I have always tried to please everyone. Have I been successful? No. But, I have tried. Approval from others has always been important to me, too important. I agree to things that I dread, and I obligate myself to activities that overextend me. Why? Because I want to make you happy.
Lately, I have really failed at making the world happy. And you know what? It has been a really good thing. I have learned so much.
First I learned, some people will never be happy. There are some people that you will work to make happy day in and day out, and it will never happen. You will do everything you know to encourage or inspire them, and there will be nothing. You will always come up a little short, their situation will always be in their eyes desperate, and you won’t really be able to make a difference for them.
I also learned that there are some people who will be happy with you and for you as long as they are getting their way. I know I often fall into this category sometimes. And I need to work on it. It’s easy to be happy when you are getting what you want. The real test is being happy for others when you wish the situation was different, or finding happiness in others happiness even when you are not being benefitted by the circumstances. These are the people that I am learning to deal with. And learning to accept myself, that sometimes, even when others aren’t happy, you have to do what you believe to be best.
And then there are the people who will always encourage you. People that you seem to please without a lot of effort. People that you know are on your side. People that instead of always working to feel like you are pleasing, you just have general love and acceptance from. I need to work to be this for more people.
It is tiring always feeling like you are working to make others happy. It is hard to feel like you are trying to the lone encourager in a sea of discouragement. I know. I’ve been there. So why don’t we all smile at each other more? Let’s write each other more notes to build one another up. Let’s laugh more, and berate less. Instead of waiting to feel encouraged BY someone, go out and encourage someone. And realize, like I have.. every decision won’t be a popular one. Everything you do won’t be appreciated or valued, but a lot of it will. A lot of your efforts will bear fruit. And a lot of times, in really surprising places.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Hopeful.
Hope is one of the very first friends in life that I remember having. I moved to Fort Dale when I was in first grade, and shortly after she and I became best friends.
We lived down the road from each other, and many summer days we walked to one another’s houses to swim or play. We played city league softball together for years. We spent many nights at the Fort Deposit Spirit Club field watching our daddy’s play softball, or playing ourselves. We ran through Calico Fort like we owned it. It was a beautiful childhood, filled with precious memories.
Hope’s parents were divorced, and she lived with her dad. One Christmas we were concerned about him not having enough gifts so we got all the change we could find and we went to “Bill’s Dollar Store” for her to buy him gifts. I am sure that those dollar gifts were far from the nicest things he received, but I know that even now as an adult, I have not seen gifts given with any more love and pride than the ones Hope gave her dad that Christmas.
Our friendship endured a lot. Divorces and deaths. Moves. We grew up together. And I thank God that he chose Hope for me to share some of those first times life lessons with.
We went on vacations together. The beach most often, but once to Disney World. I remember her mom telling us that a lot of friends would come along, but that we should stick together. And she was right. A lot of friends did come along. And we traveled through different groups of friends, but at the end of the day when we really need something, we have always found our way back to the first real friendship that I remember.
I greatly appreciate her daddy and hold him in high regard. Any dad who will raise his child alone, should be really respected. As a mother, I know that being a single parent would be so hard. As a dad, I am sure at times it felt impossible. But he did a really good job, and as adults I love to see the friendship they share. My daddy preached Hope’s wedding when she married Ty a couple of years ago, and the bonds of our family run deep and are permanent.
Life gives you few friends who stick with you through it all. Few friends who are close enough to you to tell you the truth. Friends who try to stop you from making mistakes, and when you do, beg you to correct them.
I am thankful for “Hopeful” as I have always called her, and pray that our friendship sees many years to come.
We lived down the road from each other, and many summer days we walked to one another’s houses to swim or play. We played city league softball together for years. We spent many nights at the Fort Deposit Spirit Club field watching our daddy’s play softball, or playing ourselves. We ran through Calico Fort like we owned it. It was a beautiful childhood, filled with precious memories.
