Girlfriend Gazette, Spring 2012

Girlfriend Gazette Spring 2012 Spring 2012

Your Light Endowed Thru Color Deborah Miller

Make a Scarf out of a T-shirt! ers: w o l F e or Th F e p o H ndation comm e R k o o AB

And More!

e

eir h T s U l l s Te d n e i r f l r The Gi auty e B n o s Thought

Featured: The Girl With The Blue Feather Pen

a i h p l e d a l i h Goes To P

{ Page 20 }

The Stained

Glass Window

{ Page 4 }

On Beauty

Just a little bit about beauty from the girlfriends.

{ Page 18 }

Beauty Around You { Page 16 }

Your ‘Light’ Endowed thru Color Deborah Miller

{ Page 10 }

Announcement Board: AY is Karlita

Monica Miller I am super excited about pubAnd that’s what it’s all about… lishing this issue for you! So many isn’t it? Bringing praise to His young ladies have given of their name. time to make this possible….I {The cross is the most beautiful think you’re really going to love story ever told…God taking on what they have for you! the form of a man and taking on I think as we look at the topic our sins so that we could be one of beauty in so many of it’s differ- with Him. } [One with Him.] ent aspects it is so important to I bless you, that this Spring keep our eyes focused on the you may see in a new way how One who created beauty. When much you are loved, that you we take our eyes off of Him could see how beautiful you realbeauty becomes something shally are, and that you would be able low…something totally different to create beauty wherever you than He intended it to be. go.

I am convinced that God is a (and now that I have officially big lover of beauty. What time of babbled your ear off I will year proves that better than stop….on to the rest of this isSpring? The whimsical rainy days, sue! :) ) pink cherry blossom trees, lilac Blessings to you in this beautibushes, birds, barefoot days, budful spring-time ~Monica Arlene. ding trees and plants, NEW life

last GIVEAW inner Of the

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theflyling address to ai m r u yo d n se m t, 2012 to clai (Karlita Please before May 1s m o l.c ai gm ingchrochet@ your prize.)

NEW GIVEAWAY!: Se nd a picture to me from one of yo ur favorite vacations/trips (anyth ing will do… maybe it’s last summ er’s trip to see your grandma...t he time you went to NYC...or Afric a!) Send your entry to girlfrien dgazette@gmail.com (along with your address, name, age an d location of picture! ) by June 23 and get a chance to win a special item from a far-away land! Come on, join the fun! {winner will be picked at random}

g to Israel —alon mily with a trip fa y m d se es an bl rkm The Lord has the Gaylord Ba family friends, ar de r ou of e the Blue with som ty...the Girl With ris Ch ow kn ld family (you wou rael! with a trip to Is Feather Pen!)— ould love if you the trip and I w r fo og bl a d te We have star r adventure! would follow ou

www. m-bark1

bursting, blue skies...everywhere we look creation is crying “life!” and “beauty!” and bringing praise to the creator!

“You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful.”

-1 Peter 3:4-5

Yoder!

7.blogspot.com

The Stained

Glass Window

radiant beauty in broken pieces When I was seven years old my Dad purchased a hundred year

base my definition of beauty on what my culture is defining as

old piano. Its mustard yellow paint (yes, yellow!) was chipping

beautiful. I see it as the happy moments. You know - the roses,

from its longevity and it desperately needed a good tuning. It

chocolate, and summer skies. I want to separate everything else

was easy for little fingers to find middle C because the key was

that is difficult and repulsive. When I’m facing hard things,

chipped. I still remember it parked in our garage as my dad dili- when I don’t measure up to my peers, when I cry tears, and when gently worked at removing the paint. Eventually he varnished the I don’t feel beautiful - then I tend to believe that beauty ceased. old upright until it shined. It has adorned our living room for the past fifteen years and faithfully bursts with music.

But it hasn’t.

True beauty, the kind of beauty that will come from deep inside

Recently, I sat at a piano in a cathedral. As I played, I looked up to notice a beautiful stained glass window. The sunlight was spilling through the deep colors of glass into the quiet sanctuary.

True beauty...often comes in broken pieces.

I realized my life greatly resembles that stained glass window.

A stained glass window is made of pieces of glass. Our life is of-

of you and shine out, often comes in broken pieces. Through the

ten made up of what seems like pieces. Some of them hold tears

things that don’t feel beautiful at the time. These pieces some-

and are deeply painful. Others are shining with laughter, joy,

times look like crushed longings, bad experiences, unfulfilled

and treasured memories. We wince at the chipped pieces from

dreams, hurtful relationships, failure, or physical limitations. Do

our mistakes and sin. Some pieces are exciting adventures, and

you have some broken pieces? What do you see as ugly and

others simply the mundane of life. Some of the glass still needs

harmful?

to be broken.

