Top 5 Tips: Self-Care, Preventing Ruts and Getting in a Healthy Groove Before Winter

Hey friends!

I’m coming at y’all today with my top 5 tips for getting yourself into that healthy groove before winter. The time change just hit, it gets darker earlier, and it feels like it’s that time of year when everyone hit’s the proverbial wall or exhaustion, ruts and sickness. We’re going to try to get ahead of that together folks! Let’s finish out the year strong with these healthy habits.

1. Relax Your Morning for a Smoother Day

Anyone who knows me well will be the first to tell you- I am the furthest thing from a morning person. I would so much rather stay up late burning the midnight oil than wake up early. However, I have a strong appreciation for the mornings and how productive you can be during them. On the ~few & rare~ days in which I wake up early, I can firmly say that I feel much more productive throughout my day-  especially when I can drag myself to the gym to kick off the day.

My two new favorite things to use in the mornings are:

• French Press Coffee Maker- So easy! This requires very little time at all in making coffee, and it tastes SO much better than the regular coffee pot. I’ve been using the mild Chock Full O’ Nuts blend and the CoffeeMate Vanilla Almond Milk Creamer and it is the most delicious way to start the day.

• Grown Alchemist Polishing Facial Exfoliant– This facial polish smells so good (pink grapefruit, yes please!) and is the perfect wakeup call in the mornings.

2. Get Your Creative Juices Flowing

 

• Painting & Journaling are some of my favorite ways to do this! I love spending time unwinding and just letting all the creativity come through in the form of words, doodles, watercolors, and reflection. Putting on some acoustic jams and letting your mind unwind is the best.
  • If you’ve read my post on How I Study the Bible– y’all know I love journaling in my Bible too! Click here to read (:

3. Soak it Up

• Taking a bath or hot shower is not only an essential (hello hygine), but it also allows you to open up your sinuses, detox your mind and body, and refresh your entire being. I have been loving the Skin & Co. Blue in Capri Shower Gel recently, because it smells incredible! I absolutely recommend trying it out!

 

4. Switch Things Up

• Wardrobe: Change up those looks! Feel like you’re staring at a bunch of clothes you never wear? Clean out your closet, get rid of those clothes you haven’t worn in the past year and find the pieces you LOVE. Try out new looks by throwing long sleeve shirts under your summer dresses or sweaters over top of them to create fun fall looks out of summer clothes. Repurpose the items you’ve got and give them new life, or donate them when you’ve had enough!
• Workspace
  • Decluttered space = decluttered brain. There’s nothing simpler than this. Declutter your workspace and get your mind clear- even rearrange your space to breathe new life into it! Find the simple ways to spice things up- change the backgrounds on your technology, get some fresh plants or flowers in there and organize your junk! I promise you’ll feel so much better.
• Routine
  • Switch something up you do every day to keep yourself from falling into a rut:
    • Breakfast foods- try something new to eat that you look forward to in the mornings! For me, it’s my coffee and sweet potatoes- I’ve loved eating them for breakfast now that it’s fall… and they’re
    • Find another playlist or podcast to listen to- my favorite podcasts right now are “Gals on the Go” with Danielle Carolyn & Brooke Miccio and “Woah! That’s Good!” with Sadie Robertson. As for music, I’m a country music gal through & through, but I’ve been branching out recently and filling my home and car some more acoustic jams and Ed Sheeran (because what’s not to love there?!).
    • Even changing the route you drive to work or walk to class- It doesn’t have to be major- even little changes will help you!

5. Move Your Body

As it gets colder, the motivation to go to the gym dwindles alongside the heat. I’m someone who’s never been a fan of working out, but I’ve been getting more into it recently (it took some pushing, but we’re getting better) and I’d have to say- it absolutely feels good every time. It always makes me feel so much more productive!

• Getting bored of your workouts? Change them up! Try a workout class instead of flying solo, a new class if you’re already into them, or even just a new group of machines at the gym!
• Try Dancing! I tried Zumba this summer for the first time and it was the most fun I’ve ever had working out! Just find what works best for you, your style and your preferences!

That’s all for today folks! I hope you enjoyed these tips and can put them to good use in your life. Leave anymore of your favorite tips for staying healthy below! (:

xoxo,

Hayds

*this post is in no way sponsored by any of the mentioned brands, I just like the stuff and wanna tell y’all about the goodies!!*

Mental Health: The Struggle No One Talks About

This summer, one of my absolute greatest friends and I got together for an evening of chatting, painting and relaxing. As we sat together, we began talking about a lot of the things that have been going on in our hearts. Not only were we speaking of recent events, but of things that had been years in the process that the other had barely or never heard at all- mental health issues that had been crippling us both silently on the inside but had never made their way to the surface.

As we continued pouring our hearts out, it felt like a simultaneous breath of fresh air and crushing heartbreak. “How”, I asked “have we never talked about these things before? How have we both struggled painfully alone when we could have had someone to walk through it with us the whole time?”

