Talk About Something Uncomfortable…

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So if you’ve read my blog at all you know that there are certain things that terrify me… new people and using the phone are two of the biggest. The main reason why I started the Something Uncomfortable journey was to get over some of my paralyzing fears so I can live life to the fullest.

God has used many unexpected things to help me tackle my fears over the last 17 months. I think it’s safe to say that I never thought He would use pretty bags to work on my character.

Near the end of the school year, a mom (Kat) did a Thirty-One fundraiser at my son’s school. I LOVE their products and jumped all over the opportunity to have a party without having a party. “My son” sold so many bags that he won some prizes and helped to earn a pizza party for his class.

I thought that would be the end of it.

I’m such a silly girl.

In June, I received an email from Kat telling me that the Large Utility Totes were on special for $10. Well, I clearly NEEDED a second LUT and I’m a sucker for a great deal. And in all honesty, I felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to connect with Kat so I could meet more people at my son’s school. So I signed up to do an online/catalog party.

Before I knew it, Kat was at my house dropping off the catalogs and supplies. Obviously, I didn’t think it through. If I had, I would have realized this endeavor would require talking to people. While she was here, I noticed the enrollment kit:

Ummm… it has a retail value of over $300 but only costs $99 and it has 3 of the bags I wanted to purchase anyway in the colors/prints I want. As a bargain shopper, that kit haunted me all month.

Poor Kat. Near the end of the month, I grilled her with a million questions. She told me that consultants make 25% of the party totals. What?!?! That’s unbelievable! And when my party went over $600 (that was an ONLINE party… I didn’t even show anyone the products in person), she agreed to split the part with me. I signed up.

Oh. My. Goodness! What did I do?????

And then someone asked to do an in-home party. Which I swore I wouldn’t do. EVER! I mean, I was fully intending to hide behind my computer and watch this thing fizzle away… But clearly God had something else in mind. (BTW, the party was a blast and I cannot wait to do another one.)

My family and I just went on our first real family vacation. And it was wonderful!! Why? Because my poor husband works 18+ hour days 5 days/week and 6-8 hours on Saturday. We own a small construction company and are desperately trying to get out of debt. We took a break for 10 whole days. And it was GLORIOUS!

What does this have to do with Thirty-One? Well, as a family, we agreed that we NEED to take a vacation EVERY year. And we NEED to get out of debt so we can buy a house that better suits our family. Our solution: Mommy is going to work Thirty-One and save the profits so we can go on vacations and have family time while Daddy keeps the construction company going.

And are you ready for the real kicker? Last year, I volunteered 2 days each week in my son’s class and intend to do the same this year. Because of that commitment along with doing the books for the construction company, I didn’t think I could help out with the PTO. Guess what Kat is? Besides being an awesome person and a great Thirty-One sponsor, she is the incoming president of the PTO. BAH! Are you dying? Cuz I thought I was going to when I heard that! Guess who’s going to be helping the PTO this year?

God is so funny! I love (and sometimes hate) how He sneaks up on you and gives you opportunities to grow when you least expect it. And I LOVE how He blesses you immensely when you follow His lead. 

How has He challenged you to be uncomfortable lately?

Something Uncomfortable: Day 205

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I was DREADING volunteering in my son's class today. Why? Because it's Thursday and that means it's Miss Heather's day to return books to the library. Ugh!

Unfortunately, there is some drama surrounding the kindergartners and the library at our school. The librarian is only at our school on Thursdays. And she doesn't have time to have library time with all of the kids, so the kindergarten teachers have to do it themselves. They even have to check in and re-shelve the books themselves. It is what it is.

The problem for me and the reason for the dread is that the librarian wants me to check in the books when the other classes aren't in the library. Well, I'm not available when the other classes aren't there. So I was nervous about how I would be received this morning. The last thing I need is to be a part of drama at my son's school.

I took some Anxiety Drops and headed for the library. I'm so thankful to report that everyone was happy to see me and there was no drama. Woohoo!!

What are you worrying about that hasn't even happened yet?

On another note... My kindergarten kids had a sub for an hour while I was there today. This woman might have been the meanest teacher I've ever met. If you don't like little people, you probably shouldn't sub in kindergarten. She was even kind of snotty to me. But whatever. 

