Lifestyle

Showing posts with label Lifestyle. Show all posts

New Patio!

Monday, May 29, 2023

We installed a new covered patio this spring, and we are so in love!

And when I say, "we," I mean we paid professionals to install a covered patio for us this spring.

We asked Brendan Johnson Landscaping, a favorite local business (and personal friend) to make our backyard paradise dreams come true! I would highly recommend them for all of your landscaping/hardscaping needs if you are in the Cookeville area.

Rug / Patio Furniture / Fire Pit / Butterfly Pillow

Brendan is so knowledgeable and really took the reigns on everything which worked out great because I had NO idea where to begin. We simply told him that we had a vision of a covered patio with a fireplace and TV. I also mentioned that I wanted it to generally match the rest of our house. Brendan is capable of just about any project, but I didn't want a ridiculously grandiose patio on our modest home.

Honestly, our expectations were low to begin with because anything would look better than the dilapidated deck we had going on out there. We were just so happy to have something better than that. But Brendan understood our wishes completely and far exceeded our expectations! Sometimes I can't believe it's our space! 😍

Before
ft. Dolly and our neglected deck

Progress pics....

We have a covered portion and a full sun area with a small retaining wall/bench seat

AFTER!

We have so enjoyed spending time out there so far this summer...grilling out, watching baseball games, and entertaining friends. We have always LOVED our back yard and are so grateful to be able to enjoy it in this way now. Looking forward to many fun times ahead.

XOXO,

Abbylish

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*I receive a small commission for purchases made through links in this post.

However, I simply promote the brands and products that I love, and all opinions are my own.*

5 Things Faith Featured Lifestyle

5 Ways to Avoid "Stuff-Envy"

Monday, October 19, 2020

I recently came across the phrase "stuff-envy" in a First5 app devotional on Ecclesiastes 6. In the lesson titled Roving Appetite Recovery, Wendy Pope discussed how, "even as an adult [she] struggled with an appetite for what others had." She reminded readers that, "obsessing over things we desire robs us of the joy of God's blessings."

If you've been a follower of mine for a while, you know that the concept of"stuff-envy" is something with which I've really struggled. I've considered shutting down Abbylish on multiple occasions mostly due to the moral quandary of promoting materialism when it's something that can so consume my own life.

While it seems so obvious and easy to just find satisfaction in God rather than things, it's not always so simple to make that mind shift. So today, I'm sharing five practical ways to avoid "stuff-envy" and to help correct a "roving appetite" from the inside out. These are just some of the applications that I've put into place in my own life over the past few years that I've found to be successful and beneficial.

1. Get off social media

This is obviously hard for me to recommend because I don't want to lose my online friends and followers. But, I know first hand how cleansing an extended break from social media can be.

It's amazing how much you stop caring about what everybody else is doing when you just don't see it 24/7. You can't have FOMO if you don't even know it's happening in the first place! I encourage you to take a social media hiatus every so often, whether for a week, a month, or even longer and see how it makes you feel. I guarantee you won't regret scrolling the internet less.

2. Do NOT create more storage

Another reason we can't have kids any time soon is that I'm using every square inch of storage space in our home (including both spare bedrooms and closets) for my own crap. Greg and I have talked about opening up access to our attic, but honestly, our current lack of storage space deters me from buying a ton of things I don't need. Sometimes more space = more things to fill it.

Do I want a Christmas tree in every room of the house, each with their own holly jolly theme? Of course! But I don't have the room to store them, and so I'm forced to recognize the fact that said Christmas trees aren't a need and that I can even *happily* live without them.

3. Two Week Rule

My mom once told me that if you didn't wear something within two weeks of purchasing it, return it. Not sure where she first heard that advice, but it's some of the truest in my life. If you're not dying to wear it the next day after buying it, you will most likely lose interest. That's why I have a love/hate relationship with events like the Nordstrom Sale. You get yourself all hyped up for overpriced sweaters and boots in JULY, months before you can even wear them!

