I am back on the road working... the Private Investigations stuff.
I am also writing on a book about domestic violence - it is taking a toll on me in one way. It pulls at my heart of how many have gone through such hate and horrific stuff in their lives - and it gives me great joy to share their stories because I am hoping it will give courage and encouragement to others who may be going through the similar or same things.
However, the book is pulling me in a good manner as well! It give me hope for others; it is showing me how AWESOME God is and how when we allow Him to rule our paths - things just seem to work out.
Now, don't get me wrong - just because we/they get out of a bad situation - life isn't always easy. But, the journey that each has taken - WOW - I can't wait to get this one finished!
I've thought of scriptures "I know the plan I have for you, plans to prosper...." and "I knew you when you were still in your mother's womb... I prepared a path for you..."
And, I think of the story of the woman at the well - where God already knew how many husbands she had - He already knew the life she was living - yet - He forgave and gave her everlasting water.
We have an awesome undeniably great God!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Monday, January 14, 2013
I'm Going to a Quilt Show
I just finished up doing a quilt show in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was a last minute-get-in show.
Tuesday morning I had been praying for God to open the door for a few more shows and help bring in more cash flow. Susan Brown, a friend called and asked if I was doing the Oklahoma City show. I said, "No, I've tried to get into it before and couldn't. I don't think there was room in the past."
Susan said, "Let me get the phone number and you try it."
I phoned. The lady said, "Let me call you back in 30 minutes to let you know."
Within one and a half hours, I was in the show.
The weather in Beaumont was horrible. Absolutely - horrible. I laughed. I prayed again, "God, this is sort of funny, but you know I need to load that trailer and can't do so in the rain." God as my witness - within ten minutes - the rain stopped long enough for us to load me up. Then it started pouring again.
I still had to make the bank run. I had sent my runner to go get the license plates for my trailer and to pick up another trailer that was being repaired. He had forgotten the license plates. It was a "WHIRLWIND" to get the plates before the close of business at the Orange County Tax Office. I wasn't a happy camper to be detained an additional hour and half while he went and did what he was suppose to have done earlier that morning.
However, I was determined - that he nor the devil - was going to spoil my joy nor my blessing.
I drove late into the night. I knew I wanted to get past Dallas. I also knew that I would be sleeping in my cargo van. We had converted it with carpet, port-a-potty and a full size bed. It was refreshing at 1am to crawl to the back, put the curtains up and crawl in my bed. I slept good until my normal 430am built in alarm clock.
I woke excited about the day! I was heading to a quilt show! After a brief visit to the coffee bar inside the store and a 'tinkle' break - I was on the road! The rain was still falling. It didn't matter - I was heading north - to a quilt show!
Arriving in Oklahoma City, I prayed for God to help me find a bank - the lady wanted cash since I was a "late arrival". Driving up I-35 - the junker in me spotted a Rehab sign. I exited, made the U-Turn, to realize it was just their offices. "Oh well," I thought. "I'm heading to a quilt show!"
As I made the u-turn to get back on I-35 north - what was there on the corner? Yes, a bank!
I had to wait ten minutes for them to open. No problem. The ladies who waited on me were awesome! Very kind. Very considerate. Yes, I invited them to "The Quilt Show".
I arrived 3 hours early. Checked in. And, was amazed when I heard her say, "The helper is ready to get you unloaded!" OH MY!!!
Andrean and I unloaded. I went about my merry way of setting up. I had never done a show like this by myself. I was sort of scared and sort of excited all at the same time.
I have a favorite scripture that kept running through my head while I worked at getting things set up - Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Yes, I knew everything was going to be okay.
The show could have been better, but I am not going to defy my blessing of being there. I met a lot of wonderfully nice folks and was invited to two other shows! And, a phone call was made as well as an email sent to get me into possibly 2 other shows. I suppose I did something right!
Andrean was at my booth at 4:55pm on Saturday. "You were the nicest and coolest of all these people, so I figure you deserve to be first. A lot of these ladies are crabby and ugly." That made me smile.
