Getting Ready to Make New Friends

I'm so excited I can hardly wait... in a just a few short weeks I will be in PA @ the Relevant Conference 2011!  My sweet hubbie, Isaac surprised me with a ticket the other day!  This will be my first time traveling across states by myself in YEARS! So in an attempt to get to know some of the other purposefully bloggin' mamas going this year, this post is a little scrapbook look into my life.

(photo is a year old- sorry)

What is the Vision for Leaving a Legacy?

Well this blog is a work in progress.  It started out a few years ago as a "scrapbook of sorts."  For family to keep up with the kids and what we are doing.  Then I got inspired by other friends & my husband who were blogging, to share my thoughts, passions, experiences, and life lessons & reflections if you will. Then a season of busy-ness and lack of motivation hit.  I felt like, there are so many awesome blogs out there already, I don't really have the time to do all I want to without sacrificing my family, so I took a break.  A big break.  Last February, I started getting asked by men & women my husband worked with to start blogging about marriage & business bc I love to talk with all the wives and encourage them.  It has been my heart & my ministry within Isaac's work.  Then as I started writing, I felt the Lord start teaching me and leading me to rethink what the vision should be.  SO that's where we are at now.  I am in a season of visioneering! I am sharing thoughts and passions I have had for a long time, but never took the time to post about.  For me, its just being truly who I am, on purpose, sharing from my own struggles and learned lessons; trying to allow God to use me as a small vessel for His purposes from this little area in my kitchen.

About Me?

Simply a woman seeking to honor God with my all!  I recognize every perfect gift comes from above and I am so thankful for all the good blessings He has gifted me with.  I have been married for 12 years to my awesome hubby, Isaac Tolpin.  We have been entrusted with six sweet children (11, 8, 6, 5, 3, 14months old), whom we are so thankful to be able to raise and teach from home.  Together as a family we have a planted and tended our small (1300 plant) Vineyard called Damascus Vineyards; which by the way we will be harvesting for the first time soon.  Isaac and I have built a few businesses together over the years.  We have been so fortunate to have experienced a deep connection doing so together.  I am a Licensed CVI Coach,  offering Christian Content Rich Life Coaching/ Mentoring for Wives of Leaders and Business Execs and in certain cases Women Entrepreneurs through Choose Growth. Together with my husband, through our company Choose Growth, we now offering Executive Marriage Strengthening Seminars utilizing an instrument called the Core Values Index. 

 Other info to know:

• I love knowledge and helping people by sharing it
• I like cooking kind of, but have a daughter who LOVES it
• I am a huge advocate for natural birth- water birth to be more specific
• I am intrigued by natural medicine and have been using primarily homeopathy & herbs for treatment in my home for 4 years
• Hospitality is a huge part of our Family Ministry- & we love it
• My love language is "words of affirmation"-communication
• I like to garden and work outside, but it is hard on my aching bones and back.
• As a family we, we LOVE to vaca in our RV!  
• I am pretty opinionated
• My fears: Being Judged or accused of Judging, not being loving or being loved (liked)
• I struggle with being a people pleaser
• My whole life I have struggled with forgiveness- I am a transformed grudge holder
• Obsessed with the book of Proverbs
• I like make-up and dressing up for dates with my husband (any reason to dress up really)
• I love talking business with my husband and helping him

My Passions and Mission: 

To Leave a Legacy in my family, my children & in this world.  Not a legacy that glorifies me, but that Glorifies the One Worthy of Glory and Praise.  I want to leave a legacy of a strong marriage, a deep relationship wit the Lord, a legacy of Grace, empowerment, a legacy of integrity and love. Though I preach that we are saved by Grace alone...I want to leave a legacy of be a doer of the word, not just a hearer.  I do so many things in the name of "leaving a legacy," but I am learning now to put my most energy into the legacies that will reap eternal fruit, not artificial outward appearance.