It's been several months since I last posted a blog. So much has been going on that I have barely had time to think. I have been going through so many mixed emotions that I thought maybe writing it all down wouldn't be a bad idea for me or for others who might need to know that they are not alone.
About 6 months ago, I noticed I was having a lot of pain in my spine so I decided to go see a doctor, and try to find out what was going on. After seeing 3 different doctors and going through a series of tests, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. For those of you who don't know what that is, here's a definition in layman's terms. Fibromyalgia is actually more common that I thought, and it causes a person to have chronic, body-wide pain and tenderness that seems to be mostly felt in the muscles, but can also be in the joints and other parts of the body as well. It can also cause fatigue, sleep problems, headaches, and so much more. Long story short, this was not the diagnosis I was looking for!! I honestly thought maybe they had tapped my spinal fluid when I had my c-section or maybe I had a bulging disk; I was hoping it was something easily fixed. Well no such luck. I had my pity party, and sometimes I still have bad days, but I am trying my best to look on the bright side. We are in the process of playing around with my medications a little so that I can find some relief. I have two beautiful children, and the last thing I want is for them to remember their mommy always being in pain.
Along with the new diagnosis came lots of expensive meds, and it couldn't have come at a worse time. My husband's job has what they call "standby" days which is basically a nice word for "we're giving you the day off, and you're not getting paid." Everyone's name is put into rotation so that each employee has the same number of standby days, but they have been coming around pretty quickly. My husband started averaging 4 standby days a month, which meant we were losing around $1200 a month. Now I do pretty well with my jewelry business, and I'm able to supplement my previous full time income, but I am not at the level yet of being able to supplement two full time incomes (even though I do believe I will get there one day)! Another long story short, we are downsizing and moving into a smaller place in December. This house was my dream house, and I was perfectly content with us raising our family and growing old here. It's definitely bittersweet to watch it go, but I know that God has a plan, and I pray we will be happy in our new place.
It has been a devastating couple of months, and I feel like everything I know has changed; my health, my home, our entire situation....completely different. I have written all of this to tell you how I am trying to find strength, and maybe my story can help you to find strength in hard times. I have always relied on my faith in God most of my life, but as I'm growing older and since I've joined Premier, I'm finding that my faith is stronger than ever before. I have a stronger knowledge of God and His blessings, and I am more open to hearing His words. As I was on the way to a jewelry party this weekend, I was listening to songs on my phone (on shuffle), and the song Fall Into Me by Sugarland came on. Now, I've heard this song a thousand times, and NEVER has it had the effect on me it did this weekend. I instantly had chill bumps, and a flood of warmth came over me, and I began to cry...out of nowhere. As I listened to the lyrics of the song, it seemed as if I was hearing them from God's mouth, and I felt like He was wrapping His arms around me and said, "Everything will be alright, if you just lean on me." The words of the song say, "Fall into me. My arms are open wide; you don't have to say a word. Cuz I already see, that it's hard, and you're scared, and you're tired, and it hurts, but I wanna be the ONE YOU REACH FOR FIRST!!" How powerful is that?!?! We all know that God is omniscient. He knows our burdens, our fears, our doubts and our dreams, but how often do we go on trying to bear it all on our own. All He asks us to do as His children is let Him carry our burdens; let Him control our destiny. Too often we go on believing that we are the ones in control, but we should know better. God had a plan for our lives before we were even placed on this earth. I'm not sure what He has planned for me, but I know that as His child, I am going to really make an effort to trust in Him, and know that He will not give me more than I can handle. If you are going through any hardships, please place your trust in God. If you've never known God or you haven't spoken to Him in a while, please just take the time to bow your head and pray. God already knows our hearts, and all He asks is for us to lay our burdens on Him, and allow Him to carry us the rest of the way!!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
My story....
A member of my upline in Premier texted me Friday and asked me if I would be willing to speak at the next area training to share my testimony about Premier and what is has done for my family and me. I've thought about what to say since she and I last spoke, and my story is this....
I was working full time at a local credit union plus part-time waiting tables at a local steakhouse here in Georgia. My husband and I were trying to have another baby with no success, and I felt like my life was spinning out of control. As much as I tried to control every single aspect of my life, I still could not make things go the way I thought they should be going. One Sunday I went to church, and I felt like God had told the pastor exactly what to say to me that day, because it felt like his sermon was written just for me. I cried like I often do in church, but I felt compelled to go to the altar and ask the pastor to pray with me. I told him that I needed God to take control of my life, and to help me understand that it is HIS will that needs to be done and not mine. I expressed to him that I was exhausted from working two jobs, one that often kept me from church on Sundays, and I wanted my life to change.
