my Spring

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Maybe it's because Spring has finally come or maybe it's because I'm just tired of the grey, but my soul has this desperate need for the ocean and warmth and white dresses and the sound of kids laughingly playing.

for newness and new life...

for peace and serenity...

for quiet still in the company of great friends.

Maybe I just need a vacation.

Unfortunately, all of these seem quite far away leaving me to escape in the comforts of wholesome food, youtube videos, and the ceiling fan in my bedroom.

But for now I'll take them and share them with you.

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Think Pink

Last night I watched the classic movie Funny Face.  I was so inspired by the opening song Think Pink.  There isn't a color that is more feminine (with the exception of maybe black) in the world.

I hope you enjoy this clip from the movie and, of course, the dresses.

And remember, Think Pink!

Think Pink by danette-dillon featuring high heel shoes

If you're looking for more fashion posts be sure to check out our sister site Perfectly Pear.  We think you'll like it!

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All to Bring You Glory

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One of Christ's most remarkable characteristic is, even though He is the Son of God, He laid down His rights as part of the God head and became a man.

He lived.

He hurt.

He felt the same pain we feel.

He probably even suffered from seasonal allergies a time or two, but all this He did because He loved us.

He died.

He gave His life because He loved us.

He laid down every part of who He is for our sins
     to restore us,
     to heal us,
     to bring us life again.

He died because that was they only way.

But He rose again to prove that we are never too far from His love.
     To prove His greatness and majesty.
     To demonstrate His vicarious victory of the grave.
     He rose again to remind us that we are more than conquers through His blood.

As we begin this holy week I pray we always live to bring Him glory alone.

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Cold, Hard Truth

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My mom recently challenged me to make some changes in my life.  To be honest, it wasn't really a challenge.  It was
more like one of those if-you-don't-do-this-now-you'll-never-get-anywhere kinda talks.

Truthfully, her words hurt.  Bad.  But sometimes--probably most times--the truth hurts.

When she got up from the couch all I could do was sit in my chair and stare at the couch.  She left and went on about her business and I sat there wanting so desperately for her words to not be true.

Maybe not all of them were true.  Even now I think she "missed it" on at least a few points, but there's one that she pinned right on the head.

I choose my future.

I am the gauge for what will happen.

We all choose our own future.  

I am a Christ follower and I've dedicated my life to service for Christ, but it is still solely my decisions that either leads me in God's will or away from God's perfect plan.  Further, I have the power to create a new future.  Even if I mess up, or even if someone else missed The Plan I don't have to be paralyzed forever waiting in history staring at the past wondering when God's going to change it all.

It's not God's plan for us to ever stand still feeling hopeless and alone.  Not by a long shot.

So how do we break out of this rut that keeps up from being completely who God has created us to be?

First, recognize, acknowledge, believe that you are not a victim.  We live in a fallen world.  Bad things happen in this fallen world.  We mess up and sin in a fallen world.  Terrible situations happen, but we cannot let those situations define who we are.

We are defined by what God says about us and that's found in the Bible.

The Bible says...

...I've been bought with a price.

...I am a new creation.

...the old things are gone and the new has come.

...that God is love and that He loves me and gave His life for me.

...that nothing can separate me from the love of Christ.

...that He is with me always even unto the end of time.

...that He will complete His good plan in my life.

...that He has good plans for me.

...that I am His child and a joint heir with Christ.

Now, if you've accepted Jesus as your savior and if you are living for Him, these promises are for you.  And they are all from the Word of God.  This knowledge has to come from somewhere other than your head.  This is something you have to believe in your heart.

You are not defined by anything that the blood of Jesus has covered.

Secondly, change those thoughts. 

This is probably the most difficult task for me.  I remember the times I failed miserabley.  I remember the times I have let other people down.  I remember the discouraging things people have said to me about me and they just run over and over again like a playlist on repeat.  But I have to stop the self-degrading dialog inside my head.

Have you ever been around a negative person (besides yourself)?  They're no fun to be around.  They see everything as terrible and they definitely lack joy.

If you don't like being around a negative person then I'm sure no one else does either. 

Change your attitude by spending time in service to others.  Change your attitude by spending time in prayer and worship.  Don't let that nasty negativity eat you up.  I know this is a difficult habit to break because I'm working on it right now, but I've got to break free from this poisonous disposition.

