Pausing in such a chaotic life

I know it's been quite a while since I've posted anything-over a month actually.  But I was inspired just now by reading a post by one of my fellow bloggers in Christ's name.  At 110% Surrendered? Katy posted something that made me pause. 

I have been getting so caught up in my own issues, that I forgot that all I need to do is surrender them to the Lord.  He is the only one that knows my true heart and what is best for me.

I need to pause more often and simply listen for the Lord, and meditate on what He is trying to tell me and where He is trying to guide me.

Because I feel like I've gotten separated from the path that I was walking with Him.

A Prayer for Purity

Living a life of purity can be tough in today’s society, but know that you do not have to struggle alone. God stands ready and willing to help you. He loves to hear the prayers of His people, so pray and ask God for His assistance. You may utter your own prayer to God or simply use the prayer for purity listed below.

Lord, I love You and I want to please You. Thank You for loving me and for providing this opportunity to come into Your presence. I know that You honor Your Word and Your Word says, that if I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me of my sins. So right now, I thank You for filling me with Your Spirit and I humbly ask that you forgive me for my thoughts and actions that have grieved Your Spirit. I desire to live a life of purity and I want my very being to be aligned with Your Word.

I know that I am unable to live a life of purity without Your help, so I ask that You lead, guide and direct me in Your ways. Thank you for giving me the freedom of choice, but please help me to make wise choices in every area of my life. Despite what the world says is acceptable, help me to see sin as You see sin. Make me uncomfortable in my sin and in the things that displease You.

Lord, Your Word says, if I love You, I will obey You, so from this day forward I choose to honor and obey You. I want to live for You and I surrender my life and my will to You. Mold me into the woman of God You are calling me to be. No longer will I be bound by my past mistakes and failures. I am walking forward in the newness of life.

Lord, I don’t want to be selfish in my prayer for purity because I know I’m not the only one struggling to live a life of purity, so I pray not only for my purity but for the purity of others. Please help me not to cause anyone else to stumble. Also, help me to be an example of Your love and grace. Remind me of Your forgiveness that I may not judge others, but offer an encouraging word when they stumble.

I pray that the world will be drawn to You and seek to live a life of purity, Holy unto You and let it start with me. I want to stand boldly for you Lord, so please give me strength to stand when I’m weak. Speak to my heart and help me to recognize temptation and flee it. Make me more like You that I may be used for Your Glory.

I, Your daughter, offer this prayer for purity and restoration unto you as humbly as I know how.

In Jesus’ Name I pray,
Amen

Holiday weekend....

So, I worked this morning.  I hadn't worked since Wednesday, I had a lovely little "vacation"-except for a few little things.  On Friday, the heat index for our area was 108-118-it was very humid.  So I went floating on the river with one of my friends, got a little sunburned, and a couple blisters on my feet from walking in wet ballet flats; but those are better now.  But when I woke up this morning for work, I noticed that my right eye felt a little weird-itchy and I had some gunk in it (sorry for the gross-ness).  Anyway, it turns out I have pink eye, I got some eye drops, but it's not a great way to spend the holiday, but at least I have tomorrow and Tuesday off, so I can just get my eye better and not have to take any time off from work-besides the hour and a half that I missed today-since I got sent home-cause I was contagious.

Anyway, on to a better topic.  I was doing some reading after work and a nap, and I came across this website that had a very intriguing article entitled Bride vs. Wife.  It discussed how many single young ladies in today's society are preparing for the short term role of being a bride, rather than the long term role of being a wife.

I will definitely be exploring this website more in the coming days....

Quilt progress and Look of the Day

 This is the progress on my quilt so far.  The only thing I have to add is the light sashing in between each column, then the borders!  I have a table that is set up for my little sewing corner (I will post pictures of that later too when I have time)

This is my outfit for the day. 

Black shirt: Target on sale
Tank: Old Navy on sale
Skirt: Old Navy for my birthday
Tights and platform/wedge Mary-Jane's that I've had for years

Look of the day

Look of the Day: Charming Modesty

Skirt: Old Navy, from my birthday last year

Undershirt: Target on sale

Tank: Old Navy on sale

My shoes were black ballet flats from Payless that I bought years ago

I wore my hair down and naturally wavy

Exhibit A

This weekend at my university is precisely why I no longer drink alcohol.  It is homecoming.  While I do wish I could have watched the parade and football game, I don't want to have to deal with the drunken debauchery that is the typical college homecoming experience. 

