the essence of simple.

We met at a pizza joint after church. I like telling this story. Ok soThe same group of us went to this same pizza joint after the evening service a couple weeks before Josh and I met, and he was literally the only person who didn’t introduce himself even though we were one of the last ones to leave. I figured he already had a bae or something. Fast forward to a couple weeks later. He was wandering around aimlessly with his cheese calzone when our friend Tyler was like “hey Josh, there’s a seat right here.” To my left. Without looking left or right he dove right in with a plastic fork and knife. I insisted I fetch him some silverware, and he was all “nah, I got this” but he didn’t got this so I fetched him that fork and knife. Finally he looked up and introduced himself. (He claims that he wouldn’t have introduced himself if it weren’t for the utensils). Idk about that honestly, because he also claims he might have noticed me that first night I thought he was already taken. Whatevers. We ended up talking for hours.A couple days later we had a big friendsgiving event at the park and you can bet I touched his elbow when I saw them there. My heart definitely skipped a beat or two when I noticed that mysterious bearded man in the flannel. He walked me to my car and for the first time in my life I was asked out on a date with intention. None of that wishy washy “do you want to hang out?” stuff. He let me know he was interested in getting to know me in the context of a relationship. 

Anyway, keep the questions comin’! Nothing is off limits besides where do you live, can I have yo numba, etc etc. :)

Prayers are going up. It breaks my heart to know you that you are carrying the weight of guilt and shame on your shoulders. I know I’m just a girl on Tumblr, but because you reached out to me, I want you to know how proud I am of you. You’ve made yourself extremely vulnerable by sharing this and that is the first step to shaking the shackles off your feet. There is healing and there is freedom, no matter the thoughts you have had and how you have acted on them. I acknowledge what you’re feeling and I will pray specifically that the Spirit of the Lord would come and fill the void that porn used to occupy. That he would remind you of your value and worth, and that you would remember that it is He who makes you pure. Not all hope is lost. Let that truth sink into your heart. 

Oh my! Congratulations on your graduation and on figuring out what your next steps are! :) I decided to do nursing after 3 years of being a chronic patient. I suffered from chronic migraine (we’re talking severe headaches and nerve pain 24/7) and was misdiagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and Celiac Disease because of the many GI symptoms I had. I was shuttled between a neurologist, cardiologist, and a gastroenterologist who didn’t communicate and unfortunately I ended up falling through the cracks after having life-threatening reactions to my prescribed medications. I had no doubt that this experience gave me a kind of empathy I didn’t have before, knowing what it felt like to live with an invisible illness. Physicians always chalked it up to stress because they couldn’t figure me out. Of course my first instinct was OKAY MED SCHOOL, but upon further thought I realized that I actually wanted to be a nurse practitioner. My mother was a pediatric oncology nurse, and I have always admired her caregiver heart. She is one of the most critically thinking, compassionate people I know – I hope to be half as wonderful as her someday. 

Hey boo, I love visiting my parents in Nashville but I suppose my blog description was a little misleading because my permanent home is actually in Atlanta :-) Funny enough, I’m also originally from SoCal (Newport Beach to be exact). I get a lot of questions about what to do in NashVegas so I will definitely put together a list of places to go and things to do in and around the city. As for humidity, it can definitely be hot and sticky. Protect yo’self from the mosquitos, I beg of you. 

I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Dysthymic Disorder when I was in high school. I’ve gone through several seasons where I struggled with depression. At times I have been able to overcome it with the love of my family and friends, but there have been times where I also needed the support of a psychiatrist and psychotherapist. 

The last time I found myself on rock bottom was spring of 2015, when I chose to take a leave of absence from college to focus on my mental health. I had just lost a friend to suicide and in some ways I felt like God was encouraging me to stop struggling alone and in silence. It was one of the most difficult decisions I had ever made, given how skeptical I was that medication and counseling could possibly help me “this time.” I will never forget the burden of guilt and shame I carried as my dad helped me move out of my dorm room. Only a few of my closest friends knew that I was hitting the “pause” button because the weight of my anxiety and depression was too great to bear. Let me tell you, love, it was the most life-changing season of my life because it was the first time I said “no more” to feeling hopeless and helpless. With everything on the table, I was able to learn how to show myself the same compassion I show the people around me. I would never, ever look down on someone who said they needed help – so why had I been looking down on myself for so long?One thing I want you to know about my story is that it comes and goes. I have a baseline of being at least somewhat anxious and depressed, and unfortunately I can’t take medication to help move that baseline. Returning from my semester leave, I hoped that would be the last time I needed the help of a therapist. I guess I had some lingering self-stigma about seeking mental health counsel, but I still picked up the phone and made an appointment about five weeks ago. It’s not pleasant to tell your life story over and over so that a perfect stranger can help you unpack it for the fourth time, but it’s a necessary evil when life takes its toll on your well-being. I’ve come to the understanding that this may never stop entirely. It’s the thorn in my side. It’s my cross to carry. It’s my burden to bear. But please let this be an encouragement that you are not alone. Depression does not discriminate. It was always difficult for me to understand why I was depressed despite being able to count my blessings. My advice?- Talk to yourself as if you were talking to a friend. Be kind to yourself. Have compassion for yourself. Give yourself grace. You matter just as much as the next person.- Don’t let the highlight reels of Instagram fool you into believing that you are the only one struggling with depression. Nobody posts pictures of themselves when they feel like their world is falling apart.- Do not let the voice inside your head tell you are are weak for seeking help over and over. I am so glad there are professionals who are educated and trained to help us be strong. - Know that your pain is not in vain. I promise you, what you’re going through will encourage someone who is going through the same thing. Your present will empower your future.

