Another face?

              Going to a larger Christian school, I sometimes find it hard not to be just another face in the crowd. I honestly don't want to simply blend in. I'm not someone who has to be the center of the attention, but I still want to be known for originality. Its really quite hard. My school is absolutely amazing along with every single person in it. Its just sometimes I feel, that I'm.... boring. too serious. not exciting. And...


Just... nice. A "nice" girl. There's nothing wrong with that. Its just I wish that I was a bit more unique than "nice." Am I the only one who feels this way? I would like to be all those things I write about... winsome, enchanting, captivating, mysterious, the list goes on....
           Yet when I feel this way, He reminds me... There is no one like me. I am special in His sight. I am loved and cherished and adored by the Lord of all. I absolutely love the video below it basically sums up my testimony, a life of slavery towards striving for perfection and being accepted until one day I realized that God was revealing to me all along that I... am free.


http://vimeo.com/17039126 <--------- please watch.

A week of dresses.

                 This is certainly not a fashion blog, however I do like to integrate my taste in my writing so, I am going to share with you something, I have never told anyone this. Okay... get ready... If I could, I would wear dresses every day. I absolutely love the feminine feeling of wearing them. I like the fact that when I put on a dress, I feel like a lady. I just want to twirl around in dresses all day long. Okay, so I don't live in a story book but, I just wish that girls today dressed as well as they did in the 50's. I wish we spent time to wear dresses and skirts. Obviously, I live in 2011 and my wardrobe basically consists mainly of jeans and ruffled tank-tops, maybe a few skirts or so... very few dresses unfortunately. However, if I had the money and time, I would just wear dresses. So below are the 7 dresses I would choose if I had 1 week to wear only dresses.

1. Sunday 


            Okay, so this dress is white and lacey, perfect for a Sunday. I've always thought that white is the color to wear on Sundays. You need something with a feminine touch (the lace accounts for this) and then the white to tie it into the the purity of the day. Unfortunately, as I've grown older I've found it hard to wear dresses on Sundays, but this dress is absolutely gorgeous. So white. On a Sunday. I think yes.

2. Monday


            Mondays. Don't we all love them? Of course not! On Monday it is absolutely important to wear a dress that you are comfortable in. Something more casual and cute. Most people come back from the weekend in drab clothing just hoping to get through their Mondays. If it were me, I'd were something to catch their eye. Navy stripes on the top and bright red bowed skirt on the bottom. Beachy with a hint of pretty.

3. Tuesday


              Tuesdays. The week has just started to get going. Today its all about work. Now when I'm older, I'd like to be a teacher. Unfortunately some teachers think that denim floor-length jumpers are in style. Maybe in the 90's? This modern dress has a denim look to it, yet is sophisticated with ruffles. Basically it remodels the elementary teacher look. Plus the thin leather belt also gives you and hour-glass shape. Who wouldn't want that?

4. Wednesday


               Now we're mid-week. Typically I head straight from school to church, so the dress I choose today has to be able to easily able to be dressed up. With these specifications I've decided this dress works quite well. Its bright and beautiful, sweet and romantic, and pulled together with a a comfortable fit. Floral skirted bottom and white slightly ruffled top. Everything about this dress screams girly. 

5. Thursday


            Thursdays. I think that besides Mondays, these days are the worst days of the entire week. Why? Well, you've already been going to work/school for 4 days now and its not even Friday! Most people wear frumpy clothes on Thursdays. So, today is a day to dress cleanly. I've chosen a pearl colored dress for this day. I absolutely love this. Its petite top and fan-like bottom is so cute. Perfect with a cardigan and a pair of brightly colored flats.  

6. Friday


           I think this dress looks like one right out of a Tiffany's store. The color. The style. The bow. I love everything about this dress. Out of all 7 dresses, this is my favorite. Of course, we save the best for Friday. My favorite day of the week. This dress is also very versatile. You can wear it out even after work or school. I can just picture myself in this dress on my first date, having lunch under a tree in the park, chatting about everything under the sun... okay maybe I'm getting a bit carried away here. But I honestly adore this dress. So cute.

