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Monday, November 23, 2009

North Carolina Experience


One thing I must say is that I love mountains, all things old, and cool weather. North Carolina was full of all the above. The people were so friendly I couldn't  help but smile at their kindness and feel all warm inside. We flew into Charlotte, NC and drove to Asheville  which was a super cute artsy town with the prettiest historic looking buildings such as the one below.


Although this building was abandoned and a bit beat up, there was an essence of beauty that called forth.


Even their McDonald's was pretty!! We did not stop to eat here since we have several of these in south Florida. We were curious as to the one's we haven't tried such as Hardee's and Sonic :D



Now the whole point of this trip wasn't about fast food and cute towns but more of a growing experience. We stayed at the Cove in Asheville, North Carolina. Which is Billy Grahams Training Center.









This place is absolutely gorgeous!Surrounded by mountains and gorgeous trails, beautiful buildings filled with history but most of all,  I was surrounded with the most joyful people I have ever met in my life. There were so many people who were completely joyful in serving others with kindness and compassionate love that I couldn't help but be moved and inside have an increasing desire to be like that.
As I walked through the halls of Billy Grahams history I was moved by the love that family had for people and what a legacy that family has left behind that so many people around the world have acknowledged that there is a difference in that man, from presidents to queens and ministers all over the world. Truly God had a special plan for this family, but most importantly, I believe it was their obedience to God.
While walking through the library there were pictures and quotes showing how many people the gospel  had reached out to. Reading several quotes especially on Ruth Graham made me start to think.
I believe there is a yearning in every girl to be beautiful, which is completely fine, but then there is an extreme where you begin to lose who you are because you are so focused on fixing the outside. From diets, to clothes, to hairstyles. Please don't get me wrong, all of these in and of themselves are great, but where is the heart behind all this? Do you find yourselves crying in front of a mirror because you don't feel you're good enough? skinny enough? pretty enough? comparing and finding so many others to be better than you? I know this has been my struggle that I don't see what I really look like anymore and along the way in searching for beauty, a part of me inside has faded behind the scenes.
This weekend I found beauty. No, not the girls in the magazines we constantly compare ourselves too. Not some flashy girl leaving nothing to the imagination. I found true beauty and I wanted to share it with you all. Perhaps, maybe, you'll find it too.

The woman who showed me what it means to be truly beautiful?

Ruth Graham.
There are not enough words I can say to describe this woman other than I pray that someday I can have that same heart and passion after God's own heart and His hurting people. And that at the end of my days my husband can say the same thing about me that Billy Graham spoke of his wife Ruth.





How many men say that about their wives now? Usually at an old age you only hear bitter comments.I don't want to be one of those women who make their husbands lives harder, but rather be a place of refuge. This can only be done with Christ's strengthening.

Ruth has a beauty that isn't just merely an outward presence but a beauty you feel at the core of your heart.






Her husband had to travel often so she left this adorable silly picture in his luggage one day and he carried it everywhere :D It was one of his favorites.


I believe it was God's love shining through them that attracted them to so many people such as Muhammed Ali.
What an example of great love for this day and age.

There is a beauty that radiates through her that is not found in magazines or television, no makeup can portray it. This is the beauty I seek after, the beauty of a love for God and His people. An obedient heart, who impacts anyone in contact.

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."
Proverbs 31:30


If you want to know more about them go here:
http://www.billygraham.org/RBG_biography.asp

13 comments:

  1. OMG!!! It's the only verbal human expression I could think of when I read RUTH BELL GRAHAM on your post. If there has ever been anyone in the public eye that I would hope to one day be like is here. My bedtime reading is from her book.

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  2. lol! I was soo moved by what I saw! You must go to the cove! I saw Kay Arthur which is also an AMAZING woman and teacher! go to www.precept.org. you can hear her there.

    Man, Ruth just shun a new light on me and I definitely want to read her stuff. What an example!!

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  3. Wow.. what a great post. :) She really is a great example of a woman following after Christ.

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  4. you are beautiful Lex! and SONIC is AWESOME! i used to eat there on a regular basis when i lived in Georgia, now we would have to drive 45 to find one...i guess that's a good thing.

    great post!

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  5. Aw what a wonderful experience!! You sound so refreshed and inspired which is beautiful!! I love the silly pic of Ruth! It's so cute! And I really like the story about her rescuing the dying baby out of the ditch. That was really moving. I love seeing people so in love and devoted to each other like the Grahams. That gives me hope in my upcoming marriage! Thanks for posting this!!

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  6. thank you so much for posting this! i found your blog through a convoluded series of linking from other blogs, but i'm so glad i found it.

    this was such a good reminder to me to refocus on inner beauty. it's so difficult to do in a society where we are bombarded with images of unattainable airbrushed models. but, it's great to have examples of women who love the lord and radiate inner beauty.

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  7. Pang: Thank you soo much!! 45 minutes isn't that bad of a drive ;) lol
    I really wanted to try Jack in the Box which we only found after a tummy-filling lunch :\ have u tried it before? heard it's good.

    Jacque: It really was a refreshing trip and an eye opening one. There aren't enough words to describe it. I pray that all our marriages can be like the Grahams! You should read some stuff on them as inspiration. They admit to not everything being perfect. They're honest and point you towards the right direction to find the marriage we all want but barely see now a days.

    my name is lauren: when I got your response it made me so happy inside to see that it was able to help someone else. The media really makes it hard for us girls to feel beautiful. But they are just filling us all with lies. That isn't beauty, what happens to those women when they're older and their outer beauty fades? Will they still be seen as beautiful?? Beauty isn't what the media pushes down our throat. I struggle with this daily but was so thankful to meet true beauty this weekend. I'm glad it helps you too!

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  8. ok....so this has absolutely nothing to do with this post, but i have to tell you...i was just reading your blogger profile and we have so many random things in common.........

    i love "once" and "wild hearts can't be broken". i don't even know anyone else who's even seen it!

    and "redeeming love"....i skipped classes to stay in bed reading that book during college!

    i think you are maybe my new favorite blogger :).

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  9. lol you are adorable!! Yea not alot of people know about that movie but isn't one that you can just watch over and over?!
    Redeeming love is one of those books you can't put down!! And it drives all sorts of emotions in you while you read it from happy butterflies to tears of sadness and then anger! lol

    Aww yay!! Honestly when I was reading your blog I was like man! This is a girl I would love to meet!! okay this might sound weird..but you know you randomly meet someone but you guys click super quick and it's like you've known each other forever?? lol something like that!
    I think I just made a new GREAT friend :D

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  10. Amazing story....
    How do you get your pics to look vintage? Do you use Rollip.com, or another site??

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  11. The house pictures? it's just a polaroid app on my phone :D and the others just came out like that..but hmm..I have a feeling I should go check out rollip.com :D I've also heard of picnik.com

    Glad you liked the story hun <3

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  12. Well they look awesome! You should check out Rollip. They make your pictures look like Polaroids too, but you can add borders and stuff.....
    P.S. I agree with my name is Lauren.Your blog is now one of my favorites. I love your blog because you are so positive and real!

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  13. Thank you so much Moira!! That honestly means so much to me!!! :D honestly, thank you!

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