Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 NIV

Consider it pure joy? Really? I just want to be like a rebellious child and shout, “No!” I obviously have some maturing to do.

I don’t like trials. Who does? I don’t like trials, pain, and hurt for myself or for anyone I love. But James speaks to the facts of living in a fallen world.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – Jesus (John 16:33)

There’s nothing more beautiful in this world than the pure joy that children experience. As time goes on and more of this world is experienced, the easier it is to lose that sense of pure joy. There’s a difference between joy and happiness, but that’s a whole other conversation for another day. I knew this morning that I was supposed to focus on joy and write about joy when my friend sent me a picture of her devotion this morning. I sent a picture of mine back to her.

Joy.

Joy was the word and then I saw a vision and heard the words “like a child”. The vision is one I used to have often when praying. I had forgotten. I could have fallen down. I literally had to hang on to stay on my feet. It’s a vision that I also feel. It’s me on my Father’s lap being held and rocked as a child. It’s me, full grown me, but it’s the image of a Father and child. No matter what trials we face in this world, we have a heavenly father who loves us and wants to comfort us. We just have to climb into his lap and LET him.

Sometimes the trial isn’t our own, but someone we love. It’s not my first-hand trial, and it’s not my story to tell, and I’m certainly not happy about it. Even though I want to shout, “NO,” I will keep reminding myself that the Joy of the Lord is my strength.

Enjoy some pure grandchild joy…

This almost feels like it should be separate blog, but the image at the beginning with the flower and the word “perseverance” has its own story. Again, the whole thing is not mine to tell, but I was given that image and message for a couple of women who were experiencing their father’s illness and decline. I felt led to make that and send it to them telling them I don’t know if that word has any particular significance, but I felt led to send it. It’s a word that kept whispering in my spirit. It was for them, but now I realize it’s also for me.

I knew when I sat down to write this morning, that I had to use the verse about considering it all joy, but I was unsure of the reference and wanted to get it right. When I looked it up, it was the NKJV that first came up. I switched it over to the NIV (which is the translation I grew up with), and there it was: perseverance.

Two words: Joy & Perseverance

I hear you, Lord.

It has been an interesting evening. I’ve just spent a couple of hours transferring Facebook posts to my blog. Allow me to explain by sharing the post I just made on Facebook….

I’m a talker. I’ve always been a talker. I’m one of those kids who always got in trouble for talking in school. I can talk to complete strangers at the grocery store or on an airplane. I’m that person.

I’m a reader. I love to read. I love to let my mind soar to far away places. I love to let my imagination bloom in new ways. I love learning. I love the written word. I can literally read the dictionary and enjoy it.

Then there’s writing; this is where thoughts and the written word converge. I would love to be a writer. I think my brain goes faster than my hand, and when I try to write my thoughts tend to get jumbled. I don’t feel worthy.

Now let’s factor in social media, shall we? Sometimes when I begin to make a Facebook post, what was meant to be short and sweet becomes quite lengthy. This post is probably a prime example. While sitting at Nate’s weekly class at the library, I began to make quite a few rather long posts from my heart and sharing what was on my mind. I began to label them with #LibraryThoughts to be able to keep track of them. They seemed to touch a lot of people. Many private messaged me thanking me for what I’d written and saying it was exactly what they needed in that moment. There were several suggestions that I should start a blog. One day, I suspect through IG, I accidentally made a “personality page” on FB. I decided I could make that the place where I begin writing my Library Thoughts. Then this spring at the Regional Real Estate Conference, we had a speaker who said that we should be blogging. I spoke to her between sessions. I told her about my musings and my page, but that I don’t have an actual blog. She said to me, and I quote, “Then Facebook owns everything you’ve written. You need a blog.” It took me a few weeks, but I finally just did it. I set it up and shared a couple of my Library Thoughts just to test it out, see the layout, and get the feel for how the tools work. When you set it up, you can make the settings so it automatically posts to your social media sites when you publish. Well, I linked my blog to that FB personality page. Then Nate had his first foot surgery. I decided that I would chronicle his progress through my blog. Perfect timing! That is what I’ve been doing every couple of weeks since the beginning of June. I’ve written a couple of other blog posts in between. It’s been a blessing to me to chat with people about their kids’ experiences or saying their child has flat feet, but they didn’t know it was possible to do anything about it and thanking me for sharing. Well, I didn’t know until just recently that anything could be done to help, so I figured I probably wasn’t the only one.

