So, our squad just had team changes on May 6th. My team I’ve been with for the first 4 months on the race is no longer a team and I’m still mourning this loss. As excited as I am for my new team, part of my heart will forever be with my first team Beloved Daughters. So, I’m writing this blog for my girls, my sisters in Christ, on Team #BD. This one’s for you. Thank you for being there with me from the beginning at training camp when I barely knew your names, let alone your quirks or personality traits. You have walked with me, fought for me, showered me with grace upon grace, pushed me when I needed it, and loved me with all your being. My World Race and walk with the Lord wouldn’t be the same without you. Words can’t describe how much respect, gratefulness, adoration, and love I have for each one of you. We will be friends for life, for eternity actually and I will forever be indebted to you ladies for helping grow me into the woman God created me to be. So, here’s to you, Beloved Daughters!
My teammies:
Adriana (Dre; Bright Eyes, Dreby): joy-filled, passionate, determined, bold, leader, artist, fitness guru, elderly-lovin, boom box jamming, zeal for life, connected to the Father, glass half full, radiant
You have such a love for life and you invite everyone in your path into it and your optimistic perspective is contagious. It’s been a joy to do life with you and everything’s more fun with you there, my friend! You are a natural leader and you are in tune with the Lord’s voice and see Him in everything and invite others in! I love your passion for life and I’m so proud of how much you’ve grown already! I love you Dre!
Hannah (Hannah Banana; #HM): gentle yet bold, leader, obedient, in tune with the Father, compassionate, overcomer, fights for others’ voices to be heard, humble, servant-hearted, calming, radiates love, accepting of all
Hannah, I am so honored to have been led by you. You lead with grace and humility and created a safe place on our team for us to grow, challenge, and love each other. You are in close connection with the Father and step out in faith to obey His voice. You model what it means to follow Christ without dominance or judgement. You embody the fruit of the Spirit and truly care for those in your life. You are feisty; you are gentle. You are beloved. I love you Hans!
Heather (Heath, Header): reads people and really sees them, strong, bold, beautiful, angelic voice, fights for the underdog, exhorter, compassionate, artistic, respectful, loyal, courageous, humble
Heather, you are a safe place. You challenge me in ways I sometimes don’t want but need to be challenged in. You do hard things; you are so brave. You gently confront and bring about resolutions/ reconciliation. You love deeply and faithfully. You fight for those who can’t fight for themselves. You have grown so much my friend and I’m beyond proud of you. I’m truly honored to be on your team a second time: God’s not done yet with you and me, my dearest Heath.
Jess (JessiCA, my gypsy girl): climber of trees (and walls and all things climbable), gypsy, free spirit, attentive listener, avid reader, peers into souls, soo talented at writing and painting, doodler, empathetic, intimate powerful prayers, woman of many accents, eyes of wonder, adventurer at her core, life-giving, chases after God and finds Him in the everyday mundane, star-gazing rooftop-sitting late night-talkin soul sister
Jess, my Jess, how I adore thee. From the day that forever grafted us together, your January birthday, I have thanked God for our friendship. You make me live life more on the edge and you draw out my adventurous side and help me see the world through your eyes of wonder. You are hilarious and so kind and our late night chats about anything and everything will forever be engraved on my heart and one of my favorite parts of the Race. I just love everything about you and am so thankful I got to spend the first 4 months with you on my team. You have impacted me more than you know and I love you so much. Rooftop gang for life!
Lindsay (Linds, Younglife queen): flower child, writer of encouraging notes, fighter for those she loves, entertainer of children, wise beyond her years, seeker outer of people, so kind, beautiful, enough, joy-infused, walks with God, makes people feel seen and heard, doer of hard things, brave, artistic, beloved by the Father
Linds! You are one amazing daughter of the King. You have taught me so much about being sensitive to how my actions/ words affect others and for that, I’m so grateful. You are bold and you say/do hard things when you need to. The only thing I regret is not getting to know you better because you are pure gold, my friend. You love others so well and make them feel known and seen. You fight for those you love and light up every room. You, my friend, are more gifted than you know and you’re gonna change the world. Love you Linds!!
Raina, the Lord knitted y’alls souls together to start this race. Good friends are hard to find. You have been blessed. But the blessing is not over. :).
Love you so much Raina gal!!!! Good thing we have eternity to pour into each other 😉 miss you already!!!
I wasn’t part of this team, but MAN the tears are coming! BD was so special. The love that y’all had for each other radiated out to the rest of the squad. It made everyone want to be a beloved daughter. Love this. Love your heart for your old team. Love that I get to have you on this team.