So long....Farewell!!!!

So long, farewell, cheerio, sayonara, adios, good-day, auf wiedersehen (had to look that one up), see ya later alligator, bye bye!!!!

I honestly did not expect to be saying these words at all until a few months ago. I realized that for almost a year things were aligning to uncover our next season of life! I have lived in this area for 31 years, since I was 10, and Forney for the last 5 years.

A little over a year ago I began simplifying and organizing my life and home. I felt so much JOY through the process! I didn't realize that in the quest for order, I was overcoming many things that I had struggled with through the years.

I always just accepted the fact that I wasn't organized or orderly...as much as I tried. My forgetfulness and A.D.D would always get the best of me! During this process, of simplifying, I remembered a class that I taught 2 years ago to a group of woman.

 The scripture below is what my presentations was on...



"Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God. D&C 109:8






All of a sudden I realized that through this process of simplifying,  I felt like I was beginning to understand what this scripture really meant. We have done our best to live these principles through the years but living them with a house of order is a totally different feeling. I've had a clean hosue but an orderly house is the best feeling ever.

I can finally say I have established a house of order. And now we move! But even with that I am still learning. Due to having to keep a "show ready" home for 3 weeks...I am building incredible habits that I didnt have before! Doing things that need to be done right then and there, truly keep a house of order.

And I remind you again of SEASONS!!! There once was a season that my kids always came before dirty dishes, laundry and cleaning UNLESS someone was coming over and then I always tried to make things presentable. hahaha

I've definitrely learned that simplifying means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak! 

And the necessary has spoken. So back to...So long, farewell....Yes.... I said, "MOVING!" Once I heard that Hayley and Jose were expecting a precious little baby...I was feeling a strong pull to move to Lubbock. Of course, I wouldn't entertain that idea unless it was right for ALL of us, especially Kolby! But of course, when you find out that things are right, they are right for all! After many, many prayers we all had several sweet reassurances that moving to Lubbock was exactly what the Lord wanted for our next season. Which is exactly what happened when we found out that it was our next season to move to Forney. We each had a reassurance to contribute to the decision!

And Forney was so right for us for the last 5 years...All the way down to the tornado after being in Forney for 5 months. So many memories that we have here. The sunsets, the walks, the friends, the peaceful views and the gatherings that we have been able to host in our home...We love it all!

So as soon as the house sells and school lets out.... We will move!  We are so excited! With all my simplifying... it will be no chore at all to move from 4000 square feet to an 1100 square foot apartment! We found the perfect place and WE LOVE IT!

Hayley and Jose will be moving into the same complex as us and to a 2 bedroom as well, as to have room to welcome their new little bundle! I will have the beautiful pleasure of watching my grandbaby while Hayley and Jose are pursuing school. I am literally smiling ear to ear as I type this!

I am so grateful for having Scentsy in my life and the amazing pleasure to work from home and to be able to make a decision like this.

There are many, many things that I will miss about being here in Forney and close to my family and dear friends. But I know how to fly very well and will be coming back as needed. Especially, for Shay's whirlyball birthday party every January and some Scentsy meetings and for my Pajama Pages fundraiser in October!!!!

Our beloved home that we are selling...We will surely miss! We thought this was our forever home... But when I picture caring for my first granchild and helping Hayley and Jose prepare for their future and finishing off Kolby's last few years of high school and still being Shay's secretary for his business....Well, I can't wait to step into this next season. Even though we love everything about our house and neighborhood...It still can't keep us from this new season! Especially when
God has called you to it!

Home is where the heart is and for now that will soon be Lubbock, Texas!

This isn't the last season but definitely the NEXT one!

Find JOY in the SEASONS of LIFE!

Should I cut off my wedding ring?

I was on the airplane today and over heard two ladies behind me talking about styles of clothing and weight. Then I heard one lady say, "I'm starting on Monday!" I couldn't help but giggle.  I am not an insensitive person at all. But, in my family... that is a forever joke. And the joke is on me. You see, I used to believe that phrase too. I said it often. I even wrote a blog titled that exact phrase back in 2012.

(Here is the link)  http://heatherearljoyinthejourney.blogspot.com/2012/03/im-starting-on-monday.html

My weight gain was originally from living in the hospital with my terminally ill child when I started emotionally eating. After she died, it got worse. And history repeated itself when I went through the same experience again... hospital with another terminally ill child and loss. Food was my drug. I weighed 245 pounds at my biggest. Then one day, I wanted to change. I walked til I could jog and then I jogged until I could run. I lost 100 pounds in 8-9 months from total dedication to clean eating, water and exercise. 

