The End

Yes, the time has come to bring A Graceful Maiden's Memoir to an end. I haven't even had this blog a full year, yet this is the last post, bring this to an end. I have really enjoyed the time I've spent doing this blog... all the people I've met, and things I've been able to write.

However, I'm not disappearing from the blogosphere completely. Indeed, A Graceful Maiden's Memoir will be ended, but Miriam Hart and I are starting a double blog, entitled Maidens of Worth. I have enjoyed having my own blog, but I'm now really looking forward to doing a new blog together with my dear friend. It will be quite similar to A Graceful Maiden's Memoir, it'll just be both of us contributing. I hope you enjoy it!

So, from now on the place to find my writings will be http://maidensofworth.blogspot.com . If you have linked to A Graceful Maiden's Memoir, I would appreciate it if you'd remove the link. I won't delete this blog, you can still come back and read whatever, but nothing new will be appearing here either.

I hope you enjoy Maidens of Worth. I am looking forward to sharing a blog with my soul mate, Miriam Rebekah Hart. Please check it out!

Sewing Spree

I've been on a sewing spree! The last 5 days I've been sewing in most of my spare time, and have finished 3 dresses! Enjoy the pictures.

I have made quite a few dresses for myself, so I made Jubilee some. I started this dress a few weeks before July, but had to stop as things got busy, and then I left for camp. We finally got what was needed to complete it, and I finished it last Saturday. It's the same as my red rose dress, just made with blue rose material.

For an upcoming wedding, with hopefully some old English type dancing afterwards, I made Jubilee a Colonial type dress, like the ones Miriam and I made. Miriam helped make her sister Esther a dress of the same type in purple, so I made Jubilee's in green. It's really pretty with her red hair and green eyes! I cut it out on Saturday afternoon, and completed it on Tuesday morning.

And yes, another for myself! It's the same style as my dark purple-sashed one, only with a light purple ruffle and sash, and pink rosed material. I have had the material ever since I was 13, but never made it into a dress. So, I decided to get it done. I cut it out a few weeks ago, but didn't start sewing until today. I sewed quite a bit, and just finished it after 4 hours of sewing! This is the third time I've used this particular pattern, so it went pretty fast.

And now... for a fall/winter wardrobe... stay tuned! =)

Nothing Like a Baby

Yesterday I had the wonderful privilege of holding sweet baby Joel for over 2 hours while he slept a lot and was awake a little, and he was just so cute! My arms ached some when I finally had to give him back to his mother, but I was filled with joy at the great opportunity to hold a delightful little baby, and rejoice in such a beautiful little blessing from God.

What is it about a baby that makes them so cute - no matter what they're doing? I guess it's as my mom says, "There's just nothing like a baby." Their perfect little fingers and toes, their big eyes and cute little nose, their soft skin and chubby cheeks all show God's special handiwork.

Now, I know that babies aren't always pleasant. I've been around quite a few screaming babies that I couldn't quiet. I've walked the floor with them, trying to get them to sleep, even in the middle of the night a few times. I've changed many an unpleasant diaper. I've had them make messes on me. But, I still love them, and cherish every opportunity I get to hold them.

And, babies do grow up. 3 of "my babies" are now toddlers... but they're still so sweet! I babysat a family of 5 children last night, and baby of the family is already almost 2 years old! I've babysat him since was only a little more than a month old, and now he's running around with the rest of his siblings, scarcely still. He still loves to be held and cuddled however, and I kept scooping him into my arms and giving him kisses, for I just couldn't resist! =)

One day, I hope to marry, and have babies of my own, ones that I won't have to give back eventually to their mothers. I know that it won't be easy, and I know that it will be tiring, but I'm still looking forward to it. But for now, I'll just have to be content with my nieces and nephews. In fact, Maria's expecting her third child in November, and it's probably a girl! I'll also take every opportunity that comes my way to cuddle a little baby, if only for a moment. For there IS nothing like a baby.

