Rhea Lana of Broken Arrow - It's almost time!

This event is for YOU, if:

• You like to find HIGH quality items at LOW prices
• You're pregnant
• You know someone who is pregnant
• You have kids/grandkids (up to the teen years)
• You know someone who has kids/grandkids
• Did I cover everyone?!

The Broken Arrow Spring/Summer Rhea Lana's Children's Consignment sale is coming April 16th-20th! I seriously LOVE this event both as a Buyer and as a Seller! This will be my eighth time to consign with RL of BA and I can't stress enough how simple the process is. If you're new to RL and you would like to consign with them, then please click Here to learn more. If you've consigned in the past, then you probably already know that the database is open, but just in case you missed the news, you can click Here to start entering your items. 

What sets RL apart from other Consignment Sales?

• Consignors make a minimum of 70% (up to 80% with Referrals)!
• When you refer three new consignors, who each consign at least 25 items, you will receive 75% of your total sales!
• When you refer five or more new consignors, who each consign at least 25 items, you will receive 80% of your total sales!
• Your items are guaranteed! Meaning, if you show up on Pick-Up day and they don't have an item that they should have, then you get paid as if the item sold!
• The average consignor makes around $380 per event!
• For the first time in the consignment industry, they offer VOICE ENTRY option via Smartphone! This is a time saver and game changer!
• You can watch your sales LIVE throughout the day!
• The consignor fee is only $9.00
• Admission to the sale is always FREE, so tons of shoppers come through the door 
• Consignors/Volunteers are invited to the Pre-Sale on April 15th (before the doors open to the public)
• Your check is ready on Pick-Up Day, April 21st

What items can you Buy/Sell at this event?

• Sundresses, tank tops, shorts, capris, pajamas, swimwear, sandals, flip-flops, indoor/outdoor toys, baby equipment, furniture, DVD's, books, shoes, nursing items, teen clothing, maternity clothing, and much more. They will also accept lightweight jackets (no coats), lightweight pants, khaki pants, jeans, and long-sleeved shirts that are "spring like" in fabric and look.

*LOCATION*:

• The Spring 2016 Event will be held at 1421 W. Kenosha St. in the Rhema Ninowski Rec Center

• Directions: 71st Street, East of Aspen (145th) at the blinking light.
• This location has a TON of parking and every item will be located in the same building. 

This blog is just a small bit of information about the sale, so please click Here to learn more about volunteering, marketing, donations, etc. 

Also, feel free to contact me with questions, or you can contact the owners of the BA event, Debbie (debbiew@rhealana.com) or Kristin (kristin@rhealana.com). Debbie and Kristin are amazing and they treat everyone like family! So, why not join the family and consign today?! 

I'll see you there!

Girl Talk: A Bossy Tattletale

This showed up on my Facebook TimeHop this morning. Perfect timing. As always. Last night I was brushing Bailey and Parker's hair before bed when Bailey started bossing Parker around. I asked her to stop. It led to her say that some kids at school call her bossy. A few more words were spoken and she started tattling on Parker to turn the topic away from herself. I asked her if the kids at school also call her a tattletale ... she took off to her room crying. Mom fail? Maybe. Maybe not.

Moments like these are why Bailey and I established Girl Talk. It started a few years ago. It wasn't put into place on purpose, but it quickly formed a much greater purpose in our relationship. Some nights Bailey initiates Girl Talk and sometimes I do. Tonight was my turn. I crawled into bed with her to calm her down and talk about the situation. Just me and her. Open. Honest. Raw. Good, heartfelt conversation.

We discussed how she sometimes acts bossy to her sisters at home, which leads me to think that she might be bossy at school. We established the difference in being bossy and being helpful. It's a fine line. She's a very smart girl. I was smart at a young age and I was also called bossy a time or two. Shocker. I know. Unfortunately, at that age, it's not a compliment. It hurts. Being smart is a good thing, but I want her to recognize that not everyone matures at the same level. Honestly, some never do, but that's another blog altogether. She liked hearing that I could relate, and that I'm here for her ... as an understanding ear, but also as a mom who offers correction.

She also shared with me that some of the kids call her a tattletale. This is also a trait I see at home so I can only assume the same goes for school. Again, we discussed the pro's and con's. 

Like this picture states, I want her to actually tell us when it's something that we truly need to know. But, if there's no blood, no one is harming her, and no one is harming themselves, then she needs to address the situation with the person that she's tattling on. For example...

Bailey - "Mom. Lou stuck her tongue out at me."

Me - "Instead of telling me, go tell Lou that you don't like when she does that."

