“Your beauty should not come from outward adornment such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” I Peter 3:3,4 
Who Am I? Daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, friend, child of God. Sometimes I hardly know how to sign my name on a birthday card because I wear so many different hats.
I love this picture taken of three of my children and a friend playing dress up.. Little girls love to dress up and little brothers sometimes enjoy it too. At least until later when they are teenagers and see the pictures. 
Little girls love to dress up like a princess or a fairy. 
The imagination is a wonderful thing given to us by God. Ballet costumes are so pretty and dancing all dressed up in one is the dream of many a little girl. I remember the very first time I danced with my father at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago with a live orchestra playing after dinner music. I felt very grand and so grown up even though I was only in grade school. How very special one feels when a daddy or grandfather dances with us for the very first time. 
Even grown up girls love to dress up and look like someone different from who we 
really are most of the time. I think every girl deserves to go out on a special date all dressed up and feeling special now and then. I told a girl friend of mine that we should dress up in our best dresses and big hats and go out for a special Kentucky Derby luncheon this spring. I am getting tired of wearing blue jeans and sweatshirts even though I love to be comfortable. I see nothing wrong with dressing up as long as we remember that God is looking at our heart and as a child of God I want my appearance to be pleasing to Him.
What about you? Have you dressed up for something special lately? I would love to hear from you.
illumylife 
Love this post!!! What adorable pictures!!!! Thanks for sharing such great thoughts !
Thanks, Christy. These are definitely some of my treasured memories.
This is true – I love dressing up sometimes, even though I like being comfortable too. I think the process of dressing up can connect us with our feminine hearts – the part of us that wants to feel girly and pretty – to be delightful to someone else. I think it’s really important to do sometimes. It’s fun, and good for us – and I think God delights in us doing something that makes us feel ‘alive’ and beautiful. Because every woman is beautiful to him.
I like what you said about God finding delight in us when we do something that makes us feel ‘alive’ and beautiful. And what a blessing to know that we are all beautiful in His eyes. Thank you for your comment.
Joy
I really enjoyed reading this post! The pictures you posted were perfect. -I was wondering if Jim knew you posted a picture of him in a purple dress online… 🙂
I wouldn’t dare have posted it without his permission! It’s so much fun to be able to laugh together at the silly things we did when we were young.
Joy
these made me smile…bringing back old memories of dressing up using Mom’s jewelry and hats!! I used to enjoy it, but now I get more pleasure out of seeing my daughter or the grandkids all dressed up. Just this weekend my daughter was in fancy dress for a military ball and I was tickled to see how her inner beauty was enhanced by the addition of some glitz, instead of her normal jeans.
Then again…adding a fancy hat to my wardrobe does bring out the princess in me!!
I do agree with you and love to see my granddaughters all dressed up. I don’t even own a fancy hat and almost never buy a dress. But it’s fun to imagine going to a ball and dancing with my prince charming, my husband who doesn’t like to dance.
Joy
Awww…. such cute pictures. My granddaughter has been in dancing classes for 3 years and she loves to dress up in her costume–and I love to see pictures of her. When I was a little girl I attended a dance recital for a neighbor girl and they turned on a black light and the costumes were an day-glo orange. I was so impressed!! I played dress up as a little girl, but I don’t play it much anymore! Someday I would love to have a beautiful, fancy dress–I might have to make it myself! I suppose the last time when I wore a really fancy dress was when I married! (Too long ago!)
Granddaughters are sooo much fun and I love to see them dress up and be pretty little girls occasionally even though tom boys that play sports seem to be all the fashion these days. Thanks for the comment.
Joy
Oh, this touched me so 🙂 I remember twirling with my grandpa…the feeling of being extra special.
We recently started attending a new church and have had an added blessing as a result. we would wear our “dress jeans” to our old large church and blend right in. This church? people dress up. actually have Sunday best. And I couldn’t be more thrilled…
Hugs to you, Joy!
Your new church reminds me of the way church use to be. I even wore white gloves and a pretty hat most Sundays when I was growing up. And wasn’t it fun going to proms all dressed up and feeling like a princess. Ah, those were the days!
Joy.
Just returned from a family trip to Disney in Orlando and must have seen over 100 girls dressed in different Disney princess costumes – they were in heaven, for sure!
I love spending the day at Disney World. We use to live about an hour away in Winter Park when they first opened and even had our four year old little girl’s birthday party at the restaurant in Cinderella’s castle. My what a treat for all of us. I wonder if they still have that restaurant there. It was right above the beautiful mosaic mural walk through. Ah, I love those precious memories. Hope you had a great time.
The restaurant is still there – I could see through the windows and remember noticing how crowded it was when we were making our way through the castle 🙂
Well I don’t know if a guy can answer this question…lol…but I do love it when my beautiful bride dresses up for special occasions or “just because.” 🙂
These are great family pics, by the way! Looks like Mom knows how to have just as much fun as the kids! 🙂
What a sweet and special thing to say about your wife. I hope she reads your comment.
Joy
She just might…she is basically the “editor” of my blog, and I’m so fortunate that she is! 🙂