It has been more than a week, and I still haven't written about the adventure of NYC... I did, while I was away, make a list of points I didn't want to forget... First, we had fairly decent weather, for all of you who wondered about that. It HAD been snowing for a few days before we arrived, but our flight went smoothly. After the winter we have had here, the weather in NYC was no big shock. In fact, we were almost too warm... the clothes I brought were definitely sufficient! As we arrived in the city, I noticed all of the yellow cabs. They are everywhere! At one point, I took a picture of a street, and all the way down the street, there were many intersections. At each one, cabs were crossing all at the same second. So, as far down as you can see, cabs are crossing intersections! It is incredible! As you walk the streets on foot, which is what we did every time but once, you cross many times, and you must be very careful! Even though the street signs say it is your turn to cross, drivers do make mistakes. Our first night in the city, we heard someone get hit... I am not sure I will forget that sound. Also, at practically every street corner, someone is trying to hand you a brochure to SOMETHING! I wonder if they get paid to do it?!!! I guess that is like the people here in FL, who stand at the side of the road and hold up signs to attract attention to places… Anyway, I thought that was kind of weird. Another thing that I noticed that I LIKED, was the street musicians! We watched a man play some wooden flutes or something… pretty cool! Since my trip was primarily about school, I didn't get out too much for fun. I am not really a big shopper (I like to shop, but mostly at Marshall's, TJ Maxx or Ross) and I don't drink, so the city doesn't appeal to me much in the kinds of things that interest most people. Mostly, I spent my free time either in my hotel room, or with two of my instructors. They are older women, and were not into the kinds of things the younger ones were. We did go to Madame Toussaud's, which was a wax museum, featuring the celebrities in wax. We crashed the celebrities party, and I took many pics with them. We also saw a 4-d show while we were in there, which was about Sponge Bob??? Weird… had nothing to do with the Museum! We got to see how the wax figures are made, and THAT was neat! Since NYC has limited space, everything goes UP to the sky! I was in the Walgreens, which was three stories high! We went to McDonald's, which was also multi-level, and I found that to be really neat. I have been to NYC before (YEARS ago) but never really noticed that for some reason. Remember those newsstands and street vendors you see in the movies? They really exist there! We were right in Time Square, and our hotel was the Broadway Millennium! The hotel had a theater in it, which was once were the tonight show was filmed! On my nights that I was in the hotel, rather than roaming, I amused myself by walking up the hotel stairs. My room was on the 18th floor, and since we don't have many stairs in FL, I enjoyed the exercise workout of stair climbing! I went from the 18th floor to the 36th floor, more than once! I never actually checked to see how many floors there were, but there were many more!

At school, we had three people in the team of instructors. Josh was our primary instructor, and he was concise and explained things well. He had a great personality, kept the class moving and fun, and taught us a lot! Liz was his assistant, and she has literally devoted her life to this industry…. She hasn’t had a day off for a couple of years, she said. It must be hard to have to work that much. Germain was the last one (I hope that was actually it… I can’t remember his for sure). He didn’t really teach us, but popped in a few times and was friendly. I enjoyed the two new haircuts, and the technique for haircolor, and LOVED the studio there in NYC. Of course, I love ours, and ours is much more spacious, so I wouldn’t want to trade or anything… it was just an all-around NEAT experience!


Our first night of school in NYC, the owner, Mr. Mez, took us all out to Carnegie Deli. There, we enjoyed MILE HIGH sandwiches! Four people could literally share one! They are the skyscraper sandwiches of NYC, and Mr. Mez told us all that anybody who is ANYBODY has eaten at that deli! The proof was all over the walls! Every square inch of wall space is covered with pictures of famous people!

Our second night, he took us to a Turkish restaurant! Since he is Turkish, he knows the owner there and we had an amazing dinner, from appetizers all the way to dessert and coffee! Yum, yum (well, the coffee was just OKAY, but it was good! Just to give you an idea of how completely he took care of us, the menu follows:
*Yogurt Dip
Salad
*Humus
*Eggplant Dip
*above served with bread
Mixed Grill, which included
Gyros (lamb)
Spicy Chicken
Beef Burgers
Peppers
Rice
Potatoes
Tomatoes
Dessert
Rice pudding
Other pudding (not sure of the name)
Brownie
A turkish cookie of sorts, sweet and good

On our return day, we were all on the bus to go to the airport. As we were pulling away from the curb, Mr. Mez led us all in a prayer, thanking God for our safety thus far, and asking God for safety on our return. He said more, and many of us gave a fervent Amen to the sincere and reverent prayer. When we arrived at the airport and found that our flight to Atlanta had been canceled on account of the airport being closed (due to snow!), he was able to get our WHOLE group on the same flight into Orlando, and then call a bus to come take us back home! Everyone who believed were giving thanks and glory to God that the cancellation took place before we were in danger or anything, and that we were able to solve the problem so easily. I rejoiced to have such an owner of our school! We had a lot of turbulence coming back, but gorgeous views as we began to land… one weird thing was a ring-shaped “rainbow” I saw in the clouds. I think the plane assisted in making it somehow, but I really don’t understand how!