Lastly, get moving.  Get active.  Go out with friends.  Do something new.  Start enjoying life.  Whatever you do, just do something.  Eventually your feelings will catch up with your actions.

My sister, Dalayna, and I have at several time started Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred.  If you've ever done the Shred you will remember that days 1-3 are murder.  I'm not exaggerating.  They are terrible, but once you get thru day 4 it's as if your body can actually do the work outs.  After practicing the Shred consistently for about 1 1/2 weeks the results start kicking in.

Now, leading up to those result you do a lot of hard work, but eventually your body start responding to the work and you an physically see those results.  The same is true with our spirits. It may seem that all that Bible memorization or service or praying isn't paying off or telling yourself to shut up isn't paying off, but give it time.  It will.

Living in a perfect world?  Nope.  That isn't going to happen.  It's an impossibility   But we don't have to live life curled up in the fetal position just hoping nothing else terribly bad happens.  That's not how we are called to live.  We are victors and nothing can stand in our way!

Enact these points today and before long you'll see results.  In the meantime, I'm moving.

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The Bang Braid by the Crafty Ginger

Hello ladies!

I hope you week is finding you well.  Today I want to introduce you to Lauren from the Crafty Ginger.  I first "met" Lauren about a month ago when I stumbled across her blog and immediately  liked her blog.

I hope that you will take the time to stop by and follow her blog.  If you do decide to follow Lauren through GFC come back here, to All My Love for All My Days, and leave a comment saying that you followed.  I will choose one reader to win a large ad space.

Blessings!

Hey everyone! My name is Lauren,
my blog is The Crafty Ginger. I'm so excited to be over here at All My Love for All My Days. I would love if you came & visited my blog. Also, I'm on twitter, facebook, instagram & pinterest.

Today I will be showing you how to do a bang braid! It's perfect for those days where your bangs aren't behaving or they are just too long.

1. You are going to take a section of your hair that you want braided. 

2. Take a slim section closest to your part & start french braiding. 

3. Continue braiding. Keeping it tight is important! 

4. Braid all the way down to your ear. 

5. Take a bobby pin & pin it behind your ear. 

Thank you so much, Danette, for having me! :) I had a lot of fun with this post & I hope you all learned something new!

-Lauren

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Fighting Hard

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"Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein of their tongues deceive themselves, 

and their religion is worthless.  Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: 

to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

James 1:26, 27

I've found this passage speaking to me quite strongly over the past  few days mostly because I've found myself failing miserably in the execution of the verse.  Normally, I would not call myself a judgmental person.  I'm opinionated, for sure, but judgmental..usually not so much.

I've tried to pinpoint the source of my
aggravation   I feel that if I could just discern what's leading me to these terrible thoughts about people I could change them.  But instead, I'm finding myself become more and more judgmental, bitter, and hateful.

I realize this is not God's way for me.

God wishes for me to love justice, act mercifully, and to love relentlessly.  God wishes for me to be humble before Him and for His love to flow out of that humility.  God desires for me to set aside every pollutant in my life and to seek Him wholeheartedly.  But I, unfortunately, I seem to chose to remain bitter, cold, hateful.

How do I change this?  How can I change my opinions--my judgments--when I'm so certain that I am correct?

At some point or time you have had similar feelings.  Perhaps today you are feeling this same way--stuck in the rut of disappointment, pride, and bitterness all of which lead to a judgmental attitude.  The good news is there's a way out and God wants to help you find the way out of this dark place and into His light.

1.  Ask for prayer for other believers.

James writes, "Is anyone among you in trouble?  Let them pray.  Is anyone happy?  Let them sing songs of praise.  Is anyone among you sick?  Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord...Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." (James 5:13-16).

I'm sure you know the saying, "Confession is good for the soul."  Somehow that's true.  There is something about confessing our shortcomings that helps us.  Maybe it's that we know other people will be watching us or maybe it's just that the shortcoming is no longer a secret but confession changes our hearts. 

2.  Submit yourself to God and the authority of His Word.  In other words, live for Him.

In James 4 he writes, "...Don't you know that friendship with the world means enmity agains God?...Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come near to God and He will come near to you...Humble yourself before the Lord, and He will lift you up."

It's only by submitting (obeying) the Word of God that the enemy flees from us.  We must learn to sacrifice our own desires and line ourselves up with His Word.  He says forgive.  We must forgive.  He says love.  We must love.  He says turn off the television and spend time with Me.  Then that's what we do.  

