Women are Beautiful

I have waited too long to feature my friend, Jessica Swearingen, as today's beautiful woman.  She's not just beautiful on the outside, people.  Although, how gorgeous is she?!?!  Jess is the kind of person you NEED in your life.  When I first met Jess, the main thing that stood out to me was the sense of peace and calm about her.  It was like she just exuded a zen aura.   Add to that the fact that she was so gracious, so kind and had a fun personality, and I was immediately smitten!  I've since learned so much more about her and now I'm even more convinced that this girl is the complete, authentic package.  Artist, realtor, community builder extraordinaire and, most recently, AUTHOR,

I can't say enough about this amazing woman!

Here's what Jess has going on in her personal and professional life:

 Jessica is a true Florida native, raised in Jacksonville, where her roots run deep. As a dedicated Realtor for over 11 years, she’s helped countless families find their dream homes, all while staying passionate about her hobbies like painting and health and wellness.  Her husband of 14yrs has been her biggest cheerleader in everything. 

Alongside her business partner, she co-founded St. John’s BFF, a women’s networking group that has blossomed to 4.3k members in just a year—a testament to her love for community building. 

Her greatest joy comes from being a mom to her two wonderful kids, Zimri and Elias. Recently, she took her love for storytelling to the next level, writing a children’s book, Figuero the Singing Squirrel, based on bedtime tales she created for them. 

Grounded in her faith, Jessica is grateful for the friendships she’s built and the opportunity to make a difference both professionally and personally.

You can contact Jessica on her website:

www.jessicaswearingen.com

or follow her on IG:

https://www.instagram.com/jessica.swearingen_realtor_?igsh=MWlnYWwzNXUwc25jdA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

 Full of vitality.  That’s how I would describe my friend Jac.  

Of course, she’s beyond beautiful too.  She’s fun.  She’s funny.  She’s dedicated.  She lights up a room brighter and longer than any firework I’ve heard Katy Perry sing about.  In short, she’s magic.  To be in her energy is to receive an extra spark of life that you didn’t even know you needed.  There are so few people like that in this world, so I know that’s why she’s so magnetic.  

I met Jac in January through a group she and her best friend started called St. John’s BFF.  It’s a women’s networking group for women in the Northeastern Florida areas around Jacksonville, St. Augustine and the beaches.  Although one may easily find their BFF in this group of amazing women (many of whom are entrepreneurs and small business owners), the BFF actually stands for Business, Family and Faith.  And St. John’s BFF has already found the most interesting and fun ways to incorporate all 3.    The group is not only for business owners. Moms of littles will find a chance to connect and have fun. Couples are offered the chance to get out together.  Besties can find a workout or chicks and coffee morning to attend together. It really is a one size fits all group that’s bursting with opportunities!

Jac and her husband finally settled in St. Johns after moving around in the military for 13 years.  They have 4 boys and she STILL manages to exude tons of energy!  (I’m sure she would attribute that to the wellness supplements that she takes.  The products are called Isagenix and I know she’d be willing to hook you up if you wanted to give them a try!)

The final thing I want to say about Jac that I believe makes her so beautiful is her love for Jesus and her love for others.  She oozes love and joy.  She builds others up.  She has a firm belief that anything a person gives will be given back to them in abundance and that's why she is not only a fierce giver, but she has created space for others to be able to give as well.  To know Jac is to love her, so get on over to her IG or her website, join her tribe, and get to know her and a bunch of other amazing women just like her!

Website:  www.stjohnsBFF.com

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/stjohnsbff?igsh=MXhiMHo4bWcyaHo0

Today is International Women's Day, and I get to highlight this beautiful woman whom I've recently met and absolutely adore already!

I actually first met Heather online and immediately was drawn to her generous spirit, her love of party planning and her desire to reach out to, connect with and support other women.  All qualities that I admire and aim to share!

When I met Heather in person, I was in for an even greater surprise.  She has such a peaceful air about her.  Being in her presence is so refreshing!  

She also has the most beautiful brown eyes and fabulous smile!  Anybody that knows me knows that I am drawn to people's eyes.  I love the sparkle of life in Heather's eyes, the beautiful view through the windows of her soul. 

I asked Heather if she'd be willing to share a few things about her life and I especially love this story about how she met her husband:

"I lost my mom in 2015. Since then, when I truly need her love or guidance, I find that

white feathers appear. There’s a belief that finding a white feather means your guardian angel is near…but more on that in a minute.

