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Favorite All-Natural Cleaning Product Brand

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It was so fun recently discussing the importance of a toxin-free home and hearing some tips and tricks from Molly Abrigg. I love her perspective that we have little control over the toxin exposure outside of our homes, but we do have that control inside our homes! I have learned so much about the power of toxin exposure through the book, Never Be Sick Again, and it has fully empowered me to limit my contact with toxins because they affect our health in such detrimental ways.
I am so excited to share my favorite all-natural cleaning product brand with you: Murchison-Hume cleaning products. The cleaning products are extremely productive and smell so delicious, even though they are free of all the toxins. Not to mention, this company is owned by the sweetest couple here in California! I love supporting a local company and am so thankful for their commitment to creating clean cleaning products. The Kennedy household is always fully-stocked with MH products!
Where do I begin? The sandalwood candle is so divine and has become a staple in our home; it alway brings me so much joy to have it burning in our house. Oh, and the counter spray is a dream. I am kind of known for the fact that I would take up counter cleaning as a second career, so a wonderful formula to help with that makes me happy. It really is true that cleaning is more enjoyable when you actually love, believe in, and trust the products that you are using.
Is it just me, or do you guys love when hand soap & lotion are next to one another in someone's home? Cleaning and then nourishing your hands is such a healthy habit! Another thing about Murchison-Hume products that I love is the packaging- their bottles and labels are so beautiful and look very sophisticated on display on our countertops. Of course the ingredients and effectiveness of the products are most important, but good-looks are an extra bonus. Murchison-Hume has the winning, triple-threat combination: gorgeous products that are made with all-natural ingredients that work extremely well.
Also, I have exciting news! You can use the promo code LAUREN20 for 20% off your order. Happy cleaning, xo.
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Faith, General, Honesty Faith, General, Honesty

Living Above Worry, Stress, and Fear

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We can all agree that feelings of worry, stress, fear,  anxiety, and doubt are unfortunately normal and natural parts of life. There are very real reasons in our lives and in our world to feel these feelings, but thankfully there is a bigger Truth at play. There is only one way to live above worry, stress, and fear and that is by faith in God.  It is by faith in Him that we can get through the very real feelings that hard situations and challenging circumstances bring. Our God promises to be with us through everything and that is a promise that is bigger than anything in this world! When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior (Isaiah 43:2-3 NLT). By faith, we are able to cast off worry, stress, and fear by turning away from those negative feelings and turning to our all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving God. When we put our trust and confidence in Him, we become free from having to bear the hard parts of life on our own shoulders. Faith allows us to give all worries and cares to Him, believing that He is capable of handling what is too much for us to bear. We are not designed to carry God-sized worries, but He is! Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you (1 Peter 4:7 NLT) What a blessing that our God is willing, wanting, able, and made to carry our heavy burdens. Matthew 11:28 reads: Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light" (NLT). This verse is so powerful because it is calling and inviting the weary souls and the burdened hearts to come to Jesus. If we start to view moments of worry, fear, and stress as opportunities to become closer to Jesus and cling on to Him, our souls will be able to find rest and we will also grow in faith. When you feel fear, run to Jesus. When anxiety attacks, run to Him. When doubt is determined to sneak in, call out to Jesus.It is only in Him and by faith that we are able to find true rest and real freedom.   The truth that His yoke is easy and His burden is light is such a source of comfort during our hardest moments. When we feel the burdens of this world weighing down on us, we are to immediately lay everything down at the feet of Jesus.

The lyrics of Chris Tomlin's song, "Home", speak to this truth so well:

Lay down my burdens, I lay down my pastI run to Jesus, no turning backThank God Almighty, I'll be free at last.

Another worship song that beautifully depicts the power of faith is "He Is With Us" by Love & The Outcome. The below lyrics portray the most beautiful picture of His outstretched hand in times of fear, worry, and doubt. We don't know what is coming and we might be heartbroken over what has come to pass, but no matter what, we can find comfort in the truth that we have Him through it all.
Remember when your hope is lost and faith is shaken,Remember when you wonder if you're gonna make it,There's a hand stretched out through your deepest doubt.We can't pretend to see the ending or what's coming up ahead,To know the story of tomorrow,But we can stay close to the One who knows. 

If you have't checked it out already, here is the link to our LSK Worship playlist on Spotify. Worship music is so powerful and we pray that the songs speak to you and bring you hope, love, and comfort always, but especially during moments of worry, fear, and doubt.
I will be your God throughout your lifetime- until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you (Isaiah 46:4 NLT).

