Guess What's Coming?

Image Credit: wehearit.com

Sorry folks.  I am getting really excited and I just wanted to remind everyone that CHRISTMAS isn't too far off!  YES!  Anyone who knows me...knows that I love CHRISTMAS (and the fall).

My Beautifully Sweet Girls...

So, these are my beautiful girls.  For this blogs sake, we will call them Kate, Grace and Rose.  Many of you know them, but some of you don't.  I just wanted to introduce them to all of you because this is my blog and they are the BIGGEST part of my life.  Kate is 14. Grace is 6 and Rose is 4.  I consider them all to be my babies.  I wish more than anything I could bottle them up and keep their voices, giggles, smells and sweetness and keep it all forever.  It's bittersweet really, they grow which is great, but also sad all at the same time. I honestly want them to stay where they are FOREVER. I love being their mommy even on the worst of days and through the worst of tantrums.  They are the main reason I get up every day and try my hardest.  Kate...the oldest is a bit introverted and outgoing all at the same time.  She is very sweet and she aims to please everyone.  She is strong in her faith and her convictions.  She is a great student when she applies herself.  She is known to be a little lazy when it comes to her chores and schoolwork.  She is very good at writing and that makes me so proud. I am certain she has a long road of success in front of her though. She loves reading, comic books, music, painting and drawing.  She started high school this year and I must admit I am not ready for it.  I have concluded that I must give her more freedom and help her grow in independence.  As our first and only child for seven years, we did everything for her.  She was our sole focus.  It was a huge benefit to her and downfall to her too.  I have lightened my grip on the leash and I have decided that I have to do her a favor by treating her like a teenager and not a seven year old.  She now walks to school every day and she just went to her first high school football game this Friday night and loved it!  Nobody, but her friends went with her.  What?!  People who know me know that is unheard of.  She is a great big sister and I think God knew what He was doing when He gave her to us first.

Next, is Grace...she is SIX!  This little girl is a mess.  She came out of the womb claiming what she wanted and demanding attention. She will not settle for anything, but perfection. I joke and tell everyone that she was born with heels on, a tutu, a boa, diamond earrings and a tiarra!  No, but seriously.  She is the biggest diva and she believes she is Queen B. She wants what she wants and will find a way to get it.  She does melt my heart. She has a strong sense of fashion and will stand as I do my makeup watching me intently.  She loves, loves and loves EVERYONE!  She is a nurturer and a lover.  She will kiss you all day, rub your feet, scratch your back and even tend to those who are sad or hurt. From the time she was little, she loved dress-up and sparkle!  The bolder and brighter something is, the better.  For her it is go big or go home!  She is known for some quite dramatic temper tantrums and so we are learning how to deal with this.  However, she is one of the sweetest and most loving kids I have ever known and I have known many kids throughout my life. She is determined and I think she will be a HUGE success in life also. If I ever needed it, I know this little girl would take care of me.

Finally, is Rose.  She is four and she won't stop growing.  If you have ever seen the movie, Family Man with Nicholas Cage...she talks just like the little girl in the movie.  It is so precious...how can I correct her words?  She is my little firecracker.  She is the sassiest of all of my girls.  I do not know how she surpassed Grace in sass!  She's up for just about anything and doesn't sweat the small stuff too much.  She is my little love bug and cuddler. She loves baby dolls. Baby dolls are her most favorite thing in the world along with Mickey Mouse.  The more baby dolls she has, the better.  She really looks up to her sisters and I would say her and Grace are best friends and will probably remain so throughout life since they are so close in age.  They play well together most of the time. In her dads eyes, she can do no wrong.  She is his sweet baby!  She is slowly beginning to pick up on the desire for tiara's, jewelry, lipstick, pocket books and heels.  She has completed my family. She was the missing piece to our puzzle and I could not be any more happy that she is mine. She is still figuring herself out.  We are trying to figure her out too...I am sure that will happen in time.  

Thanks for letting me share with you about my girls...my joys...my completeness.  Now, when I mention them in these blogs, you will know who I am talking about.  

RODAN + FIELDS Redefine - Anti-Aging Line...

This beautiful line is called Redefine by Rodan + Fields.  This regimen is for anti-aging...it can literally help you to age backwards!  There are thousands upon thousands of people out there who are using this and who have used this regimen who have proven results.  I welcome YOU to Google...Rodan + Fields Redefine Results.  You will literally be blown away.  I have been using this line for several weeks along with the Rodan + Fields reverse regimen and I am beginning to really see some results.  Whether you already have intense wrinkles or fine lines, this regimen is for YOU! Maybe you don't have that many lines or wrinkles, but you are in your 30's or 40's and you are worried about aging, this line is for YOU!  This is literally changing lives and it can change yours. 