Basically, the Two Week Rule helps you decipher if the stuff you're envying will actually serve you in some way. It helped me realize that I don't need to buy any business-type clothes. I can appreciate a structured blazer or a pencil skirt, but I know that I'm rarely ever going to find myself in a time or place where I will need those pieces. So, while I may be tempted to buy them, when I really stop and think about it, I know I don't need them. Same with "church dresses." I grew up attending a more traditional "Sunday best" church where I wore pretty dresses every single week. Now, Greg and I attend a gathering with a more casual vibe, so the formal dresses just aren't really a necessity in my closet anymore. I'm still so attracted to pretty frocks, but I have now realized that my money is better spent elsewhere.

4. Refresh > Hoarding

Another rule I've adopted in life is: if you do get something new, get rid of something old. Channel your inner Marie Kondo and occasionally declutter areas of your home. As hokey as it sounds, I love her idea of "thanking" the items for serving you when they did and sending them on to a new life! Try not to feel like you're losing something by donating or selling old items. Consider the fact they're going to get much more use from a new owner than they will by sitting in storage at your house.

5. PRAY!!

I guess I should have listed this as number one, because it really should be your first line of defense. Pray for God to fill your heart with love for Him instead of things. Ask Him for wisdom and strength to overcome the struggle of "stuff-envy." And thank Him for the many blessings in your life. I've often found that when you stop and focus on all of the things, experiences, and relationships God has already blessed you with, those things that you seemingly don't have start to lose their importance.

If you struggle with "stuff-envy"like I do, I hope these suggestions are helpful. Please know that I don't believe consumerism, shopping, or even materialism to be inherently evil things. However, when not kept in check in my own life, they can grow into sinful idols that rob me of the abundant life that Jesus came to give me.

Let me know if you have any other suggestions to keeping "stuff-envy" at bay. Prayers for all of you who may be working on this with me!

XOXO,

Abby

Lifestyle

How I Survived COVID-19

Sunday, August 30, 2020

Ok, so the title of this post is a bit dramatic.

While Greg and I both, in fact, came down with COVID-19 a few weeks ago, our symptoms were never super serious, and we were able to self treat and recover without any trips to the hospital. I guess a more accurate title would be, "How I Survived Quarantine" as this post is centered on all of the things that kept me sane during my 10+ day stay at home. Thankfully, my symptoms were mild in the grand scheme of things (I never even broke a fever), so the house arrest was, by far, the worst part.

As if being on lockdown wasn't bad enough, this quarantine also fell during my 21 Day fast from social media. When mindlessly scrolling the socials would have been the easiest way to pass my time, I tried to avoid it. (Disclaimer: I did log on a few times for various reasons, but I tried not to linger). Ultimately, I know that having endless access to Instagram and Facebook would only have accentuated my FOMO and definitely wouldn't have made this quarantine any better, so I'm glad I stuck it out.

I obviously hope and pray that none of y'all also contract COVID, but in case you do, (or you just find yourself stuck at home for whatever reason) here are some of the things I did to pass the time.

1. Puzzles

My sister brought us some jigsaw puzzles as well as books of (easy) crossword puzzles and word searches. Those have been such life savers. They require some brain power, but not too much, and they were a welcome break from when we just couldn't look at a screen for another second.

2. Read

By the grace of God, I got a library card the week before I got COVID. Greg bought me a Kindle for our anniversary back in July, and I have several books that I want to read but am not actually invested enough to purchase them and keep them forever. I downloaded the Libby app so that I could read some library books on my Kindle. That being said, if I hadn't gotten the library card in time (you have to go in person to get a library card which obviously wouldn't have been feasible while quarantining), I probably would have just bought the books. Reading was a great a way to pass the time.

Y'all know I love everything written by author, Beatriz Williams. I'm already caught up on all of the novels she's written so far, so I've started on her collaboration novels that she wrote with Karen White and Lauren Willig. There are three, and they're just as good as her stand alone work!

3. Home Project

There were a few days during quarantine when I actually felt pretty miserable and was definitely not getting off the couch. But, once my energy returned, I was itching for something to do. I've been so inspired by this photo from Pretty on Fridays, and I'm wanting to do a sponge accent wall in our guest room. Unfortunately, I thought I had enough leftover paint from another project to go ahead and tackle this. But, alas, I did not. So, this project will have to wait until I can go to a paint store! I looked into Clare paints which can be shipped to your door, but it appears as though they only come in gallons, and I really don't need that much.

