One of the very first things that most of my friends learned about me when we were first becoming friends is this....I am a Christian. I've realized as I've gotten older that people tend to take Christianity in many ways....some believe its wonderful because they are believers and followers of Christ themselves, some think its awful because they either don't believe at all or they refuse to believe in a "being" that rules over the fate of their lives. There are also people who call Christianity nothing but a cult. That we Christians have surely been brainwashed by someone to believe what the Bible says. I feel truly sorry for those people, and I feel sorry for the athiests and those who choose to worship a false God just for the sake of "freedom". I don't know what your background is as a follower of my blog, and I'm not writing this particular blog to offend or upset anyone. I'm writing it so that you can hear my story and that in the hopes that you might be a Christian as well and might share yours in return. One thing that I've learned from my Mission group is that it can be life changing and uplifting to hear someone's story. How they were led to Christ and how their life has changed since accepting Christ. With all that said this is my story:
I grew up attending Green Meadows Baptist church with my grandparents. I went to Sunday school every Sunday morning while they were in the morning service. I joined the children's choir, and when I was older I joined the youth group. Every summer we went on various day trips, hiking, trips to the park to swim, we even went camping one year! I loved that church and I learned to love Jesus! I loved all the "Bible stories" we were taught on Sundays and all I knew was I wanted to accept Jesus.....whatever that meant. So every year when that time rolled around again in the youth, I would raise my hand as one of the one's who wanted to let Jesus into their heart. I think I probably "accepted Christ into my heart" at least 20 times from the age of 7 to about 13 or 14. This isn't nessacarily a bad thing, but looking back I know I didn't see the whole picture. I loved because I was taught to love through songs of worship....not because I knew how great God really was.
In middle school I stopped going to church because my grandparents moved and were searching for a new church. I still went to vacation Bible school in the summer at Green Meadows and I adored the youth minister because he was "totally cool", but sadly I still didn't get it.
The same can be said about my high school years. I rarely went to church unless it was with a friend who's house I had spent the night at over the weekends. I still prayed but that was it. Then during my senior year I heard a friend talking about a youth group called DCYC. It was a HUGE youth group made up of high school students (and some people in college) from 13 different churches in Davie County. I went to one of the rehearsals that following Sunday and fell in love with the group. I'm not sure if it was the fact that we got to travel for a week during the summer or if it was because of Jesus but I stayed in DCYC for 3 years and they were some of the greatest years of my life! God blessed me with some amazing friends during those years, and I'm grateful for the ones that I still have today! It also felt amazing going to different schools, retirement homes, and other churches in different states and sharing the Word with others. It made me happy one year when we went to a school and performed for a bunch of children who didn't know much about Jesus. When we finished our play they got up and ran to us wanting to know more. I left that place with tears of joy! For awhile I started attending the church we were based out of, but after a year I left because I felt the pastor cared more about what he wanted outta life instead of where God was leading him. Out of respect I won't name that church.
I didn't start going to church again until I was between the ages of 20-22. My mom had started attending Calvary Assemblies of God in Greensboro with the guy she was dating at the time. Even though this church was alot bigger than most of the churches I'd been to in the past, I grew passionate about it after one service. I loved the way the pastors preached, and I loved that they filled me with the passion I was starting to lack. I started to remember why I loved the Lord and I started doing independent Bible studies as well as joining their young adult Bible studies. My mom and I got baptised together at an evening service one night and even though I had some strange things happen to me that night I had never felt better! Right before the service that night I lost partial hearing in both my ears. All of a sudden during the beginning of our worship (while we were singing no less) I noticed the music suddenly sounded distant, as well as the voices around me. It seemed as if everyone had started whispering and the music faded away. But then all I could hear was a high pitched ringing....I tried popping my ears and sticking my fingers in them and it wouldn't go away. Then right before the baptisms were to begin, I was standing in line with everyone else when I felt a sharp pain in my finger. I looked down and realized my finger was gushing blood from a cut.....strange thing is there was nothing around for me to cut my finger on. I hate to admit I was terrified, but yet I was determined to not let anything come between me getting baptised. So I did it!! An hour after the service my hearing came back and the buzzing went away. A week or two later one of the head pastor's daughters decided to share her story with us, and she mentioned how all these bad things happened to her after she accepted Christ. Her story finally put my mind at ease because it reminded me of this....
