My heart is permanently connected to 758 Montclair Road, Fayetteville, NC. I have been back several times in recent decades to drive by the house and the cemetery. Good heavens, I can still feel how the memories came to life as I drove those roads, circled the blocks and walked by gravesites.
What I remember most was the overall feeling of hope and pure joy to spend the summers with our grandparents. After seven years in Germany, our parents would drop us off at Mamaw & Papaw’s house in May and pick us up in early August. Mamaw taught us how to cook, clean, pick vegetables and fruits from the garden and more. Green beans, blackberries, peaches, apples, cucumbers and tomatoes will never be as good as they were in that garden! Fried apple pies will never come close to their magic at 758 Montclair.
The back patio is still crystal clear in my memory. Exiting the den, you stepped down to the patio. On the right was a full-size glider couch. It was kelly green, steel like with a waffle weave type finish. This was my favorite place on the patio. I took many of my favorite lunches ever on the patio. Never a meal more divine than a bologna on white bread sandwich with grape nehi soda, provided it was served on the patio. We would play games like “Lemon Twist” and play outside or with Mike Smith next door. Actually, we had “Aunt Krysta” on the left and Rubye & Mike Smith on the other side of my grandparents’ home.
We watched Andy Griffith, I Love Lucy and The Monkees. We laughed, went to play Bingo and usually spent a week or more at White Lake. I loved our summers with our grandparents.
When we moved to Tennessee in August 1980, we lived at 415 Kimberly Drive. It’s strange, really. Many years have passed since I lived there. However, typing the address brings the house into clear focus. I am outside on the deck, just outside of the sunroom. I can see my mom falling to her knees. All I can hear is her guttural scream upon learning her mom had passed while she was driving home. Daddy met her in the driveway to share the news.
What transpired a few weeks earlier was Easter at the house. What my parents did not know was that my mamaw conveyed her impending death to me. She did not tell me she was dying from cancer or that she would be gone. Still, she conveyed it to me without any words. We left the family room without speaking a word, went to my bedroom and held hands over the floor while we each sat on the twin beds. Somehow, without recalling the words spoken, the feeling washes over me again and again. My mamaw did not believe she would ever be returning to Tennessee, that is for certain.
After the visit at Easter, my mom traveled back to Fayetteville, NC, with Mamaw and Papaw. Mamaw had surgery and was in the hospital most of the time. After nearly two weeks away from us, mamaw told mom it was time to get back home. It was long before cell phones. Mom didn’t find out her mom died until arriving home after eleven hours of driving. Although it’s been nearly 43 years ago, I still choose to not celebrate Mother’s Day when it falls on May 8.
Nearly 17 years after she died, I experienced my mamaw’s presence at my wedding to the father of my children. There are photos of my papaw and I dancing and smiling as we danced. The last string of photos is both of us in complete tears. I looked at my sweet papaw and before I could say a word, he said, “I know, honey. I felt her, too!”.
Thank you, Lord, for bringing my Papaw and I the most precious comfort of what felt like our Ruby Lee Cloer in the room. What an awe- inspiring wedding gift!
When we got married, we were renting a home on Lamura Lane. Instead of a honeymoon, we went on a “Family Moon Cruise” in July. It was important for us four to celebrate as a “unit”. For an “adults only” weekend getaway, we went to Tunica, MS in mid-August 2015. For us, playing blackjack is like any activity which costs money to play. We approach it like an “entertainment budget”.
As we were driving home, we received notification our lease was up for renewal. Both of us were under the impression we had a two-year lease. Both of us were wrong! At that time, we were not sure if we could qualify for a home mortgage. Still, the agreement was we would attempt to buy a home.
Mark had always been fond of our neighborhood, Woodmont. At the time, there was a significant amount of new construction and not much for sale. One property I loved was on Signature Court, but it was a foreclosure. We did not have time to play around and possibly NOT get a home. The house we purchased was built with another family in mind. It was built to their specifications and then something prevented them from purchasing it.
We loved the open living area downstairs and the size of our master suite. Mark especially loved the master suite tub was long enough to make a bath comfortable for him. By the Grace of God, we had just enough in cash for the down payment.
Nine years later, our home has more than doubled in value. Though we desire a house about half this size, there is nothing to buy which meets our budget needs.
Instead of being discontented, I count it all joy. Thank you, God, for giving us such a lovely home. Thank you for giving us hearts to share it with others in need. Thank you for a mortgage payment far less than renting a one bedroom apartment. We trust your timing and when it comes to pass, we will be equally or more so grateful to sell it and move forward.We will wait well, standing on Romans 12:12. Amen.
In 2004, I was a newly divorced single mom with two toddlers. Dating was not a priority to me. I cashed out my 401k and bought a home at 103 Henson in Smyrna, TN. Most of 2004 was spent on home projects like refinishing the deck and cleaning up landscaping. With two young kiddos, we essentially lived outside. Most evenings, I would write blogs or respond to others on MySpace.
MySpace friends encouraged me to consider dating. KIMBA was the dating cry. It was a made up word to essentially communicate, “Kiss It, My Beautiful Arse.” Don’t like short hair on women? KIMBA! Don’t like curves? KIMBA! Don’t like to Seek Sunshine or love God? KIMBA! Being saved by Grace means letting God save and change me- not people.
Beginning in 2005, my “deal with God”, was that I would pick three people off of a free dating website to potentially date each February. My rationale was that God has no obstacles…even mid winter blah Valentines.
In our natural element, February is not an ideal time to date. In my flesh, I would suggest late spring or early summer would be the ideal time to meet someone new. Better weather allows more outdoor activities and sunshine is naturally a boost! However, my heart was searching for a life mate, not a date. I knew God could send me my partner at any time. February seemed challenging to me, but I know He moves in His time, not mine.
In the seventh annual attempt, I met the man who would become my husband. I love Mark Aaron Clements!
I should not be surprised it has taken a prime number of years, 13, to recognize we met in a PRIME year, 2011! It was also the only year that all three of my choices wanted to meet me, as well.
Mark and I met on a free dating website known as Plenty of Fish. The three men I chose as “potential partners” were completely different in every manner: physical, intellectual and spiritual. Steven was a father of two, a licensed psychiatrist and incredibly handsome. His maturity and depth allowed us to maintain friendship the past 13 years. The other gentleman was never married, no kids and a slick Sales Executive. Good guy, just not meant for me. Mark had been married for 15 or so years and never had children. What separated Mark the most was his deep faith and incredible humor.
I had been out with Steven when Mark messaged me on the website. My meeting with the second date was during the first few days Mark and I were emailing thru PoF. At this point, I still had interest in Steven, but knew I would not consider seeing the second date again.
While the emails were great, Mark sent me his phone number in case I ever wanted to talk. At first, I simply texted him and we bantered back and forth via short texts. Back then, you often had to press a number two or three times to get the right letter to text.
One of our favorite memories are tied up in lyrics from Grease. I texted him around Feb 8 that I was having chills during an ice storm. He responded by asking if they were multiplying. 🤣. The Grease lyrics directed us to talk on the phone very quickly. February 10,2011, he picked me up with ice still on the roads. The passenger door was frozen shut and he had to literally place his hand on my lower back to get me safely into the Expedition and climb over driver seat!
Since we both smoked cigarettes and the weather was terrible, I suggested we go to Baileys Sports Bar. The food was good and we could smoke inside at that time. It seemed both logical and reasonable to keep the distance short. Baileys was roughly five miles from the apartment. We are not fancy people and it was ideal. In fact, the most perfect first date possible. We laughed, ate, threw darts and enjoyed the music. I had zero doubt we were meant to know each other better.
Knowing I wanted another date meant taking a risk almost immediately. Because our first date was spectacular, I told him that if we were going to have a second date, it would need to include my kids. The last thing I wanted was to fall in love with a man who didn’t love my kids. Praise God, Mark emphatically agreed it was important to meet Blake and Morgan before going any further dating.
I understand that many parents do not let people meet their kids when dating. Certainly, it is different for everyone. For me, my kids met and still meet all of closest friends, male or female. They never associated men as being potential dates.
Within a year, Mark was living with us. First, at our apartment on Arborbed, then the rental home on Lamura Lane. Mark and I were not legally married but we were spiritually married. Still, there was internal conflict. Late April 2015, Mark officially asked me to marry him.
Roughly two weeks later, I was baptized. Coming up from the water, there was ZERO doubt I needed to tell my betrothed we needed to speed up a wedding date. It was pressed clearly into my heart. Baptised on May 3, we were married the following Sunday in my parents’ backyard. Only God would give my husband such an easy anniversary date of 5/10/15!
