Preparing for Take-Off

Wow! The past couple of days have been amazing! 

I'm so excited to go home and finally get 'systems' put into place. (For those of you that really know me.... Pick your jaw up off the floor!) With working Scentsy from home, schooling the girls, and wearing the many other hats, it feels like everything is so inconsistent with our life. 

I've heard so many great ideas and most of them are just validating what Joel and I have been talking about for the past month or two. Refocus... Simplify... Action.  

I'm positive that when I start treating our Scentsy business like a business (finally!) by way of projecting and working numbers, we'll see even more growth.  Our business will just take-off! 

But even more importantly, I'm ecstatic to keep building relationships with those on our team and our customers. 

I'd be lying if I told you that I have it all together and was an organized person who leads her team & cares for her customers and had never failed them. 

But I can't go back and 'fix' who I was... However, I can go forward and do what I love to do... Build relationships. 

I'm going to start treating our business like a family. And helping the family make their dreams come true. 

It's been a fantastic couple of days learning and chatting with our friends and peers in Scentsy. These women (and men) are part of our family. I so enjoy their ideas and willingness to share... And their conversation and hugs. 

I'm going to bed with a thankful heart and a notebook full of ideas on how to be a better me. 

Tomorrow is our last full day at the home office - it's sure to be amazing too. 

XO

Jari

Full

Tonight I feel full. Full of new information. Full of laughs. Full of friendship. And the Krispy Creme didn't help (dang it, why couldn't I say no?!)

It was a day full of trainings from our peers and dear friends.

(Even little Avin sat in on the meetings like a sweet girl.... Sweet BUSY girl!)

 I'm so excited to get back to work next week! (I'm really focusing on being present during this training this week)

I'm full of gratitude for this amazing company. Scentsy LOVES their consultants and I felt that love today as Joel and I accidentally were the first consultants who had entered the new Scentsy tower (because we needed the elevator for Avin's stroller) and found this:

Honored. Humbled by our teams. 

 

I'm exhausted. I wish I had more to say but my brain is overloaded and only mush is being released right now (as I type on my phone with one eye open). 

XO

Jari

Roadtrippin' + friends

Over the river and through the woods, to Scentsy Summit we go! 

That was in my head for most of the day as we traveled through some of the most beautiful terrain on this earth (some of my favorite anyway.) 

Joel, Avin, Ariell & I took a 7 hour trip through the mountains so we could attend Scentsy Super Star Director Summit - focused training directed to Scentsy's top leaders. 

We stopped in the beautiful town of McCall Idaho for some Mexican lunch on the deck overlooking the Payette Lake. BEAUTIFUL!

  

As much as I love the training, maybe more, I LOVE seeing so many of our closest Scentsy Family. 

Tonight we got into town and immediately started hugging, laughing and catching up with friends. (Ok to be brutally honest here, I got dumped like a bad prom date as soon as everyone saw little Miss Avin! She's quick to steal the show... And I love it!)

(So many hugs and no photos to prove it. Ill be better tomorrow)

We had a Velata dessert bar... (Bacon drizzled with Caramel Milk Chocolate is a new favorite!) and even got goodies in our room. 

We may or may not have stopped for some more Mexican tonight with a little treat. 

Anyway, it's a jam packed week and I can't wait kick it off bright and early tomorrow morning. 

So.... Goodnight.

XO

Jari

C.R.A.Z.Y.

I swore at one point today I was having a panic attack. I mean... I couldn't control what was going on on my inside. Like it wanted to jump out and SCREAM! It felt as though my whole being was going to explode.

It was not pretty... it was not cool.

I am the WORLD'S WORST PROCRASTINATOR! I ALWAYS wait until the very last moment to do things - and then I obviously get stressed out.

My day started of me in a panic looking for our new bank cards that MUST be activated by Saturday or we don't have check cards! I searched everywhere! I knew we had packed them when we loaded up the car for the evacuation. But instead of unloading the car and doing something about it then, I let it go until today. Until the day before we leave for Scentsy's Super Star Director Summit and will need money to get home. I searched for over two hours... no bank cards.

Then, because I had wasted WAY too long searching for the missing bank cards, I had to rush to get all my deliveries out the door and make my customers happy. 

As I was just barely half way through my deliveries, I got a text reminder from a friend, asking if I was close to home to watch her kiddos like I had told her last week..... OH DEAR! (although I'm pretty sure I said something different!) I rushed home and was in almost a panic!

Then I remembered that we had scheduled to kick off our fall Scentsy '30 Minute Monday' training tonight and I had already told a family they could come look at the cute little tear drop camper we have for sale. I had to rush to get the training info out to my group while calling Joel on the other phone asking him to PLEASE (pretty please!) be home right before 6 to help the family looking at the camper. 

Tonight I ran back into town (about 15 minute drive) to finish my last 9 errands. Seven deliveries, a bank deposit & pick up of the donation for our Heart 2 Heart Benefit silent auction we have every year (I'll share more this week! Love this benefit!)

The big girls were at a birthday party and I thought I would be nice and grab Joel some sushi, Thai or Chinese food for dinner... but by the time I had finished the run around town, it was 9:53pm. I grabbed him Burger King - FAIL!

What did I learn from today?!? DO THINGS RIGHT... AND RIGHT AWAY!

When I think of something, I need to take action. Write it down and DO IT!

When I need something, I need to get it. Not think about when I'm going to get it, JUST GET IT!

When I plan something, I need to go back and execute... NOW!

