When You Get A No, Don't Stop There

A few weeks ago, I contacted a company about an event they were having. I was sales pitching my balloon decor business. There response was a simple "sorry, at this time... yada yada yada." So I tucked my tail under for about 10 minutes and I decided I could do something bigger than them. This "no" gave me the push I needed to aim my sights just a little bit higher. The old saying "go big or go home" was my push.

I have taken my own advice today and am learning the hard way that "if you never ask a question, the answer will always be no." 

One of the best pieces of advice I got was from Mr. Jim who worked at Clayton Homes in Waycross when I worked in manufactured housing sales. I had called him repeatedly asking petty questions when I began ordering new houses from him. One phone call I opened it up with "I got another dumb question". His immediate response to me was "the only dumb question there is, is the one that is never asked because you will never know the answer". That has stuck with me for over 15 years!

Life is about taking chances, taking risks, dreaming big, and living with a vision in front of you that is pushing you on and giving you determination. 

When you are given a "no", don't sit and dwell on the "no". It just simply means it was not for you to do. Not everyone is going to like you. Not everyone is going to appreciate you. That is life. Don't take it as setting yourself up for a fall. Don't listen to fear and let doubt hold you back. You were meant for more than you ever could think or imagine!!!

Don't be your own worst critic! Don't allow yourself to cut and sell yourself short!! The "yes" you are wishing for is only on the other side of the question mark!!! 

So what if you try something and you fail. At least you had the guts enough to try something no one else has done!!!! I proved that point today. You don't know what people are out there looking for you and your work. How do I know? Out of all the people in America that could do what I did today, the company had been thinking about it but wasn't sure what to do about it. Today, I put myself there to get myself out there. If all goes according to plan, I will be there in a few months!!!

But when you get a no, don't stop there!! Don't give up!! Go forward even harder and dream bigger. Branch out. Spread your wings. Let your passion outweigh your fears. Dare to dream... And FLY!!! BIG things are coming in 2015!!!! #CarriedAwayCreations #RoadTrip #Phillipians413 

Rainy Day Blooms

Tuesday

February 24, 2015 

9:45 a.m.

In our front yard, we have one lone plum tree. It is an offspring of the ones my Granny Doris had planted many years ago. The ones she used to make fresh plum jelly with every year. I miss those days of playing in the kitchen with her making all those old family recipes. I live in her house and sometimes when I am cooking her famous Crisco Pound Cakes I can feel her smiling at me over my shoulder. 

The past couple of days here in south Georgia have been cloudy with rain every day. It was misting rain this morning as I was leaving for work. As I was backing up to leave, this one branch in the middle of the younger plum tree that was bursting forth in bloom. The other branches still only have the small buds. We are in transition from winter to spring here. Friday of last week, we had temperatures in the teens that morning. By Sunday it was a beautiful day in the high 70's.

This one branch that stood out among the others caught my attention. I had to get a picture. I didn't take the time at home to see the end result of what I had captured. Once at the store while on the phone with a sales rep, I decided to open up my photo gallery and see what was there. Originally, I had snapped the photo so quickly, I did not notice the rain drops on the flowers. They almost look like dew drops. My mind automatically went to this Chapter in the Bible. I have taken this passage from www.biblegateway.com.

Deuteronomy 32:1-5 (Message Translation)

The Song

"Listen, Heavens, I have something to tell you.

Attention, Earth, I've got a mouth full of words.

My teaching, let it fall like a gentle rain, 

     my words arrive like morning dew,

Like a sprinkling rain on new grass,

     like spring showers on the garden.

For it's God's Name I'm preaching -

     respond to the greatness of our God!

The Rock: His works are perfect,

     and the way He works is fair and just;

A God you can depend upon, no exceptions,

     a straight-arrow God."

Sometimes it is the simplest of things God puts in our path to remind us of His word. He speaks in many ways for us if we would just take the time to see and hear what He is saying. I needed to read this Scripture today as a reminder of "His works are perfect... A God you can depend upon, no exceptions." To fully rely on God and know that I can depend on Him and know His word will come to pass. It is never in our timing, always in His timing. You just have to turn it over to Him once and for all when He has told you repeatedly "I got this." 

Taking My Time

(Posted on 02/10/2015)

Most everyone knows a little bit about my "being single" story. It is something I am very open about. But lately I've been having those heart to hearts with myself, God, and friends of "why I am still single." It was triggered by a song I heard on WBYZ 94.5 out of Baxley, Georgia, one day when I was helping a customer.

I love music. I love the messages in the songs. I love the stories they tell. I heard this line which really caught my attention. It is one of those songs that speak to you.  I wrote it down so I could go back and listen to the whole song later when my customer was gone. The line was "I don't have to take your heart, I just wanna take your time." So I Googled the part I remembered and my search landed me on another Georgia native, Sam Hunt. Sam is known for writing some amazing songs in country music. Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Billy Currington are some of the artists who have taken his songs to the top of the charts. Then I searched for the lyrics of the song.... Next stop was YouTube search to listen to the song in its entirety...

My story... February 1997

I had met and fallen in love with this guy in my early twenties. Funny thing is, we dated longer than most couples stay married these days. After a long term relationship and which included a long term engagement, I finally called the relationship to an end. I had blinders on my eyes for many years. I was one of those statistics you read about and think when you are younger "I'll never be one of those who takes any form abuse from a man..."

Never say never.

I experienced the emotional, physical, mental, jealous and controlling abuse for many years. The very stuff I swore I'd never allow happen to me, happened until I became this empty shell of a person who never thought she was good enough, looked good enough, could never do anything right, and had lost all confidence in her very existence. The jealously made me lose friendships. Lost time with family I'll never be able to get back. Since I was "not good enough", my thought process turned to something he would always throw in to cut me even lower "who else out there do you think will want you if you leave me?" I heard it so much I believed if I left him, no one else would even look my way. It's a mind game. After hearing it so long, you believe it. It's like you become literally brainwashed. Then when family and friends try to convince you of how much you don't deserve to be going thru the hell you are allowing to take place, you still don't leave. So you stay and just keep numbly going thru life one day at a time.

After this unhealthy relationship ended in November 2010, there was a wall I built up so high and thick the world's greatest militia couldn't tear it down. I was never going to allow any one to get close to me and hurt me again. I was finally free from the pain and misery, no one was going to have the chance to be given the power to pull me down to that level ever again. I deserved better.

Sure there were good times, but somehow you always remember the weight of the pain strapped to your back as it is packed tightly in a backpack you haul around with you. Even beneath all the negative, I truly loved the guy who stole my heart for almost 14 years. Was it hard to walk away from? Very much so. I knew way down deep as I began to find who I was again, I deserved better for me. As I walked away, I decided then and there I would never be vulnerable enough to fall in love like that again.

Remember, never say never.

There is something about a wall in the physical world versus the emotional realm. In the physical, it takes weeks or even months to build walls for buildings being built. All of the reinforcements have to be in place to make it structurally sound. There is no room for failure. Then when it is time for new construction, it only takes a tenth of the time to completely demolish the wall. Longer to build, quick to tear down.

In the emotional side of a wall's construction, it is just the opposite. Once you've been hurt, you can throw a wall up in a matter of seconds to protect and guard your heart from any future heart break and hurt. You refuse to allow anyone to have the chance to make you feel vulnerable again and risk having your heart torn completely out and served on a silver platter. It is like your heart is protected not only by walls, add a few moats filled with piranhas and alligators, drawbridges, razor sharp rolled wire fences, dragons, well you get the picture. The kings of Medieval times would be proud of how safe your have protected your heart. No one is ever going to get close enough for you to trust them with you. Therefore their mission of "just let me try" could take months (years) before you ever let them anywhere near your heart.

