So Long 2015: My Six for 2016

This is the time of year when we begin making our New Year’s resolutions.  The theme of “new year, new you” dominates the media and while there’s nothing wrong with setting goals to motivate us to become better people- many of us mimic the popular culture and make extremely superficial aims.  Objectives so insignificant that really don’t challenge or inspire us to continue our earthly transformation into better versions of ourselves.  I was reading an article comparing the New Year resolutions between people in third world countries versus people in developed countries and the simplicity and depth of the poor always makes me ponder my privileged life.  As I sat and thought of what I hoped in 2016 I was really inspired to dig deep and find areas that I want to convert and grow.  Areas that will help me become a better me and as a result will impact my relationships with my God given lot.

Let go and let God- These past couple of months I learned a great lesson- to let go and trust God.  I have a bit of a control problem.  I feel safe when I am in control and these past couple of months God has been teaching me to transfer my control to Him.  It’s been a scary and uncomfortable process, but am hoping that what has begun in me will continue to grow this New Year.  In the Divine Mercy image, God told Saint Faustina to write underneath the painting, “Jesus, I trust in You.”  That’s my theme for this New Year to transfer my reign and continuously pray, “Jesus, I trust in You.”

Study the life of the Saints- Once a month I am going to adopt a new saint and study his/her life.  Am hoping to find saints that will encourage me to work in areas that I struggle.  To have holy people who inspire and motivate me to press on and continue peeling layers off of my heavenly Father.  I would like to study women in the Bible too- I have many books that I am hoping I will be able to study this year in an effort to continue growing in wisdom and faith.  For conversion is an ongoing process for all of us this side of heaven.   

Found this NY flute with Jan engraved at Goodwill for $1!

Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church- Can you believe that I have never read it in full!  This year I would like to begin to study the "tradition" of my faith more deeply.

Attend Mass- We should all be going to Mass on Sundays and days of obligation- this year I want to add another week day to my attendance.  I love attending Eucharistic services, yet I get lazy during the week.  Instead of doing so many talks and activities this new year I will opt to go to Mass (smile).

Prayer- I have been working on building a prayer area in my room so that I can be more inspired to spend daily time with God.  In addition, I want to continue attending Eucharistic Adoration on Mondays at my parish.  I go through periods where I am really inspired to pray and then times when it becomes really difficult to do so- this year I want to remain constant regardless of my emotions.

Happy New Years from In My Shoes!

Works of Mercy- I can be really self-centered and forget about others so this year I want to work on helping my neighbor and those in need.  This is the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy, Pope Francis calls all Catholics to perform works mercy and be imitators of Christ.  This is a time to “find joy in rediscovering and rendering fruitful God’s mercy, which we are all called to give comfort to every man and every woman in our time.” 

These are my six for this New Year.  Even if I don’t accomplish all of them I am hopeful that growth will occur.  May you be inspired, my reader, to continue growing in Christ.  Have a blessed and happy New Year! Thanks for reading.   

The Nativity: All Eyes on Jesus

Selfie with baby Jesus (smile).

God has a funny sense of humor… As you know, I am very drawn to Franciscan spirituality, so recently when I found out that in 1223, Saint Francis (with permission from the Pope) created the first live nativity scene to explain the birth of Jesus to the people - I couldn’t help, but smile.  For years now I have been collecting nativities, I have enough now to place one in every room in my house.  I am a really visual person and I just love the joyful, hopeful image depicted in the manger scene.  When I am sad, I love to think of myself as a little lamb resting my head on the trough, my snout touching my savior’s babe skin.  I feel so close to Him and so protected when I contemplate this image in my mind and there like all the animals in the stable I get fed from this trough of life-everlasting.  I love being the little lamb in the scene because it comforts me to know that God is my shepherd and I shall not want, that though I walk through dark valleys I will fear no evil because He is with me.  When predators come to devour, He will leave the flock to come rescue me.  And when He speaks I will recognize His guiding voice.  I think pretending to be a little lamb is my favorite role within the nativity- it gives me profound peace to be little and allow God to be magnificent and great.  Recently as I was meditating on an image of the birth of Christ, I began to notice how in that one moment all eyes are on Christ.  For the first time in history all eyes are upon God.  We have the poor, outsiders -the outcasts or shepherds come to worship.  We have the rich, educated wise men who come to pay homage.  We have the angels, the Star of Bethlehem and the animals or heaven and earth worshipping the Christ Child.  In that sacred image Saint Francis is showing us that Jesus is for everyone.  Furthermore, Jesus in the trough and the donkeys’ present- tell us that even jackasses know how to find their food! Wow! Powerful messages indeed.

