BeautyRevealed | The Blog of Melissa J. Dillon

One of our favorite family Summer things to do is to go to the local Swap Meet/Flea Market. We go every year and spend hours and hours scouting out hidden treasures. We’ve gotten some fun things over the years.

I love the vintage glasses and bowls… unfortunately they are in high demand so they can get pretty expensive.

Loved this cradle, but it was a little (okay, a lot) out of my price range. Mark and I did find a neat old vintage highchair for our little one, though. Just needs a couple coats of paint and a safety strap. The marked price was $60.00 and we got it for $30.00… I just love getting deals, don’t you?! I’ll have to take a picture when it’s finished.

I love it that my hubby likes the Flea Market just as much as I do. One year he found an old Ukulele for $20.00. It’s so much fun to hear him play… it’s a perfect campfire instrument. He’s also really good at bargaining, which is the part I hate (I don’t take rejection very well! Ha! I’m still working on that fear of man issue!)

I’m so glad that my whole family enjoys doing this together. I can’t believe we have to wait another whole year before we can go again! We’ll already have a 5 month old by next July! We’ll probably be holding the baby and using the stroller to haul all of our purchases in!

Yes, okay, okay… I’ve been a very bad blogger. But this is why… this fun Bridal Shower that we hosted for my dear (almost) sister-in-law, Angela. (And then I needed a week to recuperate) but now I’m back to blogging ~ I promise!

We decided to do an outdoor Garden Tea Party on my front lawn. And it rained all…week…long. I was pretty nervous since I knew we could not fit 25 ladies into my living room! I prayed and prayed… and Sunday morning dawned clear and beautiful (Thank you, God!) We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day… upper 70’s and blue skies.

Our dear friend, Mary, offered to loan us all of her beautiful teacups and teapots, goblets, plates and silverware for the shower! We were so delighted! It would not have been nearly as special without all her beautiful china.  Thank you again, Mary, for your kindness! (We missed you!)

It was such a blessing to have so much help for the occasion from my mom, my Auntie Shirley, my Auntie Kathy, and especially my cousin Mary who ran even harder than me to prepare and serve and clear dishes, etc. I couldn’t have done it without her! She also brought beautiful flowers and hanging baskets to put all around the yard… it turned out so beautiful.

Mark and my dad were so great, as well ~ bringing all the tables and chairs from various places for the occasion. I was so pleased to see all of our hard work coming together to create such a special day.

Here is Angela with her mom, Char (middle) and my mom, Bonnie.

We served a light luncheon of croissants, my Auntie Shirley’s yummy chicken salad, and fresh fruit with dip. For dessert, my Auntie Kathy made a wonderful mandarin orange/pineapple cake. I cannot believe that I don’t have a picture of it… it was lovely!

Mary serving Lemonade Punch.

These little princesses are my second cousins, Olivia and McKenzie. (I’m not sure how their mom, Darla, escaped the picture).

Angela received more lovely gifts for their home. I can’t wait to see them all in use… They will have such a cute place!

I had quite a few requests to share the recipe for the Lemonade Punch, so I thought I would share it here to save some time.

Easy Peasy!

It was such a lovely day! We leave in a little over a week to head down to Bloomington for the Wedding Preparations!!! So exciting and so close!

“Where liberty dwells, there is my country.”

- Benjamin Franklin

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

Old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

- 2 Corinthians 5:17

“Behold, I make all things new.” – Revelation 21:5

The last couple of days, I’ve been crying out for more change. “Change this stubborn heart of mine!” I have new incentive for change lately, and I want more than anything to just be a new creation. No more processes, no more slow lessons… just be completely changed already! I have a few blogging friends who are just radiant inside and out with the love of Christ… Gorgeous women of God who just seem to have it all together: such selfless wives, patient mothers, wisdom beyond their years, whole in Christ. It makes me look at these old rags sometimes and wonder why the process just takes so long for some of us. 

But as the Lord has been taking me back through memories, trials and tribulations, this long road of life, I do see it. The change ~ ever so slowly ~ is happening in my heart. His transforming power is happening, moving, working. He is faithful. And though it can sometimes seem like an uphill climb, I can look down and see how far His grace has brought me. And while I may never be Elisabeth Elliott or Mother Teresa, I can be Melissa Dillon… continually running this race as closely to God’s heart as I possibly can, and to learn how to become like Him. And I’m right where He wants me to be. Not trying to run ahead of God’s plan and purposes for me, not running behind or coming in late to the finish line… I’m right where I should be. He’s right here with me… and He’s making me new all along the way. 

I came across this beautiful example in Leanne Payne’s book:

“The butterfly moth provides a wonderful picture of the struggle each soul must go through in its birthing. It is painful to see the moth struggle inside it’s cocoon in its effort to emerge. But if we take scissors and snip off the top of the cocoon, the moth will never fly. In this struggle against the outer shell or self its wings develop and become strong. At times before it emerges its struggle ceases for a while. We wonder if it has given up the painful work or even if it has died within its woven shell. But from a lowly worm that gorges itself all day and drags its tummy on a tree limb, it metamorphoses into a gorgeous creature that flies, its wings bearing the colors and designs of an omnipotent hand.”

Oh, to finally soar and see the beauty revealed. Some days it feels so far away. But other days, I see the process and I’m grateful. It may be happening slower than I’d planned, but it is happening. He is making all things new… slowly, steadily, painfully, joyfully. 

“What the Lord has said… will be accomplished.” – Luke 1:45