Single & Living Fully by Krystle A. Barrington

Being single is not a tragedy. It is a season that lasts longer from some than others.  It is something we can either embrace or try to “fix.” While this season is precious and significant many times we are overwhelmed by the constant questions about our relationship status or maybe even the pressure of getting married. The uncertainty of the future has the potential to leave us feeling anxious and doubtful but the good news is that we can find complete peace in knowing that God is in control. We cannot embrace the season we are in if we allow everyone but Jesus to influence our thoughts. As such, the beginning of living fully as a single woman starts when we begin to trust in God’s good and perfect plan for our lives. 

And in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power or authority. Colossians 2:10 NIV

We cannot afford to be anxious for the future when God has plans for us right where we are. Through my own trial and error I’ve learned that true contentment is the ability to stand still where we are without beating ourselves up about the past or worrying about the future. I truly believe that when we are able to embrace the season we are in, that is when we position ourselves to be used by God. There is power in resting right where we are and when we do we are able to hear from God like never before. 

Our mindset can get a little cloudy when we allow spectators, society, and even our insecurities to influence our perspective on singleness. Rather than allow foolish timetables to influence our thoughts, we’ve got to let God renew our minds. When this happens, it only reinforces that God is so very intentional. Our God is loving, kind, perfect, and all knowing, and there is something about knowing that He knows what’s best for us. 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

As single women we are not absent from purpose. No, we indeed have a unique opportunity to give God our undivided attention. I am personally grateful that God is willing to use us no matter what our circumstances look like. Even when we don’t have it all together God still wants to use us and speak to us. Getting to know Jesus Christ is the most important relationship we will ever find ourselves in. Even if we don’t have a ring on our finger or see marriage in sight, we can find fullness in God simply because we are His children. 

God is our father and He wants His daughters (YOU) to be loved, respected, cared for, and cherished. What happens many times is that we find ourselves growing impatient. We settle for what is convenient and we ignore the Holy Spirit telling us to run the other direction.  We decide that we know what’s best for us, all the while forgetting to include God in the process. Learning to trust in God is not an easy task. It takes discipline and daily reminders of who God is and how we ought to move through each season of our lives. The more we trust in God the more peace we will experience. He hasn’t forgotten about you, I promise!

When we learn to find contentment in the season we are in, that is when we can give our hearts and our minds to God wholeheartedly. Again, God wants to use us right where we are. I believe with all my heart that the only place we will ever find complete peace is when we learn to be content, joyful, productive, intentional and FULL of life in the season we are in.  

♥ Thanks Krystle for joining us here on She Inspires, we love having you! ♥

Ladies be sure to visit Krystle Barrington  at http://www.authorkrystleb.com for more inspiration! 

Makayla's Story

This is Cheri here, with our first She Inspires feature of the year.. We figured we would end the week with one special girl! Here at She Inspires, women of all ages inspire us.  I want to introduce you to our little friend Makayla.  Makayla is twelve years old and is wise beyond her years.  She loves to read, loves art, loves her family, and mostly importantly love God.  When she grows up, she wants to become a Neurosurgeon. 

 
I met Makayla & her family several years and have since become great friends.  I have had the pleasure of photographing this sweet family throughout the years.  I have seen them at their best and I have seen them at their absolute worst.   Family sessions with them are always bittersweet, I love that I have been able to document these years.  The appreciation and joy that my images bring to them each and every year is priceless.   However, with each and every session there is a lump in my throat and often times we find tears burning our eyes because we see the fragility of life.   I see such raw happiness behind my camera, but I know they are fighting a raging battle.  Each day is a gift and what lies ahead is often times filled with uncertainty, but they handle each sharp turn with beauty, strength, faith, and grace.

So world, meet Makayla.  She is the face of strength, beauty, & grace.  A child of the King who is not defined by her illness, but fueled by it.   During the Summer of 2011 Makayla became extremely sick.  He illness started off with a horrible headache, progressed, and ended with a diagnosis of an incurable illness.  As a parent, you never want to hear the world incurable in conjunction with your child.  Makayla was formally diagnosed with Chiari Brain Malformation and Pseudotumor Cerebri. 

She has endured 26 surgeries during the last 3.5 years.  She still attends school, plays the Piano & Cello, and even in her most painful moments, has a smile on her face.  And her reasoning for wanting to become a neurosurgeon is fueled by her determined to find a cure for Chiari.   In her spare time you will find her studying the brain and reading medical books, YES, I said medical books.  Her room is full of them!! 

When she is not working on getting into Yale, she has a paint brush in hand or she is making paper cranes.  

Just this past month, she launched her very own website/e-store.  She continues to make sweet lemonade with life's lemons and inspires all those around her.  I truly believe if anyone is capable of becoming a neurosurgeon, this little lady can do it. She has perseverance, drive, determination, strength, and most importantly faith.  Follow her journey and become inspired.  This is a journey of courage, faith, & love at www.ourstrengthproject.com

  
 My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

Psalm 73:26

She Shines:: Jen Liljegren with LilyPad Weddings

We welcome the lovely and talented Jen to She Inspires today for our next edition of She Shines. Jen is the owner and creative behind LilyPad Weddings a graphic design studio, that specializes in wedding stationery. Jen is a perfectionists who takes paper, art and love seriously. After meeting with this gal a few weeks ago and seeing her work, I knew we had to share! I completely love her style, as well as her passion and love for her work. She definitely shines out loud!  Be sure to go check Jen out and follow her HERE & HERE.