I have kept that weight off for 15 years. (With a fluctuation of 25 pounds here and there)

Until the last two years. For many, many months I have been saying the phrase again.... "I'm starting on Monday." And of course, we all laugh... me included! Several months ago, I was home alone and there was no laughing going on. In fact, there was only crying. I realized that my finger was starting to really bother me because my wedding ring was getting so tight on my finger. I couldn't even twist it around. 

{A few weeks previous to that night I had stepped on the scale. I gasped to see my weight over 200. Since that picture, I weighed one more time and weighed a little more than that.}

So that night that I was home alone... I literally had the thought cross my mind that I needed to cut my ring off due to my weight gain. That is the moment that I stopped and prayed for strength to really take back control of my weight. I decided that night that I was not gonna cut my ring off and was going to get back to the way I looked just 2 years previous. Enjoying exercise, cross fit, and Insanity videos. I loved it and couldn't get enough of it! You are just a better you when you are physically fit and healthy! 

Through this weight gain I remember taking a picture of myself that we were gonna post on face book and I actually considered editing the picture. I had never edited pictures of myself. You know those pictures that you take 15 shots of and 15 different angles of to get just the right one. I didn't want to be that girl, but I was noticing that I would retake pictures to get the right one. That's not me. I didn't like it! So here is an example of that....Same night...different angle! And of course, I am holding my chin down for dramatic purposes and to be funny! But I would have never posted that one. Until now! 

I refuse to edit... I strive to be authentic and if I am editing pictures then that's not the real me. So, I haven't edited. 

Well, I decided that enough was enough and I had to find that healthy me again. I was tired of feeling tired, sluggish, out of breath so easily, not being able to sing as well, having a double chin, swelling in the morning and lots of other problems that I was noticing. 

So I was going to do like I had before, and begin exercising and clean eating! I am an "all or nothing" person and when I'm ON.... you can't stop me! Well, I realized very quickly that my 41 year old body was NOT the same body like 15 years ago. My efforts weren't working and I kept feeling the tug to start a program. I would shut that thought down very quickly and then tell myself..."I have done it before, I can do it again!" all on my own. Well, that wasn't proving to be the case. This went on for a few weeks back and forth. I finally prayed about it again and felt prompted to call a friend from church that I noticed had been having a glow about her for several weeks! I wanted my glow back! That glow that only comes from being healthy and feeling at your best physically, emotionally and spiritually! They all go together! 

I called her and said, "This might sound weird but I feel prompted to call you and start what you are doing. She told me that it wasn't weird at all and she totally believed me because that she was also prompted in her heart to start this program. I then went on to explain that I guess I was being stubborn and would have called a month ago if I hadn't of been thinking that I could do this on my own like before with out a program. 

I am so grateful that I followed my heart! Since starting this program 2 weeks ago... I am down 13 pounds!!!!! I have energy again!!!!! I can twist my wedding ring around on my finger!!!!! I have already noticed my clothes fitting better!!!! The swelling that I used to wake up to is gone!!!! Some aches and pains that I was experiencing are gone!!!! I just feel BETTER!!! 

I know it sounds to good to be true! But I know how miserable I was feeling just 2 weeks ago and I am not feeling that way anymore! I am already experiencing JOY in my journey back to health. 

I am grateful that I was led to this program! I wanted to be healthy again and with this program the weight loss is just a side effect! Here's to a healthy Heather again! No need to beat myself up that I have to take these steps again.. It's never too late to start over! There must have been something that I needed to learn that I missed the first time!

I can't wait to blog again with more updates to my journey back to health! 

Until I blog again........

Heather 

What SCENTSY had to do with it?

Almost 8 years ago, I was busy setting up our teeth-whitening booth at the Women's expo. I was in charge of hiring, training and running the booth. It was an extremely busy job as a dental assistant and manager. The minute I got my first break was half-way through the day. I remember walking the long way around just to have a "breather." I was walking back to my booth, when all of a sudden, I saw this crowded 10x10 space of these little plug in candles. (2007) I only had time to smell one, grab a catalog and hurry back to my booth.

Little did I know that an exact year later at that same event in 2008, that I would feel impressed to walk over and find the Scentsy booth and join on the spot. I had no idea what was in store for me for that small $99 investment. (This month for only $49) And an investment it was! One of the best decisions I have ever made! (grateful for spiritual promptings) 

I embarked on this new journey with complete excitement. I didn't really know what I was doing but the excitement carried me through. Many doubted me or doubted the "direct sales" industry.