Then you grab life's remote control and speed things up a bit... Two years later... You cross paths with someone who completely takes you by surprise. One of those kind that hits you broadsided and you have no idea where it came from moments. You weren't looking. For six months you keep your distance because you are still wanting to keep your heart on top of Mt. Everest and not give this guy a chance. He is persistent. Each incoming text message tempts you just a little bit to give him at least one date. He deserves at least one date for all the effort he has put forth.

By no means whatsoever is he anything like the ghost from the past that haunts your present. In fact, he is everything you have ever prayed for and it honestly scares you. You know how easy it would be to fall for him. So you have now added an army of foot soldiers to the exterior of the stone walls of your heart. You have to protect yourself no matter what. He is handsome. He is sweet. He is honest. Has a great personality. He's Prince Charming disguised as a good old south Georgia boy in blue jeans and a t-shirt. **sigh**

Then you finally agree to go on a date after you've let your defenses down by removing half of the troops. It is only one date. You can't fall that easily. Right?!  But there is something about this man. He is different in a good way. Each incoming text puts a smile on your face. The sun shines brighter. The days seem like they have a new purpose and a new meaning. He puts the confidence you had once lost in yourself back into play. You feel like a brand new person. You have started letting the walls down a little at the time. One date turns into another date. Then another. Then it is almost a year later. One day you wake up and realize you have pretty much fallen for him. Then all of a sudden, here comes the broken record of the heart break, heart ache playing yet again.

All of the walls go up rather quickly this time. The emotions of all the previous break up resurface. There is the dreaded broken heart. There is this jaded and apathetic side of you. After two years, the one person your trusted and let your guard down with wound up breaking your heart into a million pieces yet again.

Over the course of the next year, you go on a total of two first and last dates. None make it to see you for a second date. You don't want to go to sleep crying in your pillow. Waking up the next morning with puffy eyes. You don't want to have the emotions of yet another heart break. You decide the best way to protect yourself is to not set yourself up again to let that little naked baby with wings shoot that arrow through you heart. You don't let anyone inside your shell. Looking back over the past year you realize you've let some good guys slip right on by because you weren't ready to risk it all. One day out of the blue, one of those good guys that could have made it messages you. You start talking about different things and you decide to open up to him as to why. It was nothing to do with him.... but all about having to do with me and those walls. Thankfully he understands. He has moved on and he is happy. Sometimes it is just good to clear the air.

Dear Gentlemen....

We don't want to feel like we are being rushed. We want to be able to take our time. If it takes days, weeks, or even months... You've got to let us figure our feelings out first. If we can't realize we can trust ourselves, you aren't going get a chance for us to trust you! Just one day at a time till I know I can trust you with my fragile heart is all I ask. 

As scared as we are of getting our hearts broken again, we do want to find the Prince Charming to ride off into the sunset with. We don't want to rush into relationships until we know if they are going to work. We don't like someone in our space. We need breathing room. We need air!!! We don't like guys that come on way too strong and put us in an awkward place of feeling uncomfortable. Don't make us feel like we are being backed into a corner. We do want to give you the chance to see where it may lead.

Some of us swore off dating because it is a challenge. Remember, there's a possibility we've been single a while. We love the texts and the phone calls.

Maybe I've just met you or have known you for a while. I hope you realize, I'm not into the idea of a one night stand. So don't pressure me. Don't use those fancy words that I can read right into.  I'm not looking to plan our forever and ever amen during our first date. I don't want any kind of expectations or obligations until I know I can trust you.

I just want you to allow me to take my time. My heart is as fragile as a bright, shiny Christmas ball. It will crack under pressure. Let it fall, and it will shatter into a million pieces if no one is there to catch it.

We may radiate this sense of being invincible and a Wonder Woman of sorts... Oh, but if you could only see deep down the amount of fear we hide behind. The smiles you see hide more than you'll ever comprehend.

I am tired of making excuses of why I can't go and risk it all to see where a relationship may lead. I want to see why I can again! I want to know it's worth risking it all again. So let me simply take my time and be able to change my mind on my own terms. I'm not going to find a man I can live with... I want to find the one I could never live without.

Dear Sam Hunt.....

Finally, a man sings about what most women are scared to admit!!! Thank you for writing and releasing "Take Your Time" for women like myself who have had their hearts broken at least once in their lifetime. Thank you for understanding how some women think. If guys would understand and listen to this song, they'd get a lot more chances instead of being passed off for the next guy. The next guy is just like him and the cycle repeats itself.

Signed,
A woman who has had her heartbroken and is that woman you sing about

If you have not heard the new song by Sam Hunt "Take Your Time".... Here you go!!! :)

God Sends Angels and Rainbows To Get You Out In The Storm

God sends Angels and rainbows to get you out in the storm to make you realize He will also help you get through whatever storm you are facing in life...

Sometimes God will send you and angel dressed as a little old lady. Walking down the street with her arms loaded in groceries. Who has to take shelter on the courthouse breezeway during a quick rain shower. To get your full attention so you can be a blessing to her. 

Just the other day, I was thinking about my Tifton trip and the homeless man encounter. Then the other homeless man I bought the food for at Jin Jin's. No matter what I am facing in my life, the situation could always be worse. 

During the summer months, we are closed at the shop on Mondays so we don't burn ourselves out working six days a week. Today was our first day being back open for the homecoming season is just around the corner. This afternoon, Mom came toting in some roses my Pa Bob picked for me out of his garden. Like I have said before, it is the simple things. 

Since we were busy at the shop, I didn't have time to call him and thank him for them. So just after we closed, I called him. We were just talking away when I happened to look outside and see the big rain drops were beginning to fall. I was planning on getting my walking schedule back on tonight. As he and I were talking about my diet plans, I got up from the counter and went to the front door. As I was looking, I happened to see a little old lady walking on the sidewalk in front of the court house. She was close to 70 years old and had Harvey's bags on her arms. And by this time, the rain was really coming down. She had gone up to the porch of the courthouse to take shelter from the rain. 

I have about 40 hours worth of website work to have done by this Friday on the shop's website.  I have been working 10-12 hours a day for pretty much the last 4 weeks. I have my brother and niece relocating back to the farm with me. The past few weeks have been a test. Then I am planning on adding an hour of walking in each night just to keep the circulation flowing right. Plus to let off a little stress. 

I knew I had to get that little lady home. I could have easily let the little old lady sit there and continue to sit and wait out the storm. But, if that was my Mama or Granny over there, I would hope someone would help them too. So, I grab my keys and head out the door in the rain (you would know my FOUR umbrellas were in the truck). My plans were to drive over to the courthouse and offer the lady a ride home. This day and time, it isn't safe to pick up strangers. So I don't do this kinda stuff often.

As I am briskly walking to the truck I happen to look up over Norris' Building and I see a rainbow. To me, this let me know I was doing the right thing and God was giving me His sign of approval. Of course, I had to snap a couple of pictures. Then as I pulled over to the courthouse and offered this sweet lady a ride, she hesitated for about a minute. You could tell she was very hesitant. I promised her I was a genuine person and she finally gave in. She grabbed her Harvey's bags back up and made her way to the truck.

While she was opening the door, she told me she didn't usually ride in a vehicle with a stranger but something told her it was okay. I helped her load the groceries in. As she was buckling herself in, I turned to look at the rainbow one more time. It was now a double rainbow and was angled like it was inside my shop. So now I have God giving me a double thumbs up!! Yes, I snapped a few more pictures. 

