I’ve been wearing this ring that says, Be true to your dreams.

And I have lots of dreams. Write a book; have babies; give my kids an amazingly fun childhood; serve the Lord; be, don’t do. If you’ve been following for a while, you may have noticed that we have struggled with where we should live and where we should raise our family.

I have been praying a lot about dreams and about our family and the kind of childhood I want my children to have.

Right now I’m sick of saying, “It’s too hot to go outside.” I’m sick of staying up late so they can ride their bikes when it is cooler. I’m just tired of it.

I know it’s just weather, but I can’t help but ask myself hard questions because of that intolerable weather.

Questions like: Why do we have to be here? What are the things that we love about where we live? What would I change about where we live if I could?

In the midst of all this praying and house searching and seeking the Lord on what we should do, I’ve started to ask myself what’s holding us back.

Brian and I are both in love with southern California. We love the people, the environment, the mountains, the vineyards, the avocados, and most importantly, the weather.

On our trip this week, we looked at houses, at schools, at churches, and at possibilities.

And everything in me wants to be true to my dream.

I realize that there are huge disadvantages about living away from your family. I know that. And in our current situation, the only thing that would keep us in Oklahoma now is our family.

In the same breath, we are in a position financially where we have the ability to fly out my mom or my dad whenever we need or want to.

Most of our family has been so incredibly blessed by Scentsy that plane tickets to California to stay once or twice a year would be no big deal.

The hesitation?

I don’t want to disappoint anyone.  In the same breath, I know that my children would thrive in California. They would absolutely love every bit of it.

I want to move. I do. Every bit of me does. Thanks for chiming in yesterday. Your words of encouragement are exactly that....encouraging. 

.....day 356 of a year of writing..... 

Living the Dream

You know that term "Living the Dream?" What does that mean anyways? After being in southern California for a couple of days, I'm wondering if "Living the Dream" is a possibility.

You may or may not know that Brian has wanted to move to California for quite some time now. I have been extremely resistant, always coming up with some kind of excuse.....

What about our family? 

What about my mom? 

What about our friends and our church and our Scentsy team? 

What about all of those things? 

How could we just pack up and move?

Oddly enough, I think the Lord has slowly been luring me with the idea, even in my resistance. I'm pretty stubborn in case you didn't know that about me personally. I like to do things my way. I like to be right.....and so on and so on. It's just part of my personality. 

Lately though, my heart has been softened to the idea of moving.

It has to do with lots of things....our sudden and unexpected detachment from Brian being on staff at church; our unsuccessful attempts to get Addison enrolled in a Christian school; and possibly the extremely extreme weather in Oklahoma. All of those things have factored into me seriously considering a move. 

Of course, there are tons of obvious things that would attempt to keep us where we are. 

First, we're having a baby in November. That's sort of a big deal. 

Second, all of our family lives in Oklahoma or Texas. 

Third, all of our friends and our Scentsy family are in Oklahoma. 

Fourth, we have the most incredible nanny in Oklahoma who is really more like family to us. I don't really know what we would do without her.

Fifth, income taxes in California are extremely high.

But, there are other pros to living in California and raising our family there: 

If we move, our family and friends could come stay for extended periods of time. That screams fun and quality time to me.

We could fly my mom our every other month or so (plus, she'll be able to retire soon.) 

The weather is beautiful and we could basically live outside (okay not quite...but almost).

There is a great Christian school that Addison would be able to go to immediately, where they don't even have a cafeteria because they eat outside everyday (unless it rains). Seriously?

My kids could grow up outside. All the time. Not just in the few months that the weather is nice in Oklahoma, but almost every month of the year. 

With the internet and cool programs like Vokle, we can work and train consultants from anywhere where there is wifi. 

I mean, is that living the dream?

So, what's the hold up? Honestly, I think my mom would die if we moved, but I also know that she would never want to be the reason that we didn't go. I sort of threw the idea on her tonight and she hates it.

What do you think? Are we crazy for considering leaving our family for better climate and a better lifestyle for our kids? What would you do? Go for it? Or stay? I'd love to know what you think. 

.....day 355 of a year of writing.....

Eight years....and More to Come

I can't believe we've been married for eight years.

Sometimes it seems like it was just yesterday. And the Lord has blessed us with so much in the past eight years.

I am incredibly grateful that I still love this man after all the ups and downs we've had. And I love him more now than I did then. I always thought it was crazy when people said that, but it happens, and it's amazing.

I don't have any wedding pictures on my computer, so you'll have to be okay with a picture from right when we started dating (almost ten years ago), and a pic from our one year anniversary which we celebrated in Jamaica.

Here's to the next eight years. I can't wait to see what wild adventures we'll battle together in the years to come. 

.....day 354 of a year of writing.....

Cheap Fruit

I was talking to my dad today via text, and I asked him if he would come harvest avocados for us if we ever moved to California and bought a house with lots of avocado trees. He said he would. He said he would do just about anything for $15/hour if he could quit working as a pharmacist (it's what he's done my entire life).

My dad is pretty laid back. Brian and I joked that all he really needs to be happy is his mountain bike, his dogs, and a place to lay his head at night.

I would live here. I really would. I mean, why wouldn't you? The weather is amazing all the time. You're only an hour from the beach. You can have fruit and avocado trees in your backyard. Our family would come see us. We could drop everything and do whatever we wanted when they're here. We have friends here already. How could that be bad?

I know I promised to take pictures. But I only took one today.  Sorry! Don't be mad at me.

We drove around more today. We got lost again (sort of) and found some cheap avocados.

Just for the record, we pay $1 a piece for avocados in Oklahoma. 

I'm very ready to go home tomorrow and see my babies, but I'm not at all ready to leave this beautiful weather. 

