My mom wears many titles but I like the one I call her by the most. I want to take a moment to tell a story of love, forgiveness and redemption!
My parents got married somewhat young and I'm sure they both thought it would be "happily ever after" as they were declaring their I do's but that just wasn't the case. Several months after getting married they found themselves pregnant with their first child. It wasn't long after that my dad became unfaithful... with more than one woman. Then they had their second. I can only imagine how hard it must have been for my mother to be in love with a man who wasn't in love with her in return. Then I came along... possibly the worst timing ever. I'm sure there were moments she or both of them wished they hadn't had me. Not because I was a bad child but because it added one more complication to the marriage.
My dad resigned from his job as a pastor which he should have done!!! He decided from that moment on he would never be in ministry again because he didn't want to disappoint people again. I'm sure people treated as a disappointment because he didn't have a good track record for making good decisions.
As time when on my dad became an alcoholic and was still unfaithful to my mother. After receiving a call from my dads girlfriend telling her that she was marrying my dad and their was nothing my mom could do about it she decided she had had enough. She waited, prayed and hoped for years that my dad would do right but she saw no end in sight. They filed for divorce. I will never forget the day she told him... I had never heard my parents argue (which is crazy considering the hardships of their relationship).
So we moved to Kentucky and my mom broken as she was showed us kids that God's strength really is perfect in our weakness. My dad called her and told her he was marrying someone else... she hung up the phone and the enemy filled her mind with thoughts of "who will ever want me, what church would ever want me, I'll never be able to minister again...". Then God gave her this scripture Psalm 4:4 4Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.
She decided she would not let my dad even see her face. A few short months later my dad was married and that lasted about two weeks. He called my mom and said to her "anna, I know I've made mistakes and I understand if you don't want me but if you'll have me I would like to put our family back together again". As she stood their looking out the back door window God brought Psalm 4:4 back to her memory STAND IN AWE and sin not. My mom had done all she could to help my dad be the man he should be. To help him be a good dad, to help him be a good husband but God didn't need her help. He wanted her to be STILL and know that HE was God.
So we moved back to Ohio and my parents got remarried and I wish I could say that was the end of hardship for my mother but it wasn't. My dad became a severe alcoholic and for those of you who have been around people like that it's not fun. Years pass by and I'm sure my mom wondered why she came back but GOD knew what HE was doing.
One night as my dad was sleeping God gave Him a dream. In his dream he was walking through the house and he could see that the holy spirit was upon him. God brought him to a room full of people to a plate of cookies (yes cookies) and he picked one up and broke it in half. Then he handed half to a person and when he looked back at the cookie it was whole again. So he fed the people. Then he woke up and that moment was the moment my dad was transformed! He prayed all night while listening to worship music. He never looked back!
Many many years roll by and my dad was still going strong in christ but people still rejected him because of his past. People couldn't forgive his mistakes or his past behaviors. So my parents were sitting around talking about church and my mom says "why don't we start a church". That was the beginning of a ministry that would not only change peoples lives but be used to save peoples lives literally and figuratively.
I share all this because my mom lived a life of forgiveness, grace and kindness and my father left his past behind him many lives have been affected. No one chooses to go through hardship, sadness and trails but GOD always creates purpose out of it. Not only is my momma an inspiration to all woman (especially those who can relate to her story) but she is apart of great union that God has uses mightily! My parents are amazing people! My father though his past transgressions were many God has used Him to bring hope to those who haven't been "perfect". People who have pasts or maybe even present day issues... THERE IS HOPE! My dad no longer has to think about people at church rejecting him because of his past because we have a church where everyone is accepted the way they are. That doesn't mean you excuse sin or approve of it but it means that you LOVE people ... really LOVE them for who they are!
It's mothers day and I love my mother more than words could even express but I also love that she stood by my dad through sickness and health, richer or poorer till death does them part. You don't see those kind of women often. I know that it was a hardship for our family but we would endure it all over again because we know what GOD has brought from it.
A big happy mothers day to my momma Anna Marie Brooks! I love you!!! To her second half, my dad, I can't wait till fathers day ;) I love you too!!!!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Friday, May 6, 2011
Cutting through the garbage
Well. Let me first start my saying this blog is actually about Melaleuca! If you don't want to read what I have to say then STOP right now and leave this blog!........
