Thursday, January 20, 2011

I'm 25 and full of Beauty

With terrible back posture and stretch marks that look like fireworks went off all over my body, I see the image of beauty.  And with no ankle definition and two stubs for pinky toes, I see beauty.  Because those marks stand for me (although I really could fix that back posture).  But my body is a symbol that I carried a human life!  My body is the design of a more Magnificent One.  And I'm embracing it.


And the beauty I see in myself is one that goes deeper than the  make up and updos I attempt to decorate myself with every day.  The beauty I believe in lies within my heart.  My imperfections are real and my mistakes are messy, but Thank Jesus (because I do) that I have the cleansing of Forgiveness.

Beauty isn't just in the eye of the beholder, beauty is in the one HELD!  And we can't forget that.  Because not all of my beholder's think I'm beautiful.  But I do, and I can't ever let go of that.  Because how I learn to view myself will radiate onto the beauty of my daughter.  And I want her to see beauty through Love colored glasses.




As her mother I embrace the job to imitate beauty and teach her beauty, and to forever tell her she's beautiful.  Because I believe it.  And sadly, I think this world fails at saying that enough.  Deep in my heart I believe that you can never tell someone too much that they are beautiful.



With her eye lashes gently resting on her cheeks and her chest slowly rises with each breath, I whisper  truth into her ears and proclaim her beauty into her heart!






And as I celebrate a new birthday, 25 never looked so good or smelled so sweet.  And the plans I had made and the list of to dos were never accomplished, but my life is beyond what I could expect.  And the beauty of the Forgiveness within me, the Grace shown through me, and the Love extended to me has my heart beaming with rays of joy!

I love to Inspire to be inspired!  Isn't that beautiful.  And so I got the lovely email from Mandy at She Breathes Deeply, that she created a project that was partially inspired by me, but I believe most of the credit goes to Proverbs 31 *wink*.

So I join her, along with many other beautiful bloggy women, as we Celebrate our Beauty!  And you should too, because you know what?  I think you're pretty darn gorgeous!


She Breathes Deeply



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40 comments:

  1. UnknownJanuary 20, 2011 at 10:18 PM

    Wow this is a beautiful post and you are beautiful too! I love your strength and confidence. Joss is a lucky girl to grow up with you as her mother I am so proud to be your friend!

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  2. CourtneyJanuary 20, 2011 at 10:30 PM

    This post almost brought tears to my eyes. You, my friend, ARE a beautiful person inside and out. Your daughter is lucky to have such a wonderful, God-fearing mother. I'm blessed to have met you and fortunate to be able to call you friend.

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  3. KariJanuary 20, 2011 at 10:40 PM

    Once again...a beautiful post. I love the photo of your daughter watching you twirl. XOXO

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  4. Mandy@ a sorta fairytaleJanuary 20, 2011 at 11:29 PM

    This is amazing and so inspiring!! Thank you for sharing this. I need to get better at recognizing the beauty that I posses.
    Love you girl!

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  5. Alicia January 21, 2011 at 2:44 AM

    This is so awesome. Having just had a daughter myself, (especially after being the mom of a son for the past three years), this really hits home. I often wonder what it is I want to teach her about beauty, strength and femininity. I can't wait to read more!

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  6. Elisa FarrowJanuary 21, 2011 at 4:46 AM

    I just found your blog through Mandy's and I love it! Grace is upon you!

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  7. NaomiJanuary 21, 2011 at 5:43 AM

    This post is so beautiful! The pictures are stunning as are your words. LOVE the first photo-gorgeous!

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  8. Ashley SiskJanuary 21, 2011 at 6:12 AM

    YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL....and 25...oh my goodness, you're a baby. I'm going on 29 this year and I'm in awe of your beauty.

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  9. Casey MartinezJanuary 21, 2011 at 6:19 AM

    This was like a fairy tale post. So dreamy and lovely. I wish I could get outside barefoot and take pictures on green grass! hehe. Is that CA? I do miss my CA home in the winter for sure. And, these pictures are breath taking. I am totally going to drag my hubby out to capture some memories with me and my daughter this weekend;0! Thanks for the inspiration!

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  10. Randalin @ Harvesting KaleJanuary 21, 2011 at 6:44 AM

    These photo's are STUNNING!!

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  11. KrystaJanuary 21, 2011 at 6:53 AM

    Not just beautiful pictures or beautiful people, but beautiful thoughts as well! You are gorgeous and so is your baby, inside and out! My Mother-in-law grew up in a phenomenal household with loving, great, Godly parents. Her dad was everything she could have wanted in a father but he failed in one area. My mother in law grew up not thinking she was beautiful because her father didn't tell her so. She feels guilty even admitting that since he was all she could have ever asked for in a father in every other way. And it's not that she didn't believe he thought she was, but it was the absence of saying it that did the damage. So say it girl...Say it all the time!

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  12. MandyJanuary 21, 2011 at 7:00 AM

    Nothing is more beautiful than a woman fully alive! I LOVE this post! Just think how blessed your daughter is to grow up with such a strong role model of confidence... You are shaping her world in a beautiful way. So happy you are joining in!

    Love,
    Mandy

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  13. JeskaJanuary 21, 2011 at 7:00 AM

    Stunning. All of it. The pictures are amazing and so are the words. Treasured moments for sure. I love your posts!

