dear orphan

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Dear Orphan,
I cannot explain why, but you have been heavily on my heart lately. I can't escape it, I can't escape you.  I have always felt some draw towards you, some connection, even. Maybe it is because I have a naturally very empathetic and highly sensitive heart. But truly, it has to be more than that. It is the fact that Jesus loves you, and He promises He will be with you. He says that pure religion is to look after you in your distress.

Upwards of 4.6 million orphans live in Ethiopia. 4.6 MILLION. In Ethiopia alone.

I live a very average American life. I have a job, I go to school, I drive a car, and I eat hamburgers. And you are over there. Without food, without parents, without clean water more often then not. And I so regularly forget to count my blessings, to serve others, I sometimes waste paper and food and even water. I hate our differences. I hate that you don't have what I have. I have always wanted to adopt, I have no idea why. From an early age, I have pictured myself adopting kiddos like yourself. But I haven't lived with that in mind. I am a 20-something Dallas girl moving apartments, and deciding what to do with my career. And so much of that is just garbage. I believe the suburbs and the city need Jesus too and I am more than willing to serve and to love and to live there, but I don't want to forget about you. I don't want to let a passion birthed in me at a young age to die to the American dream. I want to buy- in wholeheartedly to what Jesus believes about you. That you are to be prized and cherished and rescued and prayed for.  I will pray for you. I will live with a reverence and honor for you. I will seek more opportunities to serve you. In the states, in your country, through adoption someday. Jesus, make us aware of your orphans. Make us less greedy and less selfish and grant us overwhelming compassion and break our hearts for your little ones. Grant us resources and opportunities and arenas to help them, all for your namesake. Jesus, rescue your orphans. 

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Go forth and LIVE.
Lyd.

birthday moments

I LOVE birthdays. I really like celebrating other's birthdays, but I LOVE celebrating my own. Call me selfish, call me crazy, but it is what is is.

And seeing how everything in life is a competition, I have put together a list of winners of people who participated (or didn't) in my day of birth. For your creativity, you are featured on my high-traffic blog that is visited mostly, if not exclusively, by family members. You're welcome, world.

Birthday tweet that also honored TX: 

6 Mar Beckett Ammons ‏ @Becks07

Happy 22nd Birthday to @lydia_marie10, the only other girl that loves Texas as much as I do. Love you "Claudia". 

9:40 AM - 6 Mar 12 via TwitBird · Details

Birthday Tweet that showed off her new Laredo lingo and was also really thoughtful:

6 Mar Katee Haile ‏ @kateehaile

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY SEESTER @lydia_marie10! Have the greatest day! You deserve it! Love you and miss you mucho!

Direct and HAWT bday text:
From good ol Ben, "Happy birthday, hottie."

Birthday txt using my correct name:
From KK- "HAPPY BDAY JOSA"

Birthday txt from KK's Fiance that referenced my Biblical name twin:
"Happy birthday gentile."

Worst birthday buzzkill:

having a Stats test that morning

Most awkward thing about my day of birth:

Not one of my roomates said happy birthday. Not.One.Word.  It's deadly to tell someone happy birthday these days, ya'll.

Sweetest Lunch Surprise that included BBQ
Hannah. Sweet nan planned a little get together with some of my favorites. She is very thoughtful, and was the reason my day turned around! thanks, friend!

Most practical and thoughtful gift:

Shoes for my spring break trip from my mom

Texas loving gift shoutouts to Kristin and Clara (they both win)

For putting up with my crying/laughing/whining/talking about my birthday for the past three months

EVERYONE. 

As one may be able to conclude from the pic full of babes, my pals and I had a wild meal to celebrate me. I cried and told them how much I love them. I'm a sap. A freekin sap.

Love all of you! Thank you for making this birthday so marvelous!

 Go forth and LIVE! and pray you never have to be a part of one of my birthday's...bc you will hear about it for MONTHS. and I won't apologize about it.

xoxo Lyd

p.s. something funny? almost the same group and the exact same restaurant as last year..hey, I know what I like.