Friday, September 14, 2012

Dear Ashley,


 Dear teenage self, please stop taking pictures of yourself (or your family, or your friends, or your cat, or whatever..) and listen up for a second. Here's what I wish I knew when I was  your age..


 You are cool (whatever that means), you insecure thing, you. Own it. Shine bright. No matter who you are and how perfect you try to be, someone, somewhere isn't going to like you anyways. So be yourself and stop trying to fit the invisible mold. The people that really matter love you because of all your weirdness, not despite it.



Stop fretting over the way you look! I mean it. That boy (you know which one I'm talking about) won't like you no matter how awesome you look. And get this, when the right man comes along.. he will tell you you're beautiful everyday. He makes you feel beautiful when your hair is a mess and you have sweats on and coffee/morning breath. Oh, and one day you will die to fit in those size 7 jeans again. Just because your friends are size 2 doesn't make that the norm.. Your future husband loves your curves. Embrace them!

And speaking of boys, you don't end up with any of them. Stop pining for that boy you loved all those years, you get better. Stop pouting about that boy that didn't take you to the prom. (and stop slouching in those prom pictures, mmkay?) Don't ever date your best friend, that 6 month relationship wasn't worth losing your friendship. Don't ever date that boy that didn't love Jesus.. sure he was nice but he took your focus away from what matters most. Don't worry, the right perfect guy comes along. And you wont have to wait long for him.. you'll only be 20 years young on your wedding day.


I know graduation is coming up and you're torn. You know you want to get married and have babies. Thats what you feel like God has planned for you. The world will tell you otherwise. You need to go to college. You need a solid career. What if you don't get married til you're 30? You can't live with your parents forever. I know you worry you're making the wrong choice following your gut and not going to college. Those "what ifs" are plaguing you. Guess what. You were right! And because you stuck to your guns, you got to enter into marriage with no financial debt, no student loans. What a blessing! You made the right choice.



One last thing.. do me a favor and spend time with your brother. I know you love him and you try and be nice.. but do me a favor and go above and beyond? He's the only brother you'll ever have and trust me, you'll really miss him. 




Love, Ashley


{Linking up with Chatting at the Sky (this was her idea!), Holy Spirit-Led Homeschooling, and Pink Slippers}


12 comments:

  1. This was adorable :)

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  2. I love that you congratulate yourself on not going to college and following your gut. I did the same thing only I tend to beat myself up over it. I love your perspective on it! It gives me a little peace. Awesome letter! The best men love curves! ;)

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    1. Thanks, Sara! Not going to college seems so frowned upon these days. It's just not the right path for everyone though. You can always go back to school later in life if you become passionate about something that needs a degree. Don't beat yourself up!

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  3. What an awesome letter! I love how you embrace your decision not to go to college even though it bugged you. God always has a plan and will never fail you if you listen. Thank you for sharing!

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  4. I can absolutely relate to the brother thing. Now that we're both grown and living in different cities (thankfully in the same state at least), I sure do miss him!

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    1. My brother lives on the East coast.. I live on Oahu! I definitely miss him more than I thought I would.

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  5. Don't you just love how God orchestrates your love life the way it should be, not how you were trying to manipulate it to be... I enjoyed reading this.

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    1. Thanks, Emily! Yes, I am so glad now that God said "No." to my prayers about those boys back then. He knew much better than I did!

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  6. I just found your blog through Imperfect Homemaking and am so glad to have come across another military wife! We're stationed at a Naval Air station now in Sicily and LOVE it. Your blog is so cute and your recipes look delicious!

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    1. Sicily, wow! What an adventure! Glad you found me, its always good to make friend in the military - you never know if/when we will end up in the same place. :)

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