4. Piano

I took piano lessons during most of my school years, and I have a nice electric piano that my Dad let me borrow (does it still count as borrowing if I've had it for over five years???). I've gotten pretty rusty, but it's crazy how fast an hour goes by when I sit down to play. * This is especially ironic because my teacher used to have me practice 30 whole minutes a day, five days a week. At the time, that was practically torture!! 😂 Anyway, what better time than quarantine to brush up on an old skill?

5. Record Player

For Christmas last year, Greg and I bought my Dad a little record player so that he could dust off his vast collection of old vinyls. Since then, we became interested in getting into the hobby of record collecting ourselves. After a few fails (some cheap record players are just that...CHEAP) and many YouTube rabbit trails, we finally landed on a nice, affordable record player that's perfect for beginners. We've been loving the records we've bought so far, but we're looking forward to the day that we can visit a record shop in person and search for some hidden gems.

6. Podcasts

The most strenuous thing I've done in the last two week is take Luna on a few walks. I love listening to Podcasts while we walk. They were also great background listening for when I was working on my puzzle (I realize that was the most Grandma statement ever, but this is where we've come, people). These are my current favorites:

Absolutely Not with Heather McMahan - NOT appropriate to listen to with kids around
Be There in Five - This podcast has been around for 2 years now, but I'm just now getting into it. Host, Kate Kennedy, seems to like literally all the same things I like, so I've been enjoying it.
Correct Opinions with Trey Kennedy - for more family friendly laughs
The ASMR Garden - Ok this is weird, but I went down a deep rabbit hole learning about ASMR one night during quarantine. If you don't know what it is, I encourage you to give it a Google. Whether you're into it or not, it's definitely intriguing. Anyway, I found this podcast, and it is the best thing ever to get you off to sleep. When you listen, you get so relaxed, your head gets all tingly, and before you know it, you're out like a light.
Zack to the Future - Haven't actually started this one yet, but it's about Saved By The Bell so it's a no brainer for me.

7. Early Christmas Shopping

There was honestly no point in buying a single thing for myself during this time (that's not to say that I didn't purchase a few things for myself) because I've been wearing sweats for 10 days straight. And, I really don't plan on rushing out into tons of social activities once I'm free to leave the house. God forbid I get the 'rona AGAIN!! Anyway, I started scoping out some gift ideas the other day to go ahead and get ahead of the holiday game. I love having my Christmas shopping done early. And, hey! One positive of this absolute dumpster fire of a year is that, at this rate, I could have all of my shopping done by next month!

I went ahead and started a few gifting tabs on the blog that will help you find the perfect Gifts for Him, Gifts for Her, and Gifts for Kids no matter what time of year. I'll obviously be updating them as I find new things, so by the actual holiday season, there should be tons of ideas!

What a weird, freakin' year this has been. I've never wanted time to move faster than I want it to right now. Which is so strange for me because, all my life, I feel like I've wished for more time or for time to go slower. My mother always cautioned me not to "wish my life away."

I'm doing my best to continue living by that motto. I'm striving to keep the faith, and I try to distract myself from feeling lousy by counting my blessings, which are abundant. But the fact remains...this year has just been crappy! Regardless, I have this feeling that I may reflect back on this time of quarantine, and this year in general, with a few fond memories...maybe?? hopefully?? Even though it was a challenging several days, (here, I'd like to you visualize Greg making the absolute most noise he's ever made in his life while I'm attempting to meditate in Savasana pose), I've enjoyed finding different and creative ways to occupy my time. Ways that don't include keeping up with the news, politics, or what everyone else is doing.

Whether you have COVID or not, I'm sure you're spending more time than ever within the walls of your own home. As the colder seasons approach *sigh*, I hope this rundown of things that helped me ward off cabin fever will bless your life in some way. I'd also love to hear any of your own tips, tricks, and ideas that you've implemented during this year of social distancing.

XOXO,

Abby

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*I receive a small commission for purchases made through links in this post.