Drive Thru Nativity in HB: The Christmas Story told in 9 scenes with live actors and animals!

In Mexico, I remember all the homes in my neighborhood would display very elaborate nativity scenes.  I don’t think we even knew of Santa Claus when I lived there.  Now as I pass the decorated homes in my neighborhood, in Southern California, I don’t see nativities on display anymore.  When I was trying to buy a lighted nativity set for my lawn – I had to order it online because stores have stopped carrying them.  Yet, there’s a place that I love to visit around this time of year that like me has a surplus of nativities.  In Costa Mesa, the TBN Broadcasting Center is a beautiful place that loves displaying all sorts of nativities.  The following are some pictures I snapped.  May you be encouraged to keep the tradition of placing a nativity in your home and may you make the time to contemplate the moment of atonement where all eyes are on Jesus.  There’s even a perfect movie  for this time, “The Nativity Story,” on Saturday, I watched it with my sister and mom as we listened to the rain fall…     

Nativity in Ornaments.

Nativity under the Christmas tree.

Nativity in my jewelry.

Larger than life nativity.

All the characters in the scene.

Movie and study guides- I loved doing a film study this December!

Nativity at my parish: Saint Barbara in Santa Ana.

Advent: Walking with Mary

This Advent without planning I began a character study into our blessed Mother Mary- since my initial conversion I have been so in love with Jesus that I sort of have dismissed Mary.  Though multiple people have tried to explain to me her very important role in our salvation story I still am slowly developing a deeper devotion to her.  I grew up in a patriarchal society where I often heard the false teaching that women were inferior and I think I unconsciously have placed Mary in that erroneous category of lesser worth.  Why go to Mary when I can run to Jesus has been my dominating mentality.  Yet, this December as I began to explore Mary’s role as Jesus’ mother I began to capture and relate to her more deeply and to understand why we venerate her.  Having also grown-up in a matriarchal home where my mom ran the household and took the responsibility of raising, educating and forming honorable children- I see that Mary is truly special because she not only gave birth to Jesus she raised the Son of God!  From the moment the Angel Gabriel gives her the message that she is to be the Saviors mother she doesn’t hesitate.  Though she understands the difficulty of God’s mission for her, she surrenders to God’s will entirely.  Surrendering our will to God is an ongoing process for all of us, but for Mary she trusts God completely and immediately.  Not only does she quickly submit, but she sings a song of joy magnifying God and acknowledging her smallness.  And that’s where her greatness lies- she’s great and worthy of veneration because God CHOSE her!  If God chose Mary than who are we to reject and diminish our blessed Mother as “just the human” who carried Jesus.  To diminish her is as terrible as to place her above God.  This weekend we celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the church was packed and Father reminded us to love Mary, but never forget that our blessed Mother ALWAYS leads us to Jesus.  Father pointed out how in Hispanic communities the Guadalupana Festivity usually brings large numbers, but Christmas services usually have low assistance.  It’s important that as we grow in our Catholic faith we begin to order our spirituality according to the truths of our faith- to love God how He wants to be loved.  He wants us to love Mary, to seek her intercession and to have her as a role model of faith (for she is His favored one), but to always remember that He’s the King of Kings the only one worthy of honor.

