Emily Rachelle Writes

Hello, my lovely readers!  Some of you have been asking various questions about Sixteen , my Christian coming-of-age novella that will be coming out as an ebook.  Others may have noticed the lack of information concerning the book, or the book's "On Hiatus" status right now, on my Books page.  Today I'm here to answer questions and alleviate concerns. COUNTDOWN CLOCKS Why is Sixteen on hiatus?   Sixteen is on hiatus simply because it's in the editing stage and I'm focused on a different project right now, a contest entry that's in first draft status.  "On Hiatus" definitely doesn't mean I won't get back to that project, and it doesn't necessarily mean that my break from that project will be long.  It just means I'm not working on it at this moment.

Those of my lovely readers who have been here for a while might remember the days I would post about abortion .  I haven't done so in a long time, mostly because I really didn't have anything new to say.   The facts haven't changed .   My opinions haven't changed .  The best ways to help this war - and it is a war - haven't changed. This week, I found out about something that's been going on for a while - and yet has somehow managed to bypass every major news outlet. Heard of Kermit Goswell?  I did, vaguely, a while back when this whole trial business started.  I didn't know then what I learned this week.  This man - this monster - is the abortionist behind the House of Horrors.  The  news article I read stated, "accusations of babies having their heads severed — a major human rights story if there ever was one — doesn't make the cut. [of being on the front page] You don't have to oppose abortion rights to find late-term abortion abho...

This video and petition need a whole lot more American coverage than it's getting. The entire documentary's only 16 minutes, and it takes less than one minute to sign the petition. Please watch at least part of the video and consider signing. Bloggers, readers with lots of Facebook friends, readers who forward pointless chain emails - would you do me a favor and use your influence to get this out to American viewers? See the Causes page and sign the petition: http://www.causes.com/causes/785057-querido-panama/

Raised Right By Alisa Harris How I Untangled My Faith from Politics Click the cover to buy Honestly, when I picked this book out a couple months ago, I didn't expect what I ended up with.  I made the same assumption as most of the readers/buyers/bloggers, that "Raised Right" meant "Raised Correctly."  But no ma'am, that is not what this author means.  "Raised Right" means what it says: namely, right-wing conservative. Another assumption most of us made was that "Harris" referred to Josh Harris (author of Boy Meets Girl , I Kissed Dating Goodbye , and many other books famous in my circles) and his brothers, Alex and Brett (authors of Do Hard Things and Start Here , as well as founders of the Rebelution movement ).  I figured she was a just-now-emerging sister that had hidden in her brothers' shadows; when I found out she was married, I assumed she was Josh's wife.  (Is he married?  I know zilch about him, really.) ...

180: Award-winning Documentary 33 minutes that will rock your world! Watch it FREE here .  Click the photo to buy Some of you may have noticed or wondered about the banner at the top of my blog - you know, the big red and black movie ad.  As all of you know, I'm a teenager (a minor - 18 and 19 year olds are not teenagers in my mind)  As many of you know, I don't sell advertising space on this blog, ever.  I share my honest opinions of products and services, and if I really like something I'll promote it.  The movie advertised in the banner is called 180 , and it is a 33-minute award-winning documentary about the Holocaust, abortion, and Jesus. In this film from  Ray Comfort and  Living Waters , the street evangelist speaks for a few minutes to several different people.  He surveys Americans, mostly around college age, on their knowledge of Hitler and the Holocaust.  After asking what they'd do in various situations - whether t...

Miniature Cupcakes This is my last cupcake post for the year, I promise!  But when I came to 'm,' all I could think was 'my' or 'mini'... so then I thought of the millions of mini cupcakes we made for Cupcake Day 2011! From right: my wonderful mother, who gave up her only sleep-in Saturday this month to get us to the church and bake all day; my brother Jon; and Joseph, a volunteer from the middle school group.  In the left/background area, you can see my brother Eddie's head behind another volunteer, RJ. My mother's and friend Hannah's hands frosting the first of the cupcakes. Cupcakes! Yum. :) And more cupcakes! Only prettier this time ;) My best friend Ashlee and my boyfriend Nathan passing out cupcakes and flyers to church members by one of the main doors. 

Today, I interrupt my blog schedule to share a very important pro-life day. I'm not going to write anything today; most of you know my stand on the abortion issue by now, and those who don't can just check out these posts . Today is an important day in the pro-life world: Silent Solidarity Day .  I'm registered to wear an arm band; maybe next year I can make the vow of silence, too. Will you give up your voice for a day in honor of those who will never have one?