Mary Klassin says “the miracle of restoration compounds the

I saw all those pieces lying before me. I wanted to sort the bad

beauty.” In my words: “the process of something broken becom-

ones from the good ones. They were ugly to me. Sometimes I try

ing beautiful is what truly makes it beautiful.” My Dad took an

to do that with beauty too. I like to decide what is beautiful. I

old, peeling, yellow piano and it now makes music. The artist

took the colorful array of broken, stained glass and made a fantastic mas-

world’s standard of beauty.

terpiece. God takes everything in your life, even the shattered pieces, and

It is a beauty from the Creator of beauty Himself.

puts it all together.

Because He is the One who Restores – it is beautiful.

His heart is: “to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of

Because He is the One who restores— it is beautiful.

2 Corinthians 4:7 is awesome: “But we have this treasure

praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they

in earthen vessels (our frail, human, broken pieces!), so that

might be called trees of righteousness, the

the surpassing greatness of the power will

planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.” [Isaiah 61:3]

be of God and not from ourselves.”

God will take all your pieces, my friends, and create a splendid stained

When He shines the radiant, extravagant beauty of His holiness against

glass window. Or, if you prefer, an old piano that creates beautiful music.

our “stained-glass window” - it is breathtaking. He will look at it and say, Beautiful. Others will be drawn to it. It will be an inviting, warm, and attractive beauty. It won’t be based on how you feel. It won’t be based on the

Radiant Beauty Teresa Miller

Beauty: As According To Webster

Beauty noun \ˈbyü-tē\ The quality or aggregate of qualities in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or pleasurably exalts the mind or spirit : Loveliness

Savannah Knepp

1

2

3

4

5

6

1: You will need:

3:Cut out all the circles.

A solid colored T-shirt (This one is size M),

4:Then cut them all in spirals

A pair of Scissors,

5:Line them up

Paper plate,

6:Cut a 4" Strip of fabric

and a Marker.

Double knot it in the middle of the row.

2:Take plate and trace 4-6 circles on t-shirt.

And your done!!!

Beauty Around You

By Simone Weaver

Creating Beauty around my neighborhood or my house is always an enlightening adventure and it is fun seeing the smiles on the faces of the people who’ve received the beauty of something I did. Creating Beauty around your surroundings doesn’t have to be a chore or work, but it can be super exciting to make some one’s day become more beautiful than it was before. Creating Beauty around you can be simple act or it can be unique and exotic. Whatever mood you are in . =)

different places. Try doing it sometime! It is really cool to have your brother, sister, mom, or dad say, “I got the note today, and it came at the exact time I needed it!” You could even get something in return, like a candy bar on your bed at the end of the day. =) Creating beauty like this can be extremely fun and it can make someone else’s day go ten times better than before the extraordinary thing you had done for them.

Some simple acts of beauty could be like these:

Below, I am going to share with you some of the things I do to cre- -You could have a meal ready for your busy mom, aunt or grandma. ate beauty around me.

-You could brighten up the house I love doing random acts of kindness. Random Acts of Kindness with an arrangement of flowers that are in season. is doing something for a person with out them knowing who did it to them! =) Here is an example of what I had done in the past. My neighbor and her two kids were outside. The kids were playing around and she was trying to mow the lawn! (she was interrupted quite a bit, though.) After a while, I pulled my coffee cake out of the oven and the batch of iced coffee was ready to devour. I wrapped a piece of coffee cake and grabbed a cup of iced coffee and sneaked it unto her porch! She told my mom later that day, “I was blessed by someone today. That was an awesome surprise at my porch.” Personally, I thought that was so much fun and it was great that she appreciated it!!! =) You can create beauty around your house by dropping notes at

-You could clean your ever-sojunky house or bedroom without being told to at least six times=) -You could use REALLY nice eating accessories for your Sunday lunch, just because it is Sunday.

-You could help out and older lady at a grocery store with all her shopping bags and cart.

In my opinion, those are some of the best things to create beauty around your house and community with. Creating Beauty is rewarding to watch the persons gratefulness or their expressions. You should try creating beauty around you; it is so much fun !

Simone Weaver

Oh, The Beauty In…. ….laug hter.

...creativity.

…spring time.

...music.

….girlhood..

..the light of

...a well spread table.

the eyes.

