My Simple Daybook vol. III

 

For Today 6.26.23

~Daybook Template taken from The Simple Woman's blog~

Looking out my window...

Well, today there was a stray cat sitting outside our back door, so that was fun!   But I didn't get a picture.  However, I have been enjoying both the early morning sun and the evening golden hour rays that peek through my window.  My window faces north so I don't get a lot of direct sunlight but the little rays that slip in are always delightful.

I am thinking...

...Of all the upcoming plans that are taking shape for summer and fall!  When it rains it pours!  I've spent so many years thinking about life, jobs, and vocations, and now things are starting to move.  God is opening doors that I worried over for so long.  This leads into my next section...

I am thankful...

...For God's perfect timing.  Life decisions are a fine balancing act between trusting God's timing and guidance and acting for ourselves.  We cannot just sit around waiting for God to show us our future with a flash of light but we also can't be frustrated when our well-laid plans are not fulfilled.  Act and trust in God.  These were more thoughts, I suppose, but I'm just so thankful to God for opening doors and taking care of my future!

One of my favorite things...

Wow, I can't think of a favorite thing right now.  Probably family time.  It's so important.  My sister is away for quite a while right now.  Family time is precious; don't miss it.  Take advantage of every family trip, every brunch, every car ride, and every grocery store trip together.  Someday, we won't have that precious time together.  Friends will always come and go.  Your family, however, is with you all the time until they aren't.  We truly don't appreciate what we have until it's gone.

I am creating...

I'm actually reeeeeallllyyyyy excited about this one. 😁  I'm just starting this project with a gauge swatch but I purchased all the yarn and printed the pattern so I'm gearing up to create...

Photo credit to Melanie Landsittel

🎉🎉 The School Teacher Cardigan by Melanie Landsittel on Ravelry 🎉🎉

Isn't this such a cute design?!  It's classic and practical, yet is feminine and has an intriguing texture.  I'm super excited to cast on but first I need to read over the pattern thoroughly, take all my measurements, and do the math because this is a customizable pattern!  I'm really hoping it will be pretty straightforward though.

I am wearing...

What have I been wearing?  I can't even think of something that's really been shining through my wardrobe.  I think the most important thing to me recently has been longer skirts.  I was a camp counselor for a traditional Catholic girls' camp (I'll be blogging about that soon!) and I wanted to be able to dress casually and coolly while also staying modest and feminine in accordance with the dress guidelines.  I've been having fun in longer skits that are swishy and yet cool!

I am reading...

...A couple of really good books!  Firstly, I wanted a light-hearted, light on the sappy, beautiful novel to read while I was dog-sitting.  Well, thanks to my dear friend Cecilia and the Immaculata Bookstore, I finally determined to find and read The Awakening of Miss Prim.  I borrowed a copy from the local library and am so happy I finally read this gem!!

I'm still processing how good it was.  I wrote a very rambly review over on Goodreads so if you've already read the book or know the outcome, go ahead and read it to know some of my initial thoughts.  But I've had a lot more thoughts over the past couple of days since reading it.  It's come to my mind while discussing courtship with friends after church and literature with my mom over tea and coffee in the morning.  This book is really on to something; actually, a lot of somethings.  I'm seriously thinking of changing my review from 4.5 stars to 5.  I hope this book opens many eyes to the necessity and beauty of a traditional life.  I also hope people discover and cherish truly good literature; not just the serial works that are a dime a dozen.

Also pictured above is a lovely cross-stitch bookmark my dear friend, Emma, sent me.  Her grandma stitched it!!  Isn't it just precious?!  And it went with the book soooo well!  😍  The little knitting project you see started there is coming along nicely.  It's a dishcloth for my mom because she loved the color when I used it for a hot pad.

The other book I'm really enjoying right now is Mary Magdalene: In the Visions of Anne Catherine Emmerich.  This book is absolutely beautiful and a surprisingly easy read.  I'm loving the short excerpts from the Blessed's visions and the intimate way it allows us to see Our Lord, Mary Magdalene, and the other Biblical figures.  Sometimes this book even goes on the monthly $5 TAN Book sale, so keep an eye out for it there!  (I earn a small commission for purchases made through these links!)

