what is more.

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer."

Romans 12:12

my dad sent me a very powerful email recently.

i have been in a funk for the last 10 days basically letting myself go to be honest.

it has been rainy and crappy non-stop, 

because of the wedding i have a gazillion things to catch up on in school,

i am working nights and weekends now with my new job so i have had to say no to another gazillion things (i know, who knew there were so many 'things' in the world),

my room has been a disaster and when my room is a disaster i do all i can to not be at my house 

(so what, i have avoidance issues),

and i canNOT pull myself out of bed anymore, which is a huge pet peeve. 

get yo ass up girl! (sorry - it is really just that pathetic). 

but guess who cares - NO ONE!

so why do i keep making excuses to the air? it doesn't care.

why do i make empty promises to myself? i obviously don't care.

in church this past week we talked about making a change. now.

waking up on a new path. putting the old behind. putting away childish ways.

growing up doesn't mean you lose the ability to have fun,

it doesn't mean you spend all your time budgeting and fretting and having babies.

it simply means you know what it means to be faithful. to not be so shoved around by the ebb and flow that is life and to simply exist by pushing forward and getting stuff done.

and that email i mentioned earlier? well, why don't you read it and try not to be impacted...

That condition, my love, is that you will absolutely, positively knock your school work out of the park. You will ace everything. You will have the attitude that NOTHING will distract you from that task at hand. YOU WILL DO IT.You will not find things to busy you other than school. Now that the wedding is over, you will have a focus like you have never had before.

You are in a program that is reputable and challenging. You worked hard to get there. You are paying good money to be there. Do not waste this opportunity. Do not be a victim. You have to promise me that you will have the grit, determination, and will to conquer what is before you. Absolutely NO EXCUSES ALLOWED. Even the prospect of a different job needs to be secondary to your schooling.

Do not whine. Do not complain. Do not feel sorry for yourself. Pray for others because you are blessed beyond measure and there are others that need your prayer.

Make each day your masterpiece Dilyn. I love you so much and I believe in you even more. Don't let the world convince you that you are ordinary. You are not.

Later girl,Dad