After sharing about my Fifth-Grade experience in 1978, it makes me smile that God would remind me this morning how He impacted my son’s Fifth Grade year.
On this evening in February 2012, I met other parents in the gymnasium at Rock Springs Elementary. The two I remember the clearest are Kent and Shawna Shingleton. They were there for their fourth child, Sarah. The kids were lined up all around the gym floor in an orderly fashion. As the kids presented their projects for Black History Month, we sat up in the bleachers talking.
They asked where we went to church. I responded we had been attending Springhouse but the kids were not connecting. They shared they had planted a small church at their home and would be starting services in that same gym. It was all very God-led and God-Fed. Quickly, the kids connected.
Just over six months later, this sermon was used in a huge way. There was an opportunity to stop and pray with our own families. I wrapped my left arm around Blake and my right arm around Morgan. I prayed in the Spirit for God to lay His claim on my children. I don’t recall the exact words, I rarely remember much of what I pray out loud in the Spirit. I just remember the desperation in my heart for my kids to know My Jesus. I knew it would be the first thing I would write out in a perfect prayer journal.
When I finished praying, my son burst into uncontrollable tears. I remember vividly Margo and Sherell and other women comforting my son. They told him sometimes God works “like that”. Yes, sir, He does! When His presence is that palpable, it is never forgotten!
This particular FB post has come back up more than a dozen times since it happened.
My children were saved at Camp Whatever in the Summer of 2014. I loved the idea of them exploring God’s handiwork around the Ocoee. Our family has strong roots in that area. Due to their respective ages at that time, they went with a different local church, not Hope Fellowship.
By August, they were ready to be baptized. Their youth pastor was the son of our pastor. Jared was so great with all the kids!
Pastor Kent preached a sermon in June 2016 which was used by the Holy Spirit to inspire My God Room here.
Entering into a state of obedience, I see now the fruit which was being cultivated here.
The Holy Spirit put it on my heart to create a Hope Fellowship “Family Book”. It’s still beautiful to me how God used that project for His Glory.
The Holy Spirit put it on my heart to donate a kidney and pray with our pastor’s wife.
In March 2018, we were blessed to host a bunch of young men in our home!
The tag was for Connie Jackson. Apparently, her account has been hacked so many times, she uses another name. She was so good to our cheer squads and made a huge difference in my life! The Youth Evangelism Conference made an even bigger difference to all attending
Our home that God gave us was beyond blessed to have those young men stay the night. hearing them pray as brothers…priceless!
Thank you, Lord, for all the ways you moved at Hope Fellowship…for us and so many others. Please bless and keep The Shingletons and all the families we still love so deeply! Thank you for keeping our small group growing closer to each other and to you. We love you and I ask this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
On this evening in February 2012, I met other parents in the gymnasium at Rock Springs Elementary. The two I remember the clearest are Kent and Shawna Shingleton. They were there for their fourth child, Sarah. The kids were lined up all around the gym floor in an orderly fashion. As the kids presented their projects for Black History Month, we sat up in the bleachers talking.
They asked where we went to church. I responded we had been attending Springhouse but the kids were not connecting. They shared they had planted a small church at their home and would be starting services in that same gym. It was all very God-led and God-Fed. Quickly, the kids connected.
Just over six months later, this sermon was used in a huge way. There was an opportunity to stop and pray with our own families. I wrapped my left arm around Blake and my right arm around Morgan. I prayed in the Spirit for God to lay His claim on my children. I don’t recall the exact words, I rarely remember much of what I pray out loud in the Spirit. I just remember the desperation in my heart for my kids to know My Jesus. I knew it would be the first thing I would write out in a perfect prayer journal.
When I finished praying, my son burst into uncontrollable tears. I remember vividly Margo and Sherell and other women comforting my son. They told him sometimes God works “like that”. Yes, sir, He does! When His presence is that palpable, it is never forgotten!
This particular FB post has come back up more than a dozen times since it happened.
My children were saved at Camp Whatever in the Summer of 2014. I loved the idea of them exploring God’s handiwork around the Ocoee. Our family has strong roots in that area. Due to their respective ages at that time, they went with a different local church, not Hope Fellowship.