I asked her where she lived and we started the trip to take her home. She only lived about 8 blocks away from my shop. She introduced herself as Patricia. I found out she was raised in Fitzgerald on a farm. Then her family moved to Pearson where she graduated. She attended South Georgia College. Then she moved away in the 70's to Atlanta. She moved here a few years ago. Then moved back to Atlanta. Last Friday, she decided to call Douglas home again. We made it to her apartment. I asked if she had an umbrella for future use because I could not use all four of the ones in my truck, I was going to give her one. She assured me she had one inside. She thanked me two or three times. Said it was nice to meet me. As she began to shut the door, she smiled really big and said "May God Bless you".

Had I not had the prick in my heart to take her home, I would have missed the rainbow. She was watching the rainbow from where she stood in the storm. But it made me realize in this stressful time I am going thru..... 

Whatever storm we are facing, God promised He would help us and bring us through the storm. He will send whatever form of protection to keep us from getting all soaking wet from the rain. He will shield us. Guard us. Encamp Himself around us. Even provide the means to get us to our destination safely. But He will take care of His people.

Matthew 25:31-40

31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Balloons and Genesis...

As everyone knows, part of my business is me being a balloon decorator (aka balloon artist). I have been renamed as the “Balloon Lady” in Coffee County. As my closest family and friends are fully aware, I am a perfectionist when is comes to my bridal & formal wear shop that also extends over to my balloon décor creations. I want everything perfect for every customer. I just feel that every customer should get the best effort I have to offer when it comes to making their day and event extra special. It goes beyond just getting the order completed and a paycheck to me. It is giving it 110% of your effort to make sure it is right. It is the trust factor of you putting your faith in me to include my work at your event.  If you are a customer of mine with the balloons, usually you get a text while I am working on your décor just to make sure it is what you had in mind. Some times the text may be sent at 10 p.m.

First and foremost God sees when you give it a “throw it together” effort. He blesses you with the talent and the abilities and He expects you to use them to the highest level possible. Just like the story of the talents in the Bible in Matthew 25:14-30. I have seen a quote before about standing before God in Heaven when I die, I don’t want to have anything left because I want to use it all I can while I am still here. It is by Erma Bombeck “When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say ‘I used everything You gave me.’”

This weekend, I had the trust of two local families (that I consider friends before they are customers) who wanted me to decorate for their boys 1st birthdays. On Thursday night, I made a Mickey Mouse for Ellen & Clay Fitzgerald’s baby boy, Baby Asher. We did it in the Baby Mickey Mouse colors.  Then I delivered Baby Mickey on Friday night after I closed the shop.

As soon as I got back from the delivery, I began the décor for Jil & Jody Ridlehoover’s baby boy, Baby Joey.  For Baby Joey’s party, there was going to be a balloon entrance arch as you went thru the gates to the back yard party complete with a smiling Mickey Mouse balloon on the top to greet the party peeps! Then once you got to the party area, you were greeted by a Mickey Mouse standing outside the tent as well as a Mickey Mouse inside the tent between the cake table and the presents table.

The past three weeks of my life have been one to where I feel like I have been shackled to a 100,000 pound weight on each leg, a 50,000 pound weight on each wrist, and then the weight of the world on my shoulders. Last week was a struggle to even force myself out of the bed. Not depressed, just pure exhaustion. I have been trying to do the roles of business owner, website updater, paperwork filer, paperwork completer, customer service person, janitor, all at once. I was in overload to the point where last Tuesday night I hit the pure exhaustion overload while hitting a brick wall full force. The final straw was placed on my back that caused the camels back to break.

I went through this same feeling under different circumstances three years ago. I didn’t realize the significance of the situation until Friday night at 11:45. I have a few friends who know the details and have been my awesome support system. They have been there to encourage and to love me through it all. I have heard this in my heart when all this began and got the same text from a friend “stand still and know that I am God.” If you know me, standing still is something I can not do. I am not an idle person much. I am always going somewhere and doing something. I realized this is a test that is going to make me much stronger once the pruning process is complete. This is a faith test. Even though I felt a gazillion miles away from God, He was right there the whole time waiting on me and my stubborn self to just quit trying to do it alone. Then logging on to the Dr. Mark Chirona and Bishop T.D. Jakes ministry Facebook pages and listening to recent sermons brought everything back to perspective.

You know it is in those quiet times when you least expect it you really get a revelation from God and you hear Him…

Time to tie all of this together.

As I was working on the Mickey’s for Baby Joey, even though I have previously made six Mickey’s and Minnie’s, I still have to make sure they are in proportion. This is the perfectionist side of me kicking in. I was sitting here, just looking at the balloons and wanting to try something a little different but make sure it was the “right size” according to the height, the shoulder width, the arm length, the hands, the feet, the neck, and the head. That is when it hit me…

It took me to a place thousands of years ago… You have just spent days creating heaven and the earth… the sun and the moon and the stars...  You have created water and land... You have created every living creature, fish, fowl, and even creeping things... You have created all of this… But your greatest creation comes in the likeness of Yourself and the angels. Can you imagine being God at creation?

As I sat there staring at the balloons I had in a stack waiting to be inflated and created into a 6 ½ ft tall Mickey Mouse, yes I laughed a little. Imagine being God way up there in Heaven looking down on earth and wanting to create us humans. He wanted something perfect to enjoy the galaxy He created.

This may not be the correct way it happened, but it is my version. See I used to love to play in the mud and the dirt when I was little. Okay, I confess I still play in the dirt and those red clay roads after a good thunderstorm by my house. Only now I use a vehicle. There are things in life you will never get to old to do!

So God is up in Heaven and He comes down to earth to play in the clay and dirt a little bit to create this likeness of Him. He grabs a handful of red clay from south Georgia and begins the rolling out and the molding process begins. He rolled out fingers, toes, arms, legs, noses, ears, tongues, faces, internal organs, and spoke to that red clay ball of a creation and spoke life into Adam.

How awesome is it that God took His time to create us and make us all perfect. There is a perfect structure to every person on earth. If we are eight feet tall, our body is balanced to fit that height. If we are four feet tall, we are balanced so we don’t have the arm length of a person eight feet tall.

The perfect alignment of our shoulders to be able pull the weight. Our hands to hold on tight and get a grip so we don’t let go. Our feet to give us balance so even when we have to drag the shackles, we can still move forward. Imagine if our shoulders were two feet wider than they currently are with our body as it is. It would make life a lot more challenging. Our fingers are the right length and have all the right joints and abilities to bend to grasp hold. Our muscles. Our internal organs. Our ears for hearing. Our sense of taste.

Yes, I know we are our own worst critics and would like to change a lot about ourselves when we look in a mirror. I will be the first to admit I have a few things I wish were different. But God took the time to plan even our DNA to make us perfect in who we each are as individuals. Sure, we do things that can alter our bodies. Going back to the basics, we are all the same.

God made us tough enough to go through trials in our lives. He made us stronger than what we face. He is on our side. He created us perfectly so we could rely on Him when the battles seem too strong to face.

Here is the photo for the balloon decor that inspired this blog :)

Appreciating the Dry Times

Daniel 2:21
"And He changes the times and the seasons"

Ecclesiastes 3:1
"To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven"

A few nights ago, I was reading thru some old scribblings of mine in my notebooks. I sometimes just sit and read over them to encourage myself. Some make it as a blog post. Some stay there until I am ready to share that part of my life. This particular one caught my attention rather loudly.

Maybe it is because we are in the amazing transition of winter to spring. In the winter, there is no fresh green grass. There are no flowers that are blooming. No leaves on the barren tree limbs. It is the dormant season. The dead season for most vegetation.

In the spring, everything begins afresh and anew. The colors are bright and vibrant as the trees and flowers show off their inner beauty. It is a brand new beginning to life.