But the answer was simple, and, frankly, we both knew it too well. It’s the fear of surrounding stigmas that keep us all struggling in silence. It’s the heartbreaking truth that we live in a world full of broken people who’d rather create the illusion that they’re perfectly fine than admit to themselves and the world that they’re actually hurting. In fact, standing amongst the broken pieces of our lives attempting to convince ourselves and others will never do anything about fixing them. The only way to mend the bits is to admit they’re broken and get to actively putting them back together.

Of course, our brokenness will never leave us exactly the way we were before, and there will always be changes to the aftermath. However, I firmly believe that is okay. In ancient Japan, if an artist would break a vessel he was creating, the pieces weren’t thrown away. They were puzzle-pieced back together and the cracks were filled with pure gold. The artist took what could be seen as useless shards of pottery and made them into something of even greater value. I believe this is how we have to view our mental health.

Rather than viewing struggles with mental health (or struggles at all for that matter) as rendering us useless, we have to be willing to take action as the artist. If the artist simply broke looked at his broken bowl and tried convincing himself and others that it wasn’t broken at all, but rather perfectly functional, he would not only be no closer to creating something that anyone could use, but he’d also be entirely delusional. He must admit that his work is broken and begin working to put the pieces back together.

We have to do the same. Instead of buying into our world’s encouraged delusion in pretending that diseases you can’t see are any less than those you can, we have to admit to ourselves and others that our pieces are broken. But we can’t stop there, or else it’d be a pity party. And that, friends, isn’t good for anyone.

We have to get to work. We have to find help, see the therapist, go to the physician, take the meds, breathe deeply and take action. We have to fight for ourselves and fight for each other. We have to attempt to put the pieces back together.

Most importantly, we need that gold. We need the solid gold to come in and fill our cracks. That’s where the Lord comes in. He knows our sorrow and pain. He knows our world is broken- he sees us and he’s experienced our world himself. But just as a poor artisan can’t pick up the pieces and fill them with solid gold without the help of a much wealthier source, we can’t do it with ourselves. We can pick up our pieces, but we need God’s grace and mercy to fill our gaps. He wants to and he’s waiting to.

I challenge you that if you need help, find it. If you’re not sure if you need it, find it anyways. There’s no such thing as too much mental stability. And I’m here to talk if anyone needs it. You’re not alone, and we can all fight this battle together.

xoxo,

Hayds

Washington D.C.’s BEST (and totally free) Hidden Photo Ops

Washington D.C. never used to be somewhere I thought would be great for photos. I always found it to be a place of historic buildings and museums (which are gorgeous for photos themselves). However, on this year’s trip to D.C., Rylee and I sought to hunt down the very best hidden photo ops in the Nation’s Capital. And I’d say, we did a pretty good job. We had a blast over the course of two days shooting several thousand (yes, thousand) photos in a variety of locations. Here are some of our absolute favorites!

Watermelon House:

This place is exactly what it sounds like- a house that’s painted like a giant watermelon. It is HUGE. I truly thought it would be chalked full of other tourists trying to take photos, but it wasn’t at all! We were completely alone- for a solid 45 minutes too. It was great. AND, it gets better. Not only is there a giant watermelon mural, but also another kiwi mural that’s the cutest! It is such a fun location to get all the cute pics.

 

National Portrait Gallery:

Ever seen this neon map of the U.S. on Instagram or Pinterest and wondered where it’s at? I had for sure. It’s one of D.C.’s hidden gems and we finally figured out where it was at. These photos were so fun and give off the best neon & retro glow- such a fun set of images!

 

US Botanic Garden:

If you’ve ever wondered what the Garden of Eden looked like, this place is probably the closest you’ll get this side of heaven. It truly is incredible. They have an entire outdoor area full of plants, trees, and flowers of all shapes, sizes, and colors, as well as an indoor greenhouse. The inside is massive and allows you to be transported to different worlds and ecosystems every time you step through a new set of doors. From medicinal plants to endangered ones, and rainforests to jungles, this place truly has it all.

 

CityCenter:

These photos may have been my favorite from the trip. CityCenter is such a cute area full of shops and restaurants, but these beach balls were definitely the highlight! I found that these mixed with the small string lights and reflective store windows truly bring out the beauty of downtown Washington D.C. and all the charm it has.