I met my husband Angel on the dating site Plenty of Fish in June of 2018. My profile said that I was a writer, and the first thing he asked me was if he could read something of mine. I gave him the option of reading a poem, a short story, a 12-chapter story, or a multi-chapter manuscript and I was pleasantly surprised when he chose to read the 12-chapter story. It was adorable seeing how invested he got in the plot and the characters. We hit it off immediately and decided to meet on a Tuesday night.

Unfortunately, I was in a minor fender bender that night which earned me a ticket. This might not otherwise be a big deal but I worked for the State Attorney at the time and a ticket could cost me my job. Needless to say, I had to cancel our first date. Angel was so kind and compassionate about the whole thing, checking on me the next day to make sure I was okay.

Thursday, he messaged me that he could tell I was under a lot of stress and he wanted to do something nice for me. He offered to pay for me to get a mani/pedi and said he didn’t have to be there, he just wanted me to be able to relax. That was the moment I knew I HAD to meet him. So, we agreed to meet that Friday night, after I got everything resolved.

That Friday morning, as I was getting into my locked car (with the windows up) to go to the bank for cash for the ticket, there on the passenger seat was a single, fluffy, white feather. I don’t know how it got there but, in that moment, I knew everything was going to be okay. The bank approved my loan, I paid off my ticket, I kept my job and that night, I met Angel at an IHOP for the first time. We spent an hour over dinner, spent 7 hours in the parking lot talking before we went back in for breakfast. We had our second date 11 hours later and we’ve been completely inseparable ever since."

What a special story!  So sweet!  You definitely deserve such a fine man, Heather!

One last thing I wanted to share about Heather is her super cool business!

Heather owns Events with a Twist which is an Event Entertainment Company that specializes in fun, quirky, interactive and engaging events like Video Scavenger Hunts, Murder Mystery Sabotage Parties, and Photoshoot Parties   Heather says, "What I love about what I do is that It is SO inclusive and immersive. I’ve been doing Video Scavenger Hunt parties since 2014 and it’s wonderful seeing everyone connecting, working together or truly embracing the competitive spirit, and sincerely having a blast coming out of their shells. People radiate a different kind of energy at a party when they have a common purpose, and you’d be surprised what some of the shyest people will do when challenged to rise to the occasion!"

To learn more about Heather, her writing and her business, you can find her at:

 www.EventsWithATwist.Net

Email her at: Heather@EventsWithATwist.net, 

 or call her at (904) 419-3891

She can also be found at:  https://heatherrburkett.wixsite.com/h-r-burkett

Thank you, Heather for allowing me to feature you today as a beautiful bloom in my garden!

Have you ever met a person and felt an instant click?  That's how it felt for me when I met Piper last month.  Her smile was authentic.  Her eyes were lit up with joy and excitement, and her magnetism could be felt immediately.  My first thought was, "This is a woman who is happy to be here and LOVES what she does."  I was not wrong. 

Each interaction that I've had with Piper since then has been the same.  She seems to exude confidence and contentment.  I guess that's why she's been married to her husband, Lou, for nearly 30 years and never once had an argument.  That's pretty impressive!   She says they each respect each other too much to escalate a disagreement.  I love that!  #marriagegoals

 Piper has been teaching skin care and glamour application with Mary Kay Cosmetics for 34 years.  She is in the top 1% as an Independent Sales Director, which is a fancy name for Business Coach. She's been in the National Court of Personal Sales for 25 years. She is focused on helping women bring out a better version of themselves. If you could read what she has accomplished in her 34 years with Mary Kay, it would astound you!  What started as a side gig for her, evolved into a calling…Makeup And Ministry.  As part of that ministry, she is looking to sit down with women to be a part of her Legacy Changers portfolio-giving advice to younger women. 

When I asked Piper what she believes makes a woman beautiful, this was her response:   "God made every woman beautiful, I just get the honor to help many stay that way. Helping a woman bring out the features that boost their confidence and cause them to receive compliments is a paycheck to my heart."   Isn't she amazing??  I think that's why I felt that instant connection.  One of my favorite things in the world is to find a woman that loves to boost another woman's confidence and self-esteem.  This is one of the things that I believe makes Piper so beautiful.

