A celebration & Reflection of the last year
This post is in honor of God like legit bestowing a crown of beauty for my ashes (Isaiah 61:3) and how he has blown my mind and how I’ve really seen 1 Corinthians 2:9 come to life in my own life:
“But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
So let’s start with the year prior to the Miss Plus Canada pageant where I asked God to redeem the date I met my ex-husband, July 1st…well I’d say the whole Canada Day weekend was redeemed as I was crowned Miss Plus Canada on June 30th and my first day as ‘Queen’ was July 1st…I’d say God redeemed that date on an epic scale….the things I’ve watched God redeem just blows my mind!
The day after I was crowned, I contacted a designer to create my logo and I purchased my own website domain (www.sarahtaylorsjourney.com ) and built my own branded website, updated all my social media handles to match my new domain and I do all my website design, updating, marketing and promotion – I’d say my vocational experience has certainly helped me take this on with ease!
A week after I was crowned I made the choice to embark on getting out of pain (from a car accident), concentrating on my health and starting the Whole30 Program (no grains, dairy, sugar or processed food). Today I’m happy to report that I’ve officially lost 65 pounds since July 7th, my pain is down significantly (I have less really bad days). 3 months after changing how I eat, I hired personal training to help re-engage my muscles and am now able to work out up to 6 days a week and I feel amazing! I started at 317 pounds and today sit at 252. I was scheduled for gastric bypass surgery on December 2nd and I ended up canceling it because I was able to do this naturally. I have thrown out the goal weight and plan on keeping going living my new lifestyle of clean eating and consistent exercise. My body will land where it will land and I will continue to live my new healthy lifestyle and love my body today!
(The first 3 pictures below are from the night of the pageant…the last pic in the black dress was this past weekend)
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On a family day outing I wore a pair of shorts for the first time in years out in public! Apparently this picture Inspired a few people to do the same as I received several messages and pictures of women (and men) who decided to just put on a pair of shorts to go out. This post actually inspired me to keep sharing my journey and share my life in pictures on Instagram and Facebook – people were encouraged and inspired to love themselves just the way they are and it has become my passion in life!
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I played Mas in Caribana 2014 for the first time and rocked my costume out – even at over 300 pounds! This is something I NEVER would have done prior to learning to loving my body!
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I was chosen as one of the models for the Natural Hair and Beauty Show put on by Ophilia of Ophilia Enterprises featuring SexyPlus Clothing and the Size Sexy Line. I also got to sit in on a workshop put on by Stacy Mackenzie which was just amazing!
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One of my mama’s at WINGS Maternity Home had a baby girl – Azalia, who I have just fallen in love with! (I take no credit for this beautiful baby girl but her and her mommy have been big parts of my life and it puts a smile on my face to think about them).
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I bought a home!!!! My First home……all by myself….I thought it would be 10 more years before this could happen!!! God is seriously so good! The night I moved in, we moved everything over in the evening and then went dancing that night….only me right? lol
I had a house warming party where friends and family came and celebrated not just my new home but all that God has done in my life! I am so blessed with amazing people in my life! |
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A week after I moved into my new home I started a new job that is 5 minutes from home where I’ve traded in my crown and heels for a hot pink hard hat and steel toe boots for the day as the Executive Personal Assistant to the President of a ‘Green’ Steam Plant.
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During the Christmas Holidays I held 2 Christmas dinners at my new home with my family – yes that means 2 turkeys!
I celebrated New Years with one of my besties and we celebrated BIG – something I haven’t done in years!!! We went to a party at the Ritz Carlton Downtown and stayed in the city over night! We kicked off 2015 right! |
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I got another tattoo a couple days into the new year – a statement for the year “The Joy of the Lord is my strength” on my ribs…. My ribs have been a source of pain the last couple years as they pop out regularly but I know my God will heal me and his Joy is my strength. I also got a Tiara with it to commemorate being crowned Queen. Also, my name means Princess so it was appropriate – or so I tell myself…
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Another baby was born at WINGS – little Brodie who is such a little bundle of joy! His mom was also such a joy and it was so neat to watch her realize her beauty as a woman during her time at WINGS
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I auditioned for Full Figured Fashion Week in New York City and was selected!!!!!!!!! This is massive – this is the biggest opportunity I’ve had yet and never in a million years did I think that modeling in New York would every happen!!! (Stay tuned for my upcoming blog post on the event).
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I was featured on Kiyonna’s website a couple times and email blast of some outfits I had worn at SexyPlus Clothing. I was also featured on Kiyonna’s Instagram Page a few times and in the Real Curve Cutie Section on some of the items I’ve modeled at SexyPlus Clothing
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I started playing softball in Stouffville again this year. I took last year off because of my pain and the pageant – last thing I needed was a ball to the face lol
I did another photoshoot with Rebecca Northcott Photography and even did a little bit of a boudaire shoot (not for pubic consumption) to help me see the beauty in my bits I’m trying to embrace as well as to celebrate my weight loss. I also shot 2 of my new bathing suits form Swimsuits for all – we did the shoot by the waterfront so we certainly had an audience with me in bikinis lol.
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Um…I went to New York City and modeled in Full Figured Fashion week and walked for 10 designers…..mind blown! (check out my next blog to hear all about it, it deserves it’s own blog)
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And this past weekend I modeled for my good friend Annika – The stylish Reid for her 1 year Bloggaversary celebrating all she’s accomplished.
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This biggest thing from this year is that I’ve fallen more in love with myself – not in a conceited way but in a healthy way. For so long I hated me. I hated my body and today I am more in love with it all. I see my strengths, I see my value and I see my beauty and I share my journey with you all to encourage you to get to the same place. Yes, I still have days where I don’t love certain things but I choose to keep making the decision to love it all. You can too….
I’ve also met some amazing people this year. There are too many to mention but I’ve met some amazing new friends, supporters and like minded people. I’ve learned that most of the women in the industry I’ve met have a story – we all have a story…take the time to get to know one another’s stories – you’ll be so surprised by the things people have overcome, how similar you are and it’s no mistake you meet the people you do in life!
I’m sure I’m missing some things but I’d say that the last year has been EPIC!!!! I’m beyond grateful!!! When in doubt of how far you’ve come, take a step back and reflect on your progress in life, trust that God has a plan and the he’s not going to leave you. As my friend Tess said to me last week – “Sometimes when we’re sitting on top of the hill we really don’t see how high we’ve climbed till we actually look back on the ground”
The Miss Plus Canada Pageant will not be held this year which means that I will continue to be the reigning Miss Plus Canada. Stay tuned to www.misspluscanada.com for the new direction and re branding it will be taking under the TFW Expo Group of Companies in 2016.
Thank you to all those who have supported me in the past year (and all the years prior). Who cheer me on, encourage me, push me, love me, have taught me something and are there for me. Thank you to God for blowing my socks off and thank you that this is just the beginning! Thank you for placing new dreams in my heart – I’m excited to see what is to come, I take on the future with no fear and am expectant of more to come.
Stay Beautiful,
Sarah I’m so proud of your growth you have changed so much over the last 12 months and I love that I was a part of your journey wishing you blessings and success for now and to come