 

Eastern Market:

I’m a sucker for market shopping, and I was totally captivated by this place! From fresh fruit and flowers to jewelry and other hidden gems from all over the world, this market had everything. I walked out doing minimal damage to the wallet, with a turquoise and stainless silver ring from Thailand! I bought it from the sweetest woman and her mom, who are actually both from Togo and moved to the United States for better opportunities. So sweet! The Eastern Market is also full of cute outdoor restaurants where you can grab a bite to eat. We found an adorable little Italian bakery, grabbed some White Bean and Garlic Hummus and a fresh baguette (um, YUM) and had a quick little snack in the middle of our day. (also, I was a bit too captivated by the market itself, so here are some photos of the cute restaurant)

 

Capitol Hill Books:

This place is a book nerd’s paradise. It’s a two story townhome PLUS a full basement of books piled high from floor to ceiling- yes, even the bathroom. I could not believe how many books filled this place. It truly was a sight to see! If you could get lost for hours among thousands of books, this place is a must-see for you.

 

The Blind Whino:

An old church restored into an abstract art and mural exhibit! With a little bit of creativity, you could truly let your brain and camera angles run wild in this place. From the reflection of light through old stained glass windows to several different murals, colorful doors, or simply the entire outside of the building- opportunities to dream up fun photos were endless here.

I hope you enjoyed these and can check some of them out for yourself! Also, if you made it to the end and love what you see when it comes to editing, ALL of these photos were processed with my very own Lightroom presets! I have them available for FREE right now on my blog, as well as all the instructions for downloading and using! Head on over to the Lifestyle tab to check them out! (I haven’t announced those anywhere but here yet… you’re the first to know!! AH, HAPPY EDITING!)

xoxo,

Hayds

20 Things I Learned Before 20

Last weekend I turned 20. What a concept. In these two decades of life, I’d like to believe that I’ve learned a few things. I’ve been around the block a couple of times, and I feel like these are some of the keys life has offered me thus far. Whether they’re practical for you or not, I feel as though they’re things every twenty-something and above should at least hear.

20 Things I Learned Before 20

1. Comparison is the biggest thief of joy in the world.

Comparison doesn’t just tell us that we aren’t good enough in areas where we’re already insecure. It goes above and beyond, reminding us of out self-deprecating images and actually takes our pain a step further. Comparison takes what was once good enough or positive or joyful and corrupts it based on what we see in someone else. And our world is just plain full of this drug called comparison.

 

    2. Someone else having/being something doesn’t prevent you from having/being something too.

This one kind of goes with comparison. I remember realizing this when I was jealous of a friend of mine. People told us we looked alike, we acted alike, and she and I were interested in the same things. I remember though being so completely jealous of her- I thought she was way prettier, more talented and better in every way. I remember realizing that we were on a media team together and would be doing the exact same thing-taking photos and videos for an event- and finally being okay with it and not at all nervous. I was excited to use both of our skills together to create something beautiful. But it wasn’t until I was secure in myself and the way that Jesus loves me that I could actually look across the room at her and say to myself “there is space for both of us to be great”.

     3. It’s never to early to start tithing.

This is something my Momma has ingrained in my brain since I started working. That first 10% is all God’s asking for in your finances. I remember thinking that my $8 wasn’t helping anything when I brought home those first paychecks from Starbucks, but it does. It helps in obedience to God and training yourself to continue that act of obedience later on in life. Because 10% is always 10%- whether you’re making $80, $8,000 or $8,000,000.

     4. Late night car talks are where the truth comes out.

I’m not sure what it is about the car mixed with late nights that really brings peoples hearts out, but I do know that it absolutely does. Have those chats. Don’t be afraid to open up and get real with people.. that’s a great place to start.

     

     5. Learning how other people feel the most loved is the key to healthy relationships.

The “Love Languages” have gotten more popular recently (if you don’t know what this is, read more about it here). However, it can be really easy to recognize the way you personally feel the most loved and assume that everyone else also feels love in that way. For example, my love language is “Words of Affirmation”, but other people may not relate with words like I do. They may prefer acts of service or quality time. Because of this, showering them in words may be what I want, but it may not be as effective in making them feel valued.

 

    6. Sometimes, a nice long break from social media is necessary.

Dudes (dudes? okay.) this one is key. Seriously. Just take a break when you need to. Delete the apps and you’ll realize your fingers automatically drift to their normal location without a thought. It’s WILD. Another tip for this one is to just cleanse who you’re following. Get rid of those people you compare yourself to or don’t even know. Last week I did this and it just lifts a huge weight from your shoulders. I bet you tons of the people who you’re following aren’t necessary.

     7. It’s okay to not be okay.

This is one you never stop working on. I know I’m still working on it daily. But something  I am challenging myself to do is to actually check in with myself. Take charge of your mental health and recognize when you’re not alright. No-one knows your mind and body like you and God. So don’t let others tell you that you’re alright or to suck it up when you aren’t. Find help and help yourself.

 

     8. People relate way more to your brokenness than they do to “perfection”

Facades and smokescreens help no-one. No one relates to the fake image of perfection we try to portray and attempting it just feeds into the vicious cycle of lies that comparison is. This year has been one of the hardest of my life, and I’m going to start trying to open up more about the things I’ve been waking through on my blog for this very reason- openness.