Hope’s parents were divorced, and she lived with her dad. One Christmas we were concerned about him not having enough gifts so we got all the change we could find and we went to “Bill’s Dollar Store” for her to buy him gifts. I am sure that those dollar gifts were far from the nicest things he received, but I know that even now as an adult, I have not seen gifts given with any more love and pride than the ones Hope gave her dad that Christmas.
Our friendship endured a lot. Divorces and deaths. Moves. We grew up together. And I thank God that he chose Hope for me to share some of those first times life lessons with.
We went on vacations together. The beach most often, but once to Disney World. I remember her mom telling us that a lot of friends would come along, but that we should stick together. And she was right. A lot of friends did come along. And we traveled through different groups of friends, but at the end of the day when we really need something, we have always found our way back to the first real friendship that I remember.
I greatly appreciate her daddy and hold him in high regard. Any dad who will raise his child alone, should be really respected. As a mother, I know that being a single parent would be so hard. As a dad, I am sure at times it felt impossible. But he did a really good job, and as adults I love to see the friendship they share. My daddy preached Hope’s wedding when she married Ty a couple of years ago, and the bonds of our family run deep and are permanent.
Life gives you few friends who stick with you through it all. Few friends who are close enough to you to tell you the truth. Friends who try to stop you from making mistakes, and when you do, beg you to correct them.
I am thankful for “Hopeful” as I have always called her, and pray that our friendship sees many years to come.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
30 years.
Tim turned thirty. And we celebrated! I earned a bonus at the beginning of the school year, for work I had done the previous year. It wasn't a huge bonus, but it was enough to help me take Tim to New York City for his birthday! He had never flown commercial.. and so the airport was an experience in itself! We stayed three nights (as long as I thought I could leave the babies!) and they were jammed packed.
The first night we visit Times Square, and the Empire State Building at night. The next day we went on a boat ride around the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Brooklyn Bridge. After that we went to Chinatown and Little Italy. We had a wonderful italian lunch and then we went to the hotel to rest for a little while.
The hotel was beautiful. We actually got a complimentary upgrade when we got there.. and for NYC we had a nice size room, with a small sitting area.. and a fridge full of drinks.. that they restocked daily (FOR FREE!!).
Anyway, Thursday night we went to Spiderman on Broadway. It was so much fun! It was actually my first Broadway show. We had dinner at Guy's, the host of Diners, Driveins, and Dives.
Friday, we rode the subway to Yankee Stadium. It was something that Tim has always really wanted to do, so I enjoyed it! After that we went to Centray Park. We bargained with a man who gives tours pulling a carriage to get him to a rate we could afford. It was an hour tour of the park, and my favorite thing we did the whole time. We stood on the center of Manhattan and saw the John Lennon Memorial.. not to mention the You've Got Mail bridge!! It was so special to me. We also visited Wall Street, Fifth Avenue, and Saint Patricks Cathedral. We got there at Black Friday Mass, so we stayed awhile to see what that was all about. We had dinner at this great place, Niles. We ended the night at a local diner eating cheesecake and watching basketball.
On Saturday, we went to the 911 Memorial. I didnt spend alot of time thinking about things there. What happened in that spot was terrible, and it changed the world I lived in. I have to not dwell on sad things for my mental healths sake, and so Tim went and really looked and read everything. I found this little tree that had lived through those terrible events and spent my time there. We had our final lunch at Serendipity. They have a famous frozen hot chocolate that was amazing.
It was one of the best trips of my life. Little things that could have gone wrong.. like Tim leaving his cell phone in a cab..didn't. The cab drive came to the cathedral to find it and replace it. The flights were smooth. The weather was amazing.
It was just this wonderful reminder that Tim is more than just a husband and dad. He is my very best friend. I am thankful to God for making him mine!!
Happy 30th Tim! I love you!
The first night we visit Times Square, and the Empire State Building at night. The next day we went on a boat ride around the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and Brooklyn Bridge. After that we went to Chinatown and Little Italy. We had a wonderful italian lunch and then we went to the hotel to rest for a little while.