Your ‘Light’ Endowed thru Color Deborah Miller

for many different reasons, whether it is wrong color, or any number of different eye traps (even if they don’t reveal skin.). In our dress we bring glory to God by representing godly womanhood – being completely in His design. We cover our bodies, and then with those things we use to cover we choose style that represents purity and color that brings attention to our face.

“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, they whole body shall be full of light.”

Matt. 6: 22.

To embark on the subject of beauty, clothes, modesty, femininity, and how our God ever so faithfully governs even this part of our lives, is altogether a joy. I do it and am myself challenged and inspired, realizing what a responsibility we have as women to represent Heaven, King, and Bride.

So how, we may ask, do we represent properly? My Father is the wisest man I know, and he’s said on more than one occasion: “You dress because of the people not for the people.” And I expound: We do not dress for God, ladies, He sees hearts, remember? However people cannot see hearts, so they have to assume that the clothing you don is an expression of your heart. We do not fear what they think, we fear God by asking ourselves if our dress represents Him properly to people around us.

“In our initial contact with people, fifty-five percent of our perceived

We’ve all met one, they glow, right? One that lives sold out and virtuous. I believe we all desperately want to be undeniably reflecting gloCovering of the body should be aury. And this truly comes from deep tomatic for the Believing Woman. relationship with Almighty: Creator But modesty is what may lack in of all things beautiful. It is the light even the “covered woman”. (Though of the eyes, the smile on your face covering is essential and praisethat makes all aware of a Holy Presworthy.) I recently heard a powerful ence within. Therefore we want to do message on modesty in which the all in our power to wear clothes that deliver said this: “Modesty is coverbring the viewer’s attention automatiing myself not just my body”- John cally to the face, where His light Yoder. We are to reflect, bring attenshines the authentic beauty. tion to, glorify, and represent, HIM, God so creatively made the world not us. And all of us nod solemnly go through a yearly cycle of four sea“Amen .Yes sister.” But then the next thought is this: “HOW??” We need sons: spring, summer, autumn and winter. (Yes, the ones you learned to wear something! So WHAT? about in kindergarten.) Each one of We have a generation of woman you has the colors from one of these who “Just want to be beautiful” and seasons that naturally look smashing therefore don’t deny themselves the with your, eyes, hair, and skin tone. distracting clothing that they believe (Does that make sense why it’s immakes them this thing called beauty. portant to wear the right colors?

Even “modest” dress can distract We’re trying to bring attention to the people from being drawn to our face face, remember?) credibility is based on appearance alone!”- Jill Swanson from Simply Beautiful

Let’s talk about color, shall we?

yellow and blue you get a true green, When you go to buy paint for your but if more yellow is added to that green color you get a warmer yellownew room you can’t just walk into green such as the spring would wear, hardware and say: “I’d like to buys some green paint”, because there are therefore I say that that color has a “yellow undertone”. On the other hundreds of different shades of green! There will be forest green, true hand if you were to add more blue to that color you would get a cooler green, lime green, and moss green.

The key to understanding which color green such as the Deep Blue-Green is “yours” is undertones and shades. of the summer in which case I would say it has a “blue undertone”.

To understand this we must, again, return to kindergarten. The three priThere are warm colors and cool mary colors are red, yellow, and blue. colors. Spring and autumn have Out of these colors come secondary warm, yellow undertones, while as colors with are made up of a combi- winter and summer have cool, blue undertones. One shouldn’t say “I don’t look good in green” one should rather say “I don’t look good in yellow-green or pine green but I do look good in lime green”. It’s about the undertones and shades that make any color look great on you. However there are some colors that certain seasons have none of. For instance autumns don’t have any shade of purple that is considered to be “their color”.

Each season has about 30 colors that when worn make the wearer appear alive and healthy, making eyes, hair, and skin come to their full potential.

But there’s even more than thirty colors each season can wear, but those thirty are the “basic truths” about your season that you want to live by.

By each season’s description you will see 16 of the main colors from each nation of the primary colors. Then season that I chose to present to you from the secondary colors come for sake of the visual. But I would many other shades of colors by mixhighly recommend purchasing a book ing secondary colors. This is what with all the colors from each season makes the different hues in Spring, in, or ordering “seasonal swatches” in Summer, Autumn, and Winter. An your correct season online to keep in “undertone” is the dominant primary your purse as you shop. With each color that is the backdrop for the new season I also have a picture of someshade or secondary color. For inone in my life who is in each season. stance if you mix the primary colors

However don’t confine yourself to looking just like them, there are many variations of look in each season, these are just a general example.

