'Twas the First Day of School

"Mom! We're ready!" is what I woke up to this morning at 6:15. Two kids, dressed with their backpacks on. I calmly explained that we weren't really ready yet and they should relax for awhile. After two breakfasts, wardrobe adjustments, hair brushing, and lunch making, we were ready. Off we went.

I made them take pictures, despite some grumbling. Then I made them walk. And then, gasp, I left them. I didn't walk them all the way to their playgrounds to find their teachers. I sent them off. They did just fine.

I picked them up and we walked home and learned the cross walk rules from the crossing guard. Then I started getting snippets of their day.

Did you know the crossing guard is also the playground monitor? ~Abigail

We only did like 3 worksheets. ~Declan

And then we did a scavenger hunt. And found the best room ever.....the cafeteria. ~Abigail

Our class was the only one who could figure out how to walk appropriately in the hallway. ~Declan

We were lazy, we only colored. No real work. ~Abigail

I'm ready for library! ~Declan

Robert Frost Was Right

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the road less traveled. And that has made all the difference. ~ Robert Frost

Almost nine years ago, I felt like I was taking the road less traveled. I hopped on a plane and flew cross country to see a boy. A boy I had met six weeks prior and with whom I had fallen head over heels in love. I made that cross-country trip two more times in the next few months and that Christmas we were married. Since then, I've traveled throughout the world. Usually without him, to go visit family while stationed far away. Occasionally (ok maybe twice) with him and our two kids on a vacation.

Today I travel cross-country again. On a road that has been traveled many times. I am flying to see my love. After (only) 8 weeks apart, I am making the trip to see him and bring him home to my kids. And while many would not have made the trip, opting to save some money and wait the extra 3 days until he flies back home, I simply could not. I couldn't imagine letting an opportunity like this pass me by. So while in this army life, we take many roads, some frequently traveled, some not, I'm choosing my own path.

And that has made all the difference.

Why I love Essential Rewards!

I love Essential Rewards for one reason, FREE OIL. Ok, let me start from the beginning. Essential Rewards is Young Living’s monthly ordering program. Some of the best perks of Essential Rewards (ER) are:

• Getting free oils
• Its only $50 (plus shipping and tax)
• You can cancel at anytime
• You can skip one month each year

So, let me lay this out for you. Let’s say you get a Premium Starter Kit in November. You love it! By December you start to notice you are running a little low on your favorites. The best way to order and try new things is to sign up for Essential Rewards. 

The steps are easy:

1. Log into the Virtual Office
2. Find Essential Rewards on the left hand side
3. Add product that equals at least 50 PV
4. Pick a processing date (which you can change)
5. And go!

The bonuses are awesome!

The first 6 months you earn 10% in points

Months 7 – 12 you earn 15%

After a year, you earn 20%.

So, does it really work? You betcha!

Currently I have 100 points. I’ve already cashed in points twice. On my third month of ER, I was able to cash in 34 points and get a 15ml bottle of Lavender and a 5ml bottle of RC. I also got a Ningxia Red 2-pack for $79, free in April.  So, basically in my first 4 months on Essential Rewards I had over 100 points. Almost every month there is a promotion that includes an extra percentage of Essential Reward points. I like those months. I also love the O.I.L. Promotion, which adds extra ER points based on the selected products you purchase.

Are you ready to join Essential Rewards? Make sure you check with me to see if there are any added incentives to doing so this month!

My Dream

Dreams are often motivators and often obstacles. I think we are afraid of setting goals and admitting to dreams because then it seems that we are committed to them. And if we achieve them, what do we do next? Are we to set a new dream or are we stuck with that one? My old dream used to be to run the world. No, not exactly, but close. I wanted to be in a position to help anyone with anything. My current dream is to live life without worrying. To be able to travel when I want, to do what I want, and to help where I want. Basically, I want to live a life where money isn’t an issue, ever.

My dream is directly tied to my why. So closely that in fact they are the same. I want to live a life free from worry. Worries about finances, about travel, about giving, about helping. I want to do all these things with abandon. I want to change the world, I want to help people. So I want to dive a little deeper into my dream. I’m going to address some of the questions in John Maxwell’s Put Your Dream to the Test.

Is my dream really my dream?

Do I clearly see my dream?

Am I depending on factors within my control to achieve my dream?

Does my dream compel me to follow it?

Do I have a strategy to reach my dream?

Have I included the people I need to realize my dream?

Am I willing to pay the price for my dream?

Am I moving closer to my dream?

Does working toward my dream bring satisfaction?

Does my dream benefit others?

So, I clearly seem my dream as being able to help people. I do believe this is a clear dream with factors within my control. I know I don’t just need money to achieve my dream, but it will be a huge step in beginning to live a life without worry. I long for a life free from worry and am actively taking steps towards that. My faith in God and in His plan are growing stronger every day and knowing and trusting in Him to make my path straight is a huge burden lifted.

My current strategy is to continue to place faith in God and to only worry about the things I can control. And I’m realizing there aren't a whole lot of things that need worrying about. My marriage is great, my kids are amazing, I have a solid house, enough money to life on, and great friendships.

