Happy 4th of July, friends! I am so seriously tired today, but I'm trying to get some sort of patriotic excitement going. (slowly waves a tiny flag while sipping coffee) So, I had two cool things happen this week: FIRST, My cousin-friend Kelly started a bucket list blog before her 33rd birthday called Thirty Three Things. It reminded me of my 2016 goals for the year, and I realized I'd be slacking on my resolution to lift others up. In fact, I feel like I've actually had more days of just trying to keep myself afloat than being there for others... but I guess that's young mom-life for ya. SECOND, My awesome buddy Sarah left a secret, out-of-the-blue package on my doorstep filled with an encouragement letter and the gifts pictured above. I haven't read them yet, but you know that sea salt chocolate is already opened. Has anyone else read either of those books? So all of this made me think of a challenge for this holiday... If you happen to see this post, tag a female friend on social media and write what is so great about them here in the comments! Writing your encouraging thought on Instagram or Facebook is cool too, but I'd love to see all of the encouragements saved here in one place!
If you get tagged you have to tag someone new... Yes, 1998 chain-mail style! I ain't ashamed. I'll start with Kelly & Sarah since they inspired this post! LET'S GO, AMERICAN GIRLS (and non-American too, of course!)
38 Comments
DEAR KELLY -- My favorite things about you are your constant ability to be real and outspoken... especially fighting against the social media world of curated perfection, you always stay true to yourself! I'm so proud of you for your new blog, and especially that you didn't just let your goals sit on a notepad in a drawer all year, but that you wanted to make something of it and push yourself further. I wish I was more like you in your house-management skills, money-saving, and overall #adulting. :) haha! I'm thankful that you are such a kind and loyal cousin-friend!
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Kelly
7/4/2016 09:49:36 am
Oh. My. Goodness.
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DEAR SARAH --
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DEAR ASHLEY-- My favorite thing about you is your ability to be tough and sensitive at the same time! I'm so proud of you for rising to the challenge of teaching 2nd grade and doing an amazing job-- even when the transition was gutwrenchingly hard on you! I wish I was more like you in your ability to drive a stick shift in one weekend haha! -- and I'm so thankful that you still feel like a close roomie I could plop on the couch and eat a bowl of avocado-something while watching something girly ...even when I haven't seen you in months. ❤️
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Kelly
7/4/2016 09:54:02 am
My dearest Ginger -
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Kelly
7/4/2016 09:58:54 am
Sweet Ashley -
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DEAR AMANDA -- My favorite thing about you is your ability to be whimsical and laid back and then switch over into fightin' mama bear when people need defending! I'm so proud of you for making it through the roller coaster of 3-kid/twin-infant life... all with strength and without complaining! I wish I was more like you in your confidence to know who you are in Christ and that you don't beat yourself up (outwardly at least) like a lot of us women do. I'm so thankful that we figured out a way to become sisters ;) and that your home always feels like my home too!
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Amanda
7/4/2016 10:38:53 am
Oh my goodness! My heart is full!! Thank you! I needed this more than you could have known! ❤️❤️❤️
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DEAR BLAIR-- My favorite thing about you is your ability to enjoy God's blessings in life and to be the "fun mom" !! I'm so proud of you for making it through your THIRD pregnancy while mentoring girls at church and raising your firecracker kiddos. I wish I was more like you in your gift to spread joy, and I'm so thankful that you guys feel like our extended family.... I'm still considering commune-farm-life with you guys! ;)
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DEAR KATHERINE --- my favorite thing about you is your ability to communicate your deep feelings and reach others with your love for Christ! I'm so proud of you for using your many creative talents as you transition through different seasons of life. I wish I was more like you in your ability to outwardly show your heart worship, and I'm so thankful that we were able to be roomies and all help each other through those crazy single days!
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Amanda
7/4/2016 10:45:11 am
Dear Michelle,
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Katherine
7/4/2016 10:46:16 am
I am so grateful for these kind words. Truly I love remembering that season of roommate glory. what a sweet time. I love the way you care and intentionally give to others. even watching that flow into sweet Rowan. you're so inspiring to watch you live your life. love your sweet red headed Lindsay clan!
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DEAR HANNAH -- the encourager of all encouragers! I feel like if you had a blog (or read blogs, ha!) you would've come up with this idea first! I'm so proud of you for always being brave enough to make the big moves to new cities for college and for your career changes through the years! I wish I was more like you in your ability to see the fun, positive side of life and to always ask the best probing questions to get to know how your friends are doing, haha! I'm so thankful that you are always up for an adventure, and that you've been a friend to count on no matter the distance.
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Hannah rice
7/4/2016 02:28:51 pm
❤️What a great idea ginger!