7. Saturday


        Saturdays are always more casual. I've chose a fun ruffled salmon-colored dress for this day. It goes well with my skin tone and of course I've always loved ruffles so nothing's wrong with this dress. Lovely dress. Pair it with some strapped sandals and a messenger bag... sounds like a dress to go shopping in.

173 days.

       
              On September 17, my church put on a young woman's conference called the JANE event. It was all about defining who we as young women are in Christ. Our day consisted of for main sessions and 2 break-outs, and lunch/ cookies refreshments. The day was amazing. All girls. No pressure. Just a day to take in all the honest truths of who we are. One of the break-outs I visited was called "Like-Minded - finding your other half." I took these 3 things away from it:

    1. Guard you heart (Proverbs 4:23)

    2. Do not awaken love until it so desires (Song of Solomon 8:4)

    3. Walk in purity (Proverbs 31)

             At the end of this session, the main leader challenged us girls to take a break from pursuing romantic relationships with guys and pursue our relationship with God further instead (for 6 months to a year). After she said this first, I thought "this is possible, I've never really dealt with romantic relationships with guys anyways, so no problem!" Then I thought, "What if I take this vow for 6 months and a guy finally starts to pursue and like me? I don't know what I would do..."  In either situation, I must admit I will really need God's strength. 
            I want to keep my vow to Him, so that means no dates for homecoming, no small crushes, nothing. But in a way, I'm actually excited. I'm excited to enjoy the next 6 months pursuing a strong relationship with Christ and my friends and even getting ahead in school. Sounds extremely boring you may say. Well, life's not always exuberantly fascinating, but its being happy with the little things that make it so fun. So here I start my journey. 173 more days to go.

To be... adventurous

              

                 I know that sometimes I wish life was more adventurous. Its true, wouldn't life be much more exciting with more adventure along the way? Adventure is what is the heart of all life. The greatest adventure there is to live begins with simple acceptance. Accepting Christ. Many put this down, they say that those who accept Christ live a "boring" or "protected" life, but in all actuality Christianity is what true adventure is all about. 

                 Is rebellion adventure? I do believe so, that's what gets our hearts racing and our blood pumping. Christianity is not a religion (yes, its a relationship...) but more than that, it is a rebellion against the world and its standards. Anyone can trash a hotel room and get drunk, but Christianity, now that's true rebellion. And thus, it is adventure. It makes your heart race sometimes. It is the most exciting journey you could ever take. Because God is always faithful, but excitingly unpredictable at times.

To be... romanced.

                    We not only long to be lovely, but we also long to romanced. We long to be cared for even to our core. To be loved and romanced for who we truly are at heart. We want someone to come along and sweep us off our feet. To take us up in a hot air balloon or simply to a day at the zoo. We want another to care for us in a deep way. But what we should also never forget is the greatest form of love shown to us. By the Creator of the universe. He reached out to us and showed us unfathomable love. He has romanced us. And he will never let us down. He is the true romancer.

To be... lovely.

               

                We all long to be viewed as...lovely, to be beautiful. Isn't that the desire of a woman? And what we absolutely hate is indifference or apathy. We long to be desired and noticed. We dream of things like descending a spiral staircase in a long flowing dress, and then stunning a crowd below. However, we don't only want others to see an outward beauty, but we also want them to view us because we are beautiful at heart. To have a heart that radiates loveliness and beauty onto those around us. That, is to be...lovely. 

We remember.

                10 years ago, I was sitting in my first grade classroom. It seemed like any other day. We went to lunch, played at recess, came back and practiced our reading... then a phone call from the office changed everything. My teacher explained to us with as much calmness as she could acquire that in a city far away, 2 planes had hit to large towers and that many people had died. That day, I wasn't allowed to watch the television and I didn't really comprehend the entire situation, but I knew something was wrong.
               Now as I look back, I understand. Yesterday, for the first time I watched the attack on our World Trade Center that happened ten years ago on September 11, 2001. As I watched, I saw the pain and terror of the Americans as they tried to run for cover when the South tower started to collapse. I saw mothers running with their strollers while smoke and fire flashed through the sky. And my heart broke. A little less than 3,000 souls were lost that day. What struck me hard was this, in war we attack each other's armies, who can defend themselves, but those terrorists attacked innocent civilians, who could not defend. Our attackers tried to steal the American pride that was strongly upheld in our large cities. Yet they did not succeed. Though many were killed, the weeks and months that followed this tragedy brought the American people together. Countless people risked and lost their lives for others that day. American heroes were brought about even from the rubble.
               Today, I remember all those who were lost and who gave their lives up for their fellow citizens. I hope we remember their courage.I hope we also will remember that even after this horrific event, our nation once again was the United States of America. We were one unified people. After that day, we were changed. We gathered and prayed together, despite our differences. We were one. So now, let us move forward with courage, yet never forget those who died that day. And let us always remember that He was still there with us through it all.