 I am watching...

... All Creatures Great and Small season 3!!!  Eeee!  (Look at their faces, the darlings. 😂)  We've only watched the first two episodes but it is already so so good.  I absolutely positively love this series.  This post is long enough already so I'll spare you my fangirl-y ranting. 🙈

I'm also working through When Calls the Heart season 7.  I know I'm behind but I'm catching up!  I just have to say, seasons 6 and 7 have been bringing my mom and I to. Tears. 😭  I had no idea WCTH was still capable of this.  I've missed you, Hope Valley.

 I am listening to...

...These vintage summer music playlists!  They're so fun.  I love the artwork paired with them as well.  Definitely takes you back in time and helps you to relish every moment of summer!

I am hoping...

...To get some new stickers to put on my water bottle!  I had to get a new one before the girls' summer camp because my dear old hydro flask was compromised with a crack in the bottom of the outside lining.  I've been using it for quite some time in that condition because it wouldn't leak, but I really need my water to stay cold so I had to splurge on a new one!  Now it is a beautiful blank canvas just waiting for some awesome stickers.  I'll hopefully be able to share my final decisions soon! 

I am learning...

...Always to conquer my own will and surrender to God's most Holy and Perfect Will!  It can be very hard to be resigned, even when things are going your way.  But we must always be resigned whether things go well or badly for us.  

In my kitchen...

I made these delicious deserts in the not-too-distant past!  (I haven't made much noteworthy, as of late, unfortunately.)  The fruit pizza on the left was for friends of ours from church when they were having their home enthroned to the Sacred Heart of Jesus!  Unfortunately, I wasn't able to complete it in time for the party so I brought it to Mass the following day.   Here is the recipe I followed from Catholic Cuisine!

The dessert on the right is an absolutely delicious White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake from The Pioneer Woman!  I definitely recommend letting it set up overnight for the flavors to marry and the filling to hold up best.  It's not too sweet and is the perfect amount of cream cheesy! 😋

My sister also made this stunning version of the Sacred and Immaculate Heart fruit pizza for our own home enthronement!

Board room

Alright, well, I just binged-pinned a bunch of ACGAS and WCTH.  🙈  But I also have lots of beautiful, summery pins accumulating!

(You can view my entire Pinterest here!)

Shared Quote

A moment from my day

I've been writing quite a few pen-pal letters after camp and just generally catching up!  It's been so fun to put things together and send off snail-mail across the country in lots of different directions. 

Closing Notes

Thank you all so much for taking some time out of your day to see what I've been about!  This summer is really shaping up to be a very relaxing yet busy time. 😂  I can't wait to share more with you soon!  What have you been up to?  Have you watched the shows I mentioned or read the books?  Have a wonderful day!!

In cordibus Jesu et Mariae,

Sarah

Catholic Holy Cards: What to do with them all?

Last year I received a comment on my decluttering post asking, 

"How do you pray with your holy cards?"

That's a great question!  Besides using them as bookmarks, holy cards can be a tremendous spiritual aid.  I really like to use ones that have my favorite prayers, quotes, and images on them when I'm praying at church or sitting in quiet meditation at home.  

I keep the bulk of my holy card collection in a box from my Little Flower's Girls Group growing up.  The box was part of our project for the virtue of orderliness.  I have to chuckle a little bit because, while the box keeps my holy cards all in one place and is not visibly a mess, the inside of the box is a little chaotic.  But there is a method to the madness.

Usually, these holy cards are out of sight and out of mind but I do rifle through this box whenever I need to find a certain prayer, image, or even a card for a letter or a gift!  I also keep some extra brown scapulars in here, as you can see.