By August, they were ready to be baptized. Their youth pastor was the son of our pastor. Jared was so great with all the kids!
Pastor Kent preached a sermon in June 2016 which was used by the Holy Spirit to inspire My God Room here.
Entering into a state of obedience, I see now the fruit which was being cultivated here.
The Holy Spirit put it on my heart to create a Hope Fellowship “Family Book”. It’s still beautiful to me how God used that project for His Glory.
The Holy Spirit put it on my heart to donate a kidney and pray with our pastor’s wife.
In March 2018, we were blessed to host a bunch of young men in our home!
The tag was for Connie Jackson. Apparently, her account has been hacked so many times, she uses another name. She was so good to our cheer squads and made a huge difference in my life! The Youth Evangelism Conference made an even bigger difference to all attending
Our home that God gave us was beyond blessed to have those young men stay the night. hearing them pray as brothers…priceless!
Thank you, Lord, for all the ways you moved at Hope Fellowship…for us and so many others. Please bless and keep The Shingletons and all the families we still love so deeply! Thank you for keeping our small group growing closer to each other and to you. We love you and I ask this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
We moved to Sterling, VA in 1977. I attended Sugarland Run Elementary for fourth and fifth grades and Seneca Ridge Middle School for the sixth grade. Our Fifth-Grade class was blessed to be Mr. Victor Yager’s first class, ever. There are about 18 of us from our fifth-grade class connected on Facebook. Mr. Yager finally retired after 45 plus years of teaching in Loudon County in 2021!
While staying in touch on Facebook is nice, seeing old classmates from fifth grade in person is even better! When the time arrived to visit college campuses, Dr. Brian Noland is the ETSU President! This becomes even more interesting when we consider the importance of the Van Atta’s in my life.
We lived on Meadowland Lane in Sugarland Run, which sounds more idyllic today than ever. Across the street from us were The Van Atta Family and one of my besties, Didi Cioffi. Dale and Lynne Van Atta were the parents of two children in 1978, Tara and Dylan. I loved being their babysitter, friend and neighbor. Dale had just joined Jack Anderson’s syndicated column at the time. In the fall of 1980, we moved to Tennessee.
Kate Van Atta, their third child, was born March 23, 1984, months before finishing my sophomore year of high school. Since we lived in Clarksville, our electricity came from Cumberland Electric Membership Cooperative. Every Junior was tasked with writing a short essay espousing the value of having electricity for 50 years. I wish I could say I spent a long time writing the winning essay. Alas, I did not. I came home from cheering one night, had a clear idea and typed it out. That essay earned a small scholarship and a week-long trip to Washington DC with all expenses paid. Lynne could bring all three kids to visit and meet me in June 1985!
Though I had a full ride academic scholarship at APSU, I chose to not continue there after the rape. Instead, I transferred to East Tennessee State University in Fall 1987. While I don’t recall a great many things from my time in Johnson City, I remember the distinct need for an established, high level speaker at the ETSU College of Journalism. Dale Van Atta had the only interview with President Ronald Reagan about the Iran Contra situation in February 1986. In addition, he had been nominated a hand full of times for the Pulitzer Prize. In the Spring of 1988, he brought Lynne and the kids to Johnson City. He spoke at the event and they surprised me with a visit to my apartment.
Fast forward to the early 2000’s. In 2006, I met one of my dearest friends, Vicki. For years, she talked about her besties out of state, including Kate. It took until 2009 for us to realize it was Kate Van Atta…of “my Van Attas”. Meeting her as an adult was precious!
We saw each other again in April 8, 2013, when Vicki got married to Josh. Our daughters were dancing together here:
Only God weaves together such ridiculously beautiful tapestries with people. I see what He did with Mr.Yager and the Van Atta Family!
This morning, I flipped to Jer 2:25. On the surface, a great reminder to be aware of the sins we carry around without acknowledging them. I saw my prayer to have any hidden sins revealed and the notes on partnerships pleasing to God. Then I noticed another note: I was here exactly one month ago. This was the scripture I was reading before I met with B&B.
Thank you, Lord, for reminding me through your Word exactly what you put on my heart. I am listening. I am waiting. Just as you tell us in Romans 12:12, “Be Joyful in Hope, Patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.” Thank you for Dwell Differently and the way it is already yielding fruit for YOUR KINGDOM.