Whenever you give your life to Christ; Satan will try to do anything he can to stop you from following Christ and turning back to sin. He will try to scare you, manipulate you, and even cause bad things to happen in your life to lead you away from God. This is something I would deal with more several years down the road.
Sadly a year or so after getting baptised I stopped going to Calvary. I still loved that church, but the drive to Greensboro became a hassle. Then I got my job at Carowinds and started dating a guy who turned out to be an athiest. Instead of leaving him upon finding that out I fell madly in love with him and turned to a life of sin with him. The whole total of 18 mths we were together I never went to church. I prayed and sometimes read the Word, but my main focus in life was that boyfriend. When it came time to breakup for the 2nd time he tried to force me into breaking up with him by posting "Who in the f*** is this God guy" on his religion status on Facebook. That should have been all I needed to dump him for good but I still held on until he called it off in a nasty e-mail. Even though this was probably 4 years ago or so, I never forgave myself for not standing up better for God.
After that breakup I still didn't go to church but I dove back into independent Bible studies and prayer. Then one night a few years ago something happened to shake up my entire world. One night during the summer I was at home with my dad and brother. I had rented Sweeney Todd and was watching it. Halfway through the movie it started lightning off in the distance from our house. It was freaky but I thought it was cool because it suited the darkness of the movie. Then I started hearing a pinging noise. I turned on our porch light and started to look out our living room window. I saw hail flying horizontally across the sky and then everything went black. Our power went out and I felt something scratch me across my face. I stumbled blindly through our trailer hoping and praying things would be all over soon. I made it to my dad's room as he confirmed my biggest fear...we were hit by a tornado! Luckily we were all ok and our place though damaged was still ok to be lived in. One night a few weeks later my brother and I were on Facebook and I felt the desperate need to get in touch with an old friend from the youth group. So I messaged my friend Meghan. I met Meghan my last year of DCYC. I told her about everything going on and how the tornado made me want to reconnect with strong Christian friends. I met up with her and our friend Meridith a few days later. We sat at a McDonalds and talked for HOURS. Before we went our own ways that afternoon they invited me to go to church with them that Sunday. I said yes and thats how I was introduced to the church I attend now, 121.
121 is a non-denominational church. We believe religion is dead, but Jesus is not. Since I know blog is already well on its way to becoming a short novel I won't explain that now. Just know that it means our services and everything else we do within our church is based on the Word alone. After just one service I knew in my heart this was the type of church I'd been searching for....the church I need. We have 3 awesome pastors, and several Mission groups. I love my mission group because they have taught me alot over the past few years. They are an inspiration to me and I hope they all know it! Sadly my journey with 121 hasn't always been sunshine and lollipops. The 1st year I joined 121 I wanted to learn everything I could and join everything I could. I wanted to be part of the church's body because I loved watching this church seedling starting to grow into a plant. After some prayer and advice from close friends I decided I wanted to become a partner. I still to this day don't know if God was leading me to it, or if I wanted to do it out of my own selfish needs. Either way things were going well until I tried to figure out what my spiritual gift(s) was. I guess Satan realized I was really getting ready to take my faith to the next level because he hit me HARD! Once again I won't go into details since this blog is already super long, but if you'd ever like to hear that part of the story feel free to e-mail me....I have nothing to hide. Not only did he come up on me fast, but he hit me from every angle possible. He filled my head with thoughts of worry and doubt, he tried to tear me away from my family and friends, worst of all he came between me and the church. I haven't really shared this story with many people from my church because I tend to cry when I talk about it. I'm not scared to type it out because if I cry no one has to see.
