A life lived in high-definition

This past weekend, Daniel and I attended one of our fall conferences in Greensboro, NC. As most of you know, we own a personal business and we are a part of LTD (Leadership Team Development.) I know that alot of people do not understand what we do, or why we do it...but this weekend was a blessing and I want to try to explain to you why we do what we do.

The fall conference is called Summit 09. Its a weekend designed to help motivate, train and inspire IBO's (independent business owners) to continue pressing on towards the goal of being free. Freedom was a theme this weekend, and not just financial freedom, but freedom from ordinary living. God made us for a specific purpose, each and every one of us. He didnt create us to sit around for 65 years being miserable so we can make the mortgage payments and then retire on a fixed income, only to be dependent upon our family to take care of us, or worse...the government to take care of us. Freedom is huge to us...especially to Daniel. He served our country proudly, and everytime I see the men come on stage to present the colors in their various uniforms, tears of pride come to my eyes for what my husband has offered our country and what those men and women stand for each day. Freedom means the world to us.

This weekend we celebrated with the LTD team a new accomplishment for one couple from Florida. They reached a level in business called "Diamond". This is one of the highest achievements in LTD, and they literally rolled out the red carpet for them on Saturday night. There were about 15,000 people filling the Greensboro Coliseum all cheering for this couple, who throughout the years have changed thousands of lives by introducing their team to the idea of Freedom.

Larry and Pam Winters, Founders of LTD along with the Diamond Trophy

Gary and Nancy Ayres, the new Diamonds on the LTD team

We realize that what we do probably seems strange to many of our family and friends, and we feel its because you dont truly understand what or why we do it. Another word that seemed to be a theme this weekend was Passion. I personally have been praying that God would reveal to me what my passion in life is, so that I could persue it with reckless abandon. I feel that I found clarity on my passion this weekend. I define Passion as what brings tears to your eyes. Daniel and I dont get passionate over selling laundry detergent and vitamins...thats just the vehicle we use to accomplish our goals...and our goals help fuel our passion. Let me explain. LTD introduced us not only to some incredible leaders and mentors, but they lit a fire within Daniel and I to accomplish more with our lives. We know that God called us to serve and to be a blessing in this world. We have so many things we want to accomplish in this lifetime, and we dont want to waste one opportunity to change a life.

One ministry that LTD wholeheartedly supports is Mercy Ministries. We have fallen in love with this ministry, and what a blessing it is to have the headquarters of Mercy right here in Nashville. Because Pam Winters is such a huge supporter of Mercy, and she encourages the LTD team as a whole to support them, Mercy Ministries has been given over $5 million dollars to date from IBO's just like Daniel and I. That is an incredible blessing for these girls, who have no where else to turn most of the time. That's what we are passionate about.

Another thing that brings tears to our eyes is watching God move in people's lives each and every weekend that we get together as a big team. Every Diamond couple on the LTD team are Christian people with a passion of changing lives for Christ. This business team is their vehicle/ministry. Its not all about making money...its about changing lives.  Every Sunday morning at these conferences, Larry Winters comes on stage to share his testimony and tell the truth of the gospel to a coliseum full of people. What a platform he has to make a difference!! He offers each person listening to take a step of faith and offer their lives to Jesus. I'm not sure if you know this...but Daniel dedicated his life to Christ at a business conference just like this a few years back. This is our passion.

This Sunday we moved from our seats near the stage, and travelled to the very tip top of the coliseum so we could see the big picture of what God was going to do in that room. We prayed for the people who would be set free that day and would finally come to know Christ in a personal way. I get chills just thinking about how God works so diligently for us. Here is what I saw when Larry gave the invitation...

The first guy to go forward.

The coliseum full of people wanting more out of life

People beginning to go forward in faith

This is why we are passionate about our business

Thousands of lives changed for Christ!

I hope this helps explain why we do what we do. We know our ministry is different than most...but God doesnt want us to live within a box. We know God called us to live differently and to share our faith. Why cant business and faith work together to change lives? We hope and pray that you, our family and friends, will support us in our ministry and support our decision to use this business opportunity to make a difference in our society. We would love to share more about what we do if you are interested in learning more.

Ultimately...this is where our passion lies.

We want the opportunity to spend our lives together with friends, family, and people who know how to live a life of purpose. I married my husband because I could tell he was a man of character and I knew he had a big life of influence ahead of him. I also married him so that we could spend our lives together, not separated due to our jobs for 40+ hours a week. We want to get to a point where our only job in life is to travel, play, have adventure, and help others do the same!! Here are a few of the people that we want to spend our days with, together on the beaches of world...

Lauren Fields

Steve, Bryan, Daniel and Anthony

6 months and counting...

Six months ago yesterday, I was waking up to a crisp spring morning in a cabin with 4 of my favorite ladies...my bridesmaids and my photographer :)  I awoke at 5:30 in the morning and could not for the life of me go back to sleep due to nerves, excitement and anticipation. I had been waiting for this day for 26 years and planning this wedding for what seemed like years, even though it had only been 8 months since we got engaged. I got up and walked around the cabin, trying not to wake everyone up. I just needed a few minutes to think and pray, and prepare myself for what was to come. I went into the living room to find Nikki, my photographer and best friend, curled up on the couch shaking because it was so cold in the living room. I laughed at her and we sat up talking and eating cereal for a bit before deciding to go down to the reception hall to finish some last minute details...like teaching me the Cupid Shuffle. After a couple of hours we were back at the cabin getting ready for the day.

