Praise Worthy Wednesday

Photography by Madi Flournoy Henderson

In life, we are given many blessings from our Lord above. But one of the best gifts He gives us is the gift of laughter. Earlier this month, I spent the weekend with a group of girls that I thank God for everyday. Not only because of their unwavering love and support, but because of their ability to make me laugh so hard at the silliest things. Time with these girls is good for the soul. 

We sat around the table on our last night together and laughed through the tears as we talked about how thankful we were for each other. I could never put into words what these girls mean to me. 

So, on this Praise Worthy Wednesday, I praise God for the gifts of laughter and friendship. I praise God for the kinds of friends who bring me joy from something as simple as a game of Dirty Santa. I praise God for the feeling I got when the new baby girl of one of my best friends grabbed hold of my hand.

I pray that your friendships bring you this much happiness. And I pray that you live a life full of laughter with the ones you love.

As always, a big PRAISE to each of you for taking time to stop by this little blog of mine. Below are some more of my praises for this week. 

- Praise for this group of girls and their giving hearts. We collected so many toys to give to the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital all thanks to our loving friend, Kristina, for the idea. -

- Praise for this adorable coffee mug from Ashley Brooke Designs. These make the perfect gifts for Christmas. - 

Photo by Ashley Brooke Designs

- Praise for this beautiful reminder from She Reads Truth- 

Photo by She Reads Truth

- and praise for a day in downtown franklin with my favorite people wearing the coziest sweater from Vinnie Louise -

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