Now to the ones I pray with!  I have this lovely little holy card album I purchased while visiting the Norbertine Canonesses.  It's perfect for keeping my most favorite prayer cards and carrying them in my purse/backpack.  I whip this out after every Mass and nearly every time I visit a church or chapel!  The most important way we can remember to use holy cards in our prayer is to have them readily available at any time!  (Here's one from Full of Grace USA!)

                   

This picture of St. Thérèse is my grandfather's memorial card.  

It reminds me to pray for him and all my departed family whenever I open this album.

I had an aversion to this image of Christ after the scourging when I was younger as I thought it gratuitous.  But in the last 5 or so years, I read some of the book, "Revelations of St. Bridget: On the Life and Passion of Our Lord and the Life of His Blessed Mother" (affiliate link) in which Our Lord's sufferings are described.  Our Lady speaks,

"...I beheld His body bruised and beaten to the very ribs, so that His ribs could be seen; and what was still more bitter, when the scourge was raised, His very flesh was furrowed by the thongs. ... my Son stood thus, all bloody, all torn, so that no soundness could be found in Him nor any spot to scourge..."

Venerable Fulton Sheen also wrote in his book, "The Life of Christ" speaking of Our Lord, 

"He will find Himself without a friend in the world, an outcast on a hill, with mobs shouting His death, and His flesh hanging from Him like purple rags."

So you see, this image of Our Lord could be very accurate and I find it so helpful in meditation on Our Lord's suffering and passion.  Now to the praying part!!  I have this picture opposite The Litany of Humility.  A great pairing, right?  (You can find both of these holy cards here!)

Other holy cards included in my album are these wedding remembrance cards!  These are so beautiful for meditating on parts of the Holy Family's life that are hidden but they're also good reminders to pray for the couples whose weddings I've attended and for all married couples.

These images are so beautiful.  I use the left one of Mary, Jesus, St. Dominic, and St. Catherine while praying the Rosary.  It is a remembrance of a priest's ordination so I pray for him too!  The right one is my uncle's funeral card.

I try to pray this prayer every time I use this album.  This is The Golden Arrow prayer as given by Our Lord to Sr. Mary of St. Peter.  He said that it delightfully wounds His heart in reparation for the blasphemies He receives.  (Copies of this card can be found here!)

The card opposite is one from Catholic to the Max.  The prayer is so beautiful and has helped me so much in my vocation discernment.  Or at least, it has helped me to pray for patience and resignation.

Then in the front of my missal under the flap of the cover, I keep all the priestly ordination cards I've collected.  These priests are all very special to me so having their cards in the front of my missal allows me to pray for them at every Mass.

Then at the back of my missal, I have a few random cards.  These were given to me by friends so I often remember to pray for them as well.  The one of Mary and Baby Jesus is the card from the profession of a Carmelite nun!  

I usually grab this nice small card of Our Lady of Guadalupe to use as an extra bookmark if the Mass is from the common of the Blessed Virgin.  It was given to me by my dear Carmelite pen-pal whose title is "of Our Lady of Guadalupe!" 💙  Please pray for her as she will be making her final profession in July!! 🎉

Finally, I also have holy cards as bookmarks in my Catholic Girl's Guide by Father Lasance.  This book is full of beautiful meditations, lessons, and prayers so I have lots of pages bookmarked.  It really is a little powerhouse of prayer that I carry with me almost everywhere in my purse!

I also keep a few holy cards that I've received from pen-pals in my writing desk.  This one is very special as it's a relic of the Infant of Prague statue!  😊  

Even if you don't have room for all of your most important holy cards in your missal or prayer album, get creative and put them around the house in places you'll see them!  Your desk, bathroom mirror, car, and kitchen are all great places to put little prayer reminders!

I hope you enjoyed reading this and that you got even a little inspiration about how to use your holy cards!  They can be a very helpful and handy tool for memorizing prayers and praying for others.  

Where do you keep your holy cards and how do you use them?  I'd love to hear in the comments below!