This is the first year that I participated (as an adult) in the Guadalupe festivities and it was such a transforming experience.  I love my culture our colorful, cheerful beauty.  Our over the top aesthetics and high values of family and community unity. I love our Mariachi music and our Aztec dancers.  I love the rainbow of ribbons in our hair, the embroidered flowers on our clothes our indigenous-mestizo roots.  I love our religiosity…  And I love how our Catholic faith makes room for all that Mexican awesomeness!  This year, as I sat in a triduum dedicated to the tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe I took a really close look at the image of our Virgencita and I realized how blessed I am to have an image of mi Madrecita that looks so much like me.  Morenita in skin color, lover of loud colorful clothes, jewelry wearing and radiating in glitter from the stars (have I mentioned how much I love all things glitter)!  She even has our party personality – loves partaking in peregrinations around our neighborhoods… She’s so much like me and yet she makes me want to be more like her.  To love her is to love her Son and to get to know her is another path towards God.  We Mexicanos have been so blessed because the Mother of our God came to visit us tangibly in el Cerro de Tepeyac.  She came looking like us with a message of love- God loves the marginalized, the weak, the poor, the brown- He loves ALL equally, we are each individually special to Him simply because He chooses us over and over again. Wow!  Though others will reject us- God loves us to infinity and beyond and our Mother Mary is there to carry us in her arms towards Jesus for healing.  We are completely loved by God- may this Advent be a time to feel God’s love through Mary who gave us the greatest gift of all- God the Son. Amen.  

Beautiful braids.

Beautiful service.

Celebrating our roots.

Kids in traditional costumes.

Que Viva la Patroness of the Americas and of our Diocese.

Advent: Do Less Better

I was reading a book by Saint Francis de Sales in which he makes a powerful argument against busyness.  He states that business is not a measure that indicates higher sanctification, in fact he goes on to propose that the saints took the time to relax and to contemplate God every day in moments of inactivity.  They mastered the ability to calm their minds, hearts and souls to be with God and hear His voice.  Surprisingly, when I think of the saints I usually think about all the things they did, their accomplishments and rarely do I think of their spirituality.  During a talk, I once heard that a trait that leads men to sin is boredom, but for women it’s busyness- that sounds about right.  I am a doer, I have this need to be doing and sometimes I commit to too many things and I find myself stressed and it affects the quality of my work.  De Sales speaks about doing less, but doing it well and I really have made that my theme this Advent.  Usually during Advent I pack my schedule with tons of activities and before I know it Christmas has arrived and I feel so stressed out and so unprepared for the birth of Jesus because I have been too busy doing the wrong things in preparing my heart.  Previously I would watch tons of Christmas shows trying to get in the spirit of the holidays (because I love theatre) and I thought what better way to warm my heart than with a bunch of happy, live music and good morality plays.  That was my big Advent change – theatre, lights, parties, being with friends and family.  Though, I also led an Advent women’s prayer group all the activity made it impossible for me to daily reflect on the nativity and the real reason for the season.  Thus, this year I decided to do less, but do it well.

Advent Penance Service: On my birthday, my parish hosted a reconciliation service which I took advantage of - what better gift than God’ absolution for my sins.  We had ten priests come and help out.  I always like these services because I feel the excitement of the priests in seeing so many of their flock come seeking God’s forgiveness.  I did my examination of conscience at home.  I always like to write a list of my transgressions on a piece of paper, because I tend to get nervous every time I confess.  It also helps me not forget to confess any of my sins (smile).  After confession it gives me such satisfaction crumbling the piece of paper and throwing it away in the garbage.  

Advent Women’s Bible Study Group: This year my friend opened her house and she and I are leading the group.  There’s six of us, three from previous years and three new comers.  I love my Tuesday night – because I know that I am going to get to know God more while building sisterhood with my friends.  We are a very talkative bunch (this year) which has made the discussions really great.  It’s great to see my girlfriends growing in Christ and also to see their courage in opening up and revealing their hurts and deepest thoughts.  What a blessing to be part of this group!