     9. “Everyone is intelligent. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it’s stupid.”- Albert Einstein

This is one that I learned when I had the ability to do some student teaching for 2 years. From Kindergarteners to fifth graders I saw the same recurring themes- kids truly are smart when we allow them to be. We live in a world that is trying to simultaneously encourage people to be whatever they want to be but also squash out any ounce of creativity in the classroom. School is the root of education and we’ve got to encourage learning in our own ways. Whatever works for your brain is what’s right for you- we can’t fit everyone in a box of standardized testing!

     10. Rushed mornings make for tense days.

Legitness. I have never ever (ever in the history of ever) been a morning person. I love sleeping in and would absolutely sleep in until 12 if I could and stay up all night. Total night owl. But unfortunately, that’s not a lifestyle conducive for actually functioning in the real world. Because of this, I’ve learned that the days I allow myself to actually get up in the morning and take my time, my days are WAY less stressed out!

 

     11. Never underestimate the power of a good cry.

So many people think that crying is unhealthy or that it means your emotionally unstable. This is so false. Guys and girls both just need it at times. It’s a form of releasing everything that’s going on and creating space in your head that seems to just be filled with static. Seriously, you may need to try it.

     12. Sometimes you just need to take yourself on a date with Jesus.

Have you ever just spent a day chatting with your Heavenly Father like he’s your best friend? He wants to do that with you. He’s got lots to say and lots to teach you. Grab yourself some coffee, your Bible, and a journal and just sit with him. Do it in your sanctuary if you can- the place you feel the most connected to God. For me, that’s the beach, but for you, it may be anywhere else. Think about it, get there, and just connect.

     13. Organization relieves stress.

I’ve realized that a lot of times when I feel stressed, it is because I have a million and one things going on and I’m constantly forgetting them. This is where to-do lists and planners come in. They are straight up my holy grail products. When I plan out my days- sometimes even hour by hour- or at least make to-do lists, things get clearer. As soon as I commit to something, I have to write it down in my planner so that it doesn’t get lost in the folders of my brain. This lets it leave my mind and not be stressed about remembering it- it’s already written down.

     14. Learn what makes you feel the freest & do it.

The other day, a few friends and I spent the day at Busch Gardens. A few hours into the day it started to rain. And I mean torrential downpour. Everyone was standing under a covered area staying out of the rain, but I just couldn’t. I LOVE the rain. It makes me feel so carefree. And so, I stood out in the rain and danced by myself. Yes, everyone and their mother looked at me like I was a crazy person, standing out in the middle of a thunderstorm, but those are the moments you’ve got to just learn not to care. Find your freedom regardless of other people’s looks.

     15. You are enough.

The God who formed the stars calls you his own and made you too. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

      16. Adventures are always worth it

Go on those random road trips and midnight ice-cream runs and beach days. It will always be worth it to make the memories, embrace spontaneity and just go. Find the antique shops, take the scenic route, buy the plane ticket, grab your passport and go. Living in the moment is the way. 

     17. In a world where you can be anything, be kind.

Cliché? Maybe. But it’s so true. In a world where darkness runs rampant and oppression is fierce, kindness is valuable. It’s the salt in a tasteless world, the light in the darkness. The city on a hill. Your flame and your voice are crucial, and there is never enough kindness in the world. Until every person knows that they are valued and loved by God, there is not enough kindness in the world. Keep pouring more out.

   18. Embrace nostalgia.

Look back at photos, re-read your journals and reminisce on the days of the past. Re-reading journals is my favorite of these. It makes me remember the good times as well as see how far I’ve come from the hard times. I have journals from all the way back in elementary school that let me see all the growth so far in my life. I also keep all the things. Letters, cards, trinkets, old pressed flowers, pieces from the past. All of these things let me reminisce and appreciate all that life is.

     19. Humans screw up every day but you can always count on God.

He’s there for you. Always. Even when he feels distant, he’s there. Often times when he feels distant it’s a condition of our own hearts that is causing us to lose sight of him. If you feel as though you can’t hear Him speaking, go to the one place he is speaking 100% of the time, 24/7- His word. It’s full of God-breathed wisdom that is there to teach you more about His heart with every word. Humans are going to fail you, but God has got your back.

     20. When life feels chaotic and you don’t know where to start, clean.

There’s nothing that feels better than a clean space. We’ve always called it “going on the warpath”, but whatever you call it, it’s a great start. Decluttering your space causes your mind to feel decluttered as well. It brings peace and clarity. It also makes you feel (and be) productive, so that’s always a win.

Hopefully, these little bits of wisdom from my 20 years spoke to you in at least one way. I’ve got more ideas for fun new posts, as well as more vulnerable style posts coming very soon. Stay tuned y’all (:

xoxo,

Hayds

The Broken Record We Keep Playing

I think it’s safe to say that modern Christianity is full of clichés.