This was not always the case.  I was once the "typical" college student, back before I was saved.  I drank alcohol, I went to parties, etc.  And while I do still like to enjoy the company of friends that do still drink, I no longer partake.  This means many things: I am guaranteed to feel better in the morning, I know I am always in control of myself and my actions, my judgment is not clouded by any sort of beverage (I do not do drugs, nor have I ever done anything "stronger" than alcohol), I don't act like....an idiot (there's really no way to put that delicately).  There are so many other great benefits to no longer drinking alcohol.

According to some things we discussed in a biology class, alcohol has some very bad consequences. 

Every cell in your body that comes in contact with a molecule of alcohol is damaged.
...Repeated exposure can permanently damage cells
......brain cells
......liver
......cancer
Everything inside the cell is damaged.

Alcohol turns to sugar very quickly.
...Diabetes is linked to alcohol abuse (alcoholics)

Alcohol Dehydrogenase
...alcohol "tolerance" it takes more alcohol to "feel it" because this enzyme breaks down the alcohol in your system.

Alcohol increases urine output.
...Anti-diuretic Hormone (ADH)
......when you are even slightly dehydrated, you urinate less-your body is trying to hang on to all it's water.
...Alcohol inhibits effects of ADH-so you become MORE dehydrated-hence the hangovers.

Hangover headaches are different than "ordinary" headache-because your brain is "sitting" in your skull and not floating in cerebral fluid.
...or it could be an allergy to a certain type of alcohol.

"New" clothes!

I did a little shopping today at Savers!  I got a few pretty things.  I got 2 skirts, a dress, and a sweater/poncho.  The dress is black with white polka dots-it looks very much like a 50's housewife dress, which I love!  I have to bring it in a little in the bust area-it's just a little too big there.  I also got one more denim skirt, and a white skirt with some detailing at the bottom.  And the poncho is a pretty coral/pink color.

I think I'm going to wear the dress or the skirt and a top to bowling tonight.  I'm a league with some friends at the university, and we all dress in retro outfits.  So I'm going to go now and play "dress up" and figure out what to wear and how to wear my hair.  I'll post pictures if I like the way it turns out!

I love doing laundry!

I was doing laundry tonight, and I just realized how much I like doing laundry.  Well, the only part that you really have to do much with is the folding, but I like all of it.  It's just so calming to me. 

Same with cleaning my apartment.  Just the simple act of tidying up calms me.  I hope this is practice for my own family and household one day.  Although that is not up to me, I must have patience in the Lord. Only He knows what is right for my life.

Even though it is Friday night in a college town, I have no desire to go party like the rest of the students, I love just staying home and putting away laundry and cleaning and organizing.  It all makes me very happy.

100 Things List so far

1. Bible
2. Bike
3. Netbook
4. Shoes
5. Clothes
6. Toothbrush
7. Cell phone
8. Camera
9. Desktop computer
10. Tv
11. Dvd player
12. Clothes Drying rack
13. Mp3 player
14. Backpack
15. Messenger bag
16. Purse
17. Purse
18. Suitcase
19. Duffel bag
20. Baby blanket
21. Down comforter
22. T-shirt blanket
23. Quillow
24. Movies
25. Bulletin board
26. School supplies
27. Books
28. Desk
29. Chair
30. Storage bench
31. Sleeping bag
32. Camping cook kit
33. Air mattress
34. Laundry basket
35. Sunglasses
36. Sewing machine/baskets
37. Fans (2)
38. Photos
39. Mirror
40. Jewelry
41. Headbands
42. Wall shelf
43. Wooden 3 drawer storage
44. Weekly pill box
45. Wooden Jesus above door
46. Prayer hands pin in door
47. Decorative mask from Amanda
48. Bed
49. Dresser
50. White Rubbermaid drawers
51. Hand mirror
52. Hair dryer
53. Hair straightener
54. Hair mousse
55. Hair sprunch spray
56. Hair texture paste
57. Small Rubbermaid 3 drawer storage (blue)
58. Closet shoe organizer
59. Sliding door nightstand
60. Cranium
61. Catch phrase
62. Cat puzzle
63. Mad gab
64. Cribbage board
65. Umbrella

Feel free to leave ideas or suggestions-this is just a rough draft so far. Thanks!