It's that simple.  And it's that difficult.  Every time we sacrifice our own desires for God's we are killing our sinful nature again and allowing the Holy Spirit to have control of our life.

3.  Walk the walk even when you are forcing yourself to do that.

I know what you're thinking.  That's legalism.  I must have faith.

Well, yes, you must have faith, but James wrote, "Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds...as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead." (James 2:14-26).

It's mind over matter friends.  No, it doesn't always feel good, but it's the right action and God will honor that action.  It's kinda amazing how are actions start to change our feelings.

If you show love enough to a person you don't like eventually you'll start loving them.  If you show mercy to someone who doesn't deserve it enough eventually you'll become a person of mercy.  

Mind over matter.

I'm doing my best right now to change my mindset.  Is it easy.  Absolutely not, but I want my life to be pleasing before God and I want my life to be to be an example of true religion that God honors.

The great thing is God's hand of mercy and grace and love is always extended for us and He's never going to pull away.  When we follow our failures up with repentance  Christ forgives us...to the utmost.  He never remembers our shortcomings again.  

May we ever point people to His love by the love with have for one another.

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Hot Colors this Season

This is a post that I'm sharing today on my new blog, Perfectly Pear.  Perfectly Pear aspires to  help plus size women live life fashionably, healthy, and fully.  This blog is an additional blog to All My Love for All My Days, not a replacement.

I invite you to visit Perfectly Pear and if you like subscribe.  I'd love to have you.

I'm loving these greens and blues that are so in right now.  I think you will too.  One thing is certain.  They are everywhere.

1-Lane Bryant

2-Forever 21 Bangles

3-JCrew Bracelet

4-Coach

5-Kate Spade Necklace

6-Kate Spade Pointy Toe Flats

7-Kate Spade Capped Toe Heel

8-Kate Spade Sparkle Gold Peep Toe Heels

If you can't tell I'm really, really loving Kate Spade everything.

It seems that the ready to wear stores have already received spring and summer merchandise so get out there and start picking up a few items.  When it comes to fashion it's important to remain smart with funds.  Buy smart.

Thank you for reading and I look forward to sharing a what I'm wearing post later in the week.

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Additions Not Subtration

I wanted to share some what I consider to be some exciting news with you.

I have added to the All My Love for All My Days blogging family!

Perfectly Pear is a brand new plus sized fashion and healthy living blog that come into this world today at about 11:30pm.  So far she is a bouncing, buddle of joy.

I am so excited to be taking this step for a number of reasons.  First, I have a difficult time finding fashion bloggers that I relate to.  Second, it's just a fact, what are normal fitness and health tips for a thin person just aren't for larger ones.  Last, I'm on a journey to health, but that's not going to come over night and in the meantime I don't believe that I have to look frumpy.

Perfectly Pear's manifesto is simply this: Live fashionably, healthy, and fully.

If this is a topic that interests you, I'd love you for to join us over at Perfectly Pear.  I assure you, All My Love for All My Days is my first blog love and always will be.

Thank you, Readers and Sponsors, for your continued support.  I truly admire you!

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Guess Who's Been Busy

I'm sure you've been visiting everyday just waiting with baited breath for a new post (how conceded is that?!?!), but things have been kind a busy.  (The self-centered-ness is on overload.  Tell me one person whose life isn't busy.)

Anyway, here's a few things that's happened this last week.

+  I turned 30 and my friends and sister (Dalayna from Pointing Up) through me a marvelous surprise birthday party!  More on that later...

My brother looks truly crazy, but we love him anyway.  I loved every minute of this night. Every minute.

+  I finished 9 out of 9 Biology quizzes with 55 minutes to spare.

+  I had to miss a wonderful breakfast with Julie from From Awkward to Art.  (I'm really disappointed about this, but I had to do those quizzes.

+  Found a new song that I can't wait to lead on Easter Sunday.  here

There were quite a few other things that I could add to this list like being sick, but this post is already bordering on a complant and I've really been working on being positive.

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Link Love

+  All of you mommy bloggers should love this commercial.  I laughed quite hard myself.


+  It's almost spring and almost time for garden parties.

+  Speaking of parties, your table better be ready.

+  Have you met Tiffany from The Dwelling Tree?  She has a new design.  Plus, I just really like her blog.

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