Customers 1st!

I will do almost anything for my customers! I will work late, early, sick, and even Consider Changing my WEDDING DATE for them! Yes you read that right...... Change My Wedding Date!!!

 

Here's how it went down...

Todd and I couldn't agree on a wedding date! So we picked 6 dates we liked and put them in a bag and drew! Yep Ladies and gentlemen that's how we came up with our wedding date! I know it's silly, but it worked. When I said the date May 2nd I just liked it, but for some reason it sounded familiar to me. Well long story short that's the date that was drawn...... May 2nd! I was so excited!!!

When I seen my best friend Kay I told her the good news!

She said "well I hope you don't have the same problem Aaron and I have every year on our anniversary!"

 "What?" I asked

She said "Aaron and I got married on May 7th..... remember? Now we have a hard time celebrating our anniversary because of Prom! London's Prom is almost always the 1st Saturday of May!"

WHAT???? NO!!!!

Ok at this point I feel like being sick! How can I get married on the same day as Prom??

I have 3 customers who will be Seniors this year!!! I can't let them down! Plus to make matters worse We planned to get married at 2:30 in the afternoon!

So I called London High school and asked when their Prom was scheduled for...

The lady on the phone was CLUELESS!!! "I'm not for sure, but every other year it's been the 1st Saturday of May." She tells me.

 

So for the next Month or so I kept thinking about How my customers will be upset and they will have to go somewhere else to get their hair done. Plus my best friend would have to loose out on a lot of money to do my hair and attend my wedding! What kind of a friend would I be if I did that to her and hurt their income!

 

I felt horrible! I told one of the ladies at work "I know I said I wouldn't change the date of the wedding again (because I had don't it a million times, before we drew out of the bag? LOL), but I might have to! I can't tell my seniors..... "So Sorry, but you will have to go somewhere else for your prom updo because I'm getting married that day and also I cant refer you to my friend because she more than likely wont be able to work that day either!" I'm going to have to talk to Todd and see if he will let me change it!"

 

I was worried also about saying anything to Todd because I like to drove him crazy deciding on a date to began with!

"Babe, I'm worried about getting married on the same day as London's Prom! I have 3 customers who will be seniors his year and they will be so upset if I'm not able to do their hair! Plus I don't feel right asking Kay to miss out on that kind of money just for me!"

Todd being the kind, sweet, loving and understanding man that he is (hint that's why I'm marrying him!) says "Baby if you need to change the date due to Prom, then just do it! I'm fine with whatever you decide!"

He's the BEST I know!

 

In 2 weeks is homecoming. One of my Seniors Mom's called me to make her daughters hair appointment. I was driving and didn't have my book, so she has to call me back.

I thought to myself.....

Wonder if the lady at LHS was wrong about the date of Prom? She did sound CLUELESS!

So I called LHS and asked again! This time a student answered the phone! She wasn't for sure so she put me on hold to ask. She returned with "Prom is on April 25th!"

"HALLELUJAH!!!"

Wow what a relief!

Just to cover all my bases I called MP High School and checked on the date of their Prom too

"April 25th she said"

Wow I'm going to be sooooooo busy on April 25th, but at least I won't have to tell my customers "NO!"

 

 

See I would even change the date of my wedding for my customers!

Well and for my Best Friends Customers!

All because I Love Them!!!

 

God has truly Blessed me and there for I will try to Bless others!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forgivness

Forgiveness is not something easily given! I have a Very hard time forgiving when I have been hurt! Make me angry..... I can get over that quickly, but Hurt my Feelings....... That can take days, weeks, months, sometimes even YEARS! 

I don't like carrying around these dark feelings! I'm not one for revenge on someone who has wronged me..... At one time in my life I might have.....But NOT NOW! 

I want to have a peace within my heart and a love for people! 

"How do I get there" I ask myself???

The only way I know is to see what God's word tells me about forgiving! 

Why should I forgive?

Matthew 6:14-15 NIV

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Colossians 3:13 NIV

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Ephesians 4:31-32 NIV

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 

Ok so I must forgive because 

1) God will forgive as long as I forgive!

2) God always forgives me when I have messed up!

3) The key is to get rid of all hard feelings against others just like Christ forgave me! 

God is such a loving, caring, understanding and forgiving God! 

How many times do I have to forgive someone?

Matthew 18: 21-22 NIV

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times? “Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

How many?

 EVERY TIME!

No matter how many times someone wrongs me I must forgive every single time!

What might lead me to forgive?

1 corinthians 13:4 - 6 NIV

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

LOVE

You MUST Love!

What is the priority in Forgiving?

Matthew 5:23-24 NIV

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”

Priority

Reconciliation!

