Time To Shape Up

 Today I started running and I realized that this girl has got her work cut out for her.  It made me realize part of carrying confidence in who we are  makes a difference ! It is already a challenge in society to be who we are !  I don't know about you  but  I realized how easy it is to want to be accepted ! And I also realized how taking a small step as running can make a difference ! Although outward appearance doesn't seem huge; in some ways it is.  How we choose to take care of ourselves is a reflection of our hearts !
I can't tell you how many times I have set there playing the comparison game but I tell you getting out there just for a small run really made me think who is taking care of April ! So, I decided to challenge myself to do things that bring me  happiness ! Here are some goals I decided to make for myself:

1.  Start Exercising
2.  Try to drink more water
3. Give up Soda
4.  Grow Out my hair
5.  Write letters
6.  Maybe start doing photography on the side for myself as a hobby
7.  Pick up Crafts when I have time
8.  Read a book

These are just a few of the things I enjoy but just maybe this list will encourage you to take a look at yourself and what brings you happiness ?  These things may seem minor but can really bring a change of attitude ! I also thought if I put myself out there that hopefully I can stay committed ! These have been some of my goals for a while but sometimes I let things like second guessing myself get in the way or I just get for discouraged thinking I will never reach that goal. How many of you can relate ?

I know this isn't the first time some of us have heard this spill but I am challenging you to journey with me and accomplish your goals ! I would love to read some of your goals as well or if you want to take a picture and send it my way. I think it would be awesome to share with others because we need community and we need to cheer each other on ! So ladies, today's the day what are you going to do ?

I also want to leave you with this song:

 Thank You for letting me share ! I look forward to hearing from you all as well and what God is showing you !

Ladies We Are Going To Dance

  Ladies, it seems like we are in a flood of topics this week but one thing I was thinking about was how I attended Passion last winter. For those of you who don't know what Passion is,it's a conference for college students and people in the age range of 20's.  I don't know why but particularity today  a truth hit me ! It was from a simple song by Christ Tomlin and  in one of the verses the song said," Someones going to dance for the first time." We were singing it in honor of the those who have been trafficked into slavery.  However, for me now that I think about it I identify with the song more than I realize !

I can name places in my life where I have dwelled so much  because I was so consumed what others thought of me. My desire underneath was to be accepted and loved. I know this has been mentioned a 1,000 x's but I can think how many times I've stood back.  I mean I'm sure we can all identify ! I mean think about that one thing you enjoy or that one thing you wanted to try . For me I look back and wonder what happen to the little girl who was care free.

This little girl loved to dance and sing but when she got older she let her go. She began to get caught up in the world of expectations. And remain silent on the inside because she didn't want to appear as the weak one. I mean she couldn't. I mean her life with God was suppose to always appear strong right ? I believe we have got caught up with the false identities that we forget what it's like to dance for the first time. And so while there is such a great  need for those trafficked, there is also an out cry for the  women of this generation to be who she is with freedom as mentioned in my last blog. 

I  can't stress this enough because now at the age 24 I can see where the negative has drowned me and I'm am still on the war ladies ! So I thought I would post this song because maybe today we need to stop & think  or maybe we just need  to sit in our makers hand so that we can dance for the first time !

What Freedom Do You Need To Claim ?

  So,  Ladies I have been doing tons of thinking this week ! In my previous blog I focused in on one statement, " SOMEONE GETS YOU."   I know it's just 3 words but 3 words can be soo powerful ! I think one of the reasons I absolutely am excited about this blog is because I so identify with the fight for confidence ! I mean if we were to all be honest there have been times that are minds may wonder off wondering , "What does  someone thinks about us ?". The reality is we want to know we are loved & wanted !   And sometimes you just have to have your own party of encouragement !  It could be listening to a song, dancing, a hobby you enjoy or just simply the most important going to the word ! I mean think about it ! How often are we robbing our minds from the nutrients of encouragement ? And how many times do we drain our selves from the gift of being ourselves !?!

  I know it seems this has been hit pretty hard in the last blog some but I know if I look at where I was in middle & high school I missed out getting to know the adventurous April ! I was afraid to let her out because I was so insecure and let me tell you it is still something I have to fight for ! Do you remember how I mentioned the eyeliner ?