Anyway I stopped attending church weekly because he really tried to steal my focus when I'd attend a service. It got hard for awhile to hear the gospel because he would scream evil words into my head during the service. It got to the point where after about 6 months I got tired of it and screamed out "Satan your words won't stop me from loving God anymore! I will worship him until I die!" After that I felt relief rush over me but part of me was still scared. Lucklily God put an amazing man by my side to take care of me. He's one of the only ones who knows the entire dark side of my journey as a Christian. There were nights I honestly thought I was going mad and he still stood by me. That tells me he's strong in his faith too and I should be honored to call him my future husband.
Things have gotten alot better over the past few months. After talking to a few close friends I realized Satan will always be there trying to surround us with fears and doubt. And what Pastor Blackwood's daughter said seems to be beyond true.....the further along you are in your walk with God, the harder he'll try and make you fall. When I think of that and everything that has happened to me in the past 2 years I can't help but smile because that tells me I must have been on the right path if Satan needed to attack me that strongly! I'm still not a partner, and I still miss church on occasion, but nowadays its normally because of traveling issues or illness. I know I don't read my Bible daily the way I should, and I probably don't pray as much as I should, but I've come to realize alot of Christians share that same problem. I'm human and sometimes its my nature to be lazy and not do the things I know I should and would enjoy if I did. Luckily Jesus is better than I am, and he wll makes up for the things I lack! The only fears I have nowadays are personal. I worry that I won't live up to God's expectations when it comes to my role of being a wife to Jamie. We want a biblical based marriage and I worry my stubborness will pull away from being a Godly woman. I guess only time will tell, but luckily Jesus will always be there whenever I'm not strong enough to do the right thing.
So far thats my story. I'm hoping the next time I update my story from a Christian's standpoint it will be even better. :) Until then God Bless each and everyone of you who actually took the time to read this entire blog! I hope my story inspires you for the better, and I'd love hearing thoughts and other people's stories if you're willing to share.
~Shay~
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Boredom sets in
So today is day two of our latest winter weather advisery. Supposedly we were supposed to keep getting snow into late this evening, luckily I think we are done with it in Davie County. Schools will be closed yet again tomorrow, but unfortunatly for me Katy (my roomate and best friend) will still have to work which means I still have to watch her kids. Normally this isn't a bad thing persay, but I've been dealing with swelling and bad pains in my right leg for going on two weeks now. I went to the hospital last week and the doctor put me on pain pills. Problem is, they don't reduce the pain. In fact the only thing they're good for is knocking me out cold.....this isn't a good thing when I'm supposed to be taking care of two small children.
Point is.....I'm sick of the snow. I'm ready for weather in the 70's, flowers starting to bloom, and birds waking me up with their spring songs in the morning. I absolutely LOVE the spring....hands down it's probably my favorite season of all. Its the season that makes me constantly stop and take time out daily to admire everything God has given us. What could be better than going on a road trip with some family members or friends and just enjoying the blue skies, green grass and trees, and the crisp warm air that blows your hair when you put your windows down? For me.....NOTHING!!! I love it!! Picnics in the park, hiking through the mountains, frolicing through the fields....call me a giant kid but I long for these things and I can't help but giggle like a giddy school girl when I think about doing them in a few months. It also makes me giddy to think that this year when I do all these things it will be as a "Mrs.", and I'll more than likely be doing them with my hubby! How fun is that?! It might just be the pain pills talking now, but this makes me beyond happy! Jamie is more of a homebody compared to me, but I'm hoping this year we'll spend more time out in the world together. Our Disney trip was a milestone for him....it was his first real vacation, his first time going to an amusement park other than Carowinds, the longest road trip he'd ever been on, and obviously his first time to Flordia. We have GOT to get this boy out more!! He always asks me how I can enjoy going out so much, and why I don't like staying at home. The only answer I can ever think of is this....boredom. I get bored way too easily staying at home. I'm sure there are a million things I could do in all the down time....I could pick up a book I've never read (or start reading the Bible daily), I could get out my pictures and start my scrapbook, I could cook (I love cooking), I could (and should) clean, or I could even turn on the radio and just dance.....I used to love turning on the radio and just dancing around like a fool. The problem is....I hardly ever think to do any of these things. And if they do happen to cross my mind I push them out because I don't "feel" like doing them. Its funny because Sunday morning at church this very problem was brought up by one of our Pastors. He was telling us about how he was trying to watch the football game the night before but couldn't focus on it because he kept thinking about the church. In some ways it made me feel better knowing that I'm not the only person with this problem. Then again I also felt major guilt