Anyway, we had a great trip, learned a lot, and have had a busy time since we have been home. School is going great, but I am very busy! Thanks for reading!

This entry is going to be a little scattered.... apologizing in advance.

First, I am grateful to my local Christian brethren, who have worked together to help me with my children for next weekend. I will be able to go to NYC afterall. I am very thankful for this opportunity. The purpose of my trip will be to learn how to perfect some modern haircut/color techniques. I am really looking forward to the trip... and feeling blessed that this opportunity is going to make a difference on my resume.

Yesterday was a particularly special day. Most Sundays are, but this one had a lot of happy news in it. First of all, there was my details for NYC, but there was also excellent lessons (that is the usual part) and very special times with brethren in addition to that.

If any of you have ever had a party for the members that are 65 and over in your congregation, I would appreciate any party ideas. A woman in our group has gotten things rolling and started, but any ideas would be great! WE have a large number in our group who fall into that category, and the younger ones are trying to put it on for them.

The LORD has been taking care of some details in mine and my children's lives, and I feel so grateful! He is so good to us!

School life is always interesting. I have several clients that come in regularly. There is Kate, who comes for treatments, because her hair is fried. She gets protein and conditioning treatments. She is young and in college, getting ready to move on to law school. She has a young man, but doesn't plan to marry him till she finishes school. Then there is Margaret, an older woman who comes in every week for her wash and set. She is from England, originally, but immigrated here with her husband and children when her children were young. Her husband had a stroke a few months before I met her, so her days are extra busy with bill paying, taking him to speech therapy and other appointments and dealing with his bloopers as he deals with his healing mind. She also deals with the drama going on in her children's lives, as they have issues with no jobs, marital struggles, and them planning hers and her husband's fiftieth wedding anniversary. Then, I have Grace, who battles alzheimers, and who is as sweet as can be, but very exacting. Her hair must be teased HARD, and her side bang has to be combed just so, and the sides combed back after they are teased hard! I have another lady who comes in each time to have her hair cut in a D.A., and a guy who thinks I do an amazing job doing a one-length all over cut! (LOL - easiest haircut), the guy with the toupee whose hair ooozes glue and is horribly smelly, Mary, who can barely hear anything, so she sits in silence while I do her hair - my only reward being the smile at the end with the one dollar tip (she never used to tip at ALL), Victoria who graciously lets Mary have me, though she preferred me too, because she is a good friend.

Then there are some of the students that keep life interesting. My friend Ya-Ya, who is getting married in August and asked me to be her bridesmaid. She is the one who recently had her car stolen. Then there is Gina, who worships God, but has so many areas in her life I wish I could help/encourage her in, and I do where I can. Then there is Angie - a young girl who has made many mistakes, but is learning from them, and may be teachable. She gave up a job opportunity that could make her lots more money than where she is working now, because she doesn't want to fall back into the mistakes of the past. Shelby, a messed up seven-teen year old, whose mother wasn't a mother to her most of her life. I know that Jesus is the answer for her, but right now, she is closed to the truth. There is the married couple that just graduated, who are eventually hoping to own their own salon together, Maria, an older Spanish lady, who used to be a police officer in her country, and is now an amazing stylist. There is Warren, who is about my age (as well as YaYa) who is a big man who used to have a career in something totally different, and is excellent at men's haircutes. There is Karen.... don't get me started.... Then there is Josh, from NYC, who strikes me as being no-good, even while he smiles and charms us all, Lauren, who I still can't figure out, and so many others....

Being in school has opened my eyes to how many souls are out there that are lost and struggling....Am I being enough of a light? Or am I deceiving myself into thinking that I am doing all I can? It is a big responsibility to be out there!

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of closing a chapter in my schooling - I was a Junior Style Star competitor. I learned how to do updos for weddings, and we spent months practicing a particular updo for a competition. We paid extra to be in this class. It costs about 135 extra to join this competition, but for that, you recieved a competition mannequin worth $80 and a Babyliss flatiron worth $139 (I just priced it at beauty alliance), and MONTHS of training (priceless). With this, we also got to be in the competition, and we will be judged on our work! My bridal theme was Gone With the Wind. I did a woven hat with pin curl design. The mannequins had to be colored, have makeup, an outfit AND a hairstyle. We are being judged on the WHOLE of it! There were about 300 applicants this year, so we have a lot of competition. The winner receives five thousand dollars CASH and thousands of dollars worth of other prizes, including your story in many top magazines around the world. This could bring you to top levels very quickly.