The hotel was beautiful. We actually got a complimentary upgrade when we got there.. and for NYC we had a nice size room, with a small sitting area.. and a fridge full of drinks.. that they restocked daily (FOR FREE!!).
Anyway, Thursday night we went to Spiderman on Broadway. It was so much fun! It was actually my first Broadway show. We had dinner at Guy's, the host of Diners, Driveins, and Dives.
Friday, we rode the subway to Yankee Stadium. It was something that Tim has always really wanted to do, so I enjoyed it! After that we went to Centray Park. We bargained with a man who gives tours pulling a carriage to get him to a rate we could afford. It was an hour tour of the park, and my favorite thing we did the whole time. We stood on the center of Manhattan and saw the John Lennon Memorial.. not to mention the You've Got Mail bridge!! It was so special to me. We also visited Wall Street, Fifth Avenue, and Saint Patricks Cathedral. We got there at Black Friday Mass, so we stayed awhile to see what that was all about. We had dinner at this great place, Niles. We ended the night at a local diner eating cheesecake and watching basketball.
On Saturday, we went to the 911 Memorial. I didnt spend alot of time thinking about things there. What happened in that spot was terrible, and it changed the world I lived in. I have to not dwell on sad things for my mental healths sake, and so Tim went and really looked and read everything. I found this little tree that had lived through those terrible events and spent my time there. We had our final lunch at Serendipity. They have a famous frozen hot chocolate that was amazing.
It was one of the best trips of my life. Little things that could have gone wrong.. like Tim leaving his cell phone in a cab..didn't. The cab drive came to the cathedral to find it and replace it. The flights were smooth. The weather was amazing.
It was just this wonderful reminder that Tim is more than just a husband and dad. He is my very best friend. I am thankful to God for making him mine!!
Happy 30th Tim! I love you!
Monday, March 18, 2013
Deep Breath.
Last week was a really hard week. The kind of week, that when it is over, you are amazed you made it through. The kind of week where your will and your beliefs are challenged. A week, that if you lived through it, you really are stronger.
I cannot go into alot of detail, but what I can tell you is that I deeply and passionately believe that all people are equal. God made every color of person. How can we not love someone that God himself made?! God made every single size person. How can we not love something that GOD made?! God made everyone of us in HIS very OWN image. Believe that. I do.
Let me move on...
Our children continue to grow. And so does my heart! How can a heart hold this much love? Andrew moved up to a big kid class at school, and since I have seen him mature so much. He sits nicely in restaurants, says "tank ewwww" (thank you!) everytime that he should, so many good things.. and I am a thankful mama.
Cates has a temper! But you know I believe being a little hard headed will pay off in life. She should be just fine :) She is walking and talking and kissing me when I request. It is a sweet time in our home and I try to remember amid the exhaustion that this time is precious and rare. And I praise God for the two sweet babies He has blessed me with.
With so much sickness, I cannot help but be so thankful for healthy children. I truly do not take it forgranted for one minute. Please join me in prayer for the babies who are struggling with health. I know that God will bless their families, let's make every appeal on their behalf that we can.
So much on my heart, but I will stop here.
I am always eager to be remembered in your prayers.
Lindsey :)
I cannot go into alot of detail, but what I can tell you is that I deeply and passionately believe that all people are equal. God made every color of person. How can we not love someone that God himself made?! God made every single size person. How can we not love something that GOD made?! God made everyone of us in HIS very OWN image. Believe that. I do.
Let me move on...
Our children continue to grow. And so does my heart! How can a heart hold this much love? Andrew moved up to a big kid class at school, and since I have seen him mature so much. He sits nicely in restaurants, says "tank ewwww" (thank you!) everytime that he should, so many good things.. and I am a thankful mama.
Cates has a temper! But you know I believe being a little hard headed will pay off in life. She should be just fine :) She is walking and talking and kissing me when I request. It is a sweet time in our home and I try to remember amid the exhaustion that this time is precious and rare. And I praise God for the two sweet babies He has blessed me with.
