YOU BELONG

     I want you to take TWO short minutes to watch this video:  YOU BELONG

This is MY group.

This is where I BELONG.

November 20th, 2013 was the day that I went to my first Essential Oils 101 class.  I remember sitting there on the couch, learning about the oils and smelling each bottle that was passed my way.  I dove in that night and 7 days later I received my oils in the mail.  I was a believer within 24 hours and decided that I wanted to help get these oils into everyone's hands!

No one told me what I was getting myself into...

I didn't just get some oils from Young Living, I was welcomed into the Lemon Droppers group!  It was as if I got a second family...I started making friends left and right...I started talking to my new girlfriends all of the time!  Before the Lemon Droppers, I honestly felt a little bored and lonely.  I didn't have a job that I loved and I felt that I had no purpose...I thought that my only option was to eventually have kids and be a stay at home mom (not that this is a bad thing!...I just needed something until that time).  I really didn't know what to do with myself!  But........for the last 16 months, my life has totally changed!

I am ENCOURAGED.
I am LEARNING.
I am GROWING.
I am more CONFIDENT in myself.
I am developing my LEADERSHIP skills.
I am taking better CARE of myself.
I am a part of something BIGGER than myself.
I have TIME to be a good friend, sister, daughter, wife and (one day) mother.
I am able to HELP others.
I am able to support world MISSIONS.
I am more financially STABLE.
I am my own BOSS.
I am achieving my DREAMS (I've got a big Bucket List).

I am absolutely convinced that I am in the right place...

this is more than a business

We are changing lives...

I am a Lemon Dropper 

and THIS is where I BELONG :)

---Happy 2 year Oilyversary to my fearless leader, Lindsay Moreno...the Lemon Droppers are such a Blessing to Nick and me and I'm so thankful that we are a part of this group!!!

I'd LOVE to hear from some of my readers...where do YOU belong?!!?!?

I AM a teacher!!!!!

     Did you know that when I was in high school, I wanted to go to Cosmetology school?  Yep.  I LOVED cutting my Barbie's hair...later I upgraded to my friends' and sisters' hair (they totally trusted me).  I LOVED doing face masks, hair masks, face scrubs, manicures, pedicures, waxing my legs and all that good stuff.  I also learned to LOVE products that were safe and natural, without toxic chemicals.  However, even though I was interested in and passionate about this stuff, my parents said that I had to go to college and get a degree first...then I could go to cosmetology school.

     So, I applied for college.

     Did you know that I went to college to be an Elementary Education teacher?  Yep.  I started at Columbia International University...spent 1.5 years there.  Then I transferred to Francis Marion University...spent 3 years there.  The entire time I was in BOTH schools, I kept saying that I didn't like it...I didn't want to be a teacher...but, everyone would assure me that I would like it once I got my own classroom.  I wanted to quit.  But, I stuck it out.  I graduated.  I got my own classroom.  And do you know what?...I still didn't like it.  I didn't last long before I quit and moved on to other jobs.

     So, I quit teaching and I never went to school for cosmetology...for years, I felt like a failure...pretty much all of my 20s.

     But you know what happened last Friday???  I went to my old school here in Bolivia and substitute taught for the day.  From 8am-3pm, I was in the 2nd grade classroom and you know what I found?...I STILL don't like teaching...kids!!!!!!

     It's as if (all of a sudden) TWO things became very clear:

1.  It's true....I don't like teaching kids, but I DO like teaching (I was just in the wrong age group)!!!!!!!  I am organized, creative and a good communicator and I use that everyday...I teach people about finding wellness, beauty and financial freedom with Young Living Essential Oils.

AND

2.  It's true...I didn't go to cosmetology school, but I HAVE spent over a decade educating myself!!!!!!  I read and research (almost daily) about caring for our bodies through clean living and safe, natural products...I implement what I learn in my own life and teach others to do so.

    I realized, looking back, that God saw the big picture and had this all planned out from the very beginning...HE took my passion, combined it with my degree and put me in my SWEET SPOT!  

     So, I AM a teacher...I hereby declare myself a Wellness, Beauty & Financial Freedom Teacher...and you know what?!?!?!?...I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!