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sunnies | sweater (similar) | track pants | metallic shirt jacket | booties

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Beauty, Wellness Beauty, Wellness

RMS Beauty: Nourishing, Rejuvenating, and Totally Clean

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After much recent research, we at LSK are the biggest promoters of using makeup and beauty products that feed your skin rather than expose it to chemicals and toxins. It has been a fun journey searching for and testing out products that are as pure as possible, with no hidden preservatives or chemicals, and RMS has topped the charts. Their makeup line has made my skin dewier and more hydrated than ever. It not only is non-toxic, but it actually heals and nourishes the skin. How amazing is it that we can use a nutrient-filled cosmetic line to create a solid foundation for anti-aging and long-term beauty? Yes, please!! Win, win! (Insert every party emoji here).

[from RMS Instagram]

I love RMS because they are dedicated to transforming the way women use makeup. These beauty products are formulated with raw, food grade and organic ingredients in their natural state, allowing their living, healing attributes to penetrate and rejuvenate the skin. In their purest form, enzymes, vitamins, antioxidants and their healing properties remain fully intact, encouraging amazing potential for anti-aging effects. They have also taken extreme care in the use of minimal heat in the manufacturing process in order to keep all nutrients and healing properties alive. All RMS Beauty products are free of harmful chemicals, synthetic preservatives, synthetic vitamins, and genetically altered ingredients + each product is full of healing nutrients that work synergistically with the skin. Not to mention, each ingredient interacts with skin to promote hydration, softness, and luminosity.

[from RMS Instagram]

I love supporting a brand that can be trusted in the fullest extent; no research needed!My favorite products are the following + you can scroll down to shop too: the tinted "un" powder sets the makeup perfectly, the buriti bronzer is a dream, the concealer is my go-to, the lip2cheek blush is a must with an array of color options, and their eyeshadow selection is so pretty. I am also obsessed with the Skin2Skin blush brush. It is so soft and applies the makeup in the most magical way! They also have a foundation brush that works wonders too. P.S. Did I mention everything blends so easily and is super simple to use![show_shopthepost_widget id="2834131"]Do you use a clean cosmetic line? We would love to hear your favorites in the comments below!Also, if you are a health nut, and want to keep reading for a breakdown of the lovely list of ingredients they use in their products, read more here. Truly a pure delight! xo

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Clean Air For A Peaceful Mind

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As you probably know by now, making and keeping our home a clean, pure, toxin-free environment is so important to me! I have become really passionate about it and it brings me so much peace and joy to know that the air we are breathing and the products we are using are clean as possible. Even so, there are still pollutants, allergens, and gases that exist. When Dyson reached out about sending me their purifier: the pure hot+cool link, I was so thankful and excited to add the technology to our home. Dyson continues to amaze me with their cutting edge technology, as they are truly creating state of the art products that are purposeful , effective, powerful, and useful with a design strategy that is exceptionally modern and minimal. Last week I shared my experience with their supersonic hair dryer, so definitely check out that post if you missed it. Their hair dryer has seriously changed the state of my hair for the better!Since I spend most of the day hours in my office, I decided to put the purifier in there. It has become my routine to turn it on everyday while I am at my desk. Since starting that routine, I've had such peace of mind and comfort, knowing that it is working to clean the air around me as I focus on my work. It is pretty mind-blowing to realize that air pollution isn't just something that we should be concerned about outside, but it is an indoor issue as well. What is especially incredible about the hot + cool link, is that while it purifies the air and captures pollutants, it also heats or cools your indoor space, depending on the temperature. How cool is that! If you are interested in reading more facts, click here. The Dyson site has a quick video that describes the power of of the technology behind their purifier so well.*images by Felicia Lasala. Thank you, Dyson, for the purifier!  

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Faith, Honesty Faith, Honesty

The Gift of Reading Time

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The gift of reading time is something that we really value, appreciate, and try not to take for granted! Settling into our reading nook and opening up a book that we have been looking forward to reading is such a special experience; it opens up the doors for personal growth, enjoyment, relaxation, peace, and so much more.Regardless of what kind of book it is, our minds open during the reading process; either to new knowledge, new experiences, and new ways of thinking, or our minds can open up to a fictional world that we become immersed in, serving as a brief break from our own worlds. Fiction or non-fiction, books are truly such a gift to us, crafted by authors with God-given talents!We always feel rejuvenated, full of life, and inspired after taking the time to read. We love Christian books here at LSK and there are a few that have really shaped our lives, our faith, and our relationship with the Lord. These books in particular are gifts from Him, and we cannot give enough praise for the authors of these books! Three titles that have especially made a big impact on our lives are Present Over Perfect, New Morning Mercies, and Uninvited.A few other books that we highly recommend are The Plant Paradox, The Person Called YOU, and Reclaiming Conversation. These books are extremely different and unique in subject matter, but each one is a gift of a new perspective about health (The Plant Paradox), personal development (The Person Called YOU), and relationships (Reclaiming Conversation).

