broken.

I've come to find that when everything in up in the air, in dissarray, and completely overwhelming is when God breaks me down to my core. I am there...I don't know what to write. Reading over my past writings is like reading a book of someone who has such confidence and direction...I need that back.

I tried...the words just aren't happening today.

My life. My struggles, my blessings, and my gift...

A friend murdered by an even closer “friend”. Depression that became physically dibilitating. Debt. Switching schools multiple times in fear of my life. A serious accident resulting in years of monetary and legal struggles. Surgeries, one of which almost took my life. Broken relationships, lost friends, a life changed by a move cross country. And now... A family stronger than ever. A career path I never saw myself taking. Relationships teaching me so much about life. Meeting and interacting with sports celebrities and corporate big-wigs. Growing up and learning to manage my finances. An opportunity taken resulting in a big girl job, car, and house of my own. A once in a lifetime trip to Europe with my best friend. Memories and tears of happiness that are priceless. Blessings beyond belief. I have made a conscious decision to start taking more time for me and writing, documeting my journey more often. Having something to reflect on down the road is one of the most healing and rewarding feelings; being able to remember the challenges I've been faced with and seeing how it all worked out is incredible. My life has been jam packed with the highest highs and lowest lows, and to put all of that into words is impossible. But I so try, and not for anyone but myself. On occasion however, God has given me the opportunity to use my story to help inspire others, and as of lately, I think I have found my gift. I truly feel as if I have been given the gift of inspiration. That is a gift that I think everyone has in them, but few use wisely. And I want to use my gift to uplift others. I have been given a carreer in which my every day consists of something as simple as serving coffee. I see an average of 300-500 people a day; most regular faces that I love getting to know. And seeing that many people, one wonders, whats their story? Everyone has a testimony-a story of the path that God has placed them on. Few see it that way, but I want to open peoples eyes to the beauty of life. Being blessed with all that I have, I want to give back. I want to inspire people to pay it forward and do the same. There is one man who comes into my store every morning for his grande nonfat, no foam, extra hot latte. He is a spunky and vulgar redneck man who drives a big truck and lives on a farm. He doesn't have much, but the little he has he uses wisely. Every single morning, when he comes in to get his $4.36 latte (even though I know he doesnt have the money to be spending on Starbucks), he turns to the person behind him in line and asks what they are having this morning. Every morning he purchases coffee and breakfast for a random stranger out of the goodness of his little redneck heart. I can't help but wonder-what if every single person did this random act of kindness once a day? Whether it be paying for someones coffee, letting someone go ahead of them in a line, opening a door for an elderly or handicapped person, or even putting some genuine-ness in the question “How are you doing today?”. So you wanna change the world, what are you waiting for? We all have that power in us, what if everyone started acting on it? I think my newfound passion for inspiration has been brought out by a new and dear friend of mine. Let me tell you a bit about this amazing woman.. Ever since I have moved out to NC, I have been praying for a good, wholesome and uplifting girlfriend to spend time with. I left a handful of amazing friends back in California, and although I have met some incredible people out here, I've yet to find anyone that completes me like my girls back home. A couple months ago, I got to chatting with a new customer about moving, family, and God. I couldn't tell you how it came up, but something about this woman was so different and it was as if her heart was out there on her sleeve. She asked me if I was hiring, which coincidentally I was at the time. Her neice had just moved cross country to live with her to attend ministry school and needed a part time job, so I told her to send her in for an interview. When this girl walked in the door, I already knew she would be perfect for our team. She had a smile and enthusiasm for life that is so rare to find these days, After sitting down with her for an interview, I was completely sold, and hired her onto our team that day. As I have gotten to know this girl, everything about her is what I want in a friend. She has such a passion for life and the Lord, a servants heart, and a story that would give her every reason to be mad at God. And yet, she sees the beauty in everyday life and in every person that she comes in contact with. After spending some time having incredible heart to hearts, I am convinced she is a long lost sister of mine. We clicked instantly, and I love the time I get to spend with her. We have the same views on life, on God, on relationships. We both get super excited about the littlest things and can laugh at ourselves and our blonde moments. I know I may be taking a big risk hanging out with a coworker, but we both have work as our first priority and keep our work life and personal lives seperate. This girl is one of the most inspiring people I have ever met and makes me want to be a better person, I cannot tell you what a blessing she is in my life. As I sit here on my beautiful comfy new couch in my perfect little apartment, I couldnt be happier. My life is crazy insane, and has been full of hurt and depression, as well as blessings and happiness. I think it takes going through hell sometimes to make you appreciate the littlest things. Such as my growing strawberry plants...I have raised those little suckers for the past few weeks and they are starting to grow and turn a little red. Such a small thing with huge symbolism-my strawberries are much like my life and my relationships. A little nurturing and work, a big reward. And so here I am, I've been beaten and broken down, and God has lifted me up and is now molding me into the woman he wants me to be, and I am ready and willing and excited and inspired to see where life takes me. “For I know the plans I have for you...” Lord, I cannot wait.

