Milliners are underpaid (or "How to make a pill-box hat")

My in-laws celebrated 40 years of wedded bliss last weekend.  My mother-in-law, Donna, wanted a simple pill-box hat to match her dress.  Armed with the knowledge that everything that IS was made by someone, we set out to create our own.

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Book Review: Fashioned by Faith

Book Description:
Everyone knows that we live in a “skin-is-in” society, heavily driven by media and immodesty. So how does a young Christian woman reconcile a fashionable wardrobe with maintaining her integrity?

Written by international professional model Rachel Lee Carter, Fashioned by Faith offers a cutting-edge approach to the concept of beauty with a Biblical foundation that will attract moms and daughters alike. Readers will love hearing about Carter’s exciting story as she leads them on an engaging study that touches on a huge felt need for young women: real beauty has nothing to do with looks.

Offering three valuable perspectives—teen boys, a professional model, and God’s Word—Carter explains her standards of modesty in a way that will make readers acquire a specific understanding of the author’s wardrobe choices and the impact those choices can make on others. Readers will also learn to season their self-image with daily quiet time with God. A tour of Scripture will reveal the value of heart issues like modesty and why they’re important to God.

Never compromising her sense of style or her faith, every young lady can discover what it means to be Fashioned by Faith. Moms and girls will love this book!

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My Review:
I began reviewing this book with my 2 oldest children (10 & 12 at the time).  I really appreciated the insights given from the 3 perspectives (teen boys, professional model, and most importantly the Bible!)  It was interesting to hear what my 12 year old son had to say on the topic of modesty too!

My daughter really enjoyed the Biblical foundation and the opportunity to discover for herself what God says about modesty.  This book gave her a great place to bring together her passion for fashion and for God, under the mentor-ship of a "Fashion Model".  This was great for me, as I am not a clothes horse!

My daughter and I were inspired to seek God first in our clothing choices.  In our culture you cannot be modest by accident - it is a choice that must be made every time you shop, dress and wear clothing.  Our body language must also match our modest clothing choices.  My son was challenged to think about modesty and appreciate it as a virtue in young ladies.

I enjoyed the easy-to-read style of writing and would recommend this to fellow moms.  In fact, I already have - I loaned it out last month!

Purchase a copy of "Fashioned by Faith" on Amazon.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." 

Ultimate Valentine's Resource

My Pinterest Valentine's Day Board, of course!  You're welcome :)

You'll find neat ideas like these - to see more information on each, click on the actual pin and then on the link above and to the right of the picture.  It will take you to tutorials, pictures, blogs and all kinds of great stuff!

Source: paperandtype.tumblr.com via Noel on Pinterest

Source: designsponge.com via Noel on Pinterest

Source: thefarmchicks.typepad.com via Noel on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Noel on Pinterest

Perspective

Perspective is a funny thing.  You can look at something and be quite convinced that your understanding is accurate.  You can outline all the reasons that you are right, how others are wrong.  You are right. It's simple, black and white.  And then something shifts, you see the exact same thing in a new light; you have a new perspective.

shadow art

Grief is, perhaps, the greatest illuminator of all.  When something, or worse - someone, is lost you are forced to shift your focus from the tyranny of the urgent.  The mundane things of everyday life become even more mundane.  I've often said that there is a clarity that is the gift of grief - we are able to distill our lives quite effectively into important and unimportant.  Those of us who have received that gift, lived with it and love it have few occasions to share it.  Unfortunately - it seems the most effective teacher is, once again, experience.

Not a day goes by that I am not reminded of my sweet child in heaven.  Yes, there are the obvious reminders - for instance when someone asks how many children I have (I always include Ian!)  But more personal and painful are the subtle reminders.  My perspective has changed on everything.  For instance, when others see the following picture, they may think "what a great way to announce that you're expecting"

Source: imageshack.us via Jessica on Pinterest

The bereaved mother in me only sees empty shoes.  Shoes that my son never got to wear.

Or this one: 

Source: sallypreston.blogspot.com via Kate - The Shopping Mama on Pinterest

With comments like: "What a great idea!  I want to do this with my baby's coming home outfit!"  And all I can think of is "That's all I have to remember him by."

And sentiments like this:

Source: etsy.com via Noel on Pinterest

which might call to mind your sweetheart, reminds me of the love I carry with me always for my son.

My friend Laura used to be a little miffed by the joyful worshipers blindly singing "Blessed Be Your Name"

The lyrical inspiration is from Job.  After he lost everything he said "the Lord gives and the Lord takes away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord."  You can't rightly sing this song until you've experienced both sides of it.  It is easy to sing and praise when all is well; it is quite another "when there's pain in the offering."  The pain is what gives us the perspective.  We sang this at Laura's funeral, and again at Ian's a few short months later.

There are so many positive things that come from this perspective - the view from 5 years down this long grief journey.  Life does go on.  Your heart will be forever scarred but it will not always bleed.  You will be stronger and infinitely more capable of grace and mercy.  You will recognize pain in others and may choose to share your own.  I know I pray much more fervently now than I did before, and with more honesty, trust and humility.

I pray that you will allow the loss and pain in your life to give you a new perspective today.  And you will be able to identify with the Apostle Paul, and nod your head in agreement when you read:

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  James 1:2-4 

Review: Radical

I've had this book for over a year now.  I cried the first time I read it - and I've referenced back to it so many times! 

Author David Platt is a pastor of a mega church.  In Radical, he gives us a glimpse into his transition from the status quo to authentic first-century Christianity.  And then he challenges me to do the same.  

I am forever grateful for the broadening that occurred as I read this book.  To say that it was life-changing is not a stretch!  Growing up middle class, middle America, Christian and home-schooled, I was sheltered from the realities of life in many ways.  Christianity was "normal" and other religions and lifestyles were the odd-man out.  To hear Mr. Platt share of going to a secret church overseas, then doing the same here in the US was invigorating!

In Radical, I was challenged to consider with an open heart how we have manipulated the gospel to fit our cultural preferences. He shows what Jesus actually said about being his disciple--then invites you to believe and obey what you have heard. And he tells the dramatic story of what is happening as a "successful" suburban church decides to get serious about the gospel according to Jesus.

Here's an excerpt:

“If you were to ask the average Christian sitting in a worship service on Sunday morning to summarize the message of Christianity, you would most likely hear something along the lines of “The message of Christianity is that God loves me.” Or someone might say, “The Message of Christianity is that God loves me enough to send his Son, Jesus, to die for me.”

As wonderful as this sentiment sounds, is it biblical? Isn't it incomplete, based on what we have seen in the Bible? “God loves me” is not the essence of biblical Christianity. Because if “God loves me” is the message of Christianity, then who is the object of Christianity?

God loves me.

Me.

Christianity’s object is me.

Therefore, when I look for a church, I look for the music that best fits me and the programs that best cater to me and my family. When I make plans for my life and career, it is about what works best for me and my family. When I consider the house I will live in, the car I will drive, the clothes I will wear, the way I will live, I will choose according to what is best for me. This is the version of Christianity that largely prevails in our culture.

But it is not biblical Christianity.

The message of biblical Christianity is not “God loves me, period,” as if we were the object of our own faith. The message of biblical Christianity is “God loves me so that i might make him–his ways, his salvation, his glory, and his greatness– known among ALL nations.” Now God is the object of our faith, and Christianity centers around Him. We are not the end of the gospel; God is.”

If you are happy with the status quo - read this book.  If you are dissatisfied with religion - read this book.  If you aren't a Christian - read this book.  I guarantee that it will be worth your time!