The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials.

 -- Chinese proverb

Photography: kiwi_gal

{Love Him}

This evening I've been spending some time reading through this gorgeous blog Wearing His Purity by Lauren.  I really appreciated her particular post, Being a Wife that Loves her Husband.  Even though I'm currently a single gal I think it's important for us as young ladies to prepare for that time of life.  I'm not talking about dreaming of a knight in shining armour to whisk you away to fairyland, I'm speaking of preparing yourself spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. 

Before we meet that our perfect match we need to know if our heart is right.  Are we focusing on the characteristics that we want or are we focusing on the virtues that we can cultivate to bring happiness and fulfillment to our future mate.

That's one of the reasons I really enjoyed Lauren's blog article because she asses some areas that we as single ladies can begin to cultivate.  Let's take the first one, Respect.  When was the last time you told your Dad that you loved him and respected  him for how hardworking he is and the time he takes to spend with you?  When was the last time you thanked your brother for the time he takes to check your engine oil or car tyre pressure? How do you speak to your parents when they give you wise counsel, even though it may be against your heart's desires?  Do you answer in a respectful way and with a thankful heart?

There is so many ways to respect the men in your life now, and if you make this a habit it will come naturally in marriage.

Photograph Credit: Lynn

{The Highest Calling}

Miss Jen over at Blessed Femina recently shared a truly thought-provoking quotation by G K Chesterton on her blog which really inspired me...  Although I work full time in a busy work environment I'm reminded that the most divine and highest calling is not the amount of hours you work in a week, or how perfectly you've run the office for the day but it's in doing the day-to-day tasks in life... Although I don't have the privilege of mothering little chicks yet... I consider this to be a future occupation for me...

May the other young ladies out there who are diligently doing the tasks that lie nearest gain encouragement from this little passage...

“To be Queen Elizabeth within a definite area, deciding sales, banquets, labours and holidays; to be Whiteley within a certain area, providing toys, boots, sheets, cakes and books; to be Aristotle within a certain area, teaching morals, manners, theology, and hygiene; I can understand how this might exhaust the mind, but I cannot imagine how it could narrow it. How can it be a large career to tell other people’s children about the Rule of Three, and a small career to tell one’s own children about the universe? How can it be broad to be the same thing to everyone, and narrow to be everything to someone? No; a woman’s function is laborious, but because it is gigantic, not because it is minute. I will pity Mrs. Jones for the hugeness of her task; I will never pity her for its smallness.

Photography: John&Fish

{Be Strong}

 Have not I commanded thee?  

Be strong and of a good courage;

be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: 

for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

(Joshua 1:9)

photography: michelle-w

{Holiday}

Tomorrow, after work I'm boarding my BMW and heading to my parents home for the weekend! I have not seen them all together since Easter, so I really can't wait to fling my arms around them and give them all a big kiss!

I don't have anything spectacular planned... just a nice work-free (oi, did I just say that?!) weekend. Relaxing, catching up with some friends, visiting my little church and then taking the long drive back home...

But before I get too excited I'd better get my beauty sleep so I can actually arrive there!

Photography:  kellyannt

{Beauty}

I love this quotation...

“ Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.”

{Editing & Encouragement}

As you may well have noticed, I'm still in the process of completing the editing of this blog... It took me many "previews" for finally find a template I liked.  There's still a few changes I'll be working on, but due to my limited knowledge of html I'm working it all out with a trial-and-error method.

However, a beautiful bloggy friend Sarah Nicole recently posted the lyrics to this song that lifted my spirits heavenward this evening and I hope you find that it will do the same to you.

I can do all things
Through Christ who gives me strength
But sometimes I wonder what He can do through me
No great sucess to show
No glory on my own
Yet in my weakness He is there to let me know

His strength is perfect when our strength is gone

He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on
Raised in His power, the weak become strong
His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect

We can only know

The power that He holds
When we truly see how deep our weakness goes
His strength in us begins
Where ours comes to an end
He hears our humble cry and proves again

His strength is perfect when our strength is gone

He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on
Raised in His power, the weak become strong
His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect.

Photography: Kell