About today's topic, "haute couture:" If you're like me, you're not exactly sure if "haute" is pronounced "hot" or "out," and you always forget the first "u" in "couture." Well today when I was preparing for this post, I was in the eye doctor. And in the waiting room, I read the wikipedia article on haute couture. (I phrased that as if the waiting room induced me to do it, because for some strange reason I think it did.) I learned that there is a regulating committee in Paris protected by French law who releases a list every year of houses who are considered to be haute couture. I looked at the list of included fashion houses and watched and analyzed certain shows. I'll begin today with Dior.

I watched their Autumn/Winter 2015-6 show, and I am sad to say I was less than impressed. That seems like a silly thing to say, so I shall rephrase: "I was not impressed." Usually their designs take my breath away, but the ones I've included only caught my eye in relation to the other unnoticeable designs. Sorry, Dior, for the harsh review. I'm probably wrong, but hey! I'm only in the gap anyway. Maybe I'm just not seeing your creative vision, Raf.

Multiple silhouettes featured this cage-structure-over-dress design; this was was the best of those, and I liked it hitting the all-white look that's so popular right now.

Here we have the cape/cloak trend, which I love, and this silhouette is flatteringly enhanced by the fur sleeve. Positive ratings.

This one is slightly more "deconstructed-I-couldnt-find-my-coat-so-I-grabbed-this-blanket-do-I-look-couture," but I'm buying it. I think?

Here the cape/cloak trend is expanded into slouchy-coat trend—I like this direction. I would be so down to wear a slouchy coat around to keep warm this winter! Also the burgundy/pink pairing is on point.

And again:

These are two dresses I—well—liked. I give an overall positive review for the dresses in question, but an overall negative review because my top-ranked dresses from the show I merely "like."

These are the last two, and my top pics from the whole show. Despite the low neck of this first one, the power and elegance it portrays shoot it to the top of my list. Also, velvet? Yes! Sleek, chic, and not-so-meek! (Just kidding about the last one; fighting for the rhyme, yanno?)

And this. Blazer+feminine pattern+menswear+pajama trend=business-chic-please-come-into-style-and-my-closet.

So there you have it, our first July Haute Couture show review. I'm not sure about the timing of these; I can't figure out all the fashion weeks and the different shows and designers at each of them. Until I figure it out, except more patchwork gatherings-up like these! Up next: Oscar de la Renta (and hopefully fewer this-is-my-train-of-thought adjectives).

I've always known that memorizing scripture was important. Recently, though, someone pointed out to me that the Bible does not tell us to have a quiet time or command us to read it daily. The Bible says to meditate on scripture day and night, to write it on our hearts. This livened both my quiet time and my scripture memory, for it re-energized my quiet times and provided new purpose and importance to scripture memory. Here are a few verses I've selected for meditation this summer:

"...I will cleanseyou from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." Ezekiel 36:25b-27

"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: 'Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.' " 1 Corinthians 1:27-31

"Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.” So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God." 1Corinthians 3:18-23

I've also been working on memorizing more in Romans. Right now Paul is discussing the importance of faith over law for righteousness. 

Thank You, Lord, for a mind capable of memorizing. I pray that I would not be a hearer only, but also a doer of the Word. I pray that it will not merely be available for playback, but that it will infuse my mind, heart, and soul. Please use it to soften, encourage, and convict me. 

A few letters from the past, because letters are a beautiful way to communicate and I love them:

Notes to sweet sophomores from school:

Notes to some sweet freshman friends:

A letter to a couple who were a blessing to me when I'd just moved to Samford:

Mail I sent from kamp that I painted on my time off: