Encourager

My God is an Encourager.

And for this, I am blessed.

Recently I have been wrestling with a lot of discouragement. So I have been praying for some kind of encouragement. In any form really, I'm not picky.

On Friday I went to a craft show to sell bracelets, (if you don't know what that is all about, read 'Bracelets for Ballet' on the right side of the screen) it was a three day show, Friday night, and then Saturday and Sunday.

So the last two days were much like any other show, except a bit slower.

But then today was like a "Hey! You asked for encouragement, you're gonna get it!" kind of day. :D

This may not seem so awesome to you guys just reading this, but to me, it meant a lot.

I met a girl on Friday who told me today that she is a professional dancer. She told me good luck with our bracelets and gave me some contact information and said that she does free dance workshops sometimes if I was interested.

That was super exciting!

And then after that a girl came over and asked where I was planning on taking dance lessons. I told her either the Dance Barre or Academie Ste Cecile, and she said she works at the Dance Barre! How crazy is that?
She bought a bracelet and then continued on her way. A few minutes later I saw her talking with a guy who I assumed was her brother, and in a few seconds he came my way with a five dollar bill in hand.

He came up and said that he doesn't really wear bracelets, so he didn't want to buy anything, but he said he liked what I was doing, and he wanted to support me. "My sister is a dancer," he said, "and for someone to not get lessons...that really hits home for me."

That made me so happy...you have no idea. :)

Talking with these three people really made me realize how many people come by and buy a bracelet just to support us. It makes me really grateful.

I feel like someday if I become a professional dancer, I will be in some interview, and I'll be like, "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for God, my parents, etc. etc., and I just want to thank that one guy at a craft show a long time ago who told me never to give up, and that lady at another craft show who told me I was pretty and to keep on going, and that other guy at the same craft show as the lady who gave me twenty dollars!" At this point I will look at the person who is interviewing me, "Can you believe that? TWENTY DOLLARS! For a THREE DOLLAR BRACELET." Then I will keep going, "And that little boy who only had a quarter but he gave it to me so I could take ballet, and that one..." The reporter will probably have to shut me up. I have had so many people that I am so grateful for, who didn't know me, but just felt like blessing me. :)

These people are so encouraging, and I know it is God who used them to encourage me.

He is my Encourager.

He is awesome.

Smiles Never go up in Price, or Down in Value

Today was a huge mess of happiness for me, and since I am so bursting with happiness, I thought I'd share about my day, and hopefully it will put a smile on someone's face.

So this morning I got up at 6:00, (not my favorite thing to do on a Sunday,) to go to a Craft Show to sell bracelets for our business. I was feeling, I confess, a little upset, confused, and scared. I did my personal devotions, and seemed to get nothing out of them, so I just quickly prayed for a good day at the show and closed my bible. I looked down and breathed deeply, I didn't like feeling this way, but I didn't know how to change it. Being slightly more detailed in what I was feeling, I felt very not peaceful about my salvation. :P
When I became a Christian I was overwhelmed with peace, but sometimes, I become anxious and stressed about things, and it pushes away that peace. So I prayed for it back again. Something told me to open my bible journal, and there was a verse that said, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are Mine." (Isaiah 43:1) This was so perfect for that moment, and I felt perfectly at peace again.

So then we went to the show, I didn't have Anna and Tabithah (my two little sisters who also sell bracelets) with me, and people don't usually buy bracelets from me, they like to buy them from my little sisters cause they are cuter. So blessing number two was that sales were really good! My prayer for a good show was definitely answered.

Then the lady next to us gave me a date square. Which just made me happy. ^_^

Then, just to make it all even more exciting, a reporter for Cogeco TV came around and asked for an interview with me, so I am going to be on TV!

I was asked several times to look after the booth that belonged to the lady next to us, which was not hard at all, but then she surprised me with a little gift, a cute elephant necklace that I have wanted for a long time, "For my babysitting services." :D

But that wasn't even it. God wasn't done making me smile, my older sister Becky showed up then and gave me a hot chocolate from Tim Hortons.

I cannot say this was just a fantastic day, it had JESUS written all over it. Thank You Lord!!!

I can't even express how good He is, I feel so overwhelmed, and all I can do is say thank you. :)