Making News in Bloggyville...

Well, what do you know?!  A fashion blogger decided to give Rodan+Fields Anti-Age regimen a try, and she's blogging all about it!  You can find her lovely Style Goose blog here....go over and say hello and thank her for showing you her new skin care goodies :-)





If you'd like to try this product, let me know...it's the BEST! :-)

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Where Prosperity is Found


I've been working hard lately.  I love my new job...the product, the business model, talking to people, seeing other people "catch the bug" and change their lives...all around my schedule and my family's needs. The only problem is that I'm not an "ease into it" sort of person.  I either go or I don't .  And when I go?  I go ALL IN.

Hence, the diet of quick casseroles and take-out my family has been (not really) enjoying lately.
Hence, my lack of sleep and exercise.
Hence, my stack of laundry that sits there because it's just not as much FUN as my new business!

I'm getting back to a more balanced place though.  It's said that this business can be done in just 10-15 hours a week...and I'm beginning to trust that claim.  I'm beginning to trust it because, well, my family needs clean dishes and clothes!  So I step away for a few hours, and still the business grows.

But I must admit - every time I stop working toward building my little business, I panic just a little bit.  It's as if it's less real when I'm not on top of it 100%...like it might disappear unless I'm building, building, building.

The Lord is faithful though.  And this morning?  He was faithful to give me a firm (yet gentle) smack upside the head! He always knows just what I need to hear :-)

I've read the verses before - evidenced by the highlighting I did over these exact passages some time in the past.  I love how I can read the same verses over and over again, and they speak to me in different ways every time.  This Word...it truly is alive.

My message for today:  Psalm 127:2, 128:1-2, 4-5

It is vain for you to rise up early,
to retire late,
to eat the bread of painful labors;
For He gives to His beloved
even in his sleep.

How blessed is everyone who
fears the LORD,
who walks in His ways.
When you shall eat of the 
fruits of your hands,
you will be happy and it will
be well with you.

Behold, for thus shall the man 
be blessed who fears
the LORD.

The LORD bless you from Zion,
and may you see the prosperity
of Jerusalem all the days
of your life.

Do you see that??

I've been vain.  I've been working late and getting up early...for vanity.  Do I really think that much of myself?  My efforts?  I didn't think so...but God says differently.  He says "Quit working yourself to death.  Depend on Me, and I will bless you."

Does that mean I shouldn't work?  That  should sit around and wait for God to pour out His blessings on my life?  No.  Read on.

First - fear the Lord
Second - walk in His ways
Third - work  - how else will there be "fruit of my hands"?

But the focus is on the Lord.  It's all about Him.  It always was and always will be.  I am to simply set my eyes on Him, love Him, follow His ways, and then REST...trust Him to bless me in whatever ways He sees fit.

Do I have specific hopes and dreams?  You bet.  And you can be sure I'll tell Him all about them :-)

But in the end, whether those dreams of mine come true or not, I KNOW I will be prosperous.

I will have peace.
       I will have joy.
               I will have Him.



***

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A Closer Look at my New Pup





Packer joined our family yesterday, and he's fitting right in.  He slept in the kennel last night with Extra, who did a good job of keeping him in line all night.  Surprisingly, we all got a good night's sleep (well, except maybe for Extra).

He seems to be pretty attached to me.  His favorite spot in the house so far is under my desk while I'm on the computer.  I like it...he keeps my toes warm :-)

He's a clumsy clunky little klutz...tried to casually saunter into the house today....through the closed glass patio door.  It's sort of like his long legs and big paws are just to big and unruly for him to control.  He's gonna be a big boy!

The kids are home from school today, so we all hit the dollar store and got him a chew toy, a new collar, and some dog treats.  Once we get the house-training thing down, we'll start to tackle fancy stuff like "sit", "leave it", and walking with a leash.  Oh, and Sammy wants to teach him "jump".  Hmmm...I wonder if we could teach him "scoop the dog poop out of the yard"? ;-)

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Meet Packer!

I was on my way home from having coffee with a friend, when I saw a "Free Labradoodle Puppies"sign.  Normally, I'd drive right on by.  This time?  My foot had a mind of it's own, and it promptly stomped on the brakes.  Thankfully, there was no car behind me!  

This little sweetie was the last little guy available.  Luke said "go for it".  I did.  

I'm pretty sure he approves of his new family - he felt at home enough to poop in the car on the way home.

I thought of the name "Packer" on the way home, and quickly dismissed it as silly.  The first thing the kids said when I got home?  "LET'S NAME HIM PACKER!!"

Packer it is :-)

(hey, it's better than "Pooper" ...photos taken with Clara's ipod)



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The Mountains That Surround Me



The Psalms have been the joy of my heart lately.  It seems that every distress....every joy....every thanksgiving...every hope within me --- they are all expressed so perfectly by God Himself in His Word.

I'm leafing through the pages of my now heavily highlighted Bible, trying to decide which one to write here.  It's nearly impossible to choose a favorite.

The section that stood out to me (for me) this morning over breakfast is Psalm 125:1-2,

"Those who trust in the Lord 
are as Mount Zion, which
cannot be moved but
abides forever.
As the mountains surround
Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds His
people
from this time forth and
forever."

I read these verses to my son, Ben.  I told him how I loved the thought of our Mighty God standing strong and lovingly around us as the mountains do.  Ben could relate because we literally live in a valley between two mountain ranges.  His response was perfect,

"When I hear you read about God being like a mountain surrounding us, it reminds me of how our mountains here make it so we're safer.  We don't have tornados because of our mountains."

Indeed!  I hadn't thought of it quite like that!  Ahh, these children...such incredible gifts!

