AVON Advanced Techniques Lotus Shield

I have been going crazy to do a give-a-way, so instead of waiting for the 4th of July, or even for July 25th (6 month countdown to Christmas), I decided to go ahead and have one … just because!

AVON has a BRAND NEW product coming out in Campaign 17, I bet you can guess what it’s called… :) Yeap, Advanced Techniques Lotus Shield. It stops frizz in its tracks! I am giving away a 1 week supply!

So, if you have absolutely the worse UNRULY hair, frizzy hair, live in a high humidity area, then I need you to enter this give-a-way! I need your honest feedback on this product, even if you don’t like it. OK!

All you have to do is leave your name with your email address in the comment section OF MY BLOG. YES, on my BLOG, not on my facebook page!

IF you do not have a blog,after you click the word “comment,” all you have to do is click “anonymous.” IF YOU CLICK ANONYMOUS AND DON’T PUT YOUR NAME AND EMAIL ADDRESS IN THERE, THEN I WON’T KNOW WHO YOU ARE! I know that seems elementary, but you’d be surprised :)

Lets see, it is 8:31 P.M. Central Time. I’m going to close this out on Thursday night at 8:31 P.M. Central Time.

The winner will be announced Friday morning!

Campaign 14 Orders Due Monday, June 28th!

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Habitat For Humanity

On Friday, July 1st, our family has a meeting with the selection meeting for Habitat for Humanity.

This is the final meeting before the recommendation (or denial) before the board.

Now, there are several areas of prayer:

One would be that if this is what the Lord wants for us, then it would be so.

Two, please pray specifically for Christopher. By the time evening we are meeting he has no medication in his system and it is too early to give him his night time medications.

Three, Kaitlyn has developed a fear of strangers.

Four, we have one car, it barely fits the five of us, moreless six ..... (that's the least of my concerns though cause I have a list of ya'll I will be calling to help us out ;)

Five, please just pray for our family. We have really been under the missiles lately, well, seems like for the last couple years to be honest with you, and quiet frank ..... I am weary and tired.

I will, of course, update as soon as we know something. I do not know if there will be a meeting with the board this same evening, or if it is a different night.

Thanks.

Avon Speak Out Against Domestic Violence Video

Please take the next few minutes to watch this vide clip. (Don't forget to scroll down and pause the music I have playing so you can hear the words being spoken.)

Every 9 seconds someone is being abused.

I'm a survivor. Is it time for you to speak out?! There is hope.

YouTube - Avon Speak Out Against Domestic Violence Video

You Mean My Ways Aren’t His Ways?!? LOL

My kids wake up between 4 and 6 a.m. nearly every day; with that said I rarely get a "quiet time" first thing in the morning, BUT, this morning, the Lord gave me that blessing.

I use several translations when I read and study my Bible.  This morning I read out of a Bible I purchased shortly after giving my heart to the Lord, "The Life Recovery Bible.   It's written in the New Living Translation.  It's not marked up much as I used it mostly to read as a story, so I could begin to get a grasp, or try to somehow begin to comprehend this "book" that breathes life.   Another reason I purchased this particular Bible was because it is written as a "12 step program" that is Christ based, with devotions throughout the Bible that carry you throughout the entire Bible.  It is a glorious and fabulous Bible to read and study if you are interested in "getting back to the basics."

Anyway, I tell you all that because of two verses that just jumped off the page, they are verses 30 and 31 of Proverbs 21.  Now, I have read that chapter several times; but reading it in this translation ..... it just spoke volumes to my soul.  What's so crazy are these two verses are "things" I already know, however; having the Lord use them to remind me has been very comforting this morning. 

Verse 30 reads, "Human plans, no matter how wise or well advised, cannot stand against the Lord."

Verse 31 reads, "The horses are prepared for battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord."

I am a planner.  God made me that way.  I get very, very anxious when MY plans do not go as I have "planned."  Over the last few months, the Lord has shown me time and time again that my ways are not His ways.  My busy schedule of doctor appoints and therapy sessions and AVON deliveries while carrying for everything else was about to push me to the end; so, as crazy as it is, I've cancelled the therapy sessions for my kids that take place twice a week because I have to be home.  I am not making ANY deliveries for AVON except on Wednesday and Saturday's ..... and if that doesn't work for my customer's, then that's OK.  The Lord will take care of my business and He will take care of the customer's that need different needs.  I'm OK with that.

Now, I  need to state I do not believe that we are not to make plans.  I believe schedules and order of services are needed to maintain structure and some sort of sanity to life; HOWEVER, what I have to do is be sensitive to the Holy Spirit that is within, and when He sends me on a DETOUR, remember my ways are not His ways and He has bigger and better things for me than I can even imagine.

