12/31/2020
let’s look forward✨ let’s set some sweet intentions✨
________________________________________
This was the year I didn’t know I needed.
As tragic, devastating, and emotionally, spiritually, physically taxing as it was - I am a better version of myself because of it.
I have healthier relationships than I’ve ever had. I have a stronger sense of worth. Taking a rest from Instagram, as I battled my health declining in many ways, refreshed my spirit in more ways than I can say.
I have a man who loves me, dogs that snuggle me, and food that doesn’t kill me. (We all know that’s important for me.)
Many moments in 2020, although wrought with many tears and a pain felt so deep, have made me a stronger person.
I’m ready to set some sweet intentions and make new memories. There’s always something so special about a new year - I hope you feel that too.
________________________________________
I’m ready for you 2021. I’m gonna kick some gluten free a$$ this year & nothing can stop me from making the best out of any situation I may face. 😜
#2020
10/07/2020
I am really sick of the emo/sad posts, but this is just where we are at & you know if you watch my stories we’re making light of the current situations. 😂
In the last 3 months I have started going back to counseling, connecting with friends who have chronic health problems, gotten into so many support groups for people with my condition on Facebook, connected with a home group at our church to do life with and get support, written out what I’m thankful for every day, and most importantly I talk to Jesus all day long.
Often, it’s easy to kind of clam up and shut off during trying times, but something I have felt compelled to do is be vocal about the pain & the difficulty, open up more to my friends and family, and overall mourn the loss of my old life.
Sometimes I feel like a whole new person, a newer version of myself that has a lot more compassion for things she never even could comprehend. I’m thankful for God’s refining me in this time.
If you or a loved one is going through some difficulty, send them this post. Be there for them. Encourage them that things WILL get better, it’s just going to take some time.
As for me & my health, well we have a lot of tests to get back, a lot of results to go over, and hurdles to plow through - but God above all else is in control.
He catches every tear, hears every cry, sends me so many undeserving blessings, and He is walking with me & you through all we may face.
Stay blessed friends! Find healing.
Xoxo, Linds
10/01/2020
Hiiiiii yaaaaa - your girl’s still getting sick over here on the daily and none of the doctors have a solid answer. 🙃
((Sorry if you’re just now joining me through the giveaway & you’re confused as to why this is all happening - stalk me in the last 4 posts I’ve done and it will all make sense!😂))
I’ve still been getting pretty sick after most meals again and I’ve been fainting (yikes), and the doctors still don’t know exactly what’s going on.
One says for sure you have celiac, the other thinks I was misdiagnosed. Another doctor thinks I need to be on a plant based diet, the other thinks I need to drink bone broth to heal my gut. Another thinks I might have POTS Disease, another can’t see the truth in that.
The newest thought is that I have a WORM or PARASITE from my visit to Ethiopia last fall because it takes them a year to manifest. And it could be overcoming my body....LOL LIKE WHAT?😂😂😂
So I’m getting tested for that. LOL - yeah I’ll keep you posted.
If I weren’t a Christian I don’t know how I could get through this season of craziness & feeling like I just truly can’t eat anything. Me & Jesus talk every day all day because He gets me like that and always brings me peace.
If there’s one thing this tragedy troth of diagnosis has brought upon me is -
s l o w i n g d o w n.
Slowing down to rest.
Slowing down to pray.
Slowing down to take care of myself & trust God above all else.
Please listen to your body, be gentle with it, and if you need help get it. I wish I would have gone to the doctor sooner than I did, but ya know - I’m stubborn like that haha.
Bottom Line:
Despite the rollercoaster I’m riding, God has been so merciful to teach me so much more about His character & how to have empathy with people who have medical issues, as I’ve never walked this road before.
I’ll share more on my story today. Keep praying for me friends, and I am praying for you.
Xoxo, Linds
09/23/2020
It’s fall y’all!
Grab a sweater & a flat brim hat, a hot chai tea latte (or a psl, if you must😜).
My favorite things about fall are —> the fun movies, Hocus Pocus is my fave, the change in weather, the snuggles with my pups & hunny, and most importantly it’s a time to come together with friends & family.
What’s your favorite part of fall?🍂🍁
09/21/2020
On Friday July 31st I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Celiac Disease.
And this was just the beginning of more diagnosis’ to be given and struggles to pray through these past 2 months - but I’m finally ready to talk about it.
Before my diagnosis, for the past 3 years I had been experiencing random & strange digestive issues. The issues became more severe in the past year. I would have diarrhea and vomit after most meals with no cause as to why this would happen. I tried cleanses to reset my gut, I tried different diets to see if I could figure out if I had any allergies or intolerances on my own, and all the while I should have just gone to my doctor.
The past 6 months is what pushed me over the edge. After every meal I would either throw up or have diarrhea. It got to the point where one week I tried some new health product supplements to help my stomach and it threw my body over the edge.