Problem solved. Well, no, it's not that easy, but we're learning. Bossiness and tattling take practice. They're so easy to do, and so hard to contain. But, I have faith in my girl. After all, I turned out OK so there's certainly hope for our little Leader. 

Girl Time

Family & Opportunity. The two words that I chose for 2016. More Family time. More Opportunity. Last weekend, was the perfect Opportunity to spend time with Family...

For Christmas, we gave my four older nieces an invitation to get professional makeovers at my house. My Mom (the whole thing was her brilliant idea) and I wanted to pamper them. Simply love on them. To slow down, hang out, and enjoy each others company. After all, we rarely get together except for birthdays and holidays even though we live in the same town. Busy schedules. Busy lives.

The girls came to learn about the importance of skincare, the yucky things to look out for in their cosmetics, and to get pampered with a professional color matching makeover. Thankfully, I happen to know an amazing, long-time friend that was more than willing to teach them everything she knows about skincare and make-up since that's not my expertise (go figure). I'm so thankful for this friend. She took time out of her busy schedule to love on my family. What a blessing. By the way, I so wish I had known these tips when I was younger!

We started with face washing and then applied a 10 minute Intense Hydration Mask. While waiting on the mask to sit, I shared tips that I've learned since starting my Arbonne business. Like the importance of buying products without mineral oil, parabens, toxic chemicals, and fillers from rendering plants (they were completely grossed out with this fact so I felt that my work was complete-Ha!). Again, all things that I didn't know growing up, but that are so very important.

After 10 minutes was up, they rinsed their faces, exfoliated their lips with Tahitian Coconut Lip Smoother, applied a Day Creme with SPF 20 (another important tip), and then prepped for make-up. My friend did a great job teaching them how to color match their foundation with the inside of their wrist, how to properly apply eye shadow/ mascara/ eye liner, and letting them know if they are a warm, neutral, or cool skin tone and how to stay in their color range when buying make-up.

Beautiful family. Beautiful girls. I'm excited to watch them make their mark on the world. I gave each niece a new set of make-up brushes, a hand written note telling them how special they are to me, and a pendant that says "Inspire" on one side and "2016" on the other. I challenged them each to find someone in 2016 to Inspire. They could give the pendant to that person or keep it for themselves. We all have the capacity to Inspire someone and to call out their greatness. We are all made to be great! Love you girls!

If the Entire World Says NO...

Have you ever had a great idea, or felt led to do something out of the ordinary, that gets you really excited? You know, something that truly makes your heart soar? You mull it over, doubt yourself, pump yourself back up, mull it over again, doubt yourself again, pump yourself up again, and then you share it. Palms sweaty, voice uneasy. You share the idea with someone ... and they tell you that it can't be done. The oxygen leaves the room. You're deflated. If we're honest, we've all been there. You may have even tried to convince yourself that it can't be done.

Some people can move past the comment of "it can't be done" and some people cannot. I want to encourage you to do what you're called to do no matter how different it looks to others. We are unique, and we're all called to do things according to our individual strengths. If we always agreed then everyone would have the same hair style, live in the same style of house painted with the same colors, wear the same clothes, drive the same car ... you get the point. We're different. That's what makes us amazing. We have different gifts to share with the world. Don't let someones negative comment steal your joy. A wise friend once told me that, "Many people will speak to you, but only a few will speak through you." Meaning, don't let negative talk penetrate your heart. The only thing that will penetrate deep into your heart is what YOU allow in. 

The following is an excerpt from my daily devotional and it speaks volumes. 

"As a young boy in school, Henry Ward Beecher learned a lesson in self-confidence that he never forgot. He was called upon to recite in front of the class. He had hardly begun when the teacher interrupted with an emphatic, "No!" He started over and again the teacher thundered, "No!" Humiliated, Henry sat down.

The next boy rose to recite and had just begun when the teacher shouted, "No!" This student, however, kept on with the recitation until he completed it. As he sat down, the teachers responded, "Very good!"

Henry was irritated. "I recited just as he did," he complained to the teacher. But the instructor replied, "It is not enough to know your lesson; you must be sure. When you allowed me to stop you, it meant that you were uncertain. If the entire world says, 'No!' it is your business to say, 'Yes!' and prove it."

The world says, "No!" in a thousand ways. And each "No!" you hear has the potential to erode your confidence bit by bit until you quit altogether. You just need to be bold enough to say "Yes!" when the world says "No!" God is for you, and with Him on your side you absolutely cannot lose."