What do you love most about reading? We would love to know what your favorite books are, too, so please share those recs in the comment section below. If you enjoy reading as much as we do, we pray that you can carve out the time to do it as much as possible/as much as you want. Reading time can be a very important part of self-care; a relaxing activity that reaps emotional, mental, and spiritual gifts. xo
images by Felicia Lasala 
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10 Questions with Molly Abrigg

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Hi, friends! We are so excited to have Molly Abrigg here on LSK today for a 10 question Q&A. For those of you that know Molly Abrigg, you understand how she has a contagiously vibrant personality that is truly captivating to everyone that she is around. She is a pure bundle of joy with a heart of gold, and not to mention, her singing voice is seriously a dream! She recently reached out to me about my interest and passion in making our home a haven of clean, pure, toxin-free products and I was so thrilled to chat with her and learn from her. Molly is a wealth of knowledge and I am so thankful for her tips and guidance, and I am even more thankful that we are able to share her tips and guidance with all of you! Read on below, xo.
1) Hi Molly! Tell us a little bit about yourself in 2-3 sentences!
My name is Molly Abrigg and I am a momma of 2, or 3 if you count my furry child. I have also been married to Peter for almost 11 years! My passions include chemical free living, my Young Living business, design and decorating and singing. :)
2) What do you think is the biggest benefit + most important aspect of creating a clean, pure, toxin-free home?
The biggest benefit in creating a pure, non-toxic environment in my home is peace of mind. There are so many toxins out there that we cannot control.  So making good choices IN your home helps to alleviate some of the worries of being a momma. Many of the products we use in our home can actually BENEFIT your family. How crazy is that? That's a huge bonus to me. I can purify my home and boost my kids immune system at the same time.
3) How surprised/worried were you when you first learned that so many everyday products (household cleaning products, personal care items, and more) include toxins? 
Honestly, I felt duped and hurt. But, when you really sit down and think about it, the FDA isn't really responsible for my family's health and wellness. I am. So that really empowered me. I first realized this about 7 years ago when my son was 1.  I realized that there were things in my home that could potentially be making my child sick.  My son was suffering from food allergies, outdoor allergies, eczema, and many other things.  So, I wanted to cut out what I knew could be potential triggers for him. It was pretty shocking to me.  Fragrance was the biggest culprit I found in my house - it was in EVERYTHING like bath products, cleaning products, face products, baby wipes, laundry detergent, etc. I was horrified to know I might have been the person making it harder for my kid to thrive in my own home. Fragrance is a generic term found on labels in all these products.  The term fragrance is considered a "trade secret," so companies are not legally bound to disclose what chemicals make up the scent.  There are often DOZENS and sometimes hundreds of chemicals reeking havoc on our endocrine systems! Companies can slap "fragrance free" on a label and it still may contain hundreds of hidden toxins.  It's just so scary.
4) What are a few of your go-to resources (websites, blogs, or books) for information on clean living? 
There are many resources I go to when I am researching and looking for toxins.  Think Dirty is a huge one for me. Some of the products I use haven't even made it on the app yet. I have also really relied on other moms who are in this journey with me.
Some of my favorites include: www.thehomeademommy.net + www.thechemicalfreehome.com (I own all her books. They contain recipes that I love!) + www.safecosmetics.org (This resources gives a great list of the toxins we should stay away from in our beauty products. I feel like there are a few more that should be added to this list too, but this is a great place to start.)
5) Any tips for people who want to transition from products that they have been using to clean products? 
If there is ONE tip I would share about turning over your home, is to not give in to the pressure of needing to do it ALL at once. I know that some of the products out there can hurt your pocket book, so doing your research is important. I would suggest starting with cleaning products first. Look under your kitchen sink. Do you have ten bottles of cleaner that you use for different things? The good news is, YOU DON'T need all of that!! We use ONE cleaning product in our home along with baking soda and vinegar. Thieves Household Cleaner relates to the frugal husband in your life. :) Bath and beauty products come next. I will say, I'm not an all or nothing person. It took me TIME. But, if you are an all or nothing type of gal, more power to ya!
6) Have there ever been certain clean products that you have tried, just to find that they don't work for you? If so, what have you learned from those experiences? 
So, to a fault, I'm a pretty trusting person, and I listened to marketing on accident. Never rely on marketing. Companies don't always have your best interest at heart.  I used a certain brand of diapers that ended up having a toxic ingredient that would cause yucky rashes. I also was using a brand of makeup that I thought was clean. Come to find out, it had Bismuth in it. Bismuth isn't a product that I wanted to use on my face. Ever. So, the moral of the story is, do your own research.  I have a list of toxins that I keep in my phone.  I always scan my Think Dirty app, and then google ingredients that I am unsure of and go from there.
7) Do you have a few favorite brands for clean care products for your little ones? 
Some products for my littles that I absolutely love are from the Young Living Seedlings Line.  This collection has some baby wipes in it that I use on my face and use as dryer sheets as well as on my babes! How amazing is that?? The bath gel and seedlings lotion are divine. I don't have to worry about any nasty chemicals or toxin seeping into my kid's skin.  There aren't many products that I use outside of Young Living.  It's simple for us and it's delivered right to my door step. Because they are such a trusting company, I don't have to worry about doing any scanning or googling! Dr. Bronner's unscented Castille Soap is also used often in our home. I'll add essential oils to them to make our own scents as well.
8) How do you find balance between sticking to clean living, but also surrendering to the fact that there are some things you can't control when it comes to toxin exposure? 
Oh man, like I said before, there is a balance. There are so many toxins out there that we breathe in every single day that are out of our control. But, it's important to me that I make good choices for my family in my own home.  Daily, I'm trying to do better but ultimately know that the Lord is in control of me and my family's health.
9) What are your top five favorite toxin-free household cleaning products? 
- Young Living's Thieves Household Cleaner - this stuff smells like Christmas. Who wouldn't want their house to smell like Christmas? We actually use this cleaner for EVERYTHING...including glass and wood floors.  - Good old Distilled White Vinegar - I use this as a fabric softener in my washer along with a few drops of essential oil. It also gets used in my homemade soft scrub too. - Baking Soda - This stuff is amazing. It is also an ingredient in my DIY toilet bowl cleaner and soft scrub recipes.- Young Living Essential Oils - I specifically use Thieves, Tea Tree, Lemon and Purification to clean around my house. I also have room refreshers and mattress cleaners made out of oils, witch hazel and a little water.  - I do love a good Norwex cleaning cloth to dust. :)
1o) How about your top five beauty/personal care products? 
-Young Living's ART Renewal Serum - this stuff is HEAVEN on my face. It's my secret primer even though it is typically used before your moisturizer. It also helps my skin maintain a youthful appearance. I need all the help I can get at age 37. It has Jasmine essential oil in it and it's my JAM!
-Soignee Anti-Wrinkle Cream - THIS STUFF! Whew! It is just so amazing. It has MSM in it. Will you google that? Your mind will be blown. Everyone needs some MSM in their system to help protect us from the free radicals and toxins in the environment. I add Frankincense, Neroli, Jasmine and Rose essential Oils to this cream. It is also a decent price. My husband thanks me. :)-Young Living's Orange Blossom Facewash - this also contains MSM.  Clearly I'm passionate about getting MSM onto my face. Haa! A little goes a long way with this wash. I use it in the morning and at night.-Young Living's Savvy Minerals makeup line - this line of make up meets all of my standards for a chemical free face. It does not have nasty chemicals such as phthalates, parabens, SLS's, formaldehyde, toulene, propylene glycol, mineral oil, bismuth, lead or fragrance. I don't wear makeup much and love a natural look. - Last but not least, good old fractionated coconut oil! Yep! It's the best. I whip some of this up in my mixer with shea butter and add some essential oils and boom. Smooth as silk!!!!