So…I’m over here minding my own business today when I realized my blog post from late last night was flagged saying it can’t be seen by others and giving me the option to mark as spam or delete it. When I clicked in response “not spam” it gave me a message that it would be reviewed against the Community Standards. It’s not just that particular blog entry, but every blog entry that has been shared to FB has been removed. I was angry. I was ranting about all the garbage on FB and how that crap can be allowed but my little ole blog is scrubbed? I’m wondering what on Earth has drawn attention to my milk-toast blog, and I began to wonder if it had to have been reported by someone to get me on the radar of the FB police. That’s an interesting thought, now, isn’t it? I’d like to think that’s not the case.

That brings me back around to the speaker at the conference. The one who told me FB owns my words. I had created the blog, chronicled Nate’s foot progress, dropped a couple of lines in there, but my words still lived in FB.

This evening I have taken the time to move MY words, MY Library Thoughts, to MY blog.

As I have done so, I’ve been thanking the possible person who possibly reported my post to the FB police; thanking them for lighting this fire within me. I’ve had a scripture in my mind. I’m no Joseph, the Lord isn’t using me to save a nation or many lives, but He has used my words to touch people’s hearts. Rather, I’ve allowed Him to inspire me to write words that have meant something to someone somewhere. The words in my mind and my heart — “what was meant to harm will be used for good.”

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As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. — Genesis 50:20 NASB

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. — Genesis 50:20 NIV

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. — Genesis 50:20 NKJV

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*originally written April 25, 2019

Week 27, 3 days: Exasperation

It has been a crazy week. Far beyond just the regular ol’ #FullTiltBoogie. Like, “carry my CBD oil in my purse” kind of crazy. I had an image flash in my head today that sums up how it has felt; like I’m carrying an armload of water balloons and trying not to drop any of them. But along with that image came a message:
“Hold Fast”
The song by Mercy Me says, “hold fast, help is on the way.” Here are the lyrics and link to video

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To everyone who’s hurting
To those who’ve had enough
To all the undeserving
That should cover all of us
Please do not let go
I promise there is hope

Hold fast
Help is on the way
Hold fast
He’s come to save the day
What I’ve learned in my life
One thing greater than my strife
Is His grasp
So hold fast

Will this season ever pass?
Can we stop this ride?
Will we see the sun at last?
Or could this be our lot in life?
Please do not let go
I promise you there’s hope

Hold fast
Help is on the way
Hold fast
He’s come to save the day
What I’ve learned in my life
One thing greater than my strife
Is Your grasp
So hold fast

You may think you’re all alone
And there’s no way that anyone could know
What you’re going through
But if you only hear one thing
Just understand…

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Then the reminder of 2 Corinthians 4:8…
“We are pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;”

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I thought maybe someone else out there might be feeling the same way. Feel free to share with anyone you think might need a reminder tonight. #holdfast

*originally written June 10, 2019

Week 35: Doing What You Love/Or Not

Do you have a job? Do you get financial compensation for going to work when you’re scheduled to be there? Do you love your job or hate it? Maybe you’re indifferent about it, or maybe you’re passionate about what you do. Do you think your pay should be based on whether or not you care or feel passionate, or if you just clock in on time? I know it’s difficult to see someone getting paid the same as you but not working nearly as hard. I’ve been there. But what if you see someone absolutely loving what they do? They’re so very passionate and excited!! Does that excite you? Are you happy for them, or do you begrudge their happiness because you’re not that happy? Do you think that person should be making a paycheck or just volunteer and do it for free with no financial compensation?

