More on "Lighting The Way"

I can't believe it's two months later already! I'm really not got at this posting thing....

Our second week at the market was no better than the first, even though we had a much better spot. Not wind this time, but pouring rain! Most of the market holders didn't even turn up it was that bad! We went home at about 10am but we did manage to find out that this spot was available on the first Sunday of every month, so I asked if we could have it permanently and they said yes!

We are also doing stalls at Frankston Market, so now we do the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month at Berwick and the 2nd and 4th Sundays at Frankston. We also got in on the new Langwarrin Farmers Market at Langwarrin Primary School, which is the 1st Saturday of every month (except January).

We are currently on our THIRD gazebo - the first broke, the second is also starting to come apart. This time we got a proper Market Gazebo that sets up really easy. The shadecloth type that we were recommended was useless in 36 degree heat - I got burnt, so it wasn't much good for the candles!

We also have a web site up and running (as of today) at www.lightingtheway.com.au
which I'm SO excited about! Now we can sell candles online as well.

So things are beginning to move along OK.

I'm afraid Postie Fashions has had to go. I'm too busy making candles!

More on Markets, Candles and Prayer

Well, we finally got started at the market! Yeah, I know...you think, so what's the big deal? How come it took you so long? Well for starters we had to spend about $3500 just to get set up - candle stock, gazebo, tables, tablecloths, banners, noticeboards, prayer cards, gift cards and other stuff. It took a while just to find or make all that gear and a couple of weeks to make enough candles for a decent display.

Then we had to book the market - we had our hearts set on doing the Akoonah Park Market at Berwick, but the only way to book was to get on the phone at 9am on Monday morning and keep ringing until we got through. We had Frankston Market booked as a back up as well, just in case we couldn't get in.

We packed up the car and trailer on Saturday night and worked out that we needed to get up at 4.30 am to get to the market for 6.00 am. All well and good, but it just happened to be the morning that daylight saving started, so that meant it was effectively 3.30 am. Then Graeme's phone decided to reset itself another hour forward, so it woke us at what was effectively 2.30 am! By the time we'd worked out that the kids had set all the clocks in the house forward as well, we were wide awake and had trouble getting back to sleep for the last 45 mins we could scrounge.

The day dawned windy and overcast, with the prospect of thunderstorms. The thunderstorms never arrived, but the wind made up for it. With gusts up to 100 km/hour gazebos were breaking up all over the place. Ours lasted until 11.30 am, but then the front cross bar broke and Graeme had to hold it together while I quickly packed up everything before I took his place and he could dismantle the gazebo.

Needless to say the crowds were dismal, we hardly sold any candles and we were too busy worrying about the state of the gazebo to be able to pray with anyone. We couldn't help but wonder if the Devil was trying hard to discourage us on our first day.

But we're not giving up! The other stall holders told us not to be discouraged. They said it took time for them to do well - it was a trust thing with the customers. Also, because of the Melbourne Cup, some of the permanent stall places would be vacant next week and we were offered a place much closer to the main market - that was encouraging, too!

If you read this blog, please pray for us. Never mind how many candles we do or don't sell, what we really want to do is make a difference. The name of our stall is "Lighting the Way" and that is what we want to do - light the way for others to find Jesus.

Markets, Candles and Prayer

Oh dear, another month gone by already?

Well I can't say I (or we) have been idle! Graeme (my husband) and I have been looking for a new way to reach out to people and I think we've finally found it!

Some months ago, we skipped church and headed off to the markets, just to do something different for a change. But we left the market with an idea - why not set up a stall where we could offer to pray for people's needs? No charge - just a freewill thing. The problem was how to pull it off....

Then, a few weeks ago I got invited to a candle party. "Candles", I thought, "I already have enough of them and I never burn them! Why would I want more?" But I went anyway, as a favour to my friend and took my daughter Beth along for support. We were pleasantly surprised! These aren't ordinary candles: they are made of soy wax, so they burn cooler and longer, don't smoke (so asthmatics can use them, stay fragrant to the last drop, and wash up in hot soapy water!

It didn't take us long to put two and two together...why not sell candles at the market (to give us a "legitimate" reason to be there) and pray for people, too? Beth willingly volunteered to help make candles for us to sell, too. We raced home, full of excitement. Graeme didn't need much convincing!

Apart from a few logistics, we hope to be up and running within the next couple of weeks. The market site(s) are yet to be confirmed, but I will blog the locations as soon as I know.

Please pray for us!

I didn't realise how the time had flown...

Whoops! I didn't realise how long it had been since I started this blog! I kept telling myself I should put something new in here, but got distracted and forgot.

So what have I done this month?

1. I joined Facebook. This is a great site to connect or reconnect with people. I have already found heaps of old friends on there, and some new ones as well. Why not drop in and visit?
   
2. I spent a week in bed with the flu - and I know I haven't been the only one!
   
3. I joined up with some survey sites, partly for the experience and partly for the rewards
4. I did my best ever month with Postie - the new range is selling really well!
5. I got voted in as President of Ongoing Change!
   
6. I went to Restoration's Conference on Spiritual Authority, with special guest Dr. Charles Kraft.
   

All that, plus everything else I usually do...well, I suppose it's no wonder I didn't get time to blog! From now on I'll try to blog at least once a week. Promise!

Postie Fashions' Annual Conference

Wow! What a day!

I've just been to the first day of Postie Fashions' Annual Conference and I had a great time! We got lots of tips to help us with our businesses and...wait for it...(drum roll)...

We got to see the new Spring Summer Collection!

It looks great! Very fresh and young, but plenty there for the more mature as well.

You know, the more I get into Postie the more I get out of it. I've had some bad experiences with party plan companies before, but this one is really different. I can see why people stay with it for so long. The friendships are great, but more importantly, what you gain in experience, confidence and self-esteem is inestimable.

I never thought I'd be saying this, but if you are sick of working for someone else, how about making a change? I know I'm glad I did...

Welcome to Ink's Spot!

I've been thinking about starting a blog for ages but this is the first time I've actually decided to do something about it.

So what will be included here? Many of my muses and ramblings, hopefully interspersed with something that you will find useful.

I have a huge interest in all things psychological, but my particular interest at the moment is why we are so quick to drug people up instead of helping them to work through whatever it is that is causing their depression, anxiety, mental illness, etc.

I'm also wondering how this ties in with my other interest in spiritual things. Could this possibly be part of Satan's plan to steal, kill and destroy? It seems to me that it must be very difficult to live life to the full when you're so drugged up you can't think straight!

I'd be interested to hear your comments...