Luck

When someone says I'm lucky, I correct them and say I'm blessed. I'm blessed with a great family, a great income, a great life. I could agree that I'm lucky, but that suggests a randomness to life. Like it's some sort of lottery everybody plays but only a few win. I'll agree only on the point that you cannot win if you don't play.

It has been said that luck is where preparation meets opportunity. You cannot take advantage of opportunities if you aren't prepared. So, I'm preparing everyday for an opportunity that will surely come along. Opportunity is everywhere. 1 Peter 3:15 says "always be prepared..."

A couple of months ago Oprah had people running around the country giving away money, it always struck me that, when asked what they needed, most people didn't know. One family went so far as to complain that the money that was spent on them could've been spent better. Excuse me? You were asked what you needed and you didn't know, the opportunity was there for a short time, the money HAD to be spent and you were not prepared with an answer, so while you were complaining that you got nothing worthwhile, you did get exactly what you asked for.

I'm thinking everyday about the things I need. What I need in my family, in my home, in my ministry, in my business, in my heart. I have only recently expanded this thought process throughout my entire life. I have always been very decisive about the things that are important to me, I've expanded my arena of importance. My husband will tell you that I've been decisive about my wants since the day he met me. I do not want what I do not want, and we've driven around many a town getting me what I want. While it is on one hand annoying that I won't compromise, he's in awe of my dedication to getting what I want when I really want it.

I will "always be prepared to give an answer...." no matter the question, and when opportunity comes I will be blessed.

Monkey Shocker

I will admit to being a documentary junkie. I love the monkey behavior trials, they claim we are so close to monkeys that if we study them we will learn about ourselves. Of course when straight behavioral challenges are done between monkeys and children, they've proven that they perform the tasks totally differently, but we'll save that for another day.

Today we discuss monkey shocking. Since we cannot inflict any physical pain on kids, we do this with monkeys, we show the monkey something they want. We let them play with it, fall in love with it, throw it around, have all their monkey friends join in the monkey fun, then we remove the object. Now the monkey is looking for it, and we give it to him, only with a slight twist. Every time he reaches for it, he gets shocked. How many times will he reach for it before he gives up?

I bring this up because I got a little shock today, after several weeks of missed connections I finally got ahold of the property manager for my old grocery store. Yes, I still claim it as mine. Property manager informs me that it is under contract. Little shock threw me off so I forgot to ask all the questions I wanted. Is this the first contract they've had, it's been vacant for 2 1/2 years. Why would I be shown something so clearly only to have someone come and take it from me the week I finish my business plan? Did they take the whole building? I only want 1/3 of it, for now..... Is there any chance they won't go through with the contract?

I didn't freak out, just went about my day. I figure that the contract will either not go through before they start, or it will go through, they'll get the build outs done and run out of money, or in a year I'll be able to rescue them from a poor business decision with my AWESOME God inspired vision. This is just a little shock to see if I'll stop reaching for it.

Since I've been knocking on this door we've received quite a few shocks, I guess I've been oblivious to them because I'm focused on the object. People who read my other blogs where I've explained what's going on, are freaking out for me. We have three kids we're trying to adopt, we think we're getting closer, then no. Our insurance is cancelling our homeowners policy. Baby girl may have some serious health concerns. Those three kids have such a special calling on their life that God is working through very special circumstances to show us. God worked a miracle on our mortgage, brought on by the shock of the insurance. Baby girl was born in the right place at the right time and has access to the better medical care than 5 billion other people. God is good, all the time.

This center is mine, that grocery store is mine. I see it clear as day, I know that God is not a monkey shocker, or a carrot dangler or anything of the sort. He has shown me what is behind the curtain. He's allowing me to be tested to see how far I'm willing to go to get it. I know that God is working out the How and the When. My job is the What.

Stubborn and Disobedient

Today in the one year Bible is the story of how God was sorry he'd ever made Saul king. God had given Saul explicit instructions and while Saul did most of what had been asked of him, he decided that he would hold back from destroying the finest livestock and instead offer them to the Lord for sacrifice. And for that he was called stubborn and disobedient.

What would make Saul do what he thought was best as opposed to what he was instructed. Peer pressure, he wanted to look good in front of the peeps. He wanted to offer the finest of the plunder as a sacrifice to God.

Two problems here, first, it's not a sacrifice if it isn't yours. I would have no problem selling my neighbor's house and donating the proceeds to the church. My house is a different story. It would be a sacrifice. Secondly, where do you want to find favor, the peeps or God? While most of us would say "God," it's not so easy when the peeps are screaming at you.