In cordibus Jesu et Mariae,

Sarah

Goodbye Social Media, Hello TAN Books

Hello, my dear readers,

I hope you're doing well!  Here I am again after a long silence.  One of these days, I'll get regular about posting!  (Right?😅)  Anyway, you may recall that I've been trying to keep my social media time in check for a while now.  (I blogged about it here and here.)  Well, as much as I tried and hoped to balance my time and maintain self-control, I still struggled with endless scrolling.  Yes, there were so many good Catholic quotes, adorable knitting patterns, and lovely inspiration, but I was overall being harmed by my time on social media.  Along with the good posts, there were so many occasions to be accosted by language.  When scrolling reels, who knows how many times you'll hear curse words or, even worse, God's name used in vain.  It really is upsetting to the soul.  Not only that, but it's very hard not to fall into the comparison game whether that be wanting all the beautiful yarn or desiring a life and vocation that is not your own.  It's so important to focus on the here and now; what's right in front of us.  I was seeing all of these lovely posts from wives, mothers, and homemakers, but that is not my calling right now.  Right now, I need to focus on cultivating virtue in myself towards God, my family, and my friends; not the husband I don't have.  

So with that, I've finally decided to deactivate my Instagram accounts.  (Facebook will remain to stay connected to family and friends.)  The accounts are not completely deleted in case I would like to make the time to come back to them, but in my mind, they're just as good as deleted for now.  Instead, I would like to make more time for prayer, reading, work, knitting, and blogging here!  This blog has always been my favorite way to share experiences and thoughts.  I've just wasted so much time trying to keep up with trends that I don't set aside the longer block of time required to post here.  

But now that I don't have Instagram, I wanted to share one of my latest endeavors here with you!!  

Introducing my very own TAN books Affiliate Link!!  🎉  

For every purchase made using the link above, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you!  This is a small way to support my endeavors and adventures at home for the rest of this summer.  (That will be changing this fall; stay tuned for more announcements!)  So if you enjoy reading great Catholic literature, both classic and new, please prayerfully consider using my link!  Thank you!!

My old blog, The Life of a Homeschooler, was all about my homeschooling adventures and learning.  However, for me, homeschooling never stops even after you graduate.  I'm constantly learning, especially about my faith and I want to have the best books possible for doing that!  I've read TAN Books throughout my life and schooling.  They have a wonderful selection for early readers through the learned adult.  These books will help you grow in your faith and spirituality while keeping your mind and imagination engaged!

In the future, whenever I post about the TAN Books I'm reading or sharing in a gift guide, I'll share this affiliate link so stay tuned for lots of great Catholic literature content!  

Thank you so much for being here, friend!  I hope to share lots more wonderful Catholic content in the very near future without any of the added stress of social media.  Is there anything in particular you would like to read about here?  Please do let me know in the comments below!

In cordibus Jesu et Mariae,

Sarah

Veiling in the Presence of Our Lord and God: Repost

"Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." (1 Timothy 4:12)

(This is a post I wrote as a guest article in 2019 on the blog, "Rambles with a Souther Gal".  I've now been veiling for 14 years and blogging for almost 9!)   

Even though I've been veiling for about 11 years and have been blogging for almost 6 years, I have never written anything on my own blog about veiling!  When I started researching and putting my thoughts together for this post, I read through many other ladies' experiences.  There are so many wonderful posts of people's veiling stories on the internet; how could I possibly say something that hasn't already been said?  I just want to share my personal story with you in hopes that it encourages you!

My initial reason for veiling...

My family and I started attending Children's Eucharistic Adoration when I was about 8 years old.  This was when we saw other moms and girls veiling.  One of the moms made veils and made them available for women to take, so my mom, sister, and I each got one.  I don't exactly remember the initial reason we started veiling, but my friends were doing it and I was told it was a way to give reverence to God.


Since then, I have come to a good understanding of why I veil.  As I came to understand the history and meaning behind it, veiling became a personal devotion.  I have been blessed to share these reasons with others and I'm very happy when girls ask me about it.

What happened during Vatican II??