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Must-Have Hair Products + Tools

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Today's post is all about hair! I love all things hair-related, so I thought it would be fun to share my must-have hair products + tools. As many of you know, my bestie & I developed a loose powder dry shampoo for blondes, brunettes, and redheads...Meet, Stranded. It goes without saying that Stranded is a staple in my hair routine and I use it daily. We are very passionate about clean beauty products, so it brings me great joy and peace of mind knowing that the ingredients in our dry shampoo powders are pure and free of harsh chemicals.Thanks to Stranded, I can go a few days between hair washes. Doing this allows natural oils to develop which is a good thing for our strands! Over-washing the hair strips the strands of natural oils, causing hair to appear more dry than normal. However, when I do wash my hair and need to head out the door in a timely manner, an effective, powerful yet gentle, and high-quality hair dryer is so necessary.When Dyson reached out about sending me their Supersonic Hair Dryer, my excitement was seriously on another level. I had heard about how lightweight, effective, and cutting-edge it was from a technology standpoint, so I couldn't wait to give it a try.Not only does it try my hair so quickly, but the design is seriously gorgeous. I love the look of it on my bathroom counter! In all seriousness though, I knew I was going to love this hair dryer when I read that it protects the hair from heat damage and promotes shine and overall hair health. After using it many times now, I can confirm that this is totally accurate.When used with a round brush, the results are amazing. I am a fan of the natural, slightly undone hair look and this hair dryer achieves that easily and effortlessly. The lightweight feature + unique shape of the dryer enables styling as you dry your hair.As for shampoo and conditioner, it is again really important to me to use products that are created with clean, pure ingredients. I was so happy to discover Rahua and have been using their products for a while.  My hair is always left feeling clean, light, and fresh, after a washing and I am able to go a few days (with Stranded!) until it is time to wash it again.

