Sunday, November 26, 2017

Thanksgiving

The sign above our studio

We hadn’t been to moms since August, so we planned to spend Thanksgiving with her.  Since mom had rented out all available space in her house, she arranged for my brother to bring back her 40’ RV, and park it in the driveway for us to stay in.  I got a frantic call from mom on the 18th – my brother crashed her RV into the workshop/tenant’s apartment, which took out the electricity for both the house and workshop AND took out the back bedroom window of the RV, torching the backside (he had hit the main power box).  She was all upset, because she had 2 tenants living upstairs in her house and one above the shop, all of whom were real upset because they had no power and they paid good money to live there.  Totally understandable.  She wasn’t thinking clearly, so I said, “yes, they paid good money to live there; therefore, you need to put them all up into a hotel”.  She wasn’t too keen on that, since she is a penny-pincher, but I convinced her to do exactly that before they all rose up in arms against her.  She finally agreed and arranged it.  I told her I would be there the next day to help however I could.  William and we (Bethany came with us, but stayed at her granddaughter’s) arrived there the afternoon of the 19th to total chaos (electricity didn’t get back on until the evening of the 20th) – I had to run interference between mom, my brother, and the tenants. 

The whole time, I was in a great deal of pain since I had been so busy getting the store ready – run, run, run everywhere – I was on my feet so much more than I had been used to.  I actually think I broke some bones in my foot, since it was so swollen up, but I kept on it.  By the time I got to moms, I could hardly walk.  But I just kept praying my way through all the pain.  I’m going to have to slow down and let this heal!

Once everything calmed down by Tuesday, we ended up having a nice Thanksgiving week with her.  I fixed a nice meal for her, invited Steve, Bethany, William’s daughter and grandkids over.   We went back to Coquille the 25th.  When we got back, Bethany commented on how glad she was that she had moved to Coquille and was with us – that she felt that God really led her there and had great plans for her!  I’m glad she feels that way.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Opening of our Art Gallery

We open God’s House of Vision officially Nov. 6th; however, I started earning money from my advertising weeks before I even opened!  Velma brought me some sewing the 2nd week of Oct.  I had my door open most of the week before, inviting people to come in to check out what we were doing.  I had my windows covered with paper all through October, but tore it down Oct. 30th.  That  very morning we were praying and asking God specifically for $100 to meet the Nov. rent – we were about $100 short of what we needed (we spent $400 on a new water heater and the landlord said to take that off the rent, leaving $100 to pay him).  That very afternoon, a lady walked in, asked about what type of lessons we would be giving and asked if I would give private lessons to her handicapped daughter.  She handed me a $100 bill to prepay!   Then on Nov. 2nd I checked the mail and got a $150 check from Steve (another person who used to help us in the ministry in Ashland) as a donation for our ministry!  I am so amazed at God’s provisions!
The first piece I sold – a painting by Carol Turner

We had the place looking nice – William did an awesome job fixing the walls (they had several issues), painting them (white with burgundy and gold trim), and the artists started bringing in their artwork on Nov. 1st – 3rd:  Pat Weaver, Carol Turner, Kathy Phillips, all of whom I met and knew from the Coquille Valley Art Center, and Rachel Smith, whom I met recently.  What was so funny, is that Carol and Rachel brought their artwork in the same day, Rachel saw a painting that Carol did and bought it!  I earned a commission and had my first sale even before I opened!  I opened up Monday the 6th and someone came in and bought one of Pat’s paintings she saw in our window!  My 2nd sale the first day I opened!  It is so obvious God has planted us here and we will thrive!
Our interior