However, I simply promote the brands and products that I love, and all opinions are my own.*

Faith Featured Lifestyle

21 Days of Prayer & Fasting - Round 2

Monday, August 3, 2020

It’s that time again! From August 9th to August 30th, I’ll be participating in another round of 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting with my church family. This is something that we are encouraged to try twice a year. I finally participated in my first 21 Days this past January (more on that HERE), and honestly, I’ve been looking forward to the next one ever since.

I’m going to be fasting from social media again this time around, specifically Instagram and Facebook. I just feel l like social media is the biggest cause of personal unrest in my life as well as the main thing that pulls me away from a deeper relationship with God. Especially with the crazy year we’ve had, I’m welcoming this reset (not to mention the break from everyone else’s feelings, thoughts, and opinions).

What I’m looking forward to most:

1. Rebuilding a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit

2. Missing the Nordstrom Sale (aka NOT stressing myself out over something trivial and NOT sharing winter clothes in 80 degree heat)

3. Enjoying the rest of Summer instead of feeling the pressure to rush into Fall

Goals I have (and hope to maintain after the 21 days):

1. Clean my oven 😆

2. Practice Yoga at least once a week / work on flexibility & meditation

3. Remember not to replace social media with other things that keep me unnecessarily busy

This time around, I'll also have the added dynamic of Greg working from home. I'll have to admit, I've allowed him being at the house more to stifle my morning Bible studies and quiet time. Not to mention, my patience has been growing thinner and thinner over the last few months (another thing to work on during this fast). 😇

However, despite challenges old and new, I'm eager to begin. Praying for eyes to see and ears to hear. Praying that I emerge 21 days later with new clarity and discernment and an overall refreshed feeling. And most importantly, I pray that I know God more in 21 days than I do right now.

If you're interested in a little mid-year reset yourself, I encourage you to join me!! You don't have to fast from social media like I am. You can choose to fast from television, shopping, or even a literal meal. Chances are you probably know right off the top of your head the thing you most need a break from. During the fast, spend the extra free time you have communing with God in some way. Whatever works for you. I enjoy writing in a prayer journal, reading God's word, or completing an interactive Bible study (I love the First5 app). Let me know if you plan on participating as well! I'd love to hear about your journey and what you learned when it's all said and done.

Best wishes and lots of love!

See you in 21 days!

XOXO,

Abby

*I receive a small commission for purchases made through links in this post.

However, I simply promote the brands and products that I love, and all opinions are my own.*

5 Things Faith Lifestyle Relationships Wedding

Anniversary Insights - 5 Things We've Learned in 5 years

Saturday, July 11, 2020

Y'all know I can't resist sharing a list with you guys, especially if the list contains five things (more of said lists here, here, and here). The number 5 has always been my lucky number, so it only makes sense that I should share another "5 Things" post on my fifth wedding anniversary! And buckle up because this is actually a list full of lists! I am who I am.

This has, by far, been the strangest, year of marriage Greg and I have experienced (lest we forget the tornado, quarantine, and subsequent brief period of unemployment). But maybe since it's our fifth anniversary, that's a good omen?? Hope so!

July 11, 2015

Therefore, in honor of our fifth wedding anniversary, I consulted with Greg, and we decided to share five things we've learned over the last five years together. I've considered doing wedding/marriage themed posts on our anniversary in years past, but I've always ended up deciding against it. Mostly because I don't feel like I'm a credible source for advice. 😂 And specifically regarding wedding advice, my hesitancy towards sharing my thoughts is three fold:

1. With the current events going on in the world, many couples are postponing or cancelling weddings, and unfortunately, I don't' have any experience with that.

2. Most of my followers are not currently in the bride season of life.

3. Other than my choice of groom, I found my own wedding to be, at best, underwhelming, and at worst...disappointing.

I can give you a laundry list of what I would have done differently, but that’s a story for another day. Plus, it's not the most cheery of content, now is it?

Honestly, when asked (which thankfully isn't often), the advice I give to young couples regarding weddings is this:

Save your money and ELOPE. Plan a celebratory party later.

Spare no expense and have the wedding of your dreams.

