Last week I had the privilege, with dear friends by my side, to host a “Red Carpet Royalty” youth girls event at our house. I’ve been a youth leader a little over a year at Accelerate Church, and this has been something that has been on my heart since before I plugged into a leadership role there…and really, If I’m being honest, it’s been on my heart my whole life.

Girls…Women…–okay pretty much everyone–seem to always be looking for something deeper, something to fulfill them, something to make them feel beautiful. Whether it’s a compliment, a boy, a man, a new outfit, the coolest technology, new likes on Facebook or Instagram,  friend’s approval, or sometimes the approval of self, all these things have one things in common…They always seem to come up short when it comes to fulfilling that deep longing in our heart. That’s why, THIS night, the focus was completely on THEM; these girls. It was about their beauty, not just on the outside, but more importantly, on the inside. It was about their deep inner being that is longing to be seen, what makes them THEM,  and why the heart behind this event was  BE-YOU-tiful.

Because each of us, are someone unique.

Someone created for excellence.

Someone to be pursued after.

Someone created to be set apart, to be loved, to be treasured.

Because we were created by God who is a Creator, not a duplicator.

NO ONE can leave the mark on this world that you can.

NO ONE was created to be you, you know why?

Because that’s YOUR job! Be you + be BE_YOU_tiful!

This night could not have happened without the help of so many people donating used prom + homecoming dresses. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! From the bottom of our hearts! The night started off with the girls being dropped off at our house…

From there, the studio was filled with over 40 donated dresses of all shapes and sizes for them to browse through until they found the perfect one. Once they did, we began doing their hair and make up. This was such a treat to them, and a chance for us to not just talk about make up, but how they were uniquely designed. Katie (one of my absolute best friends from Dashing Dish) and I were brought to tears, as we talked later that night about how amazing it was that each one of us have been created with such unique qualities; that no eyelash is the same, no one has the same eyebrows, nose, or smile, and that’s all exactly the way GOD created us!

Once hair + make up was done, and everyone had their dresses on, I brought each of the girls into the studio for a quick pic with a sign that said “I Am…”  It was beautiful to see the things they wrote on it, and not ONE had to do with their outward beauty…

Treasured, His, Captivated, Loved…

all qualities found from the deepest part of our being; our heart.  We wanted them to really feel like the royalty of God that they are, and like daughter’s of the One True King, so what better way to do that then taking them for a night of food and fun downtown in their very own LIMO! They were all so surprised to see the limo, and we even had a red carpet waiting for them too! If you have never seen 12 girls under the age of 18 react to the sighting of a limo waiting for them, watch out! 😉 It was  E P I C!

Downtown was awesome, and the limo ride was a sight to be seen. We had so much fun blasting Hillsong Young + Free and jammin our faces off. I even think some of us leaders busted out the sprinkler and the shopping cart…be warned, we’ve got MOVES. 😉

But, I say this from the bottom of my heart, and I know all the leader’s would agree, as fun as it was getting dolled up and doing everyone’s make up and hair, nothing was more touching and absolutely beautiful than the last 2 hours of the night. We dedicated this time to us leaders sharing our testimonies to the girls. We shared what God has brought us through, choices we’ve made, and may have regretted, and what we wish we could say to our 14, 15, or 16 year old self. These stories were our deep personal stories of verbal + physical abuse, eating disorders, sexual temptation, substance abuse, peer pressure, growing up in broken homes, etc. Of all the struggles and pain we shared, each of our stories had one thing in common; a LOVING GOD who NEVER STOPPED PURSUING US! Tears were flowing, healing had taken place, and in that moment, I saw a glimpse of the beauty and restoration of God’s heart, and the fulfillment that ONLY comes from Him. We prayed with, and encouraged them. This night touched me deeper than I ever could have imagined. A young girl that was brought by a friend even gave her heart to the Lord that night!

Each girl was also given a journal, and the book Captivating by John and Stasi Elderidge  to equip, encourage, and empower them to find their beauty and worth in a lasting Father who offers so much more than this world ever has or ever can.

Thank you for all who donated time, dresses, and prayers to this event! THANK YOU Heather, Natasha, Katie, Emily, Colleen, and Daighna! You girls were all incredible and I am so blessed to call you all my very closest friends.

My life, and this night would not be the same without any of you!

I hope this post blesses you as much as it did us, enjoy!

blessings, dayna