Nerium

After loving how my skin felt, and the fact that my facial scars were diminishing, I decided to become a Nerium Brand Partner after less than two months of using Nerium.  I joined in July, and 4 1/2 months later I have earned an iPad, a Lexus car, and now make more than I did working full-time with a college degree.  

I love how God brought Nerium into our lives this summer and fall, just at the right time!  It has been a huge blessing to our family and to our entire team, so I thought it was worth a blog post.  

Today, 4 1/2 months later, I am an Executive Director, and I love that I can be home with Grey and contribute to our family's finances!  Double bonus!!

www.saraherwin.nerium.com

20 Months and a snowy weekend!

Our little miss turned 20 months on Friday, the day that our first winter blizzard arrived.  We quickly learned that cold weather and snow are not on Grey's favorite things list.  Yay for something she gets from ME! :) 

We bundled up bright and early this morning and drove (don't knock it…it was -2 degrees out with windchill) the 1/4 mile to our neighborhood park, with real camera in tow.  We had Grey all dressed up and even curled her hair.  I just knew we would capture precious snowy day photos of her running and playing in the beautiful white wonderland.  

We should have been clued-in to how it would go when she screamed bloody murder to just put her big jacket on.  And forget gloves or a hood.  By the time the wet cold stuff touched her boots she lost it.  I mean.  LOST IT.  

So we drove back home and decided to slowly introduce the snow to her.  We let her stare out the doors and windows for a few hours, and attempted to get her to touch it (which she would never do willingly).  Finally I donned a hat and she wanted to do the same.  Daddy decided we could try to build a snowman in our front yard.  She still didn't want anything to do with the snow, and begged to be let into daddy's pick-up to watch Daddy work, but at least we got her exposed.  Maybe next year?

Cold weather IS for the birds, honey.  I agree.

YAY for daddy's "warm" truck!

She knew she was tricked into the hat thing as soon as we stepped outside. ;)

Sweet girl was okay as long as we wouldn't make her step in the snow.

A couple weekends ago we had a friend photographer take a couple photos for us to use for a Christmas card.  We have been having such a crazy fall/winter, I think we may just do a New Year's card this year.  Grey was not in a photo taking mood, so photos were a bit tough that morning.  Kendra was quite a rockstar for even getting a couple out of our mini-shoot.  

Erwin Family, Fall 2013

As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.  

Colossians 2:6-7

Halloween 2013... a wee bit late ;)

I knew I wouldn't be able to post these until November...and I didn't surprise myself at that. ;)

I would certainly not miss out on posting the cutest wittle Bop Kitty I have ever laid my eyes on though, even if I am late!

Getting her costume on required pulling teeth, new gray hairs popping from my head, lots of bribery chocolate and tears from more than just the toddler...but once she had it on and realized she was a KITTY, she ate.it.up.  We let her paint our faces with quite a few "whiskers", which she thought was the best part of the day!  She meowed and meowed in the cutest squeaky voice and LOVED being "Bop Kitty"!  Such a fun parenting moment for us to see her enjoy the evening as much as she did.

About to go trick-or-treating in our wagon!

We got back all sugared up and she was peek-a-boo kitty around the house.  

Kisses for Da!

Oh how I love our Boppy Bunny and Bop Kitty Princess. ;)

This past weekend we had our friends Brittney and Jessica in for our annual Tech game together.  Tough outcome, but such a GREAT weekend with friends regardless. 

November started out wonderful!  Grey is loving school, we are enjoying the last bit of the year that isn't super chilly, Christmas decor is going up, Chet's job is such a blessing and he's so happy to be in a better company, and I love my job! (I earned my Lexus with Nerium last month, and business is going great!)  