A bit bored.

               

                I'm admitting this. Right now as I write this I'm kind of bored. Not with blogging, but in general this school-year has been basically drama-free. Such a blessing, but its just been a little "uneventful" lately. You know those days where life's so stressful and you just need time to think about things? I haven't had one of those in a while, and you might wondering why I'd want that, but I honestly have nothing to think about. I lay in bed at night and there's no questions running through my head, no confusion, nothing. Its a blessing in so many ways, also considering the past summer I've had, but still I still long for those adventurous times. I never like the slow parts in life. I know life's a marathon, not a sprint, yet there are times when its just slow and routine. I'm sure you can agree with this sometimes. I'm not one of those girls who thrive off gossip and school drama. I'm not "boy crazy" either. But there are still times in my life when life gets eventful and exciting. Right now is not one of those times. 

                In many ways, it surprises me how much I long for those "riveting" moments in life. Until now, I never really realized how much I love adventure. The thought of being stuck in a situation, and then solving the dilemma, becoming a hero...  it sounds in many ways sounds very appealing! God created us to long for adventure. Yes, even us girls! God has set the desire of adventure in our hearts. 

"Eve is standing right there when God gives the world over to us(human kind). She has a vital role to play; she is partner in this great adventure. All that human beings were intended to do here on earth- all the creativity and exploration, all the battle and rescue and nurture- we were intended to do together. In fact, not only is Eve needed, but she is desperately needed." ~Captivating

                   God created us to be needed in a great adventure. I forget that. I forget I'm needed. I forget I'm in an adventure. Because let's be honest, life can get a bit repetitive at times. Still, I'm pressing on, praying for something eventful to happen. I let you all know if my life takes an exciting twist, but for now, its just a bit slow, good, but slow.

Can you breath?

                   Some scenes seem to be right out of an storybook. They take your breath away. This is one of them. The sparkling water. The small Italian town. Boats floating out in the azure water. Cliffs, sunshine, rolling hills... beauty. Some days I dream myself into a beautiful place somewhere far away. Nothing's wrong there, only beauty and love exist. Adventure is around every turn. The sun does not always shine, yet when it does rain, there's always a rainbow out. Nights are filled with auroras, and the sunrises and sunsets there are beyond anything you've ever seen. Slight breezes are off the bay and the smell of jasmine always fills the air. In the evenings crickets sing sweet symphonies. In the mornings birds chirp soothing songs and awake the sleepy town with their beautiful melodies. And of course, what would a beautiful town be without those you love in it?
                    In this town there's my family, and friends, and loved ones. And of course, what's a dream without the love of your life? I haven't found mine yet. Yet here, he waits for me. I can't see his face, I only can feel his strength and love. Then I realize, its not his love and strength that calms me as I wait for him, yet its the Lord's love. He romances me with His endearment while I wait for the one that will one day come and sweep me off my feet. But even though, this place is what many may call a "happy place" and does not exist, the love and strength that I dream of, does also exist in reality. God sends it to me each and every day. 


Dreams don't always come true, let's be real, yet God's love is better than any dream... and its a reality.

Bicycles.

I just love them. Bicycles. Aren't they amazing. Here you are, riding your bicycle all through town, running errands and throwing groceries into the basket on the front. Or how about renting a bike and riding around an island all the while being such a tourist in your sun hat and beach dress. Or how about riding to the park for a picnic lunch? In any case, for some reason the idea of bicycles have always fascinated me. I also love those cute couples that take their wedding/engagement photos on the back red bicycles. So cute. So classy. So me.

Bicycles have also been a statement of fashion with a "vintage" touch. You see them in countless photo shoots, magazines, & old movies. Want to make a statement? Grab a bike.