If you'd like to check out what Piper has to offer, you can find her at:

 www.marykay.com/pprinzi 

or

https://linktr.ee/pipermk?utm_source=linktree_profile_share&ltsid=b77abbe3-9375-45ae-9527-272c35d97ed0

Today's beautiful woman is such a special lady.  I met Sandy sometime in the past 10-15 years by just hitting her restaurant, Gator's BBQ, which is one of the only good restaurants on our side of town, and DEFINITELY the best BBQ in Jax.  Any time family comes to town, we have to take them to eat at Gator's.  If you've never been, you have GOT to try it!  

Sandy's journey has been a long one, and one thing I've noticed through the years is that she always has a smile and a kind word for us, when I  know there were days that she probably felt absolutely worn down.  I don't know another person that's had such a long battle with cancer as she has, and yet still, her beauty and grace shine through.  

I wasn't sure of the full timeline of Sandy's journey, so her daughter Kristin graciously shared with us.  I hope you will enjoy reading the story of this brave, beautiful woman from the heart of her daughter:

 "Sandy was diagnosed with breast cancer on July 5th of 2013. A few weeks before she found a lump and after some hesitation went to see her PCP. They ordered  tests and finally a biopsy showed it was in fact cancerous. 

Our worlds were turned upside down. 

We had seen at a distance others battle cancer, but this time it was someone we loved. 

Weeks went by and it felt like the biggest "hurry up and wait" we had ever experienced.  Over the next few months she would meet with surgeons, Dr's, oncologists to figure out what the next course of action would be. July 31st she had a lumpectomy and her lymphnodes were  clear. She did 16 rounds of chemo and then radiation. 

Fast forward to 2019 she started having some issues and found out she had colorectal cancer. They did surgery to remove the mass in September of 2019. 

In 2021 she started a new chemo. It was a Tuesday, she had an infusion at the hospital and wore a chemo pump home for 48 hours. On Thursday she  menitioned she didn't feel good, but thought it was just the chemo. Friday evening my dad came home and found on her the bathroom floor. He called EMS and they came immediately and rushed her to Mayo. I thank God every day for watching over her. 

After many tests and several hours it was determined that she had what would in lay terms be a blood clot to her intestine and she was septic. I thank God for watching over her and my sister and dad for being there to advocate for her. It was touch and go and the Dr told us before the surgery that he couldn't guarantee she would make it through the surgery and even after, it was still a concern. 

BUT GOD!!! She healed!! 

After that scare the Dr's told us that she wasn't a candidate for that chemo anymore, so we were really unsure what the next step was. We were just thankful we still had her. The timeline after that is kinda up and down. We have had some good scans and some not so good scans. The last ones in October were good and we are trusting God for good scans again in January. 

I shared all of this because my mom is truly incredible! She is a light to everyone who knows or meets her. She loves her friends, family, employees and everyone. I see her commenting on things on facebook all the time and she almost always says "love you". She has worked tirelessly, sometimes right after leaving a chemo infusion. She goes above and beyond for her grandbabies. She has driven to SC for things as simple as a 10 minute grandparents program, or a 30 minute Christmas play. Our family is so blessed to have her and everyone who knows her is as well."

Thank you so much, Kristin, for sharing with us what a truly lovely person your mom really is.  And, Sandy, you are so beautiful and your light shines so brightly.  You truly are a lady to be admired.  Thank you for allowing me to feature you as today's beautiful woman!

 Today's feature is pretty exciting, and I'm hoping you'll get involved!

This is my good friend Jamie.  Jamie is obviously a beautiful woman, but her beauty is so much more than skin deep.  I've known Jamie for years.  She loves to laugh and connect with people, and even when she's dealing with her own stuff, she still manages to be a kind and gracious person with an encouraging word for others.  She's also, in my opinion, the epitome of a self-made woman who has always been super successful!  Her passion and drive are contagious and so admirable!  

Jamie turns 43 this month and is a third generation Jacksonville resident.  She was raised to love Jesus, people, southern food, anything on the water and college football.  She has a Finance and Real Estate degree and has been working in construction and development since 2003.  She's been a single mama since 2011 to Paige (14) and Cole (12), so she is a single provider for her household of mama, 2 kiddos, 2 kitties and a sweet rescue pup named Bear.  Her passion is connecting people to help them reach their goals, to make a difference in the community and to bring love and laughter to all environments.  