Most of you, by nature, know what colors look good on you. But what’s really wonderful about learning your colors is finding new colors in your palette that look great on you but you would never have thought to wear. It will also help you to stay away from “fad colors” that are terribly “in” but won’t look good on you. We are tossed off the color path by the general colors that everyone wears, such as black. Did you know that only if you are a winter does black genuinely go with your skin-tone, hair, and eyes? A weakness is to put on a pretty color, see only the attractiveness of the color think “this must be my color”. Colors do weird things that may make us believe they look good on you. For instance: black slims, and looks classy, so people assume it looks good on them. Some good question to ask your self are “Do people see the color or me first?” Or “Am I wearing the color or is the color wearing me?”

As you look at the different season’s colors, observe the difference of shade and undertone with within the same colors. Concerning whites; note that winters are the only ones who can successfully wear pure white, although there are times when one simply needs to wear white, I understand. So, if you are a summer purchase “Soft white”, a spring: ivory, an autumn: “Oyster white”. Most all people can get away with the summer’s “soft white”, but summers always wear it best.

Spring As I write our family is returning home from a ministry trip and I look out motor home window to see spring unfolding before me. Trees and grass in their clear yellow-green, some bearing beautiful periwinkle blue blossoms others having soft ivory buds. It’s all so beautiful, fresh, and clear. Look outside this time of year and you’ll see what to wear as a spring.

coral, clear bright aqua, camel, and periwinkle blue (to name a few.).

She used to think she was a fall because she enjoyed “warm” colors, but she would look drab in most of the deep colors of autumn, where as the clear, warm colors of spring make her “come alive”. Instead of the autumn’s dark chocolate brown she wears a medium golden brown; instead of gold she wears light, clear gold.

My Mother is a beautiful spring, looking fabu- Spring and autumn do share several colors tolous in peach, bright gether however, such as

camel, orange-red, and bright yellow-green. But then comes the purples and blues that autumn can’t touch and the deep browns and reds of autumn that springs shouldn’t do.

My little sister is also a darling spring pictured here in Bright Coral.

Her cheeks can be the most delectable of peach/ pink color, and her blonde hair is brought to life with the clarity of this spring season.

See which characteristics describe you.

Skin:

Eyes:

•Creamy Ivory

eyes have clusters of gold around

•Ivory with pale golden freckles

the pupil or gold flecks in the iris.)

•Peach

•Clear Blue

•Peach/Pink (may have pink/purple knuckles.)

•Steel Blue

•Strawberry blonde (usually with freckles)

•Green with golden flecks

•Strawberry redhead (usually with freckles)

•Rosy Cheeks (may blush easily)

•Clear green

•Auburn

•Aqua

•Golden brown

•Golden brown

•Teal

•Golden Beige

(Often Spring’s

•Golden Brown •Blue with white “rays”

Hair •Flaxen blonde •Yellow blonde •Honey blonde

•Red-black (rare) •Dove gray •Creamy white

Autumn

I am autumn, I live in the browns, oranges, greens, and yellows that are on the trees in the season. It’s been said that autumns have the easiest shopping since the colors are readily available and all you need look for is golden undertones that can be clear or muted.

A personal tip for autumns: buy tan, kaki, copper or brown skirts verses your traditional denims, blacks and whites (though a few of those are OK). You’ll be amazed at how much sharper your autumn tops will look with a tan skirt instead of the denim.

Your wardrobe will also flow

together much more with the often autumns, with the exmajority of your skirts being ception of a few due to deliin the tan, brown-line. cate skin that makes them springs.

Often a give-away from a spring or autumn is cheek If you’re an autumn don’t limit yourself to brown as I color. The autumn’s cheeks will generally be more color- did! J There are beautiful less while springs will be rosi- greens, oranges, or yellow er. However some autumns colors that can be worn during spring and summer seado have a more pink cheek sons that don’t look like and will easily get confused you’re always in deep fall colwith a summer, but, again, the pink will be more peachy ors. But do buy brown, warm then a true blue-toned pink. beige, or oyster white undershirts instead of white and Autumn’s hair may be black, these are the best blonde as a child but normally completions to your outfit darkens with age (My story.) and you’ll wear them over The hair of the autumn usual- and over again. ly has golden or red highlights. Redheads are most

See which characteristics describe you.

Skin:

Eyes:

Hair

•Ivory

•Dark brown

•Red

•Ivory with freckles (usually redhead) •Peach •Peach with freckles (usually golden blonde, brown) •Golden beige (no cheek color.)

•Dark Beige (Coppery.