After this weekend's Cupcake Day , I thought you might like to read the flyer I made. The Truth About Abortion Abortion is defined as “the termination of a pregnancy through the death of the embryo or fetus; especially the medical procedure of killing and expelling a human fetus to terminate a pregnancy.” (Webster’s Medical Dictionary) One out of every three American women will have an abortion by age 45.   18% of these women are teenagers.   58% are in their twenties.   85% are unmarried.   African-American children are aborted at five times the rate of white children.   In fact, Planned Parenthood – the largest abortion provider in the United States – was originally founded to rid America of blacks. About 1.21 million abortions occur yearly in America.   It is the most common surgical procedure in the country, and it is legal through all nine months of pregnancy in all fifty states. Planned Parenthood has released statistics pro...

So, my friend Nathan, my brother Eddie, and myself have been hanging out lately and recently mentioned bucket lists.  We tossed the idea around and made a few suggestions before Nathan said I ought to make one as a Tuesday list.  Which brings us to today's post. As a bucket list is sort of a lifelong thing - growing as you get older and get more ideas, shrinking as you cross off completed items - this is really just a start to my list.  It's a list, nonetheless. Before I Die To Do: -graduate from high school -read every book on my To-Read lists -adopt a child -have a pet that is MINE -hold a koala -feed a giraffe -ride on a dolphin's back -own and run an orphanage -be published -look through a telescope -attend a March for Life/SFLA conference/March for Life Youth Rally -own a VW bug or bus To Learn: -Spanish -sign language -crochet -knitting -cross-stitch -sewing (with buttons,...

It's a normal scene :  a kid at school brings in a tray of cupcakes to share with her classmates.  Maybe they're homemade, with rainbow sprinkles falling off onto the tray.  Maybe they're storebought, with the frosting stuck to the top of the plastic box.  She carries them with her backpack and purse into the classroom and sets them on her desk while she puts her bags down.  Once her teacher gives her the go-ahead, she shares the tempting pastries.  Maybe she walks around the room, setting one on each desk.  Maybe she opens the box and waits for her classmates to swoop in and claim their sweet cupcake. The classmates, of course, wish her a happy birthday and possibly thank her on their way back to their desks.  But then the scene becomes less than normal . "It's not my birthday," she announces , her voice bold and something very close to flint determination filling her eyes.  She waits for the inevitable question. The boy three seats b...

America has certain days during which we remember things of the past - usually lives lost and tragedies that occurred on that day in history.  One such day that passed recently was the tenth anniversary of 9/11.  Another obvious day is Memorial Day. Today is a lesser-known one of these days.  Today is the day that Americans remember the millions of lives lost and the tragedies that have occurred since January 1973.  Today is Pro-Life Memorial Day. Since the U.S. Supreme Court decided Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton in 1973, 53 MILLION babies have been surgically and medically aborted - millions more have been killed chemically. This staggering death toll is the direct result of these two decisions. On the first Monday in October, the U.S. Supreme Court begins its new term. This is a day on which pro-lifers across the nation will mourn the victims of America's hidden holocaust: abortion. Who will hear the cries of these preborn children? Who will be thei...

Annually on September 28 people across the country agree to give up something for 40 days and pray for the end of abortion.  This year is my first time joining this endeavor, and honestly I'm not sure how well it'll go.  I'm determined to stick to my fast by God's grace and to the best of my ability.  However, we have some very special company coming that may require an exception or two.  Also, last time I tried to fast anything didn't go so well.  (Think sobbing at Mom through a cell phone because the cake was chocolate - which was what I had given up.)  Regardless, here is what I'm attempting: No Digital Entertainment. This includes, but is not limited to: ~Netflix (or any other video streaming) ~DVD's ~Online games ~Offline video games (CD-ROM's, Wii, etc.) ~iPod/iLuv ~Music streaming The 40 Days for Life fast begins with preparation on September 27.  Then, from September 28 through November 6, everyone fasts and pr...