Subbing 2nd Grade

10 Years With Nick Stewart

     Sometime, during the Spring of 2005, I went to Charleston, SC to interview for a summer job in the Magic Kingdom.  Mark Temple and Spence Romine picked me up in Columbia, SC where I was attending Columbia International University.  

2005, while working in the Magic Kingdom

 Before my interview began, I met Nick Stewart.  I honestly don't remember what I was thinking...I had been in such a panic trying to remember my home addresses over the past 10 years while filling out my application.  Mark, Nick and I were all called into our interview together and Nick said that he was so worried that I wouldn't like him after he had to tell the interviewer that he had a tattoo on his leg (I don't even remember his tattoo confession).  After our interviews were over, we all hopped into our cars and drove over to Moe's to get some lunch.  Nick says that he sat by me and tried to talk to me, but I wouldn't talk (I don't remember that either)!!!

2006, while attending Francis Marion University together

     So, you seem a theme here right!?!?!?!  I don't remember most of what happened on the day that we met.  But, do you know what I DO remember???  

2007

  We got back into our cars to go home, Nick was looking for his keys that his friends had hidden from him...Spence turned to me and said, "You will NEVER meet anyone better than Nick Stewart!".  Now, THAT stuck with me.  

2008, at Pawley's Island

    It seemed that God had plans for Nick Stewart and Emily Jackson.  I got home and found out that we had actually BEEN GOING TO THE SAME CHURCH.  Then, I went to Florida for the summer and we ended up having the SAME JOB (in Disney World) WITH THE SAME HOURS, so I rode to and from work with him every single day.  We had NEIGHBORING ROOMS in the hotel where we lived for the summer and we were placed on the SAME CAMPUS OUTREACH TEAM.  When the summer was over, the school that I was applying and transferring to was THE SAME SCHOOL THAT NICK WAS GOING TO.  And finally, when I moved into my apartment, turns out NICK WAS MY NEIGHBOR THERE TOO!     

2009, serving with OM Ships

 I just could not get away from Nick Stewart (I didn't want to at all, so I was 

totally ok with this)!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2010, visiting Bolivia

      After dating for almost two years, we got married in 2007.  We still had two semesters left of school so we both went to school full-time and worked all of the hours that we weren't asleep or in class!  We were determined to make it work...we both graduated and went into missions with OM Ships.  

2011

We have worked many different jobs together.

2012, visiting the Faroe Islands

We have traveled all over the world together.

2013, at an Atlanta Braves Game.

We have dreamed together and made wonderful memories.

2014, in Scotland

     And you know what I have found after these 10 years?!?!?! 

2015, in Bolivia

Spence Romine was right...I have never and will never meet anyone better than Nick Stewart.

So, here is to 10 years knowing the BEST MAN in the world...I love you Nick Stewart!

A Letter From A Survivor

     Alejandra, her mom, Vicki, and her younger sister came to be interviewed by me a few weeks back...CLICK HERE to read that post.  All of the questions were mostly answered by Vicki because Alejandra still can't talk about her accident.  Instead, Alejandra was able to write down her story.  Here it is below:

"I'm writing a story of what happened to me.  

My name is Alejandra.  I am 8-years-old and this happened 6 years ago, when I was 3 years and 2 months old.  I had a terrible accident.  I was a little girl who liked to explore a lot and wanted to see everything, but sometimes we shouldn't get near things that are dangerous, like electricity, fire, boiling water and when we are little, the kitchen stove and oven and the iron.  Basically, anything that our parents tell us not to get near.  

I was burned with boiling water on half of my body.  The pain was worse than most people ever feel. I had surgery 6 times and this made my entire body hurt.  I had to stay in a room all alone, without my parents and I didn't even know why.  It seemed like 1,000 years passed while I was alone because everything hurt.  I always wanted it to stop, but it never would.  My momma could never be with me.  I always wanted her beside me, but she had to stay outside and I could only see her through the window.  She would stand out there and tell me that she was still with me.  

After a lot of time passed, they put me with other children.  But, I already felt so alone and I was already so tired that I couldn't move anywhere and I had to just sit still all of the time.  I wanted to go to play with the other children, but I couldn't.  There were other children like me.  There was one little boy that had his hand cut off by the doctor because of his accident and I hated to see him like that.  I thought that this would also happen to me, but it didn't.  The days passed and I was desperate to go play or hug my momma.  My momma could only visit for a short time, then the nurses were so mean and so strict that they would kick out all of the mommas.  