Outside my bathroom window, there is a huge pecan tree and a small oak tree. Year round, I get to watch these trees on a daily basis go thru their seasonal transitions. Winter the limbs are bare. There are no leaves nor fruit. Spring begins the life cycle of the small buds of the leaves beginning to form on the barren limbs. Summer time has them in full bloom with the brightest shades of green and the evidence of the fruit beginning to grow. And then fall brings forth the discoloration of those green to the rich golds and reds. As the fruit gets ripe, it begins to fall from the tree as do the leaves.

The leaves represent the old attachments in our lives that we have to shake off. A tree has to lose its leaves so that the tree can keep its nutrition for the winter. The dead leaves and branches are extra weight and have no purpose. Those dead leaves are the same as things in our past we need to get rid of so we may grow as well.

The new growth may only last a season before it is shed. But the new season brings about new changes, new opportunities, new journeys, and a fresh start to begin again. Each year the branches and the limbs grow. It is a place to see growth as well in your life. To expand the areas in your life to reach your potential and where God wants you to go and accomplish your purpose... Your destiny...

So what was the quote I found I had written down I rediscovered?

"You have to have a dormant season so you can appreciate the season of new beginnings. If you didn't experience a season of nothing, you would never stop to enjoy the season of abundance."

You have to experience the sad times to enjoy the happy times.

The rainy and stormy days to appreciate the sunny and clear days.

The dark areas in life to enjoy the bright areas when they shine.

A broken heart to appreciate when true love comes along.

Times of being weak to see just how strong your really are.

Hurt to experience healing.

The times of walking on your journey alone to appreciate the times when you have someone there holding your hand to share your journey with you.

The One Who...

In light of Valentine's Day, I do have to share some sentimental thoughts since I have basically "killed" off Cupid on my personal Facebook page. You know the scary naked baby that flies around that's armed and very dangerous???

I guess this a sequel to the "Be That Person" I blogged about in September of 2013. You know, the life changing impact a person has on your life.

Some people don't believe in fairy tales and finding the perfect person to spend the rest of their lives with. There are those of us who still do..

When you have that one person that completely changes your life...

* One who gives you hope beyond all your doubts.

* One who gives a sense of security beyond all your fears.

* One who makes you smile again when you once thought it was not possible.

* One who when just the thought of them makes you happy in your heart.

* One who you don't have to be looking at them or hear their voice, but just thinking about them makes the whole day better.

* One who makes your face completely light up in a huge smile when an unexpected text or phone call comes thru and you see it is that person. One of those lip biting grins because you are standing in the middle of the cleaning aisle in Dollar General.

* One who makes you find the purpose in your life again. When you have given up on yourself and what you have a passion for, this person comes along to give you the encouragement you need to get you back on track again to accomplish your dream.

* One who makes you believe in you again.

* One who impacts you on such a level you see your own self through their eyes. You begin to see the "you" that you are all because of them. You finally lose sight of the flaws and the imperfections you tend to hide behind.

* One who makes you think about the future and all the possibilities of what could go right instead of what could go wrong.

* One who makes you open your eyes again to believing in hope and there are still good ones out there.

* One who makes you like the person you are when you are with them. The person you become just by being with them. Whether you are walking down an old dirt road, riding around the countryside, headed to your favorite restaurant for dinner, or just sitting at home watching TV.

* One who makes you want to take down the walls around your heart you built so high so you would not get hurt again. You open yourself up to taking risk and finally take a chance on the "what ifs" in life.

* One who when you are around them, there is no way to describe the feeling you get just by being in their presence or looking into their eyes.

* One who comes along and completely wipes out all of the negative and the pain of the past. Helps you to heal completely inspite of all the desolation and weariness you have experienced in the past.

When you find a person who does all these things, or just a few of them... You have no choice but to believe in fairy tales....

Sometimes it is a seasonal person that walks into our life that turns our world upside down. That is all they are meant to be. But sometimes you are blessed and you find a forever person you spend the rest of your future with.

A Prince Charming or a Cinderella is out there. Some of us have just been a little delayed in crossing paths with them. But when you find that kind of person, you realize how much they have changed you. You finally understand "what" you are looking for and it is then you realize just how hard it is to let them go!!

"It's Not A Career, It Is Your Calling"

A few years back, I was going through a very questionable time in my life. I was wondering and asking God what was I supposed to be doing in and with my life... Did I miss what He put me on this earth to accomplish??? Was I living out my purpose??? Was I supposed to be working at Windi's Bridal Boutique??? ( Nope, I am not closing the shop or leaving... So I'll go ahead and stop a rumor before it starts. I am still going to be there in the morning with bells on!!)

The year was 2010. I was at a point in my life where I was a very broken person. I was discouraged with every changes happening all around me. I had all these questions and there were no answers in sight. I was just before breaking off my engagement to the man I was going to marry. I was at an all time low area I had not been in many years. I questioned God a lot about everything (PS.. God wants us to go to Him when we have questions and seek Him for direction.. That's called trusting Him..)

We were in revival at the church I attended. I had been in the mully grubs all day. It seemed as if my prayers had only been hitting the clouds and were bouncing right back at me unanswered. I needed to know if I was "doing it right" or was I way out "in a league of my own" and missing God completely. I was tired of questioning my life, my occupation, and my purpose. I was being fed by "someone" I just needed to close up shop. Cash in my chips. Walk away and never look back. He did not understand this is what I love to do.

As I was sitting in the church service on the third row, right hand side by the wall, the evangelist was used by God and gave me an on time word. It was the confirmation I needed to hear. Evangelist Marvin Booth stopped in the middle of his sermon, looked at me and pointed his finger at me and said...

"Sister Windi I just looked at you and the Lord told me to tell you 'you don't just have an occupation, you have a ministry.' Hallelujah. It's more than a career, it's a calling. Hallelujah. And that made sense to you when I said that. You don't forget that statement. It's not just a career, it's a call. NOT JUST CAREER, BUT A CALL."

My mind had drifted back to Stephen in the Bible. He had a market place ministry. Some people will try to say the only place a ministry can happen is in the pulpit. They are wrong. Anytime you have a chance to shine the love of Jesus, where ever you are, that is your pulpit.

Then a couple of weeks ago, I began questioning myself and God again. Had I missed it after all this time?

Last week, on Wednesday I had a customer who came back to purchase her prom dress she had picked out on Saturday. See Saturday at the shop during prom season means wide open. You don't have a chance for lots of one-on-one time. Wednesday was perfect for that!!! Her mom went to the back of the shop to talk to my mom. She stayed at the counter and we talked about life. She brought up a family member who was going thru the same type of unhealthy relationship I had gotten out of. The family member was the very same age I was when I started dating the guy many years . My customer could not understand why the family member was blind and allowing all this to go on. I got to share my side of the story of what I went through and explain how the person is blinded and really doesn't see it. How her family member thinks she can't find anyone else if she were to break the relationship off. It's a mind game.

Then last Friday I had another friend come by the shop. She and I began to share about what God has done in our lives since the last time we had seen each other. Last time I spoke to her, we were both engaged and planning weddings!! Both of us thought the other one had already gotten married. We sat there an hour talking about our situations and how God had allowed things to happen so we would see what we were putting ourselves through.

All of this happened this week to remind me I am right in the dead center of God's will in my life for such a time as this. 

Chosen For A Purpose

Sometimes you sit and you question a lot of things and situations as you look back and reflect on the journey life has brought you through since you breathed your first breath. Tonight was one of those nights for me. Truth be told, I have a those nights often. Not so I can sit here and beat myself up with regret of choices I made. There are no regrets this far. But to realize how each life changing decision has lead me to where I am today. To see where I was at then and how life would have been so much different today had I chosen the other option laid out before me in my past. No, life is not always perfect. If it was, it would become a monotonous cycle. You have to go thru good and bad times to appreciate life as a whole.

