National Suicide Prevention Week

Suicide prevention and Mental health awareness are two interlinking causes that I'm passionate about. Part of my story includes a dark time that is briefly described below in my recent FB and Instagram post. I find it so important, though scary sometimes, to be vulnerable in sharing these not so glorious times of our lives so that someone else can see the Light.

twloha.com | TWLOHA is an amazing cause based company that lists resources and insightful and encouraging posts regarding suicide awareness and prevention. You can click the link above to check them out. Here is a blog post from last year that I found incredibly touching.

I don't think people realize that depression doesn't look the same for everyone. Some people you know could be incredibly anxious, depressed, and suicidal, and you may never-ever know. It takes intentionality to know the state of ones mind and heart. 

instagram.com/lilsoldiergirl

"Suicide is complex. It usually occurs gradually, progressing from suicidal thoughts, to planning, to attempting suicide and finally dying by suicide." ---

I am so fortunate that I had friends that were actually connected to and concerned about me in high school. I hit my lowest point and was very mentally unstable. They would hand write me letters and hide note cards with scriptures and encouraging words in my bag. I'm so blessed to have had people who noticed my need and reached out the best they could. 

I don't know that I'd still be here without them and without God. God sends angels to touch you physically when you can't feel Him. His presence was all around me even though I couldn't understand at the time. 
From the bottom of my heart, Thank you Makkael & Russell. 

This is part of the reason I'm so passionate about this cause. People need people and every moment counts. So if you need me, I'm here. I got you. I got us because God has us. 
If you need a sign, here it is. 
Please don't go. 
Stay.

♡

Shoutout

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http://kuzmenkojay.wix.com/justjulia

“unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm.”

— Isaiah 7:9b

You can follow her journey on snapchat @justjuliahulia or on Instagram @justjuliagulia

JULIA! 

She is an incredibly multitalented, encouraging & mad inspiring person & currently she is in PERTH, AUSTRALIA. 

I met her awhile ago through some awesome Bay Area Peeps, and she has never ceased to amaze me with her faith and her determination to be who God created her to be. 

I wanted to share about her because she is currently day by day learning how to trust God for the unthinkable. She is currently in another country learning how to advance the kingdom of God and reach those who are victims of slavery, prostitution, and human trafficking. Currently she only has part of the funding necessary to participate in the classes she needs, but is continuing to step out on faith that God will continue to make a way for her to do His will. 

Its incredible to me how often we won't step out on faith for even little things, while God wants us to dream bigger and have faith that He can do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can even fathom. 

I am inspired every time I think of her story: she quit her job to do art (she's amazing) and to open herself up to a move of God & God sustained her. She felt him guiding her to this YWAM program in Australia, and not knowing how it would be funded she stepped out on faith, and God is funding it as she goes. 

What I take from this is that God doesn't necessarily show you the whole picture. What He will do is give you the pieces, piece by piece to succeed in the plan He has for you if you're open to it. When we surrender to His will and are sensitive to His leading He will give us the information and the resources as they are needed. We are never without, and life is an adventure waiting to be unveiled as we continue to trust and move forward. 

I hope her story inspires you like it does me, & if you feel lead to contribute to her journey, please do. 

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This is an awesome mini portrait she did of me on a thoughtful card. :)

Outlook

As I was reaching for a watch to wear this morning, I got to thinking. I reached for one, then realized it didn't particularly match what I was wearing how I wanted it to. I then reached for another watch that fit my color scheme better. *Cues Big Sean's "Blessings"*

FIRST WORLD LUXURIES. 

I felt so blessed this morning as I looked around my bathroom. I had an option of which watch I wanted to wear, I HAD AN OPTION, SMH. I looked a bit to my right, and had some fresh flowers in all their glory beautifully arranged on my counter. I walked out of my bathroom into my temperature controlled bedroom, picked up my smart phone that does anything and everything I need it to do, and strolled outside to my three year old vehicle. I drove less than thirty minutes to my job doing something that positively affects people's lives everyday. I even picked up a cold tasty drink from a drive through Starbucks en route, simply because thats what my heart desired. Now as I type, I'm sitting a my dream computer (I'm a MAC).

FIRST WORLD LUXURIES.

Its not often enough that we pause to take inventory of our blessings. I took the time to break things down to the very air in my lungs that my body is automatically regulating. Thats a blessing. It's when we take the time to shift our focus to our blessings, and off our everyday stresses and struggles that we get an amazing perspective face lift. The more often we focus even on the lesser thought of, more taken for granted things like the ability to brush our hair and teeth, the fact that we have hair and teeth, the fact that we know whether or not we have hair or teeth, we begin to have a more positive and grateful outlook on life. 

Ultimately, you choose your perspective and your perspective sets the tone for the day. So make the day great! Choose gratefulness. 

Dear Future Husband

Dear future husband,
I am an independent woman, 
I can finance myself. 
I also know that when God intends for me to marry, I will be a submissive woman, to the man that loves me the way Christ loves His church. 
Dear future husband,
I am an independent woman, 
I don't need or want you for your paycheck. 
I can purchase my own shoes, bags, and pay my own bills. 
I do need you to spend time with me, pray for me, support me, pray with me, spend time with God with me, and seek God with me in all things. 
Dear future husband,
I am an independent woman. 
I am self motivated, career driven, and educated. 
I will encourage you, challenge you, & push you to be the best you that you can be, for you, for us, and for God. I honestly expect the same from you. If we aren't the ones building each other up and pushing each other the hardest, then who is? No one will root harder for you, than me. 
Dear future husband,
The way this thing should operate is teamwork, remembering that the man is the head of the household right after God Himself, and the woman was crafted from the mans side, not his head... not his feet.
Dear future husband, 
Just because I am independent doesn't mean I don't wish to feel wanted and fought for. I still wish to be wooed, courted, and pursued. I still wish to be cherished, to love, and to be loved. I still wish to be desired, thought of as beautiful, romanced, and to be someone's priority. 
Dear future husband, 
I look forward to meeting you, if I haven't already. Please know my being an independent woman will never take away from your masculinity. Please know that I will be the best partner and sidekick I can be to you. Please know that my independence now doesn't take away from my ability and willingness to be a team player. Please know that my independence doesn't take away from my desire for a family and for companionship. I look forward to growth, and I look forward to the hard work it takes to maintain a good thing. I look forward to much laugher, communication, and doing this thing called life together. I look forward to keeping God as the glue and the only third party ever to be between us. Keep seeking God, keep hope alive, keep growing, keep learning, keep loving. I'll see you soon. 
In patient hope towards love always,
Your future wife.