Faith > Logic

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

I had been a LuLaRoe customer for years and eventually decided it would benefit my wallet and wardrobe if I became a retailer. My goal was to make some extra money so I could do more for and with my boys. About a month in, I attended a local LuLaRoe event here in Massachusetts. I heard story after story of families whose lives were changed because of LuLaRoe, and in that moment I knew this was going to be more than a hobby. God put a dream in my heart that day. I called my mom on the drive home and told her how one day I would be able to let my husband leave his physically demanding job and I would be a successful entrepreneur.

Let me give you a little background. My husband, Steve, is my hero. We have been together for over 20 years and I am still in awe of him. During our first year of marriage, Steve was in a bad dirt bike accident. His leg was shattered and it was a long road to get him back to walking. More than 15 years later, he still suffers from chronic pain and cannot fully bend or extend his leg. Despite his pain, he has worked so hard to provide for our family. He has spent the last decade working in landscaping- something he really enjoyed, but was physically tolling on his already hurting body. We knew this wasn’t a career he could continue with forever. I desperately want to see him less stressed and in less pain.

Slow & Steady

My business grew over the years, but it was still more like a part-time job than a career. I had been teaching music at the private school my boys attended since my oldest son was in first grade. I worked to cover their tuition, and while I enjoyed it, it kept me from putting the effort I wanted into my business.

Last summer, we moved to a new town with a great school district and I had decided that the following school year would be our last at that school. I would finally be able to focus fully on my business. The school year was intense and I was anxiously counting down the days until summer and being a full-time entrepreneur! But just a couple of weeks before my last day of school, Steve lost his job.

Vision

Every July LuLaRoe has a big conference in California, called Vision. With Steve out of work and I no longer teaching, we had no money for anything extra. I had assumed I wouldn’t be able to go to Vision, but the closer we got to the day of the conference, the more unsettled I felt. I knew I would learn things that would help my business grow. Especially if this was going to be my full-time gig! I knew I needed to be with these amazing entrepreneur friends of mine, who are like family to me in many ways. I felt in my heart that God was saying “go!” But how?

I had doubts. I worried. I reached out to my prayer group (called Wildflowers, named after a paraphrase of Luke 12:27 "Consider the wildflowers, how they grow: fierce and free.") They were all praying hard for me! When I shared my doubts, a friend said, “Ashley, you know what God spoke. Listen to Him and not what others are saying.” So I kept trusting God and working to pay for the trip. It turned out that my sister was also headed to California that same time, so she covered some of the costs! An amazing answer to prayer, with the added bonus of getting some much needed sister time! I worked hard and was able to cover the cost of my ticket to Vision. I was officially going! Praise God!

The day before I had to travel, our bank accounts were literally down to pennies. I worried about my husband and boys, and if I had made the right choice in going. Steve assured me he would be fine and off I went. On the flight to California, we had a layover in Pheonix. Don’t ask me why, but there are ZERO Starbucks (or even Dunkin for that matter!) at that airport. I was so frustrated, as I had slept on the first flight and desperately needed coffee. After walking all through the terminals, I finally found a coffee shop “Wildflower Bread Company." I nearly cried!

God was letting me know I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

At Vision, I kept finding myself near this woman, Jenna Warford, who was one of the speakers at the conference. We got to chatting and I quickly realized the Lord drew us to each other. We both have a heart to share God’s love and help people discover their worth. As I am expanding my business, part of my plan is to host retreats for female entrepreneurs. Believe it or not, part of Jenna's business is hosting retreats! God was once again letting me know I was exactly where I was supposed to be.

The rest of the conference was amazing, but what really got to me was something that was shared at the closing session by LuLaRoe CEO, Mark Stidham. I don't remember word for word what he said, but the gist was this: We can't let our head rationalize us out of what God is speaking to our heart. It hit me like a ton of bricks. God put a dream in my heart four years ago to "retire" my husband. Steve has worked his tail off- through pain, anxiety, and depression- to support me and our boys. He has never questioned or doubted my big dreams and has always supported me. I have an opportunity to grow my business so that he can step back. I felt God was saying, "I put this dream in your heart years ago. No more waiting around, Ashley. The time is now!"

That evening, I spoke with Shauna Spence, who was also a speaker at Vision. She was wearing a cross necklace, so I took a step of faith that she would be open to hearing what God had been speaking to me throughout this trip to California. She was! After I shared my story with her, she shared a scripture with me that was more powerful than she knew.

Okay, God. I hear You loud and clear.

Big Dreams & Bigger Faith

So now I'm back home with big dreams and even bigger faith. I made new friends who are cheering me on as I get ready to take Style & Grace to the next level and beyond! I don’t know how it will all work out, but I believe this is the time God has for exponential growth in my business. I’m believing the zero that was in our bank account will turn into zeros with commas! My family will prosper and we will look back at this moment and say “Look what God has done!”