Things that go along with forgiveness?

Luke 6:37 NIV

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Also

DO NOT JUDGE

DO NOT CONDEMN

FORGIVE

Are you perfect and never do any wrong?

John 8:7 NIV

When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Perfect???

No ONE is without sin! 

No ONE is perfect but Christ himself!

What would Jesus say?

Luke 23:33-34 NIV

When they came to a place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals – one on his right, the other on his left, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Jesus....

Forgave and asked for forgiveness for all the sinners from God!

JESUS DIED FOR OUR SINS TO BE FORGIVEN!

Luke 17:3-4 NIV

So watch yourselves. “If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents forgive him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says , ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

If someone asks for forgiveness what does Jesus tell us to do???

FORGIVE HIM!!!

What should I do to get rid of these hard feelings?

Bottom line.....

*Forgive because God forgives!

*Forgive EVERY TIME 

*LOVE everyone for God loves everyone!

*Do Not Judge or Condemn others , just forgive!

*Unless you are sinless don't expect others to be!

*We are only human! God is the only thing Perfect!

** Jesus DIED for ALL SINS and ALL SINNERS!

Lord,

Teach me and show me how to

Forgive anyone that I feel has wronged me Every time, not just when I feel like it!

Open my heart to above all else LOVE people the way you do!

Help me Not to Judge & Condemn others, but to forgive them!

I'm not without sin and help me not to hold others at a higher standard than I do myself.

Thank you for giving me humility to know when I'm wrong and your word to find the answers.

Let me continue to be Broken, for you to mold and make me into the person you created me to be.

Thank you for being a Loving, Caring and Forgiving God!

Most of all Lord, Thank you for giving your Only Son to Die for all sins of this world!

In Your Holy Name I Pray,

Amen

Listen to this song!

Forgiveness Matthew West

Time Flys

I look back over the blog posts I have written and I start to think....... I'm amazed how my life has changed! Not because I made it that way, but because God made it this way!

I have a new Salon to work in with 2 WONDERFUL women!

No more Drama, back stabbing or people stealing from me!  

I LOVE this little shop and all the people who come in! The older ladies who come into this shop make me laugh! Some of them are so silly! I love it!

 

Along with the new shop my business has Grown! I have lots more nail customers! It's been such a blessing!

 

 

 

We finally got FULL CUSTODY of Kaylee Jay. She sure has grown this past year and I don't mean so much just by size, she has grown emotionally too! The shy, timid, scarred, backward, sad and broken little girl has become a Happy, Outspoken, Head strong, loving, a little less fearful, and restored emotionally!

She rode Roller Coaster that she said she never would, she learned to swim when she didn't think she could, she learned to stand up for herself against a man who bullied her (Alicia's Dad), she now loves to go under water when she said she wouldn't and couldn't, She has become a much stronger little girl! All of these things because 2 people loved her so much they never stopped fighting for her! Plus she has gained 3 new sets of grandparents, 2 aunts, 2 uncles and cousin, who all love her very much!

We love you Kaylee Jay!

 Daddy and I will NEVER stop fighting for you!

We will NEVER let you have anything less than the best that we can provide!

 

 

 

Tarrah got her permit to DRIVE! Watch out World because she's out driving! Wow how this girl has grown...... well now she's a young lady! I'm so proud of her! She is so head strong, determined and so motivated to learn! She's in 2 honors classes this year! No REAL Boyfriend that I know of yet! Thank goodness!  My daughter is going to grow up and really be something wonderful in this world!

I LOVE YOU TARRAH!

Mommy is ALWAYS PROUD of you!

 

 

 

Kirsten was in her 1st school play last winter and this summer has become a master at climbing trees!

She is trying out for the 2014 middle school play this week!

I would have to say she is the bravest most fearless kid I know! She has no problem standing in front of a gym full of her school mates and sing! I could never have done that! She stands up for herself and refuses to let anyone bully her into do things she doesn't want to or that she feels is wrong! she's a tomboy, but is slowly warming up to the idea of being a young lady!

Red I LOVE YOU and I'm so PROUD of the person you are becoming! 

 

 

Douglas has discovered GIRLS! WHAT??? My LITTLE boy now notices girls.....heck he says to me "Mom I have a Girlfriend"......NO WAY!

We went camping this past weekend and he had 3 girls chasing him around! He was in the camper and I said "Douglas these girls are out here looking for you." He said "I'm hiding Mom tell them I'm busy reading!"

He has become a great reader and I even got a wonderful surprise from his teacher the other day after school. Miss Ripley says to me "Douglas is So Good All the time! He is always doing what he suppose to be doing and he's just a great student!" WOW Douglas! I was so happy and proud of him! Now if we could just get him to be that way at home!

