Birthday Wishes & Thank You's!

Hey y’all!

Yesterday I said hello to twenty-eight and I’d be crazy not to take a moment to say THANK YOU! 

Thank you for the birthday wishes.

Thank you for the surprise party.
Thank you for the fun.
Thank you for the love.
Thank you for the opportunity to call you friends and family.

I’m not sure this is where I thought I’d be in life at twenty-eight, but I sure do love it! Maybe I thought I’d be ready for my first child or buying my first house, but that’s definitely not the case right now. Although these dreams and wishes haven’t come true yet, I can’t believe that this life--this single, southern-girl life in California--keeps getting better. God’s plans for this life keep getting sweeter.

I don’t expect this next year to be easy, but I do expect it to be good. Good, as in no matter what comes my way, I won’t forget the value of the blessing to have such incredible people in my life. We’re not perfect and at times, we are a little giggly and ornery, but we rally, we laugh, we mess-up, we disappoint, we forgive, we enjoy, we love.  I am fortunate to call so many people FAMILY and even more FRIEND.

As I blew out my birthday candles at the party last week, I wished (or resolved) that…

1. I would not ever take for granted the amazing people in my life

2. I wouldn’t be scared or hesitant to obey God’s prompting.

3. I would get a CrossFit muscle-up (see this link).  

4. I’d get a new pair of running shoes.

5. I would be more generous with my time, talents, and resources this year.

So with that, on the first day of twenty-eight, please let me say THANK YOU once more. Thank you to my amazing friends and family for bringing so much love, joy, and laughter to my life! I love y’all so much!

Cheers!
xoxo
Jes

 For more birthday celebration pics, please visit my Facebook page! 

The Little White Dress Inspiration

Hey y’all!

Back again, so soon? Yes! It feels so good to be writing again. Thank you, Lord Jesus!

Back to Her Little White Dress…where did it all come from?

After the divorce was final, I had a crazy idea. I had a wedding dress that I no longer needed AND I wanted make sure I thanked everyone who stood by me and helped as I endured the heartache.

The crazy idea came when I sprayed painted “deLinde” (my maiden name) in hot pink across the back of the dress. But before that happened, I rallied my family, bridesmaids, church friends, co-workers and best girlfriends for a couple of parties (one in Arkansas and one in California) so I could say “thank you” to them.

I began by asking everyone to sign a dress that for several years had represented a marriage vow. But now that dress represented something new: God’s provision and promise. Although, I still hurt badly, God was still good and it was time to accept what had happened.  It was time to say goodbye and move forward.

Please know that the intention of this party was not malicious and had NOTHING to do with my ex-husband. It was MY, Jessica Jane deLinde’s, opportunity to thank those around me, say goodbye to an old chapter of my life and toast to a future that I could not even begin to imagine. It’s VERY important to me that you know that.

We did everything you’re not supposed to do to a wedding dress – shut it in the car door, stepped on it, spilled red wine on it, dragged it through the dirt, wrote on it, glittered it up – all of those things.

But before I ruffle anyone’s feathers too much, please keep in mind that we sometimes spend a little too much time and energy on the wedding dress and not enough time and energy on the importance and meaning of the wedding vows … “to have and to hold, in sickness and health, until death do us part.”.

So at that point, that white satin dress no longer represented a kept vow. It represented some hurt and pain, along with God’s goodness, mercy and grace. I was indeed still alive, I had amazing family and friends, and as long as I let God, He would heal my heart and use this for His good.

    

Two and a half years later, it is being used for His good! It’s been the inspiration for this blog and an opportunity to share my story and tell you about how God took such an awful life event and turned it into an encouragement; a story of healing and hope.

Today that Little White Dress is a symbol of God’s grace, forgiveness, and His unfailing love in a girl’s life who could still be a reckless mess. It’s also a reminder on many refrigerator doors that there is a God – and that He forgives, restores, revives and gives second chances.

That little white dress was later turned into hundreds of flowery, satin rose magnets for everyone that has helped, been inspired, or seen the evidence of God’s love through all of this. It is a reminder that God’s perfect love never fails.

On to the next chapter!

xoxo,
Jes

P.S. Want a dress magnet? Post a comment in the box below or send me an email at Jessica.deLinde@gmail.com and I will mail you one.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans8:28 (NIV)

“He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come. To all who mourn, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.” Isaiah 61:2a-3 (NLT)

Back to Writing Again!

Hey y’all!

It’s been WAY too long since I’ve sat down to share more this good ole story but I made time early this morning to pick up where I last left off. I can't believe it’s been three months since my last post!

So, why haven’t I written? That’s a great question.

A.   I’d like to say I haven’t had the time.

B.   I’d like even more to say that I met Prince Charming and have been caught up in a fairytale love story.

But neither is true. I’ve tried many times in the past month to sit down and write but simply haven’t had the words nor the energy. Some call it writers block; I call it emptiness. Each time I create a post, I write it from my heart and soul, but unfortunately, when there’s not much in there, there’s not much to give.

At first, I chalked it up to the busyness of a full schedule, then a little funk, and finally one evening in the quiet moment, I realized it was loneliness. Me, lonely? Coming from a girl who is more than blessed with an amazing, loving family, best friends in the whole-wide world, a gracious church family and a killer group of co-workers. How could someone surround by so many wonderful people still manage to feel lonely?  

I was expecting people (and amazing ones at that!) and good, fun things to fill the empty spaces in my heart--empty spaces meant only for a Savior to fill with His unending, never-failing love. 

Over the last couple of months, I had let loneliness paralyze me and steal away the sweetness and contentment in life. I’m learning that more, more, more, doesn’t always mean more happiness or more fulfillment. And if I keep wishing life away, I will miss everything and everyone that's right in front of me NOW. 

Although my life and lifestyle hasn’t drastically changed from then to now, my heart sure has. My heart is more settled, the anxiety and loneliness has subsided and I’m learning to trust God’s promise of Hope for the future. God promises to give great joy in life and a confidence and peace in our hearts that can’t be beat. (See Romans 15:13 & Jeremiah 29:11)

I am trusting that God’s timing is perfect and He will bring THE cute boy into my life at just the right time. In the meantime, I’m going to live this life with confidence, enjoy it, and keep writing and loving those around me.

So with that, back to Her Little White Dress!

xoxo,
Jes

P.S. The little white dress post comes tomorrow.  :)

P.S.S. Not sure how can an invisible God make you feel better than the people you’re surrounded by? Learn more here: Greater Than Part 1: http://www.rockbridge.cc/sermons or take a look at Russ’ story at http://season.org/the-love-of-god-it-makes-us-whole.

 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 (NIV)

 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)