There could never be a more beautiful you. God created you. Trust Him!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Faith and Beauty
Hear me out on this one: I believe that confidence, faith, and beauty go hand in hand. If we don't have the confidence to believe we are beautiful, no matter what the media says, we won't have the time to develop the faith we need to trust God with all our hearts.
Now I'm not talking about the kind of beauty that you see in photographs. And I'm definitely not talking about the flawless models that we see in magazines or in television commercials. I'm talking about the beauty that comes from the heart; the un-self-conscious, totally confident ability that God can use you to do great things. 1 Peter 3:3-4 says, "Your adornment must not be merely external - braiding of the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God."
We were worshipping in youth group the other night; and as I told you in Given a Purpose, we had a great time. God was moving. God was here. Hearts were changed. But as everyone else seemed to be totally caught up in the music, raising their hands towards God, I couldn't help but feel totally self-conscious and wrapped up in the way I looked. "Is the bottom of my shirt too short? Are my jeans too tight? If I raise my hands to worship will someone judge me?"
I feel like I've been doing this a lot lately. Once again I stopped myself and said, "No, this is fat talk and I won't have it!"
Psalm 139:14 says, "I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well." We were created by God. He made us beautiful: on the inside and out. He created us individually. We all have different body shapes because God created us that way! No two snowflakes are alike, why should two bodies be alike? When we call ourselves ugly or fat we are calling God a liar. We are saying that He made a mistake. Embrace your flaws because they are what make you unique and BEAUTIFUL.
What we see as beautiful today, will change tomorrow. People age. It's natural and nothing to be ashamed of. My grandmothers are two of the most beautiful women in my life. I like to sneak pictures at their wedding photos and I always think that they are just as beautiful today as they were then. Proverbs 31:30 says, "Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised."
If we are "vain" and spend more time on our appearance than we do reading the Bible and praying, I believe we will have to answer for every extra minute we spend gazing into the mirror. We worry too much about what we look like and we forget to embrace our opportunities to present the gospel to others. When we're too worried about what people think about us, we lose those moments enable us to make a difference. Our society has taught us that we must be totally engrossed in our appearance. We take everything that makes us uncomfortable and give it a name: ugly. We need to forget our apprehensive attitude and break free from the bondage of negativity towards our appearance and trust that God has a plan for us.
So, as we were worshipping, I forwent my insecurities and raised my hands to the God who gave me life and who shows me everyday a new way to live beautifully.
Now I'm not talking about the kind of beauty that you see in photographs. And I'm definitely not talking about the flawless models that we see in magazines or in television commercials. I'm talking about the beauty that comes from the heart; the un-self-conscious, totally confident ability that God can use you to do great things. 1 Peter 3:3-4 says, "Your adornment must not be merely external - braiding of the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God."
We were worshipping in youth group the other night; and as I told you in Given a Purpose, we had a great time. God was moving. God was here. Hearts were changed. But as everyone else seemed to be totally caught up in the music, raising their hands towards God, I couldn't help but feel totally self-conscious and wrapped up in the way I looked. "Is the bottom of my shirt too short? Are my jeans too tight? If I raise my hands to worship will someone judge me?"
I feel like I've been doing this a lot lately. Once again I stopped myself and said, "No, this is fat talk and I won't have it!"
Psalm 139:14 says, "I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well." We were created by God. He made us beautiful: on the inside and out. He created us individually. We all have different body shapes because God created us that way! No two snowflakes are alike, why should two bodies be alike? When we call ourselves ugly or fat we are calling God a liar. We are saying that He made a mistake. Embrace your flaws because they are what make you unique and BEAUTIFUL.
What we see as beautiful today, will change tomorrow. People age. It's natural and nothing to be ashamed of. My grandmothers are two of the most beautiful women in my life. I like to sneak pictures at their wedding photos and I always think that they are just as beautiful today as they were then. Proverbs 31:30 says, "Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised."
If we are "vain" and spend more time on our appearance than we do reading the Bible and praying, I believe we will have to answer for every extra minute we spend gazing into the mirror. We worry too much about what we look like and we forget to embrace our opportunities to present the gospel to others. When we're too worried about what people think about us, we lose those moments enable us to make a difference. Our society has taught us that we must be totally engrossed in our appearance. We take everything that makes us uncomfortable and give it a name: ugly. We need to forget our apprehensive attitude and break free from the bondage of negativity towards our appearance and trust that God has a plan for us.
