This week is just flying by... I can't believe it's almost Thursday.  Thursday is like the end of the week for me.  I work 2 jobs, and Thursdays are my longest days.  Friday is recovery, so after Wednesday, the week is over.  It has been productive thus far, so I won't complain.   I started eating healthier and exercising on Monday, so I hope that this consistency thing continues to improve.  I was assigned a FREE business lawyer through a program called NC Leap, so I'm excited about that.  I can get my contracts for custom stained glass work drafted and reviewed at no charge.  Amazing... I've also graduated from sewing throw pillows to making a lined tote bag!  Very proud... Next on the list to make - a laptop bag.

So... I'm not gonna comment on the fact that it's been more than a couple days since I posted....

Things are going well.  I've slowed down a little bit, so it's time to pick it back up.  I got a good word in church on Saturday about passing the legacy of a godly life on to our children.  Motivated me to get several areas of my life in order.  Going to bed early tonight, but more to come. :-)

God is good.  Life is good.  Working on several promising contracts with the goal of glasswork being my full time job.  Amazing things - a beautiful wedding ceremony yesterday, a family member in church today that hasn't been in quite some time, a successful class on Saturday morning... I can't remember past that.  Lots to do tomorrow.

I had written the best post ever, and my computer locked up... I'm not wrtiting it over. :-) Highlights - I made a drawstring backpack all by myself!  Live life to the fullest!  That about sums it up. :-)

Amazing thing for today - home delivery today was awesome!

Less time in between posts...that's improvement, right?!  Amazing things - I took the next sewing class (remember my pillow from the first class?) and this time made a pillow with fringe!  I haven't taken a picture yet, but I'll post one when I do.  It turned out pretty nice!  Now I'm encouraged to make a few things on my own.  In between glasswork and job work, I'll be making a simple backpack and a purse to start.  You never know what will come after that!  Besides taking the class successfully, my mother let me use one of her sewing machines that happens to be a top of the line machine!  That's like getting your license and then getting a $100,000 car to drive...maybe not such a good example, but you get the point. :-)

Amazing thing - went to a Google workshop out of town, and my car broke down... alternator.  I just put new brake pads and rotors on the car last week, so my car "budget" was already overdrawn.  I didn't know what to do and I didn't want to freak out...took some deep breaths...prayed...called my Dad (I'm such a daddy's girl...).  Told him the situation and asked what he thought was the best course of action.  Called 2 tow-ers.  The second one towed my car for FREE!!! and charged me $45 for a diagnostic to see what the problem was!  Wow... told me if I couldn't afford to get the car fixed that day that I could leave my car there FOR FREE, no storage charge, as long as it wasn't forever.  Anyway, they charged up my battery and charged me almost nothing for labor. (I know because I called prior to tow to see how much the part was - Dad had a hunch that it was the alternator.)  So, I didn't have the money to pay for the repair based on the estimate.  I thought about renting a car...after the deposit they charge and renting for 3 days, it costed the same as the repair.  I was sitting there saying to my Heavenly Father, Okay Lord.  I need help.  I don't know anybody here, I don't have the funds in my account to pay for the car to get fixed or to rent a car.  It's raining, and this shop is going to close in an hour and a half.  What should I do?  My ex husband calls!  He will pay for the repair and I can just pay him back.  Yes!  Thank You Lord!  But wait, the mechanic's machine doesn't take American Express.  NO!!!  Okay, back to square one. A few minutes later, my sister in law calls.  They can pay for the repair.  Awesome!!  Car got fixed, I got home, and still had movie night with my son.  How awesome is my God!!  Family AND ex-family going out of their way, unprompted by me, to help. 

Enough writing for today, but remember that God is always there - always watching, waiting to see how much you trust Him, and looking for ways to bless you.

Um.... I think the dates on these posts are lyin... The log here says that I haven't posted in 2 weeks!!  How in the world did I miss two whole weeks when I'm supposed to be posting every day???!  All I can do is keep on trying, so here I am.... AFTER 2 WEEKS... trying to write daily.  Moving on...

So, right now I am reading through Deuteronomy, and as always, God speaks.  Deuteronomy 4:20 (NLT) says that we are His special possession.  I looked up possession, and one of the definitions was, a psychological state in which an individual's normal personality is replaced by another.  Normally, this type of possession is associated with evil, but isn't it cool that God changes our individual normal (sin-natured) personality, and replaces it with another (God-natured) personality.  I think that's awesome!  I love being His special possession!

