Are you ready for the longest of long posts?

 I can give that to you.    If you’re crazy/patient/kind enough to read this whole thing, you gain special amazingness points in my book. 

 So.  Creation.

 Yes, I’m back.  ‘Twas a long, wild, crazy, fun, amazing last two weeks.  I say two weeks because the fun actually started back on June 14^th, when the whole Taylor family came to spend time with my family!  It was the end of Jamie’s senior trip, in which they visited VT and Niagara Falls (and the Daily Planet and Gotham City, lol).  They arrived around 8pm on Saturday night.  I was so crazily excited to see them that I was burning time by having timed footraces with my siblings.  We were seeing who could make a certain run in the shortest amount of time.  So when the Taylors actually pulled into our driveway, I was completely out of breath and winded.  Lovely way to greet my best friend, yes? 

 Though I had promised Jamie I’d try to get to her to hug her first, I ended up meeting Charissa first, since she was driving and could get out faster than Jamie who was trapped in the back.  Josh was on the other side of the car, where Jamie was struggling to get out of, so on my way to get to my Twin I hugged Josh really quickly.  Then Jamie was out and I gave her one of those World’s Biggest Hugs.    It was AMAZING!!  Mr. & Mrs. Taylor and Caleb all got their hugs too, of course.

 Pretty soon after, we jumped into playing Frisbee golf.  Whee!  Throw two competitive families, eight Frisbees, and growing darkness together and what do you get?  Complete craziness!  Talitha and Josiah were completely into Jamie, Hosanna pretty much attached herself to Charissa, and all the boys were doing the whole Caleb-idol-worship routine.  *rolls eyes*  (It was rather humorous.)  The best part, though, was how effortlessly our families got along.  There was never really an awkward moment, nor that “I haven’t seen you for a year so I don’t know how to act around you” attitude.  I so appreciated that!

 We played two games (the second one in almost complete darkness—it’s a wonder we didn’t knock anybody out).  I did pretty horrid the first time but the second game I came in third, yay me!  Um, then we went in and talked with the parents while the little kids went to bed.  I don’t think Jamie, Kristy, or I got to sleep until 1am-ish.

 The next day was church.  I rode with the Taylors because they needed somebody to give them directions.  Church was a blast, though I was made a public spectacle of because I graduated this year and I was called up in front of the whole church with the rest of the seniors.   Get this—I was one of two girls graduating this year; the rest were boys—and I was the tallest one up there.  *sniff*  Even taller than the guys.  *sigh*  What a life I lead.

 Sunday we played about six or seven games of volleyball, in which we developed a couple new last names for us: the Nellors and the Taysons.  One game, Zac and Caleb were team captains.  Zac picked Jamie, so in retaliation Caleb picked me.  Caleb’s team was called the Taysons, and Zac’s was the Nellors.  I can’t actually remember who won...but I have a little suspicion it was the Nellors.  It was really close though.  Anyway, Jamie and I called each other “Jamie and Emily Tayson” for the rest of the week.

 That night there was a spectacular silent lightning storm going on while we roasted marshmallows.  Zac and Caleb had a marshmallow roasting contest.  (Explanation: Zac made one for me, I pronounced it delicious and unbeatable, Caleb decided he could and would beat Zac’s, he roasted one, I ate it...and I have to say it was better.  Unbelievable.)  When the marshmallows were finished, I went to the front yard and laid against Charissa’s legs to watch it.  Caleb followed suit against Jamie’s and all the kids sat and watched with us.  It was incredible.  Charissa took a video of it (it’s without sound, but since the storm was silent anyway it doesn’t matter) and she’ll probably put it up on Facebook if you want to check it out.  It’s a really amazing display of God’s power.

 On Monday Mr. & Mrs. Taylor left along with Caleb and Josh.  But...not before the most fantastic rubber band war ever had in the history of the world!!!  LOL, it started innocently enough on my part.  I was just standing in the dining room, minding my own business.  I wasn’t doing ANYTHING.  Nothing.  And Caleb shot me with a rubber band!  There was no provocation on my part, no insults or wrongdoing.  How could anyone so callously shoot a poor, innocent, helpless being like me?

 Heh heh.

 Well, I took one shot graciously enough.  It would have ended there...but Caleb had the audacity to shoot me again.  *sigh*  Emily can take it once.  She can take the humiliation of being shot just once.  But twice....  Twice is more than even Christian love can bear.  *grin*  Therefore I marched to the cupboard and withdrew a gallon sized plastic back absolutely stuffed full of rubber bands of all shapes, sizes, and thickness.  Calmly (okay, not so calmly) I seized the thickest band I could find and shot Caleb right in the heart.