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.  Psalm 37:5-6

a glimpse into the life of a 19 month old

Grey is...
Full of spirit
Full of opinions
Full of giggles
Full of fight (we started our assertive 2s a bit early)
Learning to say more words each week (praise the Lord)
Always excited to try new things
Loving to read to herself and to us
Loving to interact with other children
Loving her new school

I took these photos on the 23rd, because Grey had her first ever round of hand, foot & mouth disease (YUCK!), so she was extremely grumpy on the 22nd.  They all turned out blurry with bad lighting, but at least I captured her personality (and her pumpkin shirt from Crafty Momma Amanda - check her work out on Facebook).  We have started to use essential oils in our home, and I believe the combination of coconut oil/lavender oil baths with frankincense and thieves in our diffuser reduced the duration and severity of HFM by a lot.  Within three days her nasty blisters were GONE.  Thank you Jesus for an "easy" time with HFM.

Saying goodbye before I left on Friday

Grey spent this weekend with her Daddy while I met my sister and friend Blair in Dallas for Jen Hatmaker's Reckless conference.  Jen can bring it!  Whew...the truth she spoke was life-changing - as I knew it would be.  Meeting Jen was on my bucket list...and guess what?  She is even more real (if that's possible), in person.  Let's just say Mark 2:22 had me thinking the whole drive home today.

I, of course, gave her an awkward hug and forgot everything I wanted to say.  You also probably knew that would happen.

I have loved soaking in Grey's little toddler self this fall.   It has been very challenging at times, but watching her master a new skill or giggle until she's crying makes every moment worth it.  She is SO full of life.  Our Savior has used my daughter to teach me a lot about patience, but even more about joy.

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

Season of changes

releasing balloons.  looking up.  remembering our hold and all of our hope baby friends.

October 15th

National Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Day

We certainly don't need a special day to remember our son in heaven, though we love that there IS a day for the world to remember and learn more.  Holden and all of his friends in heaven are so very loved.  Three years ago yesterday, we joined the Midland Memorial Walk for Babies.  What a God we serve to change so much for His glory since then.

Green chili chicken chili is in the crock pot, my little love is couch napping, I'm ignoring the laundry in the dryer and the endless emails that need my attention... and acting like I have a few minutes to blog.  Let's see how long this lasts ;).  

This month has been probably the craziest season of change in our entire marriage (moreso than moving this summer).  We pulled Grey from the school she was at, due to several things, but mostly it just wasn't the fit we had hoped it would be.  That made me very sad, but we knew we had to be her parents before any loyalties to any place.  (Because of that, I am no longer teaching the Jumpstart Reading program there either.)  We trusted God knew what was best, and the very next day a spot at an AMAZING Christian Children's Day Out came open for her.  This is the best fit for our daughter, and Grey is so much happier.  She even cried when I tried to get her to leave the other day.  Is there anything better to a Mommy's heart?! :) The CDO just so happens to be at the church we are likely to become members at too.  God is good.

Nerium has been such a huge financial blessing to our family, that I certainly do not need to be teaching right now.  The hour or so I commit to Nerium each day has almost equaled the full-time salary I made at the college before staying home with Grey.  It's crazy to think I've only done this for three months.  Chet and I are so glad I started this fun journey.  I love that I can be a Mommy while contributing to our family in this way.

  

Yesterday, Chet accepted a position with a different wireline company.  He was offered quite a few positions this past week (he's pretty awesome like that!), so we had big decisions to make.  He chose the one that would allow us to stay here in Lubbock, which of course makes me very happy.  He will also get most weekends off...umm...we may not even know what to do with Daddy around that much.  PRAISING GOD!!  

I love how our needs are known by the Lord before we ever even know that we need them.  Grey is taken care of in the best atmosphere, and Chet's hard work and dedication have paid off hugely.  We are blessed more than we deserve.

So much to thank God for as we settle into our lives here.  

This fall and winter have wonderful things in store.

PS  I keep getting asked if I am pregnant.  The answer: no.  The top in the above photo is blousy and it was super windy yesterday.  Thanks for asking though. lol 

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.  

Philippians 4:19