Write to encourage a friend to inspire her beauty.

Dear Megan,

You, my dear, are one of the beautifulest people I know, inside and out. Your modesty keeps you from realizing it the majority of time, but, believe me, it is there. If you could only see yourself as others see you, Meg, you would understand why you are such a valued friend. Your kindness for others always shines through, even on your tiredest of days. Your knowledge for EVERYTHING is admirable to say the least. You are a very passionate woman, full of a variety of loves, such as your love of books, the French Language, God, music, etc. Your outer beauty shines immensely as well, yet I know you rarely see it. I see it. I know how beautiful you are and I'm not the only one. Hopefully, someday, you will see it too.

I love you, even with all of these miles separating us.

Style 31. Post an outfit pic!

This was one of our engagement pictures from, what?, July 2009. Sorry. I don't have any current pictures of me. :(

Write about something you would like to change about yourself for the better.

As I've said before with this challenge (and I'm sure I'll say again), patience. I need to learn to be more patient. I need to learn to let go of my need to control and learn to be patient. If things aren't perfect, so what! They are what they are. If things are meant to happen. they will. Just not necessarily in my time frame. I need to let go of control and gain more patience.

Write about what wears you out as a woman.

Hormones. Emotions. Society's expectations. Self expectations.

That's what wears me down as a woman. Yup.

Post a recipe. Or if you don't cook, try a new recipe and write about how it turned out (pictures please!).

Baked Oatmeal

3 cups quick cooking oats
¾ cup sugar
1 cup milk
⅓ cup melted butter
2 eggs
2 tsp baking powder
¾ tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350° F. Combine all ingredients in mixing bowl and mix well. Spread batter into a greased 9 x 13 pan [I used an 8x8 pan instead, hoping for gooier oatmeal, but I think I baked it too long. It was good, but it wasn't gooey. Just moist] and bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.

Variations: Add 1 cup of chopped apples or other fruits or nuts. This is really good with a little milk poured over the top. You can also add additional toppings after baking as well.

I prepared this the night before we had to get up early for an all day thing we were doing. I prepared it and put it in the refrigerator over night, covered. I baked it in the morning and it was still fabulous. I have a picture, but it's stuck on the iPhone until I find the cord.

Virtues and education

What virtues do I value in myself? I... I... I don't know. I don't know what virtues I have. I try to make wise decisions. One of my New Year's resolutions was to avoid situations that make me someone I don't want to be: jealous, inebriated, unwholesome, frivolous, greedy, etc. I am striving to become someone that will make my husband, my family and, most importantly, God proud.

Right now, I am full of love for so many people; some I show on a regular basis, others I have in my heart and I need to work harder to show them that they are loved. I have hope that I will let my control issues go and learn to trust. And, what I believe is extremely valuable to me, I have faith. Faith in God, faith in others, faith in Timmy and faith in myself.

Such a smooth segue

I am a student. I am a student of life. Everyone is. My teacher is Jesus and our textbook is the Bible. I need to study the Book and learn different things my Teacher has to teach me. I'm most certainly aiming for a good grade to show I have learned the lessons that everyone needs to know. Right now, my lesson seems obvious to me. I need to, and am in the process of, learning patience.

Patience as the wife of the Timmy. I need to hold my temper. I need to let T help me more. I need to help him more. And I need to do it with a smile on my face, without sarcasm in my voice, without roughness in my actions. And the hardest type of patience right now: the wait to become a mother. It will happen. Someday. Somehow. But it might not be how I plan.

Because, honestly, it's not really my plan, is it?

Day 8: Have a beauty secret (e.g. hair tip, make up tip)? Share, please!

Who am I to give beauty tips?!? My fashion style would be considered classically comfortable. I am a wash and go kind of girl when it comes to my hair. I never wear make up. Heck, at my own wedding, I only wore mascara and some lip gloss. It might have only been chap stick! I do love the plain/original Burt's Bees chap stick lip balm. So perhaps I should just say my beauty secret is confidence. I am confident that the beauty I possess inside will shine through to the outside (if I have that inner beauty to shine).

That, and that Burt's Bees Beeswax "Lip Balm". :)

A blog to encourage another beautiful woman

My sister-in-law Teresa, with cutie pie Joslyn and her husband, J.

My sister-in-law Teresa is truly a beautiful woman in every sense of the word and I'm not just saying that because she reads this blog (doesn't hurt, but not my reason). She is a wonderful mother and so loving and caring toward her family. She is hardworking, yet easy going. Lover of animals, she fosters dogs while caring for her own dogs as well. She honors the Lord and has a relationship with Him. Read Proverb 31 and you'd get a good idea about what kind of a woman I see when I see Teresa. She's a wonderful, wonderful woman.

Teresa, I know things are/can be tough, but we see what a good job you are doing. Joslyn is so lucky to have such a woman as her mommy. She will grow up well, knowing she is loved. There is no way that she couldn't with the love you and J show her. Don't give up hope. Remember, you have me to help you remember that the answer is in a box on the table.

Love you guys. :) So, so much.

A blog thanking someone who has made your heart come alive.

I don't think my heart was truly alive until I met this guy named Timmy. His kindness towards friends, family, strangers, everybody. His love of God and Jesus. His goofy nature and talented drumming skills. I was one lucky lady when he asked me to marry him.

