August 2024 - new beginnings!

August was very difficult because of the fire at my apt in OK, and having to start over, but it was also full of blessings as God provided and took care of me through it all. 

August started with me still in KY, visiting my family and getting to help with my KY church's VBS.
It was so good to be with some of my favorite people!

Ellisyn was excited to be on my sister's team!

Kari was excited to be on my team! :)

I enjoyed being a team-leader for the 7-8-year-old team.

Fun games during outside time!

Sweet Amy Redmond

Saying goodbyes

I got to meet my friend's baby, Asher!

Last lunch with my family before heading back to Oklahoma.

Sweet Regina, Sherilyn, and Kari stopped by to say goodbye to me before I left for the airport. They mean so much to me!

Back in OK, I couldn't get into my old apt for awhile, but my sweet pastor's wife, Natalie, spent a day apt shopping with me.

She was so sweet to help me in this way and we settled on a new place that day! 

A week and a half after the fire, we were allowed into the old apt. My brother Tim came to help me with everything, and my pastor's wife Natalie was there to help as well. We were shocked, amazed, and praised God for everything that was totally fine and salvageable! My violin (inside the case) was totally fine!! My hopechest will be fine with an good cleaning on the outside. My sketches were fine as well! We got a lot packed up in totes and taken out, and left the things not worth trying to save or clean. Thanks to Zach (Kati Ellis ) for coming to help carry much of it down!

It was absolutely incredible to see where the fire stopped, right outside my door. Praise the Lord!! I had smoke and a little water damage in my apt but not even mold!!! So, so much to be thankful for. God is good no matter what. But I am thankful for His blessings we discovered today.

We were done at the apt by 12:30, thanks so much to the ones helping me!! The dining room, where the firemen had to punch holes to make sure the fire in the attic was out.

It was absolutely incredible to see where the fire stopped, right outside my door. Praise the Lord!

The kitchen where the firemen also punched holes in the ceiling.

Looking up thru the attic to where some of the roof was burned. Again, incredible, considering the neighbor's roof was gone.

Zach and Kati - thanks Zach for helping carry heavy totes and Kati for being such a sweet friend and moral support!

Thank you, Tim, for all your help and support through this time!

Thank you, Natalie, for your help and support!

My sweet coworker, Allison, gave me this painting she did, for my new apt!

My sweet coworker, Shelly, spent a whole evening at Liberty Laundry with me, getting the smoke smell out of clothes and towels. That was such a blessing and "load" off my chest to get that done!

One Saturday afternoon I went to a babyshower for dear Kati, with these sweet ladies, Dotti and Mary Ann.

Dear Kati and her baby boy!

So thankful for God protecting my violin from the fire or from getting stolen.

Professional Development Week before a new school year started!

Out to eat for lunch with so many coworkers.

My sweet coworker Briana gave me this beautiful painting she did for my new apt.

This is what my sister wrote on facebook:
"We are thanking the Lord for His merciful hand of protection on Emily's possessions. As she closed her apartment door when she was getting ready to fly to KY to see us July 27, she prayed, asking the Lord to take care of her things while she was away. Monday evening, July 29, a friend called to let her know that her apartment building was on fire. The fire stopped just outside her apartment door. It was hard for her to wait until August 7 to get to go to the apartment and see the condition of everything. Neighbors had had jewelry, TVs, and instruments stolen from their homes immediately after the fire (before the security fencing was put up). We hoped and prayed her keys and fireproof box were safe and that her violin and drawings would not be hurt from the water and smoke. Though some of her things were so filthy or stinky from the smoke to be worth keeping, the majority of her things, including everything that was important to her was salvageable. Our brother Tim, her pastor's wife, Natalie, and Emily worked together. Friends of Emily's stopped by a little later and Zach helped Tim get heavy things loaded into Tim's trailer. Even though it's such a stinky mess, and there is some loss, and a lot of big emotions for Emily right now, we just keep thanking God for so many good gifts. It could have been so much worse, and God still would have been good. He still would have been faithful and given grace to see Emily through. But He did give her so many good gifts, and we praise Him."

The new Goldfish Pre-K classroom team for this year:

Dear Mary Ann let me stay with her for 2 weeks from when I got back to OK till when I got moved to my new apt. Her hospitality, kindness, and love was a balm for my heart!

Having a "laminating-party" late one afternoon of Prof. Dev. week.

So thankful to be part of this team at Happy Hands!

Move-in day, August 17! Several coworkers and church friends came to help as well as my parents and sister!

Everyone helped to wipe the smoke residue off of everything coming out of the totes.

Missing pastor Seth and my dad in this picture. :(

Putting the kitchen and dining room together.

So thankful that my mother was able to come on this trip! It is incredible what God has done for her!

Ms. Lacy picked up the pizzas for me and brought this yummy cake too!

Enjoying lunch and fellowship.

Sweet friends that came later.

My brother Tim and family came later that day to pick up the trailer that had been holding all my stuff from the old apt.

Hugs goodbye

It meant so much to have my parents and sister with me.

Delicious supper back at Mary Ann's after move-in day.

Sunday Dinner with the Herrings!

Playing a game with the Herrings that afternoon.

Monday, we worked more on getting settled into the new apt, then we went to lunch at the Chick-fil-A where I work so I could show them that part of my life too.

Then they had to leave. :(

Our new school year started Aug. 21!

My first day in Pre-K! :D 
Thankful for a good first day of school! This is the start of my 2nd year at Happy Hands. Last year I was blessed to be an assistant in Kindergarten and learned SO much from my lead teacher. This year I'm stepping into a new adventure as the lead for this Pre-K classroom. I'm depending on God for wisdom, strength, patience, and the ability to do this, and am so grateful for the support (my supervisors and coworkers) He's provided daily for me too. I'm so excited to get to know my class better and get to love them for Jesus!

One evening the last week of Aug. Mary Ann came over for taco salad at my new place!

Matching with coworkers one early morning.

My friend Allison came over for an evening of swimming, supper, and games. 

So much to be thankful for this month!