Random.org picked number 8 out of 1-76! So Suzanne won! Congratulations!
However, I do not have any contact information for you! Please contact me @ rgnaturalbabies@yahoo.com to claim your prize!!!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
When I don't sleep...
I end up sharing with you my randomness.
It is has been a while since I blogged... well here on this blog it has been! Do you know I have another blog? Done with my friend Kristin? http://gogreenwisconsin.blogspot.com/ ~There it is! For your reading enjoyment.
So life has changed a LOT since I wrote last. Kimberly Clark did yet again turn us down for renting - that was way back in February. It was frustrating, yet a blessing. God obviously knew best. We are now renting a building at 430 Main St. Which is MUCH nicer than the other space. It has more character and a little less work to it. And natural light comes in the windows! AMAZING! Not a lot, but some to where I don't need to have the lights on during the day when it's myself there! It's a leap of faith renting this space, but God gave the green light and off we are. I "love" when people say "wow, if I could afford rent on a space like this..." and in my head I'm always like "we actually can't afford to either... but praying and trusting that God will make it work."
It's a challenge, more than a challenge. Some days I want to give up, but there is no turning back now. Been working hard at getting things together... cleaning, setting up, getting shelves, putting products on, getting all the products needed, trying to work with the kids (HUGE challenge) at the store, trying to get the kids to nap at the store, finding time to catch up on current online biz stuff... and the list goes on! Oh and trying to find time to sleep - thankfully my body just tells me to sometimes... but still can be hard when my mind is racing with a million and one things to do.
God is good though and teaching us. Now it's a matter if we learn or take what we're learning and apply it. It's a blessing even though at times it seems more frustrating than that.
One of the many things I've always wanted to express that well... obviously for not writing in a few months I've had "too much to do" - and the "too much to say" part has just gone to the wayside... is how talking to people about cloth diapers, raw milk (yes, we drink raw cow's milk and it is awesome... do you cook the breastmilk that you give to your baby?), and other natural things is really similar to sharing Christ with others. The difference can be in the people that it's shared with. Such as I'm not getting odd, weird looks or the phrase "that's really good for you, but that's not for me" from my friends that are Christians if I talk to them about Christ and Spiritual things. However, I can talk to others that are in Christ and they can give me those responses and think I'm totally crazy, possibly out of my mind for doing these options. And even better when a person thinks your crazy for being a Christian AND being natural.
But to me being "natural" goes in hand with being a Christian. God created this Earth and everything in it is his. As a Christian, I want to do my best to treat it as kindly as I can and respect what God has given us. I'm by no means saying I'm perfect and there are a lot of things I still need to change (as I eat my thin mint Girl Scout cookies that I won't even dare look at the ingredients listed on the box), but I know that when God created this Earth, he had us in mind.
Where am I going with this? I'm not sure because as the title says "When I don't sleep..." well, this is what happens, I go on random tangents.
If I ate all that he provided and it was more accessible, I probably wouldn't need all the vitamins and essential oils and other stuff that I take to help me. But when I feed my body with things such as thin mints, ramen, and who knows what else when it's convenient, my body will feel ill or I become tired and other things that wouldn't if I nourished my body with things that God provided, that are good and healthy and all that other good stuff :)
Just as when we are hungry for something other than food, we often fill our minds with things that are not, well maybe not even things that are "bad" but things that aren't necessarily good. Like I could eat crackers like crazy and they aren't necessarily bad, but they aren't necessarily good and beneficial. But if we fill our minds with things of Christ, he will renew us.
Not the verse I was looking for, but it totally worked thanks to biblegateway.com!
Amazing though and so true - again! Isn't God really awesome like that. Oh and the hunger analogy was completely reminded to me when we were at homegroup this evening and talking about hungering and thirsting for more of God.
I know about hunger and thirst too - in my mind I do ( I know in 3rd world countries my saying that might be offensive). I am hungry and thirsty ALL the time! Right now I'm hungry, but I should be sleeping. I drink water and yet I am thirsty again. But when you drink the living water that is from the living God - you will thirst no longer.
It is has been a while since I blogged... well here on this blog it has been! Do you know I have another blog? Done with my friend Kristin? http://gogreenwisconsin.blogspot.com/ ~There it is! For your reading enjoyment.
So life has changed a LOT since I wrote last. Kimberly Clark did yet again turn us down for renting - that was way back in February. It was frustrating, yet a blessing. God obviously knew best. We are now renting a building at 430 Main St. Which is MUCH nicer than the other space. It has more character and a little less work to it. And natural light comes in the windows! AMAZING! Not a lot, but some to where I don't need to have the lights on during the day when it's myself there! It's a leap of faith renting this space, but God gave the green light and off we are. I "love" when people say "wow, if I could afford rent on a space like this..." and in my head I'm always like "we actually can't afford to either... but praying and trusting that God will make it work."
