Project 31 Day 15: Encouragement

Day 15.  Write to encourage a friend.  Inspire her beauty.

Well hello blogging world.  I know, I know I have been absent.  To be honest, I have just not been feeling very creative lately.  The words don't flow, the ideas don't come easily, and so here I am, post-less.  As a way to start back into blogging I am going back to a trusty friend, Project 31.  I kind of put Project 31 on the back burner and I really want to finish it.  I truly believe that writing about beauty, in its truest sense is so crucial for young women.  Working with middle school girls, I see the demented idea of beauty that flows into these girls' eyes and heart.  I also wholeheartedly believe that we as women need to encourage one another.  I have not always had friends that poured into me and encouraged me, but I do not want to carry that into my current relationships.  I love this topic of encouragement.  I truly feel it is one of my spiritual gifts and I want to serve as a source of encouragement for young women, older women, and women my age.  I not only want to pour out encouragement, but I need to receive it as well.  

When I read this topic "encourage a friend" I didn't think of a friend, but I thought of another young woman in my life who I would love to encourage, my sister-in-law, Brittany.  She is six years younger than me, but I am so proud of her.  She just finished her first year of college and I can see the amazingly beautiful young woman she is becoming.  She is not only beautiful on the outside, but equally lovely on the inside.  She is fun, loving, and a beautiful example as a young woman.  She is sold out for Christ and I have seen her grow in her faith tremendously since we came into each others' lives.  She has managed to find a pod of faith filled people on a college campus full of temptation and opinions.  Her faith radiates and I know the Lord has amazing things in store for her.  I am so blessed to have her as a sister in my life and as a sister in Christ.  

I pray that each of us, as women, can reach out and encourage someone this week.  We are bombarded with expectations on what beauty looks like, how beauty feels, and the definition of a beautiful woman.  I hope that we can see beauty on an individual basis and when we see something that screams beauty that we won't hesitate to point it out and use our words to encourage another woman.  You and I both know we could all use words of encouragement, so be the one overflowing with encouragement and I promise you will be refilled.     

Adventures

Phew!  We have been so busy these past few weeks.  Between moving out sisters from college, graduations, and weddings, we have been all over the Carolinas.  Starting in Raleigh, we went to move out Brandon's little sister from her first year of college.  While we were there we got to have a quick lunch with one of our good friends from college.  Going up and back in a day is tiring, but we got it done.  

The following weekend we headed out to Wilmington to see my baby sister graduate from college.  We are so so so proud of her.  It was a great weekend spent with family on the shore.  We stayed in Carolina Beach and it was so relaxing.  We took Piper and my parents' dog Izzy with us.  It was Piper's first time at the beach and she had so much fun!  We even took her off the leash and played ball on the beach.  She was precious!

This past weekend we headed to Edisto Island to see Brandon's cousin, Anna, get married.  It was a great weekend spent with family.  Edisto is so peaceful and beautiful.  The wedding was so fun.

We finally get a weekend at home after three weeks of traveling.  I have had a blast and wouldn't change a thing!

Help Us Fight Back

It is not my style to ask for money, but in this case I am okay with it.  Next week, Brandon and I will be participating in Relay for Life to support a dear family friend who is battling cancer.  His daughter is one of my lifelong friends and she is also an Oncology Nurse at a local hospital, so this cause is near and dear to her heart.  As many of you know, my grandmother also passed away from cancer when I was 11.  She was my life's greatest influence.  Cancer touches everyone in one way or another and if I can take a small step towards helping fight the fight I will do so.  If you would be willing to sponsor me in this journey I would be so grateful.  Even a tiny donation will help.  Click HERE to give on my behalf.  Thank you so much!!!

Be Still

The daily routine, the hustle bustle, the grind, whatever you want to call it, we all get stuck in it.  We move with the flow through the demands of every day life and often do not take time to be still.  This past weekend I was able to take time and be still.  We traveled to Wilmington to see my little sister graduate from college.  We are so proud of her, but that will be another post.  Since her graduation was on Friday, we had all day Saturday to spend on the beach.  While sitting on the balcony watching the waves lap up on the shore, I realized just how blessed I am.  To be still and know that the Lord created this scene, that He is continually working on my behalf, to just be in His creation with the ones I love beside me was refreshing.  I realized I have the mobility to be able to go for a run on the beach, I have the resources to travel, an amazing family, a beautiful puppy, and little to complain about.  The joys in life quickly overwhelm all of the negatives if we will just be still and take time to point them out to ourselves.   So friends, take a few minute this week and pinpoint the joys in life.  I promise it will refresh your soul.     