So, I am thankful for the hour I had of solitude this morning.  I'm thankful for Memaw as she helps me fold my two baskets full of towels and I'm thankful that while my spirit is weak, I am girded for battle, and praising God for the Victory!

Where He leads me, I will follow :)

The Spirit of AVON Award

I've struggled with sharing something very special that happened in my life last month because I didn't want to seem proud or boastful, so I kept it to myself, until recently. I shared it with and friend and she said, to explain it the way it all happened, and anybody reading this, that knows me, that knows my heart, will know that I am not sharing this to be prideful, but thankful.

I started selling AVON in April 2009; that's right, just over one year ago. In less than a year I made President's Club (sales totaling $10,100).

I did not start selling AVON to set records, reach goals, or become anything to anybody. I started selling AVON because I needed an excuse to have a life outside my home. I know that seems shallow, and I'm sure some of you are probably reading this and thinking, "You got married and had those kids, they are your life so suck it up." Well, that's just fine and dandy, and you are right; with that said, I had closed everyone out of my life, and it was beginning to affect my spiritual life. I found myself yearning for a drink to try figuring a way to get through. I had to do something.

I looked seriously into selling three things, AVON, Tupperware, and Mary Kay. I couldn't afford the Mary Kay kit and didn't have the energy to build a clientele with Mary Kay so I struck that one out first. The next one to go was Tupperware. What made AVON so appealing to me was I have always heard, "AVON sells itself!" Then when I found out the start up cost was only $10! Hello! That's all it took! I was ready to sign up.

I knew absolutely nothing about AVON at all when I started selling. I had to teach myself, and AVON offers free training online to all AVON Representatives. I bought samples. I started using their products. I found what worked for me and used what I liked. Then I got my daughter using them, and so forth.

Several months ago, I started asking myself, I guess telling myself, "Lord, I am not doing anything for you anymore. I'm not teaching. I'm not attending any more Most Excellent Way meetings..... what good am I doing for you?" I mentioned my concern to my husband. He felt my plate was full with my family and helping with my mom-in-love (this was even before she moved in with us). I said, "OK," and left it at that. Shortly after I started praying, "Lord, please let my AVON business be my ministry. I pray you will let me touch lives throughout the world with AVON and that this will be my doorway in." He is doing just that ya'll. He is honoring that prayer. AVON is my ministry. In fact, with as many customer's as I have, and making P.C., I took a loss on my taxes last year. Why? I gave so much away to people that didn't have. Do you know how rewarding it is to bless someone in the name of Jesus that can't do for themselves?

I love my AVON family, customer's and representative's alike. With that said, that's what this post is about..... The Spirit of AVON Award.

At our yearly President's Club Recognition Luncheon, many awards were given out. It was a fun time for all of us.

As Earl was reading, Earl is the Southeast District Manager, the description of the Spirit of AVON Award, my eyes swelled up with tears as my heart yearned for that to one day be me.... that one day the Lord would honor that prayer and let me touch the lives, to one day find me worthy and use me to bless others ... that He would give me a chance to share the testimony of His love ..... His grace ...... His mercy..... by saying, "Ding Dong, AVON calling!"

Well, you can imagine the surprise, when Earl called the name, "Stacey Paden of District 1275!" If any of you know me, you know I am not often speechless, but ya'll, I was not only speechless, I was shaking. I think my heart had crawled up my throat and there was a lump the size of Texas in there!

The Spirit of AVON Award is a special award as it is the ONLY award NOT merited by sales. It is merited by service and honor. WHOA. The Lord granted a heart's desire within moment's of a silent prayer.... how amazing is that!

I've scanned my certificate. I don't have a picture of me with my trophy. I don't know if you can even read the certificate, but I just really wanted to share this special memory and occasion with ya'll.

I pray the Lord will continue to use me each day, with each person's He allows my path to cross, in order to bless them and to be Jesus to them.

Thanks for letting me share. You know, my only wish is that I had opened up and shared this earlier as my grandmother would have known about it too.

Father's Day Give-A-Way Winner's

Cindy Weatherall is the Winner of the Mesmerize for Men!

Jenny Bilbrey is the Winner of the Patrick Dempsey 2!

Robin Pitsenbarger registered for the single mom Father's Day through Facebook and won the 3 piece necklace set as she was the only one to enter!

My Canadian friend, send me your address again (thepadens@cox.net) and I'll send something in the mail for you too!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

Father's Day Give-A-Way

I missed a Mother's Day Give-A-Way.... had sooo much going on in life, so will hopefully make it up to you here today.

I am giving away three different items.

