In today’s world, it seems as if we all run from 6am to midnight! We work all day, run errands, and go from one activity to the next. We go from dance lessons (or softball practice!) to theatre practice, squeeze in grocery shopping and laundry and oh yeah, did we eat dinner yet? Add in the bills to pay, errands to run and who knows what else! Sometimes it amazes me we even have time to sleep!
We are all busy, but we all need time to breathe! We need time to refresh our souls and time to be still and quiet. Easier said than done right?! How do you do that? How do you find time during your day or during your week to just take time for you? Time to reconnect with God, time to calm your soul and calm your mind. I know it's tough but we must make the time for our mental and physical health. We need the down time to re-set and feel the calmness.
I’m sure everyone has their own tips and tricks and their own ways that they refresh their soul. For me, music is one of those ways. Most days you will find me in my office working on new designs, organizing the office for upcoming shows, printing shirts, packing orders, writing, or one of the other million things that needs to be done! But, no matter what I am working on, I will almost always have my headphones on. Music refreshes my soul! One of the best gifts my husband ever gave was a pair of Bluetooth, noise cancelling headphones! It is my way to calm my mind. I find that I connect to Christ through music, but I can also find new energy in music. Sometimes I will stop what I am going and just listen. Sometimes you will find me dancing around the office as I pack orders. New ideas come to me through music. I also tend to get lost in music which can be good and bad! My husband and I both work from home and every so often (okay, multiple times a week) he comes into my office and gives me “the look” because I am singing away while he is trying to work! I am not a horrible singer, but there is a reason I do not sing in our praise band at church!
Another way that I refresh my soul is through cooking! One of my favorite places in my house is my kitchen! If I’m having a frustrating day or I need a break, I will put music on in my kitchen and cook! I love making salsas, grilling or creating a wonderful dinner for my family to enjoy. I also love this one because it has two of my favorites involved; music and cooking!
How do you refresh your soul? Do you go for a long walk? Read your favorite bible verses? Get lost in the pages of a coloring book? Whatever it is, finding your own special way to refresh your soul is important. With the crazy, busy, hectic lives that we all lead our souls needs a break. These can be simple things like going for a walk or they be projects that give you a break each day. A project that means something to you and that you look forward to working on each day/week. Find what works for you and make it a part of your routine.
Also remember that your family needs to refresh. Your children and your spouse need that time as well. We try very hard to take time together as a family. Away from technology and the stress of the day. Usually, on a Satuday or Sunday, we take a little time and work on a puzzle. We talk about the week, anything we need may need help with, and just talk to each other!! We laugh a lot, play music (surprise, surprise!) and just enjoy each other.
Everyone needs time for their soul to rest and refresh.
Here are some simple ideas to start with! Some things are quick and easy and others can be made into projects.
I hope you and your family make the time to refresh and calm your heart and minds. Time to rest and time to laugh! Time to enjoy this amazing, crazy, beautiful life that we have been given!
-Blessings,
Andrea
"You will find your true self in times of silence and in times of calm but only if you make the time to listen." Andrea Whitley
]]>I LOVE the change of seasons. We are in Ohio, so we have the joy of experiencing all of the seasons. Spring is my favorite! I love watching the earth change from the cold of winter to the beautiful colors of spring! That, and I do not like the cold!
Seasons are interesting, unpredictable, and full of change! The drastic change in temperatures, the fury and destruction of a storm, the warmth and joy of a summer breeze, the sweet smell of spring flowers, or the cold and windy winter weather that can bring inches or feet of snow! Have you ever noticed that the changing of the seasons resembles our lives? We all go through seasons in our lives. We can experience emotional changes and destructive behaviors, we can feel the joy and warmth from the love of our families, or the warm sun on our face. We can also feel sadness, grief, frustration, and anger. We may move to a new city or start a new job. Maybe start a new relationship or bring a child into the family!
What season are you in? Are you in a season of joy or sadness? Maybe one of newness and excitement! How many of you have ever felt in a season of change? I think that is where I am at the moment! So many changes! My daughter is getting older and growing up so fast! She has so many new adventures ahead of her! Our wholesale company is steadily growing. We are moving Blessed Attire into a new market location in 2 weeks so we will have a “store” again! On the flip side, my muscle disease is becoming challenging, but I understand how to deal with and manage it. Those are just a few of the changes in my world. Some of them are good and some of them are simply changes.
But no matter what, I always know that my faith will never change. My faith and my relationship with Christ will always be with me. I know that no matter what season I am in; whether it's joy or stress, sadness or change, I can have a conversation with God and I know that He will be there. Sometimes I have no words, just feelings and emotions. I can simply sit, close my eyes and just be still. Other times, I can simply say “God, I have no words today, but YOU know my heart” Have you ever felt this way?
What about in times of joy? I feel like in a season of joy, you just want to joyfully pray and share everything! Those are some wonderful prayers and conversations.