Today, I need to include the list of the God Moments. As new posts are made, I need to link them back to this Master List.
Of the “Top 40” God moments, the first one I recall vividly is a nightmare maybe a month before I celebrated my seventh birthday. It was mere weeks before Christmas, December 1974. As I am typing this out, I am remembering my own children at six and seven years old. I know how deeply they both felt everything at that age, too. Thank you, Lord, for giving my children the gifts of intelligence, humor and empathy!
We were stationed at three different military bases during our seven years in Germany. In 1975-1976, we were in Hanau. I remember the “cantina” where the kids hung out, movie theatre (25 cents!) and getting a massive blood blister on the playground. I recall how teachers would give kids a workbook and textbook to work through at their own pace. I remember my favorite outfit was navy blue pants and a vest with leaves and such embroidered on the pant legs and vest face. Give me a job to do and I still tend to attack it. By the time we returned to the USA, I tested out several grades above others my age.
Going down memory lane reminds me of the best strawberries of my life, the schwimmbad (public swimming pool), Christmas markets and how similar I was (and remain) to my own daughter. Overall, the idyllic lifestyle puts the December 1974 nightmare in different perspective. It was the best part of my childhood, bar none. Yet, this nightmare creeped into my mind. This is a school photo from September 1975.
When I wrote SEEK SUNSHINE, I referenced telling my parents something they could understand instead of what I was really feeling. The very first memory of lying to my parents was lying to my mother when she came into my room in the middle of the night. I told her I was crying because I did not feel well. The truth was graphic, dark and not in my wheelhouse at that age to share.
In simplest terms, you learn overseas that generations often live in the same home on different floors. The nightmare I had was a powerful fire which engulfed a three-story home with my entire family in it. To think of it now, it still makes me gasp a pinch. I could feel the people I love struggle to breathe as they succumbed to the fire. It absolutely stayed with me.
Six months later, I completed the Catechism classes. My sister, Teresa and I experienced our First Communion on May 11,1975. Forty years later, I would experience full immersion baptism on May 3,2015.Thank you, Lord, for showing me the seasons you have designed in my life.
I realize now is that God used that nightmare for good, just like everything else. My entire life, I have always been hyper-aware of death. Love NOW. Give NOW. Do it NOW. That internal sense of urgency was placed there for a much a higher purpose than I can fathom. To me, it is beautiful.
It’s truly humbling how the Lord will put things into your hands. Seems this spiritual assignment to write out the Top 40 God moments has unlocked something in my brain that encourages me to search old email addresses for the word “BLOGS”. The “Always loved me some Floyd” memory is in the Top 40 list. Rather than rewrite, I am copying directly from the 2006 blog. It appears the beginning may be elsewhere, but for now:
….I did not feel defeated. I did have faith that I would find my happy place. It is what I do. And just after I put on my happy pants, that “fly by” action happened once more. Have Faith. Louder, stronger and with a direction. Then I heard that George Michael song in my head, which almost started to agitate me. Instead, the direction led me to Floyd.
I have always loved me some Floyd…..
Many of you have my phone number. It seems to be a running MySpace joke that I can only love you after 9 pm CST and on weekends. You know I can not afford it and you respect it. THANK YOU ALL!! Too bad collectors do not embrace my request to be tormented on the weekends. Regardless, I rarely allow myself to make phone calls during normal business hours. It is not a luxury I can afford.
Yesterday, the “fly by” action was a solo effort. It was a one time thing. Why it compelled me to look down at the letter from the State of Tennessee, I will never know for certain. The point is, I didn’t even see the phone number the night before. However, when I ever-so-briefly glanced down at it after hearing “have faith”, the phone number may as well have been in 10000 font. In bold with flashing lights. It glared. I called.
Understand my logic for a moment. Calling a state agency is the equivalent of saying, “I have nothing better to do than to be on hold for twenty minutes.” Seriously. Still, I dialed the number.
On the very first ring, a gentleman answered. I explained quickly that I had received a letter. I asked if anyone could possibly look up the property identification number in the letter and tell me how much was “over $100”. To my shock, he did not pass me off to another extension. He told me his name was Floyd and he would be all too happy to happy to help me.
First ring. Kindness. No pass off. Okay, I am sold.
Almost instantly, he is telling me the check is from Prudential. The noteworthy part is that I worked for Prudential from 1988-1993. The first year or so was on the insurance side. The last three years were at the brokerage firm formerly known as Prudential-Bache. I have not worked for them in over thirteen years.