I’m involved in an industry that allows me to feel passionate through personal experience about what I’m doing. I GET TO share with others about my positive experiences. I GET TO introduce others to the opportunity to do the same thing. My company compensates me for my one-on-one, word of mouth endorsement of their products and opportunity. They do this in place of paying for ads on television, print, or elsewhere. It only makes sense to have boots on the ground with first-hand experience telling people they know and love about what they have. It really comes down to trust. Do I use and trust the products? Yes. Have I had experience with the leadership of the company and their compensation plan? Yes. After that the most important question is; Do you trust me? This is where the rubber meets the road, folks. This is where my road can be the most fulfilling experience for me…or painful. I’ll admit that. When someone sees what I’m doing and trusts me enough to get involved, it’s like Strawberry Fields Forever and Cloud 9 collide in an orchestra of fireworks and rose petals!! But when someone accuses me of only wanting their money, it’s hurtful. That’s not my heart. Anyone who truly knows me, knows that.

Any product or service you receive, someone, somewhere is getting paid. You don’t go to the doctor and expect him/her to work for free. How about getting your hair cut? Should your stylist/barber work for free? The carpenter you hire to build your deck? The dog groomer? Police officer? Factory worker? Prison guard? Someone, somewhere, probably several someones along the line, has expenses related to that product or service. They have to pay for their supplies and overhead to perform that service or to provide a product. That person then has their own, personal bills and expenses related to living; food, clothing, shelter. So this brings me back to the original question:
Do you have a job, and are you financially compensated for showing up and performing your duties?

If I show up every day loving what I do, sharing about my experiences, offering myself as a leader, mentor, and friend to help someone else feel better and be successful by also helping others by promoting products and an opportunity with a company who is willing to financially compensate me for doing so, then is that greedy and seen as just trying to “take your money”? I think if someone sees it that way, then this obviously is not for them, and they don’t have the type of heart I want to work with anyway. I don’t begrudge anyone a paycheck for good, honest work. I would like to think no one thinks I should work for free just because I love what I do.

*originally written Nov 26, 2018

Week six: This morning at the library, instead of sharing my #LibraryThoughts, I did the #FullTiltBoogie and met with another real estate agent and talked real estate. I absolutely love this gal and enjoyed our time together. As a wife, mother, grandmother, Realtor, network marketing entrepreneur, and homeschool mom, you make it work however and wherever you can and bonus points when you get to hang with people you enjoy.

It’s now six weeks since making a huge change in my business life. I assure you it was not an easy decision to step down from the position I’d spent several years building. I had a team of people, customers, and residual income. I’ve heard many, many times in the last six weeks, “My jaw hit the floor,” “I never imagined you’d leave [your previous company],” “Girl, I thought you’d be with [your previous company] forever,” ect. I know, I know…I thought the same thing about it myself. Let me ask this; What could possibly be so good that it could convince me to walk away from what I’d spent so much time and effort building? What business opportunity or products could convince me to leave behind something that had literally transformed my life? The answer is Vasayo, and I just took advantage of a terrific Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale to buy the biggest product pack the company offers, because I’m all in. All. In. The purchase of this pack during this special also includes a ticket to Convention. You know how I love me a convention, right? The purchase of this pack up until Dec 31, 2018 also puts me (and you if you choose to take advantage) in an exclusive group and provides an opportunity to make more money. Who couldn’t use more money?

Well, that takes us back to the wife, mother, grandmother, homeschool mom thing…I know what it’s like to feel like you can’t spend money on yourself. I’ve totally been there. I spent enough time on the back burner that I nearly lost my ability to take care of my people. Hear me out. You cannot pour from an empty cup. You can try for a while, years even, but it catches up to you. Young mommas who don’t think you’ll burn out, hear what this older momma is saying. It catches up to you. When it does, the crash isn’t pretty. The health issues aren’t pretty. The loss of yourself isn’t pretty. You’re not invincible. It’s a tough pill to swallow, especially with all the pressures of social media. It’s hard enough being a mom without all of that. Oy! But such are the days in which we live. You can use the world of social media as a tool to measure yourself against other moms who seem to have it all together (bonus info: they don’t have it all figured out either) or you can use it as a tool of empowerment. It’s up to you.

