Lights, Camera, Action...through the years

What has been brought to mind this past week, is that small, consistent action, changes everything...

And, in most cases, will catapult one into the next big thing. We have everything we need, right inside of us, to change whatever it is we want to change about our life. There is only one enemy we must conquer. The lack of "want to"...

The rewards of taking action are at least, satisfying. Such as cleaning out a closet that needed your attention long ago, or finally getting to that "thing" you've been mulling over (in your head only), completed. At most, small beginnings become humbling recognition, as we stare our future in the face.

It's up to me what that will look like. What will I say "yes" to, next?

A few days before leaving the hair industry, another stylist that worked just down the hall from me, approached me with a "what now" inquiry. "What will you do after all these years in the hair industry?" All I could say to her was, "I'm not sure yet. We'll see." What she didn't know about me is just how many hats I've worn throughout my life that have built me into the person I've become, and the one her eyes were now questioning. A question with no real answer. Yet, here we are, taking a look back...

• Waitress (doesn't everyone begin there?)

Began my waitress journey at a little diner named, Obe and Ada's. They gave me a start at earning a bit of money to sustain my life, fresh out of high school. I was so young and naive back then. Man! Did life ever slap me in the face...

• Bank Teller (short lived...maybe 2 years)

I loved Security Bank & Trust. I considered it my first "real" job, even though waitressing is no walk in the park. The banks owner had noticed me at yet another restaurant located in downtown Miami, sitting so charmingly beneath a prominent hotel. He had asked me to come for an interview. I was in! And, like I said, I did love it. But there were challenges my young self faced with another employee who openly told me she "hated" me. I was stunned! And, that's another story...

• Salon Owner (starting in 1978)

My first place of salon ownership. My husband (of only 4 years) and I, decided to take our beloved 2 car garage and re-purpose it into a hair salon, with tanning available. Another learning experience was about to happen. Those years were good to us as we faced each challenge head on, determined to grow and prosper in the environment made possible by a few of my brothers and one sister. After a stint of living in Madison, TN. and working at Roger Miller's King of the Road hotel (the Roof Top Lounge), in Nashville, it was time for me to come home. Side note: I was a mess...

Having nothing to come home to, they combined their resources so I could attend Miami's Beauty College, in hopes of a brighter future for me. It took me four years to use my cosmetology license, but use it I did! All the way to 2025. With only a couple of sebaticals. More stories...lol

• Married with kids 😁 (best part of my life...busy, but best)

It took us a little over 7 years to make that happen, but what a blessing God gave us! Those were my best learning years. I would say, "poor kids", but they were (and still are) loved more than words could ever express properly. Soooooo many stories one could tell of those years.

• Home Education Teacher (simultaneous with being a salon owner...through grade 12)

We won't discuss those years, here, just know they were my manifesto. If anyone were to ask me what my biggest accomplishment in life was, I would have to say the years of academic training in life skills and the normal studies of any government ran school that transpired with many side events. Read on to understand...

• H.U.G.S. (Homeschoolers United Group Support...that I created and led)

Still have the manual I put together to create the group, and those who signed up to be a part of this parent focused group. We had monthly meetings for encouragement and needed schooling information, making sure we weren't breaking any state laws. During those beginning years of Home Education in our nation, we had decided to retain a lawyer for the "what-if" surprises by our government. Oh boy! Did he come in handy. Always keeping us up on breaking news. We did everything "by the book." Led, and trained, by parents. Not the government.

• Yearly Curriculum Fair Organizer and Speaker (with attendees coming from across many states)

This was the highlight of our year. Even the kids looked forward to the large gathering of curriculum developers, knowing they would get to see first hand what they were going to be using come the next physical school year. It was filled with education for the parents, with various rooms blocked off for particular training. With a question and answer period afterwards. Local news was at several of these events. I'm pretty sure they were wanting to let their viewers/listeners in on the newest thing happening in the area. We also had food catered so those coming could have nourishment while they learned. So much fun. I will always be grateful for that time in our lives.

• Monthly H.U.G.S. Newsletter Developer

Another side project for our families and group members. We knew our extended families would want to know what was happening, so invited the home educated students to submit articles about what they were learning in their most loved studies. We also had short stories created by our oldest daughter, and a forum for horse lovers to send in questions that would be answered by our youngest daughter. We didn't have internet during those years, like we do today, so everything was from their own experiences and studies that trained them how to learn.