Did you catch the THIRTEEN YEARS?
Back then, a paycheck was less than $400, after taxes. Once I got my broker’s license, I did earn commissions the last year. However, they minimized them to such a degree that after three years, I left to pursue my current field.
Floyd tells me the check is for $2023.75.
I fell into an uncontrollable fit of tears. Overwhelming and happy tears. With a few hundred out of the rest of my child support at the end of the month, I can make those two necessary mortgage payments to save our home from foreclosure. Maybe.
Floyd did not know why I was crying. I am sure any other person would have thought I belonged in a looney bin. He just says, and I am quoting him:
“God works in funny ways. Sometimes, you just have to have faith.”
No.He.Did.Not.
Yes, he did.And, those particular words threw me into another stronghold of emotional breakdown. Then I had to do the next right thing. Despite his wonderful help, I had to ask how long it would take to get the money.
“Usually five or six weeks.”
(Okay, still a huge blessing)
If you have done the math, that would be after our home was foreclosed upon. I cried again and told him I have concerns about my mortgage. I did not tell him I needed the money before November 2 or 3. I was so grateful for the quick information and kindness, that I did not wish to push it any further.
Floyd did something that will MAKE A DIFFERENCE to me and my children. He suggested that if I have real issues with my mortgage that the check would alleviate, I could come to his office and ask directly for him. He said he has seen checks cut in two weeks, give or take.
Do the math. Do it now.
November 1 or 2, I could have my check. It is possible to save our home.
I bawled like you would not believe. I had chills and the shakes. And, when I cry that hard, I can’t help but sniffle like crazy because my nose is draining like a broken faucet. Okay, it is NOT pretty. But, it takes extremes to bring on those extremes.
Floyd tells me after I have calmed down that it was not his experience for checks to come from employers that far back.He digs deeper and sees the check was deposited to the State of Tennessee Treasury Department 1999. Please understand, I was already in a state of shock and awe.
First, the money being owed to me by Prudential, of all employers. Then,the amount. Now, the timing of deposit and delivery.
It made no sense and will never be something that can be explained away. In my heart, it was ALL very much a “God thing”. Floyd then says one more thing to leave me overwhelmed.
“God knew exactly when you would need this check.”
I thanked him profusely. Through tears, an expanded heart and a few snot rags, I gave him my deepest gratitude. I can not wait to meet him tomorrow.
Sass Monkey and I are going downtown tomorrow morning to meet Floyd. We are baking cookies and brownies for his office. Maybe, just maybe, they will sweeten their day.
Maybe, just maybe, we can Make a Difference, too.
Speaking of which, that leads me to the second miracle of my day.After finally coming down from the clouds yesterday, I was sent right back up. I received a call from Terry Byrnes at USA WEEKEND. I will tell you all about it tomorrow.
The blessing of our business has been shared with countless customers and friends. So many Godversations! Recently, multiple Godversations about recovery and spiritual warfare. Mrs F.Tina , TC , Mrs Eva and “orange vape” David all shared extensively. So different and yet so similar. So much pain in this world from every direction. 💜✝️💜
No accident the sermon at Experience yesterday was focused on spiritual exhaustion. It fueled me thru a challenging conversation last night. No matter false words spoken by others, we must have confidence in His Word.
Lord, may your will and your favoritism-free heart be evident in the days ahead.I ask this in the precious name of your son, Jesus. Amen.
In documenting 40 God Stories, I have not detailed yet how God gave us our business. in November, I posted this to Facebook:
My friends, JoJo and Casey, helped us open our first store over ten years ago. It’s always a good time to Praise God for Good Friends!
While the Facebook post is accurate, it is not complete. Granted, the post does include the fact we prayed about the business and thank God for all those blessed. Still, I neglected to include how God funded our business.
To fill in the gaps, I must return to September 2013. At the time, I was an unemployed mom of two. Interviews would go well and after second and occasional third rounds, I was still unemployed. Mark was on the road with DWP. He returned home from a gig and shared his dad was being lead to give us 15K to start a business. We discussed opening an electronic cigarette/vape shop and what it may entail.
Could we open a business with only 15K?