I'm less than 6 weeks away from my 38th birthday. God has blessed me to be here this long. So far, 2014 is starting to be a great looking year. New things have begun unfolding. And all I can say is "thank you" because without God opening doors and directing my path thus far, none of this would be possible. Things I never thought possible for a little old country girl like me. One who would rather be in jeans and a T-shirt with flip flops as my wardrobe playing in the dirt. Don't know where how all this will play out in the end. You can rest assured there was a reason for it!

One lesson I have learned is to always stay humble and never forget where you came from. Especially never forget "who" made all things possible according to His purpose and plan... When you are "chosen" there is nothing but favor coming your way. Time to walk thru #Isaiah61 and prove my #Jeremiah29:11. Chosen for a purpose...

And I am thankful for the family and friends I have that are an amazing support team :) I am blessed beyond more that I deserve!! All the notes and messages you send me mean more to me than you will ever understand :)

Even My Worst Day Was Wonderful

Why I love the country life!!! With views like this going to work, makes you realize how blessed we are!!! A friend told me Saturday night and today "Even my worst day was wonderful"... He and I had been catching up on the past 20 years since high school... Then today it really hit me.. No matter how bad things may seem at different times in life, I'm still alive. I'm healthy. I'm breathing. Even though I had a dilemma with the plumbing for a week and was ready to cry, I have a place I call home. There is a roof over my head to keep me out of the weather. I have a warm bed with a pillow and blankets instead of concrete sidewalk, a park bench, cardboard box, or insulation wrapped in plastic ( as Jimmy Wayne did as a homeless teenager ). There's lights and electricity so I don't have to sleep in the darkness of night (yes I have a night light, don't laugh). I have the means to store and prepare my meals. A washer and dryer to keep my clothes clean. And a warm shower instead of a freezing river to bathe in.. It is the simple things we take for granted in life!!!! We are all one thing away in our life that could pull the rug out from under us...

NEW FACEBOOK PAGE

Over the past few weeks, I decided it was time to start a Facebook page in addition to my blog... For those inspirations I get on a whim!!! Things that may never make it to the blogger world!!

Here is the link... Give me a "Like"!!

https://www.facebook.com/faithjewelsbbywindiraper

Thank you and God Bless You!!!

The Paper Angel Tree

The Paper Angel Tree
The Salvation Army Angel Tree

It is early Christmas morning. There is excitement throughout the bedrooms of the children as they are waking up from a night of restless sleep. An anticipated morning which only comes once a year. As they eagerly wake their sleeping brothers and sisters to rush them to the living room, they begin to wonder what kind of presents are awaiting them under the Christmas tree. As soon as everyone is up, the halls are filled with pidder-paddering footsteps and laughter as they round the corner into the living room... only to find that there are not any boxes with big red bows and all the colorful paper symbolizing what this season is famous for. The season of giving and receiving. There are no presents under the tree. In some cases, there is not even a brightly lit tree with the shiny star on top.

At this point, they are not aware of the financial difficulties and stress their parents, single parent, grandparent, legal guardian, or foster parent has faced the days and months leading up to this holiday season. The children also are not aware of how hard it hurt the adults to not be able to provide Christmas gifts for them. One of the parents may have lost their job. One of the parents may have gotten terminally sick. In some cases, they only have one parent who is doing every thing they can to strive to float just above water. The struggle to keep the lights on month to month. The ability to keep food on the table. The medicines some are required to have just to live everyday without pain or suffering took the place of a new doll or train this year.

The dreams the children had of what was awaiting them under the tree is washed away by tears and a broken heart. The house is now quiet as the kids slowly turn to go back to the rooms where the morning began on a different note. Parents or caregivers are left with a burden that they failed the child. There is no going back to school and talking about what they got for Christmas. Only the devastation and embarrassment when other kids ask them questions.

Since 1979, there are many children who were going to be faced with a Christmas story as described above. However, many children have been provided with a happier ending thanks to the dream and the vision two people had to make a difference in the lives of children. Majors Charles and Shirley White were living in Lynchburg, Virginia, and were working at a local shopping mall collecting toys and clothing for children during the Christmas season. There the idea of the “Angel Tree” program was born.

The Salvation Army website says this “The program got its name because the Whites identified the wishes of local children by writing their gift needs on Hallmark greeting cards featuring pictures of angels and placing them on a Christmas tree at the mall. Thanks to the Whites, more than 700 children had a brighter Christmas that first year. Three years later, when the Whites were transferred to Nashville, Tennessee, Angel Tree was launched in Music City during the 1982 Christmas season.”

Children who are recipients of the Angel Tree gifts are from families who have applied for Christmas assistance through the Social Services program of The Salvation Army. During the application and qualification process, the sizes of the children and special needs and wants of the children are written on the application. Once the application is approved  the personal information is kept confidential. The other information is then written on the paper “angels”.

If you have ever had the chance to decorate an angel tree as I have, you realize the Paper Angel you are holding represents a child in your community who may not have anything for Christmas. Seeing the names makes it more personal. You see the first name only of the child. If it is a boy or a girl. The age of the child. The sizes of clothing and shoes the child wears. Then you see what the child is wishing for.

The “angels” contain a code number which corresponds to the application number as it was accepted. All children in a family have the same code number, followed by “1” for the first child, “2” second child, etc. The “angels” are then placed on Christmas trees in shopping malls or local businesses where they are selected by shoppers who then go purchase either the partial or full list as noted on the “angel”. After items are purchased, the gifts are taken to The Salvation Army.

Getting involved in “adopting” an angel off of the tree is simple. You choose if you want a boy or a girl and the age of the child you would like to buy for. You do not have to purchase all of the items on the wish list, just what you can afford. You see something is better than nothing. You and your co-workers or group at church can adopt a child together.

This will be the sixth year I will be hosting a Paper Angel Tree at Windi's Bridal Boutique in Douglas, Georgia. You see, I was faced with a challenge in November 2011 by Country music singer Jimmy Wayne “to partner with my local Salvation Army to help with the Paper Angel Tree Program.” See, as a child, Jimmy was a Paper Angel himself so he knows how important this program is to children. I wrote a blog about my first experience with sponsoring a tree in my shop. Each child on the tree has a story to tell. None of the stories are the same. I was so touched by this, I felt impressed to write a blog about it. Here is the link http://windiraper-faithjewels.blogspot.com/2011/11/one-from-heart.html

There is one question I leave you with... Are you willing to make a difference on Christmas morning in the life a child who is faced with possibly not having anything under the Christmas Tree? We are all blessed to be a blessing!

Our first year, there were about 25 children who were adopted. In our second year (2012) there were over 50 children adopted from my shop... I want to also thank those who have been adopters in the past who make this possible every year!!

 
To find out more about Jimmy Wayne and his story, you may go to his website www.jimmywayne.com

To find out more about Jimmy's Foundation, you may visit Project Meet Me Halfway's website at www.projectmmh.org.

To find a local Salvation Army to participate in the Paper Angel Tree Program, you may search their locations at www.salvationarmyusa.org

*** UPDATE ***

As of 2016, I have continued every year hosting an angel tree in my shop. It is amazing to see the families bringing their children in to choose a child that are excited about making a difference in the life of another child.

Here is the #PaperAngels song & video by Jimmy Wayne!!! It will get you all in the Christmas giving spirit by doing the most good!!!

Be That Person..

Friday, September 13

If you are a friend of mine on Facebook, you pretty much know where I am coming from on this post. You have seen me share a little about this subject over the course of the past month...

To get everyone else up to speed, back in May of 2007, my Daddy was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in liver, lungs, and bronchial tubes. He beat the cancer in three months. Then on March 19, 2008, he was diagnosed with brain tumors. He was beating the brakes of that too until pneumonia set in. I lost my Daddy August 19, 2008.