because while my Pastor was willing to admit that sometimes he puts his focus on the wrong things at the wrong time, I have a HUGE problem admitting it. I have no problem admitting that I get bored easily and that I have a problem focusing at times, but I refuse to see it as a major problem. At times it is. Its a problem when I should be paying attention to the sermon on Sunday but instead I have songs from Rent playing in my head (or when I start to wonder if anyone wil want to grab brunch when the service is over). Its also a problem when I'm trying to work on wedding stuff with my mom but all I can think about is how I want to be with my future hubby. Or when I'm actually with him and we're snuggling together watching a movie and I start wondering if my dog is ok at home. I could go on and on with examples, but I'm sure most of you get the point by now. That point is....there's a time and place for everything. And alot of times most of us get it wrong. We put our energies into things we don't need to, and if you're like me its the worst when its caused by boredom. Like right now, there are a million things that I could (and should) be doing. I could be using this down time to do a devotion, or I could have cooked my own dinner instead of having my dad get me something from Wendy's. But I let the fact that my leg hurts give me an excuse to be lazy and let me spend hours on Facebook instead.
Does this make me a bad person? No. Does it give me a guilty conscience? Totally! Because I know as soon as I post this blog I'll hop right back on Facebook in hopes of finding a friend to chat with because I don't feel like reading tonight. I'm grateful at least that tonight I had the nerves to admit I'm a lazy slacker to myself (and all my followers). Hopefully this means I'll also be willing to take the next step soon....getting off my butt and doing something productive!
Until then...God Bless and have a safe night!
~Shay~
Point is.....I'm sick of the snow. I'm ready for weather in the 70's, flowers starting to bloom, and birds waking me up with their spring songs in the morning. I absolutely LOVE the spring....hands down it's probably my favorite season of all. Its the season that makes me constantly stop and take time out daily to admire everything God has given us. What could be better than going on a road trip with some family members or friends and just enjoying the blue skies, green grass and trees, and the crisp warm air that blows your hair when you put your windows down? For me.....NOTHING!!! I love it!! Picnics in the park, hiking through the mountains, frolicing through the fields....call me a giant kid but I long for these things and I can't help but giggle like a giddy school girl when I think about doing them in a few months. It also makes me giddy to think that this year when I do all these things it will be as a "Mrs.", and I'll more than likely be doing them with my hubby! How fun is that?! It might just be the pain pills talking now, but this makes me beyond happy! Jamie is more of a homebody compared to me, but I'm hoping this year we'll spend more time out in the world together. Our Disney trip was a milestone for him....it was his first real vacation, his first time going to an amusement park other than Carowinds, the longest road trip he'd ever been on, and obviously his first time to Flordia. We have GOT to get this boy out more!! He always asks me how I can enjoy going out so much, and why I don't like staying at home. The only answer I can ever think of is this....boredom. I get bored way too easily staying at home. I'm sure there are a million things I could do in all the down time....I could pick up a book I've never read (or start reading the Bible daily), I could get out my pictures and start my scrapbook, I could cook (I love cooking), I could (and should) clean, or I could even turn on the radio and just dance.....I used to love turning on the radio and just dancing around like a fool. The problem is....I hardly ever think to do any of these things. And if they do happen to cross my mind I push them out because I don't "feel" like doing them. Its funny because Sunday morning at church this very problem was brought up by one of our Pastors. He was telling us about how he was trying to watch the football game the night before but couldn't focus on it because he kept thinking about the church. In some ways it made me feel better knowing that I'm not the only person with this problem. Then again I also felt major guilt because while my Pastor was willing to admit that sometimes he puts his focus on the wrong things at the wrong time, I have a HUGE problem admitting it. I have no problem admitting that I get bored easily and that I have a problem focusing at times, but I refuse to see it as a major problem. At times it is. Its a problem when I should be paying attention to the sermon on Sunday but instead I have songs from Rent playing in my head (or when I start to wonder if anyone wil want to grab brunch when the service is over). Its also a problem when I'm trying to work on wedding stuff with my mom but all I can think about is how I want to be with my future hubby. Or when I'm actually with him and we're snuggling together watching a movie and I start wondering if my dog is ok at home. I could go on and on with examples, but I'm sure most of you get the point by now. That point is....there's a time and place for everything. And alot of times most of us get it wrong. We put our energies into things we don't need to, and if you're like me its the worst when its caused by boredom. Like right now, there are a million things that I could (and should) be doing. I could be using this down time to do a devotion, or I could have cooked my own dinner instead of having my dad get me something from Wendy's. But I let the fact that my leg hurts give me an excuse to be lazy and let me spend hours on Facebook instead.
