Soul of a Californian

Time for some fun Emma trivia.

My beloved Mother is from California. 

She is a fantastic California girl who married a Canadian.

And so I, Emma Atwood, grew up in Canada.

And I LOVE Canada.

I LOVE CANADA!

It is my home.
I have serious Canadian pride.

However I cannot deny the Californian part of my soul.

Or the fact I have the soul of a Californian.

Not the driving skills.

Not the 'tude.

But the beach bum, ocean is lyfe, soul.

When I was applying to school I applied mostly to schools in California. 

Specifically by how close they were to the beach.

Obviously God had other plans for me than spending my days at classes and then swimming/boogie-boarding/getting my tan on every day... 

The whole life isn't for wasting your days away.

Life is about improving yourself.

Anyways.....

So I do not live in California.

But I love California!

I love spending my days at the beach.

So whenever I can go, I do.

This past summer I was able to go to Palm Springs with my family.

And it was fantastic. 

So here is some pics. :)

(Typical Emma at the pool pic, with a book in my hand)

The Ocean is my happy place.

Basically, this is my life philosophy.

Guess what? I LOVE MY LIFE!

I LOVE MY LIFE.

I LOVE MY LIFE.

I LOVE MY LIFE!

I don't know how else to express the joy I feel inside.

I just am happy. 

I'll admit I am not always happy. 

Sometimes I am downright a downer. 

But I am overwhelmingly overjoyed with how my life is. 

I am at peace with the path my life is on. 

I LOVE MY SCHOOL!
I belong at Southern Virginia University. 

This place is amazing!

I LOVE BEING AN RA!

On a cold January day I was talking with Kadee and she said to me that she felt like applying to be an RA, I laughed and told her that I felt the exact same way. 

Together we applied when the applications came out, and I remember how at peace both of us were throughout the entire process. Even though we were both freshman and involved in soccer, basically inexperienced and busy, we knew we would get the jobs. 

It was such a feeling of peace. 

And look at where we are now! 

Kadee and I are both RA's and LOVING IT!

I LOVE MY SOCCER TEAM!

Straight up, I was TERRIFIED to come to SVU to be the Team Manager for this team. 

TERRIFIED!
But it ended up being the best thing that ever happened to me. 

They are my family out here.

They are the people I turn to and can trust and will celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving with me when I am homesick. 

I LOVE BEING DIRECTOR OF SOCCER OPERATIONS!

It is a ton of responsibility. 

It is a lot of work and extra hours. 

It is a lot of stress.

But I am learning amazing things. I am independent. I am strong. I can do hard things.

I also now know what yards are!

I LOVE MY COACHING STAFF!

I LOVE BEING A KNIGHT!

I LOVE MY FRIENDS!

Seriously God puts people into our lives for a reason. 

There are some people who I've met and have changed my life forever. 

I am so grateful for the friends I have, both at home, at school and around the world. 

Here is a pic of Squad last year. 

And I LOVE MY FAMILY!

LOVE THEM!
LOVE THEM SO MUCH!
I miss them. 

It is hard being so far from home, some days I wish I could just be home for a day. 

But I know I am where I am supposed to be. 

And they are doing great without me. 

At the end of the day they are the most important people in my life. 

They are my greatest examples.

They are my greatest source of happiness.

They are my forever...

But out of all of these things that bless my life and make me so happy I cannot neglect to acknowledge the source of my happiness. 

That is my Heavenly Father and His Plan of Happiness.

I don't know who I would be without the knowledge I have of the gospel,

And without this faith in my heart, 

But I know I wouldn't be happy. 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is my happiness.

My Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ is my happiness.

My Heavenly Parents are my happiness.

I wouldn't be at SVU if it wasn't where the Spirit directed me to be. 

I wouldn't be an RA if I hadn't felt prompted to apply. 

I wouldn't be a part of the soccer team if I hadn't prayed and felt peace regarding this decision.

I wouldn't have the friends I have if I hadn't been lead into their lives, or if they hadn't been lead into mine, or if I wasn't at SVU to meet them, or prayed to meet the people I needed in my life. 

And I would not understand the eternal bond I have to my family if it wasn't for what I learned at church and what the Spirit has testified to me. 

Some days are really hard. 

Some days I want to give up. 

And some days I am just plain overwhelmed. 

But then there are days like today where the joy I feel makes me feel like my chest will burst. 

Where I am so grateful. 

Where there truly is sunshine in my soul.