Also in today's reading, Samuel annointed David as the next king, although it would be quite a journey before the earth would recognize David as the king, it was already so in the heart of God.

I'm probably only ankle deep into my project at this point. Everyday there is a little more to wade through, everyday it becomes a little harder to walk, everyday I could quit. I mean, I'm already raising other peoples kids as well as my own, and I have a small group ministry and a women's ministry and I, I, I. With all that is going on I know in my heart that this is something that God has clearly asked of me. Do I, dare to tell God how I'm going to do things? He has clearly laid out for me that not listening to Him has consequences, and if I don't do HIS will, He'll find someone after His own heart to do it instead. I do not want God to be sorry he called me. I do not want to go crazy watching some lowly farm boy take my spot in glory. Yes, I am already doing a lot, but apparently I can do more.

Remembering, "Whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me-and not without results. For I have worked harder than all the other apostles, yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace." 1 Corinthians 15:10

If you'd like to read the story of Saul's demise and David's rise, it is in 1 Samuel 15.

Goals and prayers

This weeks goals. Please refer back to them and continue to pray for them this week.

1. Finish the business plan - even if the numbers are wrong, forget perfect.
2. Read my business plan outloud to friends. I have to get comfortable with the concepts of the plan so that it is a reflex when I'm trying to sell the idea to those who would invest their time and/or money.
3. Management flow chart. Get the structure of the business on paper.
4. Have my realtor get a layout of the interior so we know what we have to work with.
5. Tell twice as many people about this as I did last week. (You too, or at least five)
6. Get a mailbox.

Also please keep praying for

People to support us with either time or money.
Playability to get approval to go with their business inside of Discover(y_U).
God to show me the doors He has opened already.

Going to work

I'm reading a book by Rabbi Daniel Lapin called Thou Shall Prosper, it's very good except we disagree on financing your way to prosperity. I think of course he is looking at it from the lending side, rather than the borrowing side, but you can't have one without the other. Check him out at www.youneedarabbi.com

This whole process is overwhelming to someone who has been watching Oprah and doing mani-pedi lunches with friends for the last decade. I just want to get to work. I know what I want to do, everyone says business plans are necessary but always incorrect, so why do we need them? Of course, writing a business plan has focused my thoughts and made me realize that "oh I have to pay taxes" and stuff like that. So, business plan good, but boring.

Anyway, I'm a little ADD and am getting bored with the details of it all, like I said I just want to go to work, in the aforementioned book, Rabbi Daniel is relating the story of Abraham sending his servant to find Isaac a wife. Abraham gave the instruction to not choose a wife for Isaac from the Canaanites "among whom I live". His servant related the story to Rebecca's parents as Abraham not wanting a wife from "in whose land I live". It's subtle, but Abraham was, to outside observers, living among the Canaanites. When God promised Abraham the land, he believed it in his heart and from that point on saw the Canaanites as people who were in his land, not vice versa.

Starting tomorrow, I'm going to go to work everyday. I'm going to walk down to the building, believing in my heart that it is my building. I'm going to go check on it, walk around it, peek in the windows, pray over it. All crazy stuff to people who look on the outside, all the time believing in my heart that God has already promised it to me.

Also, I'm going to go read about when the outsiders view changed ownership. May tell me a little about what to expect. I'm sure I've heard the story many times over, but this time it will stick.

Math is useful

I'm into writing the business plan. All of the fun details of how much money I'll make and how I'm going to do it. One time I look at it and go cha-ching, and the next time I look at it I'm wondering what the heck I'm doing. Then I drive past the big empty building and get back to work.

I'm getting insurance quotes, I'm very scared. Also, can't wait until I get the utility estimate, who really needs a/c in south Texas? But really exciting is picking out shirts and hoodies for uniforms. It would be really fun to think of purses and shoes too. Maybe I'll open a clothing store? ADD anyone?

I am definitely opening a coffee shop. There is a 900% markup on coffee. I know we're talking small picture here, but anytime you can get 900%....of course it takes a lot of coffee to make $1000. If I drank coffee I'd be ticked.

I'm also working on the employee handbook. Mission statements, FUNd raisers, party themes. Still looking for some design help as far as where to best place classrooms and such, as well as how big or small they should be. Please pray for this, it will answer a lot of questions for me.

Just wanted to quickly update everyone. Thanks for your visits and prayers. We are chugging along, and will get this done.

Ask and you shall be overwhelmed

So, when you ask God to bring you people who can help you out here's what you get....

