Unforgettable
The year was 1989, and I had just graduated from high school in May of that year. A few short months later when I was trying to stretch my wings out in this great big world, fear struck as a hurricane was headed our way. I’ll never forget boarding up the windows of our home and securing items outside as much as possible as we awaited the storm that was approaching. While it would hit landfall on the Isle of Palms near Charleston, South Carolina, an hour and a half away from my small hometown, it was such a massive storm that the effects would definitely be felt in my area.
My dad stayed up on storm watch as my sister and I tried to go to our separate rooms to sleep. I remember praying for our safety and trusting God to protect us all …
And … He did!
We lost power sometime in the night when my eyelids finally decided to close and allow sleep to come. We awoke to downed trees, but thankfully our house did not sustain any real destruction or damage. We were part of the lucky ones. Yard cleanup was all that was required, and shortly after daybreak, we began this task in our front yard.
I’ll never forget wearing a knit sweater the color of the sun with a pair of Bermuda shorts as I helped my family clean up fallen limbs. As I bent down to reach for another limb, a guy that expressed an interest in me during my Senior year of high school stopped by with a couple of his friends. He could not hide his amusement as he smirked at my apparel, and looking back, I’m sure I was a complete mess with my hair pulled back in a ponytail working to get the yard free of debris. I stopped only for a minute before continuing my task, and despite how I looked, I was just thankful to be there in one piece with my family on yard duty!
It’s hard to believe that 26 years have passed now since Hurricane Hugo swept across the coast of Charleston causing destruction along the way. What is even harder to believe is that I have been out of school for those 26 years! In my heart of hearts, I’m still YOUNG … and yet, time just keeps marching on trying to tell me that I’m not as young as I used to be. Young at heart, though, is what I will always be!
This unforgettable moment was brought to you by the prompt phrase of “A moment I will never forget …” on Karen’s Tuesday at Ten.
Carry Hope
If you’re like me, you can never have enough bags! Whether you’re looking to carry one to the market, the beach, or with you to hold your bible and journal, women just LOVE their bags! Can I get an “AMEN!” ladies?
If you’ve been looking for THE perfect bag and haven’t really found one that holds up, then I have the bag for YOU!
Just recently I was introduced to Esperos Carry Hope bags. Just the name itself should make you look for additional information, but you won’t have to look far as I have lots to share with you on Esperos!
Education is so important, and yet so many children in the developing world aren’t given the opportunity for a proper education. Realizing this very real problem, Esperos steps in and gives 10% of the purchase price of their bags to The Nobelity Project. This special project out of Texas works to fill the gap to ensure education is obtainable for these children!
I have had the pleasure of carrying around their market tote for a few weeks now, and I have to tell you that I am extremely impressed with the quality of the bag. It is a heavy duty canvas bag that is stain resistant. You can tell that this market tote will hold up for years to come! I adore the words “Carry Hope” that are on the neutral colored bag that I chose!
Propeller / FlyBy Promotions gifted me with this tote in exchange for my unbiased opinion and review of the Esperos bags.
When I received my bag in the mail, another bag came with it for a giveaway. Instead of doing a traditional giveaway on the blog, the ladies in my office gathered around to examine the bag. They felt the canvas, looked inside of it to find a pouch inside that snaps in, and we talked about how we could very easily just carry our market tote to get grocery items and put our driver’s license, money, and credit cards in the pouch for easy access. This way, you wouldn’t need to carry a separate purse! Needless to say, they fell in love with this bag, and it was a tough decision to make … but I decided to gift one of my friends/co-workers with this bag.
While I don’t have a bag to offer in this giveaway presently, I do have an offer for you! Esperos is going to give you a 15% discount for any bag purchased. All you need to do is use the code EsperosMoms when checking out and the discount will be automatically applied!
Check them out! You won’t be disappointed! While you anticipate the arrival of your bag, know that you’ve helped the little children!
Feel good about yourself as you Carry Hope … and extend it to those in need by purchasing from Esperos.
Blessings to you!
A special thanks to Propeller/FlyBy Promotions for this wonderful bag!
Change The World
For my final day of the quote challenge, I share the following that really spoke to my heart. If people are honest, everyone struggles from time to time in their relationships and marriages. Sure, we would like to all believe only the good that is shared on Facebook. The lovely pictures of couples holding hands or snuggling together as they take a selfie together. Reminiscing about their wedding day by sharing pictures all dressed in lace and white while he’s in his tuxedo with his arms around you. Even the family pictures where you’re smiling while holding each other next to your children. Yes, those types of happy moments that we all wish would stay. Those picture perfect moments that we show the world. Meanwhile, there are struggles behind closed doors, and maybe that is the beauty of Facebook and other social media in that we choose NOT to share those struggles with everyone on our friend’s list. We choose to share the wonderful moments that warm our hearts as we pretend all is well … and at one point, it was … and it can be again.
Today I share this quote because it spoke to the depths of my heart about a rekindling love that my husband and I have for each other. We’re honest about our struggles, yet we’re rebuilding, rekindling, and we are living our picture perfect love story out now. We thank GOD for our marriage, our children, our love, and each other. Our love matches those picture perfect moments … and I hope they will stay.
If you want to change the world …
love a woman, just one woman.
Love and protect her
as if she is the last holy vessel.
Love her through her fear of abandonment
which she has been holding for all of humanity.
No, the wound is not hers to heal alone.
No, she is not weak in her co-dependence.
If you want to change the world…
love a woman all the way through
until she believes you,
until her instincts, her visions, her voice,
her art, her passion, her wildness have returned to her-
until she is a force of love more powerful
than all the political media demons
who seek to devalue and destroy her.
~ Lisa Citore ~
