Monday, September 10, 2012

Are You Happy With Now?

What if you were completely satisfied with this moment right now?

I started thinking last night how much of our time and energy is spent in anticipation of:

the weekend
next month
November 3 (Oh wait, I think that's just me...)
a different season
freshman year
senior year
another year
another time
another place.

There is nothing inherently wrong with this kind of thinking; anticipation can be good. Planning is necessary.

But are you able to set all that aside as needed and be genuinely satisfied with the present?

If yes, great. You don't have to finish reading this post.
If not, let's chat a bit more.

Truthfully, I'm preaching to myself right now. Truthfully, I am living in GREAT anticipation for that November 3 date when my fiance and I will finally be man and wife, and there is nothing wrong with that. Truthfully, I did not expect it to be so hard to be satisfied with my here and now, and that struggle is refining me.

So I go back to God's Word. Psalm 118:24 says, "THIS is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

I cannot dismiss the utter gift that right now is, because it will never happen again. There is much to do, much to say, much to listen to, much to be each day. Jim Elliot once said, "Wherever you are, be all there." Be all here. In this day. THIS day. Not 2 weeks from now. Not next month. Not 2 months from now. Not 5 years from now.


 I encourage you all, as I am firmly encouraging myself, to finish drinking all now has to offer before moving on to...

...whatever's next.


"Let not our longing slay our appetite for living."
--- Jim Elliot


Monday, September 3, 2012

Wedding Makeup Challenge, Part 2

FOUNDATION HAS BEEN FOUND

The August makeup find was indeed a fabulous liquid foundation. Makeup Forever, $40 from Sephora, is specifically formulated for those under bright lights and in front of the camera lens.
My mom discovered it on a makeup blog and I tried it out. Love it! Blends well onto my skin, is actually long-lasting and hasn't irritated my very needy skin, even with almost daily use.
I then set it with a light dusting of my Bare Minerals Mineral Veil.


I use #118

Still on the lookout for a good lip color, but other than that, I'm just about done compiling my wedding day makeup palette!

Happy Labor Day!