No More Secrets
I’m not keeping secrets any more. Women won't buy from you if they know…
I’m not keeping secrets any more.
Several times, I’ve tried to talk about my real life… but I have trouble finding the words over the voices in my head. The voices shout things like….Don’t embarrass your family. Don’t tell too much. Don’t be negative. Put a positive spin on it so people won't feel bad for you. Be honoring to God. People wont buy from you if they know you're sick. The list is much longer… but, you get my point.
After several attempts to share my real life, but being unable to find a starting point, I’ve decided to come at this from a different viewpoint. In the past, I’ve tried to start at the beginning… but seeing how that is muddled and blurry, it’s almost impossible for me to start there.
So, I start from my current perspective.
A bed.
A Cat
Beads
Paint
And a window.
I’ve been in bed for two days. The short version… Four years ago a doctor accidentally removed part of my urinary tract, my left ureter, instead of removing my ovary. The consequences? Too lengthy to go into today. What I can tell you is that I have issues and it results in seasons where I suffer from cysts that form or infections related to my urinary tract. I hurt. Pain is my constant companion. Because of the pain, I fight feelings of anger that this medical mistake happened. I fight the urge to loathe and wallow in self pity. I fight voices that tell me God is punishing me. I fight demons that tell me death would be such sweet relief.
Before you judge me too harshly, remember, I’m baring my soul here. Be kind to me. Please.
There is an upside, Sarahfide.
Most of the time, I can still paint beads and run a business from bed. In fact, many of you may be dropping your jaws right now, because you didn’t know. Which, in many ways, is how I want it to be. My illness shouldn’t have anything to do with my business… but it does. Sarahfide was born from the bedside of a sick woman. The sick woman being me. In many ways, the woman you see today is because of Sarahfide ~ my jewelry biz. Sarahfide was born because of this medical injury. I started hand making earrings to get me through the day. I am the woman I am today, because of the healing Sarahfide has brought me. One can not exist without the other.
The good news is, I always get better. After bed rest and over the counter IBUProfen, the swelling goes down, the pain dims and I feel normal (my normal) again.
You might wonder how this affects business… it doesn’t. I have plenty of inventory, so when someone purchases something, I can pull it out of the drawer and ship it. Of course, it does mean that my hubby, John, has to pull out my adorable Sarahfide packaging and tie a pretty little bow; seeing how he was a warehouse manager for almost 15 years, he can handle it. Hopefully I’ve proven, I’m in this… All in. No matter if I’m sick or not.
Opening doors like this always lead to questions…and I want to be an open book. So here’s a little bit more, which might give you some insight into my life and more specifically, my health.
I’ve been as far as the top urologist at Mayo Clinic, there is no fix. I have to learn to live with kidney issues, urinary related infections and my current situation, cysts. This is and how it is. At some point, hopefully a long way off, the pain or a fever will force me to go to the hospital. I’ll be probed and prodded, like I’ve already been 100 times, seriously, I have some crazy stories. Surgery will be discussed and I’ll be encouraged to take medication that will help dull the pain or shrink the cyst or fight off infection, but medication comes at a cost. I know, because I’ve taken them and I’ve taken myself off of them. In all of the cases the medication didn’t seem to work and the side effects were sever. The bottom line, my body will never recover from the internal damage done. I just have to learn to live life, the best I can, and make the most with what I’ve been given. Which by the way…. is a lot. God has given me an amazing supportive husband. So supportive that he purchased my business license and did all the leg work to get me what I needed. God has given me the most amazing daughters who are a breath of fresh air and a HUGE reason I grin and bare it and don’t give into self loathing or drown myself in pain medications. I have parents and siblings that would drop anything and everything to help me, if I needed it. AND!!! I have you. Amazing, supportive, positive women who love me and my creations. Who not only buy my jewelry but wear it proudly. Talk about blessed. God has given me so much. He has been faithful, when I am not.
When I think about God, and His goodness, it’s the number one reason I want to share my real life. The girl you see in the top picture, the beautiful diva decked out in the most amazing jewelry, she’s me.. and the girl in the bed… well, she’s me too. Both pictures are me. Welcome to my real life. No more secrets.
WHY CharliRose&Co?
Lauryn openly talked about her relationship with her body. In many ways, hearing her struggles made me feel sane. I looked at Lauryn and saw a beautiful woman and hoped that even though I was struggling with my body, maybe I was beautiful too.
Meet Lauryn. She is CHARLI ROSE & CO.
When Lauryn was still living in Florida, she and I met because we worked in the same building, although it was for a very short time. At the time I was hired, Lauryn was getting ready to move to North Carolina. We were like two passing ships.
Lauryn moved, had a second baby and started CHARLI ROSE & CO. I was getting used to a new job and raising my three girls..
Then.
Everything came to a screeching halt for me. I was in a medical accident. While on vacation, in South Carolina, I got sick and ended up in the hospital. During an emergency surgery, my ureter was removed instead of my ovary.
Except for my husband at my side, I was alone. I was in a strange state- city- hospital and I knew no one. I started connecting with friends and family through Facebook. It was the quickest and easiest way to give updates about my health. From my hospital bed, I tuned into the CHARLI ROSE lives on Facebook and looked forward to reading their posts. Seeing Lauryn smiling and telling me, “Stay Beautiful” helped brighten my day. I needed all the goodness that CHARLIE ROSE brought, because my reality was, scars on my body were quickly adding up. I was feeling lost, hopeless… ugly. BUT!!!! Lauryn told me I was beautiful. Beauty comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Even though she was talking to everyone watching, in those moments, I felt like she was talking to me. A Sister in Christ speaking to my heart, reminding me that I am wonderfully and fearfully made.
Lauryn openly talked about her relationship with her body. In many ways, hearing her struggles made me feel sane. I looked at Lauryn and saw a beautiful woman and hoped that even though I was struggling with my body, maybe I was beautiful too.
Clearly there is more to the story but the condensed version… The medical injury took its toll on me. I diminished. I was very sick emotionally, physically, mentally.
I fought death. I fought to live and not let this tragedy destroy me. BTW, I still fight. Illness is and will always be a burden I carry.
For fun, I started creating jewelry.
Then, I started selling jewelry.
Then, -IT- happened.
Lauryn from CHARLI ROSE contacted me and asked me to create for her on-line/ in-store Boutique. These are some ChariRose&Co photos!! Love it all!!!
Now, Sarahfide can be found not only at SARAHFIDE but it can also be found at CharliRose&Co. I can’t begin to tell you the impact Lauryn and CR has had on me, my family, my business, my LIFE!
That. is. the. why. That is why, CHARLI ROSE & CO!!!
Some other reasons…. I LOVE the clothes!! I LOVE the beauty and grace they exude and I love seeing how they style everything. I LOVE supporting a small business. When I purchase from CR, I know my money is supporting a family, business, and community, right here in the USA. I LOVE Lauryn. I love her heart. I love her message. I’ve held her hand and cried, sat on her couch, and talked with her little’s. She is exactly what you see. A HARD working mamma, who loves Jesus, family, and county. A woman trying to help other women, like me and like you, find apparel that will encourage them to love the skin they are in.
BTW, it works. I feel absolutely beautiful, when I wear my Charli Rose and of course, my Sarahfide!!! Can’t you tell!!!!
We need women like Lauryn and we need businesses like CHARLI ROSE & CO!!! Let’s show her some love and support!!! Click this link right now and use the CODE I put below!!!
Happy Shopping and…. Stay Beautiful!