Always remember that no matter what season you are in, God is walking with you. He's walking beside you and He's walking in front of you. He's guiding you along these pathways and through your seasons. He's celebrating with you in seasons of joy, He's crying with you and seasons sadness, and He’s guiding you in seasons of change. (I guess I should read what I write!)
So, what season are you in now? What are some of the positives of this season? Remember to learn from the season you are experiencing; take in the emotions, both good and bad, take time to breathe and pray. But most importantly, remember, that seasons always change but faith (and God) are always here!
-Blessings,
Andrea
"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under Heaven."
Ecclesiastes 3:1
How can I pray for you in your season?
]]>This poem made me think about where I was in my life. And I came to the realization that I don’t have to do everything perfectly and I don’t have to do everything. God made women and men different for numerous reasons. This poem, in my opinion, brings to light what a lot of women feel. But if we change the way we see ourselves, we can change our world! If we change the way we talk to ourselves, and each other, we can change the world, not only for ourselves, but for our children.
God created women differently and thank goodness He did! He created us to be soft, in a good way! He created us to be able to kiss away tears and bruises while still carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders. He made us to be the one with an open heart and an open mind. He made us to be strong and intelligent. He made us unstoppable!
Living into the life that God creates for you is one of the hardest things someone can learn. I know I’m still trying every day! God made you, a woman, to be somebody special! HE made you unique, amazing, strong, intelligent, gentle, kind and so many other things. Finding your true self and finding your purpose through God’s grace, in God’s eyes is something I think many of us struggle with. I’m great at some things and I am totally awful at others! But I’m learning to be okay with my faults just as I’m learning to embrace my strengths. I’m not meant to be perfect. I’m meant to be the best version of myself through God’s eyes.
-Andrea Whitley, Owner-Blessed Attire
When God created woman he was working late on the 6th day……
An angel came by and asked. “Why spend so much time on her?”
The Lord answered. “Have you seen all the specifications I have to meet to shape her?”
“She must function on all kinds of situations,
She must be able to embrace several kids at the same time,
Have a hug that can heal anything from a bruised knee to a broken heart,
She must do all this with only two hands,
She cures herself when sick and can work 18 hours a day”
The angel was impressed.
“Just two hands...impossible! And this is the standard model?”
The angel came closer and touched the woman
“But you have made her so soft, Lord”.
“She is soft,” said the Lord.
“But I have made her strong. You can’t imagine what she can endure and overcome.”
“Can she think?” The angel asked…
The Lord answered. “Not only can she think, she can reason and negotiate.”
The angel touched her cheeks….
“Lord, it seems this creation is leaking! You have put too many burdens on her.”
“She is not leaking…it is a tear,” The Lord corrected the angel.
“What’s it for?” asked the angel.
The Lord said, “Tears are her way of expressing her grief, her doubts, her love, her loneliness, her suffering and her pride.”
This made a big impression on the angel.
“Lord, you are a genius. You thought of everything.
A woman is indeed marvelous.”
The Lord said, “Indeed she is.
She has strength that amazes a man.
She can handle trouble and carry heavy burdens.
She holds happiness, love and opinions.
She smiles when she feels like screaming.
She sings when she feels like crying, cries when happy and laughs when afraid.
She fights for what she believes in.
Her love is unconditional.
Her heart is broken when a next-of-kin or a friend dies but she finds strength to get on with life”
The Angel asked: “So, she is a perfect being?”
The lord replied: “No. She has just one drawback
“She often forgets what she is worth”
-author unknown
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I have no design background, but I owned a previous company and had a little (and I mean little) experience in building a website. I also worked for a promotional company for a short time so I knew a little about how that industry worked. As for printing, shipping and all of the other puzzle pieces, I was out of my element but as I mentioned, God has a way of providing answers to questions.
So, why did I start Blessed Attire? It was never about the shirts themselves but the messages. We live in a world that is chaotic, stressful, and often unkind. Social media, the news, and even people have become so focused on the negative aspect of things that we forget about the amazing things! We forget about the sound of a babies laugh, the smell of our favorite dessert, the feel of the grass on our bare feet for the first time after a cold winter, and the love our God will always have for us. I wanted the messages on each shirt to be positive, to spark a conversation or to just make someone smile in a world that has forgotten the small things; that has forgotten the positive things. My hope is that each person will find a message that speaks to them. My favorite verse is Psalm 61:2 (…when my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I) which is why it is one of the verses we offer! That speaks to my heart and my soul. I want people to find a verse, a saying, or even a simple graphic they love and let them be the positive message in the world. Let that message spark a conversation.
God was able to answer all of the business questions and 8 years later, we are still here!
So, why did I start Blessed Attire? To spread messages of positivity, encouragement and joy in a world that often feels chaotic.
My question to you…What inspires you? What makes you get up each morning?
Blessings,
Andrea
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