I have always been sentimental. Saving all sorts of ticket stubs, brochures, newspaper clippings in a magnetic album as we didn't get film developed as often as I would have liked. It was expensive and an after thought.
So, you could say I've been "scrapbooking" for over 20 years- yikes! Did I just admit that?
So, I guess it is very fitting that scrapbooking would take center stage in my life. I really relied on it when my husband was deployed to Iraq in 2004.
Not only did it save my sanity as a Mom of 2 young girls, it kept me busy.
It also created a bond and a connection between all the families who were left behind. It always seems to be those life altering moments when people say I want to make a a scrapbook. It was also an answer for my friend and fellow Army wife, Dorothy, who couldn't sleep and was taking out trash to her back alley at 2 am. I was pleasantly surprised how helping people this way really made me feel better too. Especially on those days I didn't even want to get out of bed ( we have all been THERE right?)
Blessed Scrapper
When Scott returned in 2005, I was feeling so blessed and that's why I chose my name. I saw the blessing in the deployment and was so grateful he came home to me in one piece. Thus, Blessed Scrapper was born.
Fast forward to 2007. I began my journey as a Close to my Heart Consultant. Not by choice, but by default. The company I poured my heart, soul and pocketbook into shut down with NO NOTICE at the end of 2006. At the time I had a steady income with a team of 120 consultants as well as a strong reputation as a leader in the company. I was blind sided and it was gone in an instant.
So, let's face it, I was scared to death when I signed on with CTMH. I was starting from scratch after being a respected leader of a large team, as well as a member of the design team. I felt like I had lost everything.
So, really, what more did I have to lose? I was either going to end up with a box of more scrapbook supplies - don't forget I was way in the hole already or I was going to find a place to put all of that knowledge and experience I had gained to good use.
"Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted"
It was a really tough decision. I felt so embarrassed and humiliated yet I knew that little spark was still there. I still wanted to be a part of something that I was passionate about!
I also knew if I put it off I wouldn't do it at all. Waiting for the right time was a joke. There never seemed to be a right time. At least this way I could blame it on temporary insanity! As it turns out, my only regret with joining CTMH is that I didn't do it sooner.
Life did go on and threw me another curve ball. We discovered that our baby girl, Sofie was struggling with significant developmental delays. As time went on she got an official diagnosis of PDD NOS (Autism Spectrum Disorder). Which was just swell, as she already had a severe clinical case of ADHD.
So, through that journey that included a long fight, a lot of paperwork, driving back and forth to therapy and then in-home intensive I was going through the motions and building a business. What I didn't realize is that I was also creating my own support system. The women that God has put in my lives through scrapbooking and CTMH are the best gift I could have ever received.
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| I was so proud that my best bud Trudy and Shirly ( my team members) joined me in Disneyland for convention. |
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| Here we are with my best bud, Melissa and her team at Disney. |
They hold me together and we lift each other up. I can see things now that I didn't understand before. I thank God everyday for His plan, although it was not my plan at all.
I want to thank you for reading this and hope you will join me in this journey as His plan unfolds. Now, I would love to hear YOUR story. So be sure to leave a comment, email or Facebook me!
Until Then-
Be Blessed,
Sarita