Advent Calendar: Last year in after Christmas sales I purchased a Peanuts Advent Calendar and this year I decided I would give it a try with my nephew.  I truly didn’t expect it to be such a success, but my little guy is so excited (possibly because he gets a Hershey's kiss every day).  I found a great book of the nativity at a used book store it’s very detailed which leads to great discussions.  We take turns reading a chapter a night, then open our new Advent door on the calendar and share a chocolate kiss.  The great thing is that my nephew comes to me asking for us to do our calendar.  He also got a bottle of holy water in his catechism class and after we do our study each night we go around the house looking for one more thing he can bless with the holy water.  We have such fun!

I have cut back on the shows and activities to make more time to just relax and enjoy the season and this is the first year that I feel calm and not in a hurry to squeeze more things into my schedule.  Sometimes when we think of the special seasons of our faith we think we must add more things to be holier- this year I learned that I needed to cut back.  I guess God is slowly healing me of my Martha syndrome (smile).

Have You Prayed Today?

It was my birthday on Monday, and I took the day off from work to do simple things that I love to do, but sometimes lack the time.  I began my morning by taking my dog to the dog park, where I watched him happily socialise with other pups.  Then he and I took an hour walk around the park enjoying the trees, the breeze, the sky… God.  I talked to God all along the journey, sometimes tears spilled from my eyes cleansing my soul.  Then I dropped off my dog at home and picked up my prayer bag and headed to adoration.  I love the inside of churches, I get the same pleasure as if I were sitting in the middle of the forest in between large trees, fields of high grass and rays of sunshine.  I sat on the pew as I would on an overturned log and began to just enjoy God in the Blessed Sacrament.  Usually as the skeptic that I am I begin with, “Are you really here my God?” Then I wait and contemplate His Body so tangible and lovely.  On Monday I had time to spare, so I took out my prayer book from my bag and began to pray a type of prayer one prays in front of the Blessed Sacrament that takes the form of a conversation.  God begins the chat, telling me how much He has waited to spend this moment with me and He guides our talk.  There’s portions where I read His words and where I answer His questions silently.  There in the parish forest we danced in words and build relationship.  He asks me about my family, friends, work, church community, about my worries, hurts, and desires. He comforts me when I cry and tell Him that parts of me are made of glass and that now I understand the song, “it’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to.”  Then He tells me to trust Him with my worries, with my fears to want His will more than anything.  I tell Him that I can’t that I hurt, then He asks me to list my blessings and I take out my journal and begin to write down all of the things that He has given me those people and things that give me so much joy and so much peace.  I write about my dad, and how this birthday morning I woke up to receive the first birthday card I have ever gotten from him.  I tell God, how my dad is illiterate (even though He knows) and how dad dictated the short message to mom who wrote it down for me and how when I read it I sobbed.  I still remember the sentenced that broke me, “I don’t think you will ever know how much I love you (my dad rarely says it) and how I desire you to be happy.”  And how that sentenced reminded me of God’s “agape” love.  My dad’s words gave me courage, I tell God.  I continue writing all of my blessings and the longer the list gets the heavy cloud begins to lift and the rays of sun penetrate through and reach my soul.  I finish the list, put my journal away and I feel a strong desire to open my prayer book and pray one more prayer- I randomly open the book and it falls to a prayer that I completely needed. A very specific prayer.  It’s only two sentences long and in those two sentences I know that God has heard my very personal prayers, comforted by His words (which like Mary I will privately hold in my heart) I leave my log, and head out into the clear sky smiling.

