Dear Lia...
Dear Lia,
That sounds kind of weird, actually. I always just say, "Hey, sister!" But anyway. You graduate high school in two days. That's totally crazy. And I wanted to make something for you that would be special for you to look back on. I started hand writing a little journal, but since they don't teach Reading Cursive in school anymore (insert the emoji with The Sideward Glance of Disapproval), I realized that could be all for not. It's less special to receive a gift if you have to find someone over the age of 40 to read it to you any time you'd like to read it.
And that brings me to this little blog. I figured since you're never far from wifi, you could get the most enjoyment out of something that you could find online, and I can add to it (and I can sign you up for email updates - you're very welcome - haha). I've been pestering Peepaw to write his tales of childhood for me, and I thought that maybe you'd like something I write for you. But don't worry. I won't fill it with tales of me in the Pulsar pretending to be Mary J Blige. Just life-chatter, like we always do. I'm hoping I can even figure out how to make a section for recipes. I can't promise NO Pulsar stories, but I'm not planning on that being central.
Since you'll be away, and sometimes I'm long-winded, this way I can chat with you without blowing up your text messages. Although again, I can't make any firm promises in that regard either.
I'm so proud of you, sister. You're heading in a wonderful direction. Life is good. God has big things in store. And one thing about Him is, sometimes the big things feel or look like small things to us in the moment. So even when you're doing your daily work, the stuff that doesn't feel earth shattering or noteworthy, remember that those moments plant seeds in your life and in the lives of others; when you do the small things with big faithfulness, God brings you more and more to steward for Him and gives you more and more opportunities to serve. Keep demonstrating faithfulness, even in the little things, and you'll see yourself moving into bigger and bigger arenas of opportunity and service.
You have what it takes to be successful at whatever you put your mind to. You're smart, generous, funny, honest, bold, discerning, diligent, dependable. You're going to go to college in a few weeks and make some of the best friendships of your whole life. #BeTina. You're going to be in all sorts of new situations - some super-cool, some not super-cool. And you'll know what to do in each one. Listen to your instincts. The Holy Spirit will guide you with your inner peace and will continue to show you the truth about people, even when you would have no way to know otherwise. You'll be drawn to great people; you'll make amazing new friends. You're going to work hard and laugh a lot. Sometimes you'll be homesick (and I'll come down and take you for lunch, because I'll be homesick for you, so it will be perfect), but you'll get in your groove and you'll enjoy having your own dorm life and all that new freedom. You'll make good choices, because you're wise and awesome. And when you make a choice you don't love, you'll just learn from it and keep moving forward, undeterred, because you're strong and loved.
I'm so glad God gave you to me. I love you the biggest, most, much. LYTJ. Congratulations on graduating high school with honors (and, as Pencil said, "so many awards, you need a U-haul to put them in.") and congratulations on being part of Thomas College's first ever varsity track team and their Leadership Academy. You're life is just bursting at the seams with fun, cool, amazing things you've got because you earned them.
Keep working hard. You know how to get anywhere you want to go. Take the chances. Believe in your ability to figure things out.
Pray. Chat with God like you would anyone else. Keep learning to see yourself like he sees you: perfectly loved, perfectly accepted, worthy, precious, delightful, blessed, favored, treasured, strong, bold, confident, forgiven, redeemed, called, holy, wise, valuable, capable, belonging. All of life is a journey to see Him for who He is, and to see ourselves as He sees us, not as society or our flesh or the enemy wants us to see ourselves.
The more you learn, the less you know, right? The more you learn, the more questions you have - don't get bogged down by that - see it as a good sign. God can stand up to every question. He doesn't mind a bit. His Word is alive and true and trustworthy, and you'll bump into lots of different ideas over the next few years, and lots of them won't be consistent with God's Word, but you know that. Keep holding all the ideas up to Scripture, keep asking questions, because God will always help us find answers. The things that push against your faith will actually make your faith stronger, because those things help you to make your faith your own, because you have to examine it and own it. It's like working out for track - resistance helps you develop the muscles you need to be strong and successful.
You're going to be an inspiration. You won't know that you're being an inspiration most of the time. Occasionally someone will tell you. But mostly they won't. Know that your life being lived out loving others well and being true to your convictions will always make a mark on other people. #BeLia
I'm praying for you and always have. Since you were tiny tiny. And I've always known that God has a big calling on your life. Big in kingdom impact. Wherever He leads you, you are going to be a life changer for people. It probably won't feel like a big deal to you, but the biggest world changers never really feel like they're changing the world, I don't think. Most of them just feel regular. And that's good, because then you'll keep giving God the glory and the credit, since it's Him in you working all those good things together. Every single thing you've experienced in life, God is using for your good and his glory. He won't waste anything. He gives it all value and redeems it all and makes a beautiful work of art in you through all the different aspects of your life so far.
Go boldly into your amazing future, bud. The world needs you. People need what you have to offer as a friend and as a leader and as a teacher. And you'll be all those things even when you don't realize you're being a friend or a leader or a teacher, as well as when you do realize.
I love you. I couldn't love you more. I am so proud of you. You're my pal and my sweet pea. I have thanked God for you every day since I knew you were going to be born. You're loved and treasured beyond measure.