 Here's the exciting part... Jamie is one of the final contestants in Fab over 40!  She is the only single mama in the final 14 and there were over 180,000 women that started in the contest at the beginning of October!  Funds raised go to women who cannot otherwise afford diagnostics or treatment for breast cancer.  The winner gets a spa-cation, $40K and the title of FabOver40 for the next year :) The contest ends THIS Thursday at 10:00 pm and whoever is in 1st place that night is declared the Winner. 

Here's where you come in!  Today is 2-for-1 votes until MIDNIGHT and it's super easy to vote using your Facebook account!   I can't think of anyone who deserves this honor more than Jamie, so please use the link below and  show her some support between now and Thursday, but especially today!

https://votefab40.com/2023/jamie-sandifer

Thank you, Jamie for allowing me to feature you today, and best wishes to you!

 Elegance, class, beauty, brains AND a sense of humor?  Yes, folks, sometimes it really is all available in one package, which is why I've been chomping at the bit to feature Holly Bebernitz as today's beautiful woman.  

She's sweet.  She's kind.  She possesses character, talent, creativity and a servant's heart.  I could go on.  Having known Mrs. B. most of my life, I also have admired her poise, her intelligence, her wit, and her eloquent way of speaking and writing.

And speaking of writing, I could not highlight her talent of writing without mentioning that Holly is an author!  She has written a series of books called the Magnolia Arms Chronicles, which you can check out on her website https://www.hollybebernitz.com/  Her website is fantastic, by the way, and has so many gold nuggets in the form of blog posts, short stories, history lessons and writing tips.  I'm telling you...it's a treasure trove of inspirational content.  You don't want to miss out!

Holly is also a proud mother to 3 children and grandmother to 6.  As far as her service ventures go, she leads a Bible study at Benton House,  serves on the welcome team at the Church of Eleven-22, Mandarin campus and serves once a month in Kids’ ministry.

Mrs. B, writing this feature reminded me of the verse, "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."  (Proverbs 31:26)  Thank you for allowing me to feature you as today's beautiful woman! 

  Some people exude beauty. Their personality, their charm, their kindness, their outward beauty, but especially their vulnerability and authenticity. These are the things that I find so beautiful about Amy. She is REAL. 

Amy is such a godly and beautiful woman. She is a light on Facebook, and while I know she strives to be a positive and uplifting person, she will also admit to her struggles and shortcomings. And THAT is a breath of fresh air in a world where anyone can pretend to be anything on social media platforms. 

Amy's career is rocking it as a Sapphire Brand ambassador with Plexus.  (To put this in perspective, the only position above her is Diamond, which means that she has worked her way up to 2nd from the top!!  Beautiful AND brilliant!)  Amy was willing to share her story with us, so please enjoy reading about her amazing rise with Plexus:

"I’m a teacher by trade and when I had my third baby it was costing me more than I was making in childcare. My husband was in ministry and we could not afford to live on just his income although I was desperate to stay home with my babies. 

Somebody from our church gave us a 600 square-foot hideously ugly mobile home that had holes in the floor and termites in the walls and we took it. We had a no yard, and my daughter did not have a bedroom.  

Soon after, we were pursuing missions, and God had seemed to open every door. My husband step down from the church, and they gave us a send off and replaced him. And then God closed every door and closed our way to go missionaries to China. We were devastated. 

So six months after they move there, he no longer had a job, and what was for us to save, now became necessary.   I knew I had to go back to work, and it broke my heart, I started subbing and doing home school evaluation. My husband took a job at Walgreens for the time being as a cashier. It wasn’t enough.   I was incredibly thankful to be home with my kids but also very angry that my husband has a masters degree and I have a teaching degree and we are living on welfare and food stamps. I was humiliated and embarrassed about where we lived. I had to lie to friends because I didn’t have the gas money for play dates.   My friend kept asking me about Plexus, and although I was happy for her - it was not even an option for me because we could barely afford food. I was not going to spend money to lose weight. No way.  

One day she shared on Facebook that she made enough money to cover her product, her mortgage and her car payment. I called her immediately and told her to show me her paycheck. It was 1143. I did not pay a bill in order to join her. I told my husband it’s not going to make or break us because we are already broken. Nothing is going to change and I saw this as a way out.  