Mark has always possessed an entrepreneurial spirit. He had owned his own coffee shop in the past, as well. For me to get on board, I needed to KNOW we could stretch out 15K enough to prepare a space and obtain basic inventory for our business. We prayed about it and the following morning, it was crystal clear.
Not only could I see exactly how the space should be laid out, I saw the store in full color. A few quick keystrokes on the laptop and we were officially opening Community Vapor LLC. From initial filing to opening was 6-7 weeks!
Our first store
We found a space adjacent to Jersey Mikes on Old Fort Parkway. Mark and I agreed on the location and the rent amount. I was to work out a lease while he was away. Well, Mark went back on the road to get our bills paid. I was waiting for a call back from the Jersey Mike landlord.
While I waited, I had many tasks. A big one included finding two employees. Researching vape groups online, I found our first employee, Jenn, I loved how she shared her knowledge with people in the community. I reached out to her, shared we were considering opening a shop and would love to consider hiring her. God already knew Jenn was seeking her first job in several years! He knew we would be a great match.
Jenn and I met for lunch at the O’Charleys on Old Fort Parkway on October 10, 2013. As we left, I literally felt a pull to the shopping center located off the main road, behind O’Charleys. I drove over to the shopping center and called the number on the window.
I checked old messaging to get the date correct. Bonus…it reminded me how fun that first meeting was for both of us. It made me smile to read the history of Community Vapor and our friendship. It also reminds me that when “that kind of nudge” occurs, it is always from God. I was nudged so we would not proceed with the first place we agreed upon.
That nudge to call was the Holy Spirit protecting us and ensuring we would be employing Jenn more than a decade later! How? Oh, let me count a few ways.
The first way is the obvious financial benefit. Rent was more than one thousand per month LESS. That grand per month difference helped put us “in the black” within six months. It allowed us to acquire more inventory and hire more part time help as we grew.
The biggest personal blessing was establishing a relationship with our landlord, Michele. We love her! She met us to sign the contracts as she was preparing to attend the 2013 Dove Awards.
It’s fair to say our personal credit scores wouldn’t have encouraged most landlords to rent to us. Michele smiled when I passionately shared that the shop was an answered prayer. I told her she could talk to our pastor about our personal character. Jesus was present and involved over our lunch and contract signing. It’s good to remember all He has done for us!
In June 2023, a car ran through our Murfreesboro location. I remember telling her that “yes, it’s inconvenient, but there WILL BE a blessing buried in the broken pieces. Zach Williams and Dolly came on the radio the same day it happened. The song was several years old and yet it felt made exactly for that moment in time.
As God would have it, perhaps that buried blessing was growing so much closer to Michele! We had never shied away from “Jesus talk”. Still, the accident provided the perfect canvas to encourage her and be of service in the repair/insurance process.
For example, I learned her father is Philip Morris. Not the tobacco giant 🤣; a Christian Music manager. Mr. Morris managed Jason Crabb for roughly 20 years, before announcing retirement plans in November 2023.
God gave us a vision for the business. God moved Marks dad to want to invest in us and moved our landlord to rent to two Christian siblings. But wait, just like the old Ronco commercials, there is more! .
In December 2013, I asked my husband if we could wait two weeks to tithe when he completed a big trip away. I figured we could pay our tithe on our next pay cycle. At the time, my heart was right about tithing, but still had more to learn. Mark taught me about tithing His Way and based on His Word. Essentially, the first bill paid on any income is always tithe. Of course we could not delay!
Two days later, Mark returned from getting our mail with a very interesting envelope addressed to me from Uncle Sam. Low and behold, for the second time in my life, there was an unexpected and large check from the IRS.
It made zero sense why the IRS couldn’t have sent it years ago. My taxes and contact information are always current. Still, it was divine timing. It caused me to remember Floyd telling me in 2006-2007, “God knew EXACTLY when you were going to need this money”. One check was over 6K and the other 13K. These were not small amounts for most people. For me and for us, they were substantial!
The reality is God has been present every single day at both of our shops. There is no denying the Holy Spirit at work in both shops.
This post has already gone a bit long. The truth is God has done so much through our business, I need to jot down some things now without properly incorporating them.
Kendra and Sheree. Kendra’s funeral
Special kids.
Artisan Roy
Anna , Frank, Allan, Evan, Billy, Tim, Wesley and Sarah.
Cv2- landlord situation appeared similar.
