May 2017, Our first camping trip

Our first camping trip was just a few days after Pooh Bear's 16th birthday. We camped near by since we had no idea what we were doing. We had no idea what so ever, it would be a camping experience we would never ever forget. I wish I had known it would be Pooh Bear's first and his last trip with us. If I had known, I would have made more moments become memories. He enjoyed it a ton. We almost didnt bring him with this. Thank you God, something clicked that day that just made us realize he needed to go with us. 

He loved the window views. He loved watching us through the font door. It actually really kinda hurts looking at the above picture of him at our camper door. So many times I look at the same door and see Smokey. It's going to be so hard to let this camper go when we move. It will be one of the last remaining places our Pooh Bear has physically been with us. Although I know he is always with us, this will be hard to let go of. This base will be hard to let go of because it was here that he was last with us. However, we are going back to Guam where he was with us. Its just hard to be places without him because I still can envision him with us. He will have been gone 2 years next month, and it still feels like yesterday, and 20 years ago. Just yesterday I found 2 of his long orange hairs on various clothes hanging in my closet. 

He enoyed breakfast at the table with the kids, just like a kid. There was bacon, and nothing ever got in the way of him and bacon!

We had no idea just days later, he would be gone. 

Our Pooh Bear's 16th birthday

May 2017 is a month I dont really want to remember most days. Although I am thankful for the memories that were made. As time goes on and I look back at the moments we had, it seems like the moments were somehow planned out to absolute perfection. 

We found the house we would call home for our first year at Seymour. Little did we know, that Pooh Bear wouldn't make it to Misty Lane with us. 

May 5th we celebrated is sweet 16 birthday. We had a party for him in TLF! Birthday hat, decorations, fancy feast dinner, cupcakes and all. I even remember telling the housekeeper it was his birthday!

Soaking in the love and attention of his 3 favorite siblings. 

Here we are singing to him while he eats his fancy feast birthday meal. 

Dad and Papa were gone most of the day. Dad stumbled and hesitated all morning about buying our first camper and finally he gave in and did it. So he and Papa had been gone most of the day doing paperwork, and picking up our camper. The kids had no idea so when Dad pulled up in the parking lot, camper attached, it was a total surprise!! We eventually named our camper "Howie" and he adopted him on Pooh Bear's 16th birthday! (Howie- Hotel On Wheels)

Our arrival to North Carolina April 2017

Every now and then Im going to back track on blogging. Starting with our arrival to North Carolina from Korea 2 years ago this month, in April 2017. One of things I will always remember is being so shocked and so incredibly happy to be able to SEE. To be able to physically see through the air. To have a blue sky. To have warm bright sunshine. It was so clear. Korea was always foggy, dusty, cloudy, dim. We didnt get hardly any days in 2 years that we could see a blue sky. We were so happy to be able to BREATHE clean air. We spent a lot of time outside in TLF among the trees. Carly had never experienced squirrels before, so she fed them peanuts nearly every day. 

Our Pooh Bear was happy. Little did I know how tired he really was. In Korea, I just hoped and begged him to make it out of Korea happy and healthy. And the universe, and he had heard me. He did just that. Although now 2 years later, I hate driving past TLF on base each and every time. My heart sinks each time, because those were the last memories we made together. In that room, in TLF. I will never forget the kids and I waving at him through the window while he napped on Carly's bed on that pink Minnie Mouse blanket. 

Kayla's last selfie with our Bear. So thankful she was being goofy and took this picture. 

A couple weeks after we arrived to SJAFB, Mimi and Papa came to visit. The kids didnt know about the visit so it was a total surprise. 

Also, a couple weeks later, Mom and Dad bought a new car with a whole new purpose behind it. 

So we could tow our very first camper! What an April it was! So many new things and changes for the family. 

Annual Excellence Sales Award

A little Scentsy talk post here. Something huge has happened a few days ago. Huge. But first a little history.

