I've been quiet on the blogsite for the month of March, but if you keep up with me on facebook you know that it's only because I've been busy with our
Just Between Friends spring event. We have just wrapped up our third (and best so far!) event and are getting ready to send checks out to our consignors this week!
Have I mentioned that I love what I do? As the event approached, I was like a kid waiting for Christmas morning. You know that you love your "job" when the idea of 14-hour work days makes you downright giddy!
It's really not about the fun, although I can't deny that it is a blast, but rather it's about the blessing. Here are just a few of the ways that JBF has been a blessing to me:
1. JBF is the first thing in my life that I've never felt the need to the gain acceptance on. I look at the end result and know that I did a great job. I don't need confirmation from anyone else on it. This is peaceful.
2. God is using JBF as a launching pad for relationships! I made a commitment from the beginning to use every opportunity I could in meeting vendors, sponsors, consignors, volunteers and shoppers to let them see God's love in me. It's achingly convicting at times, but the blessings from it are abundant.
3. There have been so many times when issues in planning an event have seemed hopeless or out of control. God has never left us nor forsaken us, and His hand has been clearly seen to us and others as He has faithfully provided every step of the way!
4. My family saves BIG!! I never purchase the kids a thing for the upcoming season until we've had our JBF event. This past event alone, we spent about $110 dollars on over $600 worth of merchandise. I have birthday presents and wardrobes purchased and can say with confidence that it was a great chance for me to be a good steward of what we have been given!
5. The stories we hear from consignors, volunteers and shoppers are AMAZING. I wish I could share with you every story that I hear throughout the sale of how these events are helping families in my community. From families that were able to keep their electric turned on due to the money they made, to families with seven kids being able to clothe their kids on a tight budget with the help of JBF, each story is precious to me and I treasure the priviledge of being able to have a part in it.
There are a million other little blessings wrapped up in there and I am thankful for each one of them. A big thank you to all of you out there that I know are praying for me as I continue on this incredible journey - God is using you as a special part in all of this, which means you have a part in all of these blessings as well!
A HUGE thanks to my JBF family who helped throughout the sale by coming and helping (thanks a million, Patti!), making craigslist postings for us (can't thank you enough, Amanda!), checking in on us, praying for us and ready to answer any questions for us at the drop of hat. So thankful for all of you!