Blogs I Love (in alphabetical order) adorkable by Dezzy Ask Caitlin by Caitlin O'Conner Big House in the Little Woods by Bailey Breezes in the Meadows by Sarah Grace Enchanted Musings by Marcia Far Above Rubies by Jasmine Grace's Garden Walk by Grace Just Us Girlz by AnnaKate Only a Breath by Melanie Muthering Heights by Jessica old-fashioned beauty by Abigail Pastor's Girl's Ponderings by Carlotta Pro-Life Quotes by Christine Scribble Chicks by the Scribble Chicks The Daughter of a King   by Anna The Disney Wedding Blog by Carly The YA Blogosphere (Teen Blog Directory) You Are Still Loved by Bethany Young Homemakers by Rachel and Jessica As you can see, there's pretty much something for everyone. I sorted through the 200+ blogs I follow to find the ones I truly love and check up on. The topics range from mothering, homemaking, and parenting to books, clothing, and random life. A uniq...

 Culture Shift by R. Albert Mohler, Jr. "Albert Mohler is a steady guide, unremittingly clear-headed." - John Piper  Click the cover to buy In 100 A.D., Christianity was simple.  Not easy - not at all - but simple.  Christ was exactly what He said - the Son of God, the looked-for Messiah - and He had lived among the people for 33 years, died the worst possible criminal's death, and came back to life three days later.  Hundreds of people witnessed Him after this event before He ascended into the clouds with a promise to return.  The early Christians had a lot more persecution and problems than we do, but the biggest 'issues' within the church were those of divorce and choosing deacons and what 'modest' meant. Today, those problems and issues still face many questions.  However, science, technology, the modern '-isms,' and other factors have dramatically changed the world Christians have to deal with.  Questions and issues the early C...

This week's Friendlight Friday is from a blog, but it's a special website blog. I feel very strongly on this issue and have since I first discovered it less than a year ago. This article is written by Lindsay and was posted on Abort73 I can only conclude that many of you have never made the choice that I did. If you had, wouldn’t you have told me more… because you care about me, right? You would have told me about the way the clinic smells of blood and death. You would have told me that undergoing a surgical abortion would be the worst pain I would ever experience. You would have told me that you can hear and feel the tissue being ripped away and sucked out of your body , and that even years later I wouldn’t be able to stand the sound of a normal household vacuum cleaner. You would have told me that they make post-abortive patients leave out of the back door because they don’t want anyone coming in to know what someone looks like going out. You would have told me tha...

Ways You Can Promote Life... ...For Free (Or dirt cheap): host Abort73 video showings at your home, church, etc. pray fast - give up something, not necessarily food, for a set amount of time and pray - pray lots! wear light pink and baby blue ribbons in remembrance of the lost babies donate your Facebook status to Abolish Abortion Tweet and/or Facebook quotes, statistics, and links to inform your friends and followers share Abort73 photos and videos stay informed about the latest in the abortion and pro-life movements, and the people involved write blog posts, Facebook notes, poems, stories, articles, etc. sharing the truth honor those who would have graduated with you, if not for their tragic deaths volunteer at Pregnancy Crisis Centers vote for politicians who fight to end abortion request books at bookstores and local libraries that tell the truth about abortion set your automatic email signature to include a pro-life phrase and/or link fly the flag half-mast in...

Ten years ago today, nearly 3,000 people died in one day. Four planes crashed, killing 246. 2,606 died in the Twin Tower tragedies. 125 died in the Pentagon crash. 55 military personnel died as well. Nearly 3,000 people died on that one day, and America pulled together like never before.   The past ten years have been affected by that one day that many people think of as the worst day in America's history.  Security has gone way up nation-wide; military personnel of all branches have fought, and many have died, trying to get revenge and put an end to those who were responsible.  Even today, there are deaths from unique illness caused by debris, smoke, or other factors that entered victim's bodies on that day.  Along with the 3,000, there are many others whose deaths have been identified as caused by such factors.  Documentaries, news specials, articles, blog posts, television shows, books, and many other forms of media have bee...

Just a note: I was unable, as it turns out, to participate in this event due to housing rules in the area where I live. I'd encourage those who are able to do something, though:  DO! Today is an important day to me.  Granted, yesterday morning I thought today would just be a typical school day interrupted by an orthodontist appointment and ended with the usual reading and getting-ready-to-write-a-book notes. But then last night I discovered that today is an important day to the cause that is closest to my heart.  We all have a cause we support - a wrong in the world we fight to right, a campaign or mission that we support and are a part of.  My personal cause is ending the murder of innocent children before their first breath - in other words, stopping abortion. And today is National Pro-Life Chalk Day .  So today I'll pull out that tub of chalk that's been gathering dust since Bella moved and try to make a difference in the world. With a handful of chal...