FDA mountain moved by God.
Speaking at DC Rally
Helping
Old photos help me remember how hard the physical tasks were on my body. Instead of replacing the floor, I scrubbed every square inch by hand. By the time I finished, it took a few days for my back to heal enough to clear coat the floor. We didn’t replace the floors for nearly two years.
We created Clouds of Goodness: Love, Bliss, Peace, Passion, Sweetness, Comfort and Joy! We had our hand crafted products in shops from California to Connecticut.
We helped a few shop owners open stores outside and within Middle TN. We shared knowledge and hard lessons we learned.
God used me to move a hurdle from the FDA and to speak in front of thousands in DC!
When we did replace the floors, we wrote scripture underneath the new floors in every main area. We did the same with our second shop.
For more than a decade, we have been blessed with all God has done. Only because of the business were we able to get our home. Another day, another God story to write.
May Asher be healed by the blood of Jesus today. Amen.
Two simple words changed my life. Truth can be extreme. Until I shared the story of a marriage ending, “SEEK SUNSHINE” was a simple life motto inspired by my children. In sharing the story behind the phrase, those words became an intrinsic part of something far greater. This was originally written in Fall 2003 and published for the first time on MySpace in 2004.
In the 20 years since I published it, the opening paragraphs have been lost to the internet. Until I can put my hands on a printed copy, I will share what has not been altered. The only part “lost” is the darkness which preceded this exchange with my son. At the time, he was just over 2 1/2 and my daughter had yet to celebrate her first birthday.
On this bleak August morning, my Little Man comes outside, looks at the dark sky above and practically cries, “Mama! Mama! NO SUN!!!!” My kids adore nature and everything about it. In any other situation, this could have been a toddler upset about the weather.
However, I recalled a time in my childhood when I felt confused or hurt by one thing and it was easier to tell my parents that something trivial or childlike was the issue. I saw my son basically doing the same thing. In my heart, all I could feel in that moment was his pain. Mine disappeared and his consumed me. I still get chills to remember just how much I felt his pain and how powerless I felt.
Literally, I could feel my son’s pain to my very core.
I honestly felt he was saying “look, I am really hurt and confused that the daddy I love so much will not be living here anymore. I love you both so much. I am confused. I am hurt and now the sun isn’t even shining”. Without even knowing it, I realized on some level that this moment was going to define the course of the rest of our lives.
All this in less than a minute or two. This is how I think and feel.
Feeling his pain, all I could do was kneel and look into those beautiful, cornflower blue eyes of his that always brought my Mamaw, Ruby Lee Cloer (mom’s mom) close to me.Ruby Lee Cloer died at 55, when I was only thirteen years of age.Her influence on my life is profound.I remember thinking of her love for me and mine for her …giving consideration to what she may have said to me in a similar moment.
Kneeling to be eye to eye, I gazed into those angelic eyes with so much love that I knew he must have felt it. I pointed to the darkest, biggest cloud right above our heads. I asked him if he saw it. He responded with some fear and trepidation, “Uh huh…The Big One?”
As I looked at his sweet face, I could feel strength begin to course through my veins. I spoke with conviction well beyond belief.
“Yes, baby, the big one. Honey, the sun is right behind THAT cloud.”
I kid you not. Little Man’s expression immediately changed to joyous. God was in that moment. My Mamaw was in that moment. He put his little hands on my cheeks, smiled and said “Oh…SEEK SUNSHINE!” Like all the truths of the universe were revealed to him and it was really THAT simple. SEEK SUNSHINE. He was right, it is that simple.
To me, there was something poetic about everything I had ever read about “a little child will lead us” and how God sent his son to save us and my own child saving me.
We have said that phrase almost every day since their dad left. I painted the walls in my house yellow…to which my kids immediately proclaimed quite happily “Yeah…Sunshine!!!” It was my daughter’s fifth word. I have various sunshine symbols in our home. It is our life theme, if you will.
Now you know why I embrace my intuition and always seek the light in any darkness.
Roughly thirty thousand people loved this story in the first year it was posted. It would be fair to say it launched a substantial following for my writing MySpace. However, the blessings from that bastion of creativity are not kudos. Reading back through blog comments from twenty years ago is a huge reminder of the wonderful humans I was blessed to love along the way…and those who loved me in return. The rest of that story is for another day.
My God Room 