• Library Developer for H.U.G.S. parents (the "how-to" of home education)

There came a request of finding particular information for our group of many that wasn't a part of our church. So, while visiting other (state wide) curriculum fairs, I would pick up various how-to books, soon creating a small library where parents could check out the books they needed, with info on how to purchase.

• Drama Team Coach (Images of Grace at Fellowship of Christians in Miami, OK...also performing twice at NEO's Fine Arts Center auditorium...such an exciting time! We made headlines in local paper. 😁)

A team of guys and gals I'll never forget! They were so faithful to come for practice meetings. Yeah...we did have one or two, possibly three, that had a challenge of making the meetings, but we still had tons of fun performing. Right, crew? So much work went into these. From the decision of what, to the orchestration of how.

• Pizza Restaurant Manager (short term...talk about HARD work!)

This one proved to be too much time needed from me. The owner's (family) were great. To be fair, my sister had warned me that it would consume me. I didn't listen. And then I found out exactly what she had meant. Again, many are the stories that came during my stay.

• Owner, Manager, Stylist of 3 Salons (2 in OK., 1 in NC

I think I loved choosing the ambiance for each salon just as much (maybe more) as the actual work of being a hair stylist and skin professional. It demanded long hours/rewarding hours. In retrospect, I may have worked just a bit too much. Moments lost with my girls...

• Co-Pastor at LifeGate Church for 7 years in Miami, Ok. (you didn't know that, am I right?)

This happened after our girls were grown and had flown the nest. They both had moved to NC. Our lives have never been slow moving. Our hands have found much to navigate in this life.

• Child Care for 4 years (my beautiful 1st grand baby, from 2 months old - 4 years, while working evenings and weekends at the salon)

Seems like ever pivot in my life has been valuable in the training of my soul and spirit. Each one different, while also being so important. This one was no different. One would probably not believe how many pictures sit in my phone and saved to iCloud. I cried when she was put in pre-school and Grams apron strings had to loosen. I missed her so much. She's turning into a beautiful young girl.

• Blogger (since 2010...https://www.marysworldmiami.blogspot.com)

The blog started as a suggestion of Lindsey. Our oldest daughter. She thought it would help me to write out my thoughts for any given day, now that she and her sister were miles away. She was right. It did help. Does help. Even though Dennis and I now live "just down the road" from them. Yep. We made the move to NC. in 2013.

I'm not saying I'm unique in any of this. Most of us fill our hours, our days, weeks, months, and years, with as much as the hours will allow. Only to fall exhausted into the bed at night and wake hitting the floor running before the sun rises the next day. It's common place to most. This is life. 

But change has happened for me that I didn't believe would happen, at least as quickly as it did. As the years sweep past us, when we're not watching, we change. Will the past define me? Will the knowledge I have gained over a lifetime, catapult me into something larger than life? Something the whole of has created within itself? Or will I ride off into the sunset, doing as little as possible? Stay tuned...

Starting small, consistently (if you can consider building a greenhouse, small...), here you will find me...in Mary's World.

Shine On

When the lights go out, when darkness totally engulfs us, even a small flicker of light is a welcomed sight. Wouldn't you agree? 

When this happens at our house, we usually grab our lanterns...not the candles. Unless we can't find the lanterns. That's happened on occasion. 😆 THEN, we go looking for the candles; which there are plenty of in our abode.

Darkness doesn't understand light, so it tries to hide from it. Yet, darkness must relinquish its space wherever there is light. It must vanish because it's been exposed. One could relate a life filled with lies to a life vacant of light. Lies spoken, never like being exposed. Lies want to be in control of truth. But it's not possible. Lies can't hide when truth shines into any realm of darkness.

I'm not a person that will cover a lie. I've been the recipient of too many of them. I am allergic, you might say, to lies. Even withholding a portion of the truth, is deception, to me. And deception is no better than a lie. That's why I'm pretty dangerous when it comes to kids fantasies about fictional characters. If you want to keep Santa as a real person who flies through the sky, with reindeer pulling a sleigh filled with toys for all good little boys and girls, and is able to come into your house by entry of a small chimney opening, you shouldn't allow your littles to ask me questions concerning the validity of it. Now, I WILL tell them how Santa got his beginnings, as well as the truth behind the celebration of Christmas. If your littles ask me questions about the truth behind any pagan holiday, I will not tell them their fantasies are indeed real. Don't misunderstand me, here. I WILL play along. I do love pretend. The imagination takes flight and I can conjure up just about anything that involves the easter bunny, the tooth fairy, Santa, etc, and make it fun for our littles. However, if asked point blank about the REALITY of these characters, I will not, can not lie. I will burst the balloon, for sure. For which I will never apologize. It's one thing I hold onto. Truth...