But, Scentsy was so much more than another direct sales company. It was an "INSTITUTION". I searched long and hard for the perfect word to describe Scentsy. I could say... Awesome and amazing! But it was so much more than that. 

Webster's defines institution as a significant practice, relationship or organization in a culture.

Scentsy was significant and Scentsy was a culture. A culture of bringing the best out of you. A culture of giving more than you take. A culture of  the "stickiness factor" as Orville (owner) always said. Scentsy was so sticky, you just wanted to keep going back for more. I was about to learn what this stickiness was truly all about! 

Free dictionary defines institution as a custom, practice, relationship, or behavioral pattern of importance in the life of a community or society.

Scentsy has changed my life for the better. It is a community of importance. A platform that allowed me to share my story for the very first time. I will never forget verbally sharing my story to an audience of people that I didn't even know personally. It was life changing and empowering! By growing my business and stretching beyond my comfort zone over and over I got the practice that I needed to become more. The relationships and a sense of belonging was definitely a behavioral pattern of importance. 

The mission statement, matched my heart strings. "To bring the world value through our products that Warm the Heart, Enliven the Senses, and Inspire the World." 

Even though they were talking about the Scentsy warmer, I now know that I am a product of Scentsy.

For the last 8 years I attended trainings and more trainings. I participated in conference calls, and group messaging, face book pages, World tours, conferences, summits, and conventions. Showing up to all that was offered...changed me! 

Here is a very mini sampling of the kind of things that I have written in my journals. I have truly valued it all through the years and it has helped make me a better person.... 

1. Believe in yourself through sharing your authentic story. (permission to love "YOU")
2. Dream Big (despite the nay-sayers, you can achieve anything you set your heart and mind to.)
3.  In a chord progression...Chord 4 was to, Improve yourself.
4. Catch your own vision (what do you want out of life)
5. Know your WHY (why do you want more)
6. Bloom where you are planted. Because if you're always going through life looking for better soil, you're never going to grow roots deep enough to bloom. 
7. Find someone to serve.
8. Core values... Simplicity, Authenticity and Generosity.
9. Unlock your energy (What do you want bad enough. What makes your heart sing, ultimately unlocks desire)
10. Being a leader is like an orchestra playing. The instruments don't always play at the same time. So day by day we have to pay attention to which instrument needs our attention. 
11. What seems complicated, really isn't! 
12. Never spend more than you have. 
13. Live a life of significance! 
14. You don't have to be PERFECT to be POWERFUL!
15. Conquer your fears, Spread your wings and fly!
16. Cross the line (With everything there is a line. You have a choice to cross it for a greater chance to become more, enjoy more and realize more. OR you don't and settle for less. It's always a choice.
17. We are all like "frogs in a well" in some areas we may be at the top of the well and in other areas we are at the bottom. But, as we build our dream the greater our understanding becomes of what is possible in our lives. (climb the wall)
18. You don't have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great! 
19. Transformation comes about when you embrace who you are and live with courage and graciousness.
20. Never be afraid to try.
21. Embrace change.
22. Love who you are.
23. Tell this to yourself everyday..."I can Do It"
24. Plant seeds  of greatness, everywhere you go.
25. Your business only grows as much as YOU grow. (same as life)
26. Arrow's out mentality (The more you think of others the greater and bigger our life will be vs. arrows in spiraling towards self and our world getting smaller and smaller.) I choose  ARROW'S OUT! 
27. "MAN UP" (Massive action now) It takes action to make happen the things you want to see in your life. 
28. There is enough time and space for all that I need to accomplish! 
29. The power of one. (The smallest act can ripple and spread and have a bigger impact than you can ever imagine. Everyone of us has the power to make a difference)
30. Be an excuse buster.
31. Give more than you take!
32. Don't let others inactivity determine your productivity!
33. Appreciate your personality.(be the BEST version of yourself)
34. Celebrate what's right with the world.
35. Be like a butterfly. (emerge from your cocoon and embrace your awesomeness)
36. You have to know yourself before you can Love yourself! (get to know you)
37. Those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind!
38. Be kind to yourself and value your brain and your heart! 
39. When you feel insecure have no fear, because there is a light that shines within us all!
40. Be brave and stretch yourself. (include others is the best way to be brave)
41. Don't be too busy for friends. (You are a better person when you have friends)
42. A friend may be waiting behind a strangers face! 
43. Forgiveness is necessary for yourself and others! (it's freeing...let go)
44. People will judge you and dismiss you...Don't harbor anger! It only hurts you! 
45. Don't let things that you can't change eat away at your character.
46. Don't think small! 
47. Have hope and live with Optimism! 
48. The concept of priming...(So important to practice optimism so you don't get sucked in to the wrong influence. We are all connected together and the thoughts of others matter to us.)
49.  Live with Childlike wonder!
50. Be contagiously optimistic!
51. AND THE BONUS IS.......Double YAY! The profound Joy that comes when celebrate your VICTORIES! 