If we’re being honest with ourselves, these “Christian clichés” are even more prominent in our society than the hard truth that Christianity often brings. Right?

We take Bible verses out of context in order to make them more comfortable, we tiptoe around truths and walk on eggshells rather than defending the truth we say we’re firmly grounded in.

I’d argue the biggest of these is the idea that “everything happens for a reason”. Listen, friends. That is a load of crap.

Your friend, your loved one, your child did not die for “a reason”. You didn’t get cancer, get injured, lose your job, go bankrupt or experience domestic abuse because God was trying to teach you a lesson. Your child didn’t get caught up in addiction so that God could create a better parent out of you. Your parents didn’t get divorced because God knew the pain would make you stronger on the other side.

We tell ourselves “everything happens for a reason” in situations like these in order to justify the fact that God is all-knowing and all-powerful. This phrase is the broken record we as Christians seem to keep on playing, even though it’s detrimental to the way we view God.

Why?

To hold firmly to this chiché in these situations means we also believe that God orchestrated our current situation of pain.

And that, friends, is just plain false.

We cannot believe that we serve a God of everlasting love, bountiful affection and providence for us if we believe he wields tragedy in our lives in order to teach us. We are either believing one or the other, but simply can’t have both.

So then, as we search for the replacement to our favorite cliché, what answers remain?

What’s the “reason”?

The “reason” all these horrible things happen is that we live in a fallen world. A broken world, separated from the original vision of the Father. We live in a world of pain and frustration and fear and shame and violence- all things that are not of God. A world where sin has infected and twisted and tainted every part of God’s perfection. It corrupts hearts, fuels temptation and allows the wicked to prosper.

That’s your reason.

It’s not because God is small or petty or needs the help of wickedness in order to make His goodness known. There is a huge difference in his ability to create beauty from ashes and thinking he needs the ashes in the first place.

Jesus feels your pain right with you. He walked the earth with a fully human heart. He experienced sickness, brokenness, temptation, rejection, death, betrayal, starvation and fear. He wasn’t exempt from those things but was right there in the mess.

He chose the cross when he could have turned away. He pushed through the discomfort so that WE can know that there is more. So that we can know that the pain of this world is not where it stops.

He did it for you.

He never promised it would be easy because He experienced first hand that it wouldn’t be. He did, however, promise that we’d never have to do it alone. It’s hard. It sucks. But the good news is you’re not alone and neither am I.

Jesus is still in your boat with you. The storm will calm, the morning is coming.

In the meantime, start by finding some reasons to be happy. Find some. I promise there are lots. A favorite of mine is flowers. C’mon, they’re a physical representation of happiness. Not about it? Find yours. Leave them in the comments if you’re feelin’ it. Or don’t. You won’t hurt my feelings either way.

xoxo,

Hayds.

 

featured image by @ktnewms

Spiritual Retainers

My parents are not going to be proud of this statement, but I always forget to wear my retainers. I had braces for two and a half years, after many (many) years of sucking my thumb. Y’all. Until I was in the fifth grade. It was bad.

Anyways, the point is, I forget to wear my retainers all the time. Then, after a while of forgetting, I try to squish them back over my teeth. It works, but it’s kind of uncomfortable. In the time I wasn’t wearing the retainers, my teeth shift back to the position that’s most comfortable for them. When I put them back on, the retainers remember how my teeth should go, but they’ve got to pull them back into that position.

I feel like this is how we can be in our spiritual lives. Sometimes we go through periods of time where we’re not pressing in. Maybe we’re not reading our Bibles, or maybe we’re are, but it’s only to check a box and say we did. Maybe we’re wallowing in stress and anxiety instead of giving those things to God. We’re forgetting to wear our retainers folks.

For me, it’s my schedule. When there’s stress or things I want to avoid in my life, I fill my schedule with everything under the sun. I use activities, school, work, whatever the case may be, as distractions to avoid what I really should be focusing on.

Whatever the case may be, we’ve got to remember to put our retainers on. Without them, things move. Our minds and lives shift back to what’s in our nature- and frankly, just like our teeth, what’s comfortable and natural in our lives doesn’t look as good!

Braces are expensive. Retainers are expensive. Why? Because our smiles are valuable! I don’t know about you, but smiles are one of the first things I notice on someone. It’s something we want to pay personal attention to, because other people notice it. But as much as people notice smiles, they notice lives more- and our LIVES are far more valuable than our teeth.

We’ve got to put those retainers back on our lives! When we do that, we will see change. Maybe it’s uncomfortable, because it involves waking up a little bit earlier to spend time with Jesus before the day begins. Or maybe it’s reaching out to mend relationships you feel God’s calling you to mend. Maybe it’s being financially generous- who knows?! (Trick question, God does, and you should ask Him…. gotcha!!) But things WILL actually start shifting. Past the discomfort, life will look better (even when it’s hard), because it’s inline with God’s plan for you.

