Top Her Couture

Let me start off with saying this is my story.  It is not meant to sway anyone, be a political initiative, or judge someone that may have a different experience.  It is based on my experience(s) from my perception backed by facts and personal research measures. I have the opportunity to go to an event out of state.  It was a lottery system, so you can imagine my surprise when I got the call.  As with much of the nation, this state has different COVID mandates/requirements/restrictions than my home state.  We will say they are more strict and fairly in line with CDC guidance as it unrolls. I live in a county that has had no mask mandate for months and most of our area has carried on business as usual.  Knowing our little oasis was very much ahead of even our state, it is smart to look up where you are going for their current status.  As I assumed, the state I am going to was still in a mask mandate [recently lifted].  As soon as the lift came, we r...

We live in a world filled with uniqueness.  Each day.  Each situation.  Each person.  Each journey.  There are no two paths alike.  We make the best of it.  We overcome the cracks, bumps, mountains; and regardless of whether we can walk a mile in their shoes.  The fact is, we are not them and they are not us.  Their journey will never be like ours. I often see posts of one-sided, tunnel vision, egotistical, and rather troublesome statements of what competing should look like or how much time it should take.  I personally find it belittling and disrespectful to fellow competitors.  Who are we to judge what it should or shouldn't be.  Each of us has our strengths and weaknesses when getting ready to take stage.  Some of us it is mental.  Others it is genetics.  Sometimes it is food & dieting.  Some of us take longer that a month to get on stage for whatever reason; but that reason is theirs.  We ...

"We walk without fear, full of hope and courage and strength to do His will, waiting for the endless good which He is always giving as fast as He can get us able to take it in." ~George MacDonald Being open to God seems to be a foreign concept in today's society.  We have become so egocentric and selfish, there is barely any room for God to work His will.  There are even less willing to enable themselves for this gift.  Many of us are bred to think we have to do everything by ourselves and choose to build walls that keep out the contrary.  We often sabotage ourselves and end up living unhappy and lonely lives; but we do not have to.  Have the strength to get passed what you think you know.  Let go of ego and the societal norm.  Walk down the path less traveled and let God's will rule your heart, mind, and soul.  realize, you are never alone. . .together we can do what we can never do alone.

"Sanctification is both a step of faith and a process off works.  It is a step of surrender and trust on our part, and it is a process of development on God's part." It is important for each of us to recognize we are worthy of this process.  So many of us [especially during this holiday season] seem to find sadness, depression, and loneliness in its most pure form.  Be sure that no matter what darkness is tugging at you, there is someone sending you light and love.  Be confident that God's love is always there as a guiding light.  You are not alone and are always loved.   And for those that have this light; share it!  Smile at a stranger, say a prayer, donate time or gifts, pay for the person's coffee in front of you. . . .How ever you decide to spread the cheer, do it with your whole heart!

"If only we could trust God perfectly each day and rise constantly up, higher on the mountains. . . . We'd like to think that's an ideal Christian experience.  But our spiritual landscape does not consist simply of mountains.  Valleys lie between uplands.  And without the valleys, there would be no mountains at all."

"When we reach out in faith  to someone and don't get a positive response, do we recognize that we're speaking to a spiritually deaf soul? . . . Kindness in the face of opposition may begin the work that opens deaf ears and lightens blind eyes.  Let's start to unclog ears and lighten darkness."

"Nothing that happens is beyond the Lord's domain.  Nothing can tough us that the heavenly Father can't deal with, and no event can ruin His plan for good in our lives.  All things, He promises, will work together for our good, if we love Him. ~Romans 8:28

"I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.  To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it, but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie anchor." ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes The ultimate goal is to have a relationship with God; to continue on a journey of growth.  To overcome trials and tribulations within His laws.  Let each day be our teacher as we are guided; and fill our lives with Him so as to not stray.

"You never can measure what God will do through you. . . . Keep your relationship right with Him, then whatever circumstances you are in, and whoever you meet day by day, He is pouring rivers of living water through you." ~Oswald Chambers The key is not getting what you want but wanting what you are given.  The first stepping stone to living is having a relationship with Him and soon we will see the ability to develop other relationships and open closed doors.  We are given an abundance from Him each and every day.  Time is short, waste it wisely!

"God sends children. . .to enlarge our hearts, to make us unselfish, and full of kindly sympathies and affections; to give our souls higher aims, to call out all our faculties to extended enterprise and exertion; to bring round our fireside bright faces and happy smiles, and loving, tender hearts."   ~Mary Howitt

1. Beauty cannot be defined. Beauty is a reflection of what we deem valuable. For me, it’s an inner radiance and bliss that transcends judgment and fear, or at least makes an effort to. 2. Perfection cannot be obtained (and it’s boring anyways). Trying to be perfect makes us feel inferior and desperate to change; owning our uniqueness makes us feel worthy and excited to evolve. 3. Love will be messy at times. Sometimes love looks nothing like the ideal. Unless you’re in an unhealthy relationship, lean into the messiness. That’s where the intimacy is. 4. Other people will judge . Doing our best and accepting that people will form opinions is far more empowering than stressing about what everyone else thinks. 5. Sometimes there is no right or wrong . There isn’t always a right decision or answer. It’s just about what feels right to us right now, and whether we have the courage to honor it . 6. No one else knows what’s right for us. Someone else may seem certain they know what we...

"Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips, and supple knees; it is a matter of the will, quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of the soul."  Samuel UIlman It is an important part of all of us to keep our souls youthful.  Sure, we mature, we grow, we become adults.  In doing so, so many of us get caught up in life and put so many restrictions on the doors to our heart and soul.  Through countless disappointments, hurts, and wounds; we tend to lock the door(s) and throw away the key.