Getting In My Skin ... Spa Day

Yesterday was the last appointment of my Mother's Day package at Alec Ian Day Spa/Merle Norman. It was five part - spa facial, massage, microdermabrasion, massage, and foot detox treatment. The foot detox treatment included a skin care lesson and make over. Because I had some neck/back irritation, I added a 30 minute massage.

I had never had a foot detox treatment before. The color of the water in my foot ionization treatment turned a yellowish color. There is a chart that informs you what toxins are represented by the color of your water.

This ionization was followed by my make over. Generally with make-up your guess is better than mine.I like the foundation used. I learned some techniques about 'looks' I've been trying to achieve. With half of my face done, I could not detect in a mirror which half of my face had been done. I was particularly impressed with the set spray (never had that before), and how she applied the blush (I thought it made my face appear thinner). The photo reflects the final result.

Finally, the massage - just what the doctor ordered! A day later and the pain I was experiencing before is gone. Oh and when they tell you to drink plenty of water afterward; take heed!

Over the duration of the package, I've had facial cleansing and toning, masque, steam treatment, skin analysis (good report). I've implemented the inexpensive recommendation for a scrub and I am very pleased with the results. For a very tense (they told me and they weren't lying) neck and back, I added the recommended deep tissue massages which dissipated pain that I had with me for the past year. The package includes a massage with thermotherapy, passive stretching.

This has been a mother's day gift that kept on giving. I have not spa'd much - a few trips to Glen Ivy, a few individual massages. I view them somewhat frivolous and that is okay if one likes to do those things. Now I consider it of value to every girl to understand the skin she's in, and in reality any person. I am eager to start a new package with them. In the meantime they have several one-time deals of which I want to take advantage! Other offers are also available through Amazon or Groupon - I've personally seen the Groupon one; good value.  Going to the spa has gotten under my skin!

waxing sentimental on our 2nd 13th anniversary, I resurrected this excerpt from a geocities webpage I had at the time. Geocities no longer exists, so existing links are broken but our story is not ;-) ....

Norm 'n Suge Encounter

DISCLAIMER: This is in no way to exonorate or promote internet/cyber romance;
rather to show the amazing powerful move of God in all avenues of the universe.
The key here was a movement, awareness, and responding to the will of God
as He chose to bless in this particular scenario. Remember (in Matthew chapter 6):
"Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you."

Today, we are married,
a family of 10 -
sharing one heart and one ministry!

God is amazingly marvelous!

Friends,

Arrgghhh! I wrote this wonderful saga - spent an hour and then lost it. Now I begin again *s and this'll probably be an abridged version!

Greetings in the Lord! He is truly wonderful. Now this is probably not any revelation, but I need to "come clean" and tell this story.

I'm a chataholic! (laffing). I say this because I chat all the time and fortunately this habit factored in my fate. I am a member of the ChatDiva webring, which unlike other webrings I participate in, has it's own chatroom. Recently there was a chat birthday party for one of the divas there, the "bestest " of frenz. I was in charge of inviting the celebrant's net friends and did so on icq and email. One friend asked if he could bring another to which I agreed - the more the merrier.

At the party I was in a hostess mode, greeting handles and making them feel comfortable in the environment - so when I saw homepages with some of the handles I bookmarked them to look at later. The friend and his invitee did come.

The next day Sunday I saw this wonderful Bible resource among the pages I had bookmarked. It was fantastic. I icq'd the friend to tell his invitee how wonderful I thought it was. He told me to do it myself, giving me the icq#. I contacted this RNorm and we exchanged pleasantries. I sent the URL to my out of town friend because I knew she would love it. She noticed this guy was in Los Angeles.

In the next convo, later in the day I told him we were neighbors - and we discovered not only did his folks live where I grew up and now work, but that we had at one time gone to the same church in the L.A. area and in trying to think if we had any friends in common discovered that my son and his dad had both been at a fellowship at his house the previous weekend.

This guy put me on his scripture list at my request and told me about Christian Parent chat. Our icq records show that we talked daily at all hours convinced of our focus to our goals but intrigued. That Friday I visited CPchat. The spirit was with me there and I knew I would come back - this presence of the spirit in this way had not been with me for some time - I reveled in it. While I was there this RNorm guy came in and I was amazed at this man's heart for God.

I continued to icq with this RNorm and began to find us in one accord as and how we ministered. The man dared to call me a prophetess which I really for once began to wonder at. And in CP we seemed linked - still so - to the point I realized I was there in ministry as much for him as the other chatters. Often the word given to me was to exhort him rather than the room's situation. Often we post the exact same words or thoughts. And I observed such a warrior - such a devoted servant - how could my heart not be touched.

A Sunday a week later, I tried to get in CPStudy with much difficulty. I recognized forces against me and began praying and standing against this to not much avail. This guy laffed at me until he realized that others were also encountering this problem. I wanted him to somehow help me - but refused to make such a ridiculous and selfish request while he was focusing on the Study. Some 45 minutes goes by and I'm aware that the study must practically be over. I get an icq from RNorm - "take my hand and I will bring you in" and in that moment I KNEW that I would go in. I responded to take his hand. I hit return on the wbs screen and landed effortlessly in the Study. It was mystical! You just don't know - and I leave the Spirit to bring to you how that felt. Nothing has been the same since!

Figure that Regg's friend was bent on bringing the 2 of us together based on what he knew about me. Figure that, aside from the invite convo, the friend and I had never conversed and that he really knew nothing about me. God was moving! His friend later discovered the fruit of God's efforts through him. Now there is more - much more - but this is as they say the beginning!

Regg is a true personification of Boaz - I only wish I was as truly Ruth. But we give this to God just as He has given it unto us and seek his will and his good pleasure. God has been Good to us and is in it! Regg would know the verse I want right now - but we await what God reveals for us in this. I knew you would enjoy the story and rejoice in it.


Reggie & Shelley
(aka RNorm & Suge)


Thanks for your support and love. Be blessed *s in His exceeding grace and mercy.
And heartfelt thanks to Jemal and Felicia for your part in His plan! We owe ya bigtime!

Your Sister in Christ Jesus

Shelley

What God has created has meter and rhyme.

Cohesive it is, indecipherable its mystery -

This is the making of you and me -

A treasure from depths beyond all we see

that stands amidst the erosion of worldly things

because it exists within His being.

Thus is the source of my joy -

This gift He gave us that heightens my life

to far beyond all I have ever known -

this You and I - this joining,

this companionship, love, this becoming your wife.