In today’s world and all that’s going on we have to take time to disconnect so that we can connect. We need to disconnect with media, news and any and all negativity around us.
I feel the most relaxed and peaceful when I turn all the noise off and connect with nature. I will sit outside by A fire pit and connect with God. Sometimes I will get up early in the morning and light an old fashion lantern so that I can connect with peace before I start my day.
I pray that each of you reading this will take a moment each day to connect. Connect with God, connect with your true self and connect with your loved ones around you.
hopewriterlife life #connect #aboveandbeyond #mendingfencesnhearts
Courage There are so many situations in our lives that take courage. I think one of the most courageous moments in my life was leaving the man I loved more than life itself. I married in 2016 and shortly after our wedding it became apparent that we had a toxic relationship situation. The very first heated argument we had became physical real fast. I have to say that I loved him and I believe he loved me. I believe people love out of their own hurts and what they know. I however didn’t love myself enough to see that love wasn’t enough. I stayed and did this crazy cycle we had going on for 11 months. A month before our anniversary things escalated beyond anything I could imagine. I then realized that this was not only destroying me, but him and his ministry. Yes I said ministry. It takes a lot of courage to tell this story but I know God wants it told. So many behind church doors need the courage to make a change and get help. So I am sharing my story. So one month from our anniversary, I put on my courage and drove away leaving him standing there crying and saying once again how sorry he was. I believe he truly meant that. However he knew he went too far, I knew he went too far. I thought in my heart as I drove to Oklahoma to be with my children, this will be all right. I thought we will get help. I wanted to be somewhere I felt safe and get help for each of us.
Over the weeks and months to come I had to have courage to get out of bed and face the day knowing things were not going to be all right. I started my cleaning business here in Oklahoma as I kept hoping for a miracle. God blessed it so much that I was full time in 3 months. Long story short is, we divorced. He met another woman and life goes on. Now I walk in the courage to hold my head high and know God has great Big plans for CASSIE! I have made some pretty big decisions lately that has taken a lot of courage. If you keep following me here on Instagram or my blog, you will get to read all about them.
““Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because GOD, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.””Deuteronomy 31:6 MSG Dream Catcher 3:20Eph 3:20 Cassie Gilman
Day 7 of my challenge is a get to know me style. I would love for y’all to respond back with 3 of these questions and let me get to know you as well. ♥️
1. My favorite color is____Turquoise.
2. My favorite book is_____ Well I am going to give two answers to this one. The Bible because it is full of God’s love and promises. Then I would have to say any of the Sisterchick books by Robin Gun.
3. My favorite cartoon character is_____ Hmmm this one is not as easy. Okay I am going to go with Spirit the horse. I am not sure if that is considered a cartoon lol.
4. My favorite sport is ____ Rodeo of course.
5. My favorite flavor of cake is____ German Chocolate.
6. If I had to eat one food for the rest of my life what would it be?____ Mexican food
7. I’m really good at ____ encouraging others to pursue their dreams.
8. I love to ____ sit in front of a fire pit early in the mornings or at dusk.
9. The best song to dance to is ____ ROFL I do not dance. I am going to go with Dan Seals song Bop, Rofl. Only song I remember liking the dance moves to. I think it was called the box line dance.
10. If I could be a dinosaur, I would be a ____ Sauropoda
11. ____ is my favorite thing to do ever. Hanging with my kids and grandkids.
12. Everyone thinks it’s funny when I ____try to DANCE ROFL
13. This summer I want to ____ get in shape, lose weight, go hiking, and travel to airbnbs so I can blog about it.
14. The best super power to have would be____ God’s Love flowing out of us. Nothing is more powerful than that.
15. I want to learn how to ____do social media marketing and run a non profit ministry.
16. I wish____I was already doing number 15, because my body is not dealing well with the physical labor on a daily basis.
Okay now it is your turn out there. I love getting to know my readers.
It’s that time of year when we are thinking about those New Years goals. Well for the most part my goals are carrying over from 2019. I really did not hit them like I wanted. Life gets so crazy and so easy to lose focus.
I declare today to forget what is behind me and press towards the high prize!!! I will not allow condemnation to set in over failed goals. So today if this resonates with you and your goals falling short, I encourage you to do the same!
2020 GOALS
Study His Word more
Talk more with God. Not just formal prayer but as my Father, Husband, Counselor, and Friend.
Ask Daily for God to search my heart and show me things that need healed and removed from my life.
Have 20 speaking/ministry bookings in 2020
Keep my family covered in prayer and continued handing them back to God when I want to worry.
Start a once a month family dinner with my children and grandchildren
Drink more water
Work on a physical routine that fits my life.
Do not compare my routines to others
Eat healthier for me!