 And so began World War III.  The kids could not resist joining in, so we soon had six or seven of us running all over the house, shooting each other.  Mom made us take it outside after five minutes.  Outside was great!!!  Ambushes around the corner of the house are prime.  But allow me to warn you: do not shoot Caleb Taylor with your last rubber band when he possesses two or three more.  You’ll just end up running away as fast as you can it and it doesn’t really work.  I fled to the barn, where—thankfully—there were several lovely rubber bands from the boys’ battle out there.  I put up a grand and glorious defense in the barn, but again, I ran out of ammo and somehow Caleb still had one left (it’s completely unfair how he can hold on to one more than me every stinking time).  I just ran.  Really fast.  I was sprinting across the pasture with him in hot pursuit.  I glanced behind myself once and he yelled something like “I don’t want to tackle you because you’re female!”  I didn’t want to wait and find out what being tackled by a football player was like, so I just kept running.

 Unfortunately he caught me five seconds later.  Just before he hit me, I turned and faced him so that I could fall properly (thank you, Rugby, for teaching me the important things of life such as how to fall, take tackles, and bruise myself *grin*).  So now, I’m sad to say that I was completely laid out by that tackle.  And my amazing Princess Bride “Inconceivable” shirt was grass stained!  Rah.  Nevertheless, I got up and slammed into Caleb right after that tackle.  I couldn’t take him out, but hey.  I still tried, right?  Rugby still rules!!!  I don’t care what anybody else says about it.  *nods decisively*

 The week with Jamie and Charissa just flew by.  We watched countless episodes of NCIS, went to go see Kung Fu Panda, visited Barnes & Noble, bought my beautiful digital camera!!!, watched the Count of Monte Cristo at long last, played Hand & Foot, made dinner, helped my mom run errands, packed for Creation, and had some amazing heart to hearts.  I especially loved our late night conversations.  They were so awesome.  Not to mention the time Jamie fell out of bed—she was laughing, losing her balance, and being pushed by my big brother—right on top of me!!!!  That was hilarious!

 The weather was perfect too.  We left Saturday morning for PA.  We drove the whole way.   Or rather, Charissa drove the whole way.  Jamie and I were going to drive part way, but come to find out, we’re too young to co-drive a rental vehicle.    So we made it our job to keep Kristy awake the whole time.  That burden fell more heavily on Jamie than I, for I spent about six hours working on Zoe on Charissa’s computer.  I got like 9 pages written!  They definitely need work, but I worked on them some today and it’s coming out great already.  In my opinion, that is.  I think you’ll all be excited to read it. 

 We got to PA late Saturday night...Shawn picked us up from the airport where we dropped of the rental car...wow, what a ride that was.  Shawn Lees (Charissa’s boyfriend, for those few of you who might not know him) owns a truck.  That’s awesome because we have a lot of luggage.  That’s not awesome because it comfortably seats two people.  Not four.

 I sat on Jamie’s lap all the way back to Morrisville.  Haha, that was quite interesting!  Poor Jamie, I’m sorry if I killed your legs!!  Anyway, when we got to Morrisville we hopped out because we spotted Mrs. Leather walking her dog down the street and we wanted to say hi.  It was so awesome seeing her again!  I’ve missed her so much!

 Afterward talking with her for awhile, Jamie and I ran down the street to the Taylor’s house.  They just moved in recently and I had not seen it yet!  Caleb just got back from Jonathan’s when we pulled it so he helped carry in the luggage.  Then I was shown around the beautiful new house.  WOW.  This house, it’s amazing!  The kitchen is to die for, with beautiful cherry wood cupboards, granite countertops, and incredible hardwood floors.  Actually it’s hardwood through the whole house, except the basement.  I love hardwood floors.  They’re my absolute favorite.  Jamie and I opted to sleep in the basement on the couches, and soon after my house tour, we both crashed.

 The next day I showered and got ready to go to the Taylor’s church.  Praise and worship there was great.  I love praise and worship at almost any church.  That is when I connect most strongly with God.  Then, and while out in nature.  I love the feeling of God coming down and His Spirit being unloosed on His people.  There were four baptisms that day too, so I was able to hear the testimonies of the foursome who were making a public commitment to Jesus Christ.  It was lovely.

