But that's just not going to happen yet. That's one thing that happens to me when I am in a season of writing - I can' t focus on tasks until I get my thoughts out of my fingers. Last night I spent most of my time putting some finishing organization touches on my office. It's not 100% done, but it doesn't look like a tornado hit it anymore, either. I got to thinking as I was making sure that my business materials for tomorrow night's party were in order. I am so incredibly blessed. Not that I don't know that, or that I'm not thankful for it every day, but sometimes it just hits you. I have a partner who makes enough to provide for our needs without me having to have a job outside of the home. It hasn't always been like that in our marriage, but right now it is, and that's AMAZING. It has afforded me the opportunity to not only follow my own passion of pure, natural products to be used on our bodies, but to help others branch out and do the same. I have been asked a lot by people who are interested in our new life in Western Washington if I'm working. My usual answer is, "I am! I have a direct sales business and it keeps me pretty busy!" It's always interesting to see their reactions to that. I know Direct Sales isn't everyone's cup of tea, and that's OK. For a while I thought it wasn't mine, either. I've always been intrigued by the business model, being able to make your own schedule and be your own boss. I tried several other companies through the years. I was a rep for (the now defunct) Sensaria Natural Body Care, they were my first foray into the natural skin care and the direct sales worlds. That was kind of fun because my sister and I were both on the same team and both used and loved the products. However, neither of our businesses got very far off the ground. Not long after I gave that dream up, I was introduced to Arbonne International. WOW - I got a TON of information, education and networking experience in my time with them. Honestly, I think I could've done well if I had been in a different financial position at the time - I couldn't very well sell the products if I couldn't afford to use them myself. Before we got married, Corey and I decided that trying my hand at a Pampered Chef business would be a good idea. I had a great friend who was my upline and I LOVE to cook. The products pretty much sell themselves, but my network was too small to get started well in Yakima - my market was really saturated with consultants at the time, and I didn't have any recruits. I have a kitchen full of incredible products and still host shows for my friends who are consultants, it just wasn't the best choice for me. Skip to March 2015. My friend Mary posted on Facebook about a new business venture she had - Natural, Pure, Fresh and Organic skin and body care, and on top of all of that goodness, it was AFFORDABLE. I believed her, she's a very down-to-earth woman with 6 children. I offered to host a party for her, but living 1.5 hours away and her still having a teeny little in need of her being close, Erin Sheeran, her director, came up do pamper the gaggle of women I had in my sitting room that Friday night. I absolutely fell in love with the products immediately. In fact, my wish list was so long that it was cheaper for me to use my hostess credits toward the business kit than it was to purchase everything. I remember the conversation I had with Corey very clearly. "So, I'm going to sign up, but it's just to get this stuff at a discount, it's only $25 a month in product to get the 25% off discount. I promise I'm not going to do this like I did Pampered Chef." Oh, the things we say when God has other plans for us... I decided that since I had this giant kit of goodies, and the products were so awesome, that I'd go ahead and have a few friends over and see if they wanted to order anything. I very quickly made my first "Jump Start" goal and had friends wanting to host parties with their friends. Weeeellll, maybe I'll do this as a business a little bit... Cut to March 2017. I wasn't sure how moving would effect my business. I'm happy to say that I am now a Team Leader, with a goal to be a Director by the beginning of 2018. I have several amazing friends and family members on my team all over the state (and beyond!) at varying activity levels (Some $25/month, some $500-$1000/month) and I couldn't ask for better ladies to be surrounded by, mentored by and able to mentor. It hasn't been a rocket-rise of success for me, it's been hard work, blood, sweat and tears. But every step of the way I've been encouraged, lifted up and had confirmations all around that this is the business, field and team that I'm supposed to be in. I don't want to be confined to a schedule that I can't adjust to see my husband more than just in passing, or not be able to take vacation at the same time as him. My friend Julie (a fellow BossBabe) posted the graphic above on Facebook earlier today with a reminder that she gets about following her dreams. Man, as someone who is following hers right now, and seeing how God is blessing it because I am doing so prayerfully and thoughtfully, not for money or fame, but to educate and help people, it's SO resonating with me! If you feel like checking out what Lemongrass Spa Products is all about, either hosting or purchasing click HERE, or comment, shoot me a text, FB message or email. If you're interested in seeing if this could be a good option for a business for you, I can help you see if it is, or if it's not, I know a lot of great BossBabe leaders who may be a better fit for you. I'm so passionate about helping other women achieve the life they were born to live and it would be my pleasure to be a part of your story! How can I pray for you and your dreams?
