About Me
Welcome to my Blog, and thanks for reading “My Story”. I am 57 Years old, and am so excited and blessed because I have the most rewarding business I could ever imagine – which is quite a miracle and here is why….
You see, I was 29 years old with two small children when the first symptoms of fibromyalgia began to ravage my body. The disease has no cure, but I began my own campaign to find the right doctors and the right combination of medicines, vitamins and diet to cope with this debilitating muscle disorder. I didn’t get to where I am overnight or without God’s help, and the help of others.
It was while battling fibromyalgia that I began to use and develop my God-given talents. I quickly discovered my real skill and future lay in creating uniquely lovely wreaths, and florals. That boosted my confidence and gave me the determination to try other venues.
So, in 1990, I took a big leap and bought an upscale silk florist in my hometown. I worked hard and loved it. After years of ups and downs and several business downsizings, my body just couldn’t do it anymore. I had no other choice than to close my business. Roadblocks were at every turn, and my muscles got so bad that for about three years, I could not stand at my counter to make even one wreath.
About that time, we were building a new home. My husband and I agreed that having a nice sized shop right across the breezeway would enable me to do those things that I love most in this world. I just could not give in to this awful disease.
Throughout all of this, I felt God was leading me on his path, not mine. I began to know in my heart that His plan for me was definitely & positively much better than any plan that I could come up with for myself. Closing my store was in this plan, although I didn’t give in easily. As a matter of fact I fought it all the way.
My precious husband, Steve, and a Chiropractor and friend, Harvey Garcia, really encouraged me to sell outside of Anderson – on eBay and on the Internet. Getting pep talks when I was down, and lots of encouragement, I began to be able to design again.
This was about the time that I found I had Celiac disease – an allergy to gluten and wheat products. I began to believe I had other food allergies that I never knew about. As I weaned myself off wheat, soy, sugar, dairy products, and canned/processed foods, I replaced those with an enormous appetite for eBay and the Internet.
I don’t know which was harder; beginning a very strict diet and leaving off foods I’ve eaten my whole life, or dusting off my computer skills and jumping into eBay and the Internet with both feet! But with the Lord’s help, I did it. Each day that passed, I was a little stronger. I could stand at my counter in my shop and make wreaths again. I could also sit at the computer reading, learning, and typing away.
As the diet began working more, so did my mind, my body, and my hands. I lost 70 pounds and counting! I was making wreaths again, listing and selling them on eBay, designing a new website, (http://www.ladybugwreaths.com) and learning many new computer skills.
I have several e-books teaching Wreath Design on CD and PDF versions. I also have several Videos on Bow Making, and Wreath and Wall Basket Making with many new ones coming out before Christmas in 2008!
I have employees who come to my home to work with me: a dear friend, Shirley….Shirley’s daughter Elizabeth….and my daughters-in-law, Sara and Stephanie. Things just couldn’t be better. Sure, I still hurt and I have bad days where I get discouraged, but the good outweighs the bad. I praise God for leading me on the path that I am on, and am open to go in any direction or path that he chooses for me.
I am happy and I love selling my wreaths, CD’s and DVD’s on the Internet.
