lia sophia

So I haven't posted a whole lot of anything in a while. Bad me! I am sorry for all those people who say they read my blog, for those secret admirers (oh, I know you are out there) and for all those that will read, someday, and will read this as an archive (come on, I have to be real here!)

Life has been busy, busy, busy, messy, and fun. We moved the computer into another room, so it's not staring me in the face saying, "Betsy, you need to surf the net!!!" However, I still spend PLENTY of time on it anyway; just doing new stuff.

My newest endeavor has been business.

I have put myself into my own business with lia sophia as an advisor.

Crazy, huh? Who would have thought that when God did this major life change in May/June that direct sales was something he had for me in the future?

Let me explain.

So, being preggers with baby #3, my brain has been everywhere. I feel like a flighty blonde. I can't remember anything and I can't focus it seems. But while my brain was disconnected from my body, I was thinking of how to support my family when I was done with work. I know that God will provide, but I also know He doesn't just grow a money tree out my window.

My girlfriend was selling lia sophia and told me that I could do it too, for fun, get a discount, and probably make some money at it. Usually offers like this pass over my head. But this time, it stuck. And I thought about it.... A LOT.

While I was seriously considering it and praying about it; my sister called me, "Hey Betsy, do you think that I should sell jewelry or do something in direct sales to help make some money?"

My answer was, "YES, and ME TOO."

I signed up with lia sophia and I have enjoyed every step of the way.

So, I have been doing that for the last month and a half. And here are some awesome reasons I like it:

1. I have met SOOOOO many people. Random people, friends of friends, re-connected with people that I shouldn't have lost contact with in the first place.
2. I help women feel beautiful. We go through life and forget to pamper ourselves a little bit. I LOVE seeing women who say, "oh I don't wear jewelry," try something on and their eyes light up with how they can see their beauty and I watch their confidence grow.
3. Empowering women. I love to share that I am not the only one who can do this! Work from home. Work a little or a lot. Need help talking in front of others and need more confidence? Let's do it. Want to have a little ownership in providing for the family? Here's a way that you can do it!
4. Working for myself, but not by myself. I didn't have to build a business empire. I don't have to be the CEO of my own company. But I can choose when I work, how much I work, and choose what I do with the money. AND I can go to meetings and feel supported by other women who do the same thing I do!
5. The jewelry. Of course! Who couldn't LOVE the jewelry?!
6. The money. I love knowing that I am making money that I can contribute to school debt, helping others, monthly bills, my beloved digital camera that I still haven't gotten, and maybe Christmas presents.
7. Oh, and did I mention meeting people?! I have lived in this town 1 1/2 years, and I have done LOTS more in this town for the last 14 years, and I don't know anybody. Finally, I am adding cell phone numbers, meeting people, running into people when I am doing errands, and really getting to meet people. Oh, I love it.
8. Girls' night out. I get to leave my kiddos with daddy and hang out with the girls. Scheduled. On my schedule. And have lots of fun.

Okay, believe it or not, that's not a pitch. I am really excited about this opportunity that God presented to me. He gave me confidence while I was praying about this whole thing by bringing to my mind Proverbs 31.

"She seeks wool and flax, and willingly works with her hands.

She considers a field and buys it; from her profits she plants a vineyard,

She girds herself with strength, and strengthens her arms.

She perceives that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out by night...

She extends her hand to the poor,

Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet...

Her clothing is fine linen and purple...

She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies sashes for the merchants.

Strength and honor are her clothing...

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised."

These verses gave me confidence in using my gifts and abilities to care for my family. I can clothe them in scarlet; I can wear fine linen. I can sell, buy, and be in business and bring glory to the Lord and my family.

But to remember the moderation. It is not for my own gain, but to help the poor; be a merchant of God's money, and to remember that Charm and beauty is fleeting, but my true worth is in my LORD and God.

PS Brian started a new business too! MANCAVE

You'll be seeing a post on that in the future, I'm sure.

Hey sure...why not?

Why not just throw another thing in?

