Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Lace is back!!!

1985.  My degree is in fashion merchandising and marketing.  Because of that degree, I studied costume history.  It was there I feel in love with lace and beading and 1920s style.  No surprise that my first choice of jobs were in the bridal field.  Perhaps it was looking at pictures of my Grandmother Mrytle that I feel in love with that style.  No matter, I love that style.  

In my fashion history classes I, II and III, we had to learn to draw those fashions.  I adored it!  Every single, teeny, tiny, amazing detail. 

Skip forward past 25 years of ugly clothes.  I know others will disagree, but we haven't had any really pretty clothes in a long, long time.  Jeans that don't fit, neon colors, sequins on a tshirt?, shoes that are clunky or ridiculous high heels, dresses that....well they are just ugly.  Gaudy jewels.  Shirts that are too tight and show your belly (gag).  I have detested the past couple of decades in fashion. 

BUT then came Downton Abbey!  4 seasons of period drama and BAM!  Swoon.  Sigh.  Celebrate.  Lovely fashions have returned!!!!  Lace, beading, longer hemlines, amazing colors, soft fabrics.....AND THE ANGELS SANG!!! 

Perhaps it's showing my age, but I absolutely despise seeing  young ladies dressing like they belong in a pole dance club walking into the church building or strutting about the grocery store.  There is so much to be said for modesty and allowing for a bit of mystery in one's attractions. 

I am among the few that also adore hosiery!  Lace, white, beige.....ADORE!  I know that's crazy, but the look is absolutely stunning in my humble, retro opinion. 

I walked in to my local favorite place to shop and just nearly clicked my heels together and sang in delight when I saw row after row of lovely dresses and tops in this retro style and LACE!  TaDA!!!  I giggled out loud! 

So crazy or not, I am in love with the so called "new" Downton style because in truth it is my own style.  The style that has lain dormant in my heart for 25 years while I trudged through decade after decade of grundge and yuk. 

Fashion is back baby and I'm soooooooooo excited! 

Saturday, March 8, 2014

St. Patrick's Day Preparations

St.  Patrick's Day at my  house is big!  Really big.  We celebrate with gifts, decorations including a tree and garland, food, friends, family, lovely music......sound familiar?

It's so much fun to me.  I love the real meaning behind the holiday which is the celebration of the life of an incredible man, Patrick.  Here is information from Catholic Online.

St. Patrick of Ireland is one of the world's most popular saints. 

Apostle of Ireland, born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in the year 387; died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, 17 March, 461.

Along with St. Nicholas and St. Valentine, the secular world shares our love of these saints. This is also a day when everyone's Irish. 

There are many legends and stories of St. Patrick, but this is his story. 

Patrick was born around 385 in Scotland, probably Kilpatrick. His parents were thought to be Calpurnius and Conchessa, who were Romans living in Britian in charge of the colonies. 

As a boy of fourteen or so, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep. Ireland at this time was a land of Druids and pagans. He learned the language and practices of the people who held him. 

During his captivity, he turned to God in prayer. He wrote
"The love of God and his fear grew in me more and more, as did the faith, and my soul was rosed, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers and in the night, nearly the same." "I prayed in the woods and on the mountain, even before dawn. I felt no hurt from the snow or ice or rain." 

Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britian, where he reunited with his family. 

He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him "We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more." 

He began his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained by St. Germanus, the bishop of Auxerre, whom he had studied under for years. 

Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop, and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. He arrived in Ireland March 25, 433, at Slane. One legend says that he met a chieftain of one of the tribes, who tried to kill Patrick. Patrick converted Dichu (the chieftain) after he was unable to move his arm until he became friendly to Patrick. 

Patrick began preaching the Gospel throughout Ireland, converting many. He and his disciples preached and converted thousands and began building churches all over the country. Kings, their families, and entire kingdoms converted to Christianity when hearing Patrick's message. 

Patrick by now had many disciples, among them Beningnus, Auxilius, Iserninus, and Fiaac, (all later canonized as well). 

Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461.  He died at Saul, where he had built the first church. 

Why a shamrock? Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity, and has been associated with him and the Irish since that time. 

In His Footsteps:
Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, whose love and total devotion to and trust in God should be a shining example to each of us. He feared nothing, not even death, so complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission. 

I also love the holiday as a time to celebrate all things Irish.  It's no secret that I love my Scot-Irish Heritage and try to share it with as many as possible.  The country is beyond comprehension in beauty.  The food is grand.  The accents are most lovely.  The stories are amazing.  The people are most hospitable.  The culture speaks so deep into my heart that I honestly believe my love of Ireland and Scotland is in my DNA.  

Today I'm working on my menu plans for our annual party which is held on the Saturday of, or before St. Patrick's Day.  So, I'm one week from party day :)  I'm doing a bit of research and development in the kitchen today.  It smells  heavenly.  I LOVE this time of year.  It soothes my soul and makes my heart sing....with an Irish lilt!  
 

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Lent for a Church of Christ Girl

Growing up CoC, I remember often hearing about the scripture that told us DON'T CELEBRATE HOLY DAYS.  At least that was what I was told.  It made no sense to me then or now.  Honestly it didn't make one lick of sense that fellow Christians would judge those who celebrate Christmas, Easter and such as a time to focus on Christ, but were all about celebrating death and goulishness on Halloween.  What?!

Here is the scripture I'm talking about.  "One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind."  Romans 14:5  It is especially interesting to look back at verse 4 and see that it begins with "Who are you to judge..."  

So.....I am fully convinced "in my own mind" that I am not smart enough to do everything that I know I should.  The older I get, the more I realize how pitifully flawed I am. I also know more than anyone just how human I am.  I know that every single day I am to think upon the death, burial and resurrection of my Savior. I do at some point throughout each day, BUT (and this is a big BUT) I do not do it as deeply or with as much reverence as I should.  What He did is so huge, so AWE INSPIRING that it deserves more time and more effort than I give it on a day to day basis.  So, knowing this about myself and likely you, I need to do something to hold my thoughts captive and dwell on His goodness. 

I'm not binding this on anyone.  I'm binding it on me because I know me.  After almost 50 years of living inside this body, I know that without these specific attempts at meditation on the various aspects of my salvation, I tend to forget and breeze through life without absorbing the magnitude of these things.  So basically, this just helps me focus.  Because God knows my intention is to surrender my will to HIM and focus on HIM, even when I fail miserably at it, I believe with all my heart He rewards that intention's journey with more peace, comfort and joy in life.   
So this girl dwells 40 days in the Lenten observance because I am convinced of it with my whole heart and mind.  My soul needs this spiritual food. 

There are days within the Lenten calendar that I fast.  Sometimes it's food, but sometimes it's other things that inch and shimmy focus away from Jesus.  Internet.  Books.  Television.  Whatever.  It's different with each person.  I happen to be a fair expert on what it is with me, but I have no idea what it is with you.  So, as scripture says who am I do judge

I'm speaking for me only when I say that in this life I often forget who I am.  I am just a simple minded child of God. I am often ungrateful. Even on my best days, I sin.  And on my worst days, I sin a heap.  I tend to forget that I'm  no one special and extraordinary all in the same breath.  My sin is just as heavy as another person's sin.  I need to be reminded who made me, how frail I am and what joy is to come.  

If you don't dwell in the Lenten season, I encourage you to take the time to examine your flawed, frailness in the next 40 days.  It's in that awareness that we become awed at how much we need a Savior.  Praise God one was sent.  His name was Jesus.