Right around the same time my husband did get a better job and it was enough for us to live on in that trailer. So at first I used this money as homeschool and play money, play dates, baseball, Disney tickets.  Within five months, I matched my teaching income and decided to put my son in a private Christian school. 22 months later I hit emerald, and we finally were able to find a place where my daughter had a bedroom and we had a yard.  

Obviously, I have tons of health stories that go along with that like my migraines went away, my daughter’s eczema, my husbands, seasonal allergies, my father-in-law diabetes, my mothers RA.   But it has completely changed my life, allowed  my husband to be with us, along with children to go to an incredible classical Christian school, we’ve been able to do family vacations every year since, we personally support missionaries.  

Honestly, that is the summary. There’s so much more..." 

Thank you, Amy, for sharing your journey with us.   Your passion and drive are two more things that I admire so much about you, along with the hope that you offer other women to step into their power and change their circumstances for the better.  I am so honored that you have allowed me to feature you as today's beautiful woman!  

 Have you ever met someone whose talents know no end? That’s what I think of when I think about my sister-in-law, Judy. Music, sewing, gardening, cooking, women’s leadership, church ministry…she’s definitely a perfect picture of the proverbial godly woman, and I am so proud to call her my sister!

Besides all these amazing gifts and talents, Judy is sweet, thoughtful and so beautiful. She’s got the most beautiful eyes and hair,  and the prettiest smile that lights up a room, along with long, thin legs that, frankly, make me a little envious. 😊 

One of my favorite things about Judy is how she loves to laugh and have a good time. (All of my sisters-in-law are fun like that.) She’s also a wonderful grandmother and a devoted friend to so many of her sisters in ministry. When I hear people talk about someone having a servant’s heart, I often think of Judy. She’s always helping to fund raise or going on missions trips. 

Judy is the music director and church administrator at Faith Family Church in Maryland and she’s one of the most talented musicians I know! When I asked her to incorporate the song “My Favorite Things” from The Sound of Music into my wedding march, she immediately said it was no problem and made it happen! Oh, to be possessed of such talent! (I can play a mean, one-finger rendition of Heart and Soul, if anyone would like to hear it.)

Judy, you carry such wisdom and grace. Thank you for being the best example of a godly, beautiful woman, and thank you for allowing me to feature you today!

P.S.  Judy is pictured here with her husband Paul...whom I would say many wonderful things about if this website were called Men are Beautiful.  

 I cannot believe it’s taken me over a year to feature this lady. For years, when anyone has mentioned a beautiful woman, Phylicia has always come to my mind. In my younger adult years, I would somehow always be sitting in the perfect position during church to observe Phylicia’s expression and she unfailingly wore a satisfied smile that was so peaceful and full of joy, that it would put Rembrandt’s (I've just been corrected that it's Da Vinci's...oops...you get the gist...)  Mona Lisa to shame! 

As I’ve learned more about Phylicia through the years, I can only attribute her beauty and magnetics to pure LOVE…for God and for others.   Twelve years ago, Phylicia started a non-profit organization called Sisterhood of Servants.  Through this organization, she has been able to minister to teen girls, homeless women and children, women in crisis pregnancies, children with cancer, the elderly, law enforcement officials and families in Zambia, Africa.

Her newest ministry is called the Partners in Compassion Initiative and it is designed to reach foster girls that have aged out of the foster care system, as well as homeless women and their children.  You can read more about her vision here:

http://www.sisterhoodofservants.com/picproject

Phylicia, I love your passion for women and girls.  I think that is something we have in common, and I cannot wait to learn more about these ministries!  Your beauty and your light are so needed in this world.   I pray that God blesses you in these endeavors!

A couple of weeks ago my husband and I went down to Epcot so that we could experience the flower and garden festival for the day.  It was absolutely amazing although, I'm pretty sure, the hottest day of the year so far.   We stopped in "Mexico" to get a bite to eat and when we went to sit down, there were no tables available.

That was when this pretty young girl speaks up and says, "You can sit with us!"  Well, normally that kind of thing is super uncomfortable for me, but she seemed so genuine and sweet that I couldn't help but accept her offer.  Plus, when in Rome...or Mexico at least...

So pictured to the right is Cheryl, of Miami, FL and her lovely daughter Lyndsey.  It was so fun to sit and chat with them.  Cheryl has been going to Disney since it first opened, and she said she lost count, but she's sure she's been over 300 times!!  She told us so many fun stories about her mom taking her and her siblings there when she was young.  She also gave us a few tips about getting around for the day.

