesterday, My Second Dad passed away.

I never got to say everything that I needed to say...

So this is it.

I love you, Daddy#2, and I wish I could have told you all about this boy that I love. I'll miss your smile and your ridiculous sense of humour. I miss seeing you in your office chair, and I miss riding in the Golddigger with you, and your stupid country music. You have changed me. I miss you already. I'll have so much to tell you when I see you. I'll take care of Elle for you. She loves you. Hope you're having a great time partying with Jesus.

Love, Emma Cate

You Hold Me Now - Hillsong United

On that day when I see

All that You have for me

When I see You face to face

There surrounded by Your grace

All my fears swept away

In the light of Your embrace

Where Your love is all I need

And forever I am free

Where the streets are made of gold

In Your presence healed and whole

Let the songs of heaven

Rise to You alone

No weeping no hurt or pain

No suffering You hold me now

You hold me now

No darkness no sick or lame

No hiding You hold me now

You hold me now

In this life I will stand

Through my joy and my pain

Knowing there's a greater day

There's a hope that never fails

Where Your Name is lifted high

And forever praises rise

For the glory of Your Name

I'm believing for the day

Where the wars and violence cease

All creation lives in peace

Let the songs of heaven

Rise to You alone

For eternity

All my heart will give

All the glory to Your Name

Today.

Today, I finally decided to start my blog. I have been considering it for weeks, and today seemed like the perfect day to get to it. 

I'll admit, my friend's blog was part of the reason why I had the final push to start posting my thoughts on life, love and God online. He inspires me. His thoughts on his blog were so profound.. I want to be able to reach someone the way that his words have reached me. This friend of mine has such a passion for God. He makes me laugh, he has seen me cry, and has seen me at the best and worst of times. The past few weeks, I have realized that I don't tell anyone I love them, enough. 

So, friend, I love you. I'm blessed to have you in my life.

Now, for all of you who are reading this, [if ANYONE is reading this]... I just want to thank you for taking the time to try to make sense of my nonsense. I'll do my best to post as often as possible.

Love Always,

Emma Cate

Deuteronomy 31:6

⁶ Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."