This line includes:

A Daily Cleansing Mask - Step 1

Pore Minimizing Toner - Step 2

Trip Defense Treatment - Step 3 for a.m.

Triple Defense Treatment - Step 3 for p.m.

There are a few add-ons as well, they are:

The AMP MD Roller - this is amazing - it builds collagen and helps you maximize your product results.

The Night Renewing Serum - these little blue capsules contain a time release anti-aging serum which work all night to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and pores for more youthful skin.

The Multi-Function Eye Cream - this product consists of a multi-peptide technology which combats the signs of aging around the eyes.

Acute Care - this product has Liquid Cone Technology which target expression lines with line-defying hyaluronic acid and peptides which will visibly reduce wrinkles in just a matter of four weeks.  If you have every considered Botox, please give this a try first!

Macro Exfoliator - Reclaim your skins radiant glow with this product by removing thousands of dead skin cells.  It is clinically proven to improve skin texture after only one use.

If aging is an issue for you or if you don't want it to become an issue for you, THIS is the skincare you need.  There is a 60 day empty bottle money back guarantee.  If you sign up at https://ashema.myrandf.com as a Preferred Customer, you will get 10% off all orders and free shipping on all orders!  Are you kidding me?  What do you have to lose except wrinkles?

Good, Good Father...

Image Credit: prayerpartner and What Christians Want to Know

This is powerful, mind-blowing and awesome!  Think about this...I am His no matter what! Nothing can separate me from Him...NOTHING!  No action I commit, no word I say, no unfaithfulness on my part, no distance I put between us...NOTHING!  Understand, God is consistent and unchanging.  He cannot change who He is nor can I.  He is constant, steady, abiding, permanent, perpetual, eternal and enduring to name a few.  Unlike us, He cannot be what He is not. 

One important thing about God’s immutability is that “His mercy ceases not, for it is ‘everlasting” (Psalm 100:5).   If you have repented and put your trust in Jesus Christ, then you have received His mercy and that mercy isn’t dependent upon how well you perform or how little you sin.  That’s good news for humans.  That the mercy of God is “everlasting” is a comforting thing.  To know that He doesn’t change His mind about us is reassuring because we often have doubts but God knows the future…the end from the beginning.  Once you are saved, then you will never change your eternal destiny for you have eternal life and can never face the corruption of sin, decay or death again one day.

Hallelujah!  Can I get a witness here?  I am FOREVER His!  I am my Father's Child!  Because of Jesus Christ and who God is, I always will be.  His love for you doesn't depend on you. His desire for you doesn't depend on you.  His promises to you don't depend on you.  His covenant with you doesn't depend on you.  His acceptance of you as His child doesn't depend on you (once you have received Jesus as your Savior).  His protection of you doesn't depend on you.  His desire to move and work in your life doesn't depend on you. This is the greatest news ever!  He is so faithful!  He is so good!

Let's Talk Makeup Must-Haves!

Yep, let's talk about makeup!  You may or may not know this, but many years ago I worked in skincare at a makeup counter as the counter manager in a retail store.  You may not know I went to school for cosmetology. Even in high school, I was always known for having my makeup done or "perfect".  So, I have some pretty strong opinions on makeup and whether it does or doesn't work! About half of the makeup I wear is store brand and the other half is higher end stuff. Generally, once I find something that works and works well, I stick with it.  I look for products that will last and that have quality characteristics.  For example, every eye shadow is not the same and not every mascara brush is wonderful...it's all about the brush/applicator.

• Recently, I discovered a great product called bareMinerals COMPLEXION RESCUE.  To me, it is not too heavy and not too light.  It provides just the right amount of coverage and trust me, I know my foundations.  It provides light to medium coverage and leaves a dewy glow to your face.  It is awesome!  It retails for right around $28.00, but mine has lasted forever and it's so worth it.  This foundation is described as follows: 

 The best of a BB, CC, and a tinted moisturizer, COMPLEXION RESCUE™ is formulated with  olive-derived squalane, marine botanicals, hydrating humectants trehalose and glycerin,    and coconut-derived ingredients to replenish, hydrate, nourish, and condition. While        unique water-   encapsulations give skin that instant burst of hydration. Additionally, this  product is dermatologist- tested, clinically tested, and hypoallergenic.  I am loving it! 

