True Religion

Watched this and other Orphan Sunday videos and info with the kids this morning. "Mom, are you crying?" Well, yes.

Creation Groans from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

Only God could

So, I strategized with Peter. Wasn't expecting a business meeting at that late hour (8:30 pm!), but he wanted to get up close before bedtime - and I was too cuddled with the laptop for that. SO. He climbed in my lap and we drew a picture of my Arbonne business - that means I write Mom in the middle of the page and we write everyone else's names in my organization around the page like spokes on a wheel. And there are other wheels attached to the Mom wheel for their organizations of business partners - it gets tangly and lovely - what a wonder. And he knew all their names (that blessed me - they are so engaged - they pray for their mom and dad - they know). And we asked God to show us what to do with this month.

My team is teetering close to qualifying for the next promotion. It means we will get a free car (I have come to terms with this). It means Arbonne has blown WAY past the expectations for "extra bit of income", "pay for homeschooling", "pay for piano and swim lessons", "have another baby". We are entering "rock-our-world" territory.

So, what will you do, God? Because you know I will bust my can (and drive us all wild!!) if you move me. On my own, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Strengthen me if you would, God.

Why, oh why? Wouldn't I be content with my dearest kiddos on the couch, doing school, thoughtfully planning my dinner menu, gracefully cleaning the house. Why yes, I would. I like to do those things. But I don't get to. And I refuse the other income options. No thank you. I do not wish to hustle them to the bus and the babysitter so that I can hustle to the office (where I would do marvelous things and spend my dollars on a house-cleaning sprite).

I choose this way instead. I am that sprite - and I skip (ha - like I'm cheerful about it all the time, no, perhaps I should embrace that Spirit-filled-sprite concept!) merrily through my days doing all that plus earning a fabulous(-er and fabulous-er) Arbonne income in the nooks and crannies of my life.

And like Peter said, at the end of our strategizing, only God could do this. I will work hard and see if God will.

Arbonne for Adoption day 1

Today I posted this on my facebook:

I have been asking God how I can use this amazing business blessing for HIS glory. And here is what's brewing: are you working to fund your adoption? I want to pass my profits into your adoption fund. And I am so excited! Please share this with friends who are preparing for their adoption!!

I am an Area Manager with Arbonne - I make a 14% commission on all the products sold anywhere in my organization. If someone buys Arbonne from me, they can shop full price as a Client or use the shopping discount as a Preferred Client (and I make either 35% or 15% profit on that). So, I have some exciting profits to gift to your adoption.

How?? Let's talk - I'll connect you with the most comfortable way to sample products, share samples, pass referrals - and we'll bless your friends and family with pure, safe products that really work - and they'll shop knowing that they are gifting you with 14% plus 15% or 35% of their purchase. Contact me with a facebook message and we will get on it! I'm praying that God will use me to help you bring your children home soon! My kids are so excited to help me - I credit Peter (my 9 yr old) with the idea. Wooo!! A gift, from my kids to yours.

And I already got one message! I am feeling quite thrilled. Maybe tomorrow I'll post more about my fabulous business meeting with Peter, wise boy.

no pictures

I have no pictures to post. They live on in my camera. I should be sleeping - I'd be more cheery in the morning, for the long, long day I have planned. Too long. Full of good things, but too much rushing.

Our small group friends lost everything in a fire today. That terrifies my children. It rather shames me, to consider all that I have and what it would be to lose all this stuff. Loose me of my stuff, Lord!! It constrains me, strangles me, irritates and grumps me - even as I crave more!!

I gave the walls chickenpox, per Peter. I spackled (is it spackeled) every dent and scrape and now the walls are comical. You might say they need to be re-painted, not just touched up. When spilling chocolate milk under the microwave, I found more scraped paint behind. It never ends. And when, oh when, did I think I'd be painting? Spackle, done. Sanding, wiping, painting? ha! Last time's spackle remains - that was at least 2 years ago. Comical.

I feel cynical when I blog. (That is the trend when no kid pics are involved. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.) Not cynical, but bothered by the disconnect between my earnestness, my cravings for more holiness and my busy-body reality. I know I make a difference, I influence my family and many others - but, ahem, do I tread on holy ground and do they safely tread along behind and beside me.

I was baffled and honored when my business partner today said "I tell people, I met this girl and she has everything I want, so I thought I should copy her". She's talking about me. Good grief, Lord!! Be glorified, puhleeeeeze! Help - someone is blatantly following me - help them, protect them - how I pray that she will copy me straight to You, Jesus!!

Tomorrow between school and lunch appointment and groceries and birthday-party-readiness for Rube and Arbonne party, we hope to uncover all the things in our house that would be better at our fire-friends new place to live. Pray for us. Pray for my children. I need to go to bed so that we are sweet, generous and spirit-filled and not grumpy. Lord, why can't you set the emotional tone for our day instead of me? That is a mystery to me. I don't like having that job.

New daily hymn for morning cuddle time: I need thee every hour. Oh yes.