So, as we were worshipping, I forwent my insecurities and raised my hands to the God who gave me life and who shows me everyday a new way to live beautifully.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Given a Purpose
In youth group tonight we were presented The Salvation message. We began by praising God with this incredibly awesome band that I absolutely love (you're welcome). I always love worship during youth group, but something about having a guest band perform makes it so much more inspiring.
We sang for over an hour. It pretty amazing. One of the songs we sang, and I had never heard it before, it spoke to me like none of the others did:
I will live to love you.
I will live to give you praise.
I will live as a child in awe of you.
How can you read those lyrics without being awe-inspired? If we have nothing more to give we are to give him our love and our live and our praise. The last line is my favorite. In Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." We are to come to God as children. In awe of how great and miraculous He is and live for only Him alone.
I'm sure everyone feels the same way from time to time, but I struggle so much with finding a purpose, something to live for. I mean, yes, we're supposed to live for God. Win people for Jesus. And that's all good. But sometimes when I'm trying to present the gospel or as some people would like to say "force my religion" on someone, I feel like nothing's sinking in and I might be doing more harm than good. That's not to say that we shouldn't share our faith with those who don't yet know Christ. I just feel like someone could do a better job than I do. But then again, I'm planting a seed, right?
You may think this is totally ridiculous, but sometimes I feel like I'm beginning the fulfillment of my purpose through this blog. I realize, however, that if my blog is going to be totally for the glory of God, I have to shift my perspective from wanting it to be about me and my abilities. As much as I'm trying to understand that I was given this gift from God and that he deserves the glory in the first place, it's hard not to think, "Oh, yeah, I remember writing that. I totally rock!" Maybe it's selfish of me to want my blog to be read and the messages in them to be received by more than one person. I want to share my "knowledge" with the world. And I believe that if I'm writing and giving God the glory than it's possible.
It's so easy to get caught up in everything WE can do that we forget what GOD can do THROUGH us. Perhaps my AP Lang blog is preparing me to write something more. God willing, maybe I'll be a famous writer someday. But if that's going to happen it has to start with God being first and foremost.
There's a reason I titled this post "Given a Purpose." If we don't follow God's will for our lives we may never feel like we have a purpose. My purpose is to write for the glory of God and maybe eventually that will lead to bigger things.
Ephesians 3:20-21 says, "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the gory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."
We sang for over an hour. It pretty amazing. One of the songs we sang, and I had never heard it before, it spoke to me like none of the others did:
I will live to love you.
I will live to give you praise.
I will live as a child in awe of you.
How can you read those lyrics without being awe-inspired? If we have nothing more to give we are to give him our love and our live and our praise. The last line is my favorite. In Matthew 19:14, Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." We are to come to God as children. In awe of how great and miraculous He is and live for only Him alone.
I'm sure everyone feels the same way from time to time, but I struggle so much with finding a purpose, something to live for. I mean, yes, we're supposed to live for God. Win people for Jesus. And that's all good. But sometimes when I'm trying to present the gospel or as some people would like to say "force my religion" on someone, I feel like nothing's sinking in and I might be doing more harm than good. That's not to say that we shouldn't share our faith with those who don't yet know Christ. I just feel like someone could do a better job than I do. But then again, I'm planting a seed, right?
You may think this is totally ridiculous, but sometimes I feel like I'm beginning the fulfillment of my purpose through this blog. I realize, however, that if my blog is going to be totally for the glory of God, I have to shift my perspective from wanting it to be about me and my abilities. As much as I'm trying to understand that I was given this gift from God and that he deserves the glory in the first place, it's hard not to think, "Oh, yeah, I remember writing that. I totally rock!" Maybe it's selfish of me to want my blog to be read and the messages in them to be received by more than one person. I want to share my "knowledge" with the world. And I believe that if I'm writing and giving God the glory than it's possible.
It's so easy to get caught up in everything WE can do that we forget what GOD can do THROUGH us. Perhaps my AP Lang blog is preparing me to write something more. God willing, maybe I'll be a famous writer someday. But if that's going to happen it has to start with God being first and foremost.
There's a reason I titled this post "Given a Purpose." If we don't follow God's will for our lives we may never feel like we have a purpose. My purpose is to write for the glory of God and maybe eventually that will lead to bigger things.
Ephesians 3:20-21 says, "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the gory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Healthy Families
In Sunday's issue of the Cedar Rapids Gazette there was an article, Weighty Issues, that addressed the topic of child obesity.
The main focus on childhood obesity right now is in Georgia where forty percent of the children are considered overweight or obese. The program Fit Families - Get Active With Mercy Medical Center focuses on five goals: five servings of fruits and vegetables, three meals a day, no more than two hours of television and computer combined, one hour of physical activity, and fewer sugary drinks.