I joined Scentsy last summer in June 2018. I knew Carly would be starting school come fall 2018, and with moving and school bus schedules for the kids- its difficult to have a "job". Along with running and fitness, what else was I going to do with myself home without kids?

I knew Scentsy probably wouldnt workout, but I had nothing to lose. Plus, the Scentsy Go system came free in my kit. I was sure it wouldnt work out. I have very limited family. I have no friends in real life. Im shy. Quiet. Not social. But, I did love Scentsy and I thought if I earned enough to buy my own wax bars, hey...that would be nice. So I took the plunge and I joined on a whim when Nick was TDY some where. Who knows where? Cant remember.

Fast forward a little. So each month after joining I just did better and better. I hit goals left and right. It became easier to talk to people, easier to do my live videos and my love and passion for Scentsy- for the company and the products- just grew and blossomed even bigger than before when I was just a customer. I began to really love sharing my love for the company and products.

Soon I earned the incentive trip provided by Scentsy to Consultants who earn it during that qualification period. Not only did I earn that, but I earned it for TWO. AND I even was in the top 100 earners, so I got to choose where we go and have a bonus to play with.

Fast forward- 6 months into doing Scentsy, November 2018, I promoted to Director. Reaching Director in 6 months is RARE. And not an "easy" task. And for me, it just naturally happened. I didnt have that set as a goal to reach at all. Team Take The Adventure was growing and taking off. I also earned a very difficult to reach award- Sponsor Of The Month.  This is awarded to the top Consultant in each title, in the country, with the most first time active personal enrollments in one month; a minimum of 3 new recruits ordering at least 200 PRV (personal retail volume) is required.

The real kicker- I had no idea this was a thing. I had NO idea this award even existed until I got the award in the mail, and I had to ask my Star Director what the heck it was. Not even kidding. I asked a Director's group I am in, what the heck charm is this?! They all said it was VERY hard to get that charm!

Also in November, yes, another award!  Top Sales of the Month- awarded to the top Consultant by title in each country with the highest PRV. (personal retail volume)

Now, the HUGE news. Fast forward to April 6th 2019. I knew I was on track for a few months before now, to earn the Annual Excellence Sales Award. A few months ago, I really wasnt sure that I could actually earn this award. I was scared to make a real out loud, and written down goal. But I did. I went public with this goal to help push me. If I  made it public, I had no choice but to do it. As the time was getting closer for this deadline for the award, I worked and pushed harder. What is this award? Well, there is a 1 year qualification period to earn this. It started May 1, 2018 (so about 6 weeks after I joined) and goes through April 30th 2019. The award goes to all Consultants who reach 30,000 prv (personal retail volume) or more within the qualification period. Well friends, I earned this award 3 weeks early on April 6th 2019, and mind you I lost 6 weeks of the qualification period because of joining in June and not May. To say Im stunned is an understatement. I am just doing what I enjoy, what I love, what I am having fun with and what keeps me busy.

On Tuesday, I got the official email. Let me go rub my eyes for a few minutes and make sure I can see clearly. And then wait a second while I pick up my jaw from the ground.

I am so humbled and appreciative of all the messages I got from so many people wanting to make sure I earned this. I really have some of the best friends and customers ever. Like ever. I mean, who randomly just brings you fresh baked cupcakes more than once? And gifts you coffee mugs? I am the one supposed to be gifting all of YOU!

Im just so thankful I took this chance and couldnt imagine life NOT doing all of this with my time!

I now have only NOT earned 2 Scentsy awards. And maybe once many more years pass- I can reach those as well! One of them is The Circle of Excellence award is awarded to Super Star Directors. That is the highest title you can have in Scentsy- so I have some time before I reach that. Until then, my goal is always reaching each and every month the 2k prv award and charm as well as the 10k charm for each 10k in sales reached.

I'd say now my goal is that 50k charm!