Usually with charcoal black hair) •Golden brown

•Golden Brown •Amber •Hazel(golden brown, green gold) •Green (With brown or gold flecks) •Pale, clear green •Olive green

•Coppery red-brown •Golden brown (dark honey) •Golden blonde (honey) •Ash (“dirty”) blonde •Strawberry Blonde

•Blue with a distinct aqua or turquoise tone

•Charcoal brown or black

•Teal Blue

•Golden gray

•Steel blue

•Oyster white

Summer I feel as though I’m entering a whole new world after we’ve talked so much about “warm, golden, brown, and yellow undertones” we are now speak in the world of “pink, cool, gray, and blue undertones.”

When I spoke of spring I mentioned the beautiful life that is going on around us in this amazing change of seasons. I used to think that summer was the “bright colored” palette, but I was quite wrong.

If you think of summer, all the crisp colors of spring turn into muted pinks, greens, plum, and the sky is softer and not as contrasting with the earth.

This is summer; muted and powered colors.

Often summers are the ones with beautiful pink cheeks and raspberry lips.

Some may be pale lacking

cheek color, then there are the ones with rose-beige skin, others may be very high in pink color, there are also those that have beige, shallow skin which makes it hard to discern the blue undertones.

But no fear, something along the line will reveal your true colors. J Hair though it may be brown or blonde in many different shades, has an ash, grayish cast to it. This is a large differing factor from the autumn or spring that has a red or gold cast on her hair. The soft white speaks that can appear in the summer’s eyes differ from the harsh contrasting white speaks that appear in the winters. They are just that: softer.

No one in our family is a summer, but I shall tell you about my friend who knows her summer and wears it well.

She has hair about my color, but with a gray cast while mine has a red. Her cheeks are always rosy, and lips deep raspberry. She’s so attracted to gray, silver accessories, and says she’s always in powder blue or pink. Just today I was in a thrift store and found a shirt that I only wish she could have been along to see. It was raspberry and carried lots of ruffles that would have fit her to a tea. She looks so alive and beautiful in her summer, muted colors.

Some may glace at the summer palette and think “boring”. But trust me, when a summer dons any of these muted tones, they look like the most exciting colors on earth!

See which characteristics describe you.

Skin:

Eyes:

•Creamy Ivory

eyes have clusters of gold around

•Ivory with pale golden freckles

the pupil or gold flecks in the iris.)

•Peach

•Clear Blue

•Peach/Pink (may have pink/purple knuckles.)

•Steel Blue

•Strawberry blonde (usually with freckles)

•Green with golden flecks

•Strawberry redhead (usually with freckles)

•Rosy Cheeks (may blush easily)

•Clear green

•Auburn

•Aqua

•Golden brown

•Golden brown

•Teal

•Golden Beige

(Often Spring’s

•Golden Brown •Blue with white “rays”

Hair •Flaxen blonde •Yellow blonde •Honey blonde

•Red-black (rare) •Dove gray •Creamy white

Winter

When considering yourself to be a winter, look for blue or blue-pink undertones in your skin. This may work to no avail since winters are sometimes shallow and the blue undertone indistinct. Don’t be disheartened, your other features well tell you what you are. If you’ve heard the term “olive skin” and consider yourself to have it then you’re probably a winter. Olive skin appears golden but actually has blue undertones. My mother used to think she had olive skin because she considered olive to be the definition of “warm” skin. Orientals and blacks are usually winters, though some are from any other of the seasons as well.

When I was a little girl, I thought I looked wonderful in black and wanted very desper-

ately to be considered a winter. I remember well this darling little black shirt that I thought was the prettiest thing in my closet.

My daddy liked it too, and so I felt that I was, indeed, a winter.

Even as a “tween” I wore lots of true red, pink, white, and gray.

(I even decorated my new room in shocking pink and black stripes.) I really enjoyed loud contrasting colors. This was partly because, with my personality, I like to make a statement with my clothes, but the Lord has changed a lot of those ideas and made me realize who He really created me to be as a woman in His Kingdom. The fads and colors of the time also affected me; I just wanted to be “in”, therefore bought glory to myself by wearing loud clothing that honored me more than God. This was during the time that

my brothers call my “rumm springa” or in another word: rebellion. But when my heart changed, so did my clothes, and a search for godly womanhood.

In that search I found the things I’m writing now, and it’s beautifully freeing to bring honor to God though our clothes, is it not? OK…I’m sorry, I wasn’t panning on sharing my life story, more on winters…

Hair is usually dark, with the exception of white-blondes. It’s normal for winter’s hair to gray early, but they do so gracefully with the salt and pepper look.

My Father is winter, having had his first gray hairs at age 18, and now at age 43 he has more white hair than black. Mother says it makes him look distinguished. J The noble author of this Girlfriends Gazette is herself a beautiful example of the

See which characteristics describe you.

