Happy Valentines: “But the greatest of these is love.”

You are beautiful and you are loved!

No matter how our “life appears” everyone has problems or circumstances they go through. Social media is great at portraying “perfection” in a totally “imperfect” world. But I’m here to tell you, if you are human you’re not perfect and at some point in your life you will go through trials + tribulations.

I’m here to say I’v battled a number of problems myself, in which I know that without Jesus in my life I could have never conquered.

I share these with you not for empathy, but for understanding and to encourage you that you can surpass anything!

I lost my job in the downward spiral of the economy in 2009. I took the first job that was presented to me at the time since I had to pay my mortgage. The first job I took was selling Health Insurance (in which I knew ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT) But first, before I could actually be hired and start selling I had to take an Insurance test (I’m terrible at test) in which I failed the test 3 times. I finally passed, and managed to be number 1 in the state of Georgia with most accounts opened. Oh and did I mention the job was 100% commission ONLY (yep) Not only did I work an insurance job during the day, but I worked a smoothie bar at our local gym Walton County 24 at night. During this time I met the love of my life (in which I has been praying about for a long, long time) was engaged exactly a year later, and married 6 months later.

After living a part for the first year of our marriage, and not being able to sell my house, I moved to be with my hubby to Brunswick Georgia. I was completely upside down in my house…oh and just to make me nauseous again, ended up selling it for 50% off what I purchased it for.

A new marriage and two mortgage payments later, I took another sales job down in Jacksonville. My hours went something like this, woke up at 4:30am to drive an hour and a half to get to work, to report in and then to drive and sell in my territory that was 2-1/2 hours east to west and 2-1/2 hours north to south… I got home in time to go to bed, around 8:30pm and did the same thing all over again 5 days a week. CAN YOU SAY NO THANK YOU?!

I made excellent money selling at this company, enough money for us to stay afloat with two mortgages (not that we didn’t stress) however I was completely unhappy. See, I’m a creative, hands on kind-of girl..I would much rather be designing and creating something with my hands than pushing paper work trying to sell something that didn’t inspire me or that I didn’t even care about.

Shortly after taking my job, I started praying long and hard…”God please put me where I can use the talents you have given me here on this earth.” I felt Him tugging at me in a different direction, but was scared out of my mind to walk away from making great money to potentially making $0.00 and putting ALL OF MY TRUST IN HIM (“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understand.” ~ Proverbs 3:5)

Well, being stubborn like I am, I kept saying okay, just one more pay check..and then I’ll turn in my notice…little did I know God had other plans and when He calls you to do something Act then, don’t delay. After putting off my resignation, I got in a wreck while working this job, was put on bed rest for 3 months in which I met and connected with an AMAZING wedding photographer Sarah Deshaw and build my own website.

The three months of bed rest was just enough time to get pointers and teach myself how to build a website. I knew the my wreck was a message from God telling me that it wasn’t on my time, it was his…and He had been telling me…” Hello Child, I knitted you in your mother’s womb, so don’t you think I know what’s best for you, better than you?!” These words have resonated with me for sometime.

When I finally decided to turn in my notice, I immediately booked my first job as a Floral Designer at The Ridges Resort and Spa.

I’m so blessed to say, we’ve been going strong right at 4 years!

Last year my company started facing being sabotaged by other vendors…I think for me this is and was one of the biggest obstacles to overcome. See…I ‘m that girl that wants everyone to love me, because I truly love everyone…but I’ve come to the realization that that’s just not the case and guess what I AM OKAY AND AT PEACE WITH THAT! I wanted to share this verse with you, because it’s really helped me through these times. ( “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” ~ Romans 5:3-5)

I hope that my story inspires you to know that you can overcome anything with God’s help and trusting in him. No matter if you are spending this Valentines with someone or alone, this world will fail you, and people will hate you, but the one true love you can always count on is Jesus, and that’s all we need.  (“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”~ 1 Corinthians 13:13)

This year I choose to surround myself with positive and like minded business owners. I choose to uplift others talents and be inspired by others and well as inspire others. Most of all, this year through everything I choose love! (“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”~ 1 Peter 4:8)

Pink Skinny Jeans: TJ Max

Striped Top + Shoes: Target

Denim Jacket: Old Navy

Necklance: The Loft

Photography: Elle Smith Photography

Styling: Emily Burton Designs

XOXO,

Emily