Scentsy and me

This post is pretty late in coming, but I really haven't had much time to write.  Busy is good though!

I still have days when Scentsy amazes me, even after 4 and a half years.  I've thought a lot about my business in the last year - should I grow, should I quit, how to improve, etc.  

I decided in June that I was going to relaunch my business with the fall catalog and try to start implementing some new things in August.  

Our Scentsy Famuly Reunion (aka convention)was in July, and I looked forward to it all year.  I was eager to see the new products and get some inspiration.  I was also excited about reconnecting with some Scentsy friends that I don't get to see often.

But just before the first session began, I sat in the MGM Grand feeling sorry for myself.  I was watching others being surrounded by teammates - up and down their line - while Joseph and I sat alone.  None of my downline went to  Las Vegas, and I don't have an active sponsor or director.  As usual I was doubting myself and my ability to be successful in this business.

Heidi Thompson's (she's the president of Scentsy) speech reminded me that I'm in a different place than some of the others.  Even more important, it's okay that my wings aren't fully developed yet.

Because I still have some growing to do before I'm ready.  But my time will come.

As if that was enough reassurance, Orville Thompson's (he's the CEO) speech was about seasons.  He has this beautiful way of tying truths of nature or history or life to our selves and our business.  Although I've been with Scentsy for a while I'm still in a early season because I haven't REALLY worked it for long.  Every season is vital to creating a strong and fruitful foundation.

Did I mention I had a front row seat for this one thanks to my amazing Scentsy friends?

We experienced some amazing entertainment, 

beautifully inspiring speeches, 

astounding new products,

 an opportunity to win a free trip to Disney World, 

and friendships that I hope will last forever.  

How is it possible that THIS is my job?  I am so blessed by this company and my God!!!!

~Heather

P.S.  Here's a pic of us too

Recovering from too much fun - LOL

I'm still reeling from the amazingness that was last week.  Not only was there an incredible amount of inspiration and fun at the Scentsy Family Reunion, but the current church series is phenomenal.

My only goal for today was to enjoy my kids and get a few things done around the house.  Mission accomplished.

We slept late.  The kids played while I started laundry and picked up a little.  We took out the recycling and got the mail.  We made lunch.  Aiden found a button making kit in his room, so we had to try it out.

We took naps and made dinner.  The four of us played outside for as long as we could stand it and came in for ice cream. Then we played until bedtime.

I'm so grateful to be living the life I love where I can take a Monday to reconnect with my family and get some much needed rest.

Tomorrow I'll get busy working on my new future with the things I learned last week.  

~Heather

Mom Confession

So, ironically my last post was about being excited to spend the summer with my kiddos.  Summer isn't going quite how I'd planned.  LOL!

I just can't seem to find a groove between want needs to be done, what I want to do, and being lazy.  The latter wins more than anything.  😴

The kids aren't driving me crazy (most of the time), but I don't think I'm winning any mom awards for the best summer ever.  Did I mention we're being lazy?

Well, Aiden and Rylee went home with grandma and grandpa for the night Sunday after our Father's Day/birthday celebration.  This was Rylee's first overnighter.  I knew if she made it out of the driveway without crying that she's be just fine, and she was.  Yay!!!

Joseph and I has our first night ALONE in over 2 years!.  Know what we did?  Groceries and gardening until dark.  Then we showered and crashed.  Are we an old married couple or what?

Then came Monday morning....the house was so quiet.  I slept until 9:00!  I for up, ate breakfast while cruising social media, did my Bible study, got dressed, washed and dried the kids' sheets, washed our sheets and towels, unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher, picked up the living room, cleaned up elderly animal messes, and changed all the Scentsy wax by 11:30!!!!!  

What?  How is that possible?  That takes me all day on a typical Monday.  Here's the big confession.......

I started to fantasize about the kids staying in Oklahoma for a few more days. 😳 Can you imagine how much I could do with 8+ hours a day to myself?  I might even find time for me!!!!