When I became part of his family, I became part of his family. His mother and sisters didn't hesitate to claim me as one of them. The two littles (Lucian and Joslyn) make me smile just thinking about their adorable little faces. I swear I have the best in laws, thanks to the Timmy.

The Timmy's love for me also keeps my heart feeling alive. When we said our wedding vows and said for better and for worse, neither one of us had any idea what our future held (or even still holds), but, with Timmy by my side (and God in my heart), I know everything will be okay.

Style 31. Post a pic of you in your favorite outfit.

Now imagine that stick figure drawing actually eats and is wearing a simple black fitted T shirt and a light brown corduroy skirt with black flip flops and you've got my favorite outfit. I usually pair this with either a blue jean jacket or a white denim jacket. And, of course, my silver/ white gold cross necklace.

My stick figure self looks a little like Liz Lemon. Huh.

Who is someone you know who inspires beauty?

This woman

My grandmother on my wedding day

What makes you uniquely you?

Most of my 'unique' personality traits are something that someone else in the world may have, just maybe not the full list.

A list of things that, combined, make me uniquely me:

• Female
• married
• Two mutt-type dogs: Isabella Chacharita (aka Izzie), a 5 year old yorkie-chihuahua mix and Shizelle Noelle (aka Ellie), a 1 year old Australian Shepard-black lab mix
• Type 1 Diabetic for 15 years today (post on that to come later). Only type 1 in my family.
  
• Lover of books
• Sarcastic sense of humor
• Used to meditate in 7th grade homeroom with my good friend, Airhead :)
• Youngest child, with two real brothers, two step-sisters and one step-brother. Plus my many wonderful sisters-in-law (from my marriage and my brother's marriages) and my sisters from another mister and brothers from another mother.
• I have the CUTEST nieces and nephew. Ever. No competition. At all.
• I want to adopt someday and cannot wait for that day to arrive. Sure, I hope to have my own as well, but adopting? That's something I've always wanted to do, from the time I was a little girl, playing with my barbies.
• I can play the viola and cello, but not a guitar or piano.
• I taught myself how to sew.
• I once had a couple of photographs I took in a juried art show.

I'm done making this list, but I know there are tons more that I didn't mention. If you know me in real life, what do you think I left off? What do you think makes me unique?

What does beauty mean to you?

Beauty is the smile on someone's face, the laughter on their lips.
Beauty is puppy kisses and baby snuggles.
Beauty is the sunset on a clear spring day.
Beauty is my husband's love for me.
Beauty is the volunteer helping the community.
Beauty is voices of a church choir.
Beauty is a picture of a loved one you miss.
Beauty is a phone call from a soldier who is deployed across the ocean.
Beauty is love, plain and simple. Whether it is from family or friends or strangers or God. Especially love from God.

Beauty is you.

Starting tomorrow

Before my husband married me, he mentioned that, growing up, he was taught to look for a wife that fit Proverb 31. A few months after that, he asked me to marry him. It has led me to wonder: Do I fit that? Am I a woman like the Bible speaks of in Proverb 31? I'm not sure, but I hope so. Apparently, the Timmy felt I was (or could be); after all, he married me.

This month, several other female bloggers are doing a daily blog about various topics dealing with womenhood, beauty and Proverb 31. I have decided to join in, hoping to help me see if I am that "woman of noble character" that my husband was looking for and also to see how I can improve.

THE LIST:


Day 1. What does beauty mean to you?
Day 2. What makes you uniquely you?
Day 3. Who is someone you know who inspires beauty?
Day 4. Style 31. Post a pic of you in your favorite outfit.
Day 5. Write a blog thanking someone who has made your heart come alive.
Day 6. Jaded beauty. Has the world's definition of beauty ever jaded you?
Day 7. Write a blog to encourage another beautiful woman.
Day 8. Have a beauty secret (e.g. hair tip, make up tip)? Share, please!
Day 9. What virtues do you value in yourself?
Day 10. What is Jesus teaching you as a wife, mom, or friend? (Or just woman in general?)
Day 11. Post a recipe. Or if you don't cook, try a new recipe and write about how it turned out (pictures please!).
Day 12. Write about what wears you out as a woman.
Day 13. Write about something you would like to change about yourself for the better.
Day 14. Style 31. Post an outfit pic!
Day 15. Write to encourage a friend. Inspire her beauty.
Day 16. Write a letter to your daughter, or a young girl in your life. Tell her what beauty means.
Day 17. Write about 3 things that make you happy.
Day 18. Describe your personality.
Day 19. Write about your favorite comfort food (we are women- we ALL have comfort food!)
Day 20. Write about your job and why you love it or hate it.
Day 21. Write a letter to your husband to encourage him (or if you are single- your future husband.)
Day 22. What are some needs that need to be met in your community? Blog about how to extend your hand to those who need you.
Day 23. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?
Day 24. What is Jesus teaching you presently?
Day 25. Style 31. Post a pic of your favorite comfy clothes.
Day 26. What do you hope your grandchildren will say about you someday when you are gone?
Day 27. Write a blog to encourage someone and build their confidence!
Day 28. Write about your insecurities as a woman.
Day 29. Write about "a day in the life of me." (Pics are great!)
Day 30. Who is your role model as a woman?
Day 31. Write about your dreams and goals as a beautiful woman!