This year is the 5th year anniversary of his passing. For some reason, it has bothered me a lot more than in years past. I sometimes still expect to see him walk in the front door on the porch after he has been at work....

There are a lot of other things that have been going on in my life. So I am sure this concoction of emotions are the things I have been trying to battle over the past few weeks. This is one of the peak seasons at the shop with homecoming in full swing. I am not complaining by any means. In a total of nine days, not including two Sundays at church twice on those days and one Wednesday night, I worked a total of 122 hours. We were excited to launch the brand new www.windisbridalboutique.com website just in time for homecoming. The companies were dragging to get images available for us to use on the website.  Once they were sent, crunch time started. There has been a lot of extra hours at the shop to meet all the deadlines.

The first week of August, I was decorating in Atlanta with Speedway Children's Charities Luncheon with guest speaker 1st Lady of Georgia, Sandra Deal. This was an awesome event and Mrs. Deal was such a sweet person. I am an Associate Board Member with Speedway Children's Charities at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This luncheon is one of the many fundraisers we do to raise money for the organization so we can give it away to other organizations at Christmas!!!

Then Labor Day weekend, due to circumstances beyond my control I had to cancel the trip to the Atlanta Motor Speedway to help my Speedway Children's Charities family work all weekend during the NASCAR Race. I was supposed to be up there decorating with the balloons for various events. This is the major weekend where they raise all the money for the charity to help organizations help kids. Since I was unable to do, I was very bummed out to say the least. I had only been counting down this weekend for a year!! When you own a business, you have to make sacrifices. Its in the job description!!

On September the 10th, I got a major achievement delivered by UPS from Eden Bridals. Eden Bridals is the main line of bridal and bridesmaids line I carry in the shop. I received a laser engraved crystal Silver Award. This award was a nation wide program. We were one of the top sellers and most improved in sales in the previous 12 month period. This was also based on our customer service. I am a firm believer the award is not only mine, but also the customers who entrusted me to be part of their special day and memories!!! Without them and the Windi's Bridal Team, I am nothing!!!

The biggest part in the mix is the fact September 13 is a countdown until my birthday... Only six months away from the next big number. So this Friday, September 13, marks the last six months of me being the ripe old age of 37. I don't see it as me turning 38 next... I just see 2.5 years and I will be the big 4-0!! Wooooo...hooooo...nooooottttt!!! There are lots of things I have accomplished in the years I have been blessed to be here. Down deep inside there are still many more things I want to do!! I refuse to grow up!!

Then to put all this in life's blender and mix it up, was an indescribable feeling. From up one minute, to down, to back up, then down. It seemed as if the roller coaster was going way too fast for me to keep up with the events.

On my way to work Friday the 13th morning, I had a conversation with God. I would not really call it a prayer. Just some things I had questions about. I also reminded Him of His words as well. I quoted some Scripture and to me it was like I was debating certain situations I was going through. I wanted answers. When I had gotten done "venting" to Him about my concerns, it was like I heard a voice say "I got this". Okay Lord, it is all yours and I will kindly move out of Your way!! (Depending on how the "venting" gets answered, I will surely have to share that in a Part 2 blog. Maybe one day!!)

Friday was a busy day as the week before homecoming always is. I was stressing a little bit since I always tend to worry about making sure every dress is here and every dress is ordered and will be back to me in time for big days.

That afternoon, I got an unexpected text from a good friend of mine I cherish deeply and had not heard from in a few weeks. One of those on time type. Basically a simple "Hey......hope you are doing good." You never know how much a text message, a visit, a phone call, or as social media channels to Facebook posts, Facebook inbox, email, Twitter, Instagram... Ok, I will stop there... The point I am trying to make is, you never know what a person is going through and when God puts them on your mind, how hard is it to just say a simple "hello". You never know how much you can change a person's day with just a gesture, and it is free!!!

Friday night, I was headed home about 10:30. I had done some late night projects at the shop. As I was riding and thinking about the past few weeks, I was in deep concentration. I was not paying much attention to the grassy sides of 441. Here I am, almost in Pridgen. As a matter of fact, I was at the 21 mile marker going into Pridgen. All of a sudden, a deer jumped out in front of me and broke my concentration. I immediately slammed on brakes and laid down on the horn. After I recomposed myself by catching my breath and bringing my adrenaline back down, I was ready to get on home thankful I did not hit the crazy animal. Then my mind went to the thoughts I don't open up about much.

Waitttt... Before everyone thinks and passes judgement, I am perfectly fine. I know I have a lot of living left to do and this was just one of those wake up moments. Should you have any doubt, I can gladly get you into contact with my bestie. She can verify I am good :)

As I looked at that deer, I thought to myself... What if I would have hit it and gotten into a wreck? Who and how many of my friends would actually care or be concerned about me? Who would make an effort to check on me post wreck? Out of all of those I think who care about me, how many would really be there to prove they do? I do know I have an AMAZING group of family and friends that does care about me. I am not knocking them by any means because I know who would be there for me even if I stumped my toe again and had to wear the neon green bandage! I love my circle!!!

I kept driving and got home within a few minutes.. I sat my purse and a few things I had brought out of the truck on the couch. Got me a Coke out of the refrigerator and made my way to the big blue recliner I love to unwind in... Daddy's recliner... Turned the television on and reclined back. Within a few minutes of flopping down in the recliner, I got an unexpected text message. The text was from one of the sweetest gentlemen I think I have ever crossed paths with in my life. One of those people who always seems to have a positive and encouraging word just at the right time. Sometimes God uses the right people at the right time to say the right thing and the person has no clue they are even being used to brighten someone else's day. They don't know they are an instrument being used by Him. He is one person I am proud to call my friend. He will never understand the inspiration and the encuragement he gave me in just a few words of conversation.

You see, no matter how "perfect" someones life seems to be, you never know what is going on on the inside.. The exterior shell can really put on a great show behind the mask. You can't see what a person is dealing with on a daily basis. You don't know the battles they are facing within themselves. After a while, a person can really fool you and you think they are okay. If someone crosses your mind and you feel like you need to call them or make contact with them, remember a text message in today's times means just as much!!!

This whole situation reminds me of the Country Music Song "The Call" by Matt Kennon. I am not one to give up on much of anything in my life. Life is one thing I will never give up on without a fight!!! But to know a person can get to that point and give up and see how easily their day can be changed because of something which only takes a few seconds to be the light in their darkness... Be someone else's reason to get back up again!! Most of the time, they will thank you even if you never hear it!!!

The lyrics I love in "The Call" are

"If someone you know is weighing on your mind

And needs a friend on the end of that other line

Don't hesitate what you say may seem so small

But who knows

They might be glad you called

So make the call"

Like I have said before, it is the simplest things in life that mean the most!!!

Be that person...

Here is the video by Matt Kennon...

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YK3zs7EV6Tk&feature=youtu.be

Skydiving.. The Only Way To Fly

Soooo…. Here it is… The blog a few have been waiting for… Over a year and a half over due..

The day I attempted skydiving and I lived to tell the story. The day I rose to a challenge and proved to myself, if I can do this one thing I thought I would never have the guts to do, what should I be scared of here on earth??? I already have God on my side and I am fully aware He tells us not to tempt Him… But, this was something I had to do for myself. If I can stand at a door of a Twin Otter Airplane and look at the earth below… Willingly fall forward on the count of three and dive out of the plane from 14,000 feet. If I can fly thru the air at a speed of 120 miles… Totally free fall from 14,000 to 5,000 ft in about a minute… What in this world is left to be afraid of??? Ok, don’t really answer that and there are some things I really don’t want to find out if I am or not because I am assured there is something out there!

