The dictionary describes a Guardian Angel as: an angel believed to have special care of a particular individual; a savior or protector. I never really believed in angels - guardian, or otherwise, but I am now convinced the world is full of them, because I have been blessed to have had several show up in my life the last few years!

It was just over three years ago, I had found my way through a very long and difficult illness, and was inspired to create a website to share all that I had learned about healing with others who were also searching for ideas and inspiration. I know absolutely nothing about creating a website, my computer skills were basically limited to emailing and internet shopping. That's when divine intervention brought Guardian Angel number one into my life. Evelyn Dufner of My Computer Angel.com came to my rescue - first by helping me to build and develop the Heal With Hope website, and then by teaching me everything I needed to know about computers and web design. How special is Evelyn? I don't know too many people who would rush to a client's home at 10:00 at night because their computer crashed...and it just so happens to have happened on the same day they finished an 18 month journey of writing a 260 page book!! Not only did she come to help me that night, but has done so many other times as well.

I am also indebted to a dear friend, Matt Weber of ROAR On The Web.com. Matt is a brilliant marketer and owner of an incredible web design/Internet marketing company. We had lost touch for a number of years, but divine intervention played its part and we reconnected a couple of years ago when I was in need of a company that offered greater technical know-how. Matt has been an invaluable source of information, ideas, and inspiration. He and his talented team redesigned the HWH website earlier this year, creating a beautiful and well-organized site...and because of their expertise, we reach more people than ever before.

About a year and a half ago I was inspired to develop Wear Your Intention. I knew absolutely nothing about women's apparel, particularly organics, all I knew was that I wanted to offer a fashionable t-shirt made with organic cotton. The Universe guided me to reconnect with another friend I had lost touch with, and who it turns out was opening a business specializing in organic clothing and other natural products. There is not enough time or space for me to share with you all that Paula Rigoli of Pure Style Sales & Marketing has done to help me, but I can tell you this - without her I am not sure Wear Your Intention would exist. She is a bright, loving, caring person who is without a doubt, my Guardian Angel. She is in the process of redoing her website, but if you are ever in need of natural or organic products, she's the person you wan to talk to.

You would think that at this point I had been blessed enough, but I can tell you that it just gets better and better! Some of the angels who continued to enter my life include Marcy Matthews of Lawton Printers, who with Brad Berberich of the same company, spent 6 torturous months helping me to take my 260 page "manuscript" and turned it into the beautiful, easy-read book that it is is today. Both Marcy and Brad treated Heal With Hope A Healing Handbook & Journal as though it were there own, and they painstakingly worked to ensure that every detail was just right. They give the term customer service new meaning.

Through Marcy I met two of the most talented graphic artists you could ever hope to work with. Renee Blair (ReneeBlair.com) and David Leach are the creative talent behind all of Wear Your Intention's unique, original designs. They are not just artistically talented, but are two of the nicest people you will ever meet. They both have the patience of a saint - and trust me, I know this because I can definitely test the patience of a saint! Without them there would be no beautiful t-shirts, no catalogs, no hang tags...none of the creative materials they continue to produce for us each day.

Another person who has made this journey so remarkable is our t-shirt printer, Joe Hull. Joe owns J & H Printing, and I don't think he had any idea what he was getting himself into when he agreed to print our t-shirts. T-shirt printing is an art, and I have no doubt that the time and care Joe takes with each shirt he prints, adds to the love and positive energy that people feel when they wear a WYI tee.

And earlier this year another Guardian Angel entered my life. Evelyn took a teaching position at a local college, and I desperately needed to find a computer/web tutor...but I didn't think it would ever be possible to fill Evelyn's shoes. But then I met Dave Van Beekum, owner of DB Tech Design. Dave is a very talented, very bright young man who has been a terrific teacher. He recently updated the look of the Wear Your Intention website, and customized it so it is now a much more user-friendly site. Dave and I are working on lots of new features, and have some great things planned for 2010.

I have also been blessed with two wonderful friends who have offered encouragement and support...and have been willing to do whatever they can to help - including modeling! I am so very grateful to Alison and Lynn for always finding time to help, to offer an opinion, and to listen to me even when I tell the same story over and over! ;-)

As blessed as I have been having all of these amazing people in my life, it is my family to whom the greatest thanks must go. My beautiful daughter, Laura, who patiently read every version of my book - over and over and over. Who provided ideas, opinions, and is a sounding board for everything I do. She models all of our shirts even though she is busy with her own work and activities. Her enthusiasm and love has gotten me through many bumps in the road, and she is without a doubt the light of my life.

