Animal Sounds!

Gavin doing his animal sounds! This is a month or so old so he's learned some new ones so we'll update soon!

NTC Vegas!

April 15-18 I (Marie) was in Las Vegas for Arbonne's National Training Celebration. It was awesome to get such great training about our company, products, and industry. It confirmed even more that I am with the right company at the right time. We are booming right now and I am going to the top and taking anyone with me that wants to come! 

I thought I'd share a little about what this opportunity has meant for us. At the time I was introduced to Arbonne (by my awesome friend Nicole!) I was tired of working for other people. All though I had only worked part time jobs, I was sick of being told where to be when,  how much I was worth an hour, and putting in time on my feet working for someone else's dreams. I also knew we would be starting a family soon and it was our decision that I would stay home with our children. 

I was excited right away because I saw the potential from the success of others around me. I knew this would be a way that I could stay home and still help financially. I sort of "played around with it" for the first year and then really started working it as a business about a year ago. 

Since starting and being happy to make a few extra hundred dollars a month it has become so much bigger than that for Andrew and I. We have seen others (those that are now my friends and training me) succeed beyond their full time corporate income, retire their husbands, and be able to have priceless time with their children.  We now see the full potential of this business and the Lord has used this opportunity to help us dream bigger than we have before. We now have a vehicle to pursue our dreams and plans of being debt free, owning a home, being able to travel, have Andrew home with our family on his off days from the fire dept.,  and able to give back to our parents and others financially...and more! 

Ever since I was a little girl I've grown up knowing my calling is to be a wife and mother and to "help people" (the words I used at a young age!). I am fullfilling being a wife and mother and the Lord showed me a few months ago that Arbonne is also one of the vehicles He has given me to help others.  Whether it's to help clear up a skin or health issue for others that have tried everything else,  some much needed pampering and girls night, a chance to make some extra money, or a "plan B" to their current position or a new stream of income.  Every week people I don't know or have just met welcome me into their homes with their family and friends and I am given amazing opportunites to glorify God, encourage others, or just be someone to listen. I'm building relationships with sooo many people that I never would have had otherwise. My prayer for my business is that I will glorify God and be a light for Him. From the top down of this company the entire purpose and focus is about helping others and putting them above yourself...only then will you find true success. I love that you succeed when you help others succeed. 

I love that my business, family, and walk with the Lord are all woven together like this.

Andrew and I are doing this together and are so excited about what it's done for us.  My income payed for Christmas last year and made the difference when Andrew was out of work. We have been able to pay down debt, have extra money, and have the control of how I spend my time and when I work. I love being able to put my family schedule first. 

I could never finish this without also mentioning how this business has changed me as a person as well. I heard when I started that "we're a personal growth company disguised as a skincare company" and I didn't understand that or think it was true.  Looking back over the last couple of years I can not believe how much it has changed me and the way I look at others. I have soooo much more confidence in talking with others (especially those I don't know), I truely care about their lives and situations more than I did before, I have learned to not worry and stress like I used to (and that's a big accomplishment b/c I tried to overcome that for years!), my faith is more bold and strengthened because of the godly examples of the people in this company, and I have learned the value of surrounding myself with those that have a positive outlook and are working to better themselves.  I have grown so much and am looking forward to see how God will continue to use this in my life to continue making me into the person He has designed. 

Well, I hope somebody read this because I'm so passionate and excited about it and it's such a big part of my life that I wanted to share where I'm coming from and what it means to us.  I'm so thankful for what this opportunity has done and will do for our family! 

View from the plane

The MGM where we stayed (it's huge!)

Shelly, Diane & I as we were about to go into KA by Cirque Du Soleil- which was an awesome show!

Me & Tammy who's my ENVP (the top of the company) -awesome woman!!

Me & my RVP and friend Shelly!!

So glad I found someone as excited about crab legs as me!!

Inside the venetian hotel

My winning ticket from the penny slot maching for $1,800,000,000,000!!!

On the way home!!

Gavin's Baptism

     Sunday was a special day in the Tomlinson household. Andrew & I became members at our church and Gavin was baptized. We were so blessed to have lots of family there. Many of them traveled a lot to join us for the occasion (like my family who drove up & back from Binghamton the same day!). It meant so much to us to be surrounded by those we love and want to be an influence in Gavin's life as we made this public statement. Thanks everyone for taking from your day to be there! 

   

    After church we all headed over to Matt & Brie's house (Andrew's brother & wife) and had some yummy pulled pork, macaroni salad, and brownies! It was a beautiful day so we enjoyed jumping on the trampoline (which I'll post a video of Gav doing later this week!), playing outside, and challenging each other on the wii. What a special day to remember!

Looking at the "spiritual album" our families started for Gavin

Thanks Uncle Matt & Aunt Brie for the new basketball hoop!

Gavin loves to push around this doggie stroller at is cousin's house!

Gavin with Nana & Papa Tomlinson and Grandpa & Grandma Graham

Gavin bouncing on balloon!

This video is so funny! Gavin learned how to bounce on this balloon from mommy's birthday! I can't believe it never popped!!

Update!

Well, I've really been falling behind on the updates! We are all doing great! Andrew is working 3 days a week and going to school the other 2 evenings. Marie's  Arbonne business is going incredible and just did the photography for a wedding. Gavin is turning into such a kid with new words, actions and tricks. As you see in the pictures he had his first real haircut a couple weeks ago (at 16 months). It wasn't to long but needed a little shaping and trim off the back! I'll update later this week on more of what he's doing, these are just some pictures I realized I haven't put up!

Cheering for Uncle Daniel's basketball game with cousins Alayna & Nina!

Loves to put on mommy's head bands!

Gav's Broken Arm

His cast is off and he's all better now, but I found this video that I forgot to upload before, it shows his cute little cast a bit! This was the first night when he discovered he couldn't reach his mouth to eat..so sad!! 

Broken Arm Update

Gavin is such a trooper with this whole broken arm situation! He ended up getting his hard cast off after only a week because his thumb got all sore and infected from rubbing against it. I feel so bad because I didn't even notice it for a few days! So he had an x-ray done and it had healed enough (in only 1 week!) to get a soft cast put on! It was scary for him having the saw take it off, but he recovered good thanks to a lollypop!   Selfishly mommy was a little disapointed since we didn't get good pictures and no family got to see his little cast, but I'm so glad for him because he can bend his elbow now!! And of course we saved his cast! We go back in another week to see if he can take it off for good!

This is how I turned around to find Gav the other day...let's see if he can break his other arm!! Such a boy!!