Modesty Makeover: Soul Edition "Modesty of the Soul"

Hello everyone!!!!!
This is my FINAL video in the modesty series! It is a nice little wrap-up of what I have been talking about for the past two months! I will be taking a break from videos, but will continue to blog! I also will be returning with a BRAND NEW video series in September, but God hasn't revealed to me what that is yet...but stay tuned! Also, sorry about the traffic noises in the background!

Have a PUREly (see what I did there?) awesome day!
Your Sister In Christ,
Dani

My Mommy and Me

“I am a child of God, emphasis on the child part” is how I often describe myself. Why? Well, even as I get older I still stay a child. I may be getting into adult things like taxes, but I am definitely still a child. As a child, I am open to the world, but I do not understand it. I also have no clue as to what I am doing half the time. Sound familiar? When I was little, I would ask my mom a question when I wanted to understand something. I would trust my mom to lead me to the right answer. I love my biological mother, but today I would like to focus on my spiritual mother, Mary. Here is a picture, isn't she beautiful?

                I have always been drawn to Mary, and in multiple ways. I have always loved the Hail Mary prayer, and when it came time to choose a confirmation saint, I of course chose her since she is the queen of the saints and because I felt a deep connection to her. As I got older, the Rosary became one of my favorite prayers and a source of comfort. I have always found Mary wonderful to turn to because she is kind and loving, and brings me closer to her Son, Jesus. There have been many times where I have wanted to just give up on the trial I was facing, but then I would reach out and I could feel Mary’s hand leading me to Jesus. During a bad breakup, she walked with me step by step by means of the 54 day Rosary novena. Some days were harder than others, but having that prayer helped me to persevere through it all, and it strengthened my relationship with Jesus. On another occasion, I felt called to write a letter that was very painful for me to write. As I wrote it, I clutched my Rosary, and the pain and distress I was feeling started to subside. Mary has continuously held my hand throughout my life. I like to wear my Rosary on my wrist as well as sleep with it so that I am always aware of whose hand I am holding (also you never know when you will have extra time for a Rosary!). 

                For the longest time, I was afraid of the Marian Consecration, despite my connection to Mary. It just seemed so…committed and serious. I did not feel ready for it and shied away from it for a long time. A few months ago, however, that changed.  With the help of a few friends, I was able to start the process. It is a 33-day preparation process, and ends with consecration on a Marian feast day. I began my consecration April 28, which oddly enough is the feast day of St. Gianna Beretta Molla, a saint I feel a strong connection to. Throughout the beginning in particular, I had my doubts about the consecration. Mary, however, helped guide me through it with gentle love. I just finished my consecration on May 31, the feast of the Visitation. It has only been a few days, but I am already experiencing the effects. I feel closer to both Mary and Jesus than ever before, and I find myself more joyful in the face of trials. Mary will not force her way into our life, but she can offer a great amount of love and grace when we invite her in. I do not worship Mary, but I love her very deeply. I hope I can become as much like her as I can.

While there are many times where we feel lost and clueless, we can always turn to Mary because she has so got this. She is our mommy. She loves us, and would fly to the moon and back a million times if it would help bring you closer to her Son. I am always amazed about how Mary works in our lives. She has many names, and each one has an amazing story behind it (I really enjoy Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Guadalupe and  Our Lady of Fatima in particular). I just recently visited the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C, and I was so overwhelmed. The priest referred to it as “Mary’s house” and it really is with all of the chapels dedicated to her. The most overwhelming part of it was that all of the names of these chapels reflected a story of how Mary had worked in our lives on earth. It is amazing! She really is Our Lady of Perpetual Help. I encourage all of you to bring her into your lives. She can really help you, and will bring you closer to her Son.

Keep Mary in!

Your Sister In Christ,

Dani

Modesty Makeover: Soul Edition "Modesty of the Heart"

Hello friends!
I have returned with my heart sweater as promised AND added some Disney into it.
Also, I can put my videos in again!!!! 
BOOYAH!!!!!!

Have a magical day!
Your Sister In Christ,
Dani

These Things Take Time

It is amazing (and scary!) how fast-paced our world has become.

In one month, you achieve a level of expertise as to whether something was worth your money or not.

In two weeks, you will have abs that rival Taylor Lautner’s (apparently?)

In one day, you can receive a letter from across the country.

In two minutes you have a hot meal ready to be consumed.

In a few seconds, you have archives of information at your fingertips in the form of THE INTERNET.

It all happens so fast, each moment flowing to the next at a rapid and almost manic pace. We live in a society where instant gratification is the norm, but what happens when we have to wait? All of a sudden, each moment becomes a chore and is filled with discontent. We often become bored and/or frustrated, leading us to just give up. This is so sad because when we rush, we give up and close our eyes to the beauty that God has planned for us. Take a flower for example. When the seed is planted, it still looks like a cup of dirt. In fact, it looks like a cup of dirt for a while. Look:

  Yep, not very pretty and pretty boring. Then it starts to sprout, and you have a tiny glimpse at the potential this seed has to become something beautiful. It is a green sprout for a while, growing a little bit each day.