You see, I may have the curls and the dressing to a T when needed down pat, but deep down inside there really is this Southern- Tomboy- Farm Raised Country Girl who loves to just be who she is and not be in all the hoopla…  don’t let my job / career fool you!!! I love to dress up and rise to the occasion when I can. But I love to run around on my days off with no make up, hair twigged up on top of my head, and if I am lucky I get to stay in pajamas all day long!

I am the first to admit I have a lot of both of my parents in me. I am a thinker and I do overly analyze things like Daddy did. I think things thru, some times excessively. Okay, if I do this like Plan A then this will happen. If I do it like Plan B then this will be the resulting consequence. But I also have a lot of Mama too… Both my parents loved life and the great outdoors. Mama is the one who will do something on a whim then think later! They both love a challenge and to try things out of the ordinary. So, I got it honestly!

What got this whole crazy ridiculous idea of jumping out of a perfectly good airplane started??? Hmmmm… Easy… FACEBOOK!!! Facebook, the beginning place of a lot of things… Some things are great and some things are not so great. This event just happens to fall into the really amazingly great things!!

My bestest friend, Mandy Shrouder Harper, who I had worked with at the bank years ago, posted a comment about “I wanna go skydiving… Who is with me?” That may not be the exact quote, but it was along the lines of a challenge. Oh, yes, I had to comment “I am with you Mandy. Let’s go.”

Then I think it was Kevin Fussell who works in Fitzgerald at CSX mentioned he had seen something about some type of skydiving event in Fitzgerald. Well, you all know how I am. I am also a very inquisitive person. I love to do research… After a Google search of “Skydiving in Fitzgerald” there is was… “St. Patrick’s Day Boogie”… There was also a contact number to Chris Spence out of Macon, Georgia (if you are ever in need of a person to get in contact with about skydiving, he is the man).  So, I contacted Chris a couple of times… Then boom, we are ready to get to flying! We literally counted down the days… Mandy did too… I just posted about my excitement I think about pretty much every day on Facebook!

My birthday is March 13. So this was my happy, happy birthday present to me! The week of the jump, I will admit I was beginning to feel VERY apprehensive. I was not going to back out by any means, just was really beginning to understand what could happen if things went wrong. For my birthday my cousin Denise took me to Flyin’ Cowboys. As we were leaving, we bumped into Rex (Mandy’s hubby) who asked if I was “going to back out on her.” Ohhhhhhh noooooo, I was not backing out by any means with a sudden strike of nausea hitting me in my stomach! This was something I had to do for myself. I was not going to back down on this. I had a made up mind and once I am in with both feet, no chance on me changing my mind!

Well, finally, March 17, 2012, at 2:30 pm had arrived. I got ready at the shop. Mama and I had a word of prayer.  Then a text to Mandy and I was leaving Douglas on the way to her house. Got there and told Rex and the boys bye.  We were officially Fitzgerald bound.

We arrived at the field and we waited on our support team who would be awaiting us on the ground. Tracy Purvis Heath and JD Heath for lots of moral support came to watch us.  Our awesome photographer Dea Merritt of Photos of Merritt from Fitzgerald! Then it was off to the point of no return!

Mandy and I went to the registration office. We met some of the fellow divers. Went to the table. Signed in. Handed over our money. In return, we were handed this stack of papers to literally sign our life and all our rights away. After seeing the excessively giant print “Warning, you may either die or be seriously injured should you choose to skydive.” You see this on about 10 sheets. You initial and sign about 60 times, but after reading thru page one and signing, your adrenaline is already pumping. Your blood pressure is climbing. My skin color has changed to a flushed red. Your nerves are calm because your body is going into overdrive and you can only seem to laugh your way thru all the other pages. How many times can you read “you may die” “you could get seriously injured” “you won’t sue” “you assume full responsibility” and not go into some type of “what did I just read” mode??? So, you only laugh your way thru as you are signing. I really mean you are laughing so you don’t change your mind. The fact I pretty much didn’t have much to eat or drink that day for obvious reasons probably didn’t help much with my mental state!

Okay. Paperwork is signed. Here comes Chuckie… The one who I will be entrusting my whole life with and hope he knows what he is really doing as we jump from that plane! He comes over and we talk a bit. Then we get me all suited up in the harness. He explains everything about the harness in detail. Like why it is three ply instead of single ply… Yes, that is a very important factoid! About the jump in detail what to expect and not to expect. All I can do is nod and let him know he will be repeating this couple of times because right now I do not comprehend a thing! I was forewarned by Bob Garrett (my stepdad and former paratrooper) and Jim Graham (WBYZ 94.5 and former paratrooper) to really listen to my instructions given to me… Sorry guys, I totally failed you. I will not lie. It went in one ear and out of the other… I tried really hard, but it just was not happening!

Then I met my other side kick who would be capturing every move I made… The one who would be allll in my face as I was sailing thru the air… Jesse!!! I don’t like random questions and I don’t like being put on the spot with a video camera in my face!!! But, like it or not… here was Jesse with the camera interviewing away! As you can see from the video, I am so high/drunk of adrenaline I can barely talk and I got the giggles! I look like a three year old on Christmas morning! Or a kid who was turned loose in the candy store with an unlimited amount of credit!!!

Just as Chucky and I were standing around the table talking, this older gentleman at the table looked at me and said “Are you jumping? Is this your first skydive? Are you scared?” Let me see…. I answered all those questions in this order “Yes. Yes. Ummm, no. A little nervous, yes, but NOT scared!”  And I guess he was more in shock because I mean a woman is NOT supposed to want to really do these type things… Well, I admit it. I am not the ordinary woman and most of y’all already know this for a fact! So I felt I had to explain it to him. “You see, I am a Christian and I believe what the Word says. Back on July 27th, 2011,  I was going thru some old papers and came across an old pocket calendar. You know the ones that have the Scriptures on them. I decided to look one more time at the pages. Well, I turned it to the one that had this verse on it and I am a firm believer of this now… PSALM 139:9-10 ‘If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans,  even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.’ I know I have a work and a calling on this earth and God is not thru with me just yet.”  Chuckie immediately said “If we need to have a word of prayer we will. Believe me, since I began jumping I found God. I am a praying man for sure.” The older man replied “It is great to be in the company of another Christian.” YES, I STAND FIRM IN MY FAITH IN GOD AND JESUS CHRIST!!!

Then it is time to go outside and meet up with our support team and people watch! Dea starts taking pictures of us. And as I look back at the pictures, I promise I will be thinner before my next jump!!! With the harness on, I look like a pot belly pig in the making!  Then we are off to the launch field! We have cameras and video cameras every where documenting just way tooooo much information!!! Only Mandy will understand this comment. If you really looked through the video, most of you would love to know why I had that “What did you just say Willis?” look on my face as I walk up to the ladder at 46 seconds into the video... Yup, it is top secret!  Watch it VERY slowly… I am all laughing and talking as I am going towards the plane. But, you can tell by the look on my face, something made me mad!!!

So it is loading up time. Jerald is first on the plane. Then Mandy makes her famous climb. Then my favorite person of the day, Chuckie, loads up. Then it is my turn to climb into that point of no return. Most of you all know I went to Chicago last year for a business trip. I mean, I know I wasn’t about to jump out of a Delta or Air Force 1 Jet, but I had to fly under these conditions??? Okay, you look and there are two metal benches in this aircraft, no plush seats at all! There is NO air or ventilation until you get to a certain height in the flight and they open the door. There was no stewardess or steward to bring my peanuts and water. What kind of airline is this???? Oh wait, now I remember… Non luxury and non First Class!!! So, I find my place on the bench.