Not one, not two, not three, but four people who have been researching or thinking about or praying about opening a fine arts center preferably on the southside of Corpus.

At least three persons with Masters Degrees in Education.
Several persons with Masters Degrees in Music.
Several people who are going to school for Business Management.
More teachers than I can count, and more with every check in on the email.

So, here I am trying to get out a business proposal, something I've never done, all while fielding emails to me about what the heck I'm doing, and how the heck they can get involved. Which, will be easier when I get a formal business plan. This is turning into a community center being built by the community.

Feel free to answer these questions. I originally had it in mind that it would be a for profit center, back when it was a playground. I wanted it to be for profit because I am a big fan of profit sharing. Now I'm wondering about non-profit, because fine arts do tend to be expensive with instruments and one on one instruction. But I have had several for profit people wanting space, am I merely becoming a sublettor? Can you have a for profit business, with a non-profit wing? I have no doubt with the portfolio that I am building that it would be crazy for the grocery people to not let us in.

The other cool God thing that is happening is I put out a feeler on Craigslist, no mention of God, but just an inquiry as to if there is an interest in a community center. 90% of the responses immediately reference God, and how they've been praying for something like this and how great God is. So, I must remember. God is in this, even if He has to remind me. So, I will not fear looking like the loon on the corner proclaiming that God is coming. He's here!!!!

So, I'm not working on this on Sunday. Sabbath break. Monday I'm off to Laredo to visit my baby mama. Tuesday will be the first I can get back to this, so if there is anyone out there who would like to volunteer their architectural services when the time comes, please let me know. Also, my business plan rough draft should be available for viewing later tonight, give me input. Oh and we need start up capital. We are NOT taking out a loan for this.

Please pray for good lease terms. That the owner of the building will build to suit. That the walls that are currently keeping us out will be brought down, and when they do we are able to take over the place like a bunch of crazy Israelites.

Too small dreams?

It started as an indoor playground, it's evolved. It's become more about the classrooms, the playground is becoming a secondary draw. Of course, the more people wanting classrooms means more real estate. My original plan with the old grocery store was to subdivide it into the smallest available. Even the smallest subdivision has a scary amount of commas and zero's. Why would I think that putting a bigger number in front of those comma's and zero's?

The thing about this whole thing, is that it will have to be a God thing. I'm quite sure that from a business perspective, my business plan sucks. I don't have flow charts, demographics, projections, and whatever else one needs to be successful. I have an idea. I can tell you how much money I need to make every day to pay the rent, I can break it down by the price/square foot. I know how much I spend going to McDonald's to play in their play place. I'm figuring others spend about the same per person. I'm figuring this will be better than McDonald's. I also know that at certain times of the day McDonald's is packed. That's my plan, and projections. As for demographics, I know there are a lot of people who have more than one kid who are tired of driving here and there keeping their kids busy, or just keep their kids out of activities because the thought of spending three hours in a car each evening is too much.

My other projection is based on the fact that parents work all day and are tired, and kids work all day and are wired. I do not generate an income at the present time, I spend all day doing errands and appointments and paperwork and everything else, and when I get home I'd like to chill. The only problem is my kids have been cooped up all day and want to go crazy, and if we don't do something they will drag me there with them. Of course my kids range from three to seventeen, I can't drop the three year olds off somewhere, or even the nine year old and run the others somewhere and then go back and get the nine year old, and deciding who has to cut what in order for the schedule to work has put us in the position that if we all can't do it, then we don't do it. Not really fair, especially for my born of the body children who are already giving up their parents, because some people won't care for their own children. So, it all ends up as stress and guilt on me. And I can't be the only one.

Another little detail, is that I have no money. Well, we have money, but not that kind of money. The rent on the grocery store would pay off our house in less than a year. My nine year old said we should make all of the family put their change in the piggy bank and we could use that. So, when I meet with the realtor this is my proposal....

Business plan - kids drive their parents crazy.
Financing - My pig

We'll know it's a God thing when they hand me the keys anyway.

Making the World a Better Place

I am so excited by my new venture. It's like the guy who's been touring bars for twelve years and then becomes an overnight sensation. I've been thinking about this for years. I have just never done anything about it. I will admit to not ever feeling right about the timing, but not this time. I will give God the credit for giving my husband and I the same idea at the same time for a location, and also to God for having my husband bring it up....but everyday God gives me more and more brilliant ideas.

Idea One: Indoor playground, huge age appropriate and segregated areas. Birthday parties for you and your closest friends and not 3,000 kids whose parents left them there.

Idea Two: Hidden snacks. Bring your own food.