With so much sickness, I cannot help but be so thankful for healthy children. I truly do not take it forgranted for one minute. Please join me in prayer for the babies who are struggling with health. I know that God will bless their families, let's make every appeal on their behalf that we can.
So much on my heart, but I will stop here.
I am always eager to be remembered in your prayers.
Lindsey :)
Monday, February 4, 2013
For Andrew!
… for Andrew
1. Let the fact that you were chosen by me and your daddy sink in everyday.
2. Never doubt the love that we have for you. It is no different than if you had grown inside of me.
3. Take care of Cates. I love that she has a big brother, and more than that.. I love that it is you!
4. The teacher in me says.. if you get hit, tell an adult. The mama in me says knock ‘em out. I guess you will have to decide
5. You have a wonderful opportunity to be an advocate for adopted children, and bi-racial families. Take advantage. Be someone who is reputable.
6. Believe in what you pray. I prayed so many prayers for you, and I believed that God would answer me. And He did. Better than I could have ever imagined. You believe too.
7. Open doors. Pay the bill. Be a gentleman. I know you will see your daddy model this. Follow his example!
8. When someone says something mean to you, overcome the desire to spout mean back. Answer gently. Answer with kindness. (Aunt Tina is a good model to follow!)
9. Make people laugh. You already do, and it is such a great quality. Laughter is medicine.
10. Work hard. Don’t let lazy ever have a chance. Get up, do something, be active.
11. Give second chances. People are going to make mistakes, forgive them.
12. Get to know people. Don’t decide how you feel about them by how they look or what they have.
13. Hug and kiss your mama every day
14. Be proud of our family.
15. Don’t be embarrassed when your dad (or bop!) cheer too loud at your ballgames. Your daddy has waited a lot of his life to cheer on his little boy!
16. Put down your cell phone, ipad, and whatever else they will come up with in the next 15 years and just be quiet sometimes. Look around at all that God made for you to enjoy. Beautiful earth. Pretty sunsets. Sweet birds singing. Don’t miss out on those things.
17. When someone doubts your ability to do something, don’t argue with them. Prove them wrong.
18. Make really good friends. The kind that show up when you get your truck stuck, or your heart broken. And when you find those friends.. hold on tight.
19. Don’t be scared to fall in love. And if you do ever get your heart hurt, don’t be scared to try again. Most really good things in life come after you’ve gone through some tough stuff to find them.
20. When you do make mistakes. Learn their lessons. Its when you don’t learn to do better next time that you have really messed up.
21. Learn to do your own laundry, make your own bed, and cook your own food. This will earn you major points with your wife to be!
22. Always make decisions based on what God would have you to do. You will always hear.. “follow your heart”.. don’t. Follow God. Your heart is fickle and easily confused. God is constant and without change.
23. Smile at people every chance you get.
24. Learn all you can in school, you are going to have to take care of your mama one day
25. Imagine. Dream. Then make your dreams come true!
26. Never get too old to dance when a tune you like comes on the radio or television.. your spontaneous dance moves are one of my favorite things about you.
27. When people compliment you, let it soak in. A kind word can take you a long way on a hard day.
28. Win or lose.. be graceful. I have seen amazing victories tarnished by gloating.. and terrible defeats taken with heads held high.
29. Be kinder than necessary.
30. Notice people who everyone else seems to overlook. You could brighten their day, or their life.
31. Trust God.
32. You will have a lot of questions about your life. You will wonder why God put you on the path that He did. Its okay to wonder. But never doubt. Before you were made there was a plan especially for YOU! I am so glad God made me a part of it.
1. Let the fact that you were chosen by me and your daddy sink in everyday.
2. Never doubt the love that we have for you. It is no different than if you had grown inside of me.
3. Take care of Cates. I love that she has a big brother, and more than that.. I love that it is you!
4. The teacher in me says.. if you get hit, tell an adult. The mama in me says knock ‘em out. I guess you will have to decide
5. You have a wonderful opportunity to be an advocate for adopted children, and bi-racial families. Take advantage. Be someone who is reputable.