I know this sounds crazy, but I did not aim for first place! If I win, that would be amazing, and I would be able to give the glory only to God. I did not go to school knowing how to do beautiful updos! The LORD and my teachers have brought me to where I am right now...My only purpose in being part of this was to grow as a stylist. I am excited about what i have learned and what I can do with hair now, and have received everything out of being in this competition that I set out for. I am at peace, and am not checking the website every day to see where i fall, because I am content! If the LORD chooses to raise me up, that is up to Him, but where I am now is a better place than where I have ever been, so it was worth doing, no matter how it ends! We will find out for sure in April sometime.

This week, I was asked to go with my instructor and seven other stylists to the high school a couple of towns south of school, to do some hairstyles! I am excited to have that opportunity, as well! I feel very blessed and happy to have an opportunity in life to have such a rewarding and fun work to do! I really feel like I am playing, most of the time, that is how much I enjoy my work! (the only hard part is that I am always tired at the end of the day!)

Things are going well with my children! Please keep praying for them. I am thankful to report that things are going very well, and we have so much to rejoice and be thankful for! The LORD is amazing!

Anyway, I will end this entry, as it is growing into book length, and save more for another time. THanks for reading!

Yeah...

I was guilty. I disobeyed that commandment in my last post. Now my mil is in the hospital again and won't be able to come down to be with the kids, so guess who won't be going to NYC? UNLESS things work out according to the LORD's will and He can show me the way. If the LORD wills, I will go to NYC, and if not, then I will have to see if I can sell my spot to another student for a discount and try to get some of my money back.... argh.

Anyway, now for some random stories/musings

There is a man at my school with gold teeth. For some reason, I associate gold teeth with criminals. Maybe that is because all of the people in the movies who have gold teeth are the "bad guys"..lol. This guy looks like a criminal too, and lots of students ARE criminals. SO whenever I see him, I think about that and I am a little afraid of him. What do gold teeth conjure up for you?

My classmate from freshman who has the station near mine (usually) had her car stolen recently. She got it back, but found that the guy who stole it (she saw him when he drove away with it) is hanging around her apartment, watching from across the street... scary. And guess what? The man has gold teeth!

The other day, I had a client come in (she was getting her hair done by a different student this time) whose hair I had done in December (permanent color retouch) and she called my name. When I turned, she asked me if I remembered her. I did. She handed me money, because she didn't have TIP money that day! She hadn't forgotten, and felt terrible about it. I had NOT remembered this. Not everyone does tip, so I had thought nothing of it that day. I view it that I am in school, and tip money is special and not required, so when I receive tips, I am grateful. When I don't receive one, I don't lose sleep over it! I thought it was nice of her to come back and give it to me later though.

So sorry that it has been so long since my last update. I just haven't been able to think of a thing to say. Fancy ME running out of things to talk about, but there you have it!

Things are going very well, overall. I would still appreciate the prayers of any of you who would take the time to pray on our behalf. If you could imagine the struggles and stresses in a family that has faced the challenges we have faced, you would probably be correct in the specific needs you would imagine.

What matters, when my life is over, is not how many haircuts I have done, NOR how many lives I have touched along the way, really. What matters to me is that I hear "Well done, good and faithful servant." If I could hear those words echoed four times as each of my children enter in, my life's work would be complete and fulfilled. There is nothing else I live for, though I do find joy in cutting hair and touching the lives of others.

School is going great. I have much to be thankful for, as I look forward to a quick weekend trip to NYC with my school at the end of the month for special training. I just have to accomplish the required services that are left, and take all the tests, and I will graduate on April 16th, months earlier than my original date of August 28th! I do have close to 100 haircuts left... okay it is actually in the eighties, but still! Anybody want to come down? Wish I could offer you a warm sunny day in exchange!

I am looking forward to the day when it stops being cold here. This has been the coldest winter since I have moved here. For the first time, I have not had adequate clothing, and have needed the heat most of the winter. I have also been sick twice this winter, and the first illness did not respond to echinacea in the slightest! Fortunately, this second illness seems to be responding well to it.

Stay warm, y'all!

Today was another incredible LORD's day. After being sick, I was especially GLAD to go up to the house of the LORD.

For those of you who have inquired about my health, thank you. I am pleased to announce that I am better! After being so sick, it is a relief to be well. This week has been extremely busy with being back in school, and now as a full-time student (I found out that being in school part time but attending so many extra hours than my scheduled ones was messing up financial aid, so I had to switch), and running everybody around all week. I have had a taste of how busy I really am. When you stop for a while, and then suddenly jump BACK into your life, you realize how much you really do. I am grateful that with this exception, I have had the strength to do it.

My family in Christ has been so good to me. We are very blessed. Thank you for having lunch with us and having us over when you were so tired after your day yesterday. You are so sweet and good, and I love you so much!

God has given me much to be thankful for. I am thanking Him, now, for He is good, and His mercies never cease. Excuse me.