The problem with addressing the obesity problem with your child is that when children realize that their own parents think they're not "good enough" their self-esteem plummets. According to Bobbi Marti, a clinical dietitian for Fit Families, don't use the word weight but focus on health.
In the book You'd Be So Pretty If . . ., Dara Chadwick advised parents to talk to their children about their weight in a round about way. Indirectly ask your child how he feels about his or her weight. Make sure that they know your love is unconditional. Make small changes that the whole family can participate in, such as taking a walk around the neighborhood after dinner or playing a friendly game of basketball.
Instead of letting the easily accessible foods be candy and potato chips, set out a bowl of apples, or place a bunch of bananas on the counter. If you're going to improve the "food quality" of your child, you have to make some changes to your own diet also. Paula Diers, a dietitian with St. Luck's Nutritional Center said that including your children in your meal planning and making time makes them more likely to try new foods. Families who cook together eat healthier and it's a great bonding mechanism. And remember, eating healthy and exercise go hand in hand.
Plan together, eat together, exercise together and be healthy!
The main focus on childhood obesity right now is in Georgia where forty percent of the children are considered overweight or obese. The program Fit Families - Get Active With Mercy Medical Center focuses on five goals: five servings of fruits and vegetables, three meals a day, no more than two hours of television and computer combined, one hour of physical activity, and fewer sugary drinks.
The problem with addressing the obesity problem with your child is that when children realize that their own parents think they're not "good enough" their self-esteem plummets. According to Bobbi Marti, a clinical dietitian for Fit Families, don't use the word weight but focus on health.
In the book You'd Be So Pretty If . . ., Dara Chadwick advised parents to talk to their children about their weight in a round about way. Indirectly ask your child how he feels about his or her weight. Make sure that they know your love is unconditional. Make small changes that the whole family can participate in, such as taking a walk around the neighborhood after dinner or playing a friendly game of basketball.
Instead of letting the easily accessible foods be candy and potato chips, set out a bowl of apples, or place a bunch of bananas on the counter. If you're going to improve the "food quality" of your child, you have to make some changes to your own diet also. Paula Diers, a dietitian with St. Luck's Nutritional Center said that including your children in your meal planning and making time makes them more likely to try new foods. Families who cook together eat healthier and it's a great bonding mechanism. And remember, eating healthy and exercise go hand in hand.
Plan together, eat together, exercise together and be healthy!
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
New Hope
Dear Friend,
I wish I had all the answers. I can't tell you how many times I felt that life had no meaning. How many mornings have I woken up and wished that the day was over? We all have our struggles, and every once in a while we all feel like giving up. Life isn't always butterflies and rainbows.
We're still in high school. It's hard to see why things happen, even on a day to day basis. Sometimes you have to ask yourself "Will this matter in ten years?" And if the answer is "yes," then I believe that it happened for a greater purpose than you or I could imagine.
A few years ago when we went on church retreat we received a Bible verse in the form of a letter. I read it every night before I go to bed:
As I was flipping through my Bible just now I came across Psalm 57:1-3. It says, "Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge Until destruction passes by. I will cry to God Most High, To God who accomplishes all things for me. He will send from heaven and save me; He reproaches him who tramples upon me. God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth."
Friend, I don't know why you're going through these things. I wish I could help, I wish I could even begin to understand your circumstances. I just want you to remember that you can talk to me about anything and everything. No judgement.
It can be so hard to pick up your Bible and pray when you're frustrated but that's when it's the most important to talk to God. Matthew 7:7-8 says, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."
As long as you are truly searching for God and striving to be more like Christ, as long as you can find even an ounce of hope, He will renew your strength; you will soar on wings like eagles, you can run and dance and sing and not grow weary and you can walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:31). He will lead you on the path of righteousness. You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength.
Keep your chin up, Beautiful. And don't forget to trust God.
With Love,
Gracie Elizabeth
I wish I had all the answers. I can't tell you how many times I felt that life had no meaning. How many mornings have I woken up and wished that the day was over? We all have our struggles, and every once in a while we all feel like giving up. Life isn't always butterflies and rainbows.
We're still in high school. It's hard to see why things happen, even on a day to day basis. Sometimes you have to ask yourself "Will this matter in ten years?" And if the answer is "yes," then I believe that it happened for a greater purpose than you or I could imagine.
A few years ago when we went on church retreat we received a Bible verse in the form of a letter. I read it every night before I go to bed:
To the One I love,
I know what I am doing. I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. When you come looking for me, you'll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed. Let's be close.