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I have been a part of a lot of clubs in my 33 years on this earth. The worst by far is the "My Parent is in Heaven" club. My father passed away two and a half months after we got married. It was sudden, unexpected, and an awful crash course in how to be a mourning adult and keep your young marriage together at the same time. (My husband passed that test with flying colors)
I'll never forget that morning, my husband and his sergeant giving me the news, my legs becoming useless, having to call family members and give them the news. For a while I went into business-mode, having grown up around and working in a funeral home, I knew there were plans to make and documents to sign. I had to contact the Multnomah County Deputy handling this so that I could find out where my dad's body was. We needed to get to Portland. I stood in the shower and bawled. I stood in our closet incredulous, thinking, "How do you choose an outfit to go make arrangements for your dad?!" I will also never forget the people who reached out to me in those first days and weeks. A lot of it is still a blur. My dear friend Erin offered us a place to stay in The Portland area that night and got me pizza and wings. When we got home the next night, Zach came over just to chill with us. Kristi came over just to sit with me. My cousin and her family made the trip from Seattle to Eugene for the service. And countless others sent cards, texts, Facebook posts and messages. It all was a great show of love that I appreciate to this day. But you know what? It still sucked. Two parents went to heaven this week of people I love dearly. Even though I never met my friend Peg's mom, I feel like I knew her a little because of the stories I had heard about her for years - my mom had been friends with her growing up, and the stories Peggy tells about her family are epic. Ed I did know. He and his wife were a model of Christian marriage to me, people who adopted me as a surrogate daughter just because I was friends with their kids. Wonderful people who have told me they love me and reached out to support me countless times over the past 20 years. My heart is broken for my friends in a way that it couldn't be if I hadn't been through it myself. Having the hope and knowledge that we will be reunited with our loved ones in Heaven doesn't change the fact that it hurts and it's hard and that life will never be quite the same. Even Jesus experienced the pain of loss when he heard of his friend Lazarus' death, "Jesus Wept." (John 11:35) Through the next year they will go through emotional changes that they've never felt. They will experience everything in a different way. The good news is, they will get through it, and God will place people in their life to help them do that. I am already praying that my ears are open and my heart is obedient to do whatever He needs me to do for them. I'm a smart woman. I'm not afraid to say it, I'm not afraid to own it. I know quite a bit about a few different subjects and I'm well educated. I'm very fortunate in that. I live in a country where that is acceptable and encouraged. I'm not ashamed of it, and it's not a bad thing, but it bites me in the butt a lot.
When we accept Jesus as our Savior, there is a surrender that happens. We tell Him that He is our Lord, He is in control, and we know that His plans are the best for us. My father was an alcohol and drug counselor for a time and had sparkly stickers in his office that said, "Let Go and let God." For type-A, organized planners like me, that is much easier said than done. Of course, being a smart woman, and looking back at situations that have turned our well in my life, and can see that happened because I did exactly what those sparkly stickers said. Case in point: When I was 26 I swore off men. I decided that since my "picker" was obviously malfunctioning that I was quitting. About couple weeks before I turned 27, the Holy Spirit spoke to me while I was complaining about the frequency of the match.com commercials being shown, telling me that my husband would be there. 3 weeks after that birthday, I got a message from Corey, and the rest, as they say (whoever they are), is history. That's a pretty intense show of how trusting Him is the way to go, right? You'd think it would make trusting Him in other situations easy. Maybe for some people, but not me. I'm stubborn and my brain takes over. I forget about how God saved us from buying a house that would've tied us to Yakima when Corey got promoted and we felt His call to stay. I forget that He put our amazing friends here in Puyallup with a house that had extra room and gave them extra large hearts to take us in for months and months. I forget that He has brought both Corey and I through bouts of depression and PTSD in our lives. For as smart as I am, I sure do a lot of forgetting. The verse that is often quoted about God's plans is Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." That's great! I mean, it's God's Word, so it's good. What strikes me in times when I'm questioning His plan and how His timeframe is not what I'd like it to be comes from the book of 2 Kings, from verse 5, "I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you." Maybe I like This journey of infertility that we are on is hard, but so is the rest of life. I was telling Corey today as he reassured me that this is just a season we are going through, that I'm ready for a lighter season. We are waiting for a lot of things right now, listening for a lot of answers, looking for direction. In light of all of that, here's my new prayer, "Heavenly Father, I'm impatient, but you know that. I lose hope, I don't trust You like I should. Help me to hold tight to your promises. Help us to find joy in this season, while we wait and listen. Help us to see You in everything we do. Thank you for the gift of our marriage, for our lives and for never giving up on us. Help us to see every blessing you give us for the miracle it is. In Jesus' name, Amen." |
AuthorA 30-something living life in the PNW. Wife, Jesus-follower, Business Owner, Hockey Lover, Craft & Glitter Obsessed. ArchivesCategories
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