Let’s bust out those spiritual retainers people!!!!

xoxo,

Hayds

P.S.- for those of you out there who wear actual retainers, consider this your friendly reminder. You’ll thank me later. You’re welcome.

Guard Your Heart.

My heart for this Bible-based section of this blog is to take verses, the real stuff, and break it down. Now here’s a disclaimer to you all- I feel like I have to say this, though it should be common knowledge. I am not a theologian, a Bible scholar or an expert of any sorts (obviously). That being said, most of what I’ll say is information I’ve learned, gathered and/or personal “opinions”, if you will. My heart is also that people get involved! The Bible calls us to be in a community of fellow believers. So feel free to comment, add notes, ask questions, and certainly correct me if you feel like I’m wrong too! It’s learning for everyone. So let’s do it.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” Proverbs 4:23 [NIV]

So, what does that mean? Honestly. What does it mean to “guard your heart”? I feel like that is a phrase that is used often in the church- especially by older folks and authority figures giving direction to teenagers or young adults.

Well, let’s break it down.

“Above all else…”: First of all is the context. Above all else. Not when it’s convenient, not when you get around to it. Before any other thing, we are told to guard our hearts. Why? Because they are valuable.

“…guard your heart…”: Guards are put in place to protect something of value. There is no need to protect something that doesn’t have great worth! Think of it this way- what items do we keep in a safe? Maybe money, jewelry, important documents- but you wouldn’t put your grocery list or some old shoes in there. We only guard the things that are of the highest value.

But why does God say our hearts are valuable?

“…for everything you do flows from it.”: That’s just it folks. Everything we do comes directly from our hearts. Our hearts are the centers of our passions, our desires, and the things that make us who we are. The ESV translation says “for from it flows the spring of life”. Our hearts overflow with US. When we don’t protect them, it can contaminate that spring of life- the place that makes us who we are!

Our hearts are the home of all the love in our bodies. It’s the reason for our deepest desires, passions and feelings of intimacy. And since God is love (1 John 4:8), our hearts are the house of God in our bodies too. Which is why they can be common places of conflict with feelings. A center point for God, it makes our hearts a place Satan wants to attack mores than any other. This can cause feelings of Godly intimacy, Godly desires and Godly passions into worldly, flesh desires, passions, and intimacy if we are not careful.

Doesn’t that make sense? Y’all when I processed through this, it pretty much felt like striking gold. We know that in scripture, Satan tempts and attacks believers much more so than nonbelievers. Non believers aren’t a threat to him! After spiritual experiences is when we are most vulnerable—

And when Jesus had been baptized, just as He came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to Him and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is My Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the Devil. (Matthew 3:16-17, 4:1)

After this great spiritual encounter with God, is when Jesus was tempted! No wonder our hearts, as the center of God in our bodies, is the center of conflict!

So, how do we guard our hearts? Of course, there could be many many answers to this question. However, I’d say the basic answer is intimacy. Philippians 4:8 says “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things”. And that’s our answer! We press into everything good. We can read our Bibles, get to know the characteristics and personality of Christ. By pressing in to all the good, all the Jesus, in our hearts, we combat the enemy and guard our hearts!

So let me know what you’re thinking. For my Bible journaling gals (YEAH you know who you are, love y’all) here ya go! :’)

xoxo,

Hayds.

My Reasons for Returning.

Oh Cambodia. I remember leaving for the World Race completely and utterly terrified of the journey I was getting into, yet also extremely excited. When we discovered our ministry would be spending the day loving on children, I was ecstatic, but I never thought Cambodia would capture my heart the way that it did.

My month took place in a tiny town called Kampong Thom, Cambodia. Before we got there, we’d been told we were going to sleep on the floor of a room at the Shelter of Love Center– a children’s shelter that takes in children who are abandoned, or whose families couldn’t care for themselves. However, when we got there, they said they had a new little one staying in the room, so we found a new place to stay.

That little one was Lydia. The kids at the shelter stole my heart, but Lydia was one of my favorites. Many have heard Lydia’s story and followed it along since October 2016 when we met, but for those of you who haven’t-

When I met her, Lydia was nine months old and weighed less than 10 pounds. Her father is an alcoholic who abused both Lydia and her mother. A few months before, her mom ran away from her abusive husband, leaving little Lydia to fend for herself with her alcoholic dad. After a few weeks of being left with her dad who both abused and severely neglected her, neighbors from the surrounding area called the Shelter of Love Center, asking them to consider bringing the child in. Her father eventually agreed that he was unable to care for his daughter, and Lydia became a member of the SLC family. She has a lazy eye and scarring up and down her body due to physical abuse. She was strong enough to lift her head up, but she couldn’t sit up on her own. We later found out she has a severe heart condition. With the help of many connections and some of the best Cardiothoracic Surgeons in the United States, we were able to make more headway on her treatment. However, due to her size and the depth of the damage, all physicians, Cambodian and American, have deemed her conditions inoperable. Her size has continued to grow, and Lydia is doing well. These are pictures that show October 2016 versus August 2017- our little girl has gotten so big!