So, finally, Grace is feeling "better." She's still irritable, but at least manageable. She's not throwing up or having diarrhea. In fact, yesterday she ate and ate (probably to make up for what she hasn't eaten the past week), and played practically all day.

Justice was doing fine...

Then, I go to put new clothes and diaper on him this morning.... and he's broken out in hives all over!

WHAT?!

Alright. Let's take him in to the doctor. AGAIN. We've been in at least 3-4 times this week! 

He's acting fine and chipper. He eats just fine and everything thing checks out normal, except that he's got red blotches all over his skin.

The Doc checks him over... and tells me he's allergic to cefprozil. 

Ah, heck. Why not?

Cut him off the antibiotic, give him benydril. 

Poor babes. They've had a heck of week.

Can I PLEASE go on our anniversary vacation now?!!!

Moving and Rotavirus

It's been a while since I have posted. AND there are reasons why!

I feel like life keeps on speeding along, dragging us along with it if we don't move fast enough to keep up. And dragging we have. There never seems to be enough time in the day. I sit and think... "Is it good to have so much to do? Isn't life more about living and less about doing?"

Now, we can take that to mean WAY too much. Thinking that we don't have obligations or even be self centered about it. But, really, how many social obligations do we tangled up in and drive ourselves down.... just for the sake of etiquette and social standing?  

Maybe nobody understands. Whatever. IT IS my blog.

Anyway. We've been running around like a mad-man. Trying to move to another apartment, attend graduations and graduation parties, along with work and finally.... sick kids.

Yes. Grace is sick.

She's getting over rotavirus right now. We had two nights of her throwing up and we decided to take her in to the doctors. Of course, we had to miss like 4 graduation parties and slow down.... but I guess that's okay, right?  We got to baby our babies...

At first we thought she had a viral flu...only to find out that she had rotavirus. Google it on the internet. But, basically there is nothing to treat it but to let it run it's course. Which is vomiting, diarrhea, and very low immunity. 

So, Grace has been hanging out. Watching "Thomas and the Magic Railroad" (definitely not a 4 star movie) and snacking on saltine crackers and drinking pedialyte. Fun. Fun. 

Justice has been extra hyper: throwing food/toys/random items from around the house. His favorite activity is to stand on something...to fall down and cry to mommy. He plays and steals Grace's toys. Oh the joys of being 1 1/2.

And life keeps on chugging along, taking us along with it. I just want to stop once in a while, get off, and stretch my legs...

Going Green....in Romance?!

(I'm writing this for the guys)

I often write about our kids, the cute things they do, and how I see God through them. While that is truly amazing (and I do take a billion pictures of them), I don't take enough time to take pictures of my husband and brag about him too.

So here we go:........

Going Green in Romance.

I love the little things he does.

I love how he seems to be thinking about me all the time...

He remembers the way I like my coffee, and he takes time to make it that way. He remembers that I like chocolate, what kind, and why.  He remembers that I like to try new things. 

He shows me that he loves me through remembering, but also by showing me that I'm special in the small things.

It's all about the small things.

So guys... if you are confused by women (which you should be, because we are an enigma)... here's some hints to help you woo your gal.

• HORD & HIDE
  

If she says she doesn't want chocolate... she's lying. But she'll still get pissed off if you give her a box of chocolates... WHY?! 

Because, she's trying hard to watch what she eats. You've just handed her temptation! What a gift. So try it this way.... 

HORD & HIDE. Buy some chocolate... her favorites... and keep it a secret. It is in your stash... your box of tricks. Open the package and give it to her a couple morsels at a time. 

• PRESENTATION

Why do girls fuss over table settings, pretty things, and how things look? Because it is important to them! 

You know those chocolates?! Don't just drop a couple on the kitchen table! Try this:

Hide them so they are meant to be found (Like next to a cup of coffee, on her nightstand, or book that she's reading)

Put them on the kitchen table... but in a wine glass. (My father-in-law did this for mother's day for my mother-in-law and it was SOOOO cute)

Add a note. It doesn't have to say anything much for those of you who aren't good with words. Just show some thought... "I love you, my sweet"

• RE-USE 

This brought on the inspiration of this blog. 