DOUGLAS MOMMY LOVES YOU VERY MUCH!

 

 

 

Todd got his divorce from the Wicked Witch! FINALLY!!!!

 

 

Separate Blog for our engagement and our wedding plans! :)

Because YES WE ARE ENGAGED!!!!

 

Todd also got hired on as a full time employee of Jefferson Industries

I'm SO PROUD OF HIM!!!!!

 

 

Todd and I are still MADLY IN LOVE!

 

 

 

We have 2 new additions to our Family;

 

Madison Leigh Davis

She is 2 years old now! We love her to pieces! Her a "Dougwas" are the best pals ever!

 

Lana Juanita Castle

Now

 

She will be 1 year old on November 19th!

exactly 1 week after Aunt Kaylee's Birthday!

I will have to write a separate Blog about this little one!

We love her so very much!!!!

 

 

My Life sure has changed and grown! I'm truly blessed with a wonderful family!

 

 

 

 

 

 

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.
They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8

 

 



What would God want me to do......

I'm lost inside my head...... The thoughts of the upcoming court hearing is MAKING ME CRAZY!
The what ifs are flowing like a mad river through my mind! I sit and reassure Todd that "Everything will workout," God knows what he's doing," "Think positive," and "Try not to think about it." I tell him all of those things, but... Am I not listening to myself??? These things are coming from my mouth and I can hear the words, yet I can't follow my own advice! SAD!

I sit down to the computer and I google; "Help from God for Worry and Anxiety"
I find 4 reasons Not to worry......

1) Worry accomplishes absolutely Nothing!
they reference;
Matthew 6:27-29
Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. (NLT)

My thoughts about this scripture...
NO Worrying doesn't add to my life at all......
The lilies of the field? Well they always look like they are happy, smiling and dancing in the wind!
Hummmmm I think.

2) Worry is NOT Good for You!

they reference
Proverbs 12:25
Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. (NLT)

My thoughts about this scripture....
Worrying does weigh me down! I makes my heart heavy and my chest tight!
So I continue reading

3)Worrying is the OPPOSITE of TRUSTING God!

they reference
Matthew 6:30
And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? (NLT)

My thoughts on this scripture.....
Can we say OUCH! That hit me right in the gut! It's so very true! If God cares for wildflowers then he DEFENTLY cares for me and my Family!
Why do I have so little Faith??
I don't know why I seam to have little faith!

Philippians 4:6-7
Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ.

My thoughts on this scripture.....
So... every time I start to worry I should stop and pray??
I want God's peace for me and Todd!

4) Worry puts focus in the wrong Direction!

They reference
Matthew 6:25
That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life-whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing? (NLT)

My thoughts about the scriptureYes there is more to life than those things!

Matthew 6:31-33
So don't worry about these things, saying, 'What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?' These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. (NLT)
 My thoughts about this scripture..."God already knows what we need!" Worrying makes me an unbeliever! Seek God above all else!!!!
1 Peter 5:7
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. (NLT)

My thoughts about this scripture...
God does care for me!!!! So I need to just keep giving every worry to him!

After reading all of that her is my conclusion....

God Loves me!
God wants me to seek him above everything else!
God wants me to not worry, but to pray about it and give it to him!
God cares for me and as long as I continue to seek him and his Kingdome He will take care of my needs!

My Prayer.....
"God, I want what ever you feel is best for me and my life! I know you care and Love me! I don't want to worry about things! I want you to take my worries and help me to stop wasting my time and energy on unhealthy thoughts! Please help me to be more positive and anytime I feel like I'm about to loose myself in my worried thinking that I will always look to you for help! Thank you for all that you have done and all that you will do in my future!"
AMEN! 

"FAT"

fat

   /fæt/ Show Spelled [fat] Show IPA adjective, fat·ter, fat·test, noun, verb, fat·ted, fat·ting.

adjective

 

By definition....... 

 

1. plump; well-fed: example: a good, FAT chicken.

 

 

2. consisting of or containing fat; greasy; oily: fat gravy; fat meat. example: That meal is full of FAT!

 

 

3. having too much flabby tissue; corpulent; obese: a fat person. example: She eats all wrong that's why she's so FAT!

********************************************************************************

 

Where did this obsession with food begin?

Why do I find it so hard to tell myself "NO"?

 

I know how to loose weight I have done it before!

 

Exercise.....get the FAT Chicken MOVING!

 

My doctor said to at least start out with 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week!

 

Peep talk to myself.......