Does this make me a bad person? No. Does it give me a guilty conscience? Totally! Because I know as soon as I post this blog I'll hop right back on Facebook in hopes of finding a friend to chat with because I don't feel like reading tonight. I'm grateful at least that tonight I had the nerves to admit I'm a lazy slacker to myself (and all my followers). Hopefully this means I'll also be willing to take the next step soon....getting off my butt and doing something productive!
Until then...God Bless and have a safe night!
~Shay~
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Pretty in Premier
As most of my family and friends know, I'm an independent Jeweler for Premier Designs. Premier is a Christian based company (meaning we follow Christian based principles within our job). We were started out in 1985 by a couple named Andy & Joan Horner. Sadly Joan passed away at the end of last year so I never got the chance to meet her in person. But I have a feeling I would've adored her if I did! R.I.P Joan...this blog's for you!!
Until last year I had never heard of Premier Designs. I had a friend who's best friend was a jeweler, and she invited me to the party she was hosting for her. At the time I was only interested in going to possibly get some cheap jewelry to add to my collection (I have 5 jewelry boxes full of every type of jewelry you can think of, none of which was Premier). I was back and forth on deciding if I really wanted to attend or not, I was afraid it would be like attending a Mary Kay party. Don't get me wrong....I LOVE Mary Kay and Mary Kay parties, but I always feel guilty when I can't afford to buy anything. My grandfather ended up passing away that week before the party, and his wake ended up being on the same day. I decided it might be good for me to go to the party and surround myself with girlfriends....boy am I glad I did!!
First off....it was EXACTLY like a Mary Kay party....but BETTER!! Before attending this party I had never heard of a company that not only based themselves on Christian principles, but they always put their clients needs over making a profit! What kind of company can succeed when they put other people's needs ahead of their own?! While this confused me it also made me fall in love with the company. Unfortunatly I'm like most people in America right now.....completely broke. I knew once her friend started telling us about how we could become jewelers ourselves that it would take money coming out of my pocket in order to make a profit.....just like Mary Kay and Avon. I sighed because I knew I couldn't afford to become a jeweler at that time. I looked through a catalog, found something I wanted, ordered it and left. I put Premier out of my mind after that until my Devotion ring came in. When I got it that feeling washed over me all over again....I wanted to be a part of Premier SOOOOO bad....but at that time I didn't see it happening.
Several months later I got an event invite on Facebook for a Premier party. It turns out my friend Molly Harris had become a jeweler and was hosting her training show. The feeling washed over me all over again so I R.S.V.P'd and went. This time when Molly asked us if anyone was interested in becoming a jeweler I shot my hand up and "YES!" After everyone else left she and her sponsor Reginia got me all the paperwork I needed to start out. As luck would have it I was able to apply for a Premier credit card that would pay for my starter's kit. So I filled out all the nessacary forms and Molly mailed them in. Sadly a few days later she got the response back that I was denied for the credit card (it stinks not having credit!). I was ready to give up but Molly wouldn't let me. She gave me several options on what I could do so I got started. About a month later we tried to use my grandma as a co-signer, sadly that got denied too. And yet Molly still wouldn't let me lose the faith. She taught me the phrase she learned at national rallies, "No Stinkin' Thinkin!" So once again we weighed my options.