Amazing things are still happening with IBG Creative Design... God is opening so many doors and giving me unheard of opportunities to let my light shine through glasswork.  He is so worthy of everything I have to give.  In the past couple of weeks, IBG has secured a small home job, a partnership in the works to supply items for sale on an e-zine site with part of the proceeds going to a charitable cause, and a possible custom wedding job that will allow me to partner with another business near and dear to my heart. Thank You Lord for favor!

What in the world??!!!  Where did a week go???  I thought I missed a couple days... anyway, I've been hard at work getting things ready for the gallery.  I'll be setting my wall up Friday, and then focusing on some pieces for a meeting next week.  Also received an order for some small functional pieces.  All good stuff!!  I'm back on it tomorrow!

Super excited about being accepted into the Labour Love Gallery at the Golden Belt in Durham.  Amazing!!

Wow... another 2 days has passed.  Has anyone seen the Spy Kids movie where the bad guy is literally stealing time???  The movie's kinda corny, but I really feel like time has accelerated... anyway, so many amazing things going on.  I have project opportunities coming from every direction - Thank You Lord! - and I'm eager to get something started.  Yesterday, I texted a lady that I was connected to a little over a week ago.  That led to a phone call today with a potential e-commerce customer/partnership.  I'm so excited that God knows exactly what He's doing ALL the time.  You don't meet anyone by accident. 

I have been talking to myself lately (not answering though, so I think I'm good) about doing what needs to be done regardless of what it feels like.  Sometimes as a mommy/2 job worker/entrepreneur/friend I get tired and just don't want to do anything - especially not the things I don't like to do.  BUT, I have to tell myself to woman up, get over it, get it together, suck it up, DO it.  So, today as you are facing what might seem like an insurmountable task, look at yourself in the mirror and tell you to get it together and DO it (whatever IT is).

Saturday, I had an interesting conversation with the window guy at Home Depot.  I'm trying to acquire an understanding of what goes into a window for new construction and how I can incorporate my stained glass.  I'm getting closer with each conversation, but I'm not there yet.  I did pick up a lot of literature, and I have some new leads.  Woohoo!

I'm looking for a new church home (which is fun and frustrating at the same time -- excited about a new assignment, don't like going to a new church each week).  I liked the one I went to today, but didn't love it.  The amazing thing for today is that God lets you know if a place is for you or not.  I'm keeping my spirit and mind open for my next stop. :-)

2 amazing meetings yesterday.  Will most likely be partnering with a builder in Durham for some stained glass windows in the near future!  Also may be doing something with an art consortium.  Awesome!

Amazing thing for today... my 10 year old boy still likes to snuggle with me on the couch for movie night every other Friday.  I love my family!!

I'm writing for yesterday even though in my world it's still Wednesday. :-)  An amazing thing happened today... I work at a retail store part time until IBG Creative Design is supporting me.  A lady comes into the store at least once a week and spends at least an hour there.  It came up in conversation at some point that I do stained glass.  I believe that was several weeks ago.  Today she comes in the store and says, I have a grinder that I'd like for you to have.  (A grinder is necessary in stained glass to smooth edges after the glass is cut, and before foiling.)  I said, what?!  She said that she had taken a class years ago and bought one, but had not really used it since.  She wanted me to have it if I would take it!!!!!  Of course I'll take it and thank you very much!!!!  She brings the grinder in, and it's still in the original box!  AND it's the same kind that I already have, so I already know how to use it!!  This is so very awesome because I can now increase my grinder workforce to 2 people without having to buy any new equipment.  In the very near future I will need help to complete all of my glass work, and she just invested, UNKNOWINGLY, into that.  Praise God for divine connections!!

So, yesterday I woke up in one of those, I-need-to-rest-because-I've-been-putting-my-body-through-too-much-for-too-long moods.  I just wanted to have a lazy day, but.... of course that didn't happen.  I did get to sleep in, but I had asked my brother to come over and chat because we encourage each other and I needed some encouragement.  We had a great time, and after he left I had to make the hour long trek to pick up my son from his father.  I was soooooooooooooooooooooooo dreading it.  But God always has a plan and a reason for doing things.  Anyway, I went over there and it turned out to be an amazingly productive 45 mins.  I got some cake (Woohoo!), and I talked with a builder about some future work for IBG.  Excited about possibilities!

Today... I learned how to make a decorative pillow!  And it turned out nice!!  Again, amazing things happen every day!

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Friday - went to an awesome jazz concert at Labour Love Gallery.  Met some nice people and made some business connections.  I love it!

Saturday - talked to a gallery owner about displaying/selling work; delivered repair job and customer loved!

Today - Purchased a jig for wire wrapping.  I'm excited about using it to include wire work in my stained glass pieces.  Thanks Rita!