After what feels like an eternity of green sproutness (why yes dear spellcheck, I am aware this is not a word by your standards) there is a bud! Finally, it is now obvious that something beautiful is about to bloom. It is right on the verge, you can see it happening REALLY soon!

This doesn’t happen overnight though. This too, takes time. FINALLY, after days of slow and agonizing growth that tests anyone’s patience, a beautiful flower has bloomed. It is no longer a cup of dirt, but has changed into something truly beautiful. 

While it has a beautiful ending, it did start with a rather boring beginning as a cup of dirt, and it stayed that way for a long time. If we stopped watering the cup of dirt, however, and gave up on it, we never would get to see the beauty it has to offer later on. Often we do exactly this with many trials in our lives. I hear a lot of my friends say “I prayed, but it didn’t work so I stopped”. This honestly makes me want to cry. God has beautiful plans for us, and He always has! We just have to wait! I really love this verse from Jeremiah, because it really sums this whole thing up “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare, not for woe! Plans to give you a future full of hope” (Jeremiah 29:11). WOW! God has an AMAZING future planned for us! This future is going to be a more beautiful flower than we ever could have imagined. The best part is that it is growing RIGHT NOW! God has planted the seed within you, because He knew His plans for you before YOU WERE EVEN CONCEIVED. Sometimes, it may look like life is a cup of a dirt, but we must remember what that cup of dirt will become. We just have to give it time to grow. The most beautiful things do not come right away. The yummiest meal is not made in minutes (despite what all the advertisements claim). The happiest marriage does not come within seconds of meeting someone. These things take time. We just have to remind ourselves that and trust God AND in His timing. Our God is limitless; therefore He cannot be bound by time. Let us not limit Him by giving up when He does not “satisfy our timing” but rather let us trust in Him to reveal to us the beauty He has planned for us according to His timing.

Keep trusting!

Your Sister In Christ,

Dani

Modesty Makeover: Soul Edition "Modesty of the Body"

Hello world!
I have managed to incorporate Legally Blonde into my modesty video and IT WORKS!

Also, I am now able to put the video in! Here it is!

Have an amazing day!
Your Sister In Christ,
Dani

Simply, Beautifiul

I was once on a walk with a boy I had started seeing, when we walked past a jewelry store. He turned to me and said, "If I ever get a girlfriend (hint...hint...) I have a feeling I will be spending a lot of time and money there". I frowned, turn to him, and said "Not  necessarily. I will let you in on a secret: Girls, well girls like me at least, don't actually like that stuff. Maybe once is okay, but we prefer simple things, like a note or a picture". He smiled, looking somewhat relieved, and we kept walking. The same boy later commented on how beautiful girls are with no makeup. Simply, beautiful. In both cases, simple is beautiful, but society pushes the other direction. Why is it that, when deep down we really find beauty in simplicity?  Personally, I am a huge fan of simplicity. In my mind, the most beautiful and profound things come in the most simple of ways.  For example, the birth of Jesus. This birth was the most beautiful and the most profound, but it did not come in a lavish castle or a prestigious hospitals, but rather in the simple stable. Imagine, a king, born in the poverty of a stable. Yet it is so beautiful, depicted constantly in every medium from yard decorations to paintings. A truly beautiful sight, here is one of my favorites:

I feel so blessed that I have been able to see God's beauty and love in the most simple of ways. While I like to joke about how I wish He'd send me a lit-up billboard with the answer, I wouldn't trade anything for the simple beauty He sends me. It amazes me that when I am struggling, He can send me a simple red rose as a sign of His immense love, reassuring me that He has a plan. It is so simple, yet so beautiful. I think that perhaps with society, we tend to over-complicate things with doubt. We do not want to believe that God talks to us that simple, because He is so powerful. Yet that is what makes it so beautiful! All that love and majesty can come in the most simple of the ways, like the birth of Jesus, the best gift God ever gave man. We just have to open the eyes of our hearts by trusting Him. It's like it says in Luke 11: 11-12 "What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg?". God is sending His love and His beauty to us in the most simple of ways, we just have to be open to see it. He will not give you harm, just pray for an open heart and eyes to see the beauty He is sending you. For me, He sends roses. How does He show you beauty in simplicity?

Keep it simple!
Your Sister In Christ,
Dani

Modesty Makeover: Soul Edition "Modesty of the Eyes"

Hello friends of the Internet!

Sorry I am a day late, but here it is! The Modesty of the Eyes video! Modesty of the Eyes can help you AND others! DOUBLE WIN.

Since it will not let me insert the video again, DOUBLE SADNESS, here is the-
NOPE JUST KIDDING HERE IS THE ACTUAL VIDEO! Scratch the double sadness, TRIPLE WIN!

...Most awkward video thumbnail yet? I THINK YES!

Have an amazing day!

Your Sister In Christ,
Dani