Nevertheless the kids were home around 12:30, and my house looks about the same today as it did Monday afternoon.  And I was thrilled to give them hugs and have them home and do our boring old summertime normal.  They wanted to go back with grandma.  LOL!! 

Maybe next week I'll get summer on track with some fun activities, decluttering, work, and some more laziness.  It is summer after all!!! 🌞💦👙👣🍦📖😴

~Heather

Is 15 years a big deal? Maybe

Joseph and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary yesterday.  It's kinda a big deal....a milestone, or so they say.

Then....

We've been blessed with parents that set a high example.  My parents just celebrated 43 years, and his parents will celebrate 48 years next month.

Fifteen feels like a drop in the bucket in comparison.  LOL!!

In all seriousness, Joseph and I have an amazing life.  We are still very much in love and have adorable, brilliant children. We are just so happy and so blessed and absolutely canNOT believe it's been 15 years.

Is there a secret or something to all this greatness?  I don't think so.  We talk a lot about everything, and we don't nitpick each other over the things the other does that drives us crazy.  LOL!

Words just can't express how much I love him and the life we've built, or how excited I am about our future.

Now....

Life is definitely good!!!  So, do I think 15 years is a long time?  Not really.  Is it a milestone to celebrate?  Sure.  We should celebrate those we love every chance we get. 

~Heather

P.S.  The funniest thing about this anniversary is that we agrees to not get gifts, and I think it drove us both nuts.  Disney (to celebrate family) and Vegas (to celebrate us and our business) are more than sufficient gifts though.  Don't you think?

This is why

Yes, I know I haven't written in ages.  It just hasn't felt right, but I'm beginning to feel the pull that I can't resist.

In particular I've want to write about my new summer for a couple of weeks.  Today sealed the deal....

This time last year and the year before I struggled (A LOT) with not being home for Aiden over his summer break.  He had a great place to go (my parents), but I hated that he had to get to bed "on time" and get up early for most of his school break.  The exception being overnights there or at my in-laws (seriously, my kids have the best grandparents).

This year is different because I am home. We can stay up later and sleep in.  I am in charge of his summer activities.  We've made a summer fun to-do list, and I get to participate.

I can't even tell you how special this is for me.  It's not easy corralling and entertaining 2 kids all day.  Never mind keeping them fed. 

But it's me.  It's my "problem".  They're mine and I love them and I get to take care of them full-time.

Today is the reason I want to be their one.  I was with Aiden this morning when he lost his first top front tooth.

Last year, I would have missed this occasion.  I would have been at work at the JOB.  Today, I was home with him.

We even got in some water play fun.

And a nap with my baby girl.

This is what I want our summers to be about.  Lazy and fun!!

Give me a couple if weeks, and I'm sure I'll be ready for a break.  Tonight I am one happy my and grateful to a God that provides!!!!

~Heather

Believe

I've been absent for a while because I needed a break.  I wanted family and friends to hear about my life in a more personal manner, but that isn't really happening.  I know everyone is busy...

Anyhow this post isn't about being too busy for family and friends.  It's about how God works in my life.

Those of you that know me well (and maybe read between the lines of social media posts) or have followed this blog know that I've struggled some since being laid off from my job in October.

I've wanted to be home with my kids since long before I ever got pregnant with Aiden, but the reality was that I was an employed-mom for almost 8 years.  There's been some adjustment in being home all day with a 2-year-old.

I firmly believe God pushed me over that edge for a reason and in His perfect timing.  There has been no other time in the last 8 years this could have worked (and it's a narrow margin now) financially.

That didn't always quell my doubts and fears.  My greatest fear is failing as a mother.  Without the buffer of our fabulous day care, there was/is a LOT of fear.

I decided to make BELIEVE my one little word for 2015.  I need to active believe God (not just in Him).  I need to believe He put me here now for His greater plan and my own.  I need to believe in myself as a mother, a wife, a business owner, a leader, etc. 

It's a work in progress.  I am a work in progress.  And that is OK.  

I've been a little down side the last week or so, and that's OK too.  And I was starting an upswing.

