October Dress Project ~ And so it begins

Hello!  I always like to start my posts like I am beginning a conversation.  Between some friends.  So here we go..

I have watched numerous friends be a part of the October Dress Project over the last 3+ years.  I have had an excuse each year not to participate, lame though the excuse might have been.  I loved watching them update their Facebook pages and blogs with the experiment results.  I really do look at this like an experiment.  

What can you do with what you have?

Understanding how much you really do already possess.

Learning new things...Humbling. Gratefulness. Introspection.  

And I suppose I was kind of envious of their adventure but not quite enough to sacrifice my vanity enough to join in their adventure.

Enter 2013.  Last week, I casually browsed the dresses at Ross.  I found two that could fit the bill.  I had my 3 year old daughter with me and went to try them on in the dressing room.  As I sat in front of the mirror, I examined them and me in them and did what a lot of women do.. I started to pick it a part..and to pick me a part in my head.  And then I stopped.  I looked at A who was confused why I didn't love both beautiful dresses.  And I realized that she sees me a whole lot different than I was {critically} seeing myself.  She might have just given me a glimpse of the loving way Jesus sees us.  He sees us as beautiful, regardless of our outer appearance and what we buy to cover up what ever "flaws" we think we possess.  He made us in His image and I am pretty sure I grew up knowing that  "God don't make no junk"!  

..And then I didn't buy it.  I was still not sure I could do it, I be creative enough, cute enough, if it was flattering enough, and then I had 2 field trips, and our numerous trips to Disney in the Florida heat...enter the lame excuses.  

So I wrestled a little with it, maybe with God, maybe with obedience?  And then I started bargaining, maybe "fleecing".. Well, if the dress was still there, then that was the direction, the clear sign, I was supposed to be a part of #odp13.  And a day later, I walked into the store, and it was exactly where I left it the afternoon before.  Still on the hanger in the same way I had hung it, in a very busy store during some "dress event".  So there you go.  I had my clear answer.

So not sure I can live up to the creativity of my friends, but I have a feeling that is not really the point, now is it?

Day one. Photo by J Dearie, 5.

Thanks for reading!  If you want to follow me on instagram, I will be taking a picture everyday hopefully, with a weekly wrap up here.

Or maybe join us..it's not too late!