• I use a foundation brush, I am sure many are great, but I personally use the IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Plush Paddle Foundation Brush as pictured above.  I use it to apply the bareMinerals COMPLEXION RESCUE.  It just really smooths everything out and helps me achieve great coverage.  This brush which will last a very, very long time retails at about $48.00.  It's on the more pricey side. However, you can find it typically on eBay or often times there will be a special running at Ulta where you get several brushes for around $30-$40.  I took advantage of that!

• Now, to my FAVORITE!  Rodan + Fields Peptide Powder.  This really can be worn all by itself. It is AMAZING!  Re-read that name...Peptide Powder!  Collagen stimulating peptides are one of the most promising discoveries in the last few years when it comes to your skin.  Do you know what peptides are and what they do?  Peptides are chains of amino acids that are the building blocks of proteins in the skin. When peptides form a long chain of amino acids, they become proteins. When they are in a short chain of amino acids, they are able to penetrate the top layer of our skin and send signals to our cells to let them know how to function. One important protein in our skin is collagen. Collagen gives our skin its thickness and suppleness. When collagen breaks down in the skin (from age and environmental factors like the sun and stress), wrinkles form. Peptides applied topically to the skin can send a signal to collagen to prompt the formation of new collagen.  Makeup that can help you look younger?  Yes, please! This retails at $59.00.  However, this is a skin treatment and makeup all in one.  Not to mention, the brush comes with it!  Oh yeah. You can use this alone if you choose.  It's perfect! It lasts a really long time.

• Next, is bareMinerals Mineral Veil finishing powder.  I have used this for years!  I really just do a light dusting over my foundation and Peptide Powder.  It is translucent, but gives your skin a glow!  It glows!  Nothing can be wrong about that.  This product retails at about $20.00. You use very little so this product does last a long time.  This is more of an accent makeup you could add to your arsenal.

• Aaaahhhh, L'oreal eyeshadow #803.  I am in love!  I have used this for years and years as my eye shadow base color.  It's the first thing I put on my eyes before colored eye shadow, eye liner and mascara!  EVERYDAY!!!!  If I had to pick a  makeup item I have to have, this would be one. The L'oreal Wear Infinite Single Eye Shadow Seashell 803 is very hard to find these days. The one store where I was able to find it right near my home...no longer sells it. This is a problem...a big problem!  For base color eyeshadows, I like it a bit lighter than the skin with a whitish or creamy tone and no SPARKLE!!!  Everything has sparkle now.  I only use sparkle shadows or pearly shadows for my accent eye shadow colors!  I don't know why, but that's just how I like it.  It works for me! I really don't like all of the pearly eye shadows!  This little gem retails at about $5.00 - $8.00. I have found that there are a few places that sell it online.  I will be ordering this online.

• Revlon Colorstay Eye Liner is a miracle liner!  It literally will not come off all day and it won't get on your eyelid either throughout the day.  It's just a store brand, but it sure does the job! This retails at about $5.00 - $6.00.

• Drum roll please...the next awesome product is THE ONLY mascara I will wear - Covergirl Lashblast Mascara in the orange tube!  I am proof that you do not need expensive mascara to get beautiful lashes.  I get asked all of the time if I have fake lashes.  The answer is always no.  I believe that what makes a good mascara is the brush...the applicator.  It has to be the perfect brush and this mascara has it for me.  It comes in regular and waterproof formulas. I wear the regular unless attending a funeral.  This must have retails at about $6.00 - $7.00.

•  Another must have for me is the IT Cosmetics Brow Power Waterproof Perfector 5-  in-  1 Waterproof Eyebrow Pencil.  This find is a bit newer for me and I cannot do  without it.  I use the Universal Taupe color.  This is for anyone Anywho wants brow-  enhancing and conditioning benefits and wants to instantly create the look of  beautiful, resilient brows that won't budge or smudge and that stay until you decide  to take them off.  This product retails at about $24 - $28. I usually buy two at a  time.

•  Finally, I love Revlon Powder Blush!  To me it has great pigment and lasts all day.  Many store brand blushes that I have used do not offer much color that lasts once  applied.  The color is dull and the color doesn't last.  I am a very pale person so I  need a pop of color.  I can use other blushes, but I do prefer this one.  It retails at  about $8.00 - $10.00 depending on where you buy it obviously.  

    So, this is my daily makeup arsenal.  I may leave the house without doing my hair, but my makeup is something I take pride in...always have.  Some days are obviously better than others.  Give these products a try, I promise you won't be disappointed!

Some Wreaths and Other Things I've Made...

So, you are probably realizing by now that I love crafting.  I only do certain things though. Mostly, I create wreaths or some sort of arrangement.  I have also started painting furniture and distressing it a bit.  Just wait until Christmas!  I love, love, love decorating for Christmas!  If you haven't tried it, maybe you too would find some serenity in creating! Perhaps, I will do some tutorials eventually on how I make the wreaths.  I hope I will inspire you to try something new!

