fashion

There once was a mom from the ‘ville

She was so cool, she was “chill”

too fly to keep junk

in her mini-van’s trunk

She finally took those bags to Goodwill!

I had a little “aha” moment today… It’s not all that life changing- but it was for me!

I sat in my youngest daughter’s room and folded clothes with her. Her room is an absolute pigsty. Her biggest hurdle is that her bigger sister passes down all her clothes to her, so she has lots of things in her room that will eventually fit.. that almost fit… along with the many things that she is able to wear. Then she is also given a few things by friends which she refuses to get rid of- because in her mind, those clothes are pieces of her friends… they remind her of them. And so I told her this morning-

“We are getting rid of EVERYTHING that you do not wear TODAY. EVERYTHING!!”

It was completely a God thing, because she shrugged her shoulders and just simply said “ok”. Let me just simply say- that NEVER happens…

I continued to tell her all this “stuff” in her room was getting in the way of all the things that she actually could wear RIGHT NOW…that look great TODAY.

And one by one, she folded and gave away many pieces that she loved, but that did not fit her.

Seeing how easy this (usually) daunting task was for us today inspired me to practice what I was preaching to my daughter.

I pulled out a dress I wore when I first found out I was pregnant with my first daughter – after I had lost 100 lbs and was in the best shape of my life. I loved that dress… but not as much as I love my daughter. And why do I want to keep a reminder of the body that I will never have again? I folded the dress and put it in the bag.

I pulled on a pair of pants that were a little snug. I loved this pair of pants… the soft cotton felt like velvet on my skin…but once again, they were not flattering. I folded them and put them in a bag.

Do you watch survivor? You know that final walk where the remaining contestants walk and remember all the other contestants that left before them? That is sort of what I did today. I took a walk down memory lane… and it’s not the actual pieces of clothing that I love… it’s the memories I made while I was in them. And no one can take those away from me.

And I realized- again– that I need stop longing for how I used to look, for the size that I am not…and love me for me.

Today I’m thankful that love comes in “one size fits all”!!

Above all, clothe yourselves with love- Colossians 3:14

It’s ok to be a trend-setter

a goldenrod go-getter

Show your true colors

let your dead leaves fall

It’s ok to be a trail-blazer

a “shoot for the stars”-gazer

come on, light up the world

and give Him your all

As I went on a walk on this loverly fall evening, I noticed the leaves are FINALLY starting to change. One tree at a time is bursting forth in heavenly color- paving the way for the rest of them …which made me think about my daughters.

Each girl has their own unique style. My youngest is “sporty” and loves to wear mix-matched socks- the crazier the better. My oldest daughter is a “girly-girl” and likes to accessorize every outfit- fancy or casual- with a scarf. I am trying to encourage them to be themselves- to not get so caught up in what their friends are wearing and doing…for them to know that it’s ok to be different.

One day we were walking through the mall and my girls were talking to me about recent fashion trends.

“I just heard someone say that “fringe” is in. I think fringe is disgusting!” one daughter says to the other.

“Umm… especially armpit fringe. That’s just the worst!” says my youngest, as she pointed at a shirt in the store’s window display as we were leaving- all decked out in fringe. The fringe started right at the armpit and went all the way down the sides of the shirt.

I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of armpit fringe. It seems these girls already recognize that following a “trend” isn’t always the thing to do.

Be yourself. And who knows- you just might start your own trend!

He has made every thing beautiful in his time- Ecclesiastes 3:11