Although the day went by so extremely fast, it was filled with treasured moments for me, and I am so thankful that I have the pictures to capture the moments. Looking back it all seemed a blur of confusion, rushing and nervous tension, but in the end I remember it as being a day filled with the people I love the most, and laughing a lot. Here is a little tribute to our most special day so far...

The get-away car. Daniel looked so handsome in his tux.

One of my bridal shots on the amazing bridge in the park.

Our programs

Our gorgeous cake made by my friend Sarahbeth

Our beautiful mothers

And our handsome fathers

This was an amazing day for us, and especially for me. I have never felt so beautiful and so special, and the look on my dad's face in this picture says it all. I truly felt lovely...which is every girl's wish.

Hockey Fights and Flat Nephews

This past Saturday, Daniel, Anthony, Ashley and I went to our first Nashville Predator's game of the season. It was a pre-season game and we got amazing seats...for free! We were asked by Caleb's teacher to take "flat Caleb", a paper cut-out of Caleb that he colored, on an adventure and send back any pictures to document our adventure. We took "flat Caleb" with us to the game.

                           

The game was really fun, and rough. Nashville's #22, TooToo, even knocked a guy out when he punched him and made him hit his head on the ice. He was bleeding from the back of his head and there was blood all over the ice. They even brought the stretcher out! It was crazy. Its amazing to me how even normal, sweet, innocent people can get carnal when they see a fight at a hockey game. I have to admit I was yelling right along with everyone else :)

We are super excited about the beginning of hockey season in Nashville. Hopefully we will be able to go to a few more games this season. We can't wait until we have the money and time to go to all the games and sit right beside the ice, front row for all the fights and goals.

September 2009

Fall is in the air and I am so excited!! If you didnt already know, fall is my most favorite time of year. All the fall colors, mixed with the smells of cinnamon, and mums. Not to mention the cool weather, the sweaters and the football! As we say goodbye to summer, Daniel and I have been really busy enjoying the beginning of Fall. School is back in session for us both, but this time I'm not the student :)  Daniel started at MTSU the last week of August and so far is having a blast being a college student again, even though most of his classmates are around age 18. In the past week we have attended the women's soccer game and the MTSU football game against Mempis. We were part of the record-setting crowd of 28,000 fans that came out to the "blackout" game on Saturday night. It was an awesome experience for us both.

This week we also attended the opening night of the Tennesse State Fair in Nashville. We got to see all the art exhibits, the photography, farm animals and prize-winning veggies. We got our candied and carmel apples before getting stuck in the rain. We got drenched, but it was a warm night and we made the best of it by playing in the puddles.

In honor of fall, I made my first pumpkin bread of the season last night. I just love the way it makes the house smell. I cant wait till the wind has that chill in the air and I can break out my sweaters. In honor of fall I have included some pictures from last fall at the farmers market. This year's pictures will follow soon.

July 2009

The month of July is almost over and the summer is flying by at a rapid speed. School will be starting back for Nashville students in the next week or so and the commute to work will not be as fun anymore. Trevecca starts classes back in a week on August 4th, so I have been staying pretty busy at work trying to get organized and prepared for the new school year and the new group of students. Daniel starts back to college at MTSU at the end of August and we are both pretty excited about the new changes that being in school will bring us. I'm very proud of him for wanting to go back and its exciting for me to see him so excited too.
We celebrated Daniel's 27th birthday on the 21st of July by going to Rock Island State Park down near Manchester,TN for a day of hiking, swimming and cliff jumping. We had a blast and the weather was gorgeous. Below are some pictures of our adventure for you to enjoy. We left with a few battle wounds and a bit of sunburned skin (mostly me) but it was all worth it.

We also went to Arrington Vineyards for his birthday for more of a one-on-one romantic date. The vineyard is out near Franklin,TN and it was a wonderful date. I packed a picnic for us of sandwiches, cheese and crackers, grapes, and apples. We signed up for a free wine tasting while we were there and were able to taste 8 different types of wine. We met a few neat couples that were our age and enjoyed the evening together. We even bought a bottle of wine to enjoy at home.

We had our summer conference for business at the beginning of July and it was held right here in Nashville at the Municipal Auditorium. It was a great conference and it really fired us up about being successful and growing our business. We learned a lot of new techniques on selling our products and sharing the opportunity with new friends. We heard a lot of great success stories from a guy that has been working with our Nashville team and that was really inspiring.



Well, that pretty much sums up our July. We look forward to an eventful August. I am getting to go to Grandma Foster's cabin this weekend for our family reunion and I hope to see and catch up with my family. Take care and God bless!!

June 2009

I can't believe its June already! Trevecca has been pretty empty for about a month and its quiet around work for me this time of year. Daniel is working at Walden and is getting used to his crazy work schedule. We have started going to the pool and enjoying the warm weather in Nashville. We are looking forward to the summer nights in the park and traveling this summer to visit family and friends. For now we are enjoying spending time with friends here in Nashville going bowling, dancing in the park and getting coffee at Cafe Coco. Here are some long awaited honeymoon pictures :)