Love Brightly

Recently I've seen posts popping everywhere about decluttering, minimizing, simplifying. Seems like people are trying to get out from under their piles, literally. People are repeating it: excess = stress, less = rest. This year sparked a new pondering for me, "What if I made more space for my thoughts? What does it involve to declutter my mind ?" I think it all goes hand in hand--possessions, clutter, thoughts, stress, space, rest. After all, my soul is made for perfect Rest, and until then, I will try to achieve it in various ways (which are not unworthy endeavors, you readers know I've been minimizing my closet since before "capsule wardrobe" was a thing!). This week, I am reminded that I have more Rest than I utilize from time to time. And when I pause and remember, when I weed out the other thoughts, I declutter my mind. This week I finished reading the book of Ezra, and a text in chapter 9 jumped out at me--one wherein Ezra prayed to G...

Our team gathered for breakfast on the last morning of a long weekend conference. We all dressed comfortably for travel, and when my pal Erica walked in, I though how super cute she looked in her Bruce Springsteen T and pony tail! A t-shirt and jeans is always effortless, but sometimes when I wear it, I feel sloppy. Here's what I loved about Erica's look which compelled me stop and tell her that she looked "effortless chic:" She ditched the tennis shoes for cute mid-rise boots.  She wore her pony high. Not sloppy, but intentionally casual. Instead of a zip hoodie, she added an army jacket." I love her look because it carries the sentiment, "I'm comfortable, but I still respect the day enough to look put together."

Is it just me, or lately do so many store fronts look like Kelly Kapowski's closet? I'm not opening my arms to all of these fashion reruns, but I was pretty excited to buy my girls these scrunchies! Scrunchies are back! And also for the return of alligator clips! I guess they never truly left, but they were reduced to mere functionality. Now they are offered in fun colors, patterns, and as a way to style the hair, not just pull it off the face. High waist skorts, shirt tied at the waist, leopard print alligator clip in my hair = Flashback to my tweens. I chilled to this 1992 play list to indulge in my nostalgia. ;) Is there a 90's fashion trend that you'd love to repeat? Or one that you just will NOT? For me, the latter is overalls. Not goin' back.

I'm joining my fellow Americans, and praying for USA during this National Day of Prayer. Here is the prayer that Dr. Jack Graham, my pastor when I'm in Texas, wrote and will be praying over our nation today at 12, noon, EST. I have seen God do incredible things when we pray in unity! Let's pray this together, no matter what time or day you read this: Heavenly Father, We come to You in the Name that is above every name—Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Our hearts cry out to You. Knowing that You are a prayer-answering, faithful God—the One we trust in times like these—we ask that You renew our spirits, revive our churches, and heal our land. We repent of our sins and ask for Your grace and power to save us. Hear our cry, oh God, and pour out Your Spirit upon us that we may walk in obedience to Your Word. We are desperate for Your tender mercies. We are broken and humbled before You. Forgive us, and in the power of Your great love, lift us up to l...

"Clothes have, they say, more important offices than to merely keep us warm. They change our view of the world and the world's view of us." ~Virginia Woolf While living abroad, I stand out from the crowd for a myriad of negative reasons--language ineptness, cultural faux pas, tennis shoes and ponytails. I could go on. But one particular standing-out, I will happily and unashamedly continue: bright colors ! Give me bright yellow, real red, St. Patty's green, and the like! In this sea of black, jet black, gray, and charcoal, I will don my brights! They are cheery and happy, and they outwardly reflect my inward joy. And not only that, I will wear them together! Saturday is my "Yep, I'm American day." Texas t-shirt, bright purple tennies, hot orange socks, and my new fave yellow tote. No filter on this red-orange bag and yellow jeans.