I went to my bed after laying the kids down for bed and saw this:

Nestled in my pillows was some flowers. (Presentation!!!)  I loved it. Brian snuck in while I was busy, and put one sprig of flowers on my pillow. Now, these weren't new flowers. He'd given me this arrangement a week ago. So I've been staring at them for a while. 

But I hadn't seen them on my pillow before!

Perfect.

• CELEBRATING THE ORDINARY

 Don't forget Mother's Day, Anniversaries, and Valentine's Day. But, she might be more forgiving when you don't buy overpriced flowers on those days right before you came home.  But remember to celebrate just simple things.

One morning I was going to work, and when I sat down in my car I was surrounded by yellow post-it notes!!! Each one had written on it one thing he loved about me. And they were stuck all over the inside of my car!

Okay, so that one takes a bit more thought... But it is CHEAP! Post its are cheaper than overpriced flowers Valentine's flowers... and she'll love you more for it.

 ______________________________________________________

Okay, off my soap box...

But I treasure my husband and it's just nice to brag about him once in a while.

Where to go from here?

Where do we go from here?

I have no idea.

God gave us a step, to be done at First Baptist Church as their Youth Directors. After much thought, prayer, and fussing over it, we finally made that step of faith.

But what now?

Usually, it seems, you are done with one thing BECAUSE of something else. But not this time. We were asked to take this step, and wait.

So, now what? 

1. We could move; no idea where, but we could.
2. I have been thinking about taking a Spanish class; goodness I need to brush up on it.
3. We are thinking about signing Grace and Justice up for baby swimming lessons.
4. We could actually visit some people.
5. We could volunteer with things that I had to pass up before because of lack of time.
6. We could rest.

I am excited, but also bewildered. I feel like we are given a whole new system. Instead of: "Here are things I want you to accomplish." It is: "Well, Brian and Betsy... which direction would you like to go? No option is a bad option... I'm letting you take your pick."

I don't know what to do with so many choices!!!

But here are some goals I hope we accomplish:

Visit Gabriel

One thing I would like to do is visit my nephew Gabriel. He's so close, and we didn't have time to visit. Justice and Gabriel are so close in age and would love to play together. WHY NOT? And yet, I feel like I hardly see him.

Intellectual Conversation

Not that I didn't have this before...but I am really rooting for it now. Last night, we actually visited with Nick, Heather, and Gabriel. While our children played, we got into deep conversation about repentance. 

I need more of that. I need more conversation where people don't agree all the time. I LOVE mulling over subjects of importance and debating, bringing up new points of view... And realizing things are a lot more gray than black-and-white.

Volunteer

There are so many things out there to help with. So many causes to be a part of to help improve the world. Let's get at them!

Slow Down

Now, I do not mean playing Wii, watching movies, and just blowing time. But, I would like to not be working according to a New York minute, but more on the time-scale of an African hour. 

I would be SOOOO excited to actually have people NOT say on the phone, "You sound so tired." I would be soooo excited to not have my husband rushing from one thing to the next. I would be soooo excited to actually sleep instead of passing out from exhaustion at night.

Not like having 2 kids and another on the way to keep THAT from happening. But... it's a goal, none the less.

So, God.... What's Next?

I have no idea. But I am ready for the adventure.

______________________________________________

Justice looks at his reflection in the glass. 

I love this picture, and I don't want that curiosity and wonderment to fade. 

Instead, I want to capture it.

Justice was running around one night, doing laps, around the kitchen.

He ran with his arms extended behind him.

He laughed the entire time.

So did we.

Cousin Gabe

We are so excited to come and play with you more!

Again, the wonderment of a slide. 

Grace played on that slide for hours.

I See...Volunteerism

Recently, someone asked me, what Grace and Justice were going to be "into" when they grew older; like gymnastics or basketball or something.

And I got thinking.

I have no idea. At the same time, I have a very good idea. 

I would like them to practice Volunteerism.

In this self-centered and self-betterment society, I see a very early in-breeding of self-absorption. 