Idea Three: Music, Dance, Martial Arts, Theater Arts and any other extra curricular, non-field needing, activity that you can think of all in one spot. NO MORE DRIVING.

Idea Four: Something for the parents to do while they wait for Johnny and Susie to finish their classes. Massage anyone?????

Basically I am taking everything I hate about businesses and parenting children while visiting businesses, and I am doing the opposite. If doing the opposite can get George Costanza a job with the Yankees, it can get this girl something.

Of course, I need God to open that door. Do you think that the landlord will take the cattle on a thousand hills as assurance on my lease?

God Open A Door.....

...that requires faith to walk through. Our pastor asked us to pray that prayer for ourselves last week. When he said that I knew exactly what door I wanted opened. I wish I could say that I had the faith. I've been "praying" about it or whatever, really just coming up with a laundry list of reasons why the door in front of me can't be opened, shouldn't be opened, or what else I am doing that would prevent me from doing what lies on the other side of that door.

A couple of weeks ago we had a revival at our church. Our pastor speaks about blessings, and ideas and lots of really inspiring things. Every time he speaks of ideas there is one that haunts me. The fact that Corpus Christi, Texas needs an indoor playground. Out doors is great, except when there is wind, or rain, or heat, or mosquitos, or the perfect storm of all four. I keep waiting for one to open. So, once again I was reminded of my idea.

The thing about our church, is when someone from our church talks about what God tells them, it is completely believable to me. God is very alive in our church. That is what I love about it. So, while Pastor Bil spoke to me, I spoke to God. I told God I didn't know where to put an indoor playground. He told me to put it in an old grocery store a couple of blocks from my house. I told God, that if HE wanted ME to put an indoor playground in the old grocery store a couple of blocks from my house that it would have to be my husband's idea, because I was not going home and telling my husband that God wanted me to rent an old grocery store.

Ha ha, I am so smart, of course my husband wouldn't suggest we go an rent an old grocery store. That was my out. Until, when I got home and my husband suggest we rent the old grocery store and do something with it. Ha, ha, jokes on me.

So, here is my journey, to have the faith to walk through a door that God has begun to open. I have to take another step forward, knowing God has my back. It's freakin' scary.

I want a revolution

It's about time for a change here in Corpus Christi. Our play time options are limited. Don't get me wrong, there is so much to do here, sort of. When you have three pre-schoolers like myself it dramatically reduces what I am willing to put up with on an outing.

Parks are always an option, I'm still looking for one that isn't rusty, has facilities that are onsite and clean. One that has a good distance between the playground and the street in case one of the little ones makes a break for it. I haven't found one, and the prospect of going to a park doesn't put me in my happy place.

My other options are food places. There are playlands at M. Of course they are dirty, moldy, filled with fries, and whatnot. Then of course you have to buy food that you wouldn't normally buy for the privilege. Been there, done with that.

Moving on to pizza arcades. Get me a sedative please. They are crowded, loud, more expensive and prone to inducing tantrums. Do we not have enough c-r-a-p without being given the privilege of dropping $30 for a $3.00 toy that breaks before we get to the car. The food isn't any better.

We've tried the museums and such. Not pre-school friendly, maybe for one kid per adult, but tip the odds in their favor and they win. Add in the $120 membership and it isn't all that practical, especially since they too are crowded, and outflow into a toystore, more tantrums please?

The tantrum is indeed the most effective sales tool on the planet. That's why all the candy is at the check out, why every attraction is centered around a gift shop, or junk food kiosk.

I've been wishing for years that someone would open up a place, a climate controlled place as I am as fair weather as you get, where I alone could take kids without fear of losing one of them. Where I could play with them without the distraction of cheap toys and gross food. Where snacks would be available, but out of sight. Where someone actually cared enough to clean every once in awhile.

Well, I've decided that I am that someone. All I need is for all of you to visit. Often. If you do, I promise the snacks will be out of sight, eat them there or buy some and take them home for later, I can be very discreet. I promise that someone will clean, it probably won't be me, I will if I need to, but I'm going to pay someone really well to do it for me. You can bring in food from the outside, if you want gross food, that is your choice. You can still play, you can still eat. I will have fun stuff to do, your kids will leave tired.

I won't be using any credit to do this. I know, a freaking miracle will have to happen, it's ok, I know the miracle maker. In order to convice those who aren't so trusting in the miracle maker, I'm going to need some buzz. So get buzzy, let you're friends know. Give me, as my baby boy would say "lot a lot" of hits. Answer my poll questions. This WILL happen before summer, so get ready to play.