I Can Hear the Bells

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson || Dress: Fab'rik

I love that bell sleeves are in style this season. They are the perfect addition to really make your look pop. They add that certain flair to an otherwise simple dress. This one from Fab’rik is sure to transition nicely from winter to spring. Let’s hear it for the bell sleeves!
 
In the midst of the holiday season, we grow accustomed to hearing the sound of bells. Bells in the music played on the radio in your car.  Bells blasting through the speakers at the mall. Bells in the choir loft as children sing Christmas hymns. Bells that ring as we sing that oh, so familiar tune, “jingle all the way.” And, of course, the bell you hear when the little girl on It’s a Wonderful Life says, “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings.” These bells remind us that Christmas is here. But, are we celebrating or stressing?

There were no bells during the first Christmas. There were no holiday dresses. There were no Christmas dinners or Christmas trees. There wasn’t a need for all the fluff. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love the fluff that comes with Christmas. But, I don’t want to love it so much that it takes away from the true joy of the season. 
 
At the end of the day on December 25th, it won’t matter that your presents weren’t wrapped to perfection. It won’t matter that Christmas dinner was a little bland. It won’t matter that you forgot to leave cookies for Santa.  Rather, the only thing that truly matters is the blessing we received on that very first Christmas. The birth of our King.
 
So, for the remainder of this holiday season, I hope that with every ring of a bell, you are reminded of Him. Your Savior, Jesus Christ. And not that to-do list that is a mile long. Not those presents that need to be purchased. Just the blessing that is Christmas. 

"When they saw the star, they were overjoyed" - Matthew 2:10

When Dreams Move Slowly

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson || Top: The Mint Julep Boutique

Y’all know there is nothing I love more then a comfy piece of clothing. So, I was thrilled when The Mint Julep Boutique asked to collaborate with me to showcase their “slouchy” style. Of course, I was all in and loved the olive and taupe colors they sent me. The softness of these slouchies is like a dream. NORMALLY, they are only on sale on Sundays. But, if you are reading this post, you can get them right now for $24. How awesome is that?! It’s like a dream come true. 
 
We all have some sort of dream. A desire we carry in our heart. Maybe that dream is to buy a house, get a new job, have a baby, or find the love of your life. Whatever it is, I’m guessing it’s something you think about all the time. Because that’s what dreams do. They consume us so we will fight for them.

A year ago at this time, I told my small group that I wanted my book to be on the road to being published by Christmas 2016. Well guess what? It’s Christmas 2016 and my book is still resting in the same spot on my computer. In fact, it’s all broken into different versions because about a month ago, I threw up my hands and started over. I now completely understand why authors in the past used to throw their manuscripts in the fire out of pure frustration. I can relate, as I have wanted to throw my book out several times over the course of the year. But, no matter how hard I fight against my dream, it keeps coming back, fighting for my attention.
 
Once I remembered the timeline I set for accomplishing my dream, I had to immediately check myself in order to avoid a complete breakdown. No, my dream hasn’t come true…yet. BUT, I have to remember that I am many steps closer than I was a year ago.
 
Dreams take steps. They take time. They take prayer and a whole lot of patience. I could sit here and pout, or I could take action. I could come up with a game plan and continue fighting for the goal ahead. The journey to my dream might look a little different from yours, but the one thing that remains the same is our HOPE in HIS plan. It is no accident that our dreams take control of us like they do. They are placed there for a reason. God only wants you to acknowledge that He is part of the dream, too. That without Him, the dreams would not be possible. 
 
So, regardless of where you are in the process of making your greatest dreams come true, I pray that you will remember to seek Him through each step. Even the tiniest of one. I promise each step is headed to something so great that only He knows.   

"Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you." - Psalm 9:10

Pair your very own slouch with some of my picks below

There's a Lady at the Gym Who Hates Me

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson || Top: Proverbs 31

There’s a lady at the gym who hates me. Well, okay… Not really. But, in Lysa TerKeurst’s book, Uninvited, there’s a lady at the gym who hates her for no “real” reason. Or, so she thinks. Because she allows the power of rejection to interfere with her heart of grace, she starts to believe the lady at the gym truly hates her. When, really, she probably doesn’t think much about her at all (those are Lysa’s words, not mine). Through this interaction, Lysa decides it’s time to “live loved.”
 
When you live loved, you surrender yourself to God. You put Him first in every encounter, action, and daily moment. You don’t do it in hopes for something in return. Rather, you do it because a life living loved offers the greatest gift of peace. “Living loved is sourced in your quiet daily surrender to the One who made you.” Living a life of love is something I want to do everyday; but, it isn’t an easy. 

You know what else isn’t easy? Running. There is nothing in this world that I have a love/hate relationship with more than running. I allow my mind to overtake my body and tell me over-and-over again to quit. It’s too hard. You’re too tired. You can’t do this. And for me, running is a lot like living a life loved. It feels impossible sometimes.
 
My sister is a runner. Unlike the rest of our family, she actually enjoys jogging for miles each day and participating in things like half marathons. I once asked her how she stays so focused mile-after-mile. I asked her how she is able to keep her mind from overtaking her body. She told me that for every mile, she picks a different person and prays for them. It helps her focus on her time with Him, while also pushing away the negative feelings that come when the run gets tough.
 
Living life loved is like running a marathon. It takes time, practice, planning, and patience. It involves serious commitment to devote each and every day to Him.
 
I’ve started using my sister’s running trick when I workout. Since I am not running miles, I try to pray for someone different every couple minutes or so. And you know what, it helps me live loved. It also helps me go that extra mile – not just in my workout, but also in my faith. So, however you need to live loved, I pray you find that first step. Maybe it’s devoting more time to him, or maybe it’s adding prayers to your run. Whatever it is, I pray that you will see that living loved is a life worth living.  

"The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing." - Zephaniah 3:17