Prom Link Up

In honor of prom season 2012 I decided to join in on Tamara's prom link up.  Prom was so much fun!  I love getting dressed up, getting my hair and makeup done. My junior year I went with a bunch of my girlfriends and we had a blast.  That year, Prom was on a Friday night...yuck! and I was on the Junior Board, so we spent the whole night before (after I played a double header softball game) setting up.  Needless to say, I was exhausted, but still it was so fun!  

Senior year is when Brandon and I started dating.  I can't believe that Brandon and I actually got to share that experience together.  Most couples can't say they went to prom together and are married today.  Our prom story actually played a part in our proposal, which you can read HERE.  It's such a sweet memory!  So here ya go, a blast from the past. 

Junior Prom- 2004

I got that dress for $16, yes 16

It's ladies night!

Senior Prom- 2005

Man, I wish I still had that figure.  You don't know how good you had it til it's gone!

 

 So now it's your turn!  Go link up at T Times Three and show us those prom goodies!

Being Content

Being content.  This is an area in my life where God is working on me.  You know how sometimes you realize an area of weakness in your life?  Well, I have had that realization lately.  I'm a very driven person.  I like to move forward, always looking ahead.  This is a good trait, but it can also be detrimental.  Propelling yourself forward can have benefits.  It can help you elevate your career, reach goals, and grow personally and spiritually; however, it can also cause discontent in life.  When I become so focused on the next thing I can become blind to the multitude of blessings the Lord has placed in front of my face.  For instance, I think about moving somewhere different or getting a second dog or buying a new car and on and on it goes.  You see what I mean?  I no longer give thanks  for my wonderful life, but instead of become discouraged and frustrated with my current status.  

I think about a sermon I heard by Christine Caine called Embrace Your Place.  God has placed each of us in a certain set of circumstances through which He intends to move through.  The only problem is, we as idiots, get bored and grow restless.  When I grow restless I become negative and complain instead of giving praise.  When I look around I see an amazing husband and family, an adorable dog that steals my heart, a perfect job, an emerging new group of friends, the Lord's provision abounds.  I do not notice.  I want to learn to embrace my place, to see the abundant amount of blessing that surrounds because this is the place the Lord has given me and I will be content with that.      

 

Liebster

I am so excited and grateful to share that I have been chosen to receive the Liebster Award.  My sweet friend Megan over at and today was a fairy tale chose to share this award with me.  I have found such a niche with blogging, especially being able to meet such beautiful women who I would never have the opportunity to meet otherwise.  Megan is one of the first bloggers that I connected with.  Her blog is so full of passion and her faith always shines through.  Plus, she lives in Florida near the beach which is pretty awesome and totally my lifelong dream :).  I love being able to share my life with you all, as small as it may be.  Being able to have this space and to receive daily encouragement is a complete blessing in my life.  So without further ado here is all the information you need to know about the Liebster award.  

1. choose five up and coming blogs to give the award to. blogs must have less than 200 followers.
2. show your thanks to the blogger who gave the award to you by linking back to their page.
3. post the award on your blog.
4. list the bloggers you gave the award to with links to their blogs, and leave a comment on their blogs to let them they received the award.
5. share five random facts about yourself.

Here are the five amazing women I would like to give this award to:
*Leslie over at The Dearmans-  Leslie is one of dear friends.  We met in college while studying in Peru.  Her sweet little family is precious to me and I love reading about her adventures through motherhood.  


*Allison at Nestful of Love-  Allison is always posting awesome recipe and cute craftiness. I also love that she married her high school sweetheart, just like me.


*Amy at Fit New Mama-  Amy is also an NC State girl with an adorable new baby boy.  Her fitness tips and post-pregnancy stories are so inspirational.  She makes me want to get in shape, seriously.

*Tamara at T Times 3- Tamara is a sweet southern girl sharing her life with her new hubby and furbabies.  I love reading about her adventures in Raleigh since that is where I lived for 4 years during college.  

*Breanne at My World Resting on Your Love-  I love reading Breanne's blog simply because her faith in the Lord is palpable.  She is a great inspiration in faith and I love that she and her husband have a heart for missions, so adorable. 


Now for my five facts about myself.  
1. I love ricotta cheese, yum!
2. I hate driving, especially parking.
3. I have extremely large feet.
4. I love reality tv, especially The Bachelor/Bachelorette
5. I hate scary movies and refuse to watch them, romantic comedies or bust!


Now that you know a little more about me, go check out the 5 blogs above and learn about them.  You won't be disappointed.