on what I want the younger (and older) girls to know...

I want you to know that you are both beautiful. You and the girl you are comparing yourself to; you are both worthy and lovely and absolutely amazing in very specifically different ways. 

I want you to know that it is okay to think boys are cute and fun, because they are cute and fun, but they aren't meant to consume your whole life. You are a whole person, whether you are in or out of a relationship. 

I want you to know that the list of things you want in a future husband changes, and praise the Lord for that because the most important things are not that he loves dogs, plays football, has brown hair, and listens to country music. 

I want you to know that a Jesus centered life is better than a Pinterest worthy life.

I want you to know the power of Jesus, the true power of who He is and what He does with our lives. He died for your sins and three days later rose from the grave, conquering death and claiming victory for humanity. He can redeem, restore, provide, prepare, lavish grace, love, and truth. He can take everything you have done and turn it into something beautiful, even the ugliest of things. 

I want you to know the power of dancing and singing and laughing.

I want you to know that God is big enough for your emotions. You are allowed to be mad, sad, excited, frustrated, confused, messy, and wild. 

I want you to know that you should eat the fries, buy the dress, say the nice thing, smile at the boy, read the book, go to the beach, buy yourself flowers, take a trip.

I want you to know that life is too short to be uncomfortable in your own skin.

I want you to know how important it is to find a mentor, for someone to show you how to live for Jesus in the middle of the mundane. Invite someone into your life to keep you accountable, to be a shoulder to cry on, a person to laugh with, a sister to encourage you in truth, and someone to come over on a Friday night with pizza and ice cream and a chick flick (preferably written by Nicholas Sparks, amen?).

I want you to know that the way you treat people matters. 

I want you to know that life is full of really good things. But there is a difference between good things and godly things, learn to discern the difference. 

I want you to know that we were never meant to "have it all" and "do it all".

I want you to know that there are worse things than gaining weight, a bad haircut, not having a boyfriend or a husband or kids, not having enough "likes" on Instagram, or not being invited to the party. It is far worse to be unkind, ungrateful, ungodly. 

I want you to know the value in having fun and not taking yourself too seriously. Give yourself some grace. 

I want you to know that life is hard, but God is good. Seriously. He is the treasure.

I want you to know that the church is powerful and is the most beautiful source of encouragement and community.

I want you to know that you are loved. SO FREAKING LOVED. Just because you aren't loved by the people you want or in the ways you want, doesn't mean you aren't. 

I want you to know that I am cheering for you, don't give up, you've got this.

a coffee date...

If we were on a coffee date, I would order a venti iced coffee with cream, classic, and extra ice because Southern CA decided that El Nino will no longer be a thing this year. It was 88 degrees today, EIGHTY EIGHT. That is two degrees away from 90 and I am not okay with that.

If we were on a coffee date, I would share my dark chocolate peanut butter cups with you. I just discovered that Trader Joe's has the most delicious creamy, chocolaty peanut butter cups. A little package of them is only $.99 and I am so tempted to have a package for every day of the week at my desk.

If we were on a coffee date, we would talk about my high schoolers. One of my favorite high school boys "likes" one of my favorite high school girls and I have all the feelings about it. Good feelings, but feelings just the same. He asked to talk to me on Sunday morning and said, "Kristi, I just really like her and I don't know what to do... I have never done this before..." And my heart melted into a puddle right there. This whole thing is the sweetest, loveliest, cutest, greatest thing EVER EVER EVER. My high school people are my favorite people. (And if they get married in five years, I am definitely taking a semblance of credit.)

If we were on a coffee date, I would tell you that I made it two weeks on Whole 30. And I actually didn't know you couldn't have peanut butter and I ate it pretty much everyday of those two weeks. So basically, I never even did Whole 30. (But, I did lose six pounds, so whatever.)

If we were on a coffee date, I would confess that sometimes I feel awkward loving people. Sometimes, I am afraid my love and kindness towards others is too much, like somehow it is an inconvenience or makes people run from me. And then, I think about how Jesus loved RECKLESSLY, to the extent to which people thought He was a drunk, and how I am expected to love just the same. And then, I feel better about being the girl who loves.

If we were on a coffee date, we would talk about signs and wonders. Are you chasing signs and wonders or are you chasing Jesus? #conviction 

If we were on a coffee date, we would talk about the IF: Gathering... Did you go to Texas? Did you participate in an IF: Local? Did you IF: Livestream? I was apart of the IF: Livestream (photo above) and let me tell you, this year was SO DANG GOOD. Jo Saxton, Eugene Cho, Lauren Chandler, and David Platt blew it out of the water for me! 

If we were on a coffee date, we might pack up all our things and head to the beach for the day, because I have been craving the warm, salty spray of the ocean.

If we were on a coffee date, we would talk about how I leave for Ecuador in literally three weeks. You guys, this is bananas. (Also, still praying through my decision to go zip-lining...)

If we were on a coffee date, I would ask you what's new... Any adventures ahead? Any new books you have been reading? Any new dances you have learned? Any new songs that you just can't get out of your head? 

on dressember + doing the Jesus things...

Thirty one days.

Eighteen girls (and counting).

This is the stuff that I love; empowering women (of all ages!) to do Jesus things, and people, fighting human trafficking is a SERIOUS JESUS THING. As Christians, we cannot leave the fight for dignity, humanity, and justice to those who do not recognize Jesus and the worth that He has given us as image-bearers; we are nothing if not responsible to shed light to the darkness.

My sweet friend Lisa (who is one of the most God-loving, quirky, fun women I have ever met in my entire life) and I had an amazing idea… What if we did Dressember WITH OUR HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP? You can do the Jesus things at any age, so why haven’t we thought of this before?