What I loved most about Cheryl and Lyndsey was their kindness.  They were so fun and easy to talk to.  It's wonderful to meet a stranger somewhere and be able to laugh and talk with them like old friends.

Cheryl and Lyndsey, you are both so beautiful and I would love for our paths to sometime meet again.  Thank you for allowing me to feature you both as today's beautiful women!

Have you ever been around a person that just exudes positive energy?  That is exactly why I love being around Shannon.  I wanted to feature her as today's beautiful woman, not only because of her obvious outward beauty, but because of the way her excitement and personality always light up a room.  She is magnetic!  

Shannon is always so easy to talk to.   I absolutely love her smile and her style, and her hair always looks so beautiful.  She's thoughtful and so sweet, and is raising two beautiful girls to be just like her.   When I asked her to provide a photo of herself that she loves, here's what she said about this photo:  "This photo is what defines me.  I'm a mom who is so unbelievably proud of her girls.  We had just finished a race, which is something 20 years ago I never thought I would do.  I love running etc.  It makes me "ok" physically and mentally.  And I'm so proud that my girls want to be strong!!!"  

I couldn't have said it better myself, Shannon!  Way to be an amazing role model for your girls!

Shannon has been a dental hygienist for over 20 years, and she loves her job.  She says people make her happy ("'all kinds"), which is probably why she is so magnetic and easy to talk to.  I think it's also the fact that she says she could not be more thankful for the life she has.  "I have amazing friends and family!"  

I'm sure they're saying the same thing about you, Shannon!  Thank you so much for allowing me to feature you as today's beautiful woman! 

Today is a milestone day for this beautiful woman, and I am so happy that she is allowing me to feature her!  I've been excited to feature Cheryl for a long time, because I have like a gazillion things to say about her beauty, both inside and out; and I know that normally she wouldn't be comfortable with the attention, but today she is graciously indulging me on her birthday.

Anyone that knows Cheryl would agree that she is the life of the party.  Always ready for a good time, and most of the time providing the good time all on her own.  When she enters a room, you can't help but be drawn to her, and I can imagine that her whole life she was the cool girl that everyone wanted to have as a friend.

Yet she is also such a good listener and can sit and have a serious conversation and can make a person feel so seen and heard when they're going through a tough time.  One of my favorite things about her is her ability to make anyone feel loved and validated.  

She is also one of the most generous people I know!  I often hear about her stepping in and providing when there is a need.   Generosity is trait I so admire in others and try to cultivate more in my own life, and Cheryl is a perfect example of a cheerful giver!

She's hilarious.  She's quirky.  She's loud.  She's crazy.  She's one of a kind and not afraid to be herself.  She's never competing with anyone.  She's full of life and full of laughter.  She's a great hostess.  A fun gift giver.  A lover of books and a great conversationalist.

And if ALLLL that weren't enough...she's absolutely beautiful to boot!  She has the most beautiful blue eyes, as you can see, and the hair of a 20 year old!  Her complexion is flawless, her style of dress is bold and colorful, and her smile lights up a room.  

Cheryl, I know you don't like to be in the spotlight like this, but I so appreciate you allowing me to share with the world how wonderful and beautiful you are.  Happy Birthday to you!  I love you!

I am suuuuper excited to introduce you to today's beautiful woman, my cousin, Emily (although we like to shorten it to Em).  Ok, so you've already met a couple of my girl cousins, and just so you know, I have MANY more that I will be introducing as time goes on, but Em has been on my mind to feature as the day's beautiful woman for quite some time, so I am so thrilled that the day is finally here!  

Em has always been a beautiful girl...her smile, her hair, her eyes, but there is SOO much more that I find beautiful about her.  First of all, her laugh is pure gold, and she LOVES to laugh and have a great time.  Which brings me to her personality...funny, sweet, and incredibly giving and kind.  As a matter of fact, one of my childhood memories about Em was that she was always so sweet to us younger cousins.  As a matter of fact, one time she even shared her bubble gum with me and THAT deserved a good amount of hero worship in my book!

Em grew up to be a kind and giving person as well.  She is so thoughtful and always finding ways to give to people in need.  She has been a PE teacher for years now, and even through the past couple of years that were so difficult for teachers everywhere.  This picture shows her being awarded Maine's PE teacher of the year, an award that I know she's earned many times over!  I can't think of anyone that would deserve it more.