"Come on Kaylee how hard is 30 minutes a day??? It's not just get up everyday and DO IT! You don't want to live and feel this way!!!"

 

 

NO MORE SODA OR SUGAR INFESTED DRINKS!

 

 

 

DRINK 6 TO 8 GLASSES OF WATER EACH DAY!

 

 

 

EAT A BALANCED MEAL

 

 

 

 

Why are these things so hard for me to do? I want to look and feel better! I want to be healthy and be a comfortable size for me. I don't want to be skinny or look like some sick model, just a happy healthy ME!

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chain Reaction

The Chain Reaction that got us to Join Cypress Wesleyan Church;

Donna Barthalow 

&

Kay Stephens

 are former coworkers and they workout together at Urban Active. Donna Shared with Kay about how CWC had impacted her and her Daughter; Tiffany's life.

                                                            Donna & Tiffany @ CWC

I am friends with Kay, Donna, and Donna's niece Shannon. I had seen posts on Facebook and over heard comments about the Church that Donna, Tiff and Shannon were attending.

                                                                      Shannon

Shannon's Mom had to have surgery and I went to be support for my friends. While we all waited in the waiting room Donna, Tiff and Shannon were talking about CWC. I engaged in the conversation and was asking a few questions; The planted a thought in my mind. Later that morning we went to the hospital cafeteria for lunch. Donna, Tiff, Chet (Donna's Brother) and I sat together. While we ate our lunch They began talking about CWC again. I then found out that Chet also attended CWC and that he enjoyed their sports and children programs.

I went home and shared with Todd what I had heard about this Church. The more we talked about it we discovered that it's a Church we pass by often so we knew right where it was. That Sunday Todd and I decided to check this place out! The service was amazing and I felt like the message was "JUST FOR ME." My friend Shannon showed us around we fell in love with the childrens area.

Later that day Todd went to visit his Uncle Aaron to go fishing, Aaron is also married to my Best friend Kay.

                                                         Aaron, Kay, Myself and Todd

Todd shared with Aaron and Kay his visit to CWC. He told them how welcome he felt, how upbeat the music was, that they have a wonderful Children program and how excited he was about finding a Church to attend.
Todds excitement peaked Kay's interest. She talked to Donna and I more about the Services. The best part for her was they had a service @ 11:15. Tiffany was getting baptized the very next Sunday so Donna invited us to attend.

                                         Chet, Brenda (Shannon's Mom) and Donna @ Tiff's Baptizem

Aaron, Kay, Todd, all the kids and I went to Tiffany's baptizem. When we picked up the kids after service we asked how they liked it. Douglas said "I thought it was going to be boring, but it wasn't" The girls LOVED IT! Dalton said "I want to come here every Sunday!!"

All 4 of us have decided this is the place for us to be!

God preformed this Chain Reaction!!!

In Love.......

I'm sitting here watching a love story on tv. I see 2 people totally in love with each other. That there's some kind of cosmic force drawing them together. That the love they have is untouchable.

I drifted back to almost 1 year ago, how I would watch movies like this and wish that I had that kind of love. The kind that warms you all the way to the bone, how every touch makes your body quiver inside and out. I would sit and cry my eyes out because I wanted a love like that. I wanted to be able to look into someones eyes and know that they truly loved me and wanted me. I had loved before, but it was younge love, lonley love, empty love and fearful love. I had been with men for all the wrong reasons in my life. I think there were times I just wanted company or just wanted to have someone like everyone else so I wouldn't be the third wheel. For so many years I was sad inside, lonley and just misrable! I would let them mistreat me talk down to me because I thought I would never deserve better.
I never felt warm, quivering, endless love.

Then I met him...................
The ONE! I had heard about him before that night, but I had no idea I would melt with 1 glimps from him. I was with someone else the night I first laid eyes on him. Months followed of the nightmare I was living. Every once in a while he would come to my mind. I would ask how he was or if he was seeing anyone. It took 8 months before we finally got to met again. That weekend was so magical! The closeness I felt to him, the comfert and the peace he gave me.

Weeks followed with only us talking on the phone till we met again. It only took weeks before I fell madly inlove with him! His touch made me quiver insde and out, his love warmed me to the bone. Just the look in his eyes made me weak in the knees! Finaly real true LOVE!
Now we have been together for 10 months, the best 10 months of my life! Everyday I feel the same, totaly and madly inlove with this wonderful man. I can't imagine my life even one day without him. He makes me feel special, needed, wanted, important, respected, whole, complete and most of all loved! My house finaly is full of love and warmth.

So now I can watch love stories and just love the film not wish or hope for a real true love because I already have one!



I LOVE YOU TODD STEPHENS!