Even if you don't have kids in school, please pray for the teachers and kids at your local schools. I had no idea just how much goes on in a classroom that requires prayer coverage.

Day 179: Can you believe I can honestly put those words together in a sentence?

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I’ve been lying in bed, thinking about my week and crying on and off since 4:30. So I thought I might as well get up and write about it…

My husband worked all weekend last week (Labor Day weekend). I had a migraine on Saturday. Of course, my chiropractor was closed (holiday weekend). So I had to suffer through it while taking care of the kids. It was brutal, but it made me even more thankful for the many times my chiropractor has saved me over the past several years.

My son just finished week three of Kindergarten. He cried 3 of the 4 days he had school. Yesterday, he started crying as soon as we got out of the car. I opened the door to grab a Kleenex. He jumped back in and became one with the chair. He ended up coming out, but it was so heart-breaking!

My daughter started preschool this week. She all but jumped out of the moving van to run in. She’s doing VERY well, but it’s just another schedule change… in my world that I like to control but clearly can’t.

Yesterday was day 2 of our garage sale. The antique dealers have all been kind to me this year… that never happens. My garage-sale-arch-nemesis who yells at me each sale for a $5 camera he bought that worked when he was here – but “not when he got home,” came by. I silently prayed for him… and me… and it was a fairly pleasant, uneventful experience. Praise God! I’ve actually been praying about that one since our last sale in April.

We have also sold over $75 worth of pumpkin muffins, cookies & water. That means we get to purchase over 75 books for the kids at my son’s school! Again, praise God!

But yesterday around 2:20, 2 women came by the sale and ended up making me cry… hysterically… for 20+ minutes. 

It started with them telling me that my juice bottles should be 50¢ instead of $1.00. I told them that they were actually kind of expensive. They told me they can get them at the Dollar Store. I said, “OK.” And walked back to my muffins. I don’t shop at the Dollar Store… maybe I should.

As one of them was buying a golf towel from me for 10¢, the other started loudly telling the rest of the customers, “She’s crazy! Her prices are too high. She’s gonna have to bring everything back inside because she’s not going to sell anything! You need to turn around and leave!” AND THEY DID! 

I told her that I actually sell quite a bit each time. Mistake. She starting yelling at me as she (and everyone else) walked down my excessively long driveway. “I bet you do! See all these people leaving buying NOTHING!” 

I politely said, “We all have the right to do what we need to do. Thanks for stopping by.” They yelled until they got into their car and closed the doors.

I was verbally assaulted by two garage sale bullies. Can you believe I can honestly put those words together in a sentence? 

My husband and I have been contemplating doing less garage sales. Since the baby stuff and estate items have sold (at my ridiculous prices), the profits have slowly decreased. After yesterday’s assault, we decided that we are done. We would much rather bless some families with our hand-me-downs than go through the hassle. What’s hard for me is that this was the one thing that I did that actually brought in cash. We made give or take $2,000 each year for 3½ years between our two sales. I know I contribute… I do the books for our construction company and I get to raise our sweet babies. But I’ll admit, it was really amazing being “The Garage Sale Queen” – as my one sweet friend calls me – and bringing in actual money.

So I don’t want to open this morning. And I’m crying again as I type this. But here’s the thing… we raised over $75 to buy books for kids. And I have 6 hours to raise some more. So I’m going to put my big girl panties on. Shove a Kleenex in my pocket. And go sell some muffins.

And just when my pity party was getting started, God told me to read my devo from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young:

Accept each day exactly as it comes to you. By that, I mean not only the circumstances of your day but also the condition of your body. Your assignment is to trust Me absolutely, resting in My sovereignty and faithfulness.

On some days, your circumstances and your physical condition feel out of balance: The demands on you seem far greater than your strength. Days like that present a choice between two alternatives—giving up or relying on Me. Even if you wrongly choose the first alternative, I will not reject you. You can turn to Me at any point, and I will help you crawl out of the mire of discouragement. I will infuse My strength into you moment by moment, giving you all that you need for this day. Trust Me, by relying on My empowering Presence.

Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior.
—Psalm 42:5

For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you.
—2 Corinthians 13:4

“I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”
—Jeremiah 31:25

I’m NOT giving up. Enough said. Please pray that I would stop crying long enough for my husband can go get me a latte… I’ve got muffins to sell!