Turns out Premier had a contest for up and coming Jewelers. If I got on before the end of September I would qualify for a quickstart program that would earn me free jewelry for my kit. With lots of prayer, hope, and the help of Molly and a beyond gracious grandmother I became a Jeweler at the end of September! :)
So far I've had some tough breaks, but Premier is the greatest job a girl could ask for. I love that it combines two things I adore (in the words of Molly)...jewelry and Jesus! Our items are beyond beautiful, and our hostess benefits can't be beat! Nothing makes me smile more than going into the home of a girl who loves jewelry as much as I do, and being able to give her anywhere from $25- several $100s worth of free jewelry just for allowing me to come tell her and her friends about Premier. I mean seriously.....how cool is that?! I just hosted my first Mystery hostess show today....it was amazing! Not only did I get 3 out of the 4 guest to books shows, but I got to award my sister Sarah almost $60 worth of free jewelry because her name was drawn as the mystery hostess!
As I wrap up today's blog I want to leave you with some words from our founder Andy. While going through my starter kit this morning, I came across a book written by Andy that I had forgotten they'd sent. It's titled: "By Design the Continuing Story of Premier Designs". I hate to admit that I have yet to crack it open, but just from reading the back cover I can tell it will be uplifting. Here's the part that makes me smile:
Contrary to the conventional wisdom and the business practice of most companies, Andy and Joan Horner have led Premier Designs to become a multi-million-dollar corporation- and one of the most successful direct sales companies in the world-by putting people's needs before profits. They founded the company more than 18 years ago, determined to conduct business based on biblical principles of honesty, integrity, and service to others. Andy and Joan refer to Premier Designs not as a direct sales company, but rather as a Direct Service company. They measure success by the number of lives enriched, not by the enrichment of their bank account.
Amazing right?! I think so!
~Shay~
Until last year I had never heard of Premier Designs. I had a friend who's best friend was a jeweler, and she invited me to the party she was hosting for her. At the time I was only interested in going to possibly get some cheap jewelry to add to my collection (I have 5 jewelry boxes full of every type of jewelry you can think of, none of which was Premier). I was back and forth on deciding if I really wanted to attend or not, I was afraid it would be like attending a Mary Kay party. Don't get me wrong....I LOVE Mary Kay and Mary Kay parties, but I always feel guilty when I can't afford to buy anything. My grandfather ended up passing away that week before the party, and his wake ended up being on the same day. I decided it might be good for me to go to the party and surround myself with girlfriends....boy am I glad I did!!
First off....it was EXACTLY like a Mary Kay party....but BETTER!! Before attending this party I had never heard of a company that not only based themselves on Christian principles, but they always put their clients needs over making a profit! What kind of company can succeed when they put other people's needs ahead of their own?! While this confused me it also made me fall in love with the company. Unfortunatly I'm like most people in America right now.....completely broke. I knew once her friend started telling us about how we could become jewelers ourselves that it would take money coming out of my pocket in order to make a profit.....just like Mary Kay and Avon. I sighed because I knew I couldn't afford to become a jeweler at that time. I looked through a catalog, found something I wanted, ordered it and left. I put Premier out of my mind after that until my Devotion ring came in. When I got it that feeling washed over me all over again....I wanted to be a part of Premier SOOOOO bad....but at that time I didn't see it happening.
Several months later I got an event invite on Facebook for a Premier party. It turns out my friend Molly Harris had become a jeweler and was hosting her training show. The feeling washed over me all over again so I R.S.V.P'd and went. This time when Molly asked us if anyone was interested in becoming a jeweler I shot my hand up and "YES!" After everyone else left she and her sponsor Reginia got me all the paperwork I needed to start out. As luck would have it I was able to apply for a Premier credit card that would pay for my starter's kit. So I filled out all the nessacary forms and Molly mailed them in. Sadly a few days later she got the response back that I was denied for the credit card (it stinks not having credit!). I was ready to give up but Molly wouldn't let me. She gave me several options on what I could do so I got started. About a month later we tried to use my grandma as a co-signer, sadly that got denied too. And yet Molly still wouldn't let me lose the faith. She taught me the phrase she learned at national rallies, "No Stinkin' Thinkin!" So once again we weighed my options.