I really just wish I could fly them out here. That would be more fun. 

We spent the day outside. We drove all over Temecula. We ate dinner outside. We walked the streets of Old Town Temecula and got chilly. Really? It's just so beautiful here. 

I really want to bring my babies here one time before this new baby comes in November. It's just dreamy here. 

Tomorrow is our anniversary. Eight years married to the man of my dreams.

I always thought it was crazy when people said they love their spouses more after years and years of marriage than when they first got married, but now I get it.

I have loved spending the past couple of days here with him. It's been great. We've laughed and dreamed and essentially done nothing but enjoyed each other's company. And I couldn't ask for anything more. 

.....day 353 of a year of writing.....

Seriously?

So, we're in California for a couple days to celebrate our eight year anniversary.

The weather here is a little like I'd imagine it to be in heaven. The mountains here take me even a little closer to my picture of heaven.

Then add the citrus trees and the avocado groves and heaven shows up in California. It's beautiful here in every sense of the word.

Brian and I got lost driving around the hills of De Luz today. Our phones completely lost their signals and we ended up completely lost as a result. But it was fun.

I'm smiling just thinking about it.

We pulled over on the side of the road to steal grapefruits, lemons, and limes (I'm sure that's illegal, but we did it anyway).

We snuck up the driveway (of an abandoned house) to check out a million dollar view. Really. I know that means nothing to you, but I promise to take pictures tomorrow. You have to see this view.

We stopped on the side of the road for directions and met a man originally from Houston who moved out to De Luz just six months ago with his wife. He told us all about the area, and helped us get "unlost" if you will.

But I just keep thinking to myself....seriously? The weather here is incredible. Truly incredible.

I'm loving some California today. Promising to take pictures tomorrow because you really do need to see these views for yourself.

.....day 352 of a year of writing.....

Things I Learned in Vegas

I learned a few things in Vegas this week....

I really don't like gambling.

I don't like to wait in line for a buffet (so I didn't).

I love the Encore and the Wynn. Love, Love, Love.

I love the Olympics....I didn't learn that in Vegas, I just remembered it here.

I dig some Beatles Love Cirque Du Soleil. It was awesome, and I think my mom loved it, too.

I like Vegas, but there are other places I would much rather be....like the beach. Or in California. Or with my babies.

Oh I miss them. : )

And since we're leaving on a plane for San Diego at 6 a.m. tomorrow, I think the list of things I learned is long enough for tonight.

.....day 351 of a year of writing.....

Take Away

Convention has always been a time to recharge, remember, and be inspired.

I have definitely been able to do those things this week. But it's about so much more than even that.

The past two days have reminded me of where we started, the struggles we faced, the obstacles we overcame, and the people who came with us and essentially changed our lives.

When I signed up to sell Scentsy almost five years ago, I had no idea that this is where we would be such a short time later.

We went from being bound by credit card debt to being debt free. We went from being bound by our situations and our jobs to being small business owners and our own bosses.

We went from living paycheck to paycheck to giving away more money in a year than we used to make in a year.

In five years.

But it wasn't us. We are part of an incredible company that has done the hard part. They risked it all, they came up with the money and resources to get started. They hired employees and came up with new ideas and a plan to lead the fragrance industry.

We paid our $99 to get our starter kit and put our heads to the ground and worked.

Today was a reminder of all that.

I so often get caught up in the day to day, in the here and now, that I forget to remember where we've come from, who we've met along the way, and who we are now as a result.

Today was that gentle reminder of all those things.

I'll admit. I've been coasting for a while now. I've been working for sure, and helping my frontline and offering myself, but I haven't really been working my personal business the way I should.

We have great customers who sustain our monthly minimums with no problem, so it's often easy to get into leadership mode and let my own business goals and aspirations slip away.

Leading is what we do and who we are, but for our business to continue to grow, we have to be doing the things that made us leaders in the first place. And that is all centered around home parties and recruiting....sharing the Scentsy vision and opportunity.

I was definitely inspired today. Moved. Reminded. Recharged. But it can't stay here. It has to come home and turn into discipline and movement in our lives.

So as a reminder to me, and possibly a help to you, here are some of my favorite quotes from today's speakers:

From Carrie Wilkerson aka The Barefoot Executive

Turn your excuses into your reasons why you must. You can let your children be the reason why you can't or you can let your children be the reason why you must. 

Their business is not your business. Their life is not your life. Their way is not your way. It's your life. Do it your way.

No one can fire you except you.

In order to have true freedom, you must embrace routine, discipline, and a schedule.

You are your own boss. Be a tough boss.

Ask yourself: If you were working for someone else the way you're working for yourself, would you still have a job?

It's not about making more. It's about living more.

Until you know your "why," you can't get excited about the way you work.

You are no good to the Scentsy family until you know why you're doing what you're doing.

Your struggles are success training.

In order for it to work, you have to make a choice that's it's going to work.

From Dewitt Jones:

It is not trespassing to go beyond your own boundaries.

Train your technique. Put yourself in the place of most potential. Open yourself to possibility.

Focus your vision by asking yourself what's right with the situation.

Life is not about looking for the right answer. Life is about continually finding the NEXT answer.

Don't strive to be the best in the world. Strive to be the best for the world.

From Orville Thompson:

Stop worrying about what others are doing. Focus on what you can do to build your business.

Contributing more than you take only truly works if you believe in the spirit of abundance which says that there is enough business for everyone.

We are either motivated by love or by fear. Which are you motivated by?

The fear of competition is greater than competition itself.

My mind is reeling. I'm brainstorming my goals for the year.  I'm reevaluating my why. I'm working on being inspired again so I can be inspiring.

Whew! I needed all that. Motivation is a good thing.

Going to be bed motivated tonight....

.....day 350 of a year of writing.....