-The Confident Woman by Joyce Meyer

In case you didn't know: Henry Ward Beecher (June 1813 - March 1887) was an American Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, and speaker, known for his support of the abolition of slavery, and his emphasis on God's love. 

Next time you encounter a resounding "No!" I hope that you will respond with a "Yes!"

2016: What's Your Focus?

It's January 1st. Like I said in my last post, there's something magical about the start of a new year. It's brings Hope. It brings Opportunity. It brings Evaluation. It brings Change.

The picture above is our Blessing Jar. We started this tradition three years ago, and each new year we get to look through our "blessings" from the year before. What started as a small mason jar that first year, has grown into a large, beautiful vase. Why did I think a mason jar was big enough to hold our family blessings that first year? I needed to dream bigger (receive bigger) and allow room for growth, for abundance, for more blessings. I want Malachi 3:10 blessings over here: "...and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it." Can I get an Amen!!!

The beginning of the year also brings about another tradition that we started a few years ago. We choose One word to focus on for the year. In 2014 it was Peace, and in 2015 it was Freedom. Both of those words rang true for us in those years. Toward the end of each year, I spend time in prayer seeking out that One perfect word for us. Well, this year, it was Two words. I'm either breaking tradition or "expanding my mason jar" because I couldn't shake these two words: Family & Opportunity. Here are the verses that I've found to stand on in 2016.

Family:

*Acts 10:2 - He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.

Opportunity:

*Acts 27:13 - When a gentle south wind began to blow, they saw their opportunity; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore

*Galatians 6:10 - Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people

*Ephesians 5:16 & Colossians 4:5 - make the most of every opportunity

I love how the verses that I came across not only focus on Family and Opportunity, but on helping others. My heart is to serve and I pray that I can serve well this year in whatever direction I'm called. After all, these beautiful faces, my Family, are counting on me and they deserve the best Opportunities this world has to offer...

I leave you with another one of my favorite quotes ... 

What Are You Settling For?

As the new year approaches, I can't help but look back over this past year and the year before. In two years, my world changed quite a bit. Some things were under my control and others were not. Some were physically and emotionally painful and some were job related and financially scary. Things changed. And you know what? I'm forever grateful for change. Two years ago, I would not have said that. I didn't like change, but now I welcome it. Change is good. Change moves us from a place of complacency into opportunity. One tiny step outside of my comfort zone was all that I needed to explore more. What else waited right outside those imaginary boundaries that I built for myself? The answer: A Lot. A whole lot of good and wonderful things. Things that initially made my armpits sweat and my voice shake. Things that I didn't think I was capable of doing, but I did them anyway. Growth, lots and lots of personal growth. 

I challenge you over these last few days of the year to think about what you're settling for in your life. Think about your job, your finances, your health, your happiness, your family. What are you settling for? Because what you settle for will be what others that you influence settle for. Are you stepping outside of your comfort zone, dreaming, setting big goals for your life? If not, how can you expect your kids or your friends/family to do the same? What you settle for, they will settle for. Think about it. Are you setting the bar low so that it's reachable without much growth, or are you setting the bar high and stretching yourself all while teaching others to do the same? 

If you're not sure where to start, then over the next few days, consider ending every sentence, spoken or said in your head, with these seven words, "and that's the way I like it!" 

For example,

• My job stinks ... and that's the way I like it!
• My healthy is declining ... and that's the way I like it!
• I'm always angry ... and that's the way I like it!

Pretty eye opening isn't it? Change is good. You have the power to change anything and everything about your current situation. After all, ...

I challenge you to set the bar high next year and watch your world turn upside down in amazing ways. As my favorite verse in my favorite book says in Isaiah 40:31, may you "soar on wings like eagles." Don't settle for less, soar my friends. It's your time.

In closing, I leave you with a quote that has shown up in my life a lot over the past two years and it's become a favorite. 

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, 'Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?' Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” 

-Marianna Williamson

Go change the world! Shine your light! Set the bar high! Be blessed!

Rest? Be Still? I Don't Understand.

Salmos 46:10 - "Estad quietos, y conoced que yo soy Dios" (Spanish)

Psaume 46:10 - "Arretez, et saschez que je suis Dieu" (French)

Salmos 46:10 - "Qquietai-vos, e sabei que eu sou Deus" (Portuguese)

Psalm 46:10 - "Be still, and know that I am God." (English)

Finally. Plain English. My language. The message came through loud and clear. Do you ever feel this way? Like God is trying to tell you something, but you don't understand the message? Or you're too busy to hear Him above the noise of life? Or, maybe you hear Him, but you're too busy to slow down long enough to obey? No? Well, me either. So, I have this friend...