Love,
Mom
That sounds kind of weird, actually. I always just say, "Hey, sister!" But anyway. You graduate high school in two days. That's totally crazy. And I wanted to make something for you that would be special for you to look back on. I started hand writing a little journal, but since they don't teach Reading Cursive in school anymore (insert the emoji with The Sideward Glance of Disapproval), I realized that could be all for not. It's less special to receive a gift if you have to find someone over the age of 40 to read it to you any time you'd like to read it.
And that brings me to this little blog. I figured since you're never far from wifi, you could get the most enjoyment out of something that you could find online, and I can add to it (and I can sign you up for email updates - you're very welcome - haha). I've been pestering Peepaw to write his tales of childhood for me, and I thought that maybe you'd like something I write for you. But don't worry. I won't fill it with tales of me in the Pulsar pretending to be Mary J Blige. Just life-chatter, like we always do. I'm hoping I can even figure out how to make a section for recipes. I can't promise NO Pulsar stories, but I'm not planning on that being central.
Since you'll be away, and sometimes I'm long-winded, this way I can chat with you without blowing up your text messages. Although again, I can't make any firm promises in that regard either.
I'm so proud of you, sister. You're heading in a wonderful direction. Life is good. God has big things in store. And one thing about Him is, sometimes the big things feel or look like small things to us in the moment. So even when you're doing your daily work, the stuff that doesn't feel earth shattering or noteworthy, remember that those moments plant seeds in your life and in the lives of others; when you do the small things with big faithfulness, God brings you more and more to steward for Him and gives you more and more opportunities to serve. Keep demonstrating faithfulness, even in the little things, and you'll see yourself moving into bigger and bigger arenas of opportunity and service.
You have what it takes to be successful at whatever you put your mind to. You're smart, generous, funny, honest, bold, discerning, diligent, dependable. You're going to go to college in a few weeks and make some of the best friendships of your whole life. #BeTina. You're going to be in all sorts of new situations - some super-cool, some not super-cool. And you'll know what to do in each one. Listen to your instincts. The Holy Spirit will guide you with your inner peace and will continue to show you the truth about people, even when you would have no way to know otherwise. You'll be drawn to great people; you'll make amazing new friends. You're going to work hard and laugh a lot. Sometimes you'll be homesick (and I'll come down and take you for lunch, because I'll be homesick for you, so it will be perfect), but you'll get in your groove and you'll enjoy having your own dorm life and all that new freedom. You'll make good choices, because you're wise and awesome. And when you make a choice you don't love, you'll just learn from it and keep moving forward, undeterred, because you're strong and loved.
I'm so glad God gave you to me. I love you the biggest, most, much. LYTJ. Congratulations on graduating high school with honors (and, as Pencil said, "so many awards, you need a U-haul to put them in.") and congratulations on being part of Thomas College's first ever varsity track team and their Leadership Academy. You're life is just bursting at the seams with fun, cool, amazing things you've got because you earned them.
Keep working hard. You know how to get anywhere you want to go. Take the chances. Believe in your ability to figure things out.
Pray. Chat with God like you would anyone else. Keep learning to see yourself like he sees you: perfectly loved, perfectly accepted, worthy, precious, delightful, blessed, favored, treasured, strong, bold, confident, forgiven, redeemed, called, holy, wise, valuable, capable, belonging. All of life is a journey to see Him for who He is, and to see ourselves as He sees us, not as society or our flesh or the enemy wants us to see ourselves.
The more you learn, the less you know, right? The more you learn, the more questions you have - don't get bogged down by that - see it as a good sign. God can stand up to every question. He doesn't mind a bit. His Word is alive and true and trustworthy, and you'll bump into lots of different ideas over the next few years, and lots of them won't be consistent with God's Word, but you know that. Keep holding all the ideas up to Scripture, keep asking questions, because God will always help us find answers. The things that push against your faith will actually make your faith stronger, because those things help you to make your faith your own, because you have to examine it and own it. It's like working out for track - resistance helps you develop the muscles you need to be strong and successful.
You're going to be an inspiration. You won't know that you're being an inspiration most of the time. Occasionally someone will tell you. But mostly they won't. Know that your life being lived out loving others well and being true to your convictions will always make a mark on other people. #BeLia
I'm praying for you and always have. Since you were tiny tiny. And I've always known that God has a big calling on your life. Big in kingdom impact. Wherever He leads you, you are going to be a life changer for people. It probably won't feel like a big deal to you, but the biggest world changers never really feel like they're changing the world, I don't think. Most of them just feel regular. And that's good, because then you'll keep giving God the glory and the credit, since it's Him in you working all those good things together. Every single thing you've experienced in life, God is using for your good and his glory. He won't waste anything. He gives it all value and redeems it all and makes a beautiful work of art in you through all the different aspects of your life so far.
Go boldly into your amazing future, bud. The world needs you. People need what you have to offer as a friend and as a leader and as a teacher. And you'll be all those things even when you don't realize you're being a friend or a leader or a teacher, as well as when you do realize.
I love you. I couldn't love you more. I am so proud of you. You're my pal and my sweet pea. I have thanked God for you every day since I knew you were going to be born. You're loved and treasured beyond measure.
Love,
Mom
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