Make a ch ch cha change....

So....I got Dreads....dreadlocks for you non hair people.  I call them my dreadies....yeah its not for everybody...but I am not everybody, now then am I?  My little brother, Jon, had dreads for a long time, and i LOVED them...always kinda wanted them but never grew my hair out enough to do it.  I do hair every day...and I love it that I do hair...I change my hair about 6 times majorly during the year.  So this is not such a big deal to me.  But, WOW, I guess people are a wee little shocked...My clients get it.  They know me and my ever changing cycle of hair issues.  My hair was LONG...supa long for me....and It wasn't me.  The color was fab and cut ah-mazing....but still....gosh...long hair on me, not so much.  So I went the dread route and loving it to pieces. But hmmmm i guess I figured since my family and clients know me, then every one else does too.  Wow...this is where I forget what its like to be 'different'....I was a little punk rocker in High School.  Thats where I found the passion for hair.  But I liked the looks, the confrontation of being different.  Now when I am pretty darn close to 40, i am taken back a little more.
My close group of girlies get it, because they get me.
My stomach was rolling the first day I went to church after I got my dreads.  I was so nervous.  I don't know why, its not like I was or planned on being paraded thru the sanctuary. And it was a different service time so my normal group of church goers wouldn't be sitting around or by me.  Regardless, I had tummy flies.
So we get in and I dodge thru the crowd, drop my 9 year old off and go to find our seats.  Lots of looks, grimaces and such.  I kind felt pretty bad.  But I am hear to praise and pray, not to combat the stink eye.  I guess people don't realize I am a child of God too.  I may have a couple tattoos and my nose pierced....now I have dreadies...but by golly I love God.  I am full of the Love of our Lord.  I spread it...He doesn't care how I look....why do you?
So my blog for you today...make some changes in yourself...about judging.  I am not the norm, and neither is the girl with died black hair, emo makeup and ear plugs.  Neither is the tattoo artist or the clothes shop clerk with rainbow colored hair.  If we all looked like each other...wouldn't you be bored?  It wouldn't be an interesting scene would it?  Maybe they praise our God, just like you.  Maybe they raise their hands in rejoice and obedience, just like you....  You judged them, thinking they weren't.  How do you think our Lord thinks of you?  Love the ones you think are unlovable.  Maybe they will see something in you that no one has ever shown to them.  A true Christ Like Heart.
Just saying...my two cents....
So back to my first service with my dreadies....As I sat, and the pastor asked us to turn around and greet someone you don't know....I did...smiled with the dimples I was blessed with, even at the ones who were a little...well shell shocked...then I noticed the women who kept looking over the shoulder at me....kind of trying not to stare, but did regardless...I smiled at her...she smiled back, and motioned to me to lean over to her.  I thought.."...well here we go...", ....Here she sat with her cute little brown bob, teased thru the crown, a trendy necklace dangling around her throat descending on the cutest sun dress and wrap.  She was probably mid to late 50's.  She beamed the hugest smile at me and said..."I really love your hair, it shows your personality"...and tapped my hand and turned away....and in that instance I looked at her and thought ...Now I am just doing what I assume everyone is doing to me...judging....Thank You God, for the lesson in Church....
That made me feel better...... a lot better....i even got sniffley....
 Love you all!...xoxo

New Day, New Decisions...

Sorry for the silence Total Dye Job fans.....seems like life has been a wee bit of a distraction to me lately...But I am back...and maybe thats not such a good thing....or maybe it will be!
Lots happening in the life of the Uitto Family (Minnesota).  My oldest graduated high school...which would bring on a whole other blog post.  We had an amazing time being surrounded with friends and family from near and far.  Summer began...and then it seems to be midway over in a blink of an eye...but you don't want to hear about my chaotic life....actually, I don't want to write about it.  We just get busy...and in that busy-ness..things get put on the way side...and for me that was my morning time, with me, my cup of java and God.  I know many of you are shaking your head in agreement with me!  Its SUMMER...but that should be no excuse to put aside your time with God.  I have this amazing Devotional called Jesus Calling, that really puts it in the best terms I have read in a long time.  (Thanks Krista for giving me the heads up on this devotional sometime a while back via FB or your blog!) So I am refocusing...readjusting my schedule...to include the one that should NEVER be put on hold....
        So whats been weighing on my heart a lot is decisions...and guidance...and answers. 
        What would YOU do, if you had a job you loved, one that you Thanked God for everyday, you gave all credit to Him...and you LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it...and He asked you to step away from it....Would you?  I have some pretty darn close friends that have done just that.  Stepped away from what they know and love and just went on blind Faith...and I mean that in all the positive ways I can say it.  Left without an eyelash flutter.  Trusted beyond measures.  Financially and Faithfully it was all in HIS hands, the way it should be, so we all say.  But would we do it?  Gosh...i just don't know...I LOVE to tell my clients about these friends of mine, family and just people about how when I grow up I want to be like them...hahaha....thats a funny...because I am old...er....then most....I mean in my walk of faith.  So on with it Jenn....get to the point...
  I work in a salon.  Its owned corporately, so well chatting with co workers and clients about God and Faith and such...is kind of, well, lets just say its discouraged.  Luckily I work in a small salon with a staff, who God placed in my hands this summer.  My clients who know me, know I am all about God and His ways, ups and downs.  I pray for them, whether they ask or not.  Make mental notes thru the convos I have with them. But with the end nearing us at the salon, I am in front of God asking...What next? Where can I go for YOU?  I know I am at this salon for a reason, thats why I stayed.  I see and hear some of the changes in the salon with the staff.  I love these girls so much.  It makes me get all sniffley...and managing them to me is more guidance and direction than anything.  I encourage and lift them up as much as I can.  Positive is what they need.  I get all that.  In October, our salon will be closing its doors.  The mall raised its rent, and well...corp just doesn't see the benefit of keeping us open.  So my small staff will scatter....I have a handful of months...then what? 
And what I am finding is...God has put a path before me...that I shouldn't walk aside from.  Doors are opening for me.  He has been putting on my heart a dear group of women who I admire and have worked beside.  But what if its not hair....WOW...right?  Jenn not do hair? Kind of not...in a round about way...I just don't know...people...I just don't know....So back to that awesome devo, Jesus Calling...well today July 14ths....well lets just say it was all about that...the path...."All I require of you is to take the next step, clinging to My hand for strength and direction.  Though the path is difficult and the scenery dull at the moment, there are sparkling surprises just around the bend.  Stay on the path I have selected for you....."  this devo is one that acts as if Jesus is talking directly to you....and no...my lovely Twilight fans...the sparkling suprises isn't Edward Cullen... :)
   Blind Faith...I would love to have it, embrace it and just go with it....am I there yet?  Can I?  WOW.....So my dears...New Day New Decisions....No worries...clients of mine...I will let you know, when i do.  We have some time...but its God's time...not ours!  He is not a microwave oven...Sorry again for the quietness....Pray for me loves!  Thanks! ...xoxo