I feel like I’ve been doing this Mom Gig long enough to use the word “wisdom” once in a while. Not claiming to know it all, but with age and experience does come a share of it. I’ve found that it’s actually a very good and productive thing to invest in yourself. The ROI is priceless. The financial return of that investment is wonderful, of course, but the MOST important thing is the time you’re able to spend with the people who matter the very most to you in the whole world. You’ve got a cell phone in your hand. Let me show you how you can use it to build a business. I’m all in, remember?

*originally written March 27, 2019

Week 23, 2 days: Feed Your Head and Your Soul

Some rescheduling this week leads us to the library on Wednesday. I’ve pulled a lovely book from the shelf and checked it out. I absolutely judged this book by its beautiful cover. That first impression led me to read inside the dust jacket for a brief description of the greater content held within. That’s all it took for me to know I want to read more of the author’s writing.

I do a lot of reading to educate myself. Today is no different. I brought my own book to the library with me. Of course I want to read about CBD and its benefits, even though I already know enough about it to lead me to try it in the first place. It was like I had already read the dust jacket. I knew enough to pique my interest. I knew that I wanted to delve into the greater content within. I am now immersed in the pages of this new chapter of my life.

I love reading. Sometimes it is to feed my head, and sometimes it is to feed my soul. Often times, it’s both.

#LibraryThoughts

*originally written Dec 17, 2018

Week Nine: I’m so happy to be at the library today! I’ve missed my quiet time and meandering #LibraryThoughts. It’s always a good time for me to focus and reflect as we launch into a new week. Mondays can be so crazy, and this time of year is even crazier than the norm. Right? We haven’t had our Monday class the last two weeks. The first week the teacher needed to cancel and last week was when Grayson was at the hospital, so I had to cancel. So much has happened. . .

I’m already well into today’s time, and my phone has been busy with real estate business and some folks asking about my new company which is wonderful, and I’ve even set up a meeting with someone needed a knife sharpened by Hair Splitting Edge Sharpening Services. Wow! Go, Monday! Thankful that you don’t always have to suck! Lol!

#mondaydoesnthavetosuck

There has been so much going on I’m not even sure where to begin…

I’ve been extremely humbled by the recognition I’ve received in both of my businesses. Since we were here last, I’ve had a second rank advance in my network marketing business. The support I’ve experienced from my team and encouragement from those of you out there just makes my heart swell. The fact that people trust me to discuss issues that aren’t normally discussed, well, that trust is priceless. Priceless. And with the 0.0% THC CBD coming next month, I can’t wait to help more people than ever. You don’t even know how much it means to me for any of you to simply click “like” on one of my posts. It feels like a pat on the shoulder and an encouraging nudge. Thanks so much, my friends.

I also attended the H2H Christmas party where I was sitting and minding my own business, (well, having a nice time with friends) when I was given an award by my managing broker and total #BossBabe, Celia Camarato Robertson, for Rookie of the Year. I was blown away and humbled beyond words. I got that award based on my sales for 2018. I started real estate in 2017, but 2018 is my first full year. It has been a crazy, busy year spent with some of the most amazing clients; people who have trusted me with what will probably be the largest financial decision they make in their lives. Me? Me. That’s staggering to me, folks. Please don’t read any of this as coming from a place of boasting. Far from boasting, I’m sharing all of this in recognition of all the people who have supported me. I’ve got tears in my eyes as I type this…completely humbled.

As we prepare for Christmas, I’m choosing to focus on the positive and look forward to a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year for my family and all my friends. So even when things are crazy and not going the way I’d hoped, I’m going to remember that Monday doesn’t have to suck….or Tuesday….or Wednesday….ect…

*originally written Oct 22, 2018

This time last week I sat here at the library during Nate’s class and wrote up a big, long post about making a huge change in my life. I’m sitting here today wondering if it has actually been a WHOLE week already or if it’s been ONLY a week. Lol! It has been a whirlwind of excitement, questions, private messages, 3-way calls, potlucks, and making plans for more potlucks. Apparently, I’m not the only one in need of a change. Many of you are too. If you are reading this, then know that you won’t bother me by asking questions. Also know that if you’re curious and ask questions I promise not to hound you forever. If you listen and say it’s not for you, then PLEASE know that our friendship comes first. Always. If we do business together, then that’s just an added bonus. 😍 #AmysAmazingAdventures #HealthandHome #LibraryThoughts