Love,
God
As I was flipping through my Bible just now I came across Psalm 57:1-3. It says, "Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, For my soul takes refuge in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge Until destruction passes by. I will cry to God Most High, To God who accomplishes all things for me. He will send from heaven and save me; He reproaches him who tramples upon me. God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth."
Friend, I don't know why you're going through these things. I wish I could help, I wish I could even begin to understand your circumstances. I just want you to remember that you can talk to me about anything and everything. No judgement.
It can be so hard to pick up your Bible and pray when you're frustrated but that's when it's the most important to talk to God. Matthew 7:7-8 says, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."
As long as you are truly searching for God and striving to be more like Christ, as long as you can find even an ounce of hope, He will renew your strength; you will soar on wings like eagles, you can run and dance and sing and not grow weary and you can walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:31). He will lead you on the path of righteousness. You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength.
Keep your chin up, Beautiful. And don't forget to trust God.
With Love,
Gracie Elizabeth
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Picture Perfect
We got our school pictures back today. I didn't even glance at mine before shoving it in my backpack and racing out of the classroom. It had been a bad morning and I didn't need to feel ugly on top of it all. I know this type of thinking goes against everything I've learned and that I've shared with you. After all, imperfections are beautiful.
I locked myself into the bathroom stall and took a deep breath before studying the pictures. I couldn't keep the tears from falling. I felt so ugly and fat! All of the "you are beautiful" and "imperfections are perfect" went right out of my head as I stared at the girl in the photograph.
At lunch today my friends and I were talking about running. One of my friends said she was going to join cross-country so that she could have a flat stomach and thin arms. A part of me wanted to say, "yeah, that would be amazing to be as skinny as that." But the rational part of me stopped the conversation. We were fat talking, we were calling ourselves ugly. You have to understand, these girls aren't fat by any means. I'd say that as a group we're pretty average; but the media has impressed upon us the desire to be almost anorexic-ly skinny. During this conversation, one of the comments was, "If I were skinny, all of my problems would go away." I can guarantee you that skinny girls have just as many, if not more, problems than "overweight" girls.
We have healthy diets, we all are involved in a physical activity. Tell me, why do we feel the need to loose weight?
As I stare at my photograph now, I see the flaws. But the longer I look at it the more I realize that I look happy. How can someone so "ugly" be happy. That's when I remembered. I had decided that I was going to feel beautiful on picture day. Beauty shows through your emotions and if your distraught about your image you aren't going to be very beautiful at all. However, if you're confident in yourself and your abilities, if you are able to look in the mirror and say "Hello, Beautiful," then you better believe it. Beauty is more than skin deep. And sometimes pictures are better at capturing emotions than the true image.
When I came home from school and peered at my reflection in the mirror, determined not to pick on every little thing that I hate about myself. And I smiled. Taped to the corner of my mirror is a note: "Keep your chin up, beautiful." And you know what? I intend to.
Have a beautiful day and embrace your flaws because they make you unique.
I locked myself into the bathroom stall and took a deep breath before studying the pictures. I couldn't keep the tears from falling. I felt so ugly and fat! All of the "you are beautiful" and "imperfections are perfect" went right out of my head as I stared at the girl in the photograph.
At lunch today my friends and I were talking about running. One of my friends said she was going to join cross-country so that she could have a flat stomach and thin arms. A part of me wanted to say, "yeah, that would be amazing to be as skinny as that." But the rational part of me stopped the conversation. We were fat talking, we were calling ourselves ugly. You have to understand, these girls aren't fat by any means. I'd say that as a group we're pretty average; but the media has impressed upon us the desire to be almost anorexic-ly skinny. During this conversation, one of the comments was, "If I were skinny, all of my problems would go away." I can guarantee you that skinny girls have just as many, if not more, problems than "overweight" girls.
We have healthy diets, we all are involved in a physical activity. Tell me, why do we feel the need to loose weight?
As I stare at my photograph now, I see the flaws. But the longer I look at it the more I realize that I look happy. How can someone so "ugly" be happy. That's when I remembered. I had decided that I was going to feel beautiful on picture day. Beauty shows through your emotions and if your distraught about your image you aren't going to be very beautiful at all. However, if you're confident in yourself and your abilities, if you are able to look in the mirror and say "Hello, Beautiful," then you better believe it. Beauty is more than skin deep. And sometimes pictures are better at capturing emotions than the true image.
When I came home from school and peered at my reflection in the mirror, determined not to pick on every little thing that I hate about myself. And I smiled. Taped to the corner of my mirror is a note: "Keep your chin up, beautiful." And you know what? I intend to.