When I don't think I can do something, I need to learn to say no. SET BOUNDARIES!

Today I felt horrible. Like a failure. Like a broken robot. 

I freaked out on my big girls. I felt horrible. I had to apologize. I'm grateful for their forgiveness. And my Father's forgiveness. Boy am I ever thankful!

Now I sit down and plan the girls' school week. They are staying with some dear friends this week while Avin, Joel and I go to Boise. It's a planning frenzy at this hour. 

I had to get some afternoon snuggles with this girl. This little time together and some hot tea made me settle down.

UPDATE: Joel found the cards right away. He got the house caught up on laundry. He did the dishes. He talked to 2 potential buyers for the camper. He ate the Whopper without complaint. He is more than I could've ever asked for.

Now I need to go plan my outfits, my purse selection (too many to choose from!) and get everyone packed before we leave in.... 8 hours! Goodnight!

I tried to show Joel I appreciate him today by working on his 'honey do' list. He is usually the delivery/errand runner... but today I took over that job. Here is the back of the pathfinder filled with tables and tents and Scentsy packages.

More adventures this week. 

XO

Jari

Quelf + Mission: I Do

It's the name of a board game! And it is hilarious!!! It's a game of nonsense, laughter and the silliest rules (roolz) you've ever had to follow. 

Apparently so fun it puts dads to sleep. Or maybe it's because we started a board game at 10:30 at night. 

Joel and I are heading out of town early Tuesday for the rest if the week. We are going to Boise to spend time with the top leaders in Scentsy (many of them are sweet friends) and corporate. I'm so excited! 

Anyway, we wanted to spend tonight having quality fun time with the bigs. The girls had played this game in Kalispell with some family friends earlier this summer and I surprised them with it tonight! 

If you're looking for a super fun - for almost all ages - (Avin was too little ;) - game... I highly recommend Quelf!

Yesterday I mentioned being more intentional with loving my husband well.

Today's result of:

1/30

I got up to my alarm this morning and stayed completely calm while getting everyone out the door on time for church. This was an extra difficult task because it was also the day that our family took family photos! (I can't wait to see the work Jessie did! And Cameryn made all of us girls look extra pretty!)

While Joel was at softball tryouts helping other coaches, I cleaned our main living area that has been complete chaos from the sale for the past couple weeks. He was surprised when he came home and could see the couches and floor. 

Now it's time for bed.... I bet I can find something else tonight that would show my love... *wink. <---- for married couples only. 

XO

Jari

When I Said I Do

As I was unpacking from having our car loaded preparing for the worst from the fire, I took a peek into the big white plastic bag. I had a special moment with the heavily laced and beaded dress I wore on that chilly May morning. 

On May 29, 2004, I said 'I do' to the guy who made my whole world twist around... In all the good ways and the hard ways. I married the fun, super sexy, generous and compassionate man whom my sweet little girl called Daddy. 

It seems now that we were just kids. 

Running my fingers down the heavy dress, I remembered every moment of that day. The butterflies of anticipation of my groom seeing me for the first time in the dress. Of our first family photo of all with the same last name. 

Joel has always made me feel loved... More than I ever knew was possible. 

Over time, with a growing family, careers and business, it seems like we get stuck in the everyday hum drum of life. Like we just go about our days doing the same things, saying the same things, caring the same way. I mean I know I tell him 'I love you' but what am I doing to SHOW him that I love him? And appreciate him?

As I was hanging up the dress that resembled that beautiful rainy day and promise to each other, it was a reminder that I need to love my husband more. Love him differently than I have been. 

Sometimes I get mouthy. (Ok a lot of times). It is so comfortable for me to give him my 'worst' of me when I need to be giving him my 'best' part of me. 

I'm ready to love him like Jesus commands us. 

I'm challenging myself to find 30 ways to love my husband better and show him love. I'm going to be intentional for the next 30 days and to share it here with you all. I'm choosing 30 days because I know that's what it takes to make it a habit for me. That's what I want... to fill my husbands heart up with love daily. Maybe we can strengthen and deepen our relationship with our spouse and learn something about ourselves in the process. 

If you are following my blog, I encourage you to try this with me. If you do something different to show love to you spouse (big or small) please comment. I want to hear and cheer you on. 

When I said 'I do' I meant it... Forever. 

XO

Jari

The time has come!

Tomorrow... Ummm today... Is the big day! 

Please pray for us; for quick sleep, good coffee, nice weather & lots of buyers!

We'll be up in 5 short hours to set up and let go of the chains that have held me in bondage for a long time. 

Stuff. Apparently I have an addictive personality and I really had to pray my way to letting go of it all. 

I use to have an emotional attachment to every single thing that was under my roof. For the past 2 years I would donate pile by pile to Goodwill or Missoula 3:16. 

But after taking photos of our home, room by room, when we were under evacuation notice, I really felt the urge that it was time to go through everything.... One by one. 

I didn't want it to take me forever and I had already done the girls' closets, so we decided last week that the 7th would be the day. I spent quite a few hours marking and lots of time folding and stacking, but even more time praying. 

I can honestly say that I am completely 100% ready to let go of it all. 

Even little Freddie Mercury (our '56 Mercury teardrop)

I'm ready for Project: Main Floor Makeover to begin!

If you're local, come see us! Our casa from 830am-1230pm! Just follow the bright green signs :)

(That we just put up at midnight!)

And please pray for a successful, happy sale!

XO

Jari