Andrean checked that no one else was lined up at the back door and I needed to go on and get my van and trailer moved around. I did. Between Adrean, his friend Tyrone, and myself - we had me on the road for 5:40pm. It was cold. Wind chill was 19 degrees F.
I drove to Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. I wanted food - real food. Sit down and be waited on kinda food. I found a 59-Diner. I was about to order the chicken fried steak when the waitress said, "Uhm don't order that - order a breakfast. Our breakfast cook is on and he doesn't do well with the other side of the menu." My face slanted side ways - but what the heck. It was warm in the cafe, she was friendly enough, I could see my van and trailer from where I sat. I enjoyed my breakfast for supper. And, I took my time.
I made it to the State line a little after 11. Crawled in the back and thought I was going to get several hours of good sleep. 1:45am I heard the sleet. It was hitting on the van as if someone was throwing sand or rocks at the van.
I laid there for a little while to see if the sleet would subside. It didn't. All I could think of was, "Drive south!" I took down the curtains and crawled through the door - with my flannel pajamas still on. Started the van up - let it warm up - and south I headed. Once again I was thinking - Dallas - but this time, "get south".
I stopped a little after 3am in Ferris, Texas. When I pulled into the all night store I noticed 3 police cars. I figured I was safe. I slept until the biological clock went off at 430am. I laid there. I was tired. I didn't roll out until after 530am. This time, however, I did get dressed for the day!
When I went in, I thanked the clerk/owner for letting me spend the night in his driveway.
I filled my cup up with coffee. "It's on me." he said. "Excuse me?" I asked. "The coffee, it's on me." he repeated. I smiled. Thanked the man. As I walked to my van, I thanked God for the morning blessing.
I made a stop in Huntsville at the Walmart. I had on a flannel shirt that buttoned in the back. A little 4 year old, I am assuming, came up to me. "Ma'am you got your shirt on backwards. I can help you fix it."
"No sweetie, that's the way I made it." I replied.
"Then you must be one of them CUH-WAAAAAYZEEE coonass like my PawPaw cuz he always does things backwards my daddy says."
Out of the mouths of babes!
The last leg of the trip home was uneventful. It was good to see Beaumont even if I had been in rain for most of the day. The fireplace was roaring. Burgers and fries were cooking. Jess had the gate open for me.
It's good to be home. But it was even more better and exciting to be at a quilt show! I didn't make the money I thought I should have - but - I learned that I do have an inner strength about me - that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" and I can do it as a female.
Never allow anyone to steal your dreams - your goals - your desires. God says he will give us the desires of our hearts. I have asked. I have received. And, I am not ever going to allow anyone to steal my dreams or desires.
Tuesday morning I had been praying for God to open the door for a few more shows and help bring in more cash flow. Susan Brown, a friend called and asked if I was doing the Oklahoma City show. I said, "No, I've tried to get into it before and couldn't. I don't think there was room in the past."
Susan said, "Let me get the phone number and you try it."
I phoned. The lady said, "Let me call you back in 30 minutes to let you know."
Within one and a half hours, I was in the show.
The weather in Beaumont was horrible. Absolutely - horrible. I laughed. I prayed again, "God, this is sort of funny, but you know I need to load that trailer and can't do so in the rain." God as my witness - within ten minutes - the rain stopped long enough for us to load me up. Then it started pouring again.
I still had to make the bank run. I had sent my runner to go get the license plates for my trailer and to pick up another trailer that was being repaired. He had forgotten the license plates. It was a "WHIRLWIND" to get the plates before the close of business at the Orange County Tax Office. I wasn't a happy camper to be detained an additional hour and half while he went and did what he was suppose to have done earlier that morning.
However, I was determined - that he nor the devil - was going to spoil my joy nor my blessing.
I drove late into the night. I knew I wanted to get past Dallas. I also knew that I would be sleeping in my cargo van. We had converted it with carpet, port-a-potty and a full size bed. It was refreshing at 1am to crawl to the back, put the curtains up and crawl in my bed. I slept good until my normal 430am built in alarm clock.
I woke excited about the day! I was heading to a quilt show! After a brief visit to the coffee bar inside the store and a 'tinkle' break - I was on the road! The rain was still falling. It didn't matter - I was heading north - to a quilt show!