Have a beautiful day and embrace your flaws because they make you unique.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Healthy Eating
Every family struggles with something; whether it's getting along, being on time, or getting things done, I think it's safe to say that we all feel overwhelmed with family sometimes. I also think it's safe to say that every family struggles with eating healthy. It's so easy to come home from school or work and sit down on the couch with a bag of potato chips or cookies and watch mindless television.
My family has never been lazy, but I wouldn't say that we have the best eating habits. I often come home from school and grab a cookie or five before starting my homework. We always have sugar in the house and whenever I tell myself "no, I'm not going to eat that today" another baked good comes out of the oven and onto my plate.
In the book You'd Be So Pretty If . . . by Dara Chadwick, Chadwick talks a lot about how she would watch her daughter sit on the couch and mindlessly eat. So she decided to do something about it. Chadwick never had the best body image. She remembers watching her mother nitpick everything about her body as she stood in front of the mirror. Because she was an athletic child, Chadwick wasn't bothered by this until her teenage years when she started gaining weight. Wanting to change her outlook, Chadwick became the Weight-Loss Diary columnist for Shape, a women's fitness magazine. She began this journey because she wanted to feel healthy and strong and wanted to set a good example for her daughter.
As Chadwick struggled to lose weight and eat healthier, she was able to teach her daughter how to strive for healthy-ness instead of striving for weight loss. She also notes that they began eating together as a family. This might not seem very significant, but eating together as a family teaches children life lessons that they wouldn't learn otherwise. Studies show that adults who ate meals with their family as children, eat more fruit and vegetables, nutrients, and drink less soda.
I came home from school the other day and the house was empty. So guess what I did? I ate. A lot. A piece of cake, two cookies, and a handful of Hershey's kisses. Later, I decided that enough was enough and I got up off the couch and went for a run.
It's so easy to keep shoving cookie after cookie into your mouth. In the book Operation Beautiful, Caitlin Boyle says that it's okay to enjoy something sweet every once in a while. But while eating, turn off the TV and enjoy every single bite of your food. This way, you'll feel more satisfied and won't feel the need to go back for seconds, thirds, fourths, you get my point.
Instead of feeling bad about your eating habits, do something about them! Switch out your french fries for a salad or your cookie for an apple. Go for a walk after dinner. Eat your veggies and get moving. You'll be surprised how big a difference such little changes can make.
And remember to be proud of yourself! Because you did something to strengthen your mind, body, and soul. You are beautiful.
My family has never been lazy, but I wouldn't say that we have the best eating habits. I often come home from school and grab a cookie or five before starting my homework. We always have sugar in the house and whenever I tell myself "no, I'm not going to eat that today" another baked good comes out of the oven and onto my plate.
In the book You'd Be So Pretty If . . . by Dara Chadwick, Chadwick talks a lot about how she would watch her daughter sit on the couch and mindlessly eat. So she decided to do something about it. Chadwick never had the best body image. She remembers watching her mother nitpick everything about her body as she stood in front of the mirror. Because she was an athletic child, Chadwick wasn't bothered by this until her teenage years when she started gaining weight. Wanting to change her outlook, Chadwick became the Weight-Loss Diary columnist for Shape, a women's fitness magazine. She began this journey because she wanted to feel healthy and strong and wanted to set a good example for her daughter.
As Chadwick struggled to lose weight and eat healthier, she was able to teach her daughter how to strive for healthy-ness instead of striving for weight loss. She also notes that they began eating together as a family. This might not seem very significant, but eating together as a family teaches children life lessons that they wouldn't learn otherwise. Studies show that adults who ate meals with their family as children, eat more fruit and vegetables, nutrients, and drink less soda.
I came home from school the other day and the house was empty. So guess what I did? I ate. A lot. A piece of cake, two cookies, and a handful of Hershey's kisses. Later, I decided that enough was enough and I got up off the couch and went for a run.
It's so easy to keep shoving cookie after cookie into your mouth. In the book Operation Beautiful, Caitlin Boyle says that it's okay to enjoy something sweet every once in a while. But while eating, turn off the TV and enjoy every single bite of your food. This way, you'll feel more satisfied and won't feel the need to go back for seconds, thirds, fourths, you get my point.
Instead of feeling bad about your eating habits, do something about them! Switch out your french fries for a salad or your cookie for an apple. Go for a walk after dinner. Eat your veggies and get moving. You'll be surprised how big a difference such little changes can make.
And remember to be proud of yourself! Because you did something to strengthen your mind, body, and soul. You are beautiful.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Main Street Models
Maurices is one of my favorite clothing stores ever. I love how they always have appropriate clothing and that their small size is made to fit a normal person and not a stick with arms. I was shopping there with my mother a few weeks ago and as I approached the checkout counter I noticed a huge picture of twelve women posing as models. Perfectly normal, except that they weren't models!