Do we have rain?  yes.
Fog? yes.
Accidents? yes.
Snow? yes.
Hail? yes.

But a storm so massive that it can destroy us...sweep us away and destroy us?  NO.  We are protected by our mountains.

So is our loving God.  We'll have the occasional rainy, grey, scary day.  But we will never be swept away.  We will be hard pressed, but will not be crushed.  Oh Lord...thank you!

And by the way - the mountains are the most beautiful places here.  The few times we've piled in the car to head to the hills for camping, I'm always astounded by the majesty found within our mountains.  From the towering trees and spectacularly bright sun...down to the purity of the very dirt, and the intricate beauty of even the bugs --- breathtaking.

There is strength, power, and beauty within the God who knows me personally and loves me enough to die for me.

My heart...it overflows.

The Lord has done great
things for me;
I am glad.
Psalm 126:3

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Train A Child In The Way He Should Go...

video

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Catching Up...

Whew!  What a crazy couple of months it's been!  I haven't been blogging much, I know.  I find myself stuck in the rut of perfection.  This particular rut is defined by "letting 'perfect' get in the way of 'good enough'".   I'm breaking free though - so you're stuck with a "good enough" post that will basically be just a list of stuff I have going on.

1.  I'd like to respond to a recent blog comment that was left here.  A sweet reader was brave enough to ask me to *please* don't let this blog become all about my new business.  She said that "my readers" enjoy hearing about my faith and family, and don't want to be sold a product all the time.  "my readers"?!  That struck me as so funny!  Although I have a vague feeling that someone might read what I write here, it still feels an awful lot like my personal journal....or maybe as a letter to my long distance family.  I never think of my friends here as "my readers" :-)  Whatever you'd like to be called - I'm glad you're here.

I have to say, I understand her concern and I take it to heart.  No one likes to feel like little more than a salesperson's next prospect.  When I write about my business, it's not because I want to "sell".  I write about it for the same reasons I write about anything here:  it's important to me.  It's a part of me.  It's affecting me in some way.

2.  I hosted a Business Launch Celebration yesterday, and was so blown away my my wonderful group of friends!  I had SO much fun sharing with them.  This new thing in my life was so unexpected and so UNlike me....and is bringing more excitement and joy to my life than I ever dreamed of!  It meant the world to me that my friends would take the time to come to my home and just let me tell them about my new business.

3.  One last thought regarding Multi-Level-Marketing companies.  As I read my Bible over breakfast this morning, I felt rather struck upside the head by a thought that I've been giggling over all morning:  The very first MLM expert?  Jesus Christ Himself!!!  Think about it!  Jesus didn't say "go open a storefront and tell everyone who walks in about me".  He said "go out and tell..."  We are to go to all the ends of the earth and tell the people we come into contact with (our "network) about Him.  Then, as new followers of Jesus, THOSE people are charged with doing the same thing, and on and on and on....  That's MLM at it's very core!

It's been going strong for over 2,000 years now - how's that for a successful business model?  If it's good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me ;-)

4.  I guess it's still related to this business, but on a different level...I've been spending a lot of time praying about whether this business is something I can do and still live my life for the glory of God.  Why is it easier for me to see the service for God in doing my laundry than in running a business?  I don't know.  I just want to be careful.  I don't want to pursue this business just for the sake of money.  I don't want to neglect the "little" things God's given me to try and build something "bigger".  I want my life and my work to be meaningful and a blessing...by God's standards.  God has been answering my prayers in this area in such sweet ways, and I want to get them written down so I never forget...

-  I've been praying for someone close to me for a very long time.  The downturn in the economy has hit her family hard, and finances have been a frightening struggle.  I've never known people with more honesty, integrity, kindness and generosity...it's been painful to see them struggle.  And now?  This new business is an opportunity for THEM.  What an awesome God I serve - not only did He answer my prayer with hope for a brand new start for my loved ones....he used little ol' ME to bring the opportunity to them!  Yippee!

-  I'm seeing my clients LOVE their skin.  It seems like a superficial thing at first, but look more closely.  There's more confidence in those eyes.  There's a feeling that they look their best.  There is no longer the distraction of the thought "I look terrible" holding people back.  Helping people feel and look their best is a gift.

-  I talked with a new mom a couple of days ago.  She's an executive with a very large company, and her family is dependent on her paycheck.  She's dreading going back to work and leaving her beloved little girl with someone else.  And now?  She's considering becoming one of my partners.  She would absolutely be stellar in this business...she has the expertise, the connections, the drive....I'm SO excited to think of having her on my team!  She may or may not decide to go for it...but for me?  Having a possible solution to offer a mom who wants to spend more time with her child is an enormous blessing.

- And me.  This entire journey has been so new and exciting for me for one reason...I'm doing something new and finding that I MUST rely on the Lord every single step of the way.  He's been so patient and tender and strong for me.  He's near, and I continually feel him "winking" at me.  I can feel His joy in MY joy.  Relying on Him....doing something new...feeling a little afraid and uncertain all the time....it's been INCREDIBLE.  I feel like I'm really living for the first time and it's all about relying on Him.  I don't know where this will lead (but I have a pretty good idea)....but wherever it is, I am His and He is mine.

That's all that really matters to me.

With that priority in my heart, and with the freedom I have in Christ to live a joyful and abundant life?  I can be certain that I'm doing God's work here.

Now...I'm going to go fold some laundry.

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Blog Housekeeping

I finally did a post about Ben's recent birthday.  It's back-dated to keep things in chronological order.  You can find it at the following link: Ben is 9!

(or you can just scroll down a bit) :-)

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