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  14. DaisyJoJanuary 21, 2011 at 7:09 AM

    What a sweet "31" . . . and the photography/photos are breathtaking.

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  15. The Clark ClanJanuary 21, 2011 at 7:16 AM

    What a sweet post! I loved all the pictures and think both you and your daughter and BEAUTIFUL!

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  16. UnknownJanuary 21, 2011 at 7:33 AM

    oh mama, that last pic is aDORABLE!!!! LOVE the flowing skirt and your peanut trying to catch the flutters.....amazing!

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  17. RebeccaJanuary 21, 2011 at 10:05 AM

    This post brought tears to my eyes. You are gloriously beautiful, even more so because of the spirit of Christ that you display. Thank you for being honest and vulnerable...you are an inspiration.

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  18. Jess CraigJanuary 21, 2011 at 10:07 AM

    very inspiring.

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  19. RachelJanuary 21, 2011 at 10:23 AM

    You two are so cute! I love your little headbands (or clips?) - might I ask where you got them? Did you make them?
    Its so refreshing to see how confident you are. I know its hard to write this way about oneself but good on you for doing it!

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  20. Cooking Up FaithJanuary 21, 2011 at 11:16 AM

    Beautiful pictures and words!

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  21. UnknownJanuary 21, 2011 at 11:24 AM

    You are stunning and so is this post!

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  22. Rylie ReneeJanuary 21, 2011 at 11:28 AM

    I love, love, love this post!!!
    You are beautiful.
    And I must say, I am very jealous of your lovely hairdo. :)
    xo,
    rylie.

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  23. MFEO2009January 21, 2011 at 1:11 PM

    This post was great! I'm glad to have stopped in. You are both sooo beautiful.

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  24. Sarah PeracchinoJanuary 21, 2011 at 1:17 PM

    Such a beautiful post! You & your daughter are so beautiful! You are very inspiring! I'm so happy I found your blog via She Breathes Deeply!

    xo

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  25. Linkie LuevilleJanuary 21, 2011 at 2:37 PM

    Oh my goodness. You are so beautiful!! One of these days, I'm going to get you in front of my camera. lol! Happy birthday woman!

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  26. larisaaJanuary 21, 2011 at 6:12 PM

    Wow, you are an amazing writer. You ARE beautiful and so is your daughter. I can't wait to read the rest of your posts!

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  27. Amy @ AGirlCalledBelovedJanuary 21, 2011 at 7:19 PM

    beautiful Jhen! your writing, yourself, and your heart!

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  28. AnonymousJanuary 21, 2011 at 7:34 PM

    I love these. Especially the last one. Gorgeous photos.

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  29. Brooke TJanuary 22, 2011 at 6:27 AM

    Are you seriuos right now with these photos? They're gorgeous and so are you!!

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  30. AnonymousJanuary 22, 2011 at 8:19 AM

    This post made me tear up. I LOVE your confidence. I hope to have that same love for myself soon. I am working, God is molding and shaping me. You and your daughter are beautiful. Thank you for an awesome post that spoke to my heart. I look forward to following your blog! (Oh, and what gorgeous photos!)

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  31. DanaJanuary 22, 2011 at 1:15 PM

    what a beautiful little girl! and a beautiful post!

    I look forward to catching up on your blog and following you through Project 31!

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  32. SummerJanuary 22, 2011 at 1:17 PM

    You have a beautiful way with words! You are inspiring, I'm inspired now. Than you!

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  33. SabeJanuary 22, 2011 at 7:08 PM

    I am IN LOVE with your hair!

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  34. Mia HelenJanuary 22, 2011 at 9:17 PM

    Your daughter is just gorgeous! All of these pictures are so precious!

    I absolutely loved what you wrote especially this bit "The beauty I believe in lies within my heart. My imperfections are real and my mistakes are messy, but Thank Jesus (because I do) that I have the cleansing of Forgiveness." So profound and beautiful!

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  35. KarenJanuary 23, 2011 at 7:51 AM

    Oh, Jhen, thanks for this post. Even at 58, I still need to believe that I'm beautiful. Even tho I've never worried about birthdays, it's hard to watch my body age. Remembering that Jesus in me is what gives me beauty really helps! (I still wish I had my 25 year old body and my 58 year old brain. :o) Now I'm going to forward this to my 28 YO daughter who's pregnant with our 1st grandbaby, reminding her of her own beauty, and begin praying that she and I will pass that"you are beautiful" thing on to the next generation.
    I know you love these photos now. When you are my age, you will love them even more. blessings, k

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  36. AndreaJanuary 24, 2011 at 8:04 AM

    Beautiful pictures-I LOVE your outfit!!!

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  37. Melanie EcclesJanuary 26, 2011 at 6:27 AM

    Oh, Jhen! I'm so glad I noticed you were following my blog so that I could find YOURS! I feel like you a kindred spirit. Your words and your spirit resonate with mine.

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  38. AnonymousJanuary 28, 2011 at 12:30 PM

    Love this! You and your daughter are both beautiful!

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  39. kathrynApril 3, 2011 at 10:24 AM

    Beautiful!

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  40. LauraApril 12, 2011 at 7:52 PM

    Wow -- I LOVE your photography!!! Did you have someone taking these photos for you?? I'm impressed either way. Gorgeous, both of you!

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