Get this: Maurices has their very own Main Street Model Search in the spring and fall. Women from all across the country submit their application to be a Maurices model. Online voters choose twenty contestants who then submit a video about why they should be the next Main Street Model. Twenty contestants are left and they are brought to Minneapolis, Minnesota to be judged. There are twelve winners, of all shapes and sizes, who do photo shoots and can win money to help their community. But enough about what I have to say . . .
Jennifer Krise was a model winner last year. When she reached the top twenty she was so excited about being able to help her home town by giving the money to a local animal shelter.
Emily Hansen graduated from Iowa State University and hoped that by winning Main Street Model she would be able to show her community's youth and clients (she works with teens struggling with body image and self-confidence) that hard work, goalsetting, and strong values pay off. In her original submission, Emily describes herself as a "six foot three inch, plus size woman who believes that beauty is shown through values, confidence, and services to others." Way to go Emily! By becoming a Main Street Model, Emily was able to show others how she overcame her struggle with body image and realized how much she influenced people with her attitude.
Alyssa Buckley never saw modeling as something to pursue, but through Main Street Model she was able to show women that it's okay to be real. She said, "I like to take care of myself, but more so out of self confidence rather than because that is how I am supposed to be in order to fit in."
Allison Potts wanted to become one of the Main Street Models because of her struggle with body image. She explained that in high school she was athletic and fit, but after graduation she gained over 100 pounds. Allison could never find clothes to fit her right until she found Maurices plus sizes. She said, "I soon started dressing better and felt much better about my appearance even though I was a size twenty four. I joined weight watchers in order to become a healthier person, and as soon as I started dropping sizes, I had to buy more clothes." Through clothing, Allison was able realize her beauty and this motivated her to begin taking better care of her body.
I just think it's so cool how different all these stories are, and yet they all share the same message: you are beautiful, no matter what size you are.
Imperfections are beautiful. Embrace your flaws and smile.
vraiment belle
You might have noticed that I changed the title of my blog. I've been reading a lot of books about body image in order to prepare for an essay that I will be writing soon (which I'm totally excited about writing. Nerdy, I know.). Reading all these books on how skewed our societies view of beauty is got me thinking about some of the blog posts I've written on my own view of beauty.
The websites I've been reading and writing about have their own "catch phrase" and I've wanted to come up with my own. The websites like Mirror, Mirror OFF the Wall, Beauty Re-Defined, and Operation Beautiful all have a single purpose in mind - to help women feel confident with themselves and discover their true beauty apart from society's idea of "beautiful."
As I was reading through blog posts of the past, I realized that I did have a common theme: spirituality and, of course, outer beauty. I was trying to find an ideal "title" to combine the two when I realized that isn't our faith in God, our relationship with our Creator, beautiful? It's truly beautiful. And for some reason, I started thinking in French.
Vrai is the French word for true, as in true or false. Vrai ou faux. Vraiment means truly. And belle, of course means beautiful. So . . .
vraiment belle
because you are truly beautiful: inside and out
And that is my mission statement.
The websites I've been reading and writing about have their own "catch phrase" and I've wanted to come up with my own. The websites like Mirror, Mirror OFF the Wall, Beauty Re-Defined, and Operation Beautiful all have a single purpose in mind - to help women feel confident with themselves and discover their true beauty apart from society's idea of "beautiful."
As I was reading through blog posts of the past, I realized that I did have a common theme: spirituality and, of course, outer beauty. I was trying to find an ideal "title" to combine the two when I realized that isn't our faith in God, our relationship with our Creator, beautiful? It's truly beautiful. And for some reason, I started thinking in French.
Vrai is the French word for true, as in true or false. Vrai ou faux. Vraiment means truly. And belle, of course means beautiful. So . . .
vraiment belle
because you are truly beautiful: inside and out
And that is my mission statement.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Gibson Girls
"She was taller than the other women currently seen in the pages of magazines. Infinitely more spirited and independent, yet altogether feminine. She appeared in a stiff shirtwaist, her soft hair piled into a chignon, topped by a big plumed hat. Her flowing skirt was hiked up in back with just a hint of a bustle. She was poised and patrician. Though always well bred, there often lurked a flash of mischief in her eyes. She would smile, but was never seen laughing; further adding to her enchanting persona of self-assurance." (As described in Susan E. Meyer's book Great American Illustrators.)