            

Lydia is just one of the little faces I fell in love with… Here’s some more just for you to love as much as I do!!! (Click on their names to see more of their stories, or see all the children and learn more about the Shelter of Love HERE!)

Minh (pronounced Maan)

Here I’m holding Minh again, but these twins are Champei and Champa!

Ratana (Minh’s sister!!)

Havilah

This summer, I have the awesome opportunity to lead a trip back to Cambodia with the help of my lovely friend, Katie Rhodes, to reconnect with these sweet ones again. Looking for anywhere to donate to this holiday season? Look no further because your girl is back on the fundraising train. Today I’ve launched the fundraising website for the Cambodia trip! the link is riiiight here.

Thank you all for your support of both myself and the Shelter of Love Center! Questions about the shelter or Cambodia? Interested in coming with me to Cambodia this July? Reach out and let me know!

xoxo,

Hayds

 

What I Learned Sleeping on the Concrete Floor

Every time I’ve sat down to write recently, 547 ideas pop into my head, I start writing eight different blogs, and eventually settle on option d): none of the above. I’d like to tell you that’s the reason I haven’t written a blog since February, although the additional reality is procrastination and I have never been very distant of acquaintances.

So, welcome back. 

About a month ago, my squad left Africa, and along with it, three of the hardest months of most of our lives. For my team, ministry was rough, the culture was uninviting, and a lot of the people we came into contact with on a daily basis were just plain rude to us. We had tons of sickness (and I mean TONS), safety issues and everything you could think of that could go wrong, did. 

It was a rough time.

In looking towards heading to Guatemala for the last three months of the Race, I kept feeling like “rest” was going to be a big word for the next season. It kept coming up over and over. 

Hmm. I really didn’t even know what that meant, but I sure was looking forward to it. So after three days of travel (including a short, four hour layover in the States), a weekend together as a squad, and a week with my Momma for our Parent Vision Trip, we headed to our ministry location. 

Our town, Pastores, in a nutshell, is about the size of Kellam High School, where the only possible activities include eating chocolate covered fruit (20 cents y’all- ground. breaking. stuff.) and frequenting one of the sixty (I repeat SIXTY) cowboy boot shops. Here, my natural habitat looks a lot like sitting on the floor eating cereal and warm milk out of a cup with a plastic fork.

Ministry here involves teaching English at a small school to kids from age 4 all the way up through to adults, and we live on the school’s campus. Cold showers and cement classroom floor are what we call home. That’s what you sign up for on the Race, but not exactly the image of “rest” I had in mind. The first few nights were rough: my sleeping pad was stolen in Africa, so I spent the first three nights sleeping on the concrete floor.

Now you’d think it would have hit me before- and to some extent it did, in bits and pieces- but it actually took sleeping on a concrete floor, freezing my butt off and getting sick again for it to get me in full. Y’all. I am SO blessed. I sat there the entire time thinking about the luxuries of the United States- things like beds, heaters, hot showers, tap water that won’t give you the runs, washing machines (and DRYERS for crying out loud). Those things seem almost outrageous. 

Rest seems a lot like it’s being redefined a bit. Of course coming out of the painful environment that was Africa as a whole was rest in and of itself, but it looks more like finding rest in God. It’s being 100% comfortable regardless of if it involves a bed or a concrete floor because they’re both EQUALLY counted as blessings.

Today, many people claim the American Dream is out of reach. That our country is crashing and burning because we live in a society that functions on entitlement instead of work. A society that believes everything should be handed to them in the snap of a finger.

Alright friends. Here’s the bottom line- America IS a Dream. A freaking DREAM. Things like towels and the ability to show my knees in public and having the option to eat food that isn’t rice or corn based porridge (and don’t even get me started on Chick-fil-a right now)- that’s an absolute FANTASY to most of the world.

I’ve learned recognizing this is the first step in counting the concrete floors in life as blessings. 

Today marks 49 days left on the Race. Dang. I even have a flight home booked now y’all. How crazy is that? I feel like I left for the race yesterday. I also feel like I haven’t seen the likes of Virginia Beach in 5 years. It’s a weird concept…

Love y’all,

Hayds

So, Six Azungus Walk Into a Bar…

The punch line to that joke is quite literally the entirety of what Africa has been thus far. Let’s just say Jesus has taught me how to do a whole lot of laughing this month.