I could go on and on and on..... But the victory is that I know that I am enough! From that broken, 19 year old mother laying my first child to rest...and then again 4 years later... to a woman that has overcome and emerged into a beautiful butterfly, trying daily to spread my wings and be what God intended me to be. I can honestly say that Scentsy, coupled with my faith and the Gospel have been the influences that have shaped me into the person that I am today!  And it just keeps getting better and better....

I will continue to Find Joy in my Journey and help change lives one at a time! I'm grateful for my "Scentsy Institution" that has reminded me that I have WINGS to show me what I can become, and my ROOTS to remind me where I've come from!

Thank you to all of the people that I have met through Scentsy that have helped change my life for the better! I love you! 

xoxo, Heather

The Doctor...

Do you believe in being in the right place at the right time or in coincidences? We call it something else. The other day, as Shay was driving us all over Dallas for my Random Acts of Kindness Birthday, we pulled into the hospital and quickly discussed about Shay dropping us off in the front of the hospital. When all of a sudden he says, "let me go over here and park so that you will know where to come when ya'll are done." So, he drives around until finally deciding that he would back into this one particular spot.

Shay had joined us on all of the other activities that day, but said, for this activity he felt like he should just wait in the van for us. So he rolled the windows down and was ready to relax a bit and watch his favorite "big rig" videos on YouTube while he waited for us to come back.

We begin to all pile out of the van... As I was standing there waiting for the others to get out. I realized that I was in the way of another driver trying to get in his car. I said, "Excuse us, we will be out of your way in just a sec." He slightly smiled and said, "Oh no rush, I'm not sure my car will even start." I didn't really grasp what he was saying; but with flowers in hand...we began walking across the parking lot to go complete our mission..

We passed out flowers and had an amazing experience! You can read more about it here....   http://heatherearljoyinthejourney.blogspot.com/
(The Final Rose)



Upon our return to the van, and just when we thought it couldn't get any better. It did!
Shay hands me $60 dollars as I enter the van. I looked at him funny, and said "what is this for?"

He says, you remember when you were getting out of the van and you were in the way of that Doctor? I said, "yes, I remember!" The Dr. gave it to me...He insisted that I take it! I told him NO and he slapped it in my hand and said, "Please take it"  So, Shay begins to tell me the story....

Y'all walked off, and I was about to sit here and chill when I noticed that Doctor trying to start his car. It wouldn't start. I asked through the window if he needed any help. He told me that these issues had recently begun and that he would just call a tow truck driver. So Shay gets out of the van and walks over to his car. Shay looks under the hood and tells the doctor what he sees. The doctor says, "no no don't get dirty. I will just call a tow and get it to the shop." Shay says, "don't waste your money...let me look at it just a few." The Dr. tells Shay that he had just had it in the shop and replaced two things and that it still didn't fix it. Shay notices that it looks like the connection on his battery cable was bad. The Dr. tells Shay that he bought this car part the other day but hadn't had time to get it to the shop. The Dr. insists that he can just call a tow. Shay insists that he just let him put it on for him since he already had the part.

So the Dr. decides to let Shay fix it. In the meantime, they have small talk. The Dr. says..."You like this stuff?" Shay replies, "What stuff?" Dr replies, "Car stuff" Shay, replies "Oh I am not a mechanic, I just don't mind helping if I can figure out how to do something."