It's a challenge, more than a challenge. Some days I want to give up, but there is no turning back now. Been working hard at getting things together... cleaning, setting up, getting shelves, putting products on, getting all the products needed, trying to work with the kids (HUGE challenge) at the store, trying to get the kids to nap at the store, finding time to catch up on current online biz stuff... and the list goes on! Oh and trying to find time to sleep - thankfully my body just tells me to sometimes... but still can be hard when my mind is racing with a million and one things to do.
God is good though and teaching us. Now it's a matter if we learn or take what we're learning and apply it. It's a blessing even though at times it seems more frustrating than that.
One of the many things I've always wanted to express that well... obviously for not writing in a few months I've had "too much to do" - and the "too much to say" part has just gone to the wayside... is how talking to people about cloth diapers, raw milk (yes, we drink raw cow's milk and it is awesome... do you cook the breastmilk that you give to your baby?), and other natural things is really similar to sharing Christ with others. The difference can be in the people that it's shared with. Such as I'm not getting odd, weird looks or the phrase "that's really good for you, but that's not for me" from my friends that are Christians if I talk to them about Christ and Spiritual things. However, I can talk to others that are in Christ and they can give me those responses and think I'm totally crazy, possibly out of my mind for doing these options. And even better when a person thinks your crazy for being a Christian AND being natural.
"13If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you." 2 Cor 5:13
But to me being "natural" goes in hand with being a Christian. God created this Earth and everything in it is his. As a Christian, I want to do my best to treat it as kindly as I can and respect what God has given us. I'm by no means saying I'm perfect and there are a lot of things I still need to change (as I eat my thin mint Girl Scout cookies that I won't even dare look at the ingredients listed on the box), but I know that when God created this Earth, he had us in mind.
"Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so. " Genesis 1:29-30
Where am I going with this? I'm not sure because as the title says "When I don't sleep..." well, this is what happens, I go on random tangents.
If I ate all that he provided and it was more accessible, I probably wouldn't need all the vitamins and essential oils and other stuff that I take to help me. But when I feed my body with things such as thin mints, ramen, and who knows what else when it's convenient, my body will feel ill or I become tired and other things that wouldn't if I nourished my body with things that God provided, that are good and healthy and all that other good stuff :)
Just as when we are hungry for something other than food, we often fill our minds with things that are not, well maybe not even things that are "bad" but things that aren't necessarily good. Like I could eat crackers like crazy and they aren't necessarily bad, but they aren't necessarily good and beneficial. But if we fill our minds with things of Christ, he will renew us.
" Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. " Matthew 5:6
Not the verse I was looking for, but it totally worked thanks to biblegateway.com!
Amazing though and so true - again! Isn't God really awesome like that. Oh and the hunger analogy was completely reminded to me when we were at homegroup this evening and talking about hungering and thirsting for more of God.
I know about hunger and thirst too - in my mind I do ( I know in 3rd world countries my saying that might be offensive). I am hungry and thirsty ALL the time! Right now I'm hungry, but I should be sleeping. I drink water and yet I am thirsty again. But when you drink the living water that is from the living God - you will thirst no longer.
"10Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water."
11"Sir," the woman said, "you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 12Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?"
13Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."" John 4:10-13
Yeah, isn't he good! So true too - I'm thirsty all the time. Now that doesn't mean I should give up drinking earthly water, it's just to truly be filled we need the living water that comes from our Savior Jesus Christ.
So that is where I end and go to sleep because it seems fitting. And I think I got totally away from where I started, but again... that's what happens "When I don't Sleep!"
If you read this and it totally sucks, please don't tell me, but if you read it and like it, I'd love to know cuz I'm really self conscience when I make posts (hence another reason it takes for me to be so tired to post that I don't care) and I just need encouragement in general cuz I've been pretty down lately, so i'd appreciate it. Thanks!
Monday, February 1, 2010
Miracle Diapers is now - The Cloth Diaper Foundation
This is a great non profit organization that helps needy families be able to use cloth diapers!
Miracle Diapers Is Now The Cloth Diaper Foundation
empowering families, improving the environment
As Miracle Diapers has grown so has the number of families they assist. In 2009, they helped over 450 babies directly, more than 100 babies through sponsorship and local distribution, and assisted other charities with the same mission as well!
To better serve those families Miracle Diapers reaccessed it's structure and practices. They have:
• New leadership with Roxanna Jolly—CEO and Lisa Johnston—Operations Manager and Board Chair
• Relocated their headquarters to Katy, Texas
• Restructured how they process and accept applications
• Opened a retail store for fundraising
• Founded a new membership program
• Welcomed several new board members from the cloth diapering industry
In it's fifth year Miracle Diapers wants to continue moving forward and has decided to take on a new name that better describes the organization and it's mission.
Miracle Diapers is now The Cloth Diaper Foundation.
“We felt that a more appropriate name would help the community have a better understanding of who we are, as we have often been mistaken for a diaper manufacturer. Our desire to move forward and build a legacy of support for the cloth diapering community will be reflected in our new name: The Cloth Diaper Foundation.”