Oh, I feel this on a spiritual level 🙏🏼 bless your heart.

I’m a type A studier, so take my tips with a grain of salt 🙊• use a planner! I personally prefer paper planners, so my Erin Condren Life Planner is my best bud. I used to have the horizontal layout, but I went vertical this time and like it even more! If you’re like me and tend to have 15,987 thoughts racing through your head at any given time, then I think you would benefit from writing it all down. It helps clear your mind, and makes you feel so much more productive when you can actually see how much you have accomplished. Otherwise you’re going based on feeling, and if you’re stressed, your feelings will hardcore betray you. • ONE THING AT A TIME. My dad always reminds me that you eat an elephant “one bite at a time”; if you take things weeks or months at a time, you will feel hopeless. Work one assignment at a time, one exam at a time, one lecture at a time. If you’re like me and feel obligated to bring everything you own to the library, stop yourself and bring that one thing you want to get done. That way, you are forcing yourself to focus only on what you have in front of you. • study a little bit each day! Ain’t nobody got time for cramming the night before. • make sure your end goal is learning, and not getting the A! If you don’t get the A, but you know you gave it your all, you will feel much better about yourself. • ask questions early! Nip the confusion right in the bud. • form study groups! Spend time reviewing the material on your own, and then discuss with a friend! It will expose where the gaps in your knowledge are if you are unable to articulate a concept to a classmate. • use the textbook as a resource. Do NOT be me and read every word for fear of missing a question on an exam. PLEASE, for the love of squirrels do not be me. • know your limits. Do not sit your butt down for 8 hours straight and expect to be productive the whole time. If you aren’t focusing, it’s cause your brain is exhausted – listen to what your body is telling you! • figure out how you learn best! I’m a visual learner, so colors and pictures help a ton. Especially for pathophysiology! I’m also a kinesthetic learner, so it helps to do things and not just observe them being done!• cute stationary, cause cute stationary just makes everything better ✨🎉

I hope this helps :)

Reading this made my day! I’m so happy to hear that I have been able to inspire you despite not posting images. I have struggled with acne since junior year of high school (so six years), and I can identify with the insecurities that come with it. I have been able to control it with Proactiv+ (which I didn’t expect ‘cause, you know, TV offers), so luckily I haven’t had any self-image issues regarding my complexion in a while. Regardless of the condition of your skin, one thing that helps me is remembering that beauty really isn’t skin deep. Oftentimes people don’t notice the pimples or blackheads on your face; if you’re a decent human being with a good heart, even if people can see that you have acne, I promise you that they are not focusing on it. It also helps me to realize that most people struggle with it, too. If wearing a little bit of tinted moisturizer/BB or CC cream/light-to-medium coverage foundation helps you feel better, by all means, use it. If you’d like some tips on how I apply my makeup, as well as cleanse my skin day and night, I’d be happy to give you some :)Take care, love! xo

Well I’m pretty straightforward about my love for chips n’ guac u know

There’s no reason why we should compare ourselves to someone like Taylor Swift. I am fearfully and wonderfully made; a daughter of the King, for Heaven’s sake! I can’t be just a normal human being when I believe that God created me with purpose and for a purpose– I look forward to becoming the woman He intended me to be. xo

The answer is simple: I followed my heart.

Shoes:– Nordstrom. I buy my shoes almost exclusively at Nordstrom for two reasons:  1) style selection and 2) customer service.

Accessories:– Etsy and small boutiques! I’m all about wearing minimal jewelry while supporting small businesses! Basics:– I don’t discriminate where I buy my basics as much. After all, a plain white tee is a plain white tee (just make sure it’s well made so it doesn’t shrink in the wash)! Underwear:– Aerie hands down!Tops:– Nordstrom– Loft: timeless pieces, timeless sales!– Madewell’s got the classics– Anthropologie: I find the more unique pieces in my wardrobe here. (P.S. I Love You)– H&M: I always find the cutest sweaters here, and you really can’t beat the price. – Forever 21: I don’t shop here as much as I used to because of the quality of their material, but I always find a keeper here and there!Bottoms:– NordstromOuterwear:– Nordstrom– North Face: as someone who goes to college in the northeast, a good winter coat is a non-negotiable investment. I’m sure I forgot some brands, but these are the ones I have been loyal to. My list represents a variety of price points, so I would definitely encourage you to peruse their websites and see what you like! :) (Also I must admit, my outfits these days consist primarily of Bean Boots and my DKNY anorak)

I’m intrigued by the possibility of a dual specialty, but as of right now I look forward to pediatric primary care. :)

I’m glad you finally looked at yourself in the mirror; say it to yourself often. 

100%

Well, thank you for following that compulsion and taking the time to encourage me with this thoughtful message. I’m a little speechless, but this sure did bring a smile to my heart. xo 

By the grace of God, my dear. I have enough faith for the two of us. xo