Skin:

Eyes:

Hair

•Ivory

•Dark brown

•Red

•Golden Brown

•Coppery red-brown

•Ivory with freckles (usually redhead) •Peach •Peach with freckles (usually golden blonde, brown) •Golden beige (no cheek color.)

•Dark Beige (Coppery.

Usually with charcoal black hair) •Golden brown

•Amber •Hazel(golden brown, green gold) •Green (With brown or gold flecks) •Pale, clear green •Olive green

•Golden brown (dark honey) •Golden blonde (honey) •Ash (“dirty”) blonde •Strawberry Blonde

•Blue with a distinct aqua or turquoise tone

•Charcoal brown or black

•Teal Blue

•Golden gray

•Steel blue

•Oyster white

So, have you figured out which one you are? I know how it is to go in circles trying to diagnose yourself, but once you know which season you are amazing things will begin to happen in your closet. :)

not do whatever we want with our personality, but to also enjoy it. The books I mentioned above go in-depth with clothing personality. (Both mention about four or five clothing personalities you can have, but I personally enjoy another paper that It took me quite some time to come to a I’ve fill out concerning the subject that has very deep knowing of which season I am. more like eight.) One warning I have is to We have an idea, but we also are really see your natural tendency in dress, then attracted to this and that color, or maybe look for its strengths and weaknesses. For someone said they like this shirt on us and instance the “creative” dresser may be too wasn’t in the season you thought you were. creative, wearing so many layers and That’s alright; it’s a process to change your unique clothing that it brings more attencloset and mindset to the proper season. I tion to her than to her face. But she can knew I was an Autumn for quite some time also be the inspiring individual that gloribefore I began buying ONLY autumn fies God in her creativity. clothing. I would like something so much and buy it because it didn’t exactly look Since hair is the frame for your face it is “bad” on me, but it also didn’t look “best” one of the most important aspects your on me. Step by step you begin to enjoy presentation. Learning what your face your season so much and know the colors shape and features are, and how to do your automatically as you shop, saying “no” to hair to complement them is so important. anything that isn’t your best.

There is also the aspect of the human I would now recommend taking a few mind. You see, the mind works in a certain colors from each season, holding them up way without failing, and by learning how it to your face and asking the opinions of works there are key things we can wear at your Mom, Sisters, or Friends. Remember key places on our attire that will naturally it’s not about the color; it’s about what the make the human mind to make eyes look color does to your skin, hair, and face. at your face. Of course, we can do just the opposite as well. Put together some outfits Color is one aspect of dressing. God also walk into a room and ask one of your famicreated us with personalities that we often ly members “What was the first thing you express in our dress; this takes wisdom to

noticed about my presentation (Not “outfit”. As in, did they see the clothes first or you. I do realize that we naturally take a glance at a person’s clothing, our goal is to make that glace naturally go up to the face.)?” The section on clothing in the Advanced Training Seminar Book by Bill Gothard has some wonderful tips concerning this subject; you probably already have a copy of this book in your house.

Well Ladies, it’s been a pleasure discussing color and how the proper use of it can glorify its Creator. I most humbly say that I have much to learn, and much I know that I’m still not putting to practice. I am so grateful to know that the Keeper of Our Steps will continue to teach all of us His perfect ways concerning…what shall we call it? Beauty is quite overused, were not trying to focus on fashion, and clothes are the minor aspect…let’s call it “The framing of His light.”

Blessings~ Deborah Isabel Information on colors and color names and shades are derived from Color Me Beautiful by Carole Jackson.

All Rights Reserved.

Simply Beautiful by Jill Krieger Swanson is an attractive that makes learning more on proper clothing fun. Jill is a wonderful Christian lady that my Mother met at a conference. She has a spiritual challenge at the end of each chapter that goes along with the subject discussed. She does colors not by season but by tone, so it’s a bit different, but I really enjoy her chapters on closet organizing, shopping, and color personality.

Of all things I ask that each of you go on amazon or ebay to purchase Color Me Beautiful by Carol Jackson. This is an old book that can be easily found anywhere for a good price. Please invest in the book to see all 30 colors that are the backbone of each season. You can tear out these color palettes and put your correct season palette in your purse to take shopping with you. The 16 colors I gave you can only take you so far, but the 30 colors in this book open your color would anew. You will also be able to learn more about your season then I was able to share with you in this article.

“The Power of finding

Beauty

in the humblest things makes

home happy and life lovely.�

-Louisa May Alcott

On

Beauty

Just a little talk about beauty from the girlfriends.