Many of you will also know how I love a good sign or well-placed coincidence (as if!!) such as songs, words I read, stories I happen across, etc. I'm also a sappy nerd!

During the Super Bowl halftime show, Katy Perry began and ended with my 2 favorites of her songs - "Roar" and "Firework".  The songs resonated with how I was starting to feel - powerful, excited - as a new season is blossoming within me.

Monday morning, I pulled out my Esther Bible study - totally OK that I was 2 days "behind".  It was week 4 day 4 of Beth Moore's study, and of course, we were working on chapter 4.  The end of chapter 4 to be exact.

To say I had an a-ha moment is an understatement.  It was a transformative moment.  God's word told me everything I needed to hear.  It reinforced what I already knew, but it was so powerful.

I am great. I have the knowledge. I am chosen.  I serve God.  

"And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14

Nothing is by accident.  Yes we have free will, but He has plans for us - great plans. All we have to do is believe and follow.

I do believe.  I need reminders for when the going gets tough though.  I really want a tattoo, but I'm chicken.  For now I have to settle for less permanent options.  Lucky for me Scentsy has a shirt and a nightlight warmer with my one little word. My shirt came in last week, so I had Joseph take a picture the first day I wore it.

It's no accident that there is a fire behind me.  I am lighting my fire, so I can shine.  And it will all be for His glory!!

Do you believe?

~Heather

Why I care so much

I could lie and say the end of the year has brought about introspection and reflection, but in all honesty I think like this often. Maybe the end of the year intensifies it....a little. 

 I have had the best year ever for my Scentsy business - good sales, more parties, new events, and fabulous new team members. Sadly, not all of my team will be continuing their business. I can't describe how this hurts my heart and frustrates my brain. I'm told it's just part of this business. People come and go. Not everyone can have the same commitment as you. It's not a business that everyone can embrace. I know it's all true, but it doesn't change the way I feel. I feel like I've failed each and every person that leaves my team. 

On some level I have, for sure. I'm not leading as well as I should because I lead the way I follow. I like to be left alone for the most part. I'll ask for help when I have a question. I guess I'm sort of a loner, but I love the enthusiasm of a team. I rely on my team to tell me what they need and assume they are OK or not invested when I don't hear from them. I've left them alone, and I'm starting to think that was the wrong way to go.

 I'm sort of on vacation for the holidays, but I wanted to make plans for next year and make a reading list to help me be better (in life and business). I grabbed my nook to see what I had downloaded to there and realized I hadn't finished the last 30 or so pages of Simon Sinek's Start With Why. Those pages were just what I needed. 

 This book was the central figure in a retreat I attended back in the spring. At that retreat I decided I want to build a cathedral and not just be a bricklayer - I want to build a legacy. 

 I spent the drive home and a few days thereafter thinking about my why. Why do I want this business? What exactly do I want my legacy to be? Why do I admire the people I admire? What is the purpose God has me here to accomplish? 

 My ultimate answer is that I want to help others. I want to bless people with this business either through the family-driven products or the opportunity to build their own businesses. I also want to use my business to bless others financially either from my direct donations or via fundraisers. This is what I have to get back to - my why. 

 Why is why so important? It's your reason for doing what you do, especially when times are tough. It's your measuring stick for decisions. This is where I will focus my everyday. 

 With that being said, I may need to tweak my why a bit. One of my goals was to be a work at home mom. Although it wasn't my why (mostly because I didn't think it was possible), my new situation presents a lot of change. I need to determine if it has also changed my why. I think the root of my why will always be helping others - it's all I've ever wanted to do. However, my life has changed. I have new goals. I need to test my goals against my why and decide if I need to revise anything. 

 As a side note for those that have made it this far, I can't help but know that Scentsy is on the right path. They have a set of values that they test all their decisions against - Simplicity, Authenticity, and Generosity. They also have a mission statement (a why) that sets the standard for them. This is why they have survived and thrived for 10 years. It's how they can admit when they were wrong and move forward. I'm so blessed to be part of something so special, and I hope I can contribute more than I take from this amazing company. 

~Heather