So,There's This Wedding...

Okay, time to share.

I had the great fortune of finding the most beautiful, form-fitting, dress whilst on a family trip to Washington, D.C. a couple weeks back—a sweetheart of a deal found on a Lord and Taylor rack for under $30 after being marked down from over $200—and I decided I was going to wear that very dress to a wedding that's quickly approaching (April 28th).

That dress is an absolute stunner, according to my hubby, and I have zero intention of wearing it with too much armor (i.e. spanx) as I hope I can pull it off without such accoutrements—wishful thinking, I'm sure, but that's the plan.

So, in an attempt to do just that, I upped my ab routine to include more planking, more crunching, and a lot more cardio. In other words, my regimen went from hell to, as my friend Ally at Copacetic in Carolina might call it, the 5th circle of hell (haha, I still think that's too funny) the moment I walked out of Lord & Taylor's. But it shall all be worth it if I can pull it off as that dress is definitely as much for the hubby as it is for me.

That said, I'm at the midway point and I'll be making even more adjustments over the coming days to see if I can reach my goal before then. Fingers, toes, and eyes are certainly crossed.

If you're curious as to how far I've come, just click here, otherwise silently be wishing me luck.

Just eight days to go!

Strength Is Not Given

Strength is earned.

The biggest misconception any woman (or man for that matter) can have is to believe that strength is inherent from birth. It isn't. It's something that is acquired through overcoming the challenges and trials that He sets in your path. Those obstacles are like weights for your soul and—the more you lift, the stronger it gets—it's up to you to step up to the bench and do the heavy lifting all by yourself. That's the only way to become a stronger, more spiritually balanced woman of God.

Of course, over time, it becomes easier to remain still and shy away from the unknown because it's easier to not keep opening the doors with unknown paths and struggles behind them. However, there is little glory in conceding to your fears and allowing your soul to cower and remain weak in the face of a new challenge—challenges that, I truly believe, He skillfully places in our paths as reminders  that a) He knows you're there and b) is confident you can handle whatever it is He presents to you.

My personal view on facing these challenges is that we should feel blessed by their presence because it shows us that He's confident in our strength and ability even when we're not. That realization more than anything else gives me the motivation I need to continue to face my demons—no matter how frightening the battles might seem because I know where the strength to fight those battles will come from and I know I'll earn a few more stripes along the way if I stay the course.

Don't ever be afraid to step up to the bench, put on your gloves, and do that spiritual heavy lifting. I promise you as each set gets harder, He won't be far behind to help you—His hands beneath your elbows, offering you His services as your personal "spotter".

Get lifting.

Source: fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net via Kimberley on Pinterest