Turns out Premier had a contest for up and coming Jewelers. If I got on before the end of September I would qualify for a quickstart program that would earn me free jewelry for my kit. With lots of prayer, hope, and the help of Molly and a beyond gracious grandmother I became a Jeweler at the end of September! :)
So far I've had some tough breaks, but Premier is the greatest job a girl could ask for. I love that it combines two things I adore (in the words of Molly)...jewelry and Jesus! Our items are beyond beautiful, and our hostess benefits can't be beat! Nothing makes me smile more than going into the home of a girl who loves jewelry as much as I do, and being able to give her anywhere from $25- several $100s worth of free jewelry just for allowing me to come tell her and her friends about Premier. I mean seriously.....how cool is that?! I just hosted my first Mystery hostess show today....it was amazing! Not only did I get 3 out of the 4 guest to books shows, but I got to award my sister Sarah almost $60 worth of free jewelry because her name was drawn as the mystery hostess!
As I wrap up today's blog I want to leave you with some words from our founder Andy. While going through my starter kit this morning, I came across a book written by Andy that I had forgotten they'd sent. It's titled: "By Design the Continuing Story of Premier Designs". I hate to admit that I have yet to crack it open, but just from reading the back cover I can tell it will be uplifting. Here's the part that makes me smile:
Contrary to the conventional wisdom and the business practice of most companies, Andy and Joan Horner have led Premier Designs to become a multi-million-dollar corporation- and one of the most successful direct sales companies in the world-by putting people's needs before profits. They founded the company more than 18 years ago, determined to conduct business based on biblical principles of honesty, integrity, and service to others. Andy and Joan refer to Premier Designs not as a direct sales company, but rather as a Direct Service company. They measure success by the number of lives enriched, not by the enrichment of their bank account.
Amazing right?! I think so!
~Shay~
Friday, January 7, 2011
Its a love story
So as I stated in my first blog, I'm getting married next month. 50 days to be exact (at least thats what Weddingbuzz told me this morning), its kinda hard to keep track! James and I have been engaged since September 6th, 2009. For those of you who don't know me that happens to be my birthday which makes the date twice as special!
From the beginning I knew James and I were meant to be. Call it fate or whatever you want....he's my soulmate! Before we were even an "official" couple I had programmed "Love Story" by Taylor Swift into my phone for his ringtone. Now get this.....everytime something BIG happens in our life that song starts to play. Call me a lovestruck fool but its like magic or something. The first time Jamie decided to kiss me it came on in my car. We had just pulled up in front of his house, and we had started talking. After we said our goodbyes he leaned in for a kiss and all of a sudden the song comes on! I started tearing up and had to explain to him why. He thought I had put the cd in and had it cued to that song, but I don't own that cd!
The 2nd time the song popped up was the day he took me to look at engagement rings. We were in Kay jewelers and all of a sudden it comes on the loudspeakers....coincidence? I think not!! Needless to say there have been several other special occasions involving the song, but I'm sure most of you would be ready to throw up from all the "super sweet ickiness"! lol
Anyway back to our fairytale and where its led us. James and I went to Disneyworld the week of my birthday in 09'. He made sure I got the dream proposal I'd always wanted. On my birthday we went to the Magic Kingdom and about an hour after the park opened he took me back to the castle, found a photographer and popped the question! Even though I knew to expect it; it was soooo magical that I couldn't help but to burst in tears and scream "YES!!!!" before hugging him! Now lets fastforward to January 7th, 2011.