The Enemy Is Knocking...Don't Let Him In!

Image Credit: homeword.com

Obviously, marriage is a very important topic for me.  My husband and I recently went through some very trying times which led to about eight months apart.  During this time, my husband and I were both hurting and being hurt.  I was certain I was done with our marriage.  Our marriage almost ended…the divorce was almost final.  God was fully carrying me through this time as I was mourning the death of my marriage and my family. Even though I initiated the divorce, I was in so much pain.  God began re-shaping me and revealing to me many things…I know that now.  I know that every marriage has its share of issues and many of those issues can break your marriage.  Having been through this, I wanted to write about what I have learned and what got me through.  If you read the picture above, the last part speaks on the enemy. I firmly believe that the enemy is the sole cause for marriages falling apart.  He is literally battling your marriage every day.  You and your spouse are under attack daily and you may not even realize it. The enemy loves to bring tension, resentment, bitterness, disconnection, anger, unforgiveness, deceit, fights and even bad people into your marriage. The enemy got a HUGE grip on me before my separation as I was angry, bitter, withdrawn, full of blame and I rejected my husband at every turn.   I couldn't see past those feelings or the hurt I was carrying. While being separated from my husband for a time, I prayed every day…several times a day relentlessly.  Many prayers would last for hours.  I prayed for my husband, my marriage and myself.  I asked God to remove my husbands negative feelings toward me and I asked God to show me my emotions or behaviors that caused the downfall of my marriage.  I had a really hard time with that…He did some lengthy and revealing work on me.  I learned I was at least half of the problem...my attitude toward my husband and my beliefs about my husband which grew over time were probably more than half of the problem.  I asked God to show me the path He wanted my marriage to go down and to show me the TRUTH...His truth.  I even asked God to remove certain people from our lives that were a hindrance and who brought darkness into our marriage.  I just prayed and prayed along the entire way.  I turned to Him for comfort.  He wrapped His loving arms around me and helped me through the worst days of my life.  When He revealed to me that I was to stay in my marriage and showed me all of MY faults, I humbly reached out to my husband and asked if he would consider working things out.  The enemy didn’t win then!  However, the enemy is still trying to rip apart my marriage and my family just as he does yours.  There are still bouts of anger and resentment, distrust, there are temporary financial consequences, there are people who want to destroy my marriage and there are sometimes struggles to reconnect.  These things are all a result of our lengthy and destructive time apart. For me, there is jealousy and distrust right now. This is all the enemy!  He lurks working to tear apart the vow made and the people who made the vow.  In today’s world, he wins a lot!  People feel like walking out on their marriage is optional.  God did not leave you unequipped to fix your marriage and He is there to help you do your best in your marriage.  God provided you with His armor!  You wouldn’t believe the power of prayer.  JUST PRAY!  I do realize that people have their own free will or maybe there are some situations that are perhaps unforgivable such as abuse or ongoing affairs.  In those situations, maybe your marriage isn’t to be saved.  I don’t know that God put you here to be abused or to risk your health, but if you turn to Him...he will show you the way.  However, if you are a believer and those things are not occurring…please pray to your Father every day and night and turn the situation over to Him.  Ask him for clarity, strength, wisdom, patience and His purpose/will for your marriage.  He will show you!   It may take a few days, it may take eight months or it may even take years.  If you consistently pray, He will reveal His will to you.  Whatever you do, don’t let the enemy get to you.  Also, ask God to reveal to you your faults as a husband or wife and to help you see your spouse through His eyes.  He will.  I know, it happened to me.  I have no idea if my marriage will survive after the storm we just went through, but I know that I have placed it in God's hands and I know I am more ready than ever to make it work. I will do my best and there will be days that I fail tremendously, but I will get up and keep trying. I love my husband more today than I ever have.  God will handle your spouse, God will handle you and God will handle the enemy.  However, you have to invite Him in to do so!  You have to ask Him to come in…He will not force Himself on you or your marriage.  If you want to truly fight for your marriage, having God on your side is what you need.  He wants to help.  He wants to lead you.  He loves you!  Think about this...God is the author of marriage and he counts it as sacred.  Just don’t give up until you have truly put it in His hands and have given Him the chance to work on your marriage, your spouse and you!  Don’t let the enemy win!  

Subscribe...

Hey Everyone!  Thanks for visiting my blog.  I'd love for you to keep up with all that I have to say and everything I feel the need to share.  If you would, go over to the right hand side of this page and enter your e-mail address which will subscribe you to this blog! Wouldn't that be AWESOME?!  I definitely think so!  Just trying to get out there and inspire somehow.  Thanks!