My son Michael is a source of balance and groundedness. He is my reminder that it is the simple things in life that matter. He may not be in the midst of the "action" but is always there to cheer me on, and I know that he is there for me whenever I need him.

And then there is my husband, Mike. Everyone who knows him will tell you that he is without a doubt one of the kindest, most decent people you will ever know. He is my inspiration, my backbone, my rock. For 36 years he has provided unconditional love and support. He is always there to catch me when I fall, to encourage me when I want to quit, and who makes me believe I can do anything...because he believes I can. I can tell you with 100% certainty that there would be no Heal With Hope or Wear Your Intention without him, because without him by my side there is no way I would have survived those dark and difficult days that preceded all the joy that fills my life today.

I give thanks to God for all of the angels He has blessed my life with. I give thanks for the inspiration, the purpose, the passion that fills my mind and spirit. I give thanks for the honor of knowing these amazing people, and for the gift of having them in my life. ~ Andrea Chervenak

PS Want to see the t-shirt I created to honor all my Guardian Angels? View it here!

Looking for a great book to give this holiday season? I just finished Mitch Albom's new book, Have A Little Faith, and loved it! It is the true story of his 8 year journey to get to know and better understand his childhood rabbi, who had asked Mitch to deliver his eulogy when he dies.

This is a beautifully written tale of how he reconnects with the man he feared and revered, and the spiritual lessons and evolution he underwent. Mitch intertwines this with the story of his meeting Pastor Henry Covington, who rise from a life of crime and drug addiction, to become a preacher to the poor and homeless.

No matter what your religious beliefs, this is a deeply moving, inspiring look at faith...and as Rabbi Harold Jushner describes, "...about the power of love to triumph over death, and the power of faith to us through the worst adversity." Senator Bob Dole offers this comment, "A timeless story...about faith, hope, and serving others, and the yearning to be involved in something greater than ourselves."

Here are a few excerpts that touched me:

"...if we tend to the things that are important in life, if we are right with those we love and behave in line with our faith, our lives will not be cursed with the aching throb of unfulfilled business. Our words will always be sincere, our embraces will be tight. We will never wallow in the agony of 'I could have, I should have.' "

"The things society tells us we must have to be happy - a new this or that, a bigger house, a better job. I know the falsity of it. I have counseled many people who have all these things, and I can tell you they are not happy because of them. The number of marraiges that have disintegrated when they had all the stuff in the world. The families who fought and argued all the time when they had money and health. Having more does not keep you from wanting more. And if you always want more - to be richer, more beautiful, more well-known - you are missing the bigger picture, and I can tell you from experience, happiness will never come."

"When a baby comes into this world its hands are clenched...because a baby, not knowing any better, wants to grab everything, to say 'the whole world is mine.' But when an old person dies, how does he do so? With his hands open. Why? because he has learned the lesson, we can take nothing with us."

"...the secret of happiness...be satisfied, be grateful for what you have...for the love you receive...and for what God has given you...that's it."

Read more on Amazon.com, or visit your local bookstore! It's a great book to give or get! ~Andrea :-)

I can still picture our little white Christmas tree. It was maybe 2 or 3 ft. tall, and fit perfectly on a table in our living room. What made this tree so special were the bubble lights it had - they were in the shape of a candle, in various colors, and when plugged in the liquid inside would heat up and bubble. I remember that tree as though I just saw it yesterday. I would sit for hours just watching the lights glisten and bubble...I so loved that little tree.

What strikes me as I take this trip down memory lane is that I honestly can't name one present I received as a kid. But as I think back upon this time in my life, I realize that the greatest gift I ever received was the spirit of love my parents passed on to me. Their love was always unconditional. They were always there when I needed them. They thought I could do anything, and so I grew up thinking I could do anything. And from this love grew the most powerful of all gifts: a spirit filled with hope. A sense of hope still lives within me today. It has allowed me to overcome obstacles that at times seemed insurmountable...it has given me strength when I didn't think I could take another step forward...and has taught me that all things are possible if I believe they are.

It does not matter whether you are rich or poor, young or old - the gift of love is always within you to give...to others, and to yourself. From love grows the spirit of hope. And when you have hope, you have all you will ever need. And there is no gift greater.

Wishing you days blessed with love and hope, always... Andrea :-)