It's Going to Be Okay

On the radio this morning there was a segment where people call in and share something that they would've liked to go back in time and tell themselves if they could. This lady came on and said, "Hang in there. It's going to be okay." When she was just fourteen years old her parents divorced. Her father left her and as a result of her life feeling torn apart she made some bad decisions. Today, she has a wonderful life in which she holds on to Jesus Christ for everything. She wanted to share the truth that God is in the business of redeeming the stinky stuff of this sinful, fallen world. She said that during her teen-aged years she had lot's of people tell her "it's going to be okay" but now that she is older, she realizes how true that statement was. This lady learned that in Isaiah 52:12 it says that God will never leave you, but that he will go before you and guard you. She sees now how while her earthly father certainly did, her heavenly father never once

abandoned her.

It is the same for all of us. We need to hear this. We need to hear that it is going to be okay. I cried in the car listening to her testimony because I could just imagine how many fourteen year olds that are going through similar things need to hear this. In Christ we can be confident that the Lord is bigger than anything that we are going through and that he can redeem and restore what is broken. He can cover in forgiveness all the ways we have messed up. Hang in there. It is going to be okay.

A Blessing or Not a Blessing?

While I'm on this theme of our many, MANY blessings. I thought I would share this fun little game to play. I got this idea from Beth Moore, who used to do this with her daughters.

"I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse."

- Genesis 12:3

To add a little biblical humor to your everyday situations and experiences, what you do is put everything under one of two headings...

1) A blessing.
2)Not a blessing.

or abbreviated...

A.B
or
N.A.B.

For example, I would categorize tea as A.B. while I would place waking up early for 8am classes everyday as N.A.B.

I'm pretty sure that you will soon see that all things either are-or are not-a blessing.

In all seriousness, however, I am confident that through God, anything is possible. He can take even the most icky of non-blessings and redeem them. Through the blessing of a holy God all can be recovered. Never forget that.

Have a "blessed" weekend!

Snow! Definately A.B.

Waking Up

"What if this happens?"
"What if that happens?"
"What if I can't do it all?"
"What if..."
"What if..."
"What if..."

What are your thought like first thing in the morning? I feel like my mind always goes 100 mph despite the fact that my toes haven't even touched the floor! So many mornings, I feel like those first few moments laying in bed are my weakest moments of the day. I let fear and all the "what ifs" overwhelm me and I know that the enemy really loves it.


What I have learned about myself is that I must jump out of bed in the morning and straight into God's word. I realize the power of calling out His name in my weakness. I know He is always with me and so strong even when I am not (which is most of the time). Everyday, when I begin my day spending time with the Lord, I am reminded that I am not walking through my day alone, but with my heavenly father and friend who will never leave me.


For me, waking up in the morning doesn't just include opening my eyes but also opening my heart to God. I love how He is such an intimate God who wants to walk through every part of the day with me. With Him and Him alone, I can avoid the "what ifs".

The Sisterhood

Lindsey: Okay Maddie Kate, it's time to get ready for bedtime.
Maddie Kate: Noooooo!
Lindsey: Maddie, obey Sissy.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait just a minute.
Did I just tell my baby sister that she had to obey me? Isn't that, like, what parents are supposed to be saying? Hm....that just doesn't sound right coming out of my mouth.

So, a few weeks ago on vacation with my family, the above was the little scene that played out in our condo. My parents had gone out on a date, putting me in charge. Dealing with Maddie in that moment was a weird realization as a sister of how very diverse the roles I play in my family are. One moment I am trying to discipline my baby sister (who knows just how to get what she wants, by the way) and the next I am giving "grown-up" advice to my teen-aged sister.

The ins and outs of my role as sister are quite humorous and I couldn't be more thankful for the blessing that my sisters and brothers are to my life. It is so fun to have such a crazy life that it oh-so different than anybody else's. I mean, I don't know of any other seventeen year old girl who spends her days singing "This Little Light of Mine", kissing "boo, boos" and in her free time stalking her 14-year-old sister's Facebook for any boys that might be showing interest (Sorry, Em, you know its true. Be sure to tell all those boys that I own a steel baseball bat, a knife on my key chain and that I have a brother with a 20-gauge shotgun.) While other students my age can't wait to get out of their houses and off to college, I am a little more hesitant to leave. One of the reasons of this is because of my precious sisters.

I've grown up being dubbed "second mom" by my siblings. But now that I am a graduated senior and headed towards college in the fall, my focus is less on bossing my siblings around and more on building strong relationships with them. I so desire to have great relationships, particularly with my sisters. They are my best friends and I want it to stay that way forever. Emilie and I have so much fun together. Now that I have my own car, the possibilities are "endless" to what crazy memories we can make together. Maddie Kate and I have 15 years separating us. We go to the park to play, go on ice cream dates for free Brewster's kiddie cones and have a common adoration for "Coco". My sister's both make me smile and provide me with so many reasons to laugh and to love life.

I can't wait to see all that God has in store for our very special sisterhood.

Comforting MK...getting water in your face stinks!

Maddie and I having a blast at the water park.

Trying to get some sisterly pictures at the beach last summer. haha



Celebrating Em's birthday with some SUGAR!!!