 Sunday and Monday I went around Morrisville doing this and that with Jamie and Charissa.  I visited Rita’s and had my very first gelato made with the famous Rita’s water ice and custard.  Ahhhh!  Delicious!

 Monday was an emotionally difficult day, however.  To understand exactly why, visit Jonathan’s CaringBridge site and read the Monday June 23 entry in the journal.  The website is www.caringbridge.org/visit/jdtaylor.  Read...and you’ll understand why we were all in tears.

 On a lighter note, I had a humorous, if trying night on Monday, for there was a certain older brother who seemed to delight in keeping me from falling asleep.  His tactics included asking me questions such as “Are you asleep now?”—which of course I wasn’t because he was talking to me!—quoting Sixth Sense “Emily, I see dead people”—to tipping over the couch I was sleeping on!  *shakes head*  It was a riot, though, I must admit.

 The next morning I unintentionally had my revenge, however.  You see, while in MI, I made some cornbread that is a winner recipe and tastes delicious.  Caleb loves cornbread.  I even sent the recipe home with Mrs. Taylor so that they can make it in PA.  Well, I wanted to make cornbread before we left for Creation Tuesday morning.  Unfortunately, as I was measuring out the baking soda, I did not realize that their measuring spoons were different than ours, and that each “teaspoon” that I thought I was putting in was actually a “teaspoon and a half.”

 Yeah, it tasted pretty metallic and disgusting.  *shudder*   I have NEVER tasted worse cornbread in my life!  Jamie and I were completely grossed out by it, but after we turned away from it and grabbed some cereal, the light bulb turned on in my head.  This could be my ultimate revenge!  My retaliation against Caleb who had tipped my couch over the night before while I was trying to sleep!  I told Jamie my evil beyond evil plot and she agreed to go along with it.  What’s more, she added to it.  We were scheduled to pull out around 9am, so at 8:45 she crept into Caleb’s room and said, “Caleb, it’s 8:45 and Emily made cornbread.”  He got up at that and five minutes later was eagerly hovering over what looked like perfectly delicious cornbread.  He cut himself a piece, brought it up to his mouth—

 —and I said soberly, “This is retaliation for last night.”

 He just kinda looked at me for a moment, grinned when he remembered flipping the couch, and took a bite.

 Oh, revenge is sweet.  He choked it down, then disdainfully pronounced it disgusting.  I was smug about it...until he turned the whole situation around and started putting the blame on me.  “I thought you said this was impossible to mess up!” he accused.

 “Don’t push the blame on me, Caleb Taylor,” I replied hotly.  “You’re the one who knocked my couch over last night.”

 In the end, the cornbread was dumped, my revenge was had, and we had to go.  The drive to Creation was fairly uneventful for me.  I was actually really tired and slept part of the way there.  When we got there we had to get our volunteer staff shirts and then help set up our campsite.  Our first work shift was at 4pm, until 8:30pm.  Shawn and Charissa were assigned to a different part of the camp, but Jamie and I stayed together and directed campers to their correct parking/camping sites.  It was actually pretty fun!

 The festivities really started the next day, on Wednesday, at 5:30pm.  We were able to see Justin Lookado, the comedic speaker who is both engaging and hilarious at the same time.  SO FUNNY!  Then we had work at 8pm and we missed the first concerts—Skillet, Switchfoot, and Hawk Nelson.  It was sad, especially since we had missed them last year too, but such is life.  Then there were fireworks, but I did not enjoy them very much because Charissa reacts badly to them on account of her time in Iraq and I needed to be calm and strong for her.  I’m really, really glad I was there for her, especially since Jamie and Shawn had been sent to the other side of Creation to do their work shift.  I love you, Kristy!

 Thursday (my 18^th Birthday!!!!) we began working in Artists Concession.  We met a ton of neat bands!  I love working in the Artist Concession booth.  It’s always fun.  Not to mention seeing Stace, Lana, Teri, and Morgan was amazing as well!  I have missed them so badly this year, and I will continue to miss them since I’m not able to go to Creation next year.    Hopefully in years to come I will return to meet up with them again because they are truly wonderful people.

 My birthday was great.  Superchic[k], David Crowder* Band, and Newsboys performed!  Also, I found out that I share my birthday with KJ-52!!  That was pretty sweet.  Around 11pm we were rained out of the Newsboys concert and I was surprised, along with all the other girls who had birthdays around me (Jamie, Cassidy, Jessica, and Katie L) with a birthday cake and ice cream bought secretly by Mrs. Leather and Miss Joannie (sp?) earlier that day!  It was so sweet and thoughtful of them to remember something like that.  And the cake was vanilla no less, no chocolate!  Hurrah!