"Contrary to what many believe, Vatican II never did away with this tradition.  It remains a beautiful devotion whereby each woman, symbolizing the Bride of Christ, the Church, wears a veil as a visible reminder of the perfect submission of the Church to the loving rule of Christ."


"An article in The Atlanta Journal of June 21, 1969, titled “Women Required to Cover Head, Vatican Insists,” stated: “A Vatican official says there has been no change, as reported, in the Roman Catholic rule that women cover their head in church.  The Rev. Annibale Bugnini, secretary of the New Congregation for Divine Worship, said the reports stemmed from a misunderstanding of a statement he made at a news conference in May.  Bugnini stated: ‘The rule has not been changed. It is a matter of general discipline.’”


However, the 1983 Code of Canon Law, currently in force, does not contain a requirement that women cover their heads in church.  As Cardinal Burke, Prefect of the Supreme Apostolic Signatura, stated in a private letter: "The wearing of a chapel veil for women is not required when women assist at the Holy Mass according to the Ordinary Form of the Roman Rite.  It is, however, the expectation that women who assist at the Mass according to the Extraordinary Form cover their heads, as was the practice at the time that the 1962 Missale Romanum was in force.  It is not, however, a sin to participate in the Holy Mass according to the Extraordinary Form without a veil."


Just as the Church does not mandate that every person pray the Rosary, neither does she mandate that every woman wear a veil.  This does not mean, however, that either is not a worthy devotion.  On the contrary, these devotions are pleasing to God when done out of love for Him." ~Veils by Lily

Veiling is making a comeback.

With the resurgence of the Traditional Latin Mass (often called the Extraordinary Form), veiling has made a comeback as well.  But the Latin Mass is not the only place you may see women veiling.  Many women and girls have started wearing the veil at the Novus Ordo Masses (The 'New Order' which is most often celebrated in the vernacular language.)


This is because more and more people are realizing that veiling is not just a rule or fashion trend that belongs to a certain form of the Mass but instead is a beautiful tradition that shows reverence for our Eucharistic Lord who is truly present at the Mass, no matter which form.  Maybe the resurgence of the veil is due to an increase in the realization that Jesus is truly and completely present in His body, blood, soul, and divinity on the altar!


Contrary to the stereotype, veils are not old-fashioned or just for those who want to cling to the past.  Veils are worn by women young and old to show reverence to Our Lord Who is with us the same yesterday, today, and forever!

What is the importance of wearing the veil?

There are many reasons women wear a veil in the presence of the Eucharist.  I would like to highlight (in no particular order) some that I find very important and inspirational.


1. Reverence.
When we wear the veil, we use an outward sign to reveal an interior realization.  Jesus is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament and we adore Him!  The veil is a sign that we acknowledge that there is something greater than ourselves here; namely our God, King, and Lord.


2. Modesty.
A woman's hair is her crown of beauty!  We are humbling ourselves before our Lord and God when we veil in His presence because we are covering up our own beauty.  The veil should point others' attention to God.  The veil is an outward reminder of humility and God's presence while hopefully being a reminder against vanity as well.


3. Submission.
The veil is a sign of obedience and submission; submission to Christ and His Church.  Just as a wife submits in love to her husband, so the Church, as the bride of Christ, submits to Him.  A married couple is an image of Christ and His Church so the veil on a woman is a sign of the Church's submission to Christ.


"And the nature of this submission is one of love, not repression - who wouldn't submit to Him Who loves her unto death?" ~Veils by Lily


This is why a woman veils at her wedding as well.  The wedding veil shows willing and loving submission and devotion to her husband.  The bride submits to his protection and guidance.  When we wear the veil in the presence of the Eucharist, we should have an interior disposition of submission to God's protection and guidance.


