who knew I had a business side?

So prepare to be shocked and awed:

I am now a businesswoman. Yes, you heard it here first. Rachel has officially started her own business. Also, Anne-Kelly is VP of the company. :)

But seriously, I have begun my foray into the business world this week with the announcement of my debut as an Independent Consultant with Mary Kay. I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am about my new venture. As most of you know, I am staying at home with Anne-Kelly (my first, and most important, vocation), but if you know me well at all, you know that I am not the type to merely sit at home and not do anything. For a long time, I felt God calling me toward ministering to other women, and after some very intense prayer and a wonderful weekend listening to Beth Moore (ah! love her.), I finally made up my mind. I would start my Mary Kay business.

Now, how in the world does ministering to women have anything to do with Mary Kay, you might ask? I can't wait to tell you.

If you know anything about Mary Kay Ash, the founder of Mary Kay, you'd know that she always put God first. And not only that, she said to put your family second, and then your career third. Some women might say that putting your career backseat is not a wise choice, but I promise you that Mary Kay Ash had it just right. She was a woman after my own heart. A half-and-halfer, as you might call us. Half career-woman, half momma, you might say. And she summed it all up by telling her consultants to go out and treat their customers the way they would want to be treated. Basically, she said to live and work by the Golden Rule. To build relationships with other women, show them how the products can make them feel good about themselves, and then the selling part really just happens. Now this brings me back to my initial point: how being a Mary Kay consultant lines up with my calling to minister to women.

Every time I have ever had the opportunity to interact with a woman through Mary Kay, whether it's through hosting a party, attending a party, having a facial, or just running into one another, I have the opportunity to enrich that woman's life somehow. Life is hard enough, and as I heard Beth Moore say, "Most of us are running on total exhaustion." Through building positive relationships with other women, I learn about what burdens they are bearing and how I can pray for them. And the added bonus is that I get to use Mary Kay's products to make their gorgeous outside appearances match their beautiful hearts. And if every woman is like me, that makes me feel good. That lifts my burden, at least for a little while. And I consider that to be an excellent profession to be in. So while my official title is Mary Kay Independent Beauty Consultant.....you could really call me a Mary Kay Independent Burden-Lifter. They're really one in the same, ask my friend and fellow consultant, Elizabeth :)

So ladies, if you're carrying a burden (and I know we all are): please call me and let me pamper you for an hour or two. Get some of your friends together, and I would love to come over and make y'all feel good about your selves! I can't think of a more fun time :) Feel free to email me if you would like to set up a facial or a party: rachel.mcdaris@marykay.com Also, if you're just needing to order a few things, I am here for that as well.