 Friday, Saturday, and Sunday passed in a blur of time.  I can’t believe how fast Creation went this year.  It’s insane.  I was back at the Taylors in no time at all, it seemed.  Chris Tomlin, tobyMac, and so many other artists were fun and awesome to listen to.  I bought a cool sweatshirt and my dad a t-shirt for his birthday.  In some ways it was amazing being back at the Taylors.  Cold showers and hard ground-beds get old after awhile.  Yet while at Creation, I have a false sense of security; it feels like I’m so far removed from MI, I’ll never have to go back.  I’ll be with Jamie for some unspecified, long amount of time.  It just feels that secluded and amazing.

 Then we go back to the Taylors, and the Philly airport is so much closer, and MI looms before me.  It’s hard to not become depressed on the last day.  Don’t take this to mean I don’t want to see my family again.  I do.  I missed them all, a lot!  But I only see Jamie once a year.  My Best Friend.  Once a year.  That’s it.  These two weeks with her were incredible, but it just makes the parting all the worse.  I miss her.  I miss Charissa.  I miss Mr. Taylor.  I miss Mrs. Taylor.  I SOO miss Joshy.  I miss Jonathan, and I miss Caleb.  AHH!!  I MISS MY SECOND FAMILY!  And worst of all, I probably won’t get to see them for anther 14 months.  My next tentative trip to see them would be next August.  Though Jamie and I are hoping to see each other at least once before then.

 We watched Newsies on Sunday night with Charissa and Caleb.  Jamie and I ended up falling asleep on the upstairs couches about halfway through the movie.  Well...Jamie about halfway through, me probably 2/3 of the way through.  I love that movie, but I was so tired!

 Monday was bittersweet.  I was just trying to keep my mind off the fact I was leaving at 5:30 that evening.  I played Phase 10, watched “Hero! Rock Opera”, and walked down to the old house on Jefferson with Jamie.  All too soon it was 5:30 and I had to bid everyone farewell.  Mr. & Mrs. Taylor were so sweet and Mr. Taylor prayed for me before I went back.  Josh gave me a big hug and it was so wonderful yet heartbreaking.  I adore that kid.  I wanted to say bye to Caleb too, but he was working at the other house and hadn’t come home for supper yet.  Charissa said we could drive over to see him and say goodbye really fast, but it had to be quick otherwise I’d be late for my flight.  We made it to the old house, but he wasn’t there.  I’m actually not sure where he was.  But I had to leave without saying goodbye to him and that was harder than I expected.  He is, after all, practically my big brother.

 We made it to Philly on time and I checked in my luggage.  I hugged Kristy goodbye—two tears.  Then...Jamie.  My beautiful Twin.  Man, I’m getting sad typing this!  I gave her a huge hug.  Three tears.  Then I went up the escalator, trying to be strong (and probably failing miserably.  The worst part was that I looked back to wave one last time to Kristy and James, but Charissa was hidden behind a pillar and couldn’t see me, and I didn’t see Jamie anywhere!  I faced forward again...but then turned around a second time, hoping to catch their eyes.  Still I had no luck, and miserably I turned away for the last time.

 Not two minutes later my phone rang and Jamie left a message for me.  Come to find out, she had been standing at the revolving doors to the airport the whole time I turned around to look for her.  I just didn’t realize she was there and completely missed her!  She was worried because she knew I thought they had just left without waiting to see me off into the airport.  It was so good to hear her telling me that she had stood there the whole time and waved at me even when I didn’t see her.  She even said “I love you Chalyse” (that’s my Twin name) but I didn’t hear her.    I wish I had!  I love you too, Linastra!  *hug*

 And now here I am.  Home, and supposed to be getting ready for work in an hour or so.  Life returns to normal.  What an amazing two weeks it has been.  I’m so grateful to God for that!  He has blessed me so abundantly.

 And now, you are amazing if you finished this.  This is probably the most ridiculously long post I have ever written and for that I would apologize...but I’m afraid the apology wouldn’t be sincere.  LOL, I love to write out my memories like this!

 Until Next Time...

 Emily, Little Firebrand, Chalyse, Twin, Injun-Anne, Destiny Rider, Girl-With-Many-Brothers, Little Druggie and etc etc etc