The Gibson Girl was created by Charles Dana Gibson in the late 1890s. She was entirely American, born during the women's suffrage movement, she became the icon of the era. She became what both men and women looked to for ideal beauty. Women modeled their hair, clothes, and attitude after this pen and ink drawing.
Charles Gibson began his drawing career at the early age of twelve. His parents recognized his talent and sent him to the Art Students League in Manhattan where he studied for two years. His first successful painting sold for four dollars, and lucky for Gibson, the buyer was from Life magazine. Gibson worked hard and earned a trip to England and Paris to study art. While studying abroad, he met the artist George du Maurier, who advised him in his style. By 1890, Gibson was drawing weekly for Life magazine and created "the American girl to all the world."
Gibson had multiple models pose for his illustrations and they all claimed to be the original Gibson Girl. Gibson believed his creation represented the beauty of the American women. He said, "I'll tell you how I got what you have called the 'Gibson Girl.' I saw her on the streets, I saw her at the theatres, I saw her in the churches. I saw her everywhere and doing everything. I saw her idling on Fifth Avenue and at work behind the counters of the stores . . . There isn't any 'Gibson Girl.' but there are many thousands of American girls, and for that let us all thank God."
I think of her as the Barbie of yesterday. She was confident, strong, what every woman wanted to be . . . and entirely unrealistic. I have to admit, I do admire her character. She was seen as independent, an idea that seemed unsettling with the men of her era.
It is thought that the reason the Gibson Girl didn't survive past the late eighteen, early nineteen hundreds was because her style and personality didn't change with the changing eras such as icons like Barbie. She represented the spirit of the twentieth century. When World War I broke out, the changing fashions booted the Gibson Girl out of favor with women. As American women began to forgo the corsets and shortened their skirts (good heavens!) the Gibson Girl fell out of favor with the practical women who began to embrace masculine suits and the working lifestyle.
Gibson saw the Gibson Girl as a representation of American women she was a motivational movement in the late eighteen hundreds. She helped American women to see that they were strong, independent, and equally minded. But as perfectly shaped as she was, could she perhaps have been the beginning of negative body image?
A movement is underway . . . and you are BEAUTIFUL.
The Gibson Girl was created by Charles Dana Gibson in the late 1890s. She was entirely American, born during the women's suffrage movement, she became the icon of the era. She became what both men and women looked to for ideal beauty. Women modeled their hair, clothes, and attitude after this pen and ink drawing.
Charles Gibson began his drawing career at the early age of twelve. His parents recognized his talent and sent him to the Art Students League in Manhattan where he studied for two years. His first successful painting sold for four dollars, and lucky for Gibson, the buyer was from Life magazine. Gibson worked hard and earned a trip to England and Paris to study art. While studying abroad, he met the artist George du Maurier, who advised him in his style. By 1890, Gibson was drawing weekly for Life magazine and created "the American girl to all the world."
Gibson had multiple models pose for his illustrations and they all claimed to be the original Gibson Girl. Gibson believed his creation represented the beauty of the American women. He said, "I'll tell you how I got what you have called the 'Gibson Girl.' I saw her on the streets, I saw her at the theatres, I saw her in the churches. I saw her everywhere and doing everything. I saw her idling on Fifth Avenue and at work behind the counters of the stores . . . There isn't any 'Gibson Girl.' but there are many thousands of American girls, and for that let us all thank God."
I think of her as the Barbie of yesterday. She was confident, strong, what every woman wanted to be . . . and entirely unrealistic. I have to admit, I do admire her character. She was seen as independent, an idea that seemed unsettling with the men of her era.
It is thought that the reason the Gibson Girl didn't survive past the late eighteen, early nineteen hundreds was because her style and personality didn't change with the changing eras such as icons like Barbie. She represented the spirit of the twentieth century. When World War I broke out, the changing fashions booted the Gibson Girl out of favor with women. As American women began to forgo the corsets and shortened their skirts (good heavens!) the Gibson Girl fell out of favor with the practical women who began to embrace masculine suits and the working lifestyle.
Gibson saw the Gibson Girl as a representation of American women she was a motivational movement in the late eighteen hundreds. She helped American women to see that they were strong, independent, and equally minded. But as perfectly shaped as she was, could she perhaps have been the beginning of negative body image?
A movement is underway . . . and you are BEAUTIFUL.
Strong Enough
It's easy to feel discouraged, especially during the winter months, when the sky is always dark and the cold seeps into your bones. I always find it harder to get out of bed from December until February. I love listening to the radio in the morning as I get ready for school. There's always an inspirational song playing and I always end up singing it throughout the rest of the day. It helps me mentally prepare for my day and listening to a song like this before I get out of bed in the morning gives me strength.