Back on Schedule

These days since I've come back from camp have been nice. I've mainly relaxed, slept in late, and read a lot. While it has been refreshing, I feel the urge to get back on schedule.

It's been nice to just do mostly what I want throughout the day. I've still cleaned and cooked, yet not as much as would be good, and mostly only whenever I've felt like it. And while sleeping in later has felt wonderful, it also seems to make me more tired and irritable. I've also had a harder time going to bed at night, before it's really late.

So, I'm going to try to establish a routine again. A certain time to sleep and a time to rise, and once again try to stick with it. I'm also going to try to plan out my days, with certain things to accomplish, and a rough draft of what times to do things. It will be a bit more relaxed schedule, sing it is summer for a little while longer, but it shall hopefully help me stay more focused. I have found that lack of something planned often ends up with my getting on the computer and wiling time away surfing the net. Doing that doesn't get much done!

I know that my schedule won't always work, although I'd like it to! I have a hard time when my plans don't work out, but I need to remember what Proverbs 16:9 says: "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." I need to be interruptible in my plans sometimes, for God might have something better that He's planned for me to do.

So, in the days ahead I hopefully shall spend more time doing worthwhile things, and trying to follow the old adage, "Early to be, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." =)

"Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." - Proverbs 16:3

Dressing With Decency

Yesterday my family and I went to Whitewater water park in Atlanta Georgia. While the rides were a lot of fun, the way most of the girls were dressed was so sad. The style these days seems to "bare it all" and that's just what most women are doing. Wearing swimsuits consisting mostly of thin straps, the women leave almost nothing covered. What was especially sad was the number of young girls, who, following the example of their mothers and older sisters, begin dressing quite provocatively, even at their young age.

Proverbs 11:22 says, "Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful women who shows no discretion." Most of these women were very beautiful, yet because of the way they flaunt themselves, their beauty is wasted, just like a gold ring would be wasted on a pig.

What has happened to the mystery that used to be inspired through modesty? Why don't women want to save themselves for only one man to see? If they covered themselves, they would still be beautiful, and believe it or not, men do respect you more when you don't flaunt yourself! Yes, the girls dressed in the fashion of "show so much skin" do get a lot of attention, but by what kind of guy?

Now, not all of the girls were dressed in such a way, although a majority were. My sisters and I were among those covered. I presented quite a different style, with my high-necked, high-backed swimsuit, with its skirt flowing to my knees. I was very comfortable and enjoyed the prettiness of a modest, feminine bathing suit that didn't compromise my standards. Hopefully, I was a good example to others around, that you can swim modestly! If any of you sew, I would suggest that you get the pattern (now available in girl's sizes as well) Biblical Womanhood offers. It's quite simple, once you get a little practice sewing with lycra.

So, will you join me in presenting to the world a different way of dressing? Will you dress in a way that glorifies God, or glorifies your body?

I have found that when you dress with modesty, decency, and propriety (1 Timothy 2:9-10), you are usually more respected. Dress in such a way that brings the attention off of yourself, and shows people the light of Christ shining through you. You may get a few weird looks, but most of those you come in contact with will be refreshed to see a young lady, dressed with decency.

Now, this of course doesn't mean that you should dress in shapeless burlap sacks covering neck to ankle! Although hard to find, there are occasional pretty and modest clothes in the store. Also, you could take up sewing, as I've done, and sew some of your own clothes. Sewing not only is fun to do, it produces something that can be enjoyed for years to come! Whatever you do, strive to take the effort to dress with taste and decency.

Yet, you shouldn't just focus on your outward appearance. "The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. - 1 Samuel 16:7. Even if you wear modest clothes, if you have a heart full of immodest thoughts and behaviors, that is what is going to shine through for others to see. Cultivate a heart of purity, gentleness, love for others, and modest behavior, and show others Christ in you. It will only add to the loveliness of your dress and manner. How can we do this? By working on our relationship with God, and asking Him to help us. "Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God" - 2 Corinthians 3:5. Only through God can we do anything worthwhile. And don't despair for, "being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." - Philippians 1:6