God is real and He wants us to have a relationship with Him.  He wants us to come to Him and to speak with Him constantly because that’s how our bond matures, that’s how trust is established and how love grows.  We cannot love that which we do not know, that’s why prayer is essential in our lives.  Slowly as I get to know God more my faith in Him grows.  I am more open with Him, I feel safe and at peace.  This security builds a strong foundation and no matter how my faith gets tested I remain firm in Him.  One of my favorite verses in the Bible is, “remain in Me and I will remain in you.”  Our prayer life needs to be living- because just like in our earthly relationships dialogue helps us build trust and security, it allows us to get to know each other better, and keep peace while growing in love… So does it inspire and strengthen our bond with a God that is always making the first move, a God who constantly reaches out, a God who waits for us patiently and whose mercy is bigger than His justice.  When we have a strong connection with God through prayer we begin to imitate Him more easily and dying to self becomes a joyful, liberating process.

Gratitude Improved The Quality of My Life

YA Thanksgiving Potluck

In my family of four siblings not only was I the last to be born I am also seven years apart from my youngest brother.  Thus, I became a spoiled, rotten, little girl who grew up to be a spoiled, rotten, young woman.  My siblings all treated me like a porcelain doll in matters of care, but like the queen in giving me everything that I wanted.  My dad too, lavished me with attention and material gifts and my mom soon surrendered the reign and joined in the spoiling of the babe of the house.  This treatment made me grow up with an entitled spirit, an impatient attitude and difficult to please personality.  I was never happy nor satisfied- I always wanted more.  My point-of-view was always in getting more and never in being grateful for the gifts received.  As a child, I always got what I wanted simply for being the baby.  Yet, no matter how much I was given it was never enough- I had learned to be greedy.  This greed brought many bad habits that would rob me of my peace and leave me unhappy...  As we near Thanksgiving Day, I was recalling how Jesus taught me to be grateful and how practicing thankfulness has freed from some evil spirits.  

We shared our faith, ate, played games and socialized

Critical & Jealous Spirit:  Sometimes life looks greener on the other side.  I would look at the lives of other women who had the status, the looks, the nice things, the boyfriend, the health… (Without any of the baggage that I carried) and I would envy their lives.  Why couldn’t I be like them or why couldn’t my life be as exciting as theirs?  I would get lost thinking how I would love to be anyone but me and sometimes I would get really jealous.  This jealousy made it hard for me to build friendships with other women who were prettier, smarter, just “more” than me.  It also made me become a perfectionist and this perfectionism turned me into a judge.  And I would criticize people for every flaw and error- including myself. 

Had a great night with my girls!

Sad Spirit:  Often times I would feel really depressed just comparing myself to others and becoming aware of what I lacked.  This drove me to work really hard for worldly things like status, prestige and possessions.  Yet, the more I moved up in the world and the more stuff I collected - didn’t make me happier.  I used to have this reoccurring thought- “if I only get this one more thing or I finish this one more college title” then I will be happy.  However, goals would be achieved and I still had no satisfaction – there was a new object I needed, a new title to finally gain happiness…  It seemed like happiness was always a step ahead of me and I was always behind in a puddle of critical depression.

I cooked and prayed that it turned out good- God heard my prayers and made it yummy!

Then one day, God finally got my attention and stopped this wild-goose chase.  Slowly He transformed my eyesight – I was blind and then I saw.  I saw that I had so much stuff, but more importantly I was loved by all the people in my life – but the people who gave me love were just instruments or vessels that transmitted His love for me.  He loved me unconditionally without reason- He just simply did.  He taught me to look at the mirror and see my arms and how they could be used to caress and hug others, I saw my feet and saw how I could walk to do good deeds, I saw my lips and learned how to say loving things that would encourage others…  I saw every part of my being fully functioning and I saw that God needed my arms, feet, lips my whole being so others could see Him.  I wasn’t perfect by world standards, but I was perfect for His mission- I was perfect for Him.  Slowly, as I began to use myself and my life to help others I began to experience peace and joy- and a feeling of constant contentment.  I was thankful for my body, for my mind, for my heart- for all of me because God loves me and created me perfectly in His image.  Slowly, I no longer looked at others with envy or criticism; I just tried to love them because I finally saw that without Jesus everything is meaningless.  I had found the treasure of treasures- and He set me free to love.  In learning the ways of love I learned that my parents and siblings all chose to love me and all the affection and gifts given to me were demonstrations of their love- and I needed to value love, be thankful for it not take it for granted.  I learned that being a saint is a byproduct of loving God- it’s never a goal.  So this Thanksgiving I want to thank God for giving me new eyesight and showing me how to love and how to be thankful.  I just want God to love you through me (smile).  “Let them thank the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind…” 