It wasn't long after that Sunday, that I took a leap of faith, and I quit my job waiting tables. I knew money was going to be tight, but I knew God would make a way. Shortly after that, I had to have my gallbladder taken out, and it was so bad I had gangrene. I was out of work for several weeks, and my short-term disability check didn't come in until I was back at work for two weeks. My husband and I had used our entire savings to make ends meet while I was out. About a month after I got back to work, I found out I was pregnant!!! We spent lots of money on fertility treatments that didn't work, and we had medical bills to prove it, so it was such a blessing to hear since we thought we would never have a second child. Soon after we found out we were pregnant, things at my husband's job started getting worse and he began having furlough days. Instead of laying off employees, they decided to put everyone's name in rotation and give them what they call "standby" days. They are unpaid days off, but you are basically on call in case they need you to come in and run a route. At first, standby days only came once a month, but before we knew it they were once a week, sometimes twice a week. We were losing anywhere from $300 to $600 a week. To top it all off, in January I was placed on bed rest for 4 months. By the time our son was born, we were drowning. I felt like there was absolutely no way things were going to get better. I thought, how am I going to go back to work? Can we even afford day care? Can we even afford for me TO go to work?
We sat down and calculated exactly what everything would cost and realized that it was actually cheaper for me NOT to work. If I went back to work, by the time we paid daycare, gas, food, and clothing, we were coming out in the negative! Right about that time, I got an e-mail from the woman who is now my sponsor, Lisa Wesley. She was running a promotion for jewelers that signed up that month. I got some information from her, but I just wasn't sure I wanted to commit. I talked it over with my husband, and he encouraged me to do it. I contacted Lisa, and I told her I was ready to join Premier, and I took off running, and I haven't looked back.
I have been with Premier now for almost 8 months, and this year my goal is to make it to Designer level by the end of 2011. I currently have 2 jewelers in my downline, so that means I need 5 more by the end of the year. I have received so much encouragement and love from my upline, and I am pumped about my future. Not only am I making more by doing one party than I was working a 40 hour week, but I'm having a blast doing it!. Premier has met so many financial needs for my family, but ABOVE ALL THAT Premier has truly, truly blessed me spiritually. The women that are jewelers with Premier are passionate about enriching lives, sharing their knowledge, and worshiping God. They are some of the best people I have ever met, and I am proud to call each and every one of them friends.
Thank you to each and every one of you that have made this business what it is, and thank you to every person I have crossed paths with along the way. Each and every one of you mean the world to me!!
I was working full time at a local credit union plus part-time waiting tables at a local steakhouse here in Georgia. My husband and I were trying to have another baby with no success, and I felt like my life was spinning out of control. As much as I tried to control every single aspect of my life, I still could not make things go the way I thought they should be going. One Sunday I went to church, and I felt like God had told the pastor exactly what to say to me that day, because it felt like his sermon was written just for me. I cried like I often do in church, but I felt compelled to go to the altar and ask the pastor to pray with me. I told him that I needed God to take control of my life, and to help me understand that it is HIS will that needs to be done and not mine. I expressed to him that I was exhausted from working two jobs, one that often kept me from church on Sundays, and I wanted my life to change.
It wasn't long after that Sunday, that I took a leap of faith, and I quit my job waiting tables. I knew money was going to be tight, but I knew God would make a way. Shortly after that, I had to have my gallbladder taken out, and it was so bad I had gangrene. I was out of work for several weeks, and my short-term disability check didn't come in until I was back at work for two weeks. My husband and I had used our entire savings to make ends meet while I was out. About a month after I got back to work, I found out I was pregnant!!! We spent lots of money on fertility treatments that didn't work, and we had medical bills to prove it, so it was such a blessing to hear since we thought we would never have a second child. Soon after we found out we were pregnant, things at my husband's job started getting worse and he began having furlough days. Instead of laying off employees, they decided to put everyone's name in rotation and give them what they call "standby" days. They are unpaid days off, but you are basically on call in case they need you to come in and run a route. At first, standby days only came once a month, but before we knew it they were once a week, sometimes twice a week. We were losing anywhere from $300 to $600 a week. To top it all off, in January I was placed on bed rest for 4 months. By the time our son was born, we were drowning. I felt like there was absolutely no way things were going to get better. I thought, how am I going to go back to work? Can we even afford day care? Can we even afford for me TO go to work?
We sat down and calculated exactly what everything would cost and realized that it was actually cheaper for me NOT to work. If I went back to work, by the time we paid daycare, gas, food, and clothing, we were coming out in the negative! Right about that time, I got an e-mail from the woman who is now my sponsor, Lisa Wesley. She was running a promotion for jewelers that signed up that month. I got some information from her, but I just wasn't sure I wanted to commit. I talked it over with my husband, and he encouraged me to do it. I contacted Lisa, and I told her I was ready to join Premier, and I took off running, and I haven't looked back.