His Love Sees Past My Darkest

Image Credit:  http://aswepersevere.tumblr.com/

What an amazing thought!  What an amazing truth!  God in His holiness and righteousness loves ME no matter how I behave.  He sees my heart…the good, the bad and the ugly and HE LOVES ME JUST THE SAME.  There is absolutely nothing I can do to make Him love me any less!  I am His child and He has an undeniable love for me.  I’ll be very honest here (that’s what I have promised you on this blog), I curse, I swear, I get jealous, I am selfish, I can be materialistic, I am angry sometimes and I am the furthest thing from spotless.  I do many of these things daily…hourly.  Some days are better than others.  Oh and let’s not even talk about driving to and from work every day!  Wow!  God sees all of that.  He sees what nobody else on this earth sees in me.  It can be really ugly.  At my darkest, He loves me!  Doing wrong and sinning is never okay and I must repent of that and ask Him for forgiveness even though I am His child.  I have to pray for Him to help me turn from those behaviors, but the beautiful thing is He loves me no less because of my sin!  He knows I am a sinner and He forgives even my worst moments and words because I have accepted His Son, Jesus Christ personally as my Savior.  God loves all of us.  He also loves those who are not yet His children.  He will see past your wrongs and your sin and see His son from the moment you accept His one and only Son, Jesus Christ as your Savior.  That means to understand, accept and have faith that Jesus is the only way to the Father.  Without Jesus and His shed blood on the cross which took His perfect human life, we would have no way to the Father.  But, Jesus’s blood literally washed us clean…His perfect, holy, untainted blood washed us clean.  He was a sacrifice for you and me!  So, once you accept Him and what He did and understand that there is no other way to be cleansed of your sin, God sees Him in us!  We are clean…spotless before God.  He cannot see our sin!  Jesus has claimed us and He claims us before almighty God.  We are as white and as pure as snow before Him once we have accepted His son.  Guess what, that forgiveness is FREE!  It costs us nothing…no works.  Jesus Christ redeemed us…He paid for us!  Jesus paid our sin debt in full.  Hallelujah! I love this from Hillsong United, “When justice came for all my debt, the Friend of sinners came instead.”  I will leave you with that!  

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things...

Image Credit: crafthubs.com, uncookiecutter.com, doorsixteen.com, allthingsheartandhome, jennysknitco, buypinecones.com, aimeeweaverdesigns, vintagefragment.blogspot.com, potterybarn.com, hgtv.com, decorsteal.com, jdwallingtons.com

Check out these lovely items.  These are things I absolutely love!  I love decorating and if I had a ton of money, decorating for me would never end and I would do so much more.  I have found that I am drawn to natural or more rustic elements as well as feminine and classic items.  I love mixing a rustic table or piece right next to a shiny mercury glass lamp or hurricane.  I love the little touches of elegance and sparkle right up against a more rustic piece.  I cannot get enough of it.  Some of my favorite places to shop for things like this are Cost Plus World Market, Pottery Barn, West Elm, Pier 1 Imports, Stein Mart, Kirkland’s, JoAnn’s, Family Tree Garden Center, Hobby Lobby and Michael’s to name a few.  Often times, I will go to Michael’s or Hobby Lobby and use my coupons to pick up cotton twigs, bundles of birch logs, items to make a wreath, frames and metal buckets or tins when they have them in stock.  Finding something great at a deal makes for a very proud moment for me.  I love to craft so if I can make an item for half the price, that’s what I’ll do and usually mine looks better to me anyway.  I find inspiration online or in stores and go with it!  I think…I can do this!  So, I try it.  Nowadays, I make all of my own wreaths and I love that touch of unique on my front door.  I am considering opening up an Etsy shop to sell these items that I love so much!  I want to expand on what I make and how I create.  So, give it a try…try a touch of natural with shine and sparkle!  It’s amazing!!!  

Oceans...

Image Credit:  WandererCreative on Etsy

So this…this is just a portion of one of my absolute favorite songs of all time...OCEANS!  I love when Hillsong United performs it. Taya Smith does the vocals on this song and I melt every single time. She has taken the most beautiful words and given them an angelic voice. To me, it’s about complete submission and faith in Jesus. It’s about complete surrender and keeping your focus on Him at all times.  I also believe it’s about how Jesus has you completely. He will not let you go! Trusting in Him even in the scariest and darkest of times will grow our faith and trust in Him.  It will draw us nearer to Him and Him nearer to us.  From this comes a stronger relationship with your Heavenly Father and your Savior.  Ultimately, isn’t that what we need, isn’t that we desire and isn’t that what we were made for? When everything around you is falling apart, call upon His name.  When you are drowning in despair, keep your eyes above the waves!  He’s always there!