6. Believe in what you pray. I prayed so many prayers for you, and I believed that God would answer me. And He did. Better than I could have ever imagined. You believe too.
7. Open doors. Pay the bill. Be a gentleman. I know you will see your daddy model this. Follow his example!
8. When someone says something mean to you, overcome the desire to spout mean back. Answer gently. Answer with kindness. (Aunt Tina is a good model to follow!)
9. Make people laugh. You already do, and it is such a great quality. Laughter is medicine.
10. Work hard. Don’t let lazy ever have a chance. Get up, do something, be active.
11. Give second chances. People are going to make mistakes, forgive them.
12. Get to know people. Don’t decide how you feel about them by how they look or what they have.
13. Hug and kiss your mama every day
14. Be proud of our family.
15. Don’t be embarrassed when your dad (or bop!) cheer too loud at your ballgames. Your daddy has waited a lot of his life to cheer on his little boy!
16. Put down your cell phone, ipad, and whatever else they will come up with in the next 15 years and just be quiet sometimes. Look around at all that God made for you to enjoy. Beautiful earth. Pretty sunsets. Sweet birds singing. Don’t miss out on those things.
17. When someone doubts your ability to do something, don’t argue with them. Prove them wrong.
18. Make really good friends. The kind that show up when you get your truck stuck, or your heart broken. And when you find those friends.. hold on tight.
19. Don’t be scared to fall in love. And if you do ever get your heart hurt, don’t be scared to try again. Most really good things in life come after you’ve gone through some tough stuff to find them.
20. When you do make mistakes. Learn their lessons. Its when you don’t learn to do better next time that you have really messed up.
21. Learn to do your own laundry, make your own bed, and cook your own food. This will earn you major points with your wife to be!
22. Always make decisions based on what God would have you to do. You will always hear.. “follow your heart”.. don’t. Follow God. Your heart is fickle and easily confused. God is constant and without change.
23. Smile at people every chance you get.
24. Learn all you can in school, you are going to have to take care of your mama one day
25. Imagine. Dream. Then make your dreams come true!
26. Never get too old to dance when a tune you like comes on the radio or television.. your spontaneous dance moves are one of my favorite things about you.
27. When people compliment you, let it soak in. A kind word can take you a long way on a hard day.
28. Win or lose.. be graceful. I have seen amazing victories tarnished by gloating.. and terrible defeats taken with heads held high.
29. Be kinder than necessary.
30. Notice people who everyone else seems to overlook. You could brighten their day, or their life.
31. Trust God.
32. You will have a lot of questions about your life. You will wonder why God put you on the path that He did. Its okay to wonder. But never doubt. Before you were made there was a plan especially for YOU! I am so glad God made me a part of it.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
James 1:27
The day Jacob and Grace left us is forever in my heart. And even now as I recount it, it brings tears to my eyes.
Tim went to court that morning and found out they would be leaving. Daddy came to Hayneville to get me from a training, and mama went to Mcds to bring us lunch home for one last meal together. When I got there I remember frantically teaching Jacob to call 911 if he ever needed it, and feeling like I had fallen short in so much I needed to have done for them in our seven months together.
I remember everyone who loved them from our family coming to say goodbye. I remember Lauren bringing two gallons of milk to send home with them because Grace loved milk so much. I remember my sweet granddaddy saying he felt like he was at a funeral, and Aunt Tina taking another little boy who lived with us home with her so that we could have the night to grieve. And that is what we did. We layed in our bed and I cried. I knew that my life had ended. It was my first experience loving a child the way a mother does, and them leaving hurt me.. Deeply. I remember telling Tim that I would never be okay again.
And I was wrong. I was okay again. The sun rose the next morning, and whether I felt like it should or not.. the world went on. Healing from them leaving was a slow process. I worried about them, I missed them. I physically hurt from missing them.