One day my doctor came in and called one of the nurses to come with him.  He told the nurse to take me to the Operating Room.  They took me there and began to operate on me without giving me any anesthesia.  It hurt so bad that I didn't think that I could take the pain.  I thought that they were removing my skin and I screamed and screamed with all of my strength, calling for my momma, yelling for help and for someone to save me from the pain.  After the operation, they put me in a pool of water.  I was so scared that it would make my skin hurt worse.  One of the doctors was so nice and kept telling me that I was very brave and that it was almost over.

One day, my momma came at night and told me that we were going home.  She put on my pijamas and carried me outside where all of my uncles waited for me.  I was so happy to go home and thought that I had finished everything.  But, I wasn't finished because I couldn't walk, so I had to do three different types of therapies: Physical Therapy, Hydro-Therapy and Pressure Therapy.  While doing these therapies, I began to improve, while my skin began to heal.  Sometimes I was in so much pain that I couldn't stand for my momma to bathe me with cold water.  I wanted to scratch, but couldn't even though my skin itched so badly.  They said that it would make my skin grow more keloid scars if I did.  

I asked God to help me heal quickly so that I didn't have to take these nasty medicines.  I hated when people touched my skin, but I had to go to Physical Therapy.  It was so painful, but I went every single day.  After Physical Therapy, they would put me in the water for Hydro-Therapy and I would stay in there for 3 hours every day...this was my favorite.  I also used Pressure Therapy and this was what I hated the most.  It was a suit that was very tight over my whole body.  Sometimes I felt that I couldn't ever breathe or move well.  It was like wearing a girdle.  But, I used it for 2 years 24 hours per day.  During those two years, I was brave and did all of the therapies, like I was supposed to.

I lost 3 years of my childhood.  I couldn't play with any children because I couldn't be in the dirt, I couldn't be in the sun, I couldn't run because I couldn't sweat in my suit.  I was prohibited to play, but all that changed when I went to Kinder and my momma decided to take me out of the horrible suit.  I didn't have to go anymore to my therapies.  I was afraid that they would hurt me again.

Even until today, I carry the scars on my body and the pain in my soul.  Only I know of the pain that I went through.  I am a happy girl and have many friends.  Now I can play, run, and dance.  I have a little sister that I can play with 24 hours per day, my momma and my daddy by my side and I am happy.

-Alejandra"

CLICK HERE to visit BCI's website to learn more about our important ministry.  

-You can DONATE ONLINE by scrolling to the bottom of the website and clicking the DONATE button.  

-Or you can MAIL A CHECK to:  

Burn Care International

419 Woodland Drive

Florence, SC 29501.  

All donations are tax-deductible and will change the life of a burned victim!!!

Villa Albina

     Yesterday, we decided to take a trip to Villa Albina.  This is one of the many houses that Simón Iturri Patiño built...remember we already visited one of his other local homes, Palacio Portales???  

     After we enjoyed the mansion and the gardens, we decided to walk up the mountain a little more, in search of Patiño's tomb.  On the way up some people were getting ready to catch up and run past us...I could hear them talking and knew that they were Americans.  They ran past Juana and me and said "Buenos Días".  Then, they ran past Nick and the wife said, "You're not Bolivian!".  As Nick was laughing and agreeing, the wife saw his Clemson hat and said, "I LOVE Clemson...I'm from South Carolina."  Nick told her that we are from Florence and she said, "I'm from Darlington!". Immediately, I knew who this couple was and started walking faster to try to catch up.  At this point, both the wife and husband stopped running and turned around to talk to us.  The husband said, "We know someone from Florence...he is a big guy."  I quickly said, "WICK JACKSON!!!!!!!!!!" and of course this was the correct answer!  Turns out that this couple was Marcus and Jennifer Morris who are local missionaries.  They are the directors of Agua Viva de la Roca, where Sandra grew up going to school.  AND, we went to their home for dinner around the year 2000.  It's so crazy, but it's true that the more you travel, the smaller the world gets!

Inside the mansion...all of the rooms are connected by a courtyard instead of hallways.

Don't you just LOVE big, old trees like this one?!?!

Part of the gardens.

Villa Albina

Waiting for the bus.