4. Sacred.
Have you ever noticed that special sacred vessels in the church are veiled?




Tabernacle Veil







Ciborium Veil







Humeral Veil

Women too are sacred vessels.  Women are blessed to be able to carry an amazing gift of God inside of them, life!  God has given women a special gift to be able to conceive and carry children within her.  Someone once described the amazing moment of conception as "the breath of God moment."  This really is accurate as God breathes life into the soul of the new human.  Women are privileged to be able to carry life inside of them and therefore are sacred vessels of God's gift.  In this way, the veil is a great sign of dignity inherent to a woman.


All of these reasons can really be summed up in the virtue of humility.  We do not wear the veil to say "I am holier than thou."  Quite the contrary.  When we veil, we realize our littleness, our sinful human nature and we are so grateful to God that He should bless us, undeservingly, with the gift of His presence in the Eucharist.  Ultimately, the veil means nothing if we do not have the interior disposition of humility to go along with the outward sign.

What is the significance of the different colors?

Traditionally, unmarried women wore white or lighter colors while married women wore black or darker colors.  There certainly are no hard and fast rules though.  Veils come in many beautiful colors and styles.  Blue is a wonderful color for Marian feast days, violet (or purple) for Advent and Lent, or even pink for Gaudete and Laetare Sundays! 😄  In parishes where few women veil, sometimes women want to wear something that blends in with their hair.

I want to encourage you...

Have you thought about wearing a veil in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament?  Maybe you've felt the call for a long time now or maybe this is all totally new to you or maybe you used to wear one and have stopped.  In any case, I would like to encourage you to try veiling!! Even if there aren't many women at your Mass who veil, your example can be powerful.


Once my mom, sister, and I started veiling, not only at Eucharistic Adoration but at Sunday Mass, some other moms and their daughters started veiling as well.  Please don't be worried about what others will think of you.  Ultimately, God's opinion is the only one that matters.  He knows your heart and will reward you for your efforts of reverence and humility.


The veil is not a sign of weakness, pride, or slavery.  It is a beautiful reminder of the True Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist, His blessings to us as women, and where our true glory comes from!


Dear sisters in Christ, "Be not afraid!"

Where can I get a veil?

The first place to check would be your parish bookstore or gift shop.  They'll often have a simple "starter veil."


Here are some websites that carry beautiful veils for you to look at!


Veils by Lily
Evintage Veils
Filia Dei Veils
Rosa Mystica Boutique

Ave Maria Veil Co


I hope and pray you've found this information helpful and maybe you've found a new veil you'd like to get from some of the resources above!  I'd love to hear about your veiling experience!  Please do comment below!  Where do you like to get your veils?

In cordibus Jesu et Mariae,


Sarah

A little Pinterest closet perusal and some life ramblings...

 Hello lovelies,

I don't exactly know where to start with this post so I pray you to bear with me.  Thank you!

I was scrolling through my Pinterest clothing board when I had some thoughts race through my mind and I wanted to share them with you.  I've pinned these and other outfits that I'll showcase in this post over many months and years.  

When I began to look through these outfits, dreams, ambitions, and aspirations came in a flood.  You see, I usually save outfits that will serve a purpose whether that be for work or play, study or social.  I've been having a tumultuous time of things trying to figure out what's next in my life.  Where do I go?  What do I do?  Who am I?  (I know, so dramatically deep, Sarah.)  

Looking through these outfits reminded me of some of my aspirations and inspirations.  Would you like to be let in on a few?  Sweet!

Ok, this one was a very recent pin but nevertheless, it stood out to me.  I love the cozy yet practical style with soft, light colors.  It reminded me how I want to dress well and comfortably at home doing my daily duties with cheerfulness.  (That's the key-word, cheerfulness. ;)

I love the classic elegance of this outfit.  It looks comfortable yet so stylish!  It also says "grown up" to me too which is what I want to be.  Wearing this outfit, one might feel they could accomplish nearly anything with confidence.

This outfit just shouts Jo and Professor Bhaer to me.  It's studious, classic, and whimsical all at the same time.  Need me to write a solid essay?  Not a problem in this scholarly ensemble.

