Preparing to Summit

Whenever I have climbed mountains in Colorado....those big 14,000 ft peaks.....you prepare to summit - both mentally and physically.  I feel like I am preparing to summit in 3 days time.  I have prepared as much as possible.  It is now time to put one foot in front of the other and climb.  I leave the fate of the summit in the hands of my Maker.

If you know you are doing everything in your power to get where you want to go - what else is there but trust?  Trust you will summit - trust in your body - trust your mind to control your steps / your breathe to sustain you / and your body to hold you upright.  I walk in trust right now.

As I prepare to tackle the list of duties that need to be accomplished before I leave.....I pray for peace of mind and the continuation of my forward momentum.

My school work remains behind.  I rely on the space during the trip to catch up.  Traveling for 30+ hours will allow me to focus on somethings - sitting me still long enough to accomplish the back log of assignments that has piled up during the previous two weeks.

Love Studios - finally reached a point where I feel comfortable in walking away for the next month.  Thank God for a dear friend that will honor my open house hours and carry the torch in my absence.  I pray for the sale of the art on display so I can continue the next steps while in Thailand.  Again trust in the seeds I planted to grow and bare fruit.

Thailand - wowsers - I thought this was going to be the difficult part for preparation reasons.  This has been somewhat easier than anticipated - or maybe I have been distracted by working a full-time job, going to school full-time, and opening a new business?  I have my appointments scheduled - travel arrangements confirmed.....if only I can get there.  Funding has been an issue, with a recent surprise of a car repair rearing its head.  Again....I walk in faith that the art will sell and donations will come just at the right time to pay for the excess luggage costs and get me to NYC.

My women friends in Thailand are excited to see me.  I am so blessed to be able to return with a sense of hope for these women.  These twelve ladies saw me through the worst time in my life.  I literally nearly died multiple times in Thailand - physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  Somehow God sent me angels time and time again that kept me breathing.  In retrospect, I look back and know it was all for His purpose.  When I left Thailand I wanted to NEVER look back - having lost my family, my business, every material possession, my husband, my dog, and more importantly - myself.  I remain in a state of shock at how my heart condition has changed to the point that I realize I lived through that nightmare....to come out the other side in light and love.....only to return and bring back that light into the darkness.

As I prepare to summit, I continue to put one foot in front of the other.  I remain focused on the goals at hand - school work / studio preparation / mission focus / sharing love with some of the most important women in my life.

I read once that a man's most important life relationship is with his wife.  A woman's most important life relationship is with her sisters.  I never had a sister growing up so I never really knew what that felt like....now I do.  It is true.  My sisters kept (and continue to keep) me sane.   My sisters made me laugh when I wanted to die.  My sisters held my hand in the hospital.  My sisters screamed at me when I was doing stupid things.  My sisters stood beside me in pride as I faced situations I would have rather not.

Here's to my sisters ~ This mountain is for you!!!!