For months 4, 5 and 6 of the race, my (NEW) team is in the capital city of Lilongwe here in Malawi. We live permanently at Mabuya Camp- a backpacking hostel. Besides serving as a place for weary travelers and passersby to rest their heads and eat a good meal, it’s most popular feature is the bar. No, we world racers are NOT drinking. However, it’s been a neat spot to live, considering we see new faces almost daily. While living at Mabuya, we’ve gotten the choice to not only talk with, encourage and share the gospel with tons of travelers from all over the world, but we’ve also been able to build relationships with the staff- mostly a mix of twenty-somethings from the UK and Malawian locals. And in return they teach us their party tricks, like how to pour shots to the rim with our eyes closed (we use water bottles y’all, but it’s still a party.) It’s a fair trade, honestly. It’s the kind of place that, amidst the never ending activity, streams of people and avid conversation, reminds you that ministry isn’t limited to the hours in a local village, a church, a pastor’s home or an orphanage. Life itself is ministry, and it happens wherever you allow it to.

From the moment we stepped off the plane during our layover in Nairobi, Kenya, I had a feeling that Africa was going to be special. Day one of ministry proved that even more. That day, the African experience that I’ve always pictured came to life instantly. With “Wrappas” (or sheets of fabric) tied around our waists as skirts, our team of six, plus locals & our host pastor, added to a grand total of 25 bodies inside of a 12 passenger van- only to struggle out roughly 10 minutes later and hop onto bicycle taxis (yes, you read correctly. We sat on the backs of bicycles while people pedaled us through the town…)

A quick lesson in Chichewa, the local language of Malawi. A “Mazungu” is a white person, “Azungu” means several white people.

(Get it? Six white people walk into a bar? I think I’m funny, it’s fine…)

As we rode through the village on the back of bicycles to get to our first host church, I couldn’t help but feel like the Queen of England- or at least some one else of similar caliber. No joke- people would turn heads, stare, and run out of their houses, as the word “azungu” seemed to be the only word the entire town could remember.

“Hey look, the white people are in town!” “Look! White people!” The whole nine yards… Not to mention the adorable kids running outside to wave, give high fives, and even follow us door to door throughout the day.

Moments like those remind me of the visions I had in my head of what life would look like when I signed up for the Race. Villages of people excited that we were in town, ready to listen to the Gospel and hear what the Lord has to say. Bunches of kids to play with and teach Bible stories to. But the reality is, Africa hasn’t been filled with that. Because like the rest of the world, Africa is broken. So naturally, life is broken and painful too.

I haven’t written a blog since I got to Africa, because for a while, I didn’t think people wanted to read about the hard stuff. Impressive testimonies of faith, miraculous healing and, well, “the warm heart of Africa”. No-one wanted to read about the time I got Salmonella and E. Coli (yes, at the same time), the time my team was sexually harassed at the Malawi vs China futbol game, about how I broke out into hives, how we were 3 hours from home with intoxicated drivers & had to drive/ navigate a mini bus home on our own (driving on the opposite side of the road), or how ministry was really, really (REALLY) hard.

But recently, I’ve realized that sunshine and rainbows isn’t at all what it’s about. If I’m not mistaken, I think that people want candor more than anything. People genuinely want to know the details of the race- the good and the bad. And the hard truth is, not every moment of the World Race is easy, comfortable and feel-good. Actually, a good chunk of it is HARD. REALLY HARD.

For the past month and a half, I’ve wrestled with purpose- specifically the Lord’s purpose for myself and my team in Malawi at all. We’ve had bad experience after bad experience, life threatening situation after just plain discomfort. Why? Why was this a season of so much pain? Not only have we struggled with these experiences (sickness, etc.) outside of ministry, but our scheduled day to day activities were up to the same, seemingly impossible, par. We’ve partnered with pastors who don’t understand the purpose or process of evangelism. We’ve met folks with a “turn or burn outlook”, and others that believe once you say the right things or pray the right prayers, it doesn’t matter how you live your life, or even if you understand the prayer you’re praying, you’re into heaven just like that. Others, unfortunately, are just plain rude and disrespectful. How, as Christian missionaries, do we go along with these things? How do we feel like we are actually making a difference when the truths that we know and try to speak out are disregarded for a different, and wrong, method of preaching the word of Jesus like we’re called to do?

The answer is- we try. We try to communicate to the best of our abilities. We show love through actions, which we can control, versus words that are so easily lost in translation, neglected, or even just forgotten. We pray. We pray as we head from door to door and we intercede, because sometimes, that’s the best we can do for the broken world we live in.

Back in Nicaragua a few years ago, I was told something that I remind myself daily here in Malawi.

“We Americans can’t change Nicaragua. Nicaraguans have to change Nicaragua.”

We can help, but we’re not the cause of that change. All we can do is come alongside and help facilitate. We teach the men how to fish, we don’t do it for them.

So yeah. Six white girls walked into a bar, and it was only the beginning. But we keep on doing the things, living the life, and praying for hope in a country that desperately needs it.

Love y’all, mean it!! See you real soon!! (4 MONTHS!!!),

Hayds.

Taken from my original blog, haydenschwarting.theworldrace.org