There is no in between.

Personally, I was so concerned with budget and worried about being viewed as a bridezilla that I felt like I cut corners and compromised on so many things. And yet now, 5 years later, I can’t even remember most of that day. Riddle me that. So all of my stressing really wasn't even worth it.

Regardless of how I perceive my own wedding day, I snagged a hottie husband out of it, so I’d still call it a win.

We had our programs printed on fans because it was the hottest day of the century.

Donuts from Ralph's instead of wedding cake!

SO! Moving onto the good stuff.

5 Things We've Learned in 5 Years of Marriage

1. Communication is Key

I know that this point (maybe in this exact wording) can be found in almost every book or article touting relationship advice. But that's just because it's so true! In fact, pretty much every point I list after this somehow relates back to good communication.

One of the most important things I've learned regarding communication is that, as much as you want them to, men. cannot. read. minds. 🤪 If you want your husband to do something or know something, you have to tell them. Sure, Greg has surprised me a few times and done something like clean the house while I'm stuck at work or plan a weekend getaway. But ultimately, you must communicate things that you want him to know.

Also, after being disappointed a few too many times (due to my lack of communication), I've started planning things myself. If I want to do something for my birthday, I organize it. If I want dinner reservations for Valentine's Day, I make the phone call. Though I do think that Greg could stand to read between the lines a little bit more, I have to remind myself that it's not fair to hold him to standards that he never even knew existed.

There's a phrase I've heard somewhere before that says something like, "expectation without communication leads to disappointment." This is something I'm still working on daily, but if you create a home that is a safe space to talk to each other about anything, you can freely communicate your expectations with one another and hopefully avoid disappointment and frustration!

2. Determine the Vacation Planner

Growing up, my dad was always the vacation planner in our family. I think he literally enjoys the logistics of planning trips. Maybe more so than the actual trip! I always assumed it was a "man thing." However, Greg always experienced trip planning as a "woman thing" seeing as his mom usually booked all of their family vacays. Unfortunately, we didn't figure out this little discrepancy until a few years into our marriage. After a a couple of trips where we stayed in absolute DUMPS and Greg stressed about every detail, I realized that he truly hated organizing and planning. I offered to take over planning our getaways in the future, and his response was something along the lines of, "thank goodness, I thought you'd never ask."

While this may be a silly example, the main point is to consider loosely defining some "roles" in your marriage. Know your own weaknesses and allow your spouse to take over when necessary and vice versa. It all goes back to the first point. Communicate, communicate, communicate!

3. Pray to be a better spouse.

Ask God to equip you with the tools and knowledge to better understand, appreciate, and respect your spouse. If you BOTH consistently pray for this, you’ll be on the right track.

A Helpful Diagram

4. Remember the Past

Some of the things that annoy me the most about Greg are some of the qualities that initially attracted me to him: his steadfastness, predictability, responsibility, attention to detail, and sense of security. I try to really remember how appealing these attributes were (and still are) to me whenever they frustrate me.

5. Go On Dates

This is another one of those obvious tips that you hear over and over again. But, again, that's because it's true! Greg and I try to have some form of a date night at least once a week (granted, it's been slim pickings recently thanks to the 'rona). It doesn't have to be anything super formal, but there's still something fun and special about looking nice and going out like you did when you were first dating. Even better, leave your phones in the car. That way you can truly converse, or dare I say, communicate??

We had a small wedding party with just our siblings and cousins.

Now, I'm not pretending to be an expert on marriage. With just five years under our belts, Greg and I have a lot left to learn. But, these are the biggest nuggets of wisdom I've gleaned in the last five years. Whether you're engaged, newly married, or have spent a lifetime with your spouse, I hope a point or two from this list will resonate with you and inspire some new growth in your relationship.

To end, I thought it would be fun to share a few anniversary gift ideas. I'm a sucker for the traditional yearly anniversary gifts. If you didn't know that was a thing, give it a Google! It's so fun to see all of the old traditions and the new modern versions of gifts that people have come up with as well. Keep scrolling to get a few ideas (just for years 1-5...I don't have all day, people!). Even if you've been married longer than five years, or not at all, maybe you'll still get a few fresh gift ideas.