I have been with Premier now for almost 8 months, and this year my goal is to make it to Designer level by the end of 2011. I currently have 2 jewelers in my downline, so that means I need 5 more by the end of the year. I have received so much encouragement and love from my upline, and I am pumped about my future. Not only am I making more by doing one party than I was working a 40 hour week, but I'm having a blast doing it!. Premier has met so many financial needs for my family, but ABOVE ALL THAT Premier has truly, truly blessed me spiritually. The women that are jewelers with Premier are passionate about enriching lives, sharing their knowledge, and worshiping God. They are some of the best people I have ever met, and I am proud to call each and every one of them friends.
Thank you to each and every one of you that have made this business what it is, and thank you to every person I have crossed paths with along the way. Each and every one of you mean the world to me!!
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Reflection
Yesterday my grandmother called to chat. She isn't doing well so I guess she is taking the time to call all of us and say what is weighing on her heart. She and I have always been able to have deep conversations, and I've always felt like I could talk to her about anything. We were discussing God and forgiveness, and where she thought God had led me, and that she was proud of the woman I had become. About two years ago, I went to the front of my church, and I asked my pastor to pray with me. I knew that I had a terrible need to control every single thing in my life, and I needed God's help to allow Him to take control. The pastor prayed with me and shortly after that things happened in my life that weren't the easiest to go through.
My husband and I had been having a lot of trouble getting pregnant with our second child, After many failed attempts with fertility drugs, we had decided that another baby just might not be in the cards for us. Shortly after, I had to have my gallbladder removed and learned that it was so bad, I had gangrene. A few weeks of recovery and I was much better, but I missed some work, and money was low. Shortly after that I found out I was pregnant. Such a blessing!! With that blessing came sacrifices. I was placed on 4 months of bed rest, and I couldn't work either of the two jobs I had. Money was tight to say the least. Furlough days at my husband's job only worsened our situation.
Then I found Premier. Premier has not only blessed us financially but spiritually as well. This company was founded on Biblical principles. Joan and Andy Horner vowed to always serve people in the name of the Lord. As I was talking to my grandmother yesterday, I reflected back on what the last two years had brought for my family and me, and I realized that the day I asked God to take control, He did. The last two years haven't been easy by any means, but they have brought us HERE!!! My faith has remained strong, and continues to grow stronger because of God and the people he has put in my path. I am thankful everyday for what Premier has done for me, and I look forward to the years to come. I know that I am where I should be with a company that puts God and people first before all else. I finally let God lead me, and I am now home with both of my children, and very blessed to have the life I have. I'm surrounding myself with all the right people in my life, and I know that God has good things in store for me. I can't wait!!!
My husband and I had been having a lot of trouble getting pregnant with our second child, After many failed attempts with fertility drugs, we had decided that another baby just might not be in the cards for us. Shortly after, I had to have my gallbladder removed and learned that it was so bad, I had gangrene. A few weeks of recovery and I was much better, but I missed some work, and money was low. Shortly after that I found out I was pregnant. Such a blessing!! With that blessing came sacrifices. I was placed on 4 months of bed rest, and I couldn't work either of the two jobs I had. Money was tight to say the least. Furlough days at my husband's job only worsened our situation.
Then I found Premier. Premier has not only blessed us financially but spiritually as well. This company was founded on Biblical principles. Joan and Andy Horner vowed to always serve people in the name of the Lord. As I was talking to my grandmother yesterday, I reflected back on what the last two years had brought for my family and me, and I realized that the day I asked God to take control, He did. The last two years haven't been easy by any means, but they have brought us HERE!!! My faith has remained strong, and continues to grow stronger because of God and the people he has put in my path. I am thankful everyday for what Premier has done for me, and I look forward to the years to come. I know that I am where I should be with a company that puts God and people first before all else. I finally let God lead me, and I am now home with both of my children, and very blessed to have the life I have. I'm surrounding myself with all the right people in my life, and I know that God has good things in store for me. I can't wait!!!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
This is only the beginning....
Today is my first day as a blogger. I wanted to start this blog to reach out to other moms like me who are not only looking for ways to SAVE money, but ways to EARN money as well. As it says in my About Me section, I am a full-time jeweler with Premier Designs. I joined back in July after I had my son, and decided going back to work just wasn't economical, but I still wanted to contribute to the household income. Honestly, Premier has been both a blessing and lifesaver to my family. It not only provides extra money for us, but it has been spiritually rewarding as well. I look at myself in the mirror everyday and realize I am slowly becoming a totally new person...and I LOVE IT!!! I am surrounding myself with some of the best people God placed on this earth, and I am richer in more ways than I can count. I can't wait to see what the rest of this year has in store for us!!
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