Sometimes it's hard to feel God. And when you know he's there, you might feel like you're letting Him down. A lot of the time, it would be easier to just give up. I don't have all the answers, but I know that "we don't have to be strong enough" because He's strong enough for the both of us.
Sometimes it's hard to feel God. And when you know he's there, you might feel like you're letting Him down. A lot of the time, it would be easier to just give up. I don't have all the answers, but I know that "we don't have to be strong enough" because He's strong enough for the both of us.
Celebrating Your Faith
June 22, 2000 was when I accepted Christ into my life. I remember the time and the place, I remember the words I spoke. I think it's important to celebrate the day Jesus came into your heart because it signifies a re-birth: "dead to sin, alive in Christ."
And this is the point I got stuck. Honestly, I didn't know what else to write. So I did what all frustrated writers do; I picked up my guitar and started jamming out to all the songs that had been playing in my head all day. As I was trying to find chords to this new song that I had heard, I accidently clicked on the song "I Will Rise" by Chris Tomlin. I began playing it without realizing it wasn't the song I was looking for and suddenly, it seemed to fit with exactly what I was trying to say here.
I think of Baptism like this: when you are immersed in the water, you are releasing all of your sins. Once you rise up out of the water, you are cleansed. Simplistic. Easy. Even Jesus was Baptised (Matthew 3:13-17) by John the Baptist, his cousin, who at first felt unworthy and thought that Jesus should be the one Baptising him. When Jesus came up out of the water a dove came down from Heaven and a voice said, "This is My Son, whom I love. With Him I Am well pleased."
We are called to follow in Jesus' footsteps. After accepting His free gift of salvation, we should shout our faith from the rooftops. Won't you join me in becoming "dead to sin, alive in Christ?"
And this is the point I got stuck. Honestly, I didn't know what else to write. So I did what all frustrated writers do; I picked up my guitar and started jamming out to all the songs that had been playing in my head all day. As I was trying to find chords to this new song that I had heard, I accidently clicked on the song "I Will Rise" by Chris Tomlin. I began playing it without realizing it wasn't the song I was looking for and suddenly, it seemed to fit with exactly what I was trying to say here.
I think of Baptism like this: when you are immersed in the water, you are releasing all of your sins. Once you rise up out of the water, you are cleansed. Simplistic. Easy. Even Jesus was Baptised (Matthew 3:13-17) by John the Baptist, his cousin, who at first felt unworthy and thought that Jesus should be the one Baptising him. When Jesus came up out of the water a dove came down from Heaven and a voice said, "This is My Son, whom I love. With Him I Am well pleased."
We are called to follow in Jesus' footsteps. After accepting His free gift of salvation, we should shout our faith from the rooftops. Won't you join me in becoming "dead to sin, alive in Christ?"
Fat Talk No Talk Back
About a month or two ago I posted about Fat Talk Free Week. I have to admit, I haven't followed through with my vehement promise to no longer Fat Talk about myself (or others). But! the more I research body image the more I realize that I need to renew my promise to myself and you to not speak of Fat Talk.
In the book I'm reading, Operation Beautiful, Fat Talk is described as an expected behavior and "norm" for women. It's a bonding mechanism that females use to "earn" compliments, express emotions, seek social reassurance, and excuse eating behaviors. Instead of making us feel better, however, Fat Talk is a trigger to unhealthy behavior and will often, subconsciously, motivate you to overeat or skip a workout. To make matters worse, Fat Talk is a condition that women rarely notice they participate in.
I am writing this to explain to you that if you participate in Fat Talk, I will reply with a "yes, you could stand to lose a few pounds." So don't be offended. And don't be afraid to confront me when I'm using Fat Talk. Take a stand with me. Fat Talk no talk back.
"When every girl can see her beauty, we will be an army." -Superchick
In the book I'm reading, Operation Beautiful, Fat Talk is described as an expected behavior and "norm" for women. It's a bonding mechanism that females use to "earn" compliments, express emotions, seek social reassurance, and excuse eating behaviors. Instead of making us feel better, however, Fat Talk is a trigger to unhealthy behavior and will often, subconsciously, motivate you to overeat or skip a workout. To make matters worse, Fat Talk is a condition that women rarely notice they participate in.
I am writing this to explain to you that if you participate in Fat Talk, I will reply with a "yes, you could stand to lose a few pounds." So don't be offended. And don't be afraid to confront me when I'm using Fat Talk. Take a stand with me. Fat Talk no talk back.
"When every girl can see her beauty, we will be an army." -Superchick
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)