Sometimes it takes 51 years of living to begin figuring things out. I knew 2019 was going to be a pivotal point in my life. For some reason, two years prior I would find myself writing 2019 on checks or various things. I thought it was weird… why was I two years ahead? When 2019 arrived, things started happening that made it obvious it would be a critical year.

At the end of last year, I embarked on starting a cosmetic line, Pearl Seven. Everyone wants to know how I came up with the name. Well, as a young girl my mother gave me a gift with my name, Rita (Greek Origin) “A Pearl,” and “In the Lord I take Refuge” (Psalm 11:1) written on. The number seven has always been my number. I was born on the seventh day of the week, Sunday, on April 7th; and it has a strong Biblical meaning.

God began to evolve this into a much bigger meaning. Pearl defined is: a person or thing of great rarity and worth, and symbolizes purity. The number seven symbolizes the four corners of the Earth, the Holy Trinity, and is the number of completeness and perfection.

Just like God formed you in the womb (Jeremiah 1:5), you are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14). You are formed in His image (Genesis 1:27). In Jesus, we are pure perfection.

Makeup has always played a role in my life in one way or another. As a little girl I would put makeup on my mother. She would become so relaxed that she’d fall asleep. Needless to say, the next morning there would be a surprise awaiting her in the mirror. What fond memories I have of that special time we shared together. I remember a few times I was brushing her hair and got the brush tangled up in her hair. Thankfully, my brothers would come to our rescue.

As I got a little older, cosmetics played a big role in my life. It got me in a heap of trouble in my 3rd grade PE class with Mrs. Martin when I snuck off to the bathroom with a few of my classmates. I had brought my makeup to school and decided to give the girls a few makeup tips. We got caught right in the middle of the application. Well when asked who brought the makeup, all fingers pointed to me. I think it was the first time I’d gotten in trouble at school. My sister who is 11 years younger became a victim to my early makeup skills. I used to doll her up with a face full of makeup and hats and she would become my model.

So, no surprise that I never lost the love of recreating and enhancing features to create more beauty from beauty. Esthetics became my passion, and I wanted to learn everything I could about skin and taking care of it. Estheticians were not even heard of when I started. I actually took Cosmetology courses and became licensed. Doing hair wasn’t ever my gig, my love was always with makeup and skin. So, I made it my goal to be the best in the field. I opened my own skincare practice in 2003 after working in spa and salon settings and gaining more knowledge. Then in 2005, I decided to get trained in permanent cosmetics and began enhancing and creating natural hair stroke brows, eyeliner, permanent lip color, and scar and areola re-pigmentation. It became another passion to do this work.

God has truly blessed me with a lifetime of doing what I love. He has enriched my life with such wonderful relationships along the way. I want to honor Him in this next endeavor and make it all about Him. This life is a journey and I have found that it evolves daily into more purpose. When we are young we just can’t put the pieces together, but with age and gaining wisdom we get to witness it. I love how the Lord has worked so many things out in my life, and I know He has walked with me even when I wasn’t walking with Him.

There are things that make sense to me now about my life and how He has worked it out. I tried to do a lot of things my way, and He let me; but those things didn’t work out and He has always redirected me. I’m so thankful! I believe that when I truly started living with His complete guidance and trying my best to be obedient to Him, he started letting me see things a lot more clearly.

I recently heard this quote by Steve Jobs:

“You cannot connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So, you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something- your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart even when it leads you off the well-worn path; and will make all the difference.”

After praying for a Bible verse that would fit our mission, the perfect one came before me! Song of Songs 4:7 is the perfect fit, and 4/7 being my birthday sealed it. Pearl Seven is a Kingdom Business magnifying God’s creation with love, knowledge and the beauty of a relationship with Jesus.