Every Monday is the opportunity for a new beginning on a new week! I am excited to be alive and doing well in all things :)
This month I am going to give you a few different looks with my new favorite distressed white denim cut offs! They are perfect for spring!
I love a nice comfy relaxed fit that looks good casual and dressed up...
Grey Blouse - Gap
White Distressed Denim Crop Pants - American Eagle (Thrifted)
Grey Gladiator Heels - Heartbreaker
White/Gold Watch - Guess
Blue/Gold Shoulder Bag - Iman (I am selling this in my Poshmark closet!)
Style Remix
I have a few more looks that I will be showing you this month. Can't wait to show you them all!
Weekend Recap
This weekend was eventful, we went to a wedding for A's bro. Overall it was a good weekend spent with close family & friends. We had a blast on the dance floor.
PLUS my baby girl is 3 months now!!!
Aww she is getting so big and growing up so fast, what am I going to do? :)
Hope you are are bringing the work week to an end well!
Its beautiful out and I am happy to have another week in this beautiful life God has made for me!
But it wasn't always like this.
In fact, I feel inspired to share my story with you today. See yesterday as I was browsing my other fave blogs I fell upon Amy who was inspired by Leah and her "when mercy found me" post. Mercy found Amy in a city college gymnasium, mercy found Leah on her bathroom floor as she was trying to end her life. Mercy even found my sister in a broken heart from an abusive relationship.
And mercy found me,
in a dark, depressive place.
I have told my story to those that are close to me, but today I am no longer ashamed to tell all of the world where God's mercy found me. It found me in the middle of my bedroom one night in the middle of my mess.
Mercy found me there.
Before it found me I was so lost. I always liked to be in control of everything in my life and the fact that it seemed like everything I had my hand on wasn't going the way Jena wanted it to go - I figured there was no hope. I had been struggling with being happy at my job and all of its stresses. I was approaching my last semester at school, but unsure how I was going to convince my job to let me take off work to go to school. I wasn't very close to my family. I was in debt, and needed a new car. I was living paycheck to paycheck and began to ask God, is this all there is to life? Is this all I had to look forward to? A job where I am miserable - working 9-5 for the rest of my life. Hating it? Was this all that life was? If so, what was the point. I was so anxious about everything I began to have panic attacks from thinking so much. I began to self medicate myself just so that I could not worry about anything. When I would come down the mole hills would be turning to mountains, and I would just cry and get lifted again. I have always been a very happy person, but sometimes the happiest looking person can be so sad inside. I was so sad about my life. I didn't see the purpose in it, if that was all that I had to look forward to,
I didn't want it.
I am so thankful for Jesus' mercy. It found me one dark, lonely night. It woke me up, I felt Him talk to my spirit, my heart.
"I am the Creator."
I could feel His words in my being. In my spirit.
"Why are you looking to this world to show you what life is?
I am the Creator.
Why don't you go the source, the one who created all, to get your answers?"
Everything just clicked. I could feel His love that night. I felt something so real that I could never explain to anyone.
I felt true life.
He continued to speak to me. He said there was so much He had for my life. That this would be the beginning of a great life in Him.
~~~
It was a Saturday night. I went to church the next day. I called my dad that night and told Him I wanted Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. I decided to live my life according to God's ways that very night.
In a month's time, I was no longer bound by the same demons. I went to Jesus for everything! I was feeling better about my job, and they even made a way for me to have half days to go to school for my last semester! (This is absolutely unheard of) I was able to have the finances to purchase a new car for me and my hubs! Me and A got engaged and made our commitment to each other, and the next month I found out I was pregnant (something me and A had been really wanting for a couple years).
I also had peace in my mind
- this is something I am so thankful for.
I am so thankful for Jesus.
Finding me in the middle of my mess, and picking me up when I felt there was no hope.
He had been sitting there the entire time, listening to me, waiting for me to come to Him.
Mercy found me, and my life has never been the same.
I wouldn't trade it for the world.
I have learned what having a true relationship with Christ is. He's my strength when I need it, my friend when I want to talk, my protector, and my peace.
Neon striped no sleeve blouse - Nordstom Rack
Off white tank - Heartbreaker
White distressed capris - American Eagle (Thrifted $6!)
Brown strappy wedges - Shpreflection.com (I am selling these in my Poshmark closet for $15!)
White/gold watch - Guess
Berry clutch - Nine West (TJ Maxx)
Skinny Brown Belt - F21
Hope, Peace, Love, Joy have been restored to me.
I am so happy, I have an everlasting joy that cannot be stolen from me. So when you hear me talk about Him or how much I love Him, you can now understand what He brought me from and why I am so greatful! P.S. I cried tears of joy writing this :)!
He is so amazing!
I love Him with all that I have.
He is so worthy of the praise!
So, Where did mercy find you?