 

Tell us a little bit about LilyPad Weddings? How did you get started?
LilyPad Weddings is a boutique graphic design studio founded with a passion for paper, design, and all things wedding – especially invitations! We expanded the weddings side of our graphic design services in 2010 after working closely with my sister on her custom wedding suite.  

What inspires you and your work on a daily?
I am deeply inspired by nature but I can often find inspiration just about anywhere - A typeface on a label at the grocery store, a pattern or texture on the walls in a hotel, or a color palette on artwork my kids bring home from school. There are beautiful things to see everywhere!

What was your push and motivation when starting your business?

I was a graphic designer in the corporate world for 5 years. I was happy to be working in the design industry, but I often felt that corporate design left little room for full creative freedom. When I became pregnant with my oldest child I decided that starting my own business would allow me the flexibility to stay home with my baby while also providing the creative freedom that I craved. It seemed to be a win-win solution for me and my family!

What's your design style?
I like to think of my design style as a modern twist on classic design.  

What words of inspiration do you have for other aspiring business women?
It can be a long tough road, but there is nothing more rewarding than creating your own success.

 What's your favorite quote or words of inspiration?
I have two and love them both equally:

"We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or we can rejoice because thorn bushes have roses" - Abraham Lincoln

"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live it's whole life believing that it is stupid." - Albert Einstein

 

What are you doing when you aren't busy with graphic design?

I am power yoga fanatic, Real Housewives of (whatever city, I LOVE them all)junky, and avid reader. But most of all, I love spending time with my husband, Alan, son, William(7) and daughter, Emily (5).

 

What three things do you have to have in your bag/purse on a daily?

Trident Layers Gum, Lip Gloss, and Sunglasses are always a must have.

 

Thanks for stopping by sweet Jen, we look forward to working with you!!

 

 

All images C Thompson Photography

She Shines:: Amy Vanderford with Divine Patina

 

I am so excited to introduce to you the very first She Shines feature on She Inspires. Once or twice a month we will be highlighting one fabulous woman under our new She Shines series. The first gal is so sweet and genuine and completely passionate about what she does. Her antique shop in Georgetown TX, Divine Patina is definitely one to visit. Amy Vanderford shares details of her journey and all the joy that it brings..

What inspires you?

I'm inspired by what I feel more than what I see.  I listen to the furniture and feel which color matches it.  I am also inspired by everything that I love.  I think if it makes me happy there is a good chance it will make others happy as well. 

What was your push and motivation when starting your business?

My family has always had an appreciation for antiques.  My grandmother and great grandmother were antique doll dealers.  I always thought it would be fun to have a store.  When my sister and I were little setting up a store with all Mom's pretty decorations was our favorite game!  I opened my first store, with a partner, 11 years ago in Georgetown.  We also had a store in Austin and Florence.  Then we closed them and I tried to get a "real Job" for a while.  I always knew this is what I wanted to do.  I was laid off in October of 2011 and couldn't find another job.  So I knew it was now or never. And God wasn't giving me any options!  So on my faith and my tax return I opened Divine Patina!  And of course a ton of help and support from friends and family.  And did I mention FAITH!! 

What's your design style?

I like a lot of color!  The great mint color is a color I bought to paint polka dots in my daughters room, the coral was a color I used in my bedroom.  My shop is a reflection of me, I'm not sure what the style is. Funky and colorful with a little hippie chick mix.  Oh and some of Grandma's antiques as well! 

What's one piece of information about your shop that you would like to share?

People ask me how I keep from taking everything in the store home.  Almost everything in my house has sentimental value.  Things that I got as gifts, or heirlooms from my family.  The things in the store are things that I have picked out to make someone else love their "things" as much as I love mine.  I believe you should look around your home and it should make you happy!  This is my way of spreading joy!                                                                                                                                     
What words of inspiration do you have for other aspiring business women? 

The most important advice I can give is have faith!  Faith that God will provide, faith in yourself that you can do it!  Faith that when you are doing what your soul purpose is the entire universe conspires to help you get there!  But you have to remember that faith isn't getting what you want when you want it.  It is getting what you need WHEN you need it...not one little second before most of the time!  It's a good thing I love what I do so much or I would be a nervous wreck worrying all of the time! 

What's one of your favorite quotes or words of inspiration? 

I suppose my mantra......

Om mani padme hum. It's Buddhist.  It translates into:

generosity, ethics, patience, diligence, renunciation, wisdom.

Which is basically do the next right thing and don't forget to breathe! Breathing is pretty important. Take a few deep breaths, I say om mani padme hum while I breathe.  It grounds me.  Starting a business is really really hard!  But if it was easy everyone would do it!!  

Three things in your BAG?
1. pocket knife, always,  I'm from Texas and it comes in handy 2. lip gloss, of course! 3. random screws. I am forever finding random screws in my purse!  All shapes and sizes!  

Thanks so much Amy for stopping by to share your passion with us!!! You can visit Amy on Facebook HERE and visit her website HERE for details and shop location! It's a must visit!! 

 All photos: C Thompson Photography