Go hiking, join a group of safe hikers
Go to gun range and shoot for fun and skills
Take a martial arts class
Go to the beach 3 times
Make new friends
Focus on my blogging again
Start my interviews back up
Start my KIJS videos back up
Perfect my podcast and syndicate it for radio
LAUGH MORE
I would love for you to share a few of your goals with me. I want to encourage you, pray for you and help you anyway I can!
Remember His word says write the vision and make it clear so all who reads it can run with it!
I am beyond blessed to be a part of today’s blog. Huge thank you to Cassie for allowing me to share today. One of the biggest things I know about Cassie is her desire to Dream Big! Dreaming Big is contagious and I want to share my Dream Big story. A little over 3 years ago I headed out on a dream of mine. I have had this love of fashion since I was in high school, I think when I began getting the fashion itch. I wanted a Roxy top, Lucky Jeans and Dr Martins because that’s what the cool kids wore and had. Here is where I insert a huge thank you to my parents because that Christmas that’s what I got. It might have been all I got. I don’t remember but I was so happy. I also desired to model but I lacked the confidence to try and it was always that secret desire stuck in the back of my mind. So now fast forward to January 2015. 2015 found my love for fashion growing and my desire to help and inspire others mixed in with my confidence in who I am and (more importantly) who I am in Christ. I set out on my blogging dreams and started Living In Grace & Style with Hannah Leigh.
It is a little bit of a leap of faith to put yourself out there for the world to see and for them to read your pieces. More like a little scary, but I told myself if I can help one person then it was worth it. Over the past 3 years God truly has blessed me with meeting some incredible people and given me some amazing opportunities. You see when you finally decide to go for your goals and dreams there are a few key elements to help you along the way.
1. Believe in the dream God put in your heart and strive for it each day.
2. Knowing who you are in Christ (this will only continue to grow)
3. Never ever give up.
Some paths are harder than others and things and doubt will try to come up against you. But you have to keep pushing towards your goals and what God put on your heart. Let me show you a little how it worked for me. I did my own blogging thing for about a year and tried to stay consistent and learned as I went. As the NFR came around that year I then began to struggle a little with my confidence. The western fashion blogging/ influencing was really starting to take off and I struggled trying to be me and be different. I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes or have them think I was copying them even if we might have had the same idea. They just acted on it before me. About 3 days in I finally took a chill pill and took it to God instead of trying to fix it myself or continue to feel the poor pitiful me’s. I took a turn for the better and kept doing my thing. About a year and half later I saw a dear friends post about wanting to start a group of bloggers and influencers called The Bleacher Babe Squad. I sent in my request and was elated to be selected along with some pretty amazing other women. I was beyond grateful for the opportunity that Brianna gave all of us. It helped me get out of my shell some and begin to talk to other brands and people. I was then given a huge opportunity to work with Wrangler and Cowgirl magazine on a fun shopping style commercial by the next NFR. I can not even begin to tell you how amazingly fun and what a cool opportunity God blessed me with. See, instead of having the poor pitiful me’s and giving up at the first NFR, I sucked it up and prayed. I gave it to God and continued on the path He laid on my heart. Not only did it bless me, it blessed so many other people as well. They saw a plus size, curvy girl, real size whatever you want to call it girl rocking what she’s got and it inspired them that they can do it too!
See, our dream big goals are not only to bless us but to bless others as well. Our journeys may all be different but, in the end, inspiring others and helping others in my opinion is what it is all about. I am now up to 2 years in and year two was another growth year for me and another huge blessing. I saw another opportunity to be a part of a Style Team that was part of the Boutique Hub. This team got to write blogs and style outfits and collaborate with an amazing amount of boutiques and brands. I was blessed to be selected and a part of this team put together by Ashley Alderson and Jessie Jarvis. It helped me in so many ways by growing and learning more about being a great fashion blogger and influencer. Along the way in year 2 a dear friend of mine along with her best friend started up a marketing and design business. Well this awesome business need models of course and guess who finally got the call to be a paid model! Yes this girl right here!!! I was completely elated as it had been a secret dream of mine since I was probably a sophomore/junior in high school. I remember my first shoot like it was yesterday! This again opened up another door of opportunity and by the NFR last year I was completely blessed to model in my very first fashion show!
I know this little blog has gotten lengthy but I wanted you to see what God did and is doing in my life, that He can do in yours too. If you see an opportunity and have peace. follow it! You don’t have dreams and desires on your heart just because God put them there so run with them. He said He will never leave or forsake you so even if you feel alone on your journey just know you are not. He loves you and believes in you and so do I! So keep dreaming big and never give up, for your journey will inspire not only you, but many!
xo
Hannah
Dream Catcher 3:20 Inspiring others to catch their dream and run with it! IF YOU CAN CATCH IT YOU CAN DO IT!!