On days like that, it was hard to just trust God. I felt like there had to be something I could do to control their future. But I know that HE knew what was best for them far better than me.
I wonder sometimes if they remember us. Especially Jacob. I wonder if he remembers our vacation to North Carolina or Tim and Daddy coaching his basketball team. I wonder if he remembers our prayers, or swimming all summer. I wonder if he remembers me singing.. and how really loved he was.
And if he doesn’t, I am glad that I do. I am glad that God showed me for the first time through Jacob and Grace about real sacrifice for HIM. Sacrifice that goes beyond your checkbook and your free time. Sacrifice that is full of heart, and effort, and trust, and total commitment.
I am thankful that Jacob and Grace will grow up with their parents. And I pray that one day I get to see their sweet faces again and they have wonderful stories to tell of honor roll and playing sports. And how loved they are by their family, I would be so glad to know that they were really aware of that.
They left three years ago this week. And so they are on my mind. Amazing to think in three years how much has happened, and how it feels like yesterday that I kissed them goodbye.
If you don’t pray for foster children, and the foster families that they have to leave at times please do. The bonds that exist.. that are often immediately broken.. are real bonds. And losing someone you really love, is beyond difficult. I am so thankful for the families who decide that God’s command to take care of the orphans exceeds their own fear being hurt when the children have to leave. And I pray for their peace on the hard days.
James 1:27
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Things for Cates to know..
I don’t read a lot of blogs. I hate to be the one who sounds like she is too busy and wonderful to sit around reading blogs, but the truth is.. I don’t have much time for it. I am the one who passes out right after the kids just to try to make it through the next day. Teaching 6 year olds all day and raising a one and two year old will do that you.
Anyway, all of that to say I have read lately a blog about what this lady wants her daughter to grow up knowing. So much of it I agreed with, but there were parts that I truly did not. So I thought I would start compiling a list of things I want my children to know as they grow up.
I will start with Cates’ list.
1. You are deeply and permanently loved by me.
2. You are going to make 100 mistakes. Just make sure you learn all 100 lessons they provided.
3. Love your brother. Make him your first and most important friend. He will be with you through life. He will show up on days no one else does.
4. Your daddy loved you from the day he knew you existed. Let him be your example of the right kind of man.
5. You are from a long line of strong willed, at times hard headed women. Stand up for yourself when you need to, but try to be more gentle than your mom.
6. Love yourself. Don’t spend your life wishing you had different hair, or a different figure. Embrace the beauty that God gave to you.
7. Surround yourself with people who see your beauty.
8. Realize that the beauty that really counts is in your heart.
9. Do something everyday for someone. And genuinely do no expect a thing back.
10. Don’t say everything that pops in your head.
11. Decide to be happy. I truly believe it is a daily decision.
12. Love everybody the same. Love every color. Love every status. Love everyone.
13. Really let it sink in GOD made everyone. So we should LOVE everyone.
14. Let love lead your life.
15. Be committed. Let your yes mean yes. Show up. Be there. Be counted on.
16. Learn to talk to people. To look them in the eye. Not just send them a text.
17. Be proud of your family. Take pride in the people who love you.
18. Make good friends. People that you can trust. People who will build you up.
19. Put God first in everything, everyday. There is truly no greater peace.
20. Don’t sleep your day away.
21. It’s okay to be really sad. Really deep down sad. Feel that way, and then let it go. Don’t spend your life with your feelings on your shoulders.
22. When there is something you feel like you cannot tell me, tell yaya or bop. They don’t judge, and they give really good advice.
23. Look for the good in people. Its harder to find in some than others, but it is always there.
24. Be a good tipper. And if you don’t have enough money to leave a good tip, go to McDonalds.
25. Forgive people the first time they ask, we are forgiven by God daily.
26. Ride with the windows down and the radio up every now and then no matter how old you are.
27. Always do your very best. Almost everyday you’re going to have a chance to cut a corner. Decide not to.
28. Win awards. Hit homeruns. Excel in whatever you can. Life is short and sometimes an old trophy can brighten up a tough day.