ch ch ch changes!

WOW. The past 6 months have been the most incredible of my life thus far. So much has changed, I cannot even begin to explain the extent of the blessings I have experienced...but I will try.


I got out of one relationship and back into another with Blake. He is on his way down to Florida at the moment to relocate and get some work experience under his belt since opportunities down there are better for him right now. He is my best friend and I have no doubt he will succeed if he puts his mind to it.

I got another promotion-am now a store manager of a starbucks! Never saw my life going in this direction but as long as I am here I will work hard and keep moving up the ladder! It is a very stressful and busy position but I am loving it. Never a dull moment!!

Moved into my adorable apartment on the lake in January...I absolutely love it. I love having my own quiet space, the view, decorating, cooking...I am a lil domestic diva these days and I couldnt be happier!

Lindsi comes out to visit next month which I am super excited about. Miss that girl like mad!

Other than that I have been putting a lot of time into organizing volunteer projects...Next month there are two saturdays where my team and I will volunteer at a childrens home, Barium Springs, do some beautification, paint, garden, etcetc...I am very excited about that!!!

My life is crazy, up and down, never sure what changes are going to happen next. Our regional vice pres is visiting my store next week which is INTENSE and exciting. Hopefully he will like what he sees! Lots of cleaning and re organizing to be done today...and the setup for Starbucks 40th anniversary which launches tomorrow! (Try the new tribute blend, its awesome!)

I will try to blog more, havent hooked up internet at my house yet so it may be few and far between for a bit...love to you all and hope all is well with you!

xoxo
britt

There's no such thing as perfect people...

There's no such thing as perfect people

There's no such thing as a perfect life

So come as you are, broken and scarred

Lift up your heart and be amazed

And be changed

by a perfect God...

There is never a dull moment in my life, I tell ya. 2010 has thus far been so far from how I imagined it would be, and now I sit here at a crossroads with such opportunity ahead that I would be crazy not to let God take the control he is constantly begging me for...

Today my mother and I spent a good hour and a half if not two together in the car on our way to Greensboro to pick up tiffany. We had some much needed conversation about so many important topics from the state of the world these days, to our relationships and the impact every relationship in life has, to what God has been telling us lately. I am so very VERY blessed and thankful for the family I have and the bond and closeness we have all developed. We are a family that has the ability to laugh, cry and hold eachother up in every situation we have encountered. I may be absent from the household much of the time due to my crazy life but the moments I am lucky enough to spend with them are some that I am so very thankful for. In this day and age it is so rare to find a family like ours and I am blessed to be a part of something that is so strong and wholesome in a world that is often quite the opposite.

I have had a pulling feeling on my heart lately that has left me with a gut feeling I have not been able to put my finger on. God has been speaking to me loud and clear and in the midst of life I have admittedly not taken the time to sit back and listen to Him. The lyrics above are from a song called "Perfect people" by natalie grant and it was while listening to that recently that a lot clicked and got me thinking. Many of us strive for perfection in our daily lives, and insecurities cause us to seek recognition for our actions. I am absolutly guilty of trying too hard to get others to notice me and my accomplishments. When it comes down to it though, none of that matters. As important as it is to act with integrity and treat everyone with the respect and dignity that they deserve, it doesn't matter to God that I stayed an extra twenty minutes to finish a project at work, or that I held the door open for a stranger. What matters is the heart, mindset, and relationship that I have with Him. I have let that relationship sit on the backburner slightly as I barely have time to think let alone spend time with God. And yet, that is my own doing. My priorities have been skewed and because of that I hear Him calling out to me to reprioritize in so many ways. Whether it be a random stranger making a comment about my faith, or a worship song coming on the radio at the most perfect time...