James is still amazing and I love him more than ever. But if I knew exactly how much goes into a wedding I would've started planning that day!! Its so much more than finding a dress, picking the location, and bridal party.....its truly enough to make you go insane! There's picking the theme, getting decorations, all kinds of photshoots and parties, buying gifts for your bridal party, booking your honeymoon, getting the marriage liscense, the list goes on and on. With a little over a month away we still have to get engagement pictures done, get food for the rehearsal dinner and reception, pay the photographers, videographer, and band, buy some more decorations.....once again the list goes on and on. And for what......a day that will probably go by so fast you wouldn't remember it without video proof! At the end of that big day will I really remember what I ate, all the songs we danced to, who caught the bouquet and garter, and who all attended? Probably not. But can I let you in on a little secret.....I wouldn't want it any other way. ;)
~Shay~
From the beginning I knew James and I were meant to be. Call it fate or whatever you want....he's my soulmate! Before we were even an "official" couple I had programmed "Love Story" by Taylor Swift into my phone for his ringtone. Now get this.....everytime something BIG happens in our life that song starts to play. Call me a lovestruck fool but its like magic or something. The first time Jamie decided to kiss me it came on in my car. We had just pulled up in front of his house, and we had started talking. After we said our goodbyes he leaned in for a kiss and all of a sudden the song comes on! I started tearing up and had to explain to him why. He thought I had put the cd in and had it cued to that song, but I don't own that cd!
The 2nd time the song popped up was the day he took me to look at engagement rings. We were in Kay jewelers and all of a sudden it comes on the loudspeakers....coincidence? I think not!! Needless to say there have been several other special occasions involving the song, but I'm sure most of you would be ready to throw up from all the "super sweet ickiness"! lol
Anyway back to our fairytale and where its led us. James and I went to Disneyworld the week of my birthday in 09'. He made sure I got the dream proposal I'd always wanted. On my birthday we went to the Magic Kingdom and about an hour after the park opened he took me back to the castle, found a photographer and popped the question! Even though I knew to expect it; it was soooo magical that I couldn't help but to burst in tears and scream "YES!!!!" before hugging him! Now lets fastforward to January 7th, 2011.
James is still amazing and I love him more than ever. But if I knew exactly how much goes into a wedding I would've started planning that day!! Its so much more than finding a dress, picking the location, and bridal party.....its truly enough to make you go insane! There's picking the theme, getting decorations, all kinds of photshoots and parties, buying gifts for your bridal party, booking your honeymoon, getting the marriage liscense, the list goes on and on. With a little over a month away we still have to get engagement pictures done, get food for the rehearsal dinner and reception, pay the photographers, videographer, and band, buy some more decorations.....once again the list goes on and on. And for what......a day that will probably go by so fast you wouldn't remember it without video proof! At the end of that big day will I really remember what I ate, all the songs we danced to, who caught the bouquet and garter, and who all attended? Probably not. But can I let you in on a little secret.....I wouldn't want it any other way. ;)
~Shay~
Simply Shay
So I guess this is the part where I tell the blogging world a little bit about myself....for starters my name is Shannon. I used to blog all the time through Myspace, but it got old quick because people on Myspace seem to love creating drama. I love life and every aspect of it! I'm a Christian and God is wonderful....just look around us! I get excited everyday just looking around and seeing all the things he's given us...this Earth, the land, the seas, the mountains, the animals, the people we call family and friends.....my gosh it makes me happy! I'm getting married in 50 days and the last year and a half has been a crazy roller coaster trying to plan our big day! I hope to live up to God's standards through my marriage and to set a good example for Christian woman everywhere by not caving in to soceity's image of "the perfect woman" (aka a hoochie mama with no brain). I have morals and opinions and I'm not scared to express them, even if that makes me uncool.
I'm not exactly sure what kind of blogs I'll be writing yet, but since there's hardly ever a dull moment in my life I'm sure they'll be interesting! I hope you guys enjoy reading them as much as I know I'll enjoy writing them!
~Shay~
I'm not exactly sure what kind of blogs I'll be writing yet, but since there's hardly ever a dull moment in my life I'm sure they'll be interesting! I hope you guys enjoy reading them as much as I know I'll enjoy writing them!
~Shay~
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)