Soothe Your Skin...

Aaaaaahhhh...SOOTHE!  Rodan + Fields Soothe Regimen is AMAZING!  It is proven to treat rosacea, sensitive skin and skin bumps.  It also helps treat eczema in adults and children as well as psoriasis.  It is perfect for adults, teens and children!  You do not have to live with anything less than beautiful!  Let me help you regain your confidence!  Remember, there is a 60 day money back guarantee!  Also, if you sign up as a Preferred Customer at https://ashema.myrandf.com, you will receive 10% off and free shipping!   

https://www.facebook.com/AdrienneShemaRF/

Did You Know?

Did you know that Rodan + Fields has a 60 day money back guarantee?  Oh and it's an empty bottle guarantee?  So, if you want to try Rodan + Fields and you don't love your results (which you will), you can get your money back!  Wow!  What do you have to lose? Contact me and I will definitely get you started on the right regimen.

https://www.facebook.com/AdrienneShemaRF/

Grace...a very beautiful thing.

Image Credit:  forverandalways27

Grace...what is it?  People can say grace.  My daughter's middle name is Grace. Ultimately, grace is God's undeserving love given to us by Him because of Him and who He is and not because of us or who we are or what we do.  We are sinners...we are fallen. He is pure, perfect, holy, good, loving, gentle, faithful, compassionate, loyal, humble, merciful, unchanging, fair and forgiving among many other things.  Did you just read all of those beautiful words?  Do you understand that all of those words are good and if God is all of those things...He too is good.  He is good beyond any thing we know to be good. When you compare the two...sinner/fallen to all of the very words used just now to descibe God...they are opposite like darkness and light.  We are in darkness...we are darkness.  He is the light!  So, if you look at the picture above, it reads..."It Makes No Sense, But This Is Grace".  Don't you see...Grace makes absolutely no sense!  It's almost beyond human understanding.  God is so pure and so holy and so good and so perfect - why would He EVER want anything to do with us?  Even the best person cannot come close to His goodness.  I heard it best said by Lecrae, our good works are like filthy rags to God. That has always stuck with me.  It is a powerful statement.  Just when I think I am doing good and maybe I think I am better than her or him and I compare myself to one I may perceive as more fallen than me, that statement smacks me back down to reality.  But for Him, I am NOTHING!  Because of who God is...He loves me.  Because of who God is...He desires me!  He actually desires ME!  He wants me to love Him.  He wants me to choose Him.  He wants me to desire Him.  God wants so desperately to be loved by us.  Do you understand that our filth will never let us be close to God?  Our filth will never permit us to enter into his presence?  We are saturated in darkness.  Light and dark cannot mix.  Do you understand that God's ultimate example and act of grace toward us was His son, Jesus?  Do you understand that God didn't want us to perish...He didn't want us to be eternally separated from Him?  However, because He created us to have free will and to be our own thinking people who make our own choices...we ultimately all sin and commit bad deeds.  Sin is our nature.  Sin is who we are.  But, for God's grace we can be seen as perfect, holy, pure and clean just like Him.  Because of God's grace we have a chance to be with Him. Because of God's grace we can approach him.  God's ultimate act of grace = Jesus!  He was a gift to us from God. He was sent ultimately to be a sacrifice for us.  I am sure it is hard for many to understand, but according to Christian faith and the Holy Bible, Jesus Christ never once sinned.  He was God in the flesh.  He was not a sinner although He was tempted and He was a human.  Back to grace...desperate for us to be with Him, God found the ONLY way for us to be with Him.  He sent His son here to earth to die for us as prophesied in the bible and since the beginning of time. He came down and was set apart from the rest of the world because He never sinned...He was God's only son.  God loved His son, but He also loved us.  Yes, His son was to be sacrificed.  He was born to be sacrificed for us...that was His purpose.  Do you know why?  His pureness is the ONLY thing that could cover us and wash us clean in the sight of God.  Jesus is the truth and the life and nobody gets to the Father, but through Him. Grace is something we do not deserve and something we did not earn.  Grace makes no sense!  Jesus died as planned on the cross as an innocent man and as the Son of God...spotless.  While He hung on that cross at Golgotha, our sins were all placed on Him. The purest of pure, the Holiest of holy, the spotless and sinless man was covered in our filth.  God felt sin.  Not only was His body dying, but His very soul and spirit were feeling filth and evil for the very first time.  The pain was something we cannot even comprehend as it was not just a physical death.  I often wonder if people grasp that the Holy of holy's was for a time covered in all of the evil acts, thoughts, lusts, etc that have ever occured and that will ever occur on this earth.  The acts of murderers, pedophiles, rapists, satanists, liars, drunks, adulterers, thieves along with all other sins were put on our God!  He felt that evil, He took it on for us!  He did it out of love for us and He did it to be obedient to His Father.  My mind is blown when I think about that.  My heart aches when I think about what Jesus must have felt when he was so undeservingly put on that cross.  I fall to my knees and thank Him for that sacrifice.  I fall to my knees and I thank my Father for His sacrifice and His GRACE!  That's how much He loves us. When Jesus bled, I was covered in and cleansed by His pure blood.  When He was buried, my sins were buried with Him.  At that moment, my choice to be my Father's was mine. Fast forward to now, I choose Him. I choose Jesus.  I choose to accept what He freely gave me.  The one and only thing I MUST do is understand, accept and confess what Jesus did for me on the cross at Calvary.  I must know He is the Son of God and that he is my Savior which means that without His death, I would have no forgiveness or redemption.  Now, I am seen as pure in God's sight. My Father can look on me.  My Father can hear me.  My Father and I can spend eternity together because of my choice to accept His gift of grace. Ultimately, grace = Jesus! Grace is FREE!  There is nothing I could do more and nothing I could do less to make Him love me any more.  That is grace!  I am so grateful that I have the choice to spend eternity with my Father. I am so grateful that God's love for me doesn't depend on me.  I am so grateful that He can look on me with love and see beauty. I am so grateful that because of what His son did for me, my wrongs are not held against me and they are forgiven.  I am undeserving, but He loves me just the same.  His grace is free to anyone and everyone who will accept it. It makes no sense and I cannot comprehend that kind of love, but it's real and it's there.  Thank you Father for your grace, love and mercy toward me.  Thank you for sending your very own Son as a sacrifice and payment for my sins. Thank you for giving me free will and I know and accept your Son as my Savior.  I know that through Him and His shed blood, I am forgiven.  Amen!