Two of our men's colognes, Mesmerize and Patrick Dempsey 2! With each of the men's colognes you also get one of Pastor Traylor's books, "A Compass, a Map, and a Passport."

Now, I doubt there are any men that read my blog, but IF you are reading this, MEN, it is YOUR responsibility to lead your family in the way of the Lord. I pray, oh how I pray, that IF you do not know the Lord as your personal Lord and Savior, that you would trust Him today. What a Glorious Father's Day it would be!

To clarify, the compass book will go with each cologne. I'll write each name and put them in a bowl. Chris will draw the names. We'll draw the names on Wednesday at noon, so you'll have until then to enter. Please feel free to share this with your friends.

AND, the third item.... it is for the momma, the momma that is mom and dad to her babies. The mom that gets up before the sun, the mom who has to love and discipline, the one who has to be all things to the children in her home. You are a remarkable woman and on this upcoming Father's Day, I honor you as well. Why am I so sensitive to single momma's? Because I was one for nearly 11 years. It is hard. Very hard. For several years my mom would send me a Father's Day card on Father's Day. It wasn't until then that I became aware of what a remarkable responsible was on my shoulders.

The set I am giving away for the single mom is the white set below. I tried to find an individual picture of it, but couldn't find one.

Thanks for entering this give-a-way!

Remember, deadline to enter is NOON WEDNESDAY!!

Thankful

I have to tell you how God worked; Friday I posted 'How Great Thou Art'.

It had been on my heart and how important it was, and is, for me to praise God, even when I hurt.

I knew Amazing Grace would be played because since I was a little girl it was always her favorite song. I didn't know what else would be sung.

Saturday I asked my cousin if she knew, she thought it was 'How Great Thou Art,' but she wasn't sure.

My thought, 'hhmmm, Lord, thank you for preparing my heart.'

The hymn sung Monday at my Mammow's funeral was 'How Great Thou Art.' Just one more confirmation that the Lord is in control of all things.

I am so thankful.

The version I posted below of How Great Thou Art is below.

In order to listen to it, scroll down and turn off my music player, then click the link below.

How Great Thou Art

Evelyn H. Bruntlett

My Mammow was ushered into the presence of Jesus shortly after 6 p.m. today.  She is already missed.  Just doesn’t seem fair.

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Life, and then there’s death……

I haven’t blogged in weeks.  I’ve wanted to, but haven’t taken the time to sit and just write.  I am a very busy person, as is many of us.

My Mammow has been sick for several months.  Her time on earth is drawing to an end.  She has been weaned off the respirator and is on CPAP machine.  She had a very bad night and has now been partially sedated.  Visitation hours for ICU are no longer set on time restraints.  The end is near.

My grandmother has been the back-bone of our family.  She is a strong woman.  She is a woman that loves her family and keeps in contact.  She has kept our family together.  She never turned her back on me.  Did she always agree with how I behaved, absolutely not.  Was she perfect, nope, no one expected her to be.  What she did is love unconditionally. 

My grandmother has spent the last 12 years of her life caring for my grandfather.  He is now in a VA Nursing home.  She started caring for him as he battled with the horrible disease of Alzheimer’s. 

Truly, she has been the back-bone of our family.

My grandmother taught how to cook.  I guess it’s just in my blood cause I love the smell of food cooking and family gatherings.

My heart hurts to not be there as she is taking her last breath on this earth.  Oh the pain of wanting, needing to be there.  My comfort is knowing the appointments I have had the last two days were made months ago.  To reschedule would mean months of waiting to get back in.  I have to know it’s not meant for me to be there.  Like that, nope.  Dealing with it, yes.

At this time, we do not know how long it will be before she stops breathing, I have a knot in the pit of my stomach that is making me physically ill. 

I love my Mammow.  I am so blessed and thankful to be able to have known this pillar of our family.  My only comfort is knowing that I will see her and embrace her when I enter the gates of Heaven, when my time on earth is done.

She told me I couldn’t post any pictures of her.  She’s a DIVA of a lady.  This was the first time in my 38 years of living that I have ever seen her with her nails not painted.  That was a tough one. 

I will scan her other pictures in and add to this as the days go by.

I love you Mammow.  Oh how I love you.  Thank you for never giving up on me.  Thank you for teaching me how to be strong.  Thank you for teaching me how to show my love to others by cooking for them feeding them.  Thank you for who you are to my kids, your grandkids.  Thank you for painting my finger and toe nails red.  I love the color red.  I will be wearing red to your funeral.  I miss you already.  I keep up with Pappow and love on him as much as I can.  My heart is really sad right now.  The doctor will be your room within the next 30 minutes.  I love you Mammow.  I love you.

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