-Roxanna Jolly, CEO, The Cloth Diaper Foundation
Monetary donations fell last year do to the economy. Which means there are more families out there for The Cloth Diaper Foundation to help! While diaper donations are always appreciated, we must be able to financially support organizational growth. Let's make this happen together and spread the CD love. Visit http://clothdiaperfoundation.org today to find out how you can help!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
It's been a while
Hello blogger world - it's been a while since I've posted over here... not because I haven't had a lot to post about, but because I've had too much other stuff to do! Also have a new blog together with my friend Kristin. So IF I have time, trying to focus a little more over there.
Well, we have still been on the search for the perfect RG Natural Babies location. Let me tell you, there are some great spots available in Racine! A lot of very nice landlords which we've had the opportunity to meet and talk to. But my heart still sits in the property that said they wouldn't rent to us because of "conflict of interest".
So what do I have to lose to ask them again if they would reconsider - nothing! I've been praying about it and I'm just not settled on the other properties that once again would be great locations/buildings/you name it! And so I wrote this letter:
I took it over to Susie who is the apartment manager over there and super sweet to work with. She sent it over to corporate for me. This is the space that makes the things I would like to incorporate into Racine possible. It has the offices, retail space, front rooms that would be so fun for creating a story time (opposite days of what the library has of course). The build out is there and ready to go and is available (for 3 years it has been vacant). There is another space we are considering that could incorporate things like this, but some of the others would be too small to add books and other conventional baby items into the store.
If you think of it, please pray for God to work in the hearts of those that will be reading the letter at Kimberly Clark - that they may open to realizing I'm not really a threat to them (goodness, I can't convince some of our closest friends to use cloth diapers... but could probably steer them towards Pampers or Luvs if they aren't using them already, LOL) and reconsider renting to us as they did in the beginning.
Well, we have still been on the search for the perfect RG Natural Babies location. Let me tell you, there are some great spots available in Racine! A lot of very nice landlords which we've had the opportunity to meet and talk to. But my heart still sits in the property that said they wouldn't rent to us because of "conflict of interest".
So what do I have to lose to ask them again if they would reconsider - nothing! I've been praying about it and I'm just not settled on the other properties that once again would be great locations/buildings/you name it! And so I wrote this letter:
Dear Kimberly Clark,
I hope this letter finds you well. My name is Michelle Schimian – I am the owner of RG Natural Babies. Back in October/November we were trying to rent a space from you in the city of Racine, WI.
About 5 weeks after going back and forth with negotiating a price, you had decided you could not rent to us because of conflict of interest. Honestly, that baffled us, and literally, it left me speechless. First we thought it would come up right at the beginning if the fact that I sell cloth diapers would be an issue, but it didn’t seem to be. Also many people were surprised to find out that building was owned by Kimberly Clark, so to find out it was conflict of interest was a shock to many.
Yes, I understand that you make Huggies and Cloth Diapers and my mediocre sales probably impacts your bottom line ever so slightly. But the majority of people that are switching to cloth diapers are not doing so because I have a local store – it is because they are researching and deciding to do so on their own and then happen to find a local store to support versus purchasing from the plethora of online stores available. I am a stay at home mom working hard to help my family.
When the probability looked good to rent from you, I was actually quite excited to be renting from a corporation as yours at the hopes that the “going green” impact would be seen and in turn more “green” products would be taken into consideration for development by your company. Maybe even something I might want to carry in my store in the future. After all, I do and have carried disposable liners and disposable inserts. They are chlorine free, all natural based. I do understand that cloth for some cannot be a 100% of the time idea and these are a nice option for others that wish to avoid the chemicals.
We are coming to the drawing board and going to choose one of the many locations to rent from – all of whom want and are excited to work with us because of today’s economy. But my heart can’t seem to get away from the location that you own. So I ask once more if there could be any consideration again to rent to us.
This space would allow for a more community-like atmosphere than most of the others would. To be able to hold classes so others can learn more about natural childbirth options, breastfeeding, and the like. With this space, I was hoping to make children’s books a main item and hold story times. Events that would be free to the public to help make downtown Racine a better place.
Thank you again for your time.
I took it over to Susie who is the apartment manager over there and super sweet to work with. She sent it over to corporate for me. This is the space that makes the things I would like to incorporate into Racine possible. It has the offices, retail space, front rooms that would be so fun for creating a story time (opposite days of what the library has of course). The build out is there and ready to go and is available (for 3 years it has been vacant). There is another space we are considering that could incorporate things like this, but some of the others would be too small to add books and other conventional baby items into the store.
If you think of it, please pray for God to work in the hearts of those that will be reading the letter at Kimberly Clark - that they may open to realizing I'm not really a threat to them (goodness, I can't convince some of our closest friends to use cloth diapers... but could probably steer them towards Pampers or Luvs if they aren't using them already, LOL) and reconsider renting to us as they did in the beginning.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
