I don't really know how to introduce this post today,
other than to say I can't express how grateful I am for her.
Nicole is an answer to many, many prayers, and I know that she was lead
to have a role in The Shine Project.
Here's the story about how she listened to her feelings and
became not only my assistant, but a really sweet friend.
Hi, I'm Nicole. Last year my husband came to me and told me that he wanted to go back to grad school- he felt like he was supposed to be doing something different. I was 9 months pregnant and honestly, this made me a little nervous. So we prayed about it and asked the Lord for an answer. Two months after our son was born we decided that it was time to put our house on the market. We got an offer in 2 1/2 days!! We knew the path we were to go on. I quit my stressful job in marketing and my husband started school. With a little time on my hands, I decided to get back into blogging since I missed it so much. This is when I found the world of mommy blogs. Through one blog that I read daily I stumbled across Ashley's blog. Regrettably I can say that I didn't hang out to check out all the amazing things she was up to. But by the Grace of God, one day I came back.. and read. I've never understood when people say that the Lord has spoken to them, but I'm here to tell you that He really does. I want to share with you something that I wrote about Ashley's blog a while back.
I have always felt like the Lord has had big plans for me. That I could be involved in something extremely positive. I always prayed to Him & asked "is this what I am suppose to be doing, Lord?" Stewardship has been on my mind a lot lately. I have felt that whatever it is that I am suppose to be doing as a steward of the Lord is right in front of me, but I wasn't sure what it was. And honestly, when I was presented with past opportunities I have never felt my 'YES' answer.
So when I stumbled back onto Ashley's blog and actually read it, I felt something special but chose to ignore it. I kept thinking about her and The Shine Project. When I went back again to her blog it then hit me, the Lord is speaking to me. I needed to listen. I did just that. I emailed Ashley and asked he how I could help. We talked back and forth via email and got to know each other. I was able to help her with a couple things she needed, I just didn't feel like that was enough. But how am I supposed to help someone in Arizona when I live in Missouri? Then one night I thought that maybe Ashley needed an assistant, I didn't want pay, I didn't want recognition I just wanted to help out. One thing I have learned about Ashley is that The Shine Project is 24/7 for her, she is always on the go and doing so much for what she has passion for. So I sent her an email. I was certain she would read it and think I was crazy, but she didn't. Turns out she was praying to the Lord for some help in that department. The Lord called on me, and I listened. I am so happy that I sent her that email. I have my dream job, working for such an amazing women who has so much love for what she does, The Shine Project. I finally feel like I am doing what the Lord had planned for me. If my husband wouldn't have had the desire to go back to school, and our house wouldn't have sold I would still be working at a job that I was unhappy with, and would not have probably had time to start blogging again therefore I may have never had met Ashley. When you listen to God, good things do happen.
Sometimes we all feel like we could be doing more to make a positive impact, but we end up falling short of following through. It could be a missed opportunity to make a difference, to do something bigger. I encourage everyone to follow through with what they feel is right, what they have a passion for and not to ignore the Lord speaking to them, after all He knows what is best. So go out there, trust in the Lord and make a difference in this world, because it starts with you. You have that power to help out, you have that power to SHINE.
Go visit Nicole HERE