It is clear that I am at a point where some changes need to be made.

I miss writing...both on here and in my journal. I miss writing long letters to my friends back in California. I miss those quiet moments to myself of my back porch as the sun is going down. I miss being carefree and giddy...being an adult is a lot harder than you think it is growing up. Bills, bills and more bills have piled up lately raising my stress level, and yet as I sat writing my budget for the next few months I had an odd peace about my life. As if God literally was sitting in my room saying do your best and put more trust in me.

So with all that vague information, I am going to say this; I plan on making some significant changes within myself, my priorities and my attitude within the next 6months. I think that this point in time is a very cruicial one in our world and there isn't a better time to step back from the world and immerse oneself in strengthening those relationships that are most important.

I am going to document my journey as I go, and would appreciate prayers for strength and focus throughout this. I have a lot on my plate and am looking forward to simplifying as well as discovering the woman that God is calling me to be.

A thousand times I’ve failed

Still your mercy remains

Should I stumble again

Still I’m caught in your grace

Everlasting

Your light will shine when all else fades

Never ending

Your glory goes beyond all fame

Your will above all else

My purpose remains

The art of losing myself

In bringing you praise

In my heart, in my soul

I give you control

Consume me from the inside out

Let justice and praise

Become my embrace

To love you from the inside out

Everlasting

Your light will shine when all else fades

Never ending

Your glory goes beyond all fame

And the cry of my heart

Is to bring you praise

From the inside out of my soul

Lord my soul cries out....

Determination.

What a crazy past month. I don't know where to begin the update on my life...things are crazy and amazing. Guess I will just try and do my best here, its been awhile again, I barely have time to sleep these days let alone get online for any length of time...
So, Last I wrote I was interviewing for an assistant store manager position at my store...The interview went wonderfully and the hurry up and wait was the worst part. I recieved a call 4 days after the interview that the promotion is MINE! What an exciting way to come back to work-with the motivation and challenge of a new position and more responsibilities. It is more hours and more work, but also a good bit more income too...I really couldn't be happier. So work is great, no complaints just excited to learn and grow.
The social life is goin well...I am dating a wonderful man who treats me so well. I am loving getting to know him and the time we spend together. Our latest mission is to start getting healthy together, eat better and work out which I am excited about. With Doug has come a fun new group of friends, so we are enjoying the summertime with good people. Goin out on the lake, get togethers at my house, his house, friends houses...too fun! We have a 7wk old dwarf bunny named Shelley that we keep at his house most of the time and I swear she is a dog at heart. She responds to her name and loves to snuggle and give kisses, as well as run laps around the room and socialize with anybody and everybody...best $6 I've ever spent! (yep, six bucks...swapmeet bunny! oh the things people sell in the south....teehee)
I owe all my California peeps an apology for being such a bad friend lately.. (I tagged you on facebook in this for a reason!, thinkin about you!) Life has been insane like I said and I wish I had time to sit and chat with y'all for an hour each, or better yet come visit me and let me show you a great time out here! I hope you know you are always welcome to visit and I promise to make it a great time for ya! :)
Lets see what else is new with me...new tattoo on my foot, check out facebook for a picture of that. Its an ambigram...a word that reads "faith" one way and "trust" the other. I love it! Also doing another portfolio photoshoot for my makeup art on the 26th of this month...going to be a ton of fun! Doing makeup and hair, Jo Ellen is taking pictures and I'm going to have my designer purse lady over to sell her purses and jewelry and clothes and stuff...yay! As well as wine and cheese and other tasty treats, come on over ladies!!
The ankle is healing nicely, had a setback for a little bit and the doctor thought it wasn't healing right and that more surgery was a possibility, but swelling has gone down significantly as i get back in the routine of things which is a huuge blessing. God is so good, I love my life!