Best RODAN + FIELDS Giveaway Ever...EXTENDED!!!!

Image Credit: www.4hourbodygirl.com

Part of the reason I started my blog, An Inspired Peach is because I want to show you ladies (and men) that you can have beautiful skin. You can look in the mirror and like what you see! You can reverse the signs of aging and the appearance of sun damage.  I am doing it myself right now! I am amazed at my results. These products are changing skin and changing lives. I want to inspire you to be the best you that you can be. 

As many of you already know...I have extended my RODAN + FIELDS giveaway from last week. It went so well and so many people took advantage of the promotion, that I feel I must extend it! It is such a great value...why wouldn't you try the products? What is there to lose?  Included in this giveaway is:

• One award winning FREE full size eye cream from me which helps with puffiness, dark circles and fine lines/wrinkles
• 10% off your order
• Free Shipping on your order and it is delivered right to your home
• 60 Day Money Back Guarantee!!!
• $20 reimbursement from me for one-time membership fee

I am so confident in these products that I am giving away a full size product which retails at $60.00. That means, you won't have to buy this amazing product!  

Everyone that I know who works for Rodan + Fields is amazed at this offer. You cannot beat this deal. It runs for one more week...this week only! Beyond that, this offer does expire.

You pay for your nails to look nice, you pay for your teeth to look nice, you pay for nice clothes, shoes and handbags. Oh and let's not forget how much we pay to get our hair nice! Shouldn't your face look nice too? You only have one!

If you want to take advantage of this deal, you must go to https://ashema.myrandf.com and go to the Shop Skincare tab and from that pull down menu, select Preferred Customer Perks and then Enroll Now. Follow the steps...it's super easy and takes less than five minutes!  

Once you order, I will submit an order for your eye cream and put a $20 Visa gift card in the mail to you!  People are loving this!  You will too!