My excuses are not particularly strong. Of course, that is why they are excuses. I’m not sure I can do this, but man, I really want to go down trying. I’m learning how to do this and I am making time to do this. And if by pursuing Young Living as a business to achieve this dream, I become “that person” to strangers, then that is ok. Because one day, I hope, they will see my dream in action. And that will make it all worth it. 

Excuses or Opportunities?

Excuses are hard to talk about. They are hard to admit and even harder to overcome. Excuses surround our life and they are constantly In our way. A few of my life business building excuses are:

·         I don’t know how to do this.

·         I don’t want to be “that” person.

·         I’m not sure I can do this.

·         Do I want to make the time?

As I think about these excuses, I realize that these four excuses surround almost everything I do. From being  a parent, to working full-time, to training for Ragnar, to building a business. Sometimes things just fall into my lap and they work out. Such was Young Living. I intended to try oils and see what happened. I liked them. I wanted to try more. I want to share. Here I am. Last month I got a check for sharing that was about $300. For sharing, for not working very hard, for spreading my good news about Young Living Oils.

I like to share how the oils help in my life. I like to use them around other people. I like to diffuse them whenever I have people over. Yes, I use peppermint for my headaches. I put lemon, lavender, and peppermint on my kids when the wind blows allergens around. I diffuse cedarwood when I sleep. But the real success stories come from the things I least expect. When I use Grow and Friends together at an event and make a new friend. When I use Faith on my wrists at church and feel my faith grow. When I am able to use oils to make someone feel better, sometimes physically (TummyGize on my son) or emotionally (Stress Away on a stressed friend).

When I think about the excuses I have, I try to remind myself of the times I’ve overcome them. When I found a way to train for my Ragnar Race despite working full-time. The way that my husband was able to support me in that 100%. The way the weather held and there was always a safe place for me to run. The way my teammates all came together to complete the goal. And I know I can do it again. In whatever I set out to do. 

I'm choosing to transform excuses into opportunities. To take these 'weaknesses' and make them into strengths. To learn how to do something, and to do it. 

My Why

I really enjoy working when I can work with people on a daily basis. I like to share, both in person and in writing and I like to help people. Young Living is an opportunity for me to do both! In addition, I can do this work from anywhere. As an army wife, I need flexibility. Flexibility in time, location, and hours. I need to be able to drop everything and move. I need to be able to work from the car as we drive cross country. I need to be able to throw myself into work when my husband is gone and times are rough. As a mom, I want more freedom. I want to be able to volunteer in the classroom, attend sporting events, and take the summers “off” to hang by the pool and to be there when they come home from school. I want my time to count and I want to work hard so I can play hard.

My current financial goals are to pay for my own oils each and every month. This is my short-term goal and I achieved it last month. If I could only stop at 100PV, I’d be fine most months. But my long-term financial goal is to be Silver. To make between $1,500 and $2,500 a month. To ensure that my family can take a vacation or travel anywhere at a moment’s notice. Being far from family means that plane tickets get expensive and I want to be able to make that trip. So my medium range goal – until I am established as Silver and making that money consistently is to make between $500 and $1,000 a month, so basically reach Executive. That way I can comfortably pay for my oils and have a little extra. Maybe a date night, maybe save for a weekend away. Or maybe just go shopping. Something “extra.”

The extra income, helps to offset the lifestyle that I want. I enjoy running but racing can be expensive. I would love to get back to Cross Fit, but that is also expensive. I’d like to ensure my husband can golf when he wants, perhaps a membership at a country club. We live very comfortably on our current income but I’d like to have extras. To vacation and not worry about money. To just live.

My mantra is: Work hard, play hard. I want to embody that for my children and I want to be able to provide that play hard for my husband. He certainly works hard enough.

Zoo Trip!

We've been members of the Reid Park Zoo since we moved to AZ in late 2012. We love it. Its small and perfect for kids. You can walk the whole thing and see every single animal in less than 3 hours. Its great as a morning trip or an all day event. Bonus? There is a Chick Fil-A two blocks away. On this Saturday of Memorial Day Weekend, the kids and I loaded up and headed to the Zoo.

We wandered about for an hour or so, watching the bear stretch, enjoying the crazy sound of monkeys, and having snacks. After a few (hundred) times of asking, "Can we go play in the water now?" I gave in and sent them off to play. We've passed the splash park every time and are usually unprepared for it, or its February. Today I dressed them in their swimsuits and promised it would be our last stop, save for the otters.

The played (the kids and the otters, separately) for at least 30 minutes. I sat near by people watching. I felt bad for all the kids who wanted to play and whose parents didn't want to let them. I thought about the times I had to tell my kids no and vowed that we would not do that again. If it was warm enough, they could wear their suits. If it wasn't, they'd figure it out. It's Arizona, things dry in 30 seconds.

When Abigail couldn't stop shivering, they put on their socks and shoes and then watched the otters play in the water. By the time we got to the car, they were dry. A quick trip to Chick Fil-A and then an almost quiet trip home listening to How to Train Your Dragon, Book 3.

Does life get more perfect than a day with the kids?

If it does, I haven't found out how yet.