“How do you create beauty around you? “ “I like to draw and paint beautiful pictures to create beauty. “ -Clarissa

“Being a vessel of God's love and letting it shine through me to other people. As a writer, creating pieces that touch hearts...smiling a from the heart smile...sharing encouragement and being willing to lift people up instead of tearing them down..”

-Kelsi

“Every other Tuesday night some of us girls from church get together to make casseroles and deliver them to shut-ins and low-income families.” -Lanae

“ I create beauty by sending cards to people to brighten up their day, flashing someone a smile in the hall, keeping my bed made and my room clean so that it’s pleasant for me and others, singing my heart out, keeping myself presentable and pleasant to look at, cleaning things up and making something look nice.”

-Sierra

“What comes to mind first when you hear/see the word ‘Beauty?’” ah n n a v a S ”! s r e w “Flo y? Pr ob ab ly m y

“ I think of physical be auty but al beauty. Some so inner attributes of inner be unselfishnes auty are s, kindness , gentleness and patience.” -S harayah (12)

“B ea ut e of th e m om , sh e's is on op le I m os t be au tif ul pe t :). ” ou kn ow , in si de an d

“Purp

Mountains, le, Butterflies,

“Stars on a clear night.”

Beauty is God working in and through your life.

He makes you to fly with wings like an eagle, enabling you to spread His fame all over the earth, not for your glory, but for His. That's Beauty.

It's Jesus dying the terrible death on the cross for our sins.

Washing you whiter than snow.

Loving you more than can be imagined.

That's true Beauty.

JESUS is true Beauty.

-Janae (16)

es.”

4) –Cheyenne (1

-B ri tta ny

When He takes the weak YOU, and by His power and never-ending strength, makes you strong.

and Green Tre

“I th

ink

-Sierra

of a kin you ng l d, gent le, a ady nd b !!! “ –Lo eaut nda (12) iful

y crisp sunset, “A pinky-orange organized by my row of books rainy days, a color, rainy hazy art, the panoratruly virtuous he mountaintop, ma view from a hristy (16) and Autumn.” -C

The Girl With The

Blue Feather Pen

C HRISTY B ARKMAN

Well, HI! CUT. Greetings and Salutations.

CUT. HOWDY. CUT.

Trips in the family suburban are always interesting.

(A.K.A. crumbs, fights, snores, music, laughing, cramped quarters, being too cold while another person is too hot, and etc.)

But we finally made it there.

Maybe I should figure out some new way to say hello, all the others are overused and practically recycled.

In April (I think) of last year, our family had done revival meetings at their church, and so it was fun to go back and recognize everyAh well. one.

HELLO. Add little cousins (as well as older cousins) sitting with us, drawIt's awful swell to write again, I daresay. (although I'm not too sure WHAT I'm going to ing entertaining little sketches for us, (sigh. the younger cousins, not the write about.) older ones.) thus laughing and creating quite What's been going on in my life? a little stir during the service, plenty of sarWell. casm, glittery shoes, a little meeting with the elder cousins on the kitchen floor, lunch at Starting with what-i-thought-would-be our Grandma's house with most of the uncles little day-trip to Pennsylvania. and aunts there (including a newly engaged My Uncle was being commissioned as a dea- couple, HURRAY!), and skyping with some con in his church, and so we wanted to be who weren't there, there for that. and I'd call it a pretty swell day.

Not to mention my Cousin James STAR-

There was a spoiler: I became quite sick.

(Please gasp in horror.)

*the crowd gasps in horror* I assure you, it's true.

It was all right though, because I basically just downed all their garlic, vitamin C, Echinacea, and another pill that i've forgotten, and was right as rain in a few days.

RING in their Youth Group's production of (there are rumors circulating that I slept in Cheaper by the Dozen as Mr. Gilbreth. until 2:30 the second day. I would like to go (May I say we're quite proud to have an actor on the record as having no comment.)

-cousin for kin, by jingo.)

(Word of Advice: If you ever go to PA for a week, make sure that you don't know that you're staying, hence, you have to go shopAnd THEN, through a series of VERY fortunate ping. heh heh. events, I must say it feels pretty good to have a I was allowed to stay with Grandma and the whole new wardrobe from Goodwill.)

Aunts for the entire week until they came to OH. After being re-wardrobed, my aunt and I venLet's just say I was a bit excited. tured out as tourists in Lancaster City, going

From Here to Timbuktu. literally. (no, I'm serious.

There was a store called From Here to Timbuktu.

So, literally, we were from here to Timbuktu.)

