TN

well ya'll, TN was a BLAST, not that I'm surprised in the least. I got to hang with K10 and the kiddos (Carson, Cutter, and Crew) tons and spent the whole weekend with the most marvelous girls! (you may remember these peeps) I LOVE Long Hollow Church. I LOVE the Sisk's. I LOVE Hendersonville. That place just feels like home. That town holds so much peace, and the most loving people on the planet. K10 is maybe the best host, ever. And shoutout to the Ritchason's- I love yall! They are also the best hosts, ever.

go forth and live!!
xoxo Lyd

sometimes, people lie. and sometimes, people lie and get away with it. people hurt people, marring them beyond recognition, changing them...and they go on to live their lives, not noticing or caring about the wake of destruction they left for everyone behind them.

hurt is a funny thing. The person doing the act of hurting seems to hold all the power. In a sense, they control the situation. People can only take so much hurt, you know.

The problem is, the continual hurt...the arrogance of the one who holds the hurting power..they carry that. They carry that weight everywhere...EVERYWHERE. It's a constant reminder that they, in fact, are small, and hurting people makes them feel like they carry a big stick. Like they have weight.

But the people who are hurt, marred, even...they get to sleep at night. Yes, they have to deal with the pain. But they get to lay their head down on their pillow at night, weight-free. They get to forgive, and be free, and LIVE. 

The person who does the act of hurting, they don't get that.

It's interesting who holds the power, really.

Go forth and live.
xoxo Lydia

to the ones who make the kids table fun

My sister and cousin graduate highschool this semester. I am so proud of them.  I grew up with two sisters and 3 cousins* that were all our same ages..which often felt like growing up with 5 sisters. imagine the fights and the fun! the horror of it all!
But back to the two graduating girls.
I love you both so much.

Wendy, in many times and in many ways you have been like a sister to me. you were a built-in play mate, secret keeper, and friend. I can't imagine life without you. You have such a sweet spirit about you. You always have. Your whole life has been marked with kindness. You are peace loving and eager to include everyone. You are faithful. Faithful to your family, faithful to your friends, and faithful to your beliefs. I am so proud of you and I look forward with excited anticipation at what is in store for you. Congratulations, Wendy Beth!

Joanna, what a sister you are. You have always had a hunger for the magic in life. When you were little, this meant nothing was off-limits. From the earliest age, you weren't scared of anything. Many times in my life, you have been the strong one. You have been the one who wasn't scared of the dark, or sickness, or the unknown. You jump in with both feet, fearlessly. It's breathtaking how you jump. So boldly, so confidently into things I spend years questioning. You are quick. Quick to love, quick to make decisions, quick to accept people and ideas. You defend your beliefs and your decisions with an intensity lawyers and politicians would kill for. You are one of the funniest people I know. The way you view life and people keeps us all amazed and usually, laughing.  I hope your years are filled with adventures, that you love well and make wise and bold decisions. I can't wait to see the roads you will walk in this life.

I hope you both choose the perfect school for you. {or whatever you choose to do in life} I hope you have wild nights and really lovely days. I pray that you make wonderful friends who will love you deeply and be bridesmaids in your weddings. They will never replace the incredible friends you have had the privledge to grow up with, and that is how it is supposed to be. But they will begin to fill this void in your life, a void you never knew you had. They will walk with you through trying to figure out the whole being-an-adult thing. They will share hurts and joys with you when family is far away. Remember their birthdays, meet their families, make sure they know how much you love them. 

Do your homework. Show kindness and respect to everyone you meet, you WILL meet some strange souls. Go to concerts with music you really love. Go dancing. Preferably not at da clurrrrb but texas-two steppin is just fine. Master dancing. Somehow that will serve you well one day. Go to the lake with friends, venture down to the beach, join a club. Find a church you love and believe in and serve with them. Work hard, at work, in school, and in life.

Date nice boys. If your dad doesn't like him, he's not worth it. If he's never been hunting or golfing or at least camping, I would think twice.  Don't beat yourself up when you realize the one you dated wasn't so nice. You didn't know, you just didn't know darlin.

When you are sick, remeber you will survive. (need I remind you of my food poisoning near-death experience in TN) When you are homesick, love on others. When you are stressed or bored or confused, get outside. Take a walk, go for a drive, run around a track.

Call you parents.  Tell them thank-you. Call your sisters and your grandparents and come home when you can. Don't feel guilty when you can't.

I hope you find yourself. Don't be scared to grow and change and become more you. Never forsake your roots, your family, your faith. Adventure, explore, and love. Love well. And be loved.

Go forth and LIVE, Wendy and Joanna!
xoxo Lyd








*disclaimer: this makes it sound like I only have 3 cousins total. I have lots more. I am just blogging about them on Feb 6.

people change

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I believe in people. I believe they can endure incredible heartache and overcome overwhelming obstacles and truly LIVE. I believe that they can dwell in hurt and ache that they created themselves, and choose to walk away from it.

This week, someone shared their view on people with me, saying, "People don't ever really change. They just don't." My heart broke for her. Yes, some people may choose to live in bitterness or hurt or sin or habits till the day they die. But not all do.

And as much as I believe in people, I believe in the kindness and goodness of my Savior even more than that. I believe in His grace and mercy. No matter what decisions a person makes, or what they walk through, they are not beyond recovery. How dare we ever say differently. So people, I believe in you. Jesus believes in You. You may not believe in Him but He gives you breath in your lungs and an option to choose to be better every day. No matter how deep in your alcoholism, or addiction, or depression you are...YOU ARE WORTH SAVING. I believe that to my core.

..."while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

I know many churches or schools or even broken people have told you that you must clean yourself up. you don't have to. you are intrinsically valuable. The people who condemn you are no better. Jesus was on board with this. A group of men once brought a woman before him who they had caught, quite literally in the act of adultery. He looked at them and said  “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” (From John 8:7)

We're all broken and hurting in our own ways. I'm sorry for people who have told you that you aren't worth it. Hang in there, you are fully capable of change. When you choose that, reach out. You would be shocked at the number of people willing to help you in any way possible.And if you're my people, I'm here for you. So many are here for you. And to those judging our hurting people, I know you are hurting someone deep down in that soul of yours. Stop worrying about others and get a grip on your own problems. Lay yourself and your sins before people and a God that loves you. And for the love, stop judging our hurting people.

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Go forth and LIVE!
xoxo Lyd