Then the Dr asks Shay what he is doing randomly sitting in the van anyway. Shay begins to tell him that it's his wife's birthday. The Dr. makes a funny looking face...(Probably wondering why the heck Shay is out in the van if its his wife's birthday.) Shay continues to tell him all the ladies he saw with flowers in their hands were going to pass them out to the patients. The Dr. laughed and said, what planet are y'all from...who does things like that? For her birthday? He was so shocked! The Dr. then said, so you are telling me that your wife and friends are passing out flowers to our patients for her birthday... Shay then explained all of the other random acts of kindness we performed that day. The Dr. told Shay that he didn't know that there were people like that anymore and that it restored his faith about the world we live in. Shay said that the Dr. couldn't quit commenting how amazing that was and that he could not believe that we wanted to do that.

Shay completed putting the part on his car and Shay told him that his car was fixed because it was the battery terminal that was bad and then he cleaned up the cables too. Shay told him to start up his car and it started right up. The Dr was very appreciative and continued to be in awe that Shay was randomly sitting there and able to fix his car. They shook hands and the Dr kinda lingered with his hand shake. The Dr. smiled, looked Shay in the eye and said, Thank you in the most deep and genuine way.

I know that this was no coincidence for Shay to have parked where he parked. This is what I call "DIVINE RIGHT ORDER" or a "DIVINE APPOINTMENT."  Placing two people together that could both be blessed by the situation.

Shay later said that he had his own special random act of kindness that he was meant to do while we were inside the hospital passing out flowers. Shay knew that this was a meant to be moment. He knows that God led him to the place he parked. The Dr. was also blessed, not just because his car was fixed but his faith in humanity was restored through Shay's act of kindness. And we were all blessed by hearing his story. The cycle of giving!

I truly believe that when you give with joy.... your reward is receiving the most pure joy and heart-expanding and exhilarating feelings.

I also believe that there is a power in giving...It is the secret to abundance. We gave all day long and freely spent our money on others. A little bit of that money came directly back to us through Shay's giving, and that Dr. demanding that Shay take a little cash from him. It's a beautiful cycle that we hope to always live in! "The window you receive through is made bigger by the window you give through." ~Dan Kennedy

I was so grateful Shay was able to join me on this wonderful day! Here he is visiting with the homeless. I'm so grateful to share the same love of giving and sharing kindness with this man. I love you, Shay!

Find JOY in GIVING!

The Final Rose

No, I'm not talking about The Bachelor's final rose.  A week ago today, we ventured out on what was going to be one awesome day! It was my "Random Act of Kindness" birthday party that I set up for and invited a few close friends to join me.  It was a special and memorable day, filled with amazing stories. One of the last random acts that we did that day was to go to the hospital and pass out flowers to the patients.

First, let me describe what it was like as we entered the 3rd floor.... We walked onto the floor and we see Doctors, nurses, and techs busy doing what they do. Filling out paperwork, responding to calling patients, checking vitals, discussing patients, paperwork and so on. We walk in with 4 dozen roses and explain that we would like to walk the halls and pass out flowers to the patients to brighten their day. We get the weirdest looks and responses. We heard, "so you just want to take flowers in random rooms" and "who are you with?" So I explain that we are not with any affiliation and that this is my "Random Act's of Kindness Birthday Party." When the Dr. immediately turns towards me and says..."There are no patients with restrictions, Go for it!"

So, we looked down all 3 halls and walked towards this one particular wing first. We entered the first room and saw this sweet elderly lady (we learned she was 96) laying there all cuddled up in a blanket and all that you could see was her little, sweet face. Her daughter was next to her bed and she just smiled so big and was so grateful for a flower. She turned to her elderly mom and said, "they brought you a flower." I explained that it was my birthday and instead of doing something for myself, my greatest joy and happiness comes from brightening someone else's day. The elderly lady looked me right in my eyes and gave the slightest nod. I knew that she heard me. There was such a peace in the room. I hugged the daughter and said that we would be praying for them. She was so grateful. The daughters smile and the elderly lady's eyes continue to linger in my mind. 

There was a different story in every room that we entered. One room we entered was an old, cute and flirty man. He was delighted for 7 women to enter his room with flowers for him. He made us laugh! His smile was so big and he didn't want us to leave. 

In another room, the sweetest little lady, upon sight of us walking in the room with flowers and smiles caused tears to stream down her face. She couldn't believe that we wanted to do such a thing. Another room we entered was a man that said, " I knew that someone would come to pray for me." 

In another room, we found complete sadness and loneliness and instant tears streaming down her face. She just cried and told us that she felt so alone and she didn't have anyone to come visit her and that our flowers meant more than we would ever know.  Knowing that we couldn't stay with her for very long, I offered to pray with her. She said, Yes, please. I prayed that she would know that she was never alone and that she would feel comforted as she finished her stay in the hospital. We hugged and promised to keep praying for her. And that I have done. 