Arriving in Oklahoma City, I prayed for God to help me find a bank - the lady wanted cash since I was a "late arrival". Driving up I-35 - the junker in me spotted a Rehab sign. I exited, made the U-Turn, to realize it was just their offices. "Oh well," I thought. "I'm heading to a quilt show!"
As I made the u-turn to get back on I-35 north - what was there on the corner? Yes, a bank!
I had to wait ten minutes for them to open. No problem. The ladies who waited on me were awesome! Very kind. Very considerate. Yes, I invited them to "The Quilt Show".
I arrived 3 hours early. Checked in. And, was amazed when I heard her say, "The helper is ready to get you unloaded!" OH MY!!!
Andrean and I unloaded. I went about my merry way of setting up. I had never done a show like this by myself. I was sort of scared and sort of excited all at the same time.
I have a favorite scripture that kept running through my head while I worked at getting things set up - Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Yes, I knew everything was going to be okay.
The show could have been better, but I am not going to defy my blessing of being there. I met a lot of wonderfully nice folks and was invited to two other shows! And, a phone call was made as well as an email sent to get me into possibly 2 other shows. I suppose I did something right!
Andrean was at my booth at 4:55pm on Saturday. "You were the nicest and coolest of all these people, so I figure you deserve to be first. A lot of these ladies are crabby and ugly." That made me smile.
Andrean checked that no one else was lined up at the back door and I needed to go on and get my van and trailer moved around. I did. Between Adrean, his friend Tyrone, and myself - we had me on the road for 5:40pm. It was cold. Wind chill was 19 degrees F.
I drove to Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. I wanted food - real food. Sit down and be waited on kinda food. I found a 59-Diner. I was about to order the chicken fried steak when the waitress said, "Uhm don't order that - order a breakfast. Our breakfast cook is on and he doesn't do well with the other side of the menu." My face slanted side ways - but what the heck. It was warm in the cafe, she was friendly enough, I could see my van and trailer from where I sat. I enjoyed my breakfast for supper. And, I took my time.
I made it to the State line a little after 11. Crawled in the back and thought I was going to get several hours of good sleep. 1:45am I heard the sleet. It was hitting on the van as if someone was throwing sand or rocks at the van.
I laid there for a little while to see if the sleet would subside. It didn't. All I could think of was, "Drive south!" I took down the curtains and crawled through the door - with my flannel pajamas still on. Started the van up - let it warm up - and south I headed. Once again I was thinking - Dallas - but this time, "get south".
I stopped a little after 3am in Ferris, Texas. When I pulled into the all night store I noticed 3 police cars. I figured I was safe. I slept until the biological clock went off at 430am. I laid there. I was tired. I didn't roll out until after 530am. This time, however, I did get dressed for the day!
When I went in, I thanked the clerk/owner for letting me spend the night in his driveway.
I filled my cup up with coffee. "It's on me." he said. "Excuse me?" I asked. "The coffee, it's on me." he repeated. I smiled. Thanked the man. As I walked to my van, I thanked God for the morning blessing.
I made a stop in Huntsville at the Walmart. I had on a flannel shirt that buttoned in the back. A little 4 year old, I am assuming, came up to me. "Ma'am you got your shirt on backwards. I can help you fix it."
"No sweetie, that's the way I made it." I replied.
"Then you must be one of them CUH-WAAAAAYZEEE coonass like my PawPaw cuz he always does things backwards my daddy says."
Out of the mouths of babes!
The last leg of the trip home was uneventful. It was good to see Beaumont even if I had been in rain for most of the day. The fireplace was roaring. Burgers and fries were cooking. Jess had the gate open for me.
It's good to be home. But it was even more better and exciting to be at a quilt show! I didn't make the money I thought I should have - but - I learned that I do have an inner strength about me - that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" and I can do it as a female.
Never allow anyone to steal your dreams - your goals - your desires. God says he will give us the desires of our hearts. I have asked. I have received. And, I am not ever going to allow anyone to steal my dreams or desires.
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