Oh let me tell you it's pretty funny to think I would go that far to just feel my age. It was 8th grade and I decided to try this liquid eye liner! I thought this would make me look older and beautiful but what I ended up was getting it in my eye LOL. I am sure I looked ridiculous or did I mention in 5th grade when I thought it would be cool try on cherry red lip stick and the blond chunk high lights in the 6th ? As you can see it's been a on going process ! I am not saying its bad to dress up or wear make up but I think we have to often check our motives and not just the make up but how we portray ourselves !

If were not careful we will become fake and so ladies , " What is it that you need do to take freedom in who you are and whose you are ?

SOMEONE GETS YOU

Ladies,

I have been wanting to start up a new post but thinking where to I begin but maybe I just need to start with what God is currently teaching me ! My world has been coming to such a reality that  at the end of the day , it is only God who approves ! These words seem so funny to me now because I think how many times have I set across from a young girl in her teens telling her these very same words !  Oh I am in the party with you girls because it is a daily fight to help myself realize that I am NOT God and He is God !
Ouch ! Talk about your own words  targeting you !
I also want to be real here because fighting for my confidence has just became an ingrained part of me ! Even from the time of middle school. I can remember trying to find ways to make myself feel beautiful or just to look my age. You named it I tried it from hair cuts to eye liner. (Haha) The eyeliner  is a funny  story in itself but maybe will save that one !   All, I know is I have to daily tell myself that I am just the way God made me and when no one wants to accept me that God does !
Oh to just have the MERCY that He does with us ! I  am not even joking because when the world misunderstands you; God doesn't ! You can know that SOMEONE gets YOU !  I think that's something I would like to post some where , so I could see this everyday ! Especially because I see my flaws so often or I think if I just did this ! Uggh!!
I was telling my friend the other day  that I had this image of me just sitting with my foot stuck in my mouth and  I have had to keep repeating to myself Romans 8  , Romans 8 and etc !  Oh talk about a fight because I just  think so many times if I could get this straight through my head that maybe I wouldn't be so hard on myself ! It's already enough that  the world beats us up at times ! Why do we need to jump in ?
You would think we wouldn't want to bring any more hits  to our lives but it is sooo easy to do ! All, I know is Ladies is that maybe the words we need to here is (SOMEONE GETS YOU!) Maybe this is all we need today !

 So lets say it together , (SOMEONE GETS YOU)

 Ladies !
I am super pumped about this blog ! And I know we have already have  had a little introduction but today I want to dig in a little big deep to who I am ! My name is April Smith and I was born in Ann Arbor Michigan.
I moved to Kentucky in the 5th grade and since then have lived in Corbin.  My hometown for the previous 4 1/2 years was in Willamsburg KY where I attended  University of the Cumberland's.
Since then God has just been invading my story ! He has been at it for a while. I was introduced to Him at a young age and said yes to Him at age 6 ! He has pretty much rocked my world and everyday I get the joy of knowing I'm His bride !
Of course  I have no earthly husband at this moment but I do have a Heavenly husband !( Revelation 21) I must say my life has never ever been normal since then.  To the world this wouldn't make sense but I would have to say my life wouldn't make sense without Him! He has also in every way granted my desires. I still have the American dream to what some would say being married and having a family but God  finds ways all the time to grant my desires!
In my current journey right now I am learning to walk in the declaration that, " He is Good." And I can't wait to  go deeper with you ladies ! This is just a clip of who I am but I hope you'll join me as we study who we are in Him !

Hello Sweet Friends !

I am super pumped about starting a new blog ! I just love the art of it and how it allows us to share life ! In the past my blogs have been a little everywhere. I even thought about doing a blog for Singles but with this blog I just want to offer encouragement to women in general ! It is one of my greatest passions to encourage women in who they are in Christ !  This is the heart beat of my story ! Of course I am well aware that there are soo many sources out there but  I pray & hope that  if God can use anything out of my story, He will ! I am super pumped about my first blog entry outside of my  Introduction ! Hope you 'll join me and that together we can pull up a chair and just do life together !