Beautiful, Beautiful

Like sunlight burning at midnight
Making my life something so
Beautiful, beautiful
Mercy reaching to save me
All that I need
You are so
Beautiful, beautiful

Today my daughter is 3 months old. Today marks one week that I have been back at work (yes I went back to work on a Thursday, short weeks rock). Tomorrow will be one week of Lizzy being in daycare. It’s been one heck of a week, and so I have fallen behind on Project 31. I fully intend to catch up this weekend but not tonight. Tonight I need to eat some comfort food, enjoy my family, take a hot shower, and crawl into bed. I have managed my first full week of being a working mom with minimal crying, no flip outs, and only a few chocolate indulgences. I have renewed my affections for coffee though.

I feel stronger as a person than I have in a long time. What makes you feel strong?

Sweetest Moments and Project 31

This morning my husband, our beautiful girl, and myself laid in bed after her morning feeding. It was one of those moments that I will cherish forever. Lots of smiles were shared and sweet coo’s and aahh’s. I could not have asked for a more amazing morning.

I have to say, I am completely and utterly in love with my daughter. She makes each day such a gift. My first few days at work, I was told over and over that I am just glowing. I glow because of her, I glow for her.

Project 31

Day 3: Who is someone you know that inspires beauty?

Right now, I would have to say that J, my husband, is the person that inspires beauty for me. He has known me for almost 11 years. He has seen me at my thinnest and at my heaviest. He has seen me both as a friend and as a lover. He sat with me through 30 hours of labor and an emergency c-section. He held me though my lowest points of post partum depression. To this very moment, he still tells me I am beautiful. Not only that but he shows me.

Now, I am watching him tell Lizzy how beautiful she is and I pray that he will be able to instill in her the same confidence he has given me. I feel completely comfortable around him no matter my attire or how I feel. I feel the beauty he sees in me. I wouldn’t trade that for the world.

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!

Being a working mom and Project 31

I have been back at work for 2 days so far and have not cried once. I feel that is a decent accomplishment! I took 12 weeks of maternity leave and came back to an almost entirely different culture at work. When I left in November we were at roughly 200 employees and now are at about 115. People have been demoted, moved, fired, or left willingly. We have an entirely new payroll and employee system that was rolled out shortly before I left but is now in full effect (lots to learn there). They upgraded all of our phone systems and will be upgrading all computers shortly. So, basically short of the building moving, it is VERY different. I was welcomed back with wide open arms though and told how much I was missed. Getting back into the swing of things was not as scary or difficult as I had feared. Lizzy starts daycare next week, I think it will be a lot harder at that point!

Project 31

Day 2: What makes you uniquely you?
I’ve been a vegetarian since I was 3 or 4, by choice not forced upon me. I’m incredibly patient. I have strong faith in God. I can burp as well as most every guy I meet. I read, a LOT. I could live off of french fries  or any type of potato really. I never apologize for being who I am at my core.
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!

Returning to work and Project 31

Tomorrow I head back to the corporate world of clients, employee complaints, benefits questions and away from my sweet girl with her diaper changes and happy smiles. Am I ready? Not at all. I have been incredibly blessed to stay home 12 weeks with her and I am forever grateful to my amazing husband to provide me that option. Even though I will probably enjoy having adult conversations again and dressing up, how would I want to leave this face?

Project 31

I have decided to further explore my quest to find beauty in the world by doing Project 31.  I find the idea to be both challenging and fun. It comes from an awesome blog called She Breathes Deeply and is based off of Proverbs 31.  So lets jump in!

Day One: What does beauty mean to you?

beau·ty

-noun, plural -ties.

1.

the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).
To me, beauty is something that shines from the inside out. People who are beautiful to me, have a quality that radiates out, creating their beauty. Even objects or places tend to have a spiritual essence or emotional edge that make that strike me as beautiful. Moments can be beautiful. Waking up next to my husband and having that 5 minutes of slowly waking up together is one of those moments. My daughter smiling at me and reaching for my hand is one of those moments.
For myself, beauty is not about expensive clothes or the perfect haircut. I feel my best when I feel confident, that is where I find beauty. Yes, putting on make up, a cute outfit, and doing my hair help. I won’t pretend otherwise, but even with all those things I may not feel beautiful if I am not confident and happy inside.
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!

I’m Still Enchanted

I blink my eyes and I am so, so enchanted
There's so much beauty that we take for granted

 

Do you remember that feeling as a little girl? A wooded area was a magical land and you were an enchanted princess? How do we  loose that ability to see beauty around us?

I want to find that again. I long to feel connected to the world around me, to see the unseen, to find light in darkness. It got lost along the way to the corporate world, motherhood, marriage, and to do lists. My goal is simple, find beauty daily, find magic in my surroundings, radiate light. It’s easy to forget that it is easy to find, it  may be in my daughters smile, my husbands touch, or my daily chat with God. It’s more than just seeing beauty in the things around me but also the beauty in myself.

Stay tuned.