Dreams

When did we stop dreaming?

I was in Barnes and Nobles the other day, sitting in the magazine section, looking through some bridal magazines. (What happened to bridal gowns is another topic all together. Yeesh!) And I overheard some kids talking. High schoolers.

When I get older, I'm going to....

How many times did we say that when we were younger, and really believed everything we said. And how much of it did we really make come true? When did we stop believing we could?

I find that much of a person's inner beauty, or beauty at all, lies in their dreams. What do you dream to do? Your dreams say a lot about you. What do your dreams say about you? Do you even dream anymore?

We should dream. We should never settle for less than what we know we can achieve. We only live this life once. So let's LIVE it.

At the end of my life, whenever that may be, perhaps I will look back and think "Wow, did I learn the hard way." But you know what? I'd rather say that, than look back and say "I wonder if I could have...".

Let's take a tip from the youngsters. Let's dream. Dreaming is a beautiful thing. Let your beauty shine.

God Bless, and my apologies for not posting more often. I will do that! <3

The You Inside

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Hello again!

I am blessed to own a copy of the NIV Women's Devotional Bible, Classic Edition. I absolutely love this devotional Bible and am always inspired by the devotionals and wisdom it carries. Please allow me to share this one with you, as I think we have all been there, we all know the feeling, and it's a message we should all hear:

Clamor Girl

by Mab Graff Hoover

OH, to be chic and glamorous! I have this dream where I swoop into a room, head held high, stomach in, flawlessly attired, and not a hair out of place. Women seethe with envy, gentlemen leap to their feet and offer a chair, and I, like Princess Grace, smile regally, then sit down with knees together and slender feet crossed at the ankles. My gown is the latest fashion, spotless and wrinkle-free. When I speak, my voice is soft but sure, and I do not stammer or hesitate.

I try to make this dream a reality. And while I probably could never be considered glamorous, at least I try to have my hair fixed nd have on clean clothes when I go out. But somehow, I always manage to arrive looking like a pup who has been playing in the rain.

Last night we went to the business meeting at church, and it began to rain. By the time we got there, all the good parking places were taken and we had to walk quite a way. I had on my best whtie slacks, too. It would be understandable to get a few little mud spots on the bottoms, but when we entered the brightly lit room I discovered I had a big muddy smear on my stomach.

"Let it dry," my husband advised. "Then you can brush it off."

I had to give my report before it dried. I knew everyone was looking at the mud, so I kept trying to hold pages over it, and I dropped some. When I bent down to pick them up, I bumped heads wiht the moderator who had bent down to help me.

"Does my girl feel grumpy?" my husabnd asked at breakfast the next day.

I groaned.

"How can you love anybody who is so sloppy-so-overweight - s0 - klutzy!" I stormed.

"It's hard." He nodded with a grin.

When I began to cry he hugged me.

"If I was all rolled up in bandages," he said, "And you cuoldn't see me, would you still love me?"

"Of course," I snapped. "It would still be you inside."

"Guess that answers your question." He kissed me. "I love the you inside."

This wonderful passage can be found on page 293 if you have the Bible, or if you plan on purchasing one.

I was blessed by this writing, and I think it's really true.

Who we are on the inside is the light we bring to the world, not the glow of fabrics or jewels. (Says the jeweler). You know what I mean, though. ;) I make jewelry but I would never want someone to base their worth on owning something that has certain monetary value. Value comes from what you're made of, not what you look like. Fine glass can look very much like a AAA London Blue Topaz, but it's not worth what a Topaz is, because it's made of far less quality materials. It only appears to be like a Topaz. But that AAA quality London Blue Topaz is made from highly valuable materials that make it valuable.

In our society today, valuable materials when it comes to human beings are the beliefs we hold, the way we treat others, and the life we live. Whether you're in high fashion or hand-me-downs, it doesn't matter.

I have some Biblical Inspiration for the day:

1 Samuel 16:7

'But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." '

1 Peter 3:3-4

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. (4) Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

Thank you so much for reading, for following, and for taking an interest in this blog. I'll be back tomorrow with some new morsels of wisdom, scriptural inspiration, fashionable items, and fun!

God Bless!

Let Your Inner Beauty Shine

Welcome to my blog!!!

I hope that women will find encouragement, strength, and unity here in this blog. I find it so sad, the images that are sent to women and young girls every single day. Sexy commercials, scantily clad women with guns on a mission keeping up with the guys, pornographic images, and beauty ads as far as the eye can see. How can we escape it?

As grown women, we may already know that these false, fantastical, air brushed images are not real life. They are not unique. Any woman, it seems, who wants to dress scantily, starve themselves, and pooch their lips at the camera can find some sort of fame.

The problem, though, is that these are the images of "beauty" that are being broadcast to our youth. Every young girl wants to look like this person, or look like that singer, or dress like that actress. A wonderful book I highly recommend entitled The Disappearance of Childhood makes a great point...you really can't even tell the difference between adult clothing and outfits found in the "girls" section. They may have different themes, different designs, different colors, but in a large majority of cases, these outfits meant for young girls look like miniaturized versions of adult clothing.

It's sad, and it's a problem, that our girls are being told that if they're not stick thin in a short skirt wearing xyz Cosmetics and baring at least half of their breasts they aren't pretty.

This is a Christian blog, and I hope to use Biblical inspiration and encouragement to bring our youth back to the understanding of how they were created: in God's image.

Now bear with me...I'm in no way suggesting we all live our lives in turtlenecks and jeans. Fashion is wonderful. Shopping is sometimes the most fun a girl can have! Give me a cup of coffee and a paycheck, add a 50% off sale, and mall here we come!

However, there are many ways you can be fashionable, modest, and let your INNER beauty shine!

Here's my morsel of thought for the day: Girls, I know sometimes people want you to think that your body is your beauty. But let me put some food for thought to your mind. As you age, your body will not be the same. I guarantee you even the best looking 70 year old does NOT look like Angelina Jolie does in a bathing suit. When you date, you are basically looking for the man you want to spend your life with. If you're selling him your body, which will eventually change from your youthful beautiful appearance into a more mature version of yourself, what will be left when you do start to age? What, then, will he "love" you for? But ladies, if you let a man see your INNER beauty, your personality, your wit, your funny jokes, the way your nose crinkles when you laugh, your kindness, whatever it is that makes you so wonderful and loveable...those things won't go away. And when every nick name for every bodily imperfection suddenly applies, you can both laugh at it, and still be in love for what you saw in each other to begin with.

Biblical Inspiration: Genesis 1:3 reminds us that both man and woman were created in God's image. Imagine that! What an awesome thought that you were created in the perfect image of God. If you put together what man and woman first were in the Garden of Eden before sin entered the world, and you combine them, you may begin to see the amazing qualities of our wonderful God. Women were not an afterthought with God. We were purposefully created to be in His image and counterparts and support to the men we eventually marry. Your love, your grace, your kindness, your understanding, your humor, your spirit...these are the things that a man worthy of calling you his wife should be in love with you for. Not how you look in Victoria's Secret's latest bikini.

I hope this intro to my blog shows you a little of where I'm coming from and what you can find in the future. I write about a lot about our culture and how women can be a Godly light in it, but I also feature sales, clothing that is cute but modest, recipes (just for fun!), and other girly tid bits along the way.

God Bless you all, and remember to let your INNER light shine! <3