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DEAR MEREDITH -- One of my favorite things about you is your ability to have fun and be present in the moment! Even though you don't really like social media and phone conversing, being present in the moment is still the BETTER way to be! I'm so proud of all the hard work you've done transitioning into mom-life! I wish I could be more like you in your ability to speak freely and confidently about everything you care about -- even in sales... I am seriously the world's worst salesperson and don't even know how people have that gift! haha! I am so thankful that I've had such a loving friend in you all of these decades! ;)
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DEAR JESSICA -- My favorite thing about you has always been your sense of humor and how you make everyone feel like a friend! I'm so proud of all the awesome work you do with Buddy & Create Birmingham, and think you're GREAT at it! I wish I was more like you in graciously balancing that mom/work life and still keeping up with lots of home-cookin'! I'm thankful that I've known you all of these years and hope that our kids can hang some day to play as they get bigger!
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Kelly
7/4/2016 12:44:48 pm
My best - Rachel,
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Rachel
7/4/2016 03:16:27 pm
I love you Kel! You're an amazing friend and I'm so thankful God put you in my life.
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Kelly
7/4/2016 12:49:10 pm
Dear sweet Loriahn -
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Loriahn Harden
7/4/2016 02:43:23 pm
What?!?! This is exactly what I needed! Your words mean so much! I feel like a million dollars after that. 💪🏼🏆
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Sarah Woodall
7/4/2016 02:15:56 pm
Dear Brittny,
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DITTO TO THIS! Love you, B! I am so thankful for your tender heart to animals... (and especially my fur kids!) My favorite thing about you is basically the same as what Sarah said -- that you have gone for your goals even when it is tough, hard, sometimes discouraging work. I'm so thankful that you thought of the idea for us to push ourselves to grow in our creative hobbies/side businesses. <3
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Sarah Woodall
7/4/2016 02:20:27 pm
Dear Ann Marie,
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Ann Marie Leveille
7/6/2016 07:23:43 am
Thank you for your kind, sweet words!! It has been SO FUN getting to know you as an adult, after knowing you as a teenager ;) And I love your creativity and love for all things "theme"!! It was an honor to be a part of your wedding and I am SO proud of your hard work and drive as you explore and grow into your little corner of wedding world!! <3
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Hannah rice
7/4/2016 02:32:52 pm
Dear Codi,
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Loriahn Harden
7/4/2016 03:00:03 pm
Kel!
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Loriahn Harden
7/4/2016 03:11:40 pm
Amanda!
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DEAR JESSIE -- You may not read this for a few days, but I definitely had to say how much of an inspiration you are... especially with your FAITH! I am praying for you today, but also I'm continually encouraged by your trust in God and your caring heart. Also, my favorite thing about you is your artsy-creative, go-getter mama-style! Evie is so blessed to have a mom like you! Thank you for being such an encouragement to me this year!
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Jessie
7/4/2016 07:30:45 pm
Sweet Ginger,
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DEAR JEANETTE -- My favorite thing about you is your ability to openly relate to others through conversation and offer in-the-moment encouragement! I'm so inspired by how you seem to do it ALL .... (like how?) but yet at the same time are very real about being a real-life mom (aka Laundry Queen). Thank you for being a laid-back mom friend to all of us uptight, worriers out there! And please please please teach all of my children violin in the future. <3
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Loriahn Harden
7/4/2016 04:27:35 pm
Molls.
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Molly
7/4/2016 06:08:58 pm
Oh sister. You totally encouraged me tonight. I am loving the beach with my babies but more than a little homesick for our routine and my people. Thank you for blessing me with your generous words and precious friendship. I love you so much!
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DEAR ANNA -- My favorite thing about you is your SMILE! You seriously make me feel like I must be the funniest person ever, but its really just all your joy and laughter you spread around to everyone! I'm so thankful for all you do to encourage the MWM ;) -- and that you guys love my family like we've known each other for years even though we haven't yet! I also totally love that you feel like a Hermione-kindred-spirit to me and wish I could time travel so that you could be one of my middle school teachers!
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Anna
7/4/2016 05:06:08 pm
You are too kind 😘😘
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Loriahn Harden
7/4/2016 04:35:39 pm
Carmine.
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Loriahn Harden
7/4/2016 04:44:47 pm
Shelby. You're my best girl. I wouldn't wanna do life without you. You are ALWAYS there for me to vent to and laugh with. I love that you don't sugar coat things and will be real and honest with people. You balance motherhood and all of life's curveballs like a dang boss. AND. You just get me. It freaks me out a lot how alike we are. We were obvs supposed to be besties for life. I so love you.
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Anna
7/4/2016 05:08:49 pm
GINGER - you are so brave and creative and sweet and absolutely stunning!! I hope I can be half the mom you are one day :)
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