Another room was a very sick gentleman that was sunken in his bed and had his head completely covered by his blanket. I said, "knock knock, is anyone under there?" He uncovered his head, and asked us what we wanted. I explained that we were bringing him a flower to brighten his day. He wasn't to thrilled by my remarks and I continued to tell him that it was my birthday, (I noticed when others know your heart it helps to open up theirs) So, I continued to explain,  instead of doing something for myself,  my joy and happiness comes from making others happy. He gave another tiny smirk, and all of a sudden, he told me that he used to be a gospel singer and that since I was bringing him a rose on my birthday that he would sing and one of his original songs for me. He asked me to hand him his phone and he searched for his lyrics. He began singing. I teared up while he sang, cause I realized that he was all of a sudden doing something that he loved and made him happy. After he finshed his song, I noticed the tears coming out of his eyes. I was so grateful that even for a moment, we could take his mind off of all that he was going through.

Our time at the hospital was full of these stories. Not just another room and patient; but a life and a story. I could go on and on and on about all 45 rooms we entered. As we left out of the last room, I saw my daughter Hayley finishing up a conversation with one of the nurses that had asked, "why we were doing this" and "who we were with." They couldn't believe that someone would just come and do this. But you could ask anyone one of us and hear the same response...that we couldn't wait to do it all over again! And we aren't even gonna wait for another birthday! 

As we left the final room and handed out our final rose... we realized that in the very first hall, the hall that we felt inspired to begin with. We had given someone, what would be their final rose here on earth. As we realized the magnitude of our service that day, we paused for a moment. We were all shocked that we were the last contact that patient had. Tears streamed down our faces as we imagined that their moments was our random act of kindness and love in being the recipient of our rose. 

We felt complete JOY that day and will continue to in our memories forever. What if your small act was the one thing that turned sadness into hope, or gave someone a moment of joy. Maybe, your kindness could touch a soul that felt alone. Maybe, you could save a life. Or maybe even your random act may be the very last act of kindness that was performed for someone. Be a blessing to others!

 FIND JOY IN RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS!

 Please share your stories of random acts of kindness with me.....

Bear one another's burdens...

Yesterday I had the beautiful privilege of attending a precious little angels funeral. Her name was Zinnia, just like the flower. She was 3 months old. She looked like a porcelain doll in her white satin dress that was handmade with love by a friend. The dress was made from fabric from her mother's and 2 aunts wedding dresses.  It was beyond heavenly. She looked like a perfect angel.

I grew up with her dad Jake and grew to love his wife, Heather. The other day when I found out that they had lost their daughter... I wept, as I always do when I hear that a child has died. My heart hurts for the parents so badly. I literally wish I could take away their pain...but I know I can't and that there are NO WORDS that will take away the pain. 

I was in awe when I was greeted by Jake with the most radiant smile and glossy eyes.  His spirit was shining! He looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "I don't know how you and Shay did it?" There was so much I wanted to say...but that is for another day and another place. My response at that moment was..."You just do..Jake...You just do and you just keep getting through one day at a time with the spirit leading you daily." 

Then to wrap my arms around Zinnia's mom, Heather. There was something special in that hug. I know many times we tell someone that we can't begin to imagine what they are going through. This was not the case. We hugged so tight just like our hearts did all the talking. She knew I knew. My heart broke for her.

Let me backtrack for a moment. As I woke up yesterday morning and was in my bathroom getting ready for Zinnia's funeral. I realized that something was really different for me. As I got dressed.. It was as if I was getting ready for my own child's funeral. Everything I did was reliving my own experience. I could remember what I wore, what I was feeling, how somber I was. As I got in my car to drive to the funeral I could remember things I hadn't remembered in years. Yesterday wasn't about me...but as I walked in and saw baby Zinnia. I flashed back and saw Shealyn laying there. And then Shelby. But,  Shealyn was in a white satin dress and white satin casket just like Zinnia. Everything was so similar. When I saw Heather...I felt like I could read her mind. When I watched her fix Zinnia's dress it was as if it was an out of body experience. Then at the actual funeral they sang one of the same songs that we sang at both of my babies funerals. When I listened to Heather and Jake share their thoughts about Zinnia I felt every word they were speaking! I knew how they longed for her and at the same time knew they would be with her again and said the exact words that I once said... "we will be there with you again cause we will work hard." To sit there and watch the family wiping their tears and still trying to make sense of it all was a tear jerker.