Read the “big change” post here…

https://reset-and-restore.blog/2019/08/07/freedom/

*originally written Feb 4, 2019

Week 16: DREAMS

What did you dream about when you were a kid? What did you want to be when you grew up? Oh, it could have been anything, and maybe what you dreamt changed every day or week…because you could let your imagination soar. There are probably some that knew what they wanted as a kid and grew up to achieve exactly that. Then there are those who grew up, got throat punched and body slammed by life a few times, buckled down, and did what was required to survive. These days we tend to call that #adulting.

When was the last time anyone asked you about your dreams? When was the last time you asked yourself about your dreams? Do you even remember them? I can remember one time telling my BFF ( Holly Pomrening ) that I have a treasure box locked away in my heart that holds my dreams. They were on hold, but I kept them safe.

I recently attended a convention in Las Vegas where dreams and goals were a regular part of the conversation. You may have heard that I’m involved in this industry called multi-level marketing. I have been for several years. A lot of people don’t understand what I do. There are even people who make fun of me…both behind my back and to my face. I’m not sure when it’s socially acceptable to make fun of someone’s way of earning an income for their family right to their face, but I digress. I’m pretty tough and have pretty thick skin…and laugh all the way to the bank.

To get started, I didn’t have a huge financial investment I had to make like opening a brick and mortar business. I don’t have to stock my shelves and garage with inventory. I get to feel better, spend time with people, help them feel better, earn an income, and help others earn an income too. I get to dream and talk with others about their dreams, then we lock arms and go about reaching those dreams. If that’s wrong, I don’t wanna be right.

*originally written Oct 15, 2018

FREEDOM
It’s what we all want, right? Politics aside, this is why I do what I do. The #FullTiltBoogie is in full swing and requires a lot of time, but the FREEDOM that comes with the flexibility of my schedule is priceless.
Several years ago I began working a business not knowing what in the world I was doing or what I was getting into. I also didn’t realize at the time the FREEDOM and growth that would come into my life; time, flexibility, financial, travel, confidence, and friendships. I have learned so much about working with others, buildings others up and encouraging others while being built up and encouraged by others. I’ve learned to never forget that I am a child of the one, true King. There is FREEDOM in The Lord! There is FREEDOM in knowing who you are…in knowing who I am.
There is an exhilaration that comes with moving forward within that freedom. Change is something many people don’t like. I’m not crazy about it myself. It’s comfortable here in my lane with all the things I know. But I also know the excitement and thrill that comes with taking a leap of faith.
I have been taking some time to reflect on so many times that I’ve been called to something new. Fear is always a part of it, but every single time I have been obedient to a call I have been richly blessed. I feel the fear, the knot in the pit of my stomach, the doubts, the “what if’s”. Yes, what if? What if….I’m obedient? What if…I trust the Voice of Truth? What if…I JUMP? What if…I do it scared? I know the answer, because I have done it before, several times in my life, actually. As I said already; I know that I will be richly blessed.
So here I am. Once again I find myself standing on the precipice of something new. A whole new venture….or I should probably say another one of #AmysAmazingAdventures. Something I never imagined myself saying a very short time ago is that I have resigned from Plexus Worldwide. Are you freaking out yet, because I am. I can’t even really believe it when I look at the words I just typed, but it’s true. I’m taking a leap of faith with a new company. It’s one of those moments in my life that will be reflected upon in my future. I call them “stake in the ground moments”. I don’t know where this new opportunity will lead, but I know it’s what I’m supposed to be doing. To be disobedient to the call will only lead to misery. I’ve been there done that before too. It’s so much nicer to just do it. I’ve said it many, many times before…
“We have our plans, and The Lord has his. His are always better.”
So today I’m moving from that precipice.
Today I JUMP! 😊