100 Things Challenge

I recently read an article that details more and more people participating in the 100 Things Challenge.  This is sort of a "minimalist" experiment. 

The challenge is basically asking you to reduce your personal belongings down to just 100 personal items.  There are various ways to do this and different ways to include your things.  Some people choose to count books together as one item, or clothes together as one item.  Things that are generally not included are kitchen supplies, shared things (with family or roommate).


Basically, I'm going to make my own challenge, I'm going to concentrate more on the "spirit" of the challenge. I might stick to the number 100, I might not.  But basically it's a challenge for me to get rid of things I don't need or really want. 

I am trying to simplify my life, especially in time for school.  I think it might help with my focus-fewer distractions.

I will do another post once I finalize my list and then another one when I actually get rid of things that didn't make the list.

Day 3 of the challenge!

Today I am wearing this denim pencil skirt with leggings cause it's a little on the chillier side.  And a bubble tank from Old Navy-I love bubble tanks, they are so comfy and flattering on my body type.

And the ballet flats I got at Payless several years ago-it's probably time I get a new pair. I wear them all the time.

Today I'm just wearing my hair down and letting it air dry-so it will be nice and wavy.

I have class from 1-4 today, but I have to go early to finish a paper.  Then I am going home to surprise my parents, since I haven't been home in awhile.  And since I can't be home for Mother's Day, I will bring my mom's gift home today.  I'm super excited!

Here is my outfit for Day 2 of the Feelin' Feminine Challenge!

The top I can't remember where I got it.

I got the skirt at Old Navy as part of my birthday gift from my parents.  The leggings came from Walmart. 

My hair is just kinda thrown up into a messy bun.

Today I have some errands to run, going to a fair for school.  Then I have Bible Study tonight at 6!

My friend Julie came over and we made Oreo truffles.  We had planned on making them last night, but we ran out of time after the Fairy Tale Ball meeting and dinner, so we made them this morning. They turned out really yummy, and very chocolatey!

I love being a woman!

Just as the title says...I love being a woman!

Right now I am wearing a long denim skirt, a "bubble" hem tank with a cami underneath, and a fluttery black sweater.

I just got done showering and I am passing the time until class at 1:00. So my hair is still damp/wet from my shower, and I wanted to put it all up in a clip so it wouldn't be dripping on my sweater (I don't like using a blow dryer-it fries my hair and ruins the pretty natural waves)
I used one of the bigger clips I could find with the claws; but my hair was far from all being able to fit.

I have such long thick hair-I love it. But that wasn't always the case, when I was younger, before I truly let Christ into my life, I really disliked my long hair. It was too long and thick and I didn't like the texture at all. But I have since come to love it! I got it from my mother, along with no wisdom teeth (so far anyway).

Whew, so getting back on track after straying...I love being able to wear a skirt and have more options than men do in our wardrobe. We can wear all colors, whereas men usually get teased if they wear pink or purple.

We get to wear shiny and sparkly things. We have a subtle strength about us. We have feminine charms and mystery.

We are delicate, yet strong.

We are so blessed! Praise the Lord for being so wonderful!

My modest life...

It's very difficult for me to feel that my modesty is actually doing any good. Since I live in a college town and that's who my friends are-I feel like when I am being modest, I am looked at as the "outcast". I know I should not be worried about such things, because I am doing the right thing in God's eyes. But I still have that nagging human/sinner voice that's telling me I need to be like everyone else.

Not drinking is going over very well though. People ask me about it, and I simply explain that I don't need it and all the reasons why I don't need it. It's actually quite easy to be around others that are drinking. Such as Wednesday night when I went out for trivia night at El Patio-I think everyone else was drinking-except me. It felt really good to finally have gotten the strength to resist to that extent. I didn't go out with people to the bars for a long time because I didn't know if I had the strength to resist when everyone else around me is drinking and I am afraid that they'll pressure me. But I do feel much more comfortable. I think it was good to try in a lower pressure setting like El Patio before actually attempting a Friday or Saturday night at a bar.

And I'm trying not to swear also. Just make my life and behavior more modest.

One thing that I think is funny when I wear one of my denim skirts out and about, people I know always think it's "funny" or interesting that I'm wearing a skirt. It's funny and interesting to me that people think that of a GIRL wearing a SKIRT...I feel as though that is part of the reason I'm doing this; to change the fact that it's "weird" for a girl to wear a skirt-since when did that go out the window?