Ughhhh... not doing so well on this daily thing, but I WILL STICK TO IT!!  Am not giving up!  Amazing thing for yesterday... I wrote my congressman for the first time ever.  I don't know all of the details of this SOPA/PIPA controversy, but from what I've read... not so good. 

Amazing thing for today, I joined a gym.... for $30!  Because I'm a veteran, the $100 enrollment/equipment fee was waived, and because it's in my small town and I work here, I got money off of the monthly fee, and because it's after the 15th I got a little bit off for the month... Woohoo!!! God is good, and I'm getting in shape!

The days are going by faster and faster... Today my son told me that I'm the best at all things "mommy".  I don't know how much of that was because he thought I'd like to hear it and how much was what he actually felt, but.... I'll take it!

I have accomplished an amazing feat on this day... I have cooked for an entire week... every day.  This is an extreme undertaking because I do not enjoy cooking, and I very, very rarely cook when my son is not with me (half of every week).  I have cooked complete, balanced meals for 7 days in a row.  Wow!  No fast food or Voila meal cheats... I'm proud of myself. :-)

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. day!  I hope you did something today to celebrate this great man. :-) 

I spent the better part of this morning and afternoon working on glass jewelry for the site.  It was a little frustrating at first because I also spent a lot of yesterday working on jewelry.  It's been a minute since I wire wrapped or tried mixing colors, and it REALLY showed.  Pieces were odd shapes, not turning out at all how I wanted or planned, but as always... amazing things happen when you persevere.  I didn't give up or break all of my glass.  I did do a lot of pep talking so I wouldn't throw in the towel, but the result was 5 pendant & earring sets and two pendants (w/o earrings).  They are drying, but they'll be beautiful tomorrow, and I'll post them on etsy, facebook, and my website.

Hang in there, and talk yourself OUT of whatever funk/disappointment/depression you are currently in.

OMgoodness!!  Tearin it up already!  This blog is to encourage, but it's also to keep me accountable to doing something consistently every day.  It's not even a week in, and I'm missing a day.... Help me Lord!  One of the many things I'm working on is consistency.  I start out great on several different things, but they kind of fizzle out after a while - working out, reading my Bible daily, cooking - all things that take consistent effort, so.... pray for me. :-)

I actually had something to share yesterday, and should have posted it as soon as it happened.  Another issue... procrastination.  Amazing thing - I received a message on LinkedIn regarding my stained glass work from an art consultant out of Durham.  I think it's going to be a beautiful meeting of the minds.  This has opened up a whole new avenue for me to pursue, and lets me know that an online presence is great.  Happy posting to those of you who are starting a business or expanding to an include an online offering.

Two members of my church family got married today!!  A pastor said it exactly right... marriage is a miracle!  I am looking forward to the day when I marry the man who was made for me.  I got married when I was 20 years old, but I think it was me who picked that one. :-)

One of the goals I'm taking small steps toward is having a great looking site, so I'm off to work!  http://www.ibgcreativedesign.com/.

TGIF!!  That's already enough to make me jump for joy!

Amazing thing for today... Customer told me that she's getting the feeling that her glass got broken for a reason, and that it was starting to become clear to her why we got connected.  I know what "the feeling" is, and I'm sure that things are being lined up exactly right. :-)

Something else amazing... I didn't kill myself when I tripped over a rope at Golden Corral today.  Fell all the way to the ground... My son was trying not to laugh and make sure I was okay, but I was almost crying laughing at myself.  I used to be extremely clumsy - always tripping, falling, or running into something, and today I had an instant flashback to my teens... Cuh-razy!! 

You know the saying that goes something like, if you go looking for trouble you're sure to find it?  Well... I believe the same goes for blessings, opportunities, peace, joy, Truth.... whatever you go looking for, you'll find. 

I had an awesome brainstorming meeting today concerning direction for IBG.  It was enlightening, challenging, and encouraging.  God puts people in our paths for different reasons.  Believe it or not some people are just here to help you!

In just one day, God sent me a stained glass repair opportunity, free advertising for 3 months, a meeting with the president of a large glass manufacturing company in the area to discuss stained glass insulation options, and to top it all off, my son is finally on top of his school work!  He is finished with his 6 week block of work, and the block is not over until Friday.  How many amazing things is that?!

Revelation to me for the week - Planning is important.  Make some short term goals and long term goals.  Write them down, and then take steps to make them happen.  Thinking about them is good.  Writing them down is better.  Doing something about them is best.

Amazing things happen everyday, so I am starting this blog to celebrate God's goodness.  Whether it's in the form of divine connections (which happened today and inspired me to start writing) or green lights all the way to work. :-) God is good and He makes life more than interesting - It's downright amazing!