Everyone is loaded. Check! Door is shut. Check! Time to start our ascension to 14,000 feet above Ben Hill County…  You are packed like sardines on the plane. The person ahead of you parachute is all in your face and lap. There is no room for moving around…. Don’t dare think of getting sick, cause there is NO where to put it!!! As I found out later from a Canadian jumper (Rick Nelson) who watched my video, he told me “you were on the plane with ‘royalty’”. He then went to explain the guy sitting in front of me with his parachute I am propped up on while I am talking to every one is only the President of the Canadian Skydiving Association. No wonder he gave me those looks as Mandy and I were talking like a bunch of elementary girls!

That ride was one of the most surreal times of my life! It really brought back a lot of things and made life come back into perspective. You think about a lot of things… That moment of “your life flashing before your very eyes” effect happened in a matter of minutes. You have a time to think of things you would rather not think about. Family. Life. Work. Why this and why that. What if this and what if that. What would Daddy tell me right now if I could really hear him speak to me? In those ten minutes so many things cross your mind. Too many things. You just stare out of the window and think about things. See, only a few months prior, I called off the relationship I was in as well as the engagement and forth coming wedding I was planning. I went from engaged to solo and needed to prove to myself how strong I was. This was my stress relief. This was my one outlet I needed to do for myself!

After what seems like hours of ascending up into the sky, you finally reach a point where the side door opens… Earth seems so far away. Seems like all your problems are down there waiting on you to land. When you are airborne, it seems as if you have left all of your worries behind you! You can see for miles and miles and miles from the airplane window. It still seems impossible that you are on the plane, are about to jump out of a perfectly good airplane, and depend on that parachute opening properly!

Then you have reached the 14,000 feet mark. Every one is going from their seats towards the door or the “front” of the plane. Then they all start jumping out. Mandy and Jerald are the next to the last ones.  Then my camera man Jesse climbs out and holds on to the side of the plane so he can capture me coming to the door. Chuckie and I are the last to jump from this load.

So, we do our funny walk since we are strapped to each other and we don’t have a choice at this point.  And here we are. My feet are now at the airplane door. I am staring down at one more amazing view. There is so much to take in and see at this view. There is one last chance to back out at this point. But, I won’t back out at this point. When the wind is hitting your face, it makes you realize how awesome God is. Look at what He created for us to look at. Look at the genius minds He created to invent something as great as a plane to let us experience this.

You are looking down at the clouds. You are seeing the view from the other side. You can see bodies of water. You can tell where the farm lands are planted because of the rows. Everything looks a lot different from that side.

Reality check… Now, it is time to go… One to the count of three… On one, we sit in our same position. On two, we lean back. On three, we fall out of the plane face first and start our free fall. So, one, two, three… And we are now flying thru the air. Over the next 60 seconds, we will be traveling at a speed of 120 miles per hour. The closest thing to compare that to is a NASCAR Race car. We were descending at a speed of about half of the average car travels during a race. Most tracks are about 210 miles per hour. We fall from 14,000 ft to 5,000 ft in approximately 60 seconds.

So, what is it like to free fall like that??? It is like your head is being placed in a vise and it feels like it is smashed as flat as a pancake! Your head is under so much pressure it feels like everything inside your head is about to explode. Your head feels kinda boxy. Your eardrums are pounding like crazy. Yes, there are butterflies in your stomach and you feel woozy. But not a nauseated woozy feeling! It’s just a feeling in the pit of your stomach which thanks you that you did not eat all day prior to your jump. You look like you have had a face lift that went very, very bad! You have to make sure you can breathe properly once you start falling. With the wind coming at you at such a force, some people are not able to breathe like they need to. But woohoo, I could breathe plum fine! I actually think it helped me in some ways, because I was able to hit some higher notes and able to sing a lot differently Sunday morning on the praise team! (The second time I jumped, I found out the leg strap pressure was basically too tight and I was getting the circulation in my leg cut off a little because of how the strap turned once we jumped out. Nothing to do with my partner. The second year, I was fine. This feeling did not happen the second time.)

The view is totally indescribable. It is just breath taking. I thought the view from the first plane ride I took last July to Chicago was awesome because you are above the clouds looking out… Well, jumping from a plane and looking down at the clouds totally outweighs being trapped behind a window and looking out any day! Nothing beats that view! It is priceless. Actually taking pictures with the clouds under you makes nice screen savers!

Just as you are beginning to soak all of this in, you are now at 5,000 feet. It is time to back away from Jesse the camera man and pull the chute open. The back lash from the chute basically stopping you in mid air literally feels like your knees are going to hit your chin! You go from 120 to almost stopping. Try to compare it to hitting a brick wall! All I can say! It gives you great big tug and feels like you are being pulled back up into the plane. Jesse got great step by step action shots of the resistance of the chute pulling open and my feet swooping down.

Once the chute is open, Chuckie allowed me to hold onto the guide cords to control our float. My thoughts were “Really Chuckie, I don’t want YOU to take your hands off of anything.”  At this point, I don’t know if I can hold on to it!!! I glide it for a little while and then he decides to take over. He asked me “do you like riding roller coasters?” Well, yeah… That is nothing compared to this is it?? Well, he does a pull on the right cord control and we flip one way. Then he flips us back the other way… Then he asked “do you really, really like a roller coaster?” Well, yeah again… So at this point he does a really hard pull on the cord and we flip really fast and before I knew what was going on we had already spun one way and were now flipping the other way… Gaaaaaeeze Louise, I had no clue that could be so much fun. No wonder I only at Cheetos all day! Boy oh boy, was my head and equilibrium way off now! I will ride pretty much any ride at Six Flags. I even rode on the Star Gazer in Orlando. It is on the TV Show World’s Most Extreme Rides. Oh, the Star Gazer has got nothing on the skydive!!!

Now we are at 2,000 feet. We look around at the view. He points us in the direction of my house. We spot Wal-Mart and look out in the direction of Coffee County. We are too close to the ground to try any more tricks or flips… (ps Thank You Lord…)

And now it is time to land. That is a struggle. The ground is wet because it had just rained the night before. The same rain storm that caused the crash of Ed the balloonist and ultimately took his life. But, picture this. I am a little taller than Chuckie. I could almost bet I am at least 70 lbs more in weight than he is. I mean, I look twice his size… And we gotta land. We have to slide in because of the tandem part of the jump. So he tells me to put my legs straight out which is like the 6” leg exercises in mid air. Okay, with this extra spare tire I have around my waist, it made it just a tad harder. God bless those football players who have to do this as their drills and exercise!

I see the Georgia red clay getting a little bit closer… And now I can see Mandy and Jerald and Will, there is my Jesse waiting, and I see the tent where Tracy, JD, and Dea are waiting and snapping pics! Okay, here we go, time to slide in… And woohoo.. We did it… I made it.. I am alive... I am really alive! I did it! I really did it.  Thank You Lord for helping me survive this!!!

There is Jesse all in my face with a camera and a video camera! Please let it sink in that I have landed!!!

Now it is time to regroup with my skydiving partner and discuss the entire thing. We were both so excited and amazed. We are currently dreaming of our trip to get certified to jump SOLO!!!! Yes, it is that much fun. Yes it is that addictive! Yes, once you try it, you will have to do it again!

One bit of advice to remember and look up before you jump… ALTITUDE SICKNESS… IT DOES EXIST! Afterwards, you will feel your energy level crash and you are ready for a nap. Over the course of the next two weeks, you will look at food and go “bleh”. You have no desire for food. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altitude_sickness)

In case you are wanting to go jumping with us, look for the event in March of 2014!! Fitzgerald St. Patrick’s Day Boogie!!!

Here's my video link
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=311208325615438&set=vb.100001788188795&type=3&theater