As the sand of the sea.

I just spent the most magical 10 days in Hawaii. 

I could go on for hours about the waterfall we hiked, the ruins we visited, the incredible food we ate, and the places we explored, but honestly the most amazing thing I experienced was when I was sitting on the beach, watching waves crash around me. 

I'd been talking to one of my best friends about the reality of how quickly life was coming at us, and I was feeling more than a little bit overwhelmed with everything that was going to be happening in the next 55 days. 

Rather than dealing with it in an adult fashion, I turned off my phone and sat on the beach watching the water and squishing sand between my fingers and toes and tried to think about anything other than reality. 

It's easy to get lost in your thoughts when you're listening to the waves, and the ocean has always been something awe-inspiring to me. 

Genesis 32:12 came to mind, and provided a much needed change of thought. 

"And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude."

Do me a favor, and just try to think about that for a second. 

Think about how many grains of sand fit into a single handful, or on a single beach, and then process just how much sand there is around this Earth. 

Makes you feel pretty small, doesn't it? 

Then start to think about all the hundreds of times we've heard how individually and completely we are loved and try to wrap your head around loving more people than there are grains of sands or stars in the sky that much. 

Pretty freaking incredible, if you ask me. 

So yes. I could go on for hours about the things we did and the pictures we took, or the food we ate. But instead, I'm going to think a little bit longer about how incredible this world we've been given is, and how immensely we are blessed and loved, because there's more wonder in that knowledge than I could ever put into words. 

[if you've got 20 minutes to spare, listen to this. When things get overwhelming, it's the perfect reminder that you're not alone--and who doesn't need that sometimes?]

#InternationalWomensDay

Real quick, I'm not some ultra feminist. I don't think that men are overbearing [usually], and I don't want [all of] the responsibilities society has given them. Honestly, I think that a lot of the so-called feminist movement is entirely out of hand and people have lost sight of their original purpose. 

That's not to say I don't think women are pretty freaking incredible and celebrating us is something I can totally get behind. 

I think it's important to celebrate women because we're pretty cool, not because we're better than men. 

And most importantly, because I think the important women in my life need to be recognized. 

Like my mom, for standing behind me in everything I do even when I want to stand on my own. 

Or my grandma, for being my biggest hero. 

My sisters,  for being both my role models and the reason behind me trying to be better every day. 

My aunts, for being some of my biggest influences.

My best friends for testing me, loving me, and making it through life with me. 

Strong women are important because they can make or break a person, and I'm so glad the ones I know have made me into the person I am today.

"Here's to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them."