As I sat from a distance and watched it all, the tears flowed and flowed and flowed and flowed. Many probably thought that I was crying so hard because of my own loss and experience. But I wasn't.

My tears weren't for me, they were for Heather and Jake and all who loved that precious Zinnia. And she was precious.  As I have had many years to learn, grow and endure the loss of my babies. I sat there with a heart full of empathy and watched these parents start their first few days of their journey of loss. I felt so many emotions.

As I sat there in the chapel and listened to Heather, Zinnia's mom talk about her sweet baby and what she was like and what she would miss I couldn't hold back the tears. I just wanted to hug her and hold her. My heart was bursting at the seams for her. She was so brave to get up there and share at her own baby's funeral. Then her father, Jake shared his sweet testimony of knowing that Zinnia was in her Heavenly Father's hands. His words pierced my soul as he spoke about eternal families. They showed such grace. Also, Jakes father, Ernest spoke beautiful words that were so passionately shared! 

All I could think about is how could I be there for her. How could I help her. How could I bear their burdens. My mind flooded of things that I could do. I realized that there have been about 7 special and dear friends that I have been able to help and be there for while they endured their child loss. It is something that I hold near and dear to my heart. Who would have known that I would have that many people in my little life that needed me because I could relate to them and what they were going through.

Who can you help? What trials have you survived that would allow you the knowledge and empathy to bless someone else's life and bear their burdens? How can you open up and share your heart so that someone else knows they are safe with you?

I reflected on the promises that I made when I was baptized many years ago. I promised to take upon His name. We were also willing to bear one another's burdens, mourn with those that mourn, comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places.

Giving service brings us together and gives us opportunities to share and talk and unload and lift and encourage and comfort. I often think of a song that I grew up singing as a family. "I'm trying to be like Jesus" or as a teenager...the words..."WWJD" (what would Jesus do.) He loved everyone. He lifted and he blessed. I saw that happen at the funeral yesterday with all of their loving brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles and grandparents all around supporting with love. I remember it happening any time that I stood in need of that kind of love and support. I see it around me today in my community and neighborhood and in my church family and in my Scentsy family... women and men who try their best to love and serve others. The world needs you and me.  Anyone who can love another and lift another up and bear one another's burdens.

The spirit of Zinnia and the love that her family had for her reminded me of this yesterday.

Every day of our lives we are given opportunities to show love and kindness to those around us.

What have you been through that has given you that special knowledge to be able to bless someones life because you have walked the path. There is someone waiting for the love that only you can share. Pray and ask God to show you who may stand in need of such love and then act.

Find Joy in bearing one another's burdens.

I love you Jake and Heather...Until you meet again with your precious angel Zinnia! Continued prayers for all of you.

The Unexpected Journey... We are selling our home!

As I sat down to blog the other day, my phone popped up and made mention that my "time hop was ready to view."  Of course with my A.D.D. I got distracted and looked. As I scrolled through what was posted a year ago I couldn't believe the post I saw was exactly what I sat down to write about.  It was a full circle moment for me. Sitting down today to blog about my experience of simplifying and how it has truly opened up my eyes to a whole new life.  To see this post, was a tender mercy, as I can now truly see how far I have come in a year. As I realized that I had been at this simplifying thing for a year... I understood more clearly why this journey has taken me to the point I am at now. (more about that at the end) Here is the message from last year... February 2014.

During this last year since I began this journey of getting rid of what I no longer needed! I realized that it was SO MUCH MORE THAN getting rid of things. It was changing me.  With each item that I sold or gave away, I noticed a change in me for the better.  It was literally freeing to my soul. It is one of those feelings that you can't get unless you go through the actions. It was like I was making more room for "God things" in my life. At the beginning of this "movement"  I noticed there were things that I had emotional attachments too (knowing it was something that I DID NOT NEED TO KEEP). I literally had to take it to God in prayer and ask; what am I missing? Why am I holding on to this? Why do I feel attached? That comes from the loss that I've had! But, it was time to let go and create more room for other things! 

I also invested in a personal organizer. Best gift I ever requested for myself. I have learned that if you don't possess a certain skill then sometimes you have to find someone that does. (Plus, you can bless their life by using their talents and paying them for their skills to be used.) 

Here is what I learned from my simplifying journey... First- I experienced LESS FRUSTRATION.