  

My Marriage...The Storm, The Rainbow and the Sun

Image Credit:  quotesgram.com

So, for my second post...I want to talk about my marriage and my husband! Today, is my husbands 45th birthday.  Woot, woot!  Happy Birthday Babe!  Nothing quite like putting it all out there for his birthday!  However, I am a real person and I am always going to be as real as possible with all of you. If my story can inspire or help you...that's what I want.  As I reflect on what I want to say or need to say, it came to me that my marriage lately has been a lot like the events of a storm during the summer in Georgia.  I think about how there is angry thunder, heavy winds, forceful rain and scary lightening.  A storm can bring about so much uncertainty.  At any moment, that storm can destroy so much.  Then, after that storm, often times there can be a rainbow which is a symbol of hope and promise. As the storm and the rainbow pass...the sun eventually shines again.  As many of you know, my husband and I have been through some very choppy waters recently. For us, our separation and near divorce was our ultimate storm. There have been moments in which our marriage almost didn't survive. For various reasons, I lost sight of my husband...the real him and at times, I felt he lost sight of me too. During our separation, we were saturated in anger toward each other and I had a perceived need to "protect" myself by basically tearing my husbands world apart...although at the time, I didn't see it that way. I assumed he was out to get me so I fought him even before the fight started. He didn't live at home anymore and financially, I was trying to get him to care for the children and me not considering how this would affect him. Also, past resentments and wounds left untended will do that...lead to unnecessary destruction. And just like sand, my marriage and my husband slipped through my fingers. I felt I was left holding nothing. I had never felt so desperate before.  I never felt so alone.  I had many people showing me compassion and love, but I was ultimately alone. The aching in my heart and the uncertainty I felt was mine and there was nobody else who knew exactly what I was feeling.  I was so angry, so hurt, so...everything!  Honestly, I think I just wanted to fight it out because I was so angry.  Mostly, I was confused even when I believed I knew what I was doing. Anyway, I turned to Him...to my Father.  I cried out in agony and desperation like I never had before and He was there!  He was embracing me! He was carrying me!  I was alone, but for Him.  He never left me!  He knew my pain, my internal struggle and He knew what was best for me.  My realization as to the depth of His very personal love for ME and my realization that I was truly His was life changing! Even though I had always known He loved me and I had always known I was His...He used this time to make it so crystal clear. For me, the anger began to subside as did the resentment and blame.  I began to look at myself and I began to observe my failures.  I had an epiphany really...I can only be in control of me.  I can only change me and I am solely accountable for my failures and wrongs!  For so long, I was so focused on my husband and my perception of his wrongs that he had been committing. Eventually, I could no longer see how my sense of superiority and righteousness brought me down and ultimately almost led to the demise of my marriage. I realized, it really didn't matter what he did...he was in control of him and I was in control of me.  I had to accept that focusing solely on him was wrong! During this painful separation and my time with God, I realized I had failed my husband as a wife even before our separation! I failed! I was selfish not selfless. I put me first not him.  I was too busy resenting him to even affirm him. Because he wasn't who I thought he should be based on what this Facebook world told me he was supposed to be, I took for granted a good man. Sure, he had faults and flaws, but that was all I could see...the smaller, more irrelevant things.  I prayed and I prayed and I prayed and God led me back to my husband. The thing is, he came back to me too!  That was the storm...our time apart and my growing pains. Then, came the rainbow...that's where we are right now.  I jumped back in full force ready to be the wife that God had called me to be.  My husband was more hesitant. but willing.  He was there, but not fully. He was and is so afraid.  Our rainbow is a time of healing, rebuilding, reconnecting and regaining trust.  It has proven to be a much slower process for him, but because I know my Father has brought us to this place, I have faith that my husband will ultimately fall in line with God's purpose in this.  This time has also included others deliberately attempting to destroy something that they have no business being a part of and that is a covenant between us and God.  You'd be amazed at the snakes who slither in the grass looking to deceive and strike.  Their attempts are constant and relentless.  Their darkness is so obvious to me and they know what they are doing, but still continue to do it.  The moral compass of those like this is non-existent.  But, there is a rainbow in the sky revealing God's promise.  Not even snakes can undo His promise.  Ultimately, I will stand by my husband and I believe he will stand by me.  In the end, I pray there will be sunshine just as there was before.  So, that's what I look to...that is my goal.  Let the sunshine in! Soon the storm will be a distant memory and an experience that only deepens our love for one another, the rainbow will fade and the sun will be shining so bright!  Oh how I look to those days.  I know they will come.  I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe that.  So, I am going to keep loving my Love!  I am going to keep looking to that rainbow and that sunshine and I will leave the snakes for God to handle!  I am grateful for God's mercy in this and for His healing.  Love is patient...love is kind. It keeps no record of wrongs.  Love NEVER fails!  Stay tuned...

Here I Am!

This is my...I can't believe it face!  I have a BLOG.  I have been considering starting a blog for some time now, but finally decided that now is the time.  I love to write and I have a lot to say.  Not to mention, I thought…why not inspire others?  Why not talk about this crazy thing I call my life?  So, be patient as I figure all of this out and thanks for coming to my page.  I hope you will take a look around and check back periodically to hear from "An Inspired Peach".