Melts our hearts

Sarah cuddling with Benjamin

The love that surrounds this little guy and, everyone else for that matter, in this home just melts our hearts!  

Just To Make You Smile . . .

Modesty and Obedience Collide!!

Here is someone that is seeking to light her world!  Posted on one of our favorite sites www.club31women.com

(Little disclaimer:  We probably would not agree with everything Ms. Jasmine deems as modest, but I was so blessed by her heart and desire to obey the Lord. She is obviously much more modest than she use to be.  We are all a work in progress!  Her heart and each of our hearts to obey is the key thing!)

The Day My Love for Fashion Collided with God’s Call to Modesty

It all started in the spring of 2014.

I had recently rededicated myself to Christ and was committed to living a life fully submitted to Him.

One afternoon I was rummaging through my closet in search of something to wear. I reached for one of my cropped tops when God spoke a word to me, that at the time, I’d rather have not heard.

As clear as day, God said, “Throw your revealing clothes away.”    

Out of my commitment to being obedient, I grabbed a trash bag, and less than willingly began to remove every questionable piece of clothing from my wardrobe. I tried negotiating with God to keep my short shorts, but He just wasn’t having it. 

Shortly after this incident, God spoke another word to me.

A little back story – I had worked in the fashion industry for about five years at this point and held a managerial position at a rapidly growing company. I had the opportunity to travel all over the world and work in places like Paris, London, and New York.  

I had always dreamed of starting my own business within the industry; however, my ideas didn’t necessarily do anything positive for the Kingdom. The concept promoted an edgy, rebellious attitude, encouraging women to show more skin in the name of “empowerment.” 

But God – being the humorous God that He is – completely shifted my desires and pressed on my heart that He wanted me to start a modest clothing company. 

When I thought of modest clothing companies, the image that immediately came to mind was layers and layers of fabric draped in very unflattering ways. I wouldn’t necessarily pair the words “modest clothing company” and “fashionable” together.

But maybe that’s why God gave me this vision. Could it be that He saw a niche in the market that He needed me to fulfill?

Soon I began to realize that His plan was deeper than just the fashion, He had a message. 

See, all my life I was taught by culture and the media that revealing more of my body would make me feel beautiful, confident, and get me the man of my dreams. 

Oh, the lies the enemy would love us to believe!

Dressing the way that I did only resulted in getting me the wrong kind of attention, and it hindered me from possessing the true confidence that can only be found in Christ.

The scary thing is that I know I’m not the only woman being fed this lie. The culture is becoming more and more hypersexualized by the second, and with the increasing popularity of social media, the “sex sells” image is constantly being pushed in our faces.

I want to reinvent the way the world thinks about modesty. 

I want to inspire this generation of women not to conform to what the world defines as “cool”, but to realize that there is nothing more liberating than unapologetically living to glorify God in every aspect of our lives, including our clothing.

In the fall of 2015, by faith, and with the help of the unarguable nudging of the Holy Spirit,I left my job in the secular fashion industry and have been hard at work turning my passion into purpose with Gracemade, a faith-driven lifestyle brand where faith and fashion coexist. 

Gracemade: Reinventing modesty

My vision is to provide a fashion-forward alternative to dowdy modest apparel and to show women that they can still express their personal style while honoring their faith.

It’s not only a clothing line; it’s also a community.

A community that empowers women to be all that God has created them to be. 

Jasmine Rennie is the founder of faith-driven fashion startup, Gracemade. She has a passion for inspiring women to fulfill their God-given purpose, and to live boldly and fearlessly in faith. Jasmine is based in Southern California and is obsessed with Jesus, design, and all things food related. 

The Cost by RC Ryle

How blessed we were this morning to read this gem! When I searched for it, to post it, I also found highlights of the article being read on YouTube; so I am including the audio, for those who maybe only have ten minutes or so and also the link to the full article in written format.  Well worth the read.

Link to the site where you can read it.

http://www.gracegems.org/Ryle/h05.htm

SAVE THE DATE: June 3rd National Doughnut Day

Well, for everyone that enjoys those amazing Krispy Kreme doughnuts, especially when the "Hot and Now" sign is on...

Friday, June 3rd, is National Doughnut Day 

and in honor of that...

Krispy Kreme is offering 

FREE DOUGHNUTS!!!

As their website states:

"Whether it's powdered, filled or a hot Original Glazed®, stop in for a free doughnut from Krispy Kreme. In honor of National Doughnut Day, on Friday, June 3, stop in to any Krispy Kreme US or Canadian location for a FREE doughnut of any variety--including its world famous Original Glazed® doughnut. No purchase necessary."

Now, for those of you that are history buffs or for the homeschooling mom that wants to turn eating amazing doughnuts into a field trip to watch the incredible process of these yummies being made and add a little history lesson in ;-)...

The History Behind National Doughnut Day

"National Doughnut Day started in 1938 as a fund raiser for Chicago's The Salvation Army. Their goal was to help those in need during the Great Depression, and to honor The Salvation Army "Lassies" of World War I, who served doughnuts to soldiers.

Soon after the US entrance into World War I in 1917, The Salvation Army sent a fact-finding mission to France. The mission concluded that the needs of US enlisted men could be met by canteens/social centers termed "huts" that could serve baked goods, provide writing supplies and stamps, and provide a clothes-mending service. Typically, six staff members per hut would include four female volunteers who could "mother" the boys. These huts were established by The Salvation Army in the United States near army training centers.

About 250 Salvation Army volunteers went to France. Because of the difficulties of providing freshly baked goods from huts established in abandoned buildings near to the front lines, the two Salvation Army volunteers (Ensign Margaret Sheldon and Adjutant Helen Purviance) came up with the idea of providing doughnuts. These are reported to have been an "instant hit", and "soon many soldiers were visiting The Salvation Army huts". Margaret Sheldon wrote of one busy day: "Today I made 22 pies, 300 doughnuts, 700 cups of coffee."

Soon, the women who did this work became known by the servicemen as "Doughnut Girls"."

~Wikipedia

Krispy Kreme website notes...

"Held annually on the first Friday of June, Doughnut Day was established by The Salvation Army in 1938 to honor The Salvation Army’s “Doughnut Lassies,” who served the treats to soldiers during World War I. The “Doughnut Lassies” are often credited with popularizing the doughnut in the United States when the troops returned home from war. 

 

Customers are encouraged to donate to The Salvation Army’s miniature Red Kettles stationed at the registers of participating Krispy Kreme locations. All donations will support the local communities where the donation was made. "

As a side note, if you've never had the experience of watching doughnuts be made at Krispy Kreme's, you really should go experience it at least once!  It's a lot of fun to watch.  :-)

Okay...I just have to add this little note in as well.  For those of us that are trying to watch our weight, you can either go for the gusto and if you're going to spurge, splurge all the way and ENJOY EVERY BITE!!!  Or, if you're going to try to be good (or at least as good as you can be and still eat a doughnut ;-)) you will probably want to stick to the original glazed doughnut as it is considerably lower in calories (190 calories verses 290-400 calories). :-)

ENJOY! :-)

~Breanna

4 Months Old

Happy!! Happy!! Happy!!

Simply adorable! 

Daddy delighting in his little guy.

Oh that four months have already gone by.  We delight and cherish each and every day.