Women are so incredible. Just now I was scrolling through my news feed on Facebook and suddenly felt so amazed by all the women in my life. Honestly it is the daily struggles, battles, and victories of every day people that remind me just how amazing the journey of life is.
I haven't talked with some of these women in years but am grateful for their influence as much as the others.
My sister Ashleigh has dreamed of going to China since she was very young. When she learned of a program called ILP she earned/was given $2,500 to go and teach English to children in China. She inspires me every day to find my dream and pursue it at all costs. Her story reminds me that if you can't dream it and believe you can do it then it will never happen.
My friend Shikira goes through a daily battle against her disease CVS. From early last year until now I have seen her post about unimaginable pain. Surgery. Frequent hospital visits. Depression. Feelings of hopelessness. On several occasions I have cried reading about her struggle. What is so amazing is that she has the MOST sensational sense of humor and fights her disease with positive thinking and smiles. Her strength and will to over come...it leaves me speechless.
My friend Jenna had a premature baby boy that was born with some health issues. In the beginning I remember her posting pictures of baby Knox covered in tubes. When I saw teeny Knox so innocent.. covered like that I felt overwhelmed. Jenna and her family spent a lot of time in the hospital with him. I think a month, 2 months, maybe longer? Shorter? He came home but was still on oxygen. Still had the tubes. Jenna went back to work and continued to be a mom to baby Knox and her other two kids. She also struggles with migraines. Today she posted how healthy Knox is, bigger and no tubes! Her story makes me believe in miracles and the mercy of my father in heaven. I love Jenna for her strength and will power!
My Aunt is the kind of person who changes lives every day. I am SO amazed by things she has accomplished. Her past and struggles are her own and won't post it but, it brings me to tears to think of ALL she has been through. She was humbled and transformed into the most amazing person. She is active in helping people through a program called Celebrate Recovery. Which is similar to a 12 step program for drug and alcohol recovery through faith in god. She volunteers at her church for many events. She does a weekly breakfast for the needy on Saturday? Is raising three kids. Rode the bus every day for hours to get to her college to earn a special certificate for work in non profit organizations. Literally imagine HOT southern California crammed in a bus with other sweaty people for something like 5 hours total? She walks almost every where! Again HOT California. 90-100 degrees. She is very involved in her community to make it a better place. She writes these propositions? Very informed letters to people with money. The letters are in behalf of non profit organizations who need funds to keep running. They are like works of art. She has earned huge money amounts for these organizations. She struggles with a disease called MS. I could go on and on about my aunt for AGES. I am so immensely grateful for her pure heart and her desire to change the world. She is like Ghandi. I love her very much.
There are three young women that I knew when I lived in southern California and found them years later through Facebook. Three very different women with different struggles. I don't speak with them much but I see their daily posts and they just fill me with gratitude and a testimony of my heavenly father. Sonya is a recent mother to a little baby boy. I love seeing her posts about her love for her son and husband. It's such a pure love. A lot of people underestimate the power of a mother. But I know that it is mothers like Sonya who shape our futures. I see her posts and remember the purpose of life on earth. Essentially love and family. Her sister Elizabeth is an example to me of endurance and knowledge. I've seen her posts of her life over a yearish and have seen glimpses of her struggles. She never complained and just pushed on. I appreciate her knowledge. She has unique opinions and views. I can tell she is very intelligent from studying and going to school, but she is wise from life experience. It's a combo of the two that will inspire many people. I don't know her well but she has influenced my life and inspired many epiphanies. Jenny is a nurse of sorts for old folks and a wife. I've also watched her posts over a couple of years and have seen her have faith to go on a mission. Study and go to university. Get married. These are actually the top three goals I have for myself and reading Jenny's posts about these accomplishments have inspired me in so many ways!! I've also seen her be very honest about certain hurdles in her life and how she essentially over came all through faith and endurance. If any one exemplifies the pure love of Christ and tremendous faith, it would be Jenny, Elizabeth, and Sonya.
The last woman in my life that means more to me than any other is my mother. So strong. She is my very best friend. My hero. My confidant. I am so grateful for EVERYTHING she has done for me and my siblings. She has very often put her dreams and needs on the back burner for us. She has loved us and saved us time and again. No one is a better example to me of what a woman can accomplish than she. I love her very much!
There are so many other women in my life that have influenced me but for now I will just give their names. I will definitely forget some.
GG for her beauty, grace, and true unconditional love. Grandma for her rock hard faith and the best smile and laugh. I love you grandma! Eva who is honestly a champion of a friend. Also for the way she has lived in the world but has never let it change her beautiful spirit. She will be the BEST missionary. My other sister Crystal who loves, cares, and fights for her beautiful children. My cousin Suzanne for her sweet tender personality, her generosity, and her gorgeous smile. I love my Suze. My cousin Wendy for her strength, her ability to make me laugh until I almost pee, and her contagious laugh. Mwah. My great aunt, Barbara, who is the free spirited person ever. For her ability to accept and love every human and her beauty. My twins for their grounded sensible nature and for being two of the best friends I will ever have. Cheers to the adventures yet to come. To Shayni for being there when I had no one, and her beauty. Bekah for being quite possibly the most kind hearted person in existence, and for her strength. P.s. Bekah you are beautiful and more loved than you could ever know. Gina N for her endurance and her humor, oh and her gorgeous hair. Cora for her simple way of saying it like it is, her strength, and her kind heart. These are all the women I can think of that I am grateful for. I know there are so so many more. I love you all so much. Contemplate over the women who have inspired you.