Why hello there! Thanks for sticking around and reading this! I want to start by saying that I am an extreme person! I'm either all or nothing! Pretty sure I've always been that way but as I get older I see it even more. About 4 months ago I became a member of Melaleuca. I was actually pressured into it by my parents and was kinda mad about it to be honest. They had seen some really amazing results after taking the vitamins and felt like it would make us all lead healthier more vibrant lives. With Melaleuca there are no contracts and you can cancel anytime... plus get a refund which was EXACTLY what I had planned on doing!
Josh and I thought we would try it for ONE month and then get out and with the satisfaction guaranteed we knew we could get our money back on anything that we didn't like!
So our first shipment came in. We had gotten then kids body wash and kids shampoo along with some other things. London has had little bumps all over her skin since birth and nothing ever worked on removing them so we just thought thats the way her skin was. Within TWO days my kids bumps were gone! I was almost to prideful to make the phone call to my dad to tell him this amazing story! lol! All the products we ordered that month blew us away. The next month we focused on cleaning supplies and I couldn't believe how well the worked and how long they can last! Melaleuca is the #1 company in the world for concentrating! I loved that they were safe for my home and that my kid could drink a bottle of it and it wouldn't hurt her! I also loved that everything came super concentrated so I spent less money and it's better for the environment (which if I'm being honest isn't my biggest concern :/). I came home one day and london got spaghetti sauce ALL over her brand new tank top (lime green and white tank). I thought for sure it was ruined because I am THE worst stain remover ever!! I sprayed sol-u-mel on it which is a stain remover and it literally FELL OFF the tank! I could NOT believe it!
Every thing we have bought has been like this!
The thing is Melaleuca is not asking you to spend new money. They are saying shop at Melaleuca instead of Walmart or Kroger or if your in the south The Piggly Wiggly! Since I have joined I have researched this company! They truly care about peoples lives! Encouraging them to not use credit card, to pay off all your debt, to spend less and make more (which is easy to do with Melaleuca). I'm not trying to get you to join by this blog. I just want to clear up some myths! This IS NOT a multi-level marketing company! This is a consumer direct marketing company. Here is what that means:
Direct Selling, Party Plan and MLM vs. Consumer Direct Marketing
Direct Selling, Party Plan and Multi-Level Marketing are probably the
three most common "business opportunities" in motion today. If you are
selling products, doing home parties or stocking inventory, you are
probably in one of these three categories.
Maybe you know what category you are in and maybe you enjoy what you
do. However, do you know the difference between these three categories
and Consumer Direct Marketing?
If one of the following points do not apply to you, consider the ones
that do and why they make sense.
1. Many companies in these first three categories require you to stock
inventory and sell products.
With Consumer Direct Marketing, you do NOT have to stock inventory or
sell products because customers shop directly from the manufacturer
through a catalog and toll-free number, or a secure website online.
The company delivers the products through a local carrier, e.g. UPS,
directly to the customer's door, so you never have to take any orders
or make any deliveries. Have you ever recommended a good book or
restaurant to a friend or family member? What if you could get PAID
for recommending a great store? Since every customer has an ID number
and personal Marketing Executive, you get credit for all of your
Primary and Secondary referrals in an "expanding organization". This
means that you have the potential of getting paid for customers you
may never meet as a result of your Primary referrals.
2. Many companies in these first three categories pay you in a
descending commission structure. For example, you might get paid 7% on
your first level, but then 6% on your 2nd, 5% on your 3rd, 4% on your
4th, 3% on your 5th, 1% on your 6th and maybe half or a quarter of 1%
on your 7th. Where do you think most of your customers are in ANY
matrix? They're on your 5th, 6th and 7th level! This means that you
need a lot of customers for a small check.
With Consumer Direct Marketing, you are paid a consistent percentage
for ALL generations. So, you don't need as many customers to earn
significant income.
3. Many companies in these first three categories do NOT have
reasonable pricing on their products. You may be able to buy
wholesale, but then you have to turn around and sell the products at a
higher, retail price, which can be more expensive than store brands.
With Consumer Direct Marketing, customers have a personal wholesale
account and order directly from the company. Since the company pays
YOU for your word-of-mouth referrals instead of advertising agencies,
the pricing is reasonable and more research and development is
directed to the products.
4. Many companies in these first three categories have a large sign-up
fee or start-up cost. Even if YOU could afford to get started, those
you contact may not.