Lets recap the last two months of my friends life.

After three flat tires since May, which is excessive, my friend gets a flat tire the week of Aug 30th. She has a long list of errands to run that day, but the flat has to be fixed. While waiting at the repair shop, my friend realizes that her day will have to be re-planned since the repair takes about an hour and with a little one that still naps, the window of opportunity for morning errands is quickly closing. Frustrating.

Week of Sept 6th - Flat tire #2. Repeat week ones scenario and perfectly timed plans are changed again. Mind you this is week three of a reoccurring cough that she's finally trying to deal with by getting a much needed inhaler.

Week of Sept 13th - Flat tire #3 (this is actually flat #6 since May, two of which resulted in needing brand new tires). How is this possible?! She's wracking her brain to think of where she's been driving to keep getting screws/nails in her tires. All while vowing to never drive through another construction zone again.

Also, the week of Sept 13th - Said friend gets injured playing coed soccer and it's deemed a Bone Bruise, which is a small hidden fracture on a bone close to the surface. This injury is very painful and takes approx four weeks to heal. She's now trying to make a connection between her physical body (leg injury) and the flat tire ... is this a sign to slow down? To rest?

Week of Sept 27th - My friend has an old back injury from playing sports in college and it flares up a couple of times a year. When she feels her back starting to get weak, she goes in for a chiropractic adjustment and all is well. However, this time, it flares up right before leaving for an eight day cruise. She forgoes cramming an adjustment in the day before leaving town since she's busy packing her family for said trip. So, she takes Ibuprofen the week of vacation to deal with the disk bulging in her back, which is pushing on her sciatic nerve causing pain to shoot down her left leg. Delightful.

Week of Oct 11th - My friend returned home from her cruise, bad back and all, just in time to play her weekly coed soccer game the following day ... all while knowing that she will have to make time for a back adjustment that week to relieve her back pain. During the game, she pulls her back multiple times and is in worse pain than before. Not wise. She has two chiropractic adjustments that week that don't give much relief.

Week of Oct 18th (this week) - Having not learned her lesson, she played coed soccer again, and whatever improvement was done to her back last week is reversed and she's right back where she was a week ago pain wise. My friend is stub-born! Two adjustments this week and she's starting to feel some relief. Her doctor tells her not to play soccer for one to two weeks.

Also, this week, her husband started news hours at work that will allow him to work longer days Mon-Thurs, but be home on Friday's. This is awesome news for her family, but my friend knows this means that she can't attend Bootcamp in the early morning twice a week, which she's done for the past three years.

During this season of flat tires, leg/back injuries, and life changes, her thoughts change. Her mind starts to shift. Friends speak life into her and Rest is the underlying theme of their conversations. Rest is hard. It shouldn't be, but it is. Her friends pray over her and they speak Rest over her without even knowing all of the details of her life. Psalm 46:10 is spoken over her more than once. Be. Still. How do they know the message that shes been struggling to hear? Each conversation, each prayer, draws her closer to the message and she begins to receive it. Rest. Be still.

I'm sure you've figured out by now that the "friend" is me. I SO struggle with rest. It's not in my nature to be at ease, to be still, and to ultimately realize that what is not done today can be done tomorrow. We live in a world of haste and I'm right there in the mix ... with my foot on the gas ... setting the pace ... faster.

It was laid upon my heart weeks ago to get up early to do a daily devotional, but my schedule didn't allow it. Don't get me wrong, I love devotionals, but not now. Not with Bootcamp two mornings a week and running three mornings a week. Evenings? Out of the question. I'm busy coaching my daughters soccer team, taking another daughter to dance, teaching the Pre-School kids at church for the Christmas program, and building a business. All things that I love to do. No time.

No time for God?
What message am I sending the One who loves me so deeply that He gave His life for me?
No time for the one who listens intently at every word that comes from my mouth?
No time for the one who makes time for me every. single. day. whether I thank Him or not?
Why am I so stubborn?
Why must God physically slow me down to get my attention?

God is clearly calling me to a season of Rest. It's time. I'm striving to be obedient and to embrace this season. To be intentional about Rest. I spent a day this week shifting events on my calendar next week to the following week (baby steps) so that I can Rest. Sure, there are things that can't be changed, but I am changing the others. I also started my morning devotionals this week and I'm already reaping the benefits. I'm reading through The 40 Day Prayer Journal for the third time this year because it's that good. Or, is it that I'm that much in need of Him, again?