I'm so excited. It's amazing to me how life connects. In the words of @officiallyIce you gotta "Stay Woke Dawg" .... lolsmh, let me explain.
A couple years ago before I was going to graduate, I worked at the International Center at my former alma mater. I met students from all around the world. I'm talking S. Korea, Japan, Brazil, Croatia, etc., not only did I meet them; however, I befriended them. We turned out to be the cool kids on campus, go figure.
Feliepe from Brazil in particular held a special place in my heart. We both worked together, in between classes, he had one of those meaningful personalities that one could never forget. He was running for student body president, I helped him campaign. He suddenly fell ill, right when he was elected president, a year later he died.
At his memorial, upon entrance each person received a glow in the dark silicone bracelet. Each bracelet was individually package, and had the name of the supplier stamped on each bag. During the memorial, you know me, my marketing brain was in full throttle. I couldn't even concentrate.
My mom needed a bone marrow transplant soon, and all I could put together in my brain was Robin Roberts and her charitable bracelets.
I came home FULL of ideas. My moms transplant is going to cost over $100,000 and no that doesn't pay for food, lodging, or air fare.
I went home and designed those bracelets quick. I haven't even posted a link to them anywhere, and EVERYWHERE I go in my city, I see a bracelet. We've mailed out to our personal nerwork over a 1000 of them. I'm talking mail lady, churches and their congregation in its entirety, doctor offices, nurses, friends, and their friends, our family, and their families, etcccccc.
I always had a knack for non profits, I just didn't know it would be me, now, like this, under these circumstances. At 29, I never imagined being a caregiver to both of my parents at the same darn time. My friends ask me, how in the world haven't I lost it yet, (it being all of my marbles)... I don't know, but all I do know is God's Grace has been suffient for me.
I've been in retail, luxury retail
at that my entire life, and nothing has meant more to me than marketing these bracelets. I thank God everyday for the idea, the opportunity, and the hope that these bracelets actually bring, not just to me, but even to the people that wear them. It's so much bigger than a "trend" to me, F-A-fashion-statement, it is a statement.
Checks, I'm talking large summed BIG checks have been rolling in via us postage, from all over the world. More than I ever thought we would ever recieve in a billion years.
I guess that's how smooth God operates. His thoughts are bigger, He's ideas are more grand than we could ever think or concieve. I feel so blessed. No, I know that I am blessed.
Thank You.
*wait* to add to my testimony...
Yesterday my mom flew out to Minnesota and her room wasnt ready. The owner, of the hotel(s) that he owned just so happened to be at the front desk. He told my mom to have me email him in regards to our lodging expenses, and I quote, "he would love to help us in our time of need in any way that he can." #ThatsBiggerThanJustGoodKarmaThatsGodsKarma.
You know I had to posh it out, young H-O-(V)...