And if you are here reading this, and you are one of my team members, please know you too CAN do this. I had ZERO intentions when I joined on reaching awards, milestones, incentive trips, let alone having even 1 person join me and creating a team. None of that was even a thought in my mind at that time. And here I am. All the awards. The Marco Island incentive trip for 2. Top 100. A team of 20 ladies stand with me. Real life human friends now. And it just keeps going. You can do this too. You can. If you want it, you can do it. But only if you want it bad enough.

If your not on my team, and you want to do all these things too, message me! You can contact me through my website!

Team Take The Adventure #BeFearless,
Michelle AKA Scents With Love, Scentswithlove.scentsy.us

PS. Scentsy wants me to add our discloure agreement so here it is.

Smokey's getting ready for Guam

So hard to believe we are doing this all over again, with another cat, and during another phase of life!

We are less than 120 days out from moving to Guam, again!

We cant wait. The kids are excited. Guam was well before Carly's time. Kayla was just 3 when we left Guam and Caden a few days shy of his 2nd birthday. So they do not remember anything about Guam. I cant wait to show them all the places they grew from newborn into young toddler. Their houses. Our favorite beaches. I cant wait to make memories in Guam with Carly, and now as a mid 30's couple. And instead of Pooh and Roo, we now have Smokey to experience it.

Smokey did well. He got his microchip, rabies and bloodwork for FAVN done today. He wasnt happy, but he did well! Now we wait for FAVN results and assuming he is fine with that, next comes scheduling his appointment within 10 days of our flight for his health certificate. We will also have to get him an entry permit as well.

He is now home, asleep in his cat bed. Im sure that was super long and exhausting for him. He has no idea he will be stuck in that kennel for 24 hours in a few months. And in the very same kennel bag that Pooh Bear traveled in. I even noticed a long orange and white hair still in the kennel on the pad while we were at the appointment today. And its been nearly 2 years since he went to fly high.

Spotted: An adorable unicorn!

I know, I am supposed to be catching up on all the things from the past 4 years during the time I havent touched my blog. BUT, this news just shockingly came today and without any warning or hints!

I joined Scentsy in June of last summer, 2018. In July our warmer of the month was Stella. Stella sold amazing. I had 10 orders for Stella. 10! And she sold out within days. She hasnt been back since...

until today.

Stella is available NOW and ONLY for TODAY! If you are, or if you have a unicorn lover in your life..I highly suggest this warmer. Shes sparkly and pretty and pretty large. And will only be available today.

Spotted: One adorable unicorn! Last seen making fantasies real wherever she roams with an ultra-glossy coat, rainbow mane and tail, and enough cute to win admirers of every age.

Contact me to order yours, or order direct from my website. You wont regret it if you do, but you will if you dont!

4 year absence

I have not been here to blog in nearly 4 years. Wow! As busy as I am, I would love to have the time to get to this. What a priceless thing that someday our kids can look back on to read Mom's words and see life through her eyes, when I am no longer here to tell them all about it.

A wonderful way for them to learn about things they will probably have forgotten about as an adult.

A nice place to document all our family adventures...and wow has a lot happened in the 4 years I have been gone from here! Where am I going to even begin?

Kayla is now almost 11 years old, in 5th grade.
Caden is now 9 and in 3rd grade.
Carly is now 6 in Kindergarten.

Our precious Pooh Bear gained his angel wings almost 2 years ago in May, just 2 weeks after his 16th birthday.

Roo is still good although slowing down so incredibly much. He has been living with Nick's parents for the past 7 years.

And now we have our perfect little Smokey Bear, who is just a year and 6 months old. We got him at just 6 weeks old from the Wayne Country Animal Shelter here in North Carolina. And what a story that is!

Yes, we are in North Carolina. Exactly 2 years now. What a 2 years this has been. We now have an assignment back to Guam this summer!

Dad has been busy doing all kinds of secret squirrel work all over the world. Mostly in Europe.

Mom started her own Scentsy business 10 months ago and it took off like a snowball that gets bigger and bigger. I knew Carly going to school this year would leave me with a lot of free time, so I took the chance and I havent looked back since!

Mom is now 35. Dad is now 38.