OH I am still selling AVON so check out the site if you want! Again you can place orders thru me or on my website.

Hope all of you are doing well, love you all!
xoxo

www.avonrepresentative.com/bgreen5062

Back to crazy busy life...

So this weekend is about my last one for a long time (if ever) where I don't have any work and nothing to stress me out...Time has definitely flown by but I think these past few months have been a huge learning experience and I am so thankful for it.
The ankle is healing up well, I am back on my feet literally! It is still sore as it will be for some time but it is a world off difference and improvement than before. I go back to work on wednesday, and have a HUGE opportunity that I need prayers for on Thursday...my store has earned an assistant manager and I am interviewing for the job! I feel as if this is so perfect right now as I NEED the money and the hours, and also I feel like I am so very qualified for this position as I have been with the company for going on 7 years, in addition to my calm demeanor and knowledge...I think it would be a perfect fit!! Fingers and toes crossed!!!
Another HUGE prayer request...my Poppy has been downtown in the hospital for I believe a week now...went in with chest pains and they have now tested him for everything from heart problems, to kidney problems, to cancer...they still have no idea what is wrong with him, and I just know he is going stir crazy in there. And my poor Grammy has to drive downtown constantly to visit him. I know this is tough on my mom as well because she is torn between being a nurse and being a concerned daughter, so the line is hard to distinguish as far as what she can say or do without getting anyone in trouble. Definitely need prayers for the family.
Another one bites the dust....Brooke graduated 8th grade on thursday! She is now in HIGH SCHOOL! Dang do I feel old. Its so weird how they have all grown up SO very fast...i am now officially the shortest Green girl I believe! We have had a lot of fun as a family these past couple months, from lake days to seeing Wicked (AMAZING!) and enjoying eachothers company, I just don't want anything to change! Time flies way too fast, enjoy it while you can y'all!
I have a new and wonderful man in my life...his name is Doug and he makes me very happy. We have enjoyed a few days out on the lake with friends, are having fun watching the NBA finals (Lakers totally have this!), and honestly the best time I have with him is when we are just lying on the driveway at night looking at stars and talking about life. Its nice when you meet someone you click with and can talk to about anything. I am not rushing into anything but really enjoying spending time with him.
Well I need to get some AVON stuff processed....please check out the website and if you find something you like order through me or the site! Thanks to those of you who have already ordered, I really appreciate it! Keep checking back for new products!!
www.avonrepresentative.com/bgreen5062

Have a great day y'all..will keep you posted about everything!!
xoxo

Check it outttt :)

Soo as you probably are all aware, recently I had bone and tendon surgery in my foot, and due to that have been unable to work for over two whole months. Because I have not been working and am trying to pay off multiple and very expensive medical bills, I decided to start working from home....
I have chosen to work as an Avon Rep because I truly stand by the causes they support, as well as their products. As both an NC and CA licensed Esthetician, there are many products Avon has to offer that I like and would recommend (Skin So Soft and mark. products are my personal favorites!). As well as great beauty products, there are fun and affordable things for men, women and children- from gifts, house wares, clothing, to even grill accessories and jewelry. I encourage you to check out a catalog as well as my website. (I can get you a catalog, just ask :) )It doesn't matter if you live nearby in Charlotte, In Michigan, Oklahoma, California or even Hawaii...When you see something you like, you can order online or give me a call or an email with the catalog campaign number and product information. It is really easy to do, quick for me to order, and it will be delivered to your doorstep! Ordering through me will be a big help in fundraising for my medical bills. In addition to that, I am very passionate about the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation because of my sweet cousin who lives with this disease,and will be donating money from my Avon sales on a monthly basis to go towards finding a cure. Not to mention Avon itself supports many charities and NPOs such as Finding a Cure for Breast Cancer, BreadforLife, and m.powerment against abuse!

Thank you guys for taking the time to read this! Please browse through a catalog or my website at your convenience and feel free to give me a call, text or email with any orders or even just questions.

B_green927@yahoo.com

www.avonrepresentative.com/bgreen5062