Alpha Program: Life- Is this It?

After ten weeks of participating in the Alpha program yesterday was the closing night and as always God outdoes Himself in pouring blessings in my life…  The Alpha program was developed by an Anglican priest as a course to welcome the unchurched and those who were Christian only by name.  In his efforts to evangelize, Reverend Nicky Gumbel, developed a ten week faith program which aims at getting people interested and talking about deep spiritual questions in a safe, non-judgmental setting.  Though Alpha began in the Evangelical Anglican tradition it has become popular and used in many mainstream churches including the Catholic Church. Every night begins with a delicious catered dinner, an engaging talk (usually in form of a very entertaining video), and closes with small group discussions.  This is not your typical bible study group, from the moment you reach the door to the hall there are friendly greeters at the door welcoming you in.  The dinner is set up as a buffet style, so that you serve yourself as you come in and say grace on your own (only if you choose).  During the thirty-minute dinner at our tables we talk just like we would if we were out with friends, each night building closer relationships.  Then the night begins with a video usually exploring a few deep questions. The video is set up in ten minute intervals so that after each interval we discuss in our small groups some of the ideas presented.  The topics each night are organized in a way that promote growth and get more personal as the weeks go by.  This is a great program for those who are curious or new to the faith.

What I liked about the program is that it begins by asking participants to tell us their story.  Where are you at?  Instead of telling them what we believe we first explore, where each person is at in their faith journey.  Every night that’s what it’s all about- tell me your story, let me listen to you.  Sometimes as Catholics we want to share the law first and that usually doesn’t go well with new believers.  I know that when I returned to the church, I met a lot of opposition from some well-meaning Catholics.  I recall one experience when I was wearing a necklace with the peace sign and one of the leaders told me that I couldn’t wear that necklace to the group because of the diabolic history behind the peace symbol.  This really hurt my feelings and I became very defensive.  Through the grace of God I managed to continue exploring my faith, even though I met a lot of Catholics that turned me off by their legalistic sometimes fanatic positions.  This is not to say that God’s laws are not important, but before the law every person needs to encounter God and fall madly in love with Him.  Love usually comes first. Once I encountered God for the first time - loving Him as He wants to be loved came next- expressing my faith through our Catholic tradition began to develop.  This is what the Alpha program is about.  Come let’s talk, let me listen and share God’s love with you.  Come encounter Christ, come know God and learn how much He loves you.

Nights begin with a yummy dinner.

The videos are consistently hosted by two young guys Ben & Jason. 

Every night we begin with a joke and after the fourth week with worship and a short prayer.

Though I didn’t go around asking the rest of the small groups about their experience, I know based on the testimony of my new sisters in Christ that the Alpha experience really inspired and motivated my group mates.  Our group of nine young women and our fearless leader really grew in very positive ways.  Last night we recruited new gals for our Advent Bible Study group starting next week (SMILE).  Our Alpha small group had a good variation in terms of spiritual maturity: some of the women have been Cradle-Catholics who had bad experiences and left the church, others are Catholics that occasionally go to Mass, some are very active in their faith - and we had a very special young lady who was a non-practicing Mormon!  We all had our night when we shed tears and a really intimate day when we prayed together as a group.  I am really satisfied with my experience and looking forward to being a small group leader in April when we offer the program in our parish again.  If you are interested in participating, contact me and I will give you details about our 2016 Alpha session.   