I love this song by Natalie Grant - the acoustic version is my favorite. It reminds me of being in a lost place and that God will find you wherever you are. He is always there and willing and waiting for you to call His name.
(I think I might sing this for my next song to share my voice!)
It's time for another Let Your Light Shine Thursdays link up! But before we get to the link-up I want to share a story with you.
I was listening to a series called Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyers and I was literally battling in my mind what I would write on my blog about today. See, I usually just ask God to guide my words and it flows - but sometimes I over think it and can't figure out what to write about. So as I was finishing the CD, I went to put it back into the case and on the outside of the case it says:
"I am constantly renewed in the spirit of my mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude]."
Ephesians 4:23
Well, immediately the 4:23 spoke to me. You see 4/23 is April 23rd, which is my birthday and it's this month! God spoke to my spirit and said find all the 4:23 scriptures and write about them, meditate on them and use them for my life to celebrate my birthday!
So, I am using this scripture to remind myself to be renewed in my mind! Each and everyday attacking it with a fresh mental and spiritual attitude. Its so easy sometimes to fall victim to the thoughts of negativity and thoughts of this word. But if I meditate on this, I can continue to remember what God says and it will help me say what God says!
I think its especially exciting because I am claiming that these were written just with me in mind :) Yes, my Father wrote some really great words just for little ol' Jena! :)
Today is
Let Your Light Shine Thursdays!
Thanks so much for all of you that linked up last week!
Me and Aisha over at True Soul & Spirit loved seeing all of your posts!
Our favorite from last week's link-up was from Petite Career Girl. Merrie showed us how to mix up a dress into a day and night look. Totally shining last week! I especially loved the way she mixed the stripes in her dress and clutch!
Thanks again for all of you who participated! Now it's time to link up again :)
RULES: 1. Link up your favorite post this week - It can be related to faith, fashion, food, family, or whatever else you would like to share that helped you shine your light from the week! Don't worry if you don't have a blog to link up - just leave a comment with how you let your light shine this week!
Hope you are all having a great week. Today is supposed to be the first day it gets to 70 degrees this year! So different from piles of snow! I can't wait to break out the spring wear. I'm convinced God wanted to treat me to a beautiful day before I go back to work tomorrow. Now, that's what I call favor :)
So onto the next chapter, but before I become a working mother, I first need to reminisce on the last 3 months with this little darling! (Baby Grace will be 3 months tomorrow!)
We are seriously beyond blessed to have this little beauty in our lives! She has taught me a different type of love, patience, and contentment. I don't know what I would do with out this little bean of joy :)
I am so sad to leave her full time, and she just started teething (poor girl) but I cannot worry. I must keep my peace and joy because I have an amazing sister that will be watching her part-time and she will also be with her dad a couple of days in the week. And my little babe will be A-OK.
God's been telling me "Don't Worry, Be Happy." Which is a catchy song :) Then this morning I saw Joyce Meyers had mentioned it in a post of the good ol Facebook. I knew God was trying to remind me of what He's been putting in my spirit.
"And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?" -Luke 12:25-26
There's no good in worrying, and absolutely no benefits!
I know that in due time I will have time with my little girl. AND I am so excited to see her grow up, but I know I'm going to blink and she'll be five. My promise to her is to keep taking pictures of her each day so I can look back and remember life just as it was at that moment.
*This post was sponsored by Little Nook Boutique. All opinions are my own.
Happy Monday!
I've got an exciting giveaway for you! But first, a quick recap of the past few days. The weekend was fun. I got to hang with the family (see here) and also got to celebrate my niece's 15th birthday. I also got a nice little package in the mail from a super cute place called Little Nook Boutique.
Its all about the details here. The aztec panel is what initially drew me into this gem. The lace bodice adds a touch of innocence, while the layered sheer bottom throws flirty in the mix. There's no denying this number will get a lot of sun time this spring/summer!
Now for some April giveaway fun!
Today I am teaming up with 31 other fabulous bloggers to bring you a $550Kate Spade giveaway. Yep, you heard that right. $550 split between two very lucky winners, to use at any Kate Spade online store. The great thing about Kate Spade, is that it's not only a great place to shop for your every day fashionista, but also for all of my fellow mommies out there. They have diaper bags, ladies! Follow me: Facebook || Instagram || Twitter || Pinterest || Bloglovin
Here are the Rules:
Rule 1: Giveaway will run for one week and the winner will be announced on Friday the 18th.
Rule 2: The winner's entries will be verified.
Rule 3: Open internationally.
First Prize: $300 Credit to Kate Spade
Second Prize: $250 Credit to Kate Spade Please see Rafflecopter below to enter. :)
This weekend was eventful, we went to a wedding for A's bro. Overall it was a good weekend spent with close family & friends. We had a blast on the dance floor.
