That Rainwater

Life Update

Dear Mom, 
I hope that you are pleased with my grades this semester. I’m sorry that I haven’t been home more. I’m glad that we are learning how to give and take with our differences. Thank you for always bouncing around paper ideas with me. 

Dear Dad,
I hope that your knee surgery goes smoothly. I am glad that you are finally getting this taken care of. You really will be happier because of it - plus, we will get to ride bikes again. Thank you for always encouraging me to seek Jesus in times of exasperation.

Dear person I am not fond of,
I am sorry that I don’t show you Jesus more. I am honestly working on it. I’m not even sure you rub me the wrong way. I hope with all my heart that you have no idea that you do so. Thank you for being a bigger man than I and still showing colloquialism.  

Dear person I am fond of, 
I am glad that we are so different. It makes our lunch dates a lot more interesting. I hope Christmas break means we get to play a lot more video games together/just spend more time together in general. Thank you for looking past our differences and pursuing this friendship with me. (P.S. - No bad reports from today’s meal).

Dear ex-best friend,
Do you think we are better off? I stalk you constantly. Thank you for everything. No, seriously. 

Dear best friend,
I miss you. Thank you for sharing your vast knowledge and situational wisdom with me freely. I know it’s selfish, but I’m actually really glad that you are older. That you get to mess up first and I can just learn from your mistakes. HA! I can literally never repay you for the grace you show me. I am going to spoil your children rotten. 

Dear Santa, 
Please. No more coal.

Dear future me, 
How does it all turn out? What is the president like? How much time have we wasted? What’s the biggest regret? What do we have to look forward to? How is your community?

Dear person I am jealous of,
I’m sorry for my neurosis. It creates problems from obsessing over situations where nothing is wrong. What a waste of energy. Thank you for hanging out with me. I have no idea if it is a pity party, but I’ll honestly just take what I can get until we figure this out! 

Dear person I have a crush on,
I like you so simply. Not as in basic, but pure. We fit together oh so well, our arms wrapped so intricately around the other - your head on my chest, my lips lost in your hair. I like the way your breath tickles. I always feel foolish shuddering and giggling about it, though. I like how we make sure our legs or feet or hands are touching in any possible way. As if we are reminding the other, “I chose you and will continue to do so. Feel me feel you and remember that.” I like it when you kiss my cheek. I like your laugh. 
I like you in every instance. In a group, you are hospitable and on fire funny. I see you across the room brightening someone’s day and I am instantly jealous of your new conversation partner, but let it be. I let you be. I can’t have you all the time. I’d like that, but we need to be real. Your laugh lines are beautiful. I like you alone, too. When we are trying to communicate about communication, taking an hour to say goodbye beside your car, making plans to spend more time together before we have even left each other - all of these are times I hold dear coincidentally make me fall harder for you. I like riding in the car with you. I like the back of your neck. I like your hair - washed and unwashed. I like your hands. 
All of these are good and well, but there is one thing that surpasses all of your perfections: your walk with Jesus. The humility, growth, influence, confidence, change, selflessness, care, hospitality, love, and memory are all a direct, blessed gift from our Savior and you recognize that. That alone - the sole fact that you strive to show the human race Jesus by your every breath - is what makes you the girl I miss while holding. I cannot express how grateful I am to Jesus for placing us together, for whatever length that may be, it is and will continue to be a gift. Goodness, you are incredible. 
I look forward to talking to you. Again. For a while. The same on the next day. And on the following days. 

Well there you have it, Tumblr. Eat it up. 

BONUS: Here is a picture of me and my dear friend Kelly at the Clemson/Carolina game last Saturday. This is, and will always be, the best picture ever taken of us.