Lastly, another thing that's so beautiful about Em is her talent and creativity.  She has used her gifts to start a business collecting and making the most unique and beautiful gifts out of sea glass.  You must check out her beautiful work!  You can find her treasures on Facebook at 

Maine Sea Glass Creations.  

Em, thanks so much for allowing me to feature you as today's beautiful woman!  You have always been beautiful and your light shines brighter than most!  I'm so thankful to call you my cousin!

This beautiful lady is my sister-in-law, Valerie.  Valerie is the oldest of my husband's six sisters, and she truly holds a special place in my heart.  Valerie's beauty extends far beyond her outward beauty, but let's park there for a moment.  Check out those dimples...and her smile absolutely lights up a room...not to mention that her hair is always perfectly in place, AND she carries herself with such grace and poise!  I've always thought Valerie is the most beautiful woman!

Beyond that, Valerie has always been so kind, so wise and so strong.  She has been through so much pain and loss in all the years I've known her, and yet her grace and beauty continue to shine through.

I asked Valerie if she wouldn't mind sharing a bit about herself, and here's what she had to share:

"I have been on a 25 year plus odyssey that has yet to have an ending. It began with the sudden death of my husband, Tom, at age 48 from a heart attack here at home; then taking his position in an insurance agency, after accepting an offer from his 2 business partners to handle many of his former duties, plus handle the day to day operations of the insurance agency, including the firing & hiring of new employees; Rearing our eleven year old son without Tom; Dealing with ovarian cancer in 2004, plus a pituitary tumor in my brain in 2016 that was removed at Johns (yes, it’s Johns with an S) Hopkins University Hospital. Since that surgery, I’ve dealt with seizures & being diagnosed with epilepsy; the tumor growing back after removal 2 more times, resulting in 2 more surgeries; radiation; amputation of a toe due to it being infected with MRSA; unplanned retirement due to my health issues; a lobectomy (removal of my brain’s right temporal lobe) in an effort to end the seizures, which worked, thank the Lord, but left some unpleasant side effects to deal with on a daily basis; my latest challenge is with my heart, dealing with an afib condition and also severe incontinence that prevents my being able to do much. 

  As I look back at these challenges, I’ve been inspired by the story of Job in the Old Testament & how his faith & trust in God were so deep, he could say “even if God slays me, I’m still going to trust Him!” This is after he’s lost his family, his wealth, his health; the comfort of his friends; and the support of his wife. I’ve tried to keep my faith & trust strong even though I have not gone through the deep trials that Job had to deal with! One thing I have learned throughout all of these challenges is that it’s easy to say what we should do…it’s another to actually do it! Over these years, God has proven Himself faithful, over and over! 

One thing that changed because of my health situation is that I have had to hire caregivers to come in on a daily basis to help me because I am pretty immobile because of the meds I take & also because of my physical situation. I have tried to talk to each of them about what Jesus has done for me & what He can do for them. I’ve found a number of them to be Believers & I’ve enjoyed the fellowship we’ve had, talking about the Lord. However, one of them, a kind Muslim woman, was not a Believer, but I prayed the Lord would give me an opportunity to talk with her. He did, & it was in an unexpected way! She asked me one day why I was so nice to her & also to businesses I had to contact for different health care matters. She said I was never rude or mean. I explained to her that I am trying to live the kind of life that I believe Jesus Christ tells me to live, as a follower of Him…to love my neighbor as myself & to follow His example in what I do. God used this to open the conversation door to what it means to be a Believer and why. I prayed & prayed (& others prayed with me) that she would accept Christ when I showed her the Plan of Salvation from the Bible. I have to admit I was a little dubious that would happen, but God proved that His “Word does NOT return void,”

& she accepted Christ as her Savior! Thanking God for His Faithfulness, once again!! And thankful for these opportunities that I have with my caregivers!

My challenge now is to trust God for the healing I so desperately need & to continue trusting Him even when it doesn’t come. This is a difficult journey for me, & I want to be found faithful!"

Valerie, thank you so much for sharing your story with us, and for allowing me to feature you as today's beautiful woman!  Your testimony is so inspiring!  Love you so much!

P.S.  Valerie is pictured to the right ringing the bell the day she finished her radiation treatments.  She said she rang it so hard that it fell off the wall!