1st Anniversary: Paper
Think personalized stationary, a new bible, or a custom couples portrait!

2nd Anniversary: Cotton
Greg literally bought me a single stick of decorative faux cotton for our second anniversary. 😂

3rd Anniversary: Leather
To all the men out there, Louis Vuitton makes excellent leather products. Just sayin'!

4th Anniversary: Fruit/Flowers
Honestly, the best thing you can do here is get an Edible Arrangement.

5th Anniversary: Wood
You can just use your imagination to guess what crude comment Greg made about a "wood" gift. 😳

What are some of the most important things you've learned in your relationships? Do you give traditional anniversary gifts or come up with your own? Maybe you opt for no gifts at all?? Let me know!

Wishing you all the best, forever and always!

XOXO,

Abby

*all photos by Zach and Sarah

*I receive a small commission for purchases made through links in this post.

However, I simply promote the brands and products that I love, and all opinions are my own.*

Lifestyle Summer Fashion Travel

What's in My Beach Bag

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

I'm one of those people who sets up camp on the beach somewhere around 10 am....and then doesn't move again until 5pm. Since I absolutely won't be going back to the room for anything, I have to come prepared for a full day of R&R.

Swimsuit / Sunglasses / Hat / Similar Earrings

Keep scrolling to check out some of my beach bag basics. You will not catch me on the beach without these essentials!

RTIC cooler / Coppertone Glow Sunscreen / Swimsuit Coverup / Straw Panama Hat / Beach Read / Sandals / RTIC Tumbler / Brumate coozie / XL Beach Towel / Reusable Sandwich Holders / Aloe Gel / Beach Tote / Hawaiin Tropic Sunscreen / Ball Cap / Sunglasses

Are you a beach sloth like me? Or do you prefer a more active beach vacay? What are some you vacation must haves??

Tell me in the comments section below!

XOXO,

Abby

more beach necessities

*I receive a small commission for purchases made through links in this post.

However, I simply promote the brands and products that I love, and all opinions are my own.*

Faith Featured Lifestyle

Finding Fearlessness

Saturday, March 21, 2020

I am not in a great place right now.

My family and I are still reeling from the physical and emotional trauma of a devastating tornado three weeks ago that directly affected my sister and her family. On top of that, I returned to my job at the hospital this week (after a two week hiatus to assist my family), and it was absolute chaos.The COVID-19 pandemic has everyone scared and confused. I am a nurse in the surgical department, and there has been much debate over the last week about cancelling all elective surgeries. Starting next week, all elective cases will be postponed for eight weeks. So on top of everything else, now the operating room staff is panicking about how they will pay their bills. Hospital-wide, visitor restrictions keep getting tighter and tighter. Patients’ worried family members are rude and hateful to us, the health care providers, who have been assigned to screen visitors at the doors. Never mind that we’re just as worried and uncertain. Never mind that our safety guidelines are literally changing by the hour. Never mind that we’re literally putting our lives at risk by just being in our place of work. You could cut the tension at the hospital with a knife.

We’ve also had a few days of severe weather since the March 3rd tornado. Greg and I bought an intense weather radio with all the bells and whistles. My google history includes a search for the best kinds of helmets to wear during storms. We want to install a $5,000 solid steel storm shelter in our garage. I’ve downloaded about seventeen different weather alert apps on my phone, and I sleep with my phone on loud every single night. Sleep is sacred in our household, but it hasn’t been coming easily. When I try to go to sleep at night I start imagining the terrors my sister, her family, and her neighbors must have experienced that night and I get scared. Restless, I toss and turn, which also keeps Greg awake. Not to mention, the constant weather alerts (even for things like fog) going off on my phone have been interrupting our sleep. But my peace of mind seems more important right now. The lack of sleep is starting to catch up with us though. We are irritable and fatigued. And now we’re trapped in the house together trying to self quarantine and stay safe from coronavirus. We have been supporting each other, but we want to commune with our family and friends. I’ve been feeling lonely and depressed as a result of the social distancing.

