Emma Veronica

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To an utterly broken world, Why? A question so frequently asked, but is it ever truthfully answered? So many horrid, horrific, unspeakable things happen day after day. Many to innocent persons. Many overlooked. Dear world, there is one who knows your suffering. No, not simply knows, but feels it in an innermost way, understands so deeply, so intimately. In fact, he suffered every pain this world has to offer. And he still bears the scars. Consider Lazarus' death.  The biblical story that holds the shortest verse in scripture: "Jesus wept." He knows the pain. No matter how big a scar it leaves on your heart or how long it lingers within you.  He knows. He knows and he weeps with us.  He holds us close during tribulation, and he reminds us that he has overcome it all-- we do not have to be overcome by it all. When dark...

This is a piece written in multiple points of view that each offer a new outlook to the same story.                                            -------------------------------------------------                                                          “I stand on the shore and watch as Father helps Mother out of the boat.   Mother said I could take Spot on our outing as long as I watch after him and make sure he doesn’t get into any trouble.   Now I have to run after him because he keeps ...

Girly, keep choosing joy. Joy that only your Heavenly Abba can give. Trust Him. Let Him show you the wonderful ways love can work in your life. You are loved. You are loved. You are loved. You are loved. Think about what this truly means. It's not just a phrase. It is fact. It is truth. It is mercy. When love is able to grow in you, you will overflow until all your broken pieces will spray out love. Submit to God and the devil will flee. He'll run so fast, because Love is a powerful name. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Though the days come when your hair just won't sit right, and those dark circles and spots seem to be making themselves more noticeable than ever, you are beautiful. You are made in the image of God.  He does not make mistakes. Girly, keep choosing joy. The days are long and hard and the to-do list never gets shorter. The anxiety, depression, anger, and fear all seem too big ...

A Piece of Micro-Fiction: It was midnight.   She got up from her bed because she was hungry and Mom had made brownies that afternoon.   Her room was dark, but she could see the light from the hallway shine in from beneath her door.   She saw the light in the kitchen was off, so she would go downstairs to see if Grandpa had any snacks.   She definitely didn’t want to wake up Mom and Dad after the week they had.   Apparently Nana had gone to see Jesus but hadn’t come back yet.   She began the descent down the stairs to Grandpa’s apartment, step by step, blanket in hand.   The rickety wooden railing wobbled in her grasp.   She could see the shadowy living room come into view through the rails as she neared the bottom.   Nana’s rocking chair was still empty.   Grandpa was already in bed and she didn’t want to disturb him.   She tip-toed through the dining room on the creaky floor boards, past his bedroom door that was a...

This past Sunday at some bizarre hour of 1: something in the morning, I posted a status on Facebook saying goodbye to social media.  I know what you're thinking, but this will not be a rant about why I hate social media. I also know that I don't have to offer any explanation to justify why I left it all behind, but I feel that I should.  So here we go... Recently, I have simply been feeling quite discouraged.  Transitions are always difficult, but the transition into college has been especially hard for me.  I almost feel like an awkward middle schooler again.  A small girl who struggles to find her place in the world.  Everyone else seems to make friends so easily, and now I can look practically anywhere and see groups of people acting like they had known each other for their entire lives.  I have felt confused and alone. Some people may say I'm experiencing some kind of...

The Barn By Emma Campbell The aged barn sits on the same old hill with its green siding, once as bright as the spring grass, now chipped and worn away from years of weathering the storms.   Open the giant sliding doors and birds flutter from their nest to fly free to the warm south. Reveal the inner sanctuary and let the dirt and hay roll in with the wind.   A gust of musty air blows through the wide open space, abandoned after years of being forgotten. It now breathes in the harsh, cold air of winter that threatens to tear it apart like a long loathed enemy.   The timeworn floorboards lie crooked on the floor, tread upon by generations of feet.   The wooden beams, rotten through with all their knots showing, barely hold the rickety structure together.   Splinters and nails jut out like knives in all directions from the trim—once pure white, now faded gray.   Dust gathers in every cranny where the air has failed to breathe its way through.   Th...

Like many others, I absolutely love this time of year.  The advent festivities, the time spent with loved ones, the lights and decorations, the cold nights spent inside snuggled up with blankets and hot chocolate.  All of it is so heart warming.  While I often don't have much time to bake, I do love to around the holidays.  This year, I wanted to contribute to my family's thanksgiving dinner, so I made maple salted caramel pecan pie bars (yes, I know it's a mouthful, but its a tasty one!).  Here is how I did it: I used a great recipe from averiecooks.com. To begin, you need (For the crust) 1 cup of all-purpose flour 1/3 cup of packed brown sugar (light or dark works) 1/2 cup of soft, unsalted butter (For the filling) 1 large egg 1/3 cup of brown sugar (light or dark) 1/3 cup of maple syrup 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract (Optional) A pinch of salt to taste 1 cup of raw, unsalted pecans 1/4 cup of salted caramel ...