Friday, April 22, 2011
Orphans
I don't know why, but this morning a heavy burden has been placed on my heart. I cannot stop thinking about the babies, children, teenagers and even adults who are without earthly parents to love on them and guide them through life. When I say I have a heavy heart today, I mean I'm shedding tears. And I'm not totally sure why. I've already mentioned that we are going to Ukraine in May, so this place is especially in the forefront of my mind today. I want to be there now. Like, yesterday now. And it's so frustrating because there's nothing I can do about it. I cannot wait to love on the children there and hopefully show them a glimpse of God's love for them. I pray that God is already preparing their hearts like he is mine. Our purpose for the trip will be to paint the orphanage, but I know God has bigger plans than that. And I pray that we continue to share God's love with spiritual orphans every day until then and every day after. The children stuck in an orphanage may not have hope that they will physically be adopted here on earth one day, but EVERYONE has the opportunity and the hope that they can be adopted through Christ and have an eternal Father who will love them more than anyone ever could. They have a Father, they just may not know it yet. And it's our goal and purpose to tell them.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Provisions
I'm just going to start off this post by saying how blessed I am to have such an incredible husband! Saturday was the 6 month mark for us in our marriage, and I am daily blown away by this wonderful gift God has given us. Sometimes, it just overwhelms me to think that I get the honor of spending the rest of my life with him!! It just makes my heart so happy!!!
Saturday was also a big day for us in another way...we had our first ever garage sale! It was not so fun to get ready for, but we had a great turnout. The proceeds are going to help pay for my ticket to Ukraine and thanks to the sale, we have about 1/3 of the cost down! My grandmother and mom gave us a ton of stuff, which made up for most of the profit, so I'm extremely thankful for them. My mom tends to keep things oh, for FOREVER, so it was a win-win situation for both us and my dad =) They have been cleaning out their house for a few months now and mom has been making a "garage sale pile." I'm pretty sure, in my dad's mind, it was a "throw away when she's not looking pile." Anyways, we are going to Ukraine at the end of May (the week after I get out of school/work) and I cannot wait! Tanner is going as "work" so all we have to pay for is my way. We will be spending the week in an orphanage, so I've already given fair warning to my parents and Tanner that my suitcase may or may not be moving on the way home due to a small child being smuggled home ;) Not really, but in all seriousness, I am already asking God to prepare my heart for the overwhelming sadness that I know is going to hit me when I have to leave there.
On another note, I have recently started my own business! I am a consultant for Arbonne International. If you aren't familiar with it, it's a Health and Wellness company that sales health products, such as energy tablets, protein shakes, immunity boosters, and all sorts of other stuff along with makeup, face products, etc. What I love about these products, though, is that they are all-natural, botanically-based and Vegan certified! If it doesn't grow from the ground, it's not put in the products. And, all products are clinically tested, dermatologist tested, ophthamologist tested if it goes in or around your eyes, and pediatrician tested if it's for kids. So far, the business is going great! I have learned this month, that God not only provides for us, but he rewards us. I started selling Arbonne at the end of February. Well, over Spring Break, we went to visit his parents in Texas. On the way home, in our 3-week old car...only brand new car I have ever owned, by the way....a car in front of us knocked over a construction barrel and it rolled in to the middle of the lane...OUR LANE...as we were going 65 mph on the interstate. Needless to say, our new car is not so new anymore. Thankfully, our premium on the insurance didn't go up, but we did have to pay our full deductible. Not fun. However, through Arbonne, the cost of the deductible will be paid for through my check from them...so we won't have to dip into our savings, which is wonderful! PLUS...we were a little late paying our tithe, thanks to the car mishap, but the day after we paid it...we received a check in the mail as a late wedding gift! AND I just got a call from my pharmacy saying that back in February, they had owed me some pills (didn't have enough to fill my prescription) and they have never been able to get them from their provider..so they are just going to refund me my money! Turns out, like two days after I got them filled, my doctor called and told me not to take them anyways because I didn't need them after all. So I was pretty upset over having to pay for them in the first place, but now, I get it all back!
I know this has been a bunch of rambling, but the main point of all of this is, God is awesome =)
Saturday was also a big day for us in another way...we had our first ever garage sale! It was not so fun to get ready for, but we had a great turnout. The proceeds are going to help pay for my ticket to Ukraine and thanks to the sale, we have about 1/3 of the cost down! My grandmother and mom gave us a ton of stuff, which made up for most of the profit, so I'm extremely thankful for them. My mom tends to keep things oh, for FOREVER, so it was a win-win situation for both us and my dad =) They have been cleaning out their house for a few months now and mom has been making a "garage sale pile." I'm pretty sure, in my dad's mind, it was a "throw away when she's not looking pile." Anyways, we are going to Ukraine at the end of May (the week after I get out of school/work) and I cannot wait! Tanner is going as "work" so all we have to pay for is my way. We will be spending the week in an orphanage, so I've already given fair warning to my parents and Tanner that my suitcase may or may not be moving on the way home due to a small child being smuggled home ;) Not really, but in all seriousness, I am already asking God to prepare my heart for the overwhelming sadness that I know is going to hit me when I have to leave there.
On another note, I have recently started my own business! I am a consultant for Arbonne International. If you aren't familiar with it, it's a Health and Wellness company that sales health products, such as energy tablets, protein shakes, immunity boosters, and all sorts of other stuff along with makeup, face products, etc. What I love about these products, though, is that they are all-natural, botanically-based and Vegan certified! If it doesn't grow from the ground, it's not put in the products. And, all products are clinically tested, dermatologist tested, ophthamologist tested if it goes in or around your eyes, and pediatrician tested if it's for kids. So far, the business is going great! I have learned this month, that God not only provides for us, but he rewards us. I started selling Arbonne at the end of February. Well, over Spring Break, we went to visit his parents in Texas. On the way home, in our 3-week old car...only brand new car I have ever owned, by the way....a car in front of us knocked over a construction barrel and it rolled in to the middle of the lane...OUR LANE...as we were going 65 mph on the interstate. Needless to say, our new car is not so new anymore. Thankfully, our premium on the insurance didn't go up, but we did have to pay our full deductible. Not fun. However, through Arbonne, the cost of the deductible will be paid for through my check from them...so we won't have to dip into our savings, which is wonderful! PLUS...we were a little late paying our tithe, thanks to the car mishap, but the day after we paid it...we received a check in the mail as a late wedding gift! AND I just got a call from my pharmacy saying that back in February, they had owed me some pills (didn't have enough to fill my prescription) and they have never been able to get them from their provider..so they are just going to refund me my money! Turns out, like two days after I got them filled, my doctor called and told me not to take them anyways because I didn't need them after all. So I was pretty upset over having to pay for them in the first place, but now, I get it all back!
I know this has been a bunch of rambling, but the main point of all of this is, God is awesome =)
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