29. Be honest. Even when it means you’re going to be in trouble.
30. Laugh until you cry.
31. Listen in school. Learn all you can.
32. Be a really good friend.
33. Pray. And when you pray, don’t just ask for things. Praise God. Thank God. Talk to HIM.
34. Appreciate the differences in our family. Be proud of the love we share.
35. Know that our family was formed by deep unending love.
36. Smile.
37. Listen to people. Really listen.
38. When you find a man who loves you know he shows that by respecting you.
39. Be a good example.
40. Thank your daddy for working so hard for our family.
41. Always let the bible be your standard. People are going to change, it is not.
42. Know that you are named after two beautiful, strong women. And be proud of that.
43. Smile as I tell you the story of your birth repeatedly. Trust me, I earned that right.
44. Read.
Anyway, all of that to say I have read lately a blog about what this lady wants her daughter to grow up knowing. So much of it I agreed with, but there were parts that I truly did not. So I thought I would start compiling a list of things I want my children to know as they grow up.
I will start with Cates’ list.
1. You are deeply and permanently loved by me.
2. You are going to make 100 mistakes. Just make sure you learn all 100 lessons they provided.
3. Love your brother. Make him your first and most important friend. He will be with you through life. He will show up on days no one else does.
4. Your daddy loved you from the day he knew you existed. Let him be your example of the right kind of man.
5. You are from a long line of strong willed, at times hard headed women. Stand up for yourself when you need to, but try to be more gentle than your mom.
6. Love yourself. Don’t spend your life wishing you had different hair, or a different figure. Embrace the beauty that God gave to you.
7. Surround yourself with people who see your beauty.
8. Realize that the beauty that really counts is in your heart.
9. Do something everyday for someone. And genuinely do no expect a thing back.
10. Don’t say everything that pops in your head.
11. Decide to be happy. I truly believe it is a daily decision.
12. Love everybody the same. Love every color. Love every status. Love everyone.
13. Really let it sink in GOD made everyone. So we should LOVE everyone.
14. Let love lead your life.
15. Be committed. Let your yes mean yes. Show up. Be there. Be counted on.
16. Learn to talk to people. To look them in the eye. Not just send them a text.
17. Be proud of your family. Take pride in the people who love you.
18. Make good friends. People that you can trust. People who will build you up.
19. Put God first in everything, everyday. There is truly no greater peace.
20. Don’t sleep your day away.
21. It’s okay to be really sad. Really deep down sad. Feel that way, and then let it go. Don’t spend your life with your feelings on your shoulders.
22. When there is something you feel like you cannot tell me, tell yaya or bop. They don’t judge, and they give really good advice.
23. Look for the good in people. Its harder to find in some than others, but it is always there.
24. Be a good tipper. And if you don’t have enough money to leave a good tip, go to McDonalds.
25. Forgive people the first time they ask, we are forgiven by God daily.
26. Ride with the windows down and the radio up every now and then no matter how old you are.
27. Always do your very best. Almost everyday you’re going to have a chance to cut a corner. Decide not to.
28. Win awards. Hit homeruns. Excel in whatever you can. Life is short and sometimes an old trophy can brighten up a tough day.
29. Be honest. Even when it means you’re going to be in trouble.
30. Laugh until you cry.
31. Listen in school. Learn all you can.
32. Be a really good friend.
33. Pray. And when you pray, don’t just ask for things. Praise God. Thank God. Talk to HIM.
34. Appreciate the differences in our family. Be proud of the love we share.
35. Know that our family was formed by deep unending love.
36. Smile.
37. Listen to people. Really listen.
38. When you find a man who loves you know he shows that by respecting you.
39. Be a good example.
40. Thank your daddy for working so hard for our family.
41. Always let the bible be your standard. People are going to change, it is not.
42. Know that you are named after two beautiful, strong women. And be proud of that.
43. Smile as I tell you the story of your birth repeatedly. Trust me, I earned that right.
44. Read.
