Can I just say

God is amazing. Always. He takes my breath away.

Love is exhausting, but always worth it.

Whatever doesn't kill you makes you a stronger, better person.

Honesty is the best policy.

Life doesn't come with a handbook for a reason.

There is always a silver lining. Always. You just have to look for it a little harder sometimes.

Crying isn't weakness.

Life, the world, people, and bad situations are all beautiful. You don't have to be a romantic to see that.

A very, very, very exhausting and heartbreaking thing is finally beginning to heal. I've been feeling crushed over it for months. I've wanted to talk about it, to just stop this feeling of helplessness. And now finally, there's hope. There always was hope, but it was hard to hold onto. The months to come are going to be tough, not as tough for some of us as for others, but it's going to work out. It is so wonderful to not have secrets, to be honest, and open about it. It feels wonderful to cry from relief, and not pure horrible sadness. I don't think I have stopped thanking God all day. He is wonderful, and amazing, and awesome, and more than there are words to say. He is always there, always working in ways I can't see. Always reliable. I really don't know how people can survive this world without Him. He is joy in all things, and situations.

Relief is the word. Relief is wonderful. But not as wonderful as love. Love is the only thing in the world worth fighting for, and I'm glad I fought as best as I could. I'm glad we all fought. And I'm glad that battle is over and won. Now comes the big battle. This one could be harder than the first, but is the one that matters most. I love you. I love that you're alive and fighting.

I don't know what each of your walks with Christ is like, of if there is one. I would like to invite you all to examine it. Life is not always easier with Christ, but He does take a load off you. He makes situations like the one I'm a part of less hopeless. He is Hope and Strength, and Love, and Kindness. He is all things good. I'm not trying to be preachy, but I really encourage you to pick up a Bible, to go to a church service, to look at the exquisite beauty that is a flower and realize that God not only created that flower, but the elements it needs to grow. He will never leave you, or forsake you. His Grace is more beautiful than rubies. If you need to talk I'm an email away. I know this all sounds kind of strange right now, but I am just so incredibly blessed, and even happy. I could not be this happy if it weren't for the amazing joy that Christ has given me. I want to sing and shout, and laugh and cry, and dance and lift my arms up and just praise God for all that he has done, for bringing us this far, and for the troubles that are to come. This has been a beautiful year, an excellent year, a tough year. And it is all wonderful.

Life is beautiful. I encourage you to look for the beauty. And take a good long look in the mirror and instead of counting your flaws count all the good things about you. Every girl should be taught how to do that. So go play up those eyes, and get laugh lines, and poke your dimples, and pucker your lips, and wiggle your ears, and pinch your stomachs, and slap your thighs, and laugh at your feet, and wrinkle your nose. Because they are all YOU! They are beautiful! You are one of God's amazing and wonderful creations, and you are beautiful! Tell your mothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, cousins, friends, nieces, grandmothers, and every woman you meet, even the ones you hate. Tell them they are beautiful. Because they are. And so are you.

Have a really wonderful Sunday, week, month, year, life.