There's so much to love about this outfit.  I'm a sucker for tights, a good coat, and gloves.  Bonus points for the leather ones!  I also really like how many colors are incorporated.  The more the merrier in my opinion when it comes to outfits!  This is such a versatile yet classy style that would be wonderful for Mass in the morning, classes during the day, and coffee shop visits in the evening. 

Spring is just around the corner.  Wouldn't this outfit be positively smashing for a stroll in the garden or a trip to the library?  The light teal cardigan and the leather belt are some of my favorite parts of this outfit.

With spring, comes picnics.  I absolutely adore sitting on a blanket under the clear blue sky with a breeze rustling the leaves in the trees above.  No picnic is complete without the proper outfit, of course!  Something light and airy that is easy to sit in and feels historic is always my choice.

Now, this is where we adventure a little.  I've had a dream for some years now of being a cowgirl.  I know it's probably not likely in my future but a girl can dream, right?  I may have been raised a city kid but I have had some experience in the country with my friends and I'm not afraid of hard, dirty work.  Of course, this outfit isn't for that.  It would be awesome for a stroll downtown or a night at the rodeo, however!

See?  Good ol' dirt.  But who's to say you have to have boring grubby clothes?  Garden work still requires a cheery uniform!  

Another dream of mine has been to be a teacher.  This outfit definitely fits the bill.  All of the outfits up to this point have been skirts but I really have a soft spot for dresses, pinafores, and jumpers.  Also, puffed sleeves, yes, please!  

This is a fun one.  She styled hiking boots with a strikingly rich outfit.  And look!  Another dress!  Dresses are even better with a sweater or jacket.  These shoes prepare you for nearly any adventure while the outfit is beautiful and exciting.

Finally, an accessory I have yet to make and wear, namely, a shawl.  I do have some scarves that could work as shawls but I have grand plans to knit one (or two or three or more...)  Shawls add elegance to any outfit whisking you away back in time.  They also serve a very practical purpose.  Who doesn't like to snuggle up under an accessory that vaguely resembles a blanket?  I imagine wearing shawls to Mass, outdoors, around the house, reading, drinking tea, visiting with friends, to a wedding, and on a walk with someone special.

I know this post was probably a bit rambly and didn't really explain all my aspirations.  Still, I hope you enjoyed this little perusal of my Pinterest closet and some of the activities I envision with the outfits.  Finally, I wanted to say a word of encouragement.  

I know you may feel like you're at the end of your rope sometimes.  Life can get overwhelming or pretty empty, or both.  We have to remember to look at the bigger picture in small everyday ways.  (I know, that doesn't make much sense, does it?)  But that's the only conclusion I can come to.  I try to look at the big picture and into the future because I'm stuck on something in the now but that can just be intimidating.  I also try to focus on one day at a time but that feels horribly monotonous.  Instead, why don't we try looking at the little moments to come in the future?  These outfits helped me see this for myself.  Since I've associated dreams and goals, some as small as a picnic, others larger such as going to school, with these outfits, I was able to get excited about the moments to come in the future.  Of course, I'm not banking on any of these things happening for sure but little dreams are good to have to help you strive for the future as long as we don't get hung up on these dreams.  Just let them be a little motivation for you and try to live each moment in hope of the future.  Most importantly, live for Our Lord and always strive to please Him.  Even if He seems asleep in the boat of your soul as it's tossed relentlessly on the choppy waves of this life, He sees you and He is loving you in every single moment.  Just because our plans don't work out like we want them to right now doesn't mean Jesus doesn't care or doesn't have a plan for you.  

He's just waiting to unfold His plan for you to see.  Be patient with Him and with yourself.  He's brought you through so many ups and downs already.  He will do it again.  He will satisfy your heart and fulfill all of your dreams.  It may not look exactly like your plans, but believe it or not, it'll be so much better!

Sorry if that was too cheesy.  Sometimes we just need to take a step back, look at some beautiful outfits, and be reminded that no matter our goals or struggles, God's bigger than all of it.  

In cordibus Jesu et Mariae,

Sarah