Modesty According to Coco Chanel

I been thinking a lot lately on the subject of femininity- from the superficial, ruffles and ribbons to the more personal like the warmth, emotional and loving nature of the female sex. While some people can’t seem to get past the notion of who is greater amongst the sexes- I love that God made me female, I really would stink as a man (smile).  From a very early age I preferred dolls, playing house and dressing up. A good shade of red lipstick still manages to add color to my life especially on gray days.  While organizing my closet, I recalled that one of the reasons I thought I would never return to the Catholic faith was because the thought of wearing long, solemn skirts and shapeless tops terrified me.  I thought that being Catholic meant no longer being feminine - that modesty implied a scorn of the material and a rejection of physical appearance…  While I have discussed my inner conversion, I know that I’ve also had a style evolution these past years as a Catholic revert.  I’ve learned a little better that modesty is not being frumpy- the saints all look quite clean and put together in the photographs I have seen of them (smile).  Which leads me to believe that they loved themselves enough to maintain good hygiene and physical care.  One cannot say I love myself and not care for the body God gave us… Anyway, today I want to write about what I have learned about modesty from a style icon, Coco Chanel.  Though Chanel was not Christian, I think that when it comes to modesty and style – she has left great blueprints for us women to follow.  Her ideas about style really resonate Christian style spirituality.  Thus, I have selected fourteen great Chanel quotes to describe what modesty means to me today and how I have evolved in appearance as my faith has grown. 

             

Modesty:

• “Be classy.  Anything but trashy.”

• “Adornment, what a science! Beauty what a weapon! Modesty, what elegance!”

• “Dress shabbily (immodestly) and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.”

• “Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance.”

Classic style is not about objectifying yourself, but of expressing your God given beauty.  It’s a matter of knowing your worth and dressing accordingly.  I’ve heard the cliché that we are daughters of the King so we need to dress the part and resemble heavenly royalty.    

Modesty doesn’t mean frumpy:

• “I don’t understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself a little – if only out of politeness.  And then, you never know, maybe that’s the day she has a date with destiny.  And it’s best to be as pretty as possible for destiny.”

Sometimes in our desire to claim our “not of this world” status we start to resemble bums.  I know that for a while I erroneously thought Catholicism (in terms of style) meant I needed to not care about my physical appearance at all.  So, I stopped dressing up, wearing make-up and fixing my hair; yet I was miserable because to me style is a form of creativity and self expression... Now I know that it’s ok to have a neat, feminine appearance and that to take the time to care for all of me is not sinful. 

True beauty has depth:

•  “Elegance comes from being as beautiful inside as outside.”

True beauty is personal:

• “The best color in the world is the one that looks good on you.” 

• “Trendy is the last stage before tacky.” – Karl Lagerfeld

Beauty involves the whole person, taking care of our inner self is really important so that we can shine God’s light to others.  When we sin be quick to go to confession, humble to seek help with our weaknesses and always open for growth.  God gives us high standards to live our lives- let’s be obedient to His ways.  We were uniquely made so don’t get trapped with following trends and trying to be someone you are not- be yourself, you are the only one of you.  Sometimes I feel like we lack originality because we are so afraid to be ourselves and try so hard to be what the media tells us we need to be.  Yet, true beauty is grasping and living authentically. 

True beauty cares:

This quote reminded me of being good stewards.  Don’t let cheap prices fool you, do your homework and see how your purchases are harming the world.  More is not better- one quality item can last longer, help others and keep our world cleaner.

True beauty lasts a lifetime.

•  “You can be gorgeous at thirty, charming at forty and irresistible for the rest of your life.”

God made our beauty to last forever.  We don’t need Botox or plastic surgery to hold on to our youth or remain beautiful because we are beautifully made at any stage in our lives.