"I want my child to be the best at [fill in the blank]! So, we are doing [fill in the blank] for him!"

"She really likes gymnastics...so we spend the money for her to do this..."

"I think understanding different cultures is important... so I am sending my child to German-day camp."

Whatever.

While I think that children involvement in things are good. Involvement and practices that work on skills that improve who we are, are good for people of all ages!

But we get stuck in it. As if each one of us is the center of our own universe.

And we don't see that there are causes and people right in front of us that could use our help, our expertise, our talents, to improve the world!

Woah.... that was a big step. Improve the world?! What are you talking about?!

That's exactly what I am talking about. Living life as if it wasn't about about yourself. Living life in front of your children, your spouse, your neighbors, to be an example that life is SO MUCH MORE than the best I can do! Improve the world!

Let me explain: I want my children to grow up to have compassion. I could send them to church. I could tell them about compassion. I could hold them and love them and show them compassion. Those are all good things... But there is PLENTY of that going on and I think we need to take it one step further.

Go with them and DO COMPASSION TOGETHER. Go and volunteer with a feeding ministry. Volunteer at a mentoring program together. Make an art project and bring it someone in the hospital. DO COMPASSION TO TEACH COMPASSION.

What are we truly teaching and showing others? Are we all about ourselves?

A wise person told me when I was frustrated that I couldn't find enough volunteers..... "People are busy with what they want to be busy with..."

What do we truly find to be eternally significant? What are we busy with?

Are those the same things?

I want my children to grow in CHARACTER. How do I do that? Well, I could tell them about character. Show them books and movies about people with good character. And reward them when they show good character... But I can't stop there.

I must MODEL GOOD CHARACTER. Let's put our money where we think the world needs benefit. Let's put our time into things that aren't all about us.

Self-Centered Generation/Society. Are YOU happy? What will make you happy? Go and achieve it! 

Most of the time, we really have no idea what makes us happy. Most of the time, scrubbing the floor of a make-shift garage for a Vacation Bible School doesn't sound like something that would make me happy. But it's a small stone of work. When others add their small stones, and people know the eternally wonderful difference of Jesus Christ... Those stones MEANT SOMETHING.  

When my small stone of work, gets added to the rest, what a MOUNTAIN of a difference it makes.

Let's Model That.

Let's Improve the World.

Live Beyond Yourself.

Getting Down with Martha Stewart

Finally, some creative inspiration hit me. I haven't been able to get into my scrapbooking lately... I have no idea why. But then, I was motivated to do something fun and creative for Easter.

So where should I go but to MarthaStewart.com! 

I was originally on there looking for some alternative recipes from Weight Watchers. I found some good ones... but then I stumbled upon the arts and crafts.

She had sooo many creative ideas for decorating eggs outside the normal vinegar and food coloring. So, I decided to stretch my creative wings and try one, making beautiful eggs out of origami paper. 

It was messy, a little difficult for the perfectionist, and a challenge. PERFECT!

Grace and I also made the string egg that the origami eggs are laying in. She a didn't want to touch the wood glue and water, but she loved popping the balloon after the string had hardened! 

When it takes 30-45 minutes to create one egg, I had a lot of time to ponder WHY I was making a beautiful Easter Egg. It's bizarre, how we use non-religious symbols on the most wonderful day of the year, the day celebrating Christ conquering death by rising from the dead!

The Easter Egg is actually a pagan symbol. It was pre-Christian, in use in Spring celebrations by the Romans, Greeks, and Persians because it symbolized life. Christians then adopted it into their celebration of the Resurrection Sunday.  

I think it's a perfect symbol really. It's an egg, a beginning of New Life. But, it also came from Life. That Life came from Jesus Christ, who died, and rose again from the dead!  

Also, many eggs (as were mine) are blown eggs. The insides are removed to just have a hollow shell.  Again, a beautiful symbol of Jesus' empty tomb 2,000 years ago. That empty shell has such beautiful symbolism, that I thought it necessary to take the time and effort to make exemplary eggs to show my gratification for what He has done for me.