I try to keep my hair routine pretty simple and stick to minimal products + tools that I know work well time and time again. I am so happy to now have the Supersonic Dryer (c/o) in my collection, as I am pretty positive it will stand the test of time. xo

[show_shopthepost_widget id="2825933"] images by Felicia Lasala 

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Coffee Table Styling

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One of my favorite parts about going to a friend's home is seeing how they style their coffee table. Similar to someone's wardrobe, a coffee table represents a person's style, aesthetic, and gives you a peek into their interests and personal taste. From coffee table books to candles, a well-curated coffee table is truly a work of art in itself. Coffee table styling is a personal experience and there is no right or wrong way to do it, which makes the process that much more fun and enjoyable. Make it yours and let it make an authentic statement in your home! Below are a few of our styling tips, but again, you do you. xo

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DESIGN BOOKS

There are so many beautiful design books (like this one + this one) that serve as great coffee table accessories and house guests absolutely love them. When you are gathered around the table, it is fun for people to flip through the books and be inspired.

FRESH BLOOMS

Fresh flowers add so much warmth and love to a home. We love picking up blooms regularly and adding them to our coffee tables. Much like a centerpiece on a dining table, the coffee table serves as a centerpiece to a living space, so adding fresh flowers will definitely make a welcome, homey statement. We are loving these vases to hold the beautiful blooms.

STATEMENT CANDLE (c/o)

Capri Blue is our absolute favorite brand of candles! They smell wonderfully, are long-lasting, and have a clean, stylish look. This one is pictured above, but we also love this one and this one.

CUTE COASTERS

Having coasters on a coffee table is a must! Guests always appreciate when coasters are readily available, but they also make a table look complete & will protect the table from glass rings. We are especially loving these coasters from Anthro- we both have them!

KEEP IT TIDY 

Last but not least, an organized table is a beautiful table! However, depending on your taste and style, the coffee table might be more full than others, or you might like the minimalist approach. Either way and regardless of how many things are on the table, it is nice when everything is kept organized and looks put-together, even in an effortless way.

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Faith, Honesty Faith, Honesty

Stay In The Training

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What do you you think of when you think of training? We envision hard work, long hours, mental discipline, plenty of focus, an openness to learning, the willingness to change, a desire for strength, and the endurance to keep going even when it gets really hard. All of these elements obviously apply when you are physically training and working out, but it also applies emotionally and personally when you are going through a season that is challenging, intimidating, and confusing. The good news is that with the realization that we are being trained during these seasons, we will be able to stay in the training and keep moving forward!We are so excited to share this message from Judah Smith with you: Trained By His Training. This message has spoken to us so much lately and has caused us to start viewing challenging seasons as opportunities for growth. This change of perspective results in seeing hard seasons as preparing and training us in order for us to becomes the person that the Lord created us to be.The most amazing thing is that no matter what you are going through right now, no matter what your personal circumstances are, this message will hit your heart in the biggest, most loving way. We have sent this link to so many loved ones in a variety of emotional situations because it is a message that brings so much encouragement, hope, and promise. In his message, Judah encourages you to stay in it and keep going and realize that you are being trained by the Lord because He loves you so much.Here is the Scripture from Judah's message + an amazing quote from Judah, but we highly encourage you to take the time (about 40 minutes) to listen to the entire message! We are excited to read your comments in the comment section below. xoHebrews 12: 7-11 (NLT)As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn't discipline you as he does all his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn't we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits and live forever? For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God's discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in His holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening- it's painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way. "You know who God is preparing? Those He loves. God told me to tell you tonight, you are in training right now and that is why you feel the way you that you feel. You have been searching your soul thinking, this is the weirdest season- I'm in a funk- what is going on- and I am here to tell you that NOTHING is wrong, you're in training! And it is a form of a compliment from your Father, because He is preparing you for things that you otherwise could not do without Him and His preparation. God is preparing you.- Judah Smith

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leggings |shoes

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