For the month of December, we have committed to wearing a dress EVERY SINGLE DAY in order to raise awareness and funds for an anti-trafficking movement.

We prayed, we wooed them with donuts, and here we are on the first day with eighteen girls pledging to wear dresses for the whole month of December, advocating for those who have no voice, using their wardrobes and social medias to bring awareness and open the eyes of a generation of people who have become blind to the evil that thrives here in our own backyards.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

As leaders of this group, we are praying for three things:

Awareness: We pray that our group has an increased awareness of the evils of human trafficking; labor trafficking, sex trafficking, and debt bondage. Slavery is not just an "overseas thing", it is a local and global epidemic and is here in our own backyard in the Inland Empire. Human trafficking is directly tied to prostitution, drugs, pornography, and other evils. 

Burden: We pray that our group would cultivate a sense of responsibility; that now knowing what we know, we are held accountable to these things and we cannot turn a blind eye. We pray for a holy discontentment, that our hearts would be restless and broken, desiring freedom and redemption and dignity for men, women, and children across the globe.

Action: We pray that our involvement in Dressember would be a catalyst for local involvement through ministries in our church, The Grove. We pray that being aware and being burdened, we would move to tangible action.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This December, we pray that our hearts would build a greater understanding of what it means to fight the good fight and stand up for our brothers and sisters who are trapped in such wickedness. 

Visit our link here: 

https://support.dressemberfoundation.org/fundraise/team?ftid=63723

To donate, visit my personal link here:
https://support.dressemberfoundation.org/fundraise?fcid=560668

Stalk our hashtag #theoverflowhsdressember on Instagram to see how our girls are raising awareness! They are already off to a really amazing (cute) start!

all the things: september...

September is the swan song of the Summer. It was a good month, but I am so ready to be in Fall (even though us Southern Californians only get about ten days of Fall per year). I will choose to wear my scarves because it is now October, don’t tell me how to live my life!

Here are all the things of September:

Fancy Fall Cups: I am in LOVE with these new cups at Starbucks. Forget the red cups, these are shiny and new and I really hope they keep them for the coming years! (Sidenote: I have yet to actually drink a beverage from one; every Starbucks I go to is OUT of the cups. No, I don’t know how that happens.)

Incourage: You guys, I posted on my social medias that this past month I submitted a piece to Incourage and I received an email that I have been chosen to be featured! Cue the screaming and happy dancing! God is so good, and I am thrilled and honored to be featured along with women like Annie Downs, Jen Hatmaker, Shauna Niequist, and Anne Voskamp. It’s super humbling and exciting! My post will be live on November 23, and trust me, it will be linked here and in all my social medias! Eeeek!

Friday Night Lights: Now that my girls are in high school, I am able to basically relive those four years with them. I have made a point to go to football games on Fridays with them, and let me tell you, it is so fun. I miss football, I miss cheering on the boys of Fall, I miss the colder weather and being wrapped up in jackets and blankets and team paraphernalia. Gosh, it’s just so fun. I love being able to share this season with my girls and relive high school a little bit.

Simply Tuesday: This book by Emily Freeman, you need it. Loving it, loving the idea of embracing the smallness!

Take Yourself Out of The Running: This post by Jessa Connolly completely wrecked me this month. Please go read this. It will do wonders for your soul.

Women’s Bible Study: This month we started Women’s Bible Study (WBS) and I am LOVING it. We worship, we study, we discuss. We are going through Acts this year and it is so needed. This past Wednesday especially; we talked about the crippled beggar outside the temple in chapter three, and my heart just about burst from truth and encouragement. I am already so thankful for these women and for the past month of Bible study with them.

                                                 How was your September?

all the things: august...

How is today the first of September? My mind cannot seem to comprehend this fact. But, September is the month of the PSL, so bring it on. Also, colder weather cooler weather, please and thank you Jesus!

Here are all the things of August:

Handwritten Notes: I have received lots of snail mail lately, and I absolutely adore it! I also snagged some really cute note cards at Target and I can’t wait to deliver them to my high school girls before their first week of HIGH SCHOOL.

Articles and Blogs: The interwebs are full of some really great things right now. If you are needing some good reads and encouragement, hop over to these links:

If The Internet Is Making You Tired by Jennie Allen

When What You Want Brings Joy And Sadness by Annie Downs

(No Bake) Maple Butterscotch Stacks by The Hill Collection

Naptime Diaries Fall Line: This goodness launched today and let me tell you, these paper goods are GOOD. I am loving the Scripture prints for kids and the new "Back to Basics" Line in general. The creator, Jess Connolly, is also gracious enough to give us 35% off! Hop on over and enjoy all the new, beautiful, inspiring prints!

He Reads Truth: I have been plugging She Reads Truth forever, and now, He Reads Truth is live! If you are a man and you read this blog, you need to download and subscribe to He Reads Truth RIGHT NOW. Do it, and thank me later. 

National Peach Month: August was National Peach Month and I celebrated by drinking too many (not enough) CFA Peach Shakes. And I attempted baking a peach granola crisp and that was a nightmare, so I stuck to peach treats that are cold and delicious and I don't have to bake. 

My HIGH SCHOOL Girls: Excuse me, these girls start(ed) high school this past month (and this week) and I have all the emotions about it. Don't grow up. Don't like boys. Don't leave me. 

Dancing: Weddings, youth events, solo dance parties… I have been doing A LOT of dancing lately. Currently, my favorite jams are “Drag Me Down” by One Direction (THIS IS THE BEST SONG AND I DON'T CARE IF YOU JUDGE ME), “Love Myself” by Hailee Steinfield, “You and I” by Johnnyswim, “Dibs” by Kelsea Ballerini, "Fire and The Flood" by Vance Joy, and “Love is Your Name” by Steven Tyler.

What about you?

What were some of the things that got you through August?