My niece, Harper, who sustained a brain injury during the tornado is truly making leaps and bounds in her recovery. I firmly believe that with a lot of hard work and therapy over the next several months, she’ll be back to the spunky, smart two year old she was before the storm. But, I’m just frustrated that she even had to have this setback. She is so bright and full of personality. Three weeks ago, she was on the road to developing into a wonderful human being. She’s still on that road, but this new obstacle in her path just seems so unnecessary. And when I start to dwell on these thoughts, I just get overcome with emotion. Like, right now as I’m sitting here weeping while typing.

The combination of all of these current life stresses has caused moments that feel not quite unbearable, but almost. And unfortunately, as a result, I’ve been overcome by this spirit of fear over the last few weeks.

"Walk into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They don’t fuss with their appearance—but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them. If God gives such attention to the wildflowers, most of them never even seen, don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you?"
- Luke 12:27-28

I’ve always been afraid of being caught off guard, especially in the middle of the night. That’s why I can’t ever sleep when Greg’s not home. If he goes out of town, I usually try to tough it out alone for a few nights, but always end up sleeping at my parents’ house. For some reason, I have always had this thought that if something awful happens while Greg and I are together, it will be much better than if the same thing happens while I’m alone. I think that’s why the tornado hurts so much. I’m sad that my family experienced one of my worst fears.

I’ve also always been afraid of dying in some tragic, frightening, or painful way. My ideal way to go out is in my sleep, when I’m 95, and right by Greg’s side (obviously dying together). I’m a Christian, and I truly believe that I will be going to Heaven and spending eternity with the Godhead upon my death, but I still think it’s human nature to fear death a little bit and to long for a peaceful exit from this earth. So again, I’m devastated that many people in my home town, including my family’s neighbors and friends, lived out this fear of mine.

I babysat Harper one morning back before Christmas. We sat in the big chairs (bar stools) and had breakfast. She was eating this muffin (most of which landed in the floor to Luna’s delight), and I remember at that exact moment feeling suddenly overcome by how much I loved her and how I never wanted anything bad to ever happen to her. I wasn’t even thinking on as large a scale as a tornado or a brain injury. I just always wanted her to have friends and to never be made fun of and to never be cheated on and to never have anyone ever be mean to her. I wanted her to always be safe. To never be in a car wreck or get some horrible illness. I wanted her life to be picture perfect, just like her. Sadly though, I couldn’t and never will be able to keep bad things from happening to the people I love, and that stirs up fear in me as well.

The silver lining in all of this though, is that even though this spirit of fear is defeating me at times, I know that it’s not from God. The apostle Paul said that, “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:7). The Bible tells me over and over again to be strong and courageous, to fear no evil, and to not waste time worrying. And why? Because, “nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:38-39

These verses remind me that there truly is nothing to fear. Whether I die tomorrow in some tragic way, or in 60 years after a long healthy life, I will be with Jesus and those who have gone on before me! Leah DiPascal with Proverbs 31 Ministries says it better:
“Regardless of how much suffering we’ll experience in our lifetime, one thing is for sure. A day will come when there will be no more sorrow or pain, no more heartache or tears, no more loss or suffering. Our joy will be made complete and we will come face to face with Jesus - the One and Only, who embraced the cross and bore the greatest undeserved suffering completely for us.”

Friends, I know the entire world is feeling some anxiety and tension right now. You may be experiencing more than others. My prayer is that God, who is with us in our sufferings, will cover you with His peace that surpasses all understanding. And I also pray that if you don’t know God yet that you find Him soon! A life with Him is a life of hope. Hope that even through the darkest days of this earthly life, there is literal light at the end of the tunnel. An eternal, light-filled life with Him.

Lots of love.

XOXO,

Abby

Faith Fashion Featured Lifestyle

My Favorite Outfit

Saturday, March 14, 2020

I’ve been thinking a lot about clothes recently.

Fashion and styling have always been high on my list of hobbies. I truly enjoy shopping and creating outfits, keeping up with the trends, and inspiring others. Some cute new article of clothing can actually make me giddy.

In an instant though, clothes lost all of their importance.