With Consumer Direct Marketing, everyone is simply a customer and
opens a REFUNDABLE $29 membership, which provides the right to buy at
wholesale prices along with many other membership benefits. That's
cheaper than Costco and you don't even have to buy in bulk. You simply
order what you want and need. Plus, your membership and every product
is 100% REFUNDABLE, so you and those you know can give it a test-drive
without any financial risk.
5. Many companies in these first three categories require you to buy
and sell products that you or your customers sometimes may not need or
want. If your customers stop ordering, you stop getting paid.
With Consumer Direct Marketing, you are purchasing NECESSITY items
that are better performing, safer (non-toxic) and less expensive than
most store brands. People are simply switching stores and using
products that they are already committed to purchasing somewhere
anyway. This means a practically recession-proof business because your
customers will need to re-order these CONSUMABLE necessity items each
and every month. This is true residual income!
With Melaleuca you don't have "Parties" at peoples houses. You don't purchase inventory! You refer customers and then Melaleuca does the rest! They order straight from Melaleuca! People don't clean with purses, they don't need jewelry but everyone brushes their teeth, washes their clothes, and cleans their houses (hopefully). SWITCH STORES thats it!
Here is a question for you? If you watched a GREAT movie or ate a restaurant that you LOVED wouldn't you tell your friends and family to check it out? Of course you would! Thats what I'm doing! Check it out! It's the bomb.com! At the end of the day I don't care if you decide you don't like it. It's no risk to you to at least be informed BUT what if it changed your life? What if you became healthier and your home became safer? These aren't ridiculous priced items that no one can afford. They are better performing products then grocery store brands and you will be spending usually the same or sometimes even less with Melaleuca!
Ok. I rest my case. I'm sick of people talking about it as a get rich quick scam or all the other things that uninformed people are saying. Be informed before you hate on something you don't even understand or know! For those of you that live your lives being critical of EVERYTHING... well, I feel sorry for you. How do you ever enjoy anything? Life is meant to be enjoyed!
ps. If I've offended you then I'm sorry! My life has been changes by this company and I'm not afraid to defend it!
Peace and blessing be with you ;)
Why hello there! Thanks for sticking around and reading this! I want to start by saying that I am an extreme person! I'm either all or nothing! Pretty sure I've always been that way but as I get older I see it even more. About 4 months ago I became a member of Melaleuca. I was actually pressured into it by my parents and was kinda mad about it to be honest. They had seen some really amazing results after taking the vitamins and felt like it would make us all lead healthier more vibrant lives. With Melaleuca there are no contracts and you can cancel anytime... plus get a refund which was EXACTLY what I had planned on doing!
Josh and I thought we would try it for ONE month and then get out and with the satisfaction guaranteed we knew we could get our money back on anything that we didn't like!
So our first shipment came in. We had gotten then kids body wash and kids shampoo along with some other things. London has had little bumps all over her skin since birth and nothing ever worked on removing them so we just thought thats the way her skin was. Within TWO days my kids bumps were gone! I was almost to prideful to make the phone call to my dad to tell him this amazing story! lol! All the products we ordered that month blew us away. The next month we focused on cleaning supplies and I couldn't believe how well the worked and how long they can last! Melaleuca is the #1 company in the world for concentrating! I loved that they were safe for my home and that my kid could drink a bottle of it and it wouldn't hurt her! I also loved that everything came super concentrated so I spent less money and it's better for the environment (which if I'm being honest isn't my biggest concern :/). I came home one day and london got spaghetti sauce ALL over her brand new tank top (lime green and white tank). I thought for sure it was ruined because I am THE worst stain remover ever!! I sprayed sol-u-mel on it which is a stain remover and it literally FELL OFF the tank! I could NOT believe it!
Every thing we have bought has been like this!
The thing is Melaleuca is not asking you to spend new money. They are saying shop at Melaleuca instead of Walmart or Kroger or if your in the south The Piggly Wiggly! Since I have joined I have researched this company! They truly care about peoples lives! Encouraging them to not use credit card, to pay off all your debt, to spend less and make more (which is easy to do with Melaleuca). I'm not trying to get you to join by this blog. I just want to clear up some myths! This IS NOT a multi-level marketing company! This is a consumer direct marketing company. Here is what that means:
Direct Selling, Party Plan and MLM vs. Consumer Direct Marketing
Direct Selling, Party Plan and Multi-Level Marketing are probably the
three most common "business opportunities" in motion today. If you are
selling products, doing home parties or stocking inventory, you are
probably in one of these three categories.