I was so sick, bed ridden, with extreme shooting pains all over my abdominal. My husband and I were both so scared because my body was rejecting anything and everything I put in it.
I finally scheduled a doctors appointment.
Originally my doctor wanted to diagnose me with IBS, but I adamantly asked for a gluten panel & a lactose intolerance test.
Once the blood test came back, my doctor called and told me that sure enough I had Celiac Disease.
I had no clue what Celiac Disease even was. So I watched YouTube videos, researched for days until I finally understood all there was to this autoimmune disease.
Basically - I learned my body was attacking itself when I would ingest any sort of gluten & the only way to treat it was to fully exclude gluten from my diet and lifestyle.
Immediately - I cut out all forms of gluten from my diet, I checked all my seasonings, my snacks, my lotions, makeup, hair products, and did a serious cleanse of taking all the gluten out of my home. I had to switch so many things to be the healthiest I could, and it was painful.
I was so devastated on so many levels, but I knew I could get through this.
About 3 weeks after my diagnosis, I was still seriously ill. (post continued in the comments)...
09/17/2020
TAG YOUR PEOPLE!🖤🖤🖤
One of the greatest gifts in this life is community. For me, if I didn’t have who I have in my corner I would never be able to accomplish what I accomplish, stay on the straight & narrow in my faith, or ever preserve through times of drought and doubt.
Your people, your community, your friends and family are the most important group in your life because at the end of the day they keep you smiling, encouraged, and filled with the truth that you need to keep close.
As a creative, a creator, and just a girl in this world trying to figure things out - I am constantly having to be reminded by the people I keep close - why I do what I do! It’s been such a gift to have this, and especially in this past week.
If you aren’t surrounding yourself with people that remind you of your identity, your purpose, and your drive - pray for new people! God always sends the right people at the right time, we need merely to walk by the Spirit and be open!
Tag your people, tell them why you’re thankful they always keep it real!
09/04/2020
This one’s for the dreamers, the visionaries - who have yet to cast their ideas out into the world. Tag a friend who needs to hear this.✨
A lot of times I hear people say, “it’s too late for me.” This is the biggest lie some of the most talented people believe.
Let me tell you something.
The greatest businesses have yet to be started, the greatest instagrams have yet to be curated, the greatest blog posts have yet to be written, the greatest art has yet to be created, the greatest photos have yet to be taken, the greatest songs, books, and poems have yet to be written, the greatest clothing line has yet to be released.... whatever you’re waiting for, the time is now!
We wait and we wait and we let insecurity rob us of pursuing our God given callings. We are afraid to step out and jump in head first.
I dare you today to start. Start putting action to those dreams of yours. Start saving, planning, posting. Do it whole heartedly!
The world needs YOU.
YOUR ideas.
YOUR gifting.
YOUR presence.
So what is it that you’ve been holding back in? What are you waiting for?
The time is now, this day is yours.🖤
09/04/2020
Who do you need to forgive?
I already know, like me, when reading this quote there’s that “one person” who sticks out immediately.
The person who sticks out when I read this post is my biological father.
Long story short - he left my mother before I was born & then never fought to stay in my life. My mom, being the amazing woman she is - dedicated her life to raising me.
I remember the first time I forgave my father. It was at a church service and the pastor prompted the congregation to choose forgiveness for the one person or many in your life you have yet to forgive. In that moment, that silent moment of prayer, I released my unforgiveness, my anger, my heartache to God - & I felt a huge relief.
The next few months went by & I didn’t feel much of that pain or heartache anymore, until Father’s Day came around. It was game over. I cried my little eyes out and found myself back in the cycle of unforgiveness and pain.
I thought I had chosen forgiveness & let it go, but I hadn’t.
I realized that day that forgiveness was something I had to daily choose, alongside choosing my identity to not be rooted in my circumstances - but to be rooted in Christ.
I say all this to tell you, I don’t know who you need to forgive. But I do know that if you have received that forgiveness from God, He’s calling you to extend it to the person who has wronged you. And on top of that, I’m telling you right now - that forgiveness may be something you have to wake up every day & daily commit to walk in.
Overtime, the mornings I wake up & have to hit my knees reminding myself of my identity in Christ & choosing to remember He is the best Father I could ask for - grow fewer & fewer... Not because it doesn’t matter, but because I’m walking in that identity more & more with no need of reminder.
I pray today you choose forgiveness. You choose the freedom it brings you. And if tomorrow you have to wake up & choose it again - praise be to God above. May your contentment be in Him alone.
I love you friends. I am praying for you always.
09/03/2020
just your daily reminder that you’re beautiful. you’re enough. you’re worthy. you can rock that bikini & sneak in those last few beach days before the leaves start falling. 😘😘😘
09/22/2020
09/21/2020
09/17/2020
09/08/2020
09/04/2020
09/04/2020
09/03/2020