Last week, a deadly tornado ripped through my hometown, killing several, and completely destroying homes, my sister’s included. In a matter of seconds, my sister’s entire wardrobe was scattered across the city. She couldn’t care less. In the emergency room, the nurses literally cut the rain soaked clothing off of my family. As I ran into the ER, I saw their destroyed garments strewn all over the floor. I couldn’t care less. My sister and brother in law’s glasses were both blown off during the storm. In the ER, I gave my brother in law the glasses straight off of my face. I had just gotten new, perfect lenses without any scratches. I couldn’t care less.

I’ve pretty much worn the same no-nonsense outfit every day for the last two weeks. I haven’t styled my hair or worn makeup. I couldn’t care less.

I’ve experienced this overwhelming feeling of apathy towards clothing (not to mention The Bachelor, COVID-19, and the political climate) in the last two weeks. Suddenly, wearing cute outfits, notifying my friends and followers about sales, and yapping about my new favorite shoes just isn’t important.
Like, at all.
My family is alive. Banged up, bruised, and hurting both physically and emotionally, but they are alive. The same cannot be said of all of their neighbors.

I can’t stomach the idea of posting an outfit on Instagram with some stupid, cutesy caption. I can’t bear the thought of putting on scrubs and returning to work next week at the hospital. I’m not ready to start “being normal” again until the rest of my family can too. On the other hand, in this same few weeks’ time, while I’ve hardly been able to look at the clothes lining my closet, I’ve also realized the vital importance and even the healing properties of clothing.

My niece suffered a brain injury during the tornado and remains in critical condition. She’s been in the hospital for almost two weeks now with a long road of recovery ahead. Her nurses bought her a Frozen nightgown and the gaudiest bow (y’all, it lights up) for her 2nd birthday which we celebrated in the hospital, one day after the storm. These sweet clothes bolstered all of us. Friends, family, and even strangers have offered clothes to my sister and her family. Everyone knows the importance of literally having something on your back, especially something cozy. My closet remains full of pretty things, yet I keep choosing to wear the most comfortable and functional pieces. They just make me feel the best. My uncle made t-shirts with my niece’s sweet face on them. They encourage everyone who wears them and remind them to continue praying for her. In each of these moments, clothing brought me so much comfort.

I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting over the past few weeks (hence this post). Reflecting on my own clothes. On how my feelings about clothing have shifted so vastly in such a short time. On how I would feel if the contents of my wardrobe were littered all over town. And reflecting on how, by far, the most important clothes I’ve ever worn in my life (and I’ve worn a lot) are the clothes of Christ.

“So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.”

Colossians 3:12-14 MSG

I was raised in church. When I was a kid, we were a “be there every time the doors were open” kind of family. I was brought up on Bible stories and was taught by my parents the never ending love of God. But there was a specific time in my life when there was a shift. When my faith was no longer solely shaped by my parents but by my personal life experiences. I chose to continue pursuing Christ because I knew that a life without Him was a life without hope. I chose to clothe myself with Christ each and every day in an attempt to further His kingdom and live a life that is pleasing to Him. Subsequently, by putting these "clothes" on every day, they’ve rooted me in faith and, in a way, prepared me for this moment. They’ve allowed me to stand firm in this most trying time and, though I still don’t understand why all of this happened, confidently proclaim God’s name. From the second I realized that the situation was truly serious that Tuesday morning, I’ve cried out to God for comfort, help, peace, and healing. I wish none of this ever happened, but I do not blame God. Like I shared in a recent Facebook post, I don’t understand why God, who makes the elements, allowed a tornado to plow my family's street the hardest while on it’s path of destruction. I don’t understand why my home and my life were spared. I question if there will ever be a day that I can make sense of it all. But my faith is not shaken. TO MY CORE, I believe that God is in control and that He works all things together for good. This is my family’s Job moment. And I pray fervently that we never have another one. But, even if every day after this brings some new tragedy, I will do my best to live out Job’s words:

“I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!” - Job 1:21 NLT

Today and every day I have left on this earth, I will choose to wear my favorite outfit: the shining armor of God.

XOXO,
Abby

If you would like to help monetarily during this difficult time, please consider donating to my sister and her family below.

helpthemynattfamily.com