Anytime someone needed something I had to search for it. Therefore wasting mass amounts of time looking, searching and digging here and looking there just to find what I was looking for. Sometimes, that could even domino into being late getting where you needed to go. It could even create frustration cause you couldn't move forward with what you are doing. Then, in my case, A.D.D. would sometimes get the best of me and I would forget what I was even doing before I began my searching efforts. Now with everything having its own place, I definitely experience less frustration and MORE PEACE and a sense of calm when I can say,  "let me get that for you...its right here." Everyday I am happier because of having less.  

Secondly, since I have less to maintain it opens each day for way more TIME and more MONEY. It's amazing. I can't believe it actually. When I couldn't find something, I would often just buy another. It was actually humorous when everything was put together in the same place because you could see what I couldn't find when I had 4 or 5 of something. (hahaha) I have definitely noticed in the areas of my home that are complete that I am more productive because I have less stuff competing for my time and attention. I have saved money for sure in the grocery store department because I can actually see what I have and I no longer buy triple of stuff because I couldn't see that I already had it in my pantry.

However, I remember when we purchased our home and many people commented that, "You are gonna have alot to clean" They were right. Since I couldn't always keep it up... I hired a cleaning lady that came weekly. It was awesome! Then I hired a pooper scooper! Then I hired an organizer! Catch my drift... More space required more maintenance which required more money if I wanted more time. So I actually had to buy my time! It is an eye opener when you see the numbers that are actually spent on maintaining. Once you add up the cleaning lady, the poop scooper, the lawn guy, the window cleaner, the organizer and so on and so on... IT ADDS UP TO THOUSANDS! Of course, I could always do it myself (well not the organizing) but I wasn't willing to give up the time. But that is a whole other blog post.

The last major thing that I realized that I have learned from this process is that less stuff brings more JOY! I am finding more joy in living, rather than having too much stuff or spending time maintaining. I have never been a materialistic person. I am a thrift store shopper and wearer and I love me a good garage sale. I'm talking about clutter of things. Having things, keeping things, collecting things. I've never been big about having things but when you have a bigger place you naturally acquire more things. Now that I am experiencing less clutter I am able to focus more on things we actually need. As we have removed the clutter, we have removed distractions, and we have been able to experience more gratitude for what really matters most.

I now know why I was inspired a year ago to begin this simplifying process. I have learned so much, I have grown so much and I have seen how God has been changing me to get to a place in life that I could hear what he had in store for me and my family exactly a year later. I had no idea that God had a different path for us than we had planned. It's pretty magical to follow His path for you. In the spirit of simplifying and getting rid of clutter I learned that we will simplify our living space as well. Yes, I just said we are selling our dream home. It has been the perfect home for us for the last 3 years. It was everything we wanted. But now in this new season of focusing on what matters most...it's not maintaining a 4000 square foot home. It will be about traveling and creating more memories together. It's about having more time to bless others. It will be about doing what God calls me to do everyday. We will be selling almost everything we own except for what we love and need.  But that isn't much anymore! We will be downsizing from 4000 square feet to 1000...Until Kolby graduates and we decide where we want to settle.. if we ever even do. And that makes me happy for the possibilities! But for now....Forney is home.

We will miss our beautiful neighbors that we have grown to love. We also will miss our walks and definitely these beautiful sunsets! 

 Although, we have loved entertaining in our home; we don't need all of this space anymore. Plus, it will never be the same without all of us here. So we (me, Shay and Kolby) will begin our own new journey. We have cherished, forever memories in our home of Devonshire! I am grateful for the seasons and intersections of life that lead us to bigger and greater things....because God's path is always better than our own. I'm also grateful for the spirit of my son Kolby. He has always felt that our home was too big, and now that Hayley and Jose are moving is really excited to downsize. 

I have pages and pages of unpublished blogs for all that I have learned through this process but my most favorite part is knowing that I am listening to my heart and spirit and following God's plan for our family. And that we all feel the same. I never thought I would say good bye to this home. I thought it would be our forever home. But when God shows you a different path...you follow! I remember the day that He said to me in my heart... you can choose to stay! I knew that this was a chance to put all that I have learned to the test.  We decided to trust God! We can't wait to see who God sends to live in our home, so they can experience the joy that this home has brought to our family. 

I truly know that LESS IS MORE! More time, more energy, more ability to focus on what matters most,  which ultimately brings MORE JOY! 

This pic represents a wonderful moment (the day we closed on our home).. I can't wait to share many more moments like this picture of our new and upcoming journey.