Maybe you know what category you are in and maybe you enjoy what you
do. However, do you know the difference between these three categories
and Consumer Direct Marketing?
If one of the following points do not apply to you, consider the ones
that do and why they make sense.
1. Many companies in these first three categories require you to stock
inventory and sell products.
With Consumer Direct Marketing, you do NOT have to stock inventory or
sell products because customers shop directly from the manufacturer
through a catalog and toll-free number, or a secure website online.
The company delivers the products through a local carrier, e.g. UPS,
directly to the customer's door, so you never have to take any orders
or make any deliveries. Have you ever recommended a good book or
restaurant to a friend or family member? What if you could get PAID
for recommending a great store? Since every customer has an ID number
and personal Marketing Executive, you get credit for all of your
Primary and Secondary referrals in an "expanding organization". This
means that you have the potential of getting paid for customers you
may never meet as a result of your Primary referrals.
2. Many companies in these first three categories pay you in a
descending commission structure. For example, you might get paid 7% on
your first level, but then 6% on your 2nd, 5% on your 3rd, 4% on your
4th, 3% on your 5th, 1% on your 6th and maybe half or a quarter of 1%
on your 7th. Where do you think most of your customers are in ANY
matrix? They're on your 5th, 6th and 7th level! This means that you
need a lot of customers for a small check.
With Consumer Direct Marketing, you are paid a consistent percentage
for ALL generations. So, you don't need as many customers to earn
significant income.
3. Many companies in these first three categories do NOT have
reasonable pricing on their products. You may be able to buy
wholesale, but then you have to turn around and sell the products at a
higher, retail price, which can be more expensive than store brands.
With Consumer Direct Marketing, customers have a personal wholesale
account and order directly from the company. Since the company pays
YOU for your word-of-mouth referrals instead of advertising agencies,
the pricing is reasonable and more research and development is
directed to the products.
4. Many companies in these first three categories have a large sign-up
fee or start-up cost. Even if YOU could afford to get started, those
you contact may not.
With Consumer Direct Marketing, everyone is simply a customer and
opens a REFUNDABLE $29 membership, which provides the right to buy at
wholesale prices along with many other membership benefits. That's
cheaper than Costco and you don't even have to buy in bulk. You simply
order what you want and need. Plus, your membership and every product
is 100% REFUNDABLE, so you and those you know can give it a test-drive
without any financial risk.
5. Many companies in these first three categories require you to buy
and sell products that you or your customers sometimes may not need or
want. If your customers stop ordering, you stop getting paid.
With Consumer Direct Marketing, you are purchasing NECESSITY items
that are better performing, safer (non-toxic) and less expensive than
most store brands. People are simply switching stores and using
products that they are already committed to purchasing somewhere
anyway. This means a practically recession-proof business because your
customers will need to re-order these CONSUMABLE necessity items each
and every month. This is true residual income!
With Melaleuca you don't have "Parties" at peoples houses. You don't purchase inventory! You refer customers and then Melaleuca does the rest! They order straight from Melaleuca! People don't clean with purses, they don't need jewelry but everyone brushes their teeth, washes their clothes, and cleans their houses (hopefully). SWITCH STORES thats it!
Here is a question for you? If you watched a GREAT movie or ate a restaurant that you LOVED wouldn't you tell your friends and family to check it out? Of course you would! Thats what I'm doing! Check it out! It's the bomb.com! At the end of the day I don't care if you decide you don't like it. It's no risk to you to at least be informed BUT what if it changed your life? What if you became healthier and your home became safer? These aren't ridiculous priced items that no one can afford. They are better performing products then grocery store brands and you will be spending usually the same or sometimes even less with Melaleuca!
Ok. I rest my case. I'm sick of people talking about it as a get rich quick scam or all the other things that uninformed people are saying. Be informed before you hate on something you don't even understand or know! For those of you that live your lives being critical of EVERYTHING... well, I feel sorry for you. How do you ever enjoy anything? Life is meant to be enjoyed!
ps. If I've offended you then I'm sorry! My life has been changes by this company and I'm not afraid to defend it!
Peace and blessing be with you ;)
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