My goodness, I almost convinced myself that I could live in the city. (provided that I had shoes other than boots. UGH.) There were so many wonderful wonderful little shops along the streets filled with wonderful wonderful random things.

We went to art galleries, a smokey book store, a french pastry place, St. Johns Church's cemetery, (I assure you it was much much better than it sounds) to name a few.

It was lovely, in a wintery, gloomy, haunting sort of way. (that IS a good thing, in case you're wondering.)

My aunt is a nanny to some kids named: Guess?

Jack and Emma.

Right out of a storybook.

They're quite the darling children.

We had lots of fun with them; Nerf gun wars, cats, running around in circles around the table, finger-nail painting, and etc .

We went to Philadelphia.

Gah. That was awesome.

I have hereby decided that Subways are some of the most interestingly confusing places.

Everything is dirty.

People eat yogurt, listen to music, or text, and all the while everyone avoids eye-contact with everyone else and ignore the man begging for money.

It's really strangely sad.

Everyone is in their own little world, and not wanting to venture out of their shell to strike up a conversation with anyone else.

Anyway, we went to Independence Hall.

That was pretty incredible.

(I was kicking myself all week for not taking my camera along. The few pictures I have were taken on my aunts camera, mostly in Philadelphia.)

We were in the buildings that the Founding Fathers wrote and signed the Declaration of Independence.

There were two fire drills, which were quite confusing.

But during one of them we met a real live grandmother from England . . .

(excuse me, I just dumped a cup of coffee in my room.

Report: The good news is that the coffee was cleaned up. more or less. the bad news is that everything in my sock drawer will probably smell like coffee for ever.

Current Report: am now consoling myself with chocolate.)

ANYWAY. . . . a real live grandmother from England who had a real live accent, and said she was leaving around

'teatime'.

*happy sigh* And we also went to a museum. but I forgot it's name.

ehem.

Then we went to the Signing Room, where we 'met' the Signers of the Declaration of Independence and posed for quite a few pictures with them. (see pictures) We also signed the Declaration, with good ol' George Washington looking on.

and oh, by the way, I was sworn in as President.

I hope that wasn't too big of a shock to you, I shall try my utmost to care for the land and it's inhabitants.

Then, we came back to Ohio. (we discovered that Lemon Pound Cake at Starbucks is incredible.)

It was a VERY good week.

This past weekend we attended a Missions Conference with a theme of Human Trafficking.

Wow. It was so eye-opening, to realize what's going on around the world, even right here in Ohio, and I don't have the excuse of all that horrible stuff just happening overseas where I am not right now.

To get involved in or learn more about organizations working against Human Trafficking, go to www.ijm.org and www.shehasaname.com.

You can make a difference.

But first, pray.

That you would be willing, open, and obedient to His voice.

That He would open your eyes to the people in chains around you.

Because it is real, and it's closer than we think.

(After asking Chloe what Beauty was, these were her answers: What do you mean?

You mean what do you think things that are pretty?

We then left Philadelphia, and went to a restaurant/shop called

Terrain.

You can look it up, because I can't explain it right.

It was ridiculously gorgeous.

That's all I'll say.

And then we went to Target.

Good Ol' Target.

You see, all week my aunts had been saying that they HAVE to buy me better walking shoes, because my boots weren't too swell for walking through Lancaster City and Philadelphia in.

And then, at the last store we went to all week, Target, they bought me shoes.

(I thought it was pretty funny.)

Um. I don't know. Black

Beauty.)

Thank you for reading my rather last minute column thing.

Once again, if you want to ask a question, offer words of advice, or if you just want to chat, email me at browneyed996@gmail.com, or you can stalk me on my blog: www.sinkhappysoughts.blogspot.com.

God bless you all, and have a smashing Winter-turning-to-Spring!

“You were given life; it is your duty (and also your entitlement as a human being) to find something beautiful within life, no matter how slight.” ― Elizabeth Gilbert

Hope for the Flowers—Trina Paulus A tale partly about life, partly about revolution, and lots about hope for adults and others (including caterpillars who can read)

I should consider growing up—but I still love storybooks. They are the working of the ordinary and simple into profound truth.

The two fuzzy caterpillars, Stripe and Yellow, desperately attempt to reach the top of a massive caterpillar pillar before realizing they were meant to fly, not climb. They learn that being what they were designed to be is not something you attain, but rather something you become.

I scribbled down this quote from the book: “What looks like dying really is not. Life is changed—not taken away.”

You will enjoy the yellow-themed illustrations and the author’s creative writing style. -Teresa Miller

It’s A Beautiful, Crazy

y Life

Snapshots From My Journey

This Issue’s Cover Model: Shania, Age 15.