I want my children and my grand children to remember their Mom and Grams as being someone they could trust to tell them no lies. But until the day comes that I am confronted with the truth, I will most likely play along. Is that deception? Maybe...but to keep my family close, I lure them with fantasy. Yikes! That sounds a bit contradictory. 😳 See what thinking will get you? Time to end this... 😂

Shine on...

Flickering, here you will find me...in Mary's World. 

The Clock is Ticking...

"No one is useless to God. No one." ~Max Lucado

As I get increasingly closer to a phrase I believed would never become my reality (retirement), feelings of "now what?" follow me daily. Yes. I did think this through before playing my cards. Yes. I did intensely labor over this decision. Yes. I did wait for several confirmations before opening the door that would eventually close the door. Now, the fruit of that seed planted, is beginning to come forth.

Regardless of the peace I am feeling about that decision, my mind seems to be attacking me, of late. As I disconnect from humanity, will I simply dissolve into the earth? Dramatic, you say? Maybe a bit. I can be that way at times. Especially over such important decisions as this most recent one. The reason (most likely) of these attacks comes from the fact that all I've known in my lifetime, is work. What happens when I no longer "work?"

Defined as a privilege, not a dirty word, work has provided communication with those other than family members. Work has given me a sense of accomplishment. Work provided purpose as my integrity built. Work provided connection, friendship within the workplace, and a place to call my own, as others allowed me access into their lives. Work created monetary provision and a big sense of accomplishment. Yes. Accomplishment is so important in a life well lived. So...now what?

Will my greenhouse be enough? Yes, it will be refreshing. It will be a place of peace. It will be soothing to my soul. It will give nourishment. It will inspire. It will possibly give me entrance into a small piece of my mother's world. But will it be enough?

Possibly, this is a time of pulling aside from the noise of the world. Possibly, this is a time of refreshing. Possibly, this is a time for me and God to communicate more freely. Possibly, this is a time of returning to my roots (no pun intended). Possibly, I have been waiting for such a time as this and these feelings of uselessness will evaporate. Possibly, there will be new life waiting for me that I have been blinded to. Possibly...

Soooo...if you need to find me, here I will be...in Mary's (ever changing) World.

Preparing the Garden

New beginnings

At the moment, this little piece of heaven looks a bit like a gravesite, but we're still in the beginning phase of creating. Something must be sacrificed in order for something else to live, right? This space used to have a WoodPlay playground for our granddaughters; all inclusive with swings, monkey bar, rock climbing wall, slide, and tower with windows and an outside seating area that was used as an ice cream shoppe. Lots of great memories. But the one constant in life is change. Sometimes painful change, but the girls rarely used it any longer (school & friends), so we reimagined it and...well, great things are coming. And we DID add another swing area, because we ALWAYS need to swing. The memories of years gone by will live on, but it's time for life to fill this space once again.

Many have asked me, "What's next for you?" This. This is what's next. This is the place of new beginnings. A place where a greenhouse will be erected. It's a place I never, in my wildest dreams ever, thought would be a part of my adult world. And, before anything can become reality, one must envision it, right? This particular dream had its beginnings in another's mind. Not mine. Our oldest daughter, always the visionary, believed it would be "just what the doctor ordered." The verdict is still out on that one, but we're about to see just how therapeutic this will be. She's rarely wrong, and I AM beginning to see; to dream, of what all it can be. I suppose one could say a seed has been planted. 😁

This I do know: My garden will be a place of peace and spiritual refreshment. It is my opinion that a garden should be a spiritual paradise. But, in order for it to be that, I must work at caring for what is put inside it; and like anything we put our hands to, we need encouragement. I do think I will create a plaque, and hang it in my greenhouse, that reads:

"The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever flowing spring." ~Isaiah 58:11

It's a promise of God's constant presence and provision.

Getting my hands dirty, here you will find me...in Mary's World. Stay tuned...