Dear me,

Here is a letter to my 16 year old self

Lulu, (I have a pet name for myself)

You are about to have your heart broken. And it will

feel unbearable. It really will.

But breathing will persist. And you will be better for the pain.

Your dad is going to sit on the end of your bed and cry with you. Let him.

He will be your best friend someday. And when he walks you down the aisle, you will embrace him and whisper "I loved you first"

You go to great lengths to never be seen in glasses, one day you won't care.

You'll find yourself looking in the mirror and not recognizing yourself without frames upon your face.

All of those baby names you have written down in that journal, just cross them out. You won't use any of them.

The ache you have to pretend you are other people will never ever leave you. At least not yet, and I hope it never leaves us because it is such a big part of who we are.

Go to college. Just do it.

Or maybe not, because instead you meet the man of your dreams.

So tell yourself you will go later. And move to New York. But take pictures, and live.

And start dreaming now of being a mommy to boys. They will be your everything.

You will still hate your thighs, but actually come to love being the color of milk.

God is faithful. Wrap your heart up with him, and you will be just fine always. Even if you do have to cry sometimes.