Okay, bear with me — this is a few stories in one. 😊 Last year, before I opened the store — honestly, before my walls were even built — I drove to Houston for a closeout sale at one of my favorite stores, Nadeau. (We have one in Austin, but the sale was in Houston… so of course I rented a U-Haul because I was fully convinced I would find treasure.) Well… I did find treasure. But between the U-Haul cost, food, gas, and the “sale” that didn’t exactly feel like a sale… let’s just say nothing was really on sale by the time the math settled. 😂 But I digress. One of the first things I saw was this gorgeous marble-top bar cart. I knew immediately I wanted it — but I absolutely did not need it. Hours later, near the end of wandering that warehouse, I bought it anyway. $350, after discount. Irrational? Probably. But I’m so glad I did. When the store opened, that bar cart became a beautiful display piece for my crystal and elixirs. But later, when I stopped selling those items, the cart lost its purpose. For months, it has been pushed around the store holding random mannequins — a fancy misfit, waiting for belonging. Fast forward to now. The store has had beautiful days and really hard days. This first year has stretched me. I’ve wondered more than once if I misunderstood God’s calling or direction. I am surrounded by strong prayer warriors — daily. Meanwhile, I am what I jokingly (but honestly) call a warm-weather prayer warrior: - When things are great → I forget to pray. - When things are fine → I gripe. - When things are good → I praise, but doubt it will last. That’s my flesh. But the women around me have shown me what relentless prayer looks like — including prayer at 3AM. Prayers over my business, finances, family, the future — asking for angels to go before me and fight battles I don’t see. So last Friday night, I decided to start my own 3AM prayer journey. (Except it was actually 6AM… not 3. Baby steps. 😅) In that prayer, I was very specific:

November 20th from 6-9, Members will have a VIP experience as you will have a front row seat to the action at Light Up the Night District 29 block party. A live band, Santa, the Grinch, food trucks, face painting, glow party, raffles at different locations and so much more. The biggest giveaways Liberty Hill has ever seen!! Yeti Cooler with blankets and whiskey, Turtlebox speaker, $100's of dollars in gift cards to local businesses. This year will be the start of a great tradition!!

No one comes into this Skool space looking to carry the weight of someone else’s life. We all have our own pressing from the world — our own seasons of waiting and wondering when God will reveal what He’s doing. This year has been the hardest year of my life. Marriage strain. Kids struggling. And the store — this beautiful, challenging, purpose-filled store — has tested me more than anything ever has. The hardest part has been stepping out in faith and going all in, believing with everything in me that God had been preparing me for this moment all along. Every door opened. The right people showed up. The timing was perfect. It felt like I was walking directly into His plan — so I didn’t hesitate. I invested everything, believing it was 100% God’s plan for me. But as the months went on — as I sat through quiet days with no one walking through the door — I started to question. Has His plan somehow turned into my hustle? Did I take His gift and start pushing in my own strength? I don’t think I lost His purpose, but I’ve definitely lost my energy. I’ve found myself teetering between faith and fear, between trusting and trying to fix it myself. And yet, even in that place, He keeps whispering: “I’m here. Keep going. Lean on Me. I will carry you when you can’t keep moving. I will provide. Just trust Me.” Every day I battle the same worries — the debt, the slow days, the pressure to make the holidays miraculous so I can keep this mission alive. I find myself flapping my wings frantically, trying to make the wind move faster. But God keeps saying: “Be still. Stop striving. Calm your spirit. Read My promises. Be a good steward. Get quiet and listen — to where I am calling you into, or calling you out of.” I’m learning that struggle is never wasted. The testimony needs tension. Without the storm, there’s no story of rescue. Without the drought, there’s no miracle of rain. So here I am — catching the wind beneath my wings again. Taking a long pause. Waiting patiently for God’s grace and His kept promises.

Back when I was working at Bath & Body Works in Kerrville—during the short-lived season when the company carried makeup—I learned one of my biggest lessons about not judging a circumstance by its cover. We sold everything from lip gloss to mascara, all under $8. One day, a little girl—maybe 8 or 10 years old—walked in and started filling a basket. She was deliberate, studying each item before adding it in. At first, I thought she was just playing, but her choices looked serious enough that I decided to step in. I went over to help and asked who she was with. She told me she had come with her parents but didn’t give me much more. I tried to gently guide her—asking what colors she liked, if she was shopping for herself or for gifts, and trying to figure out what her budget might be without embarrassing her. Each time I circled back, she had added more. By the time she finished the first basket, she picked up a second. Then a third. These weren’t careless grabs—she was pausing, comparing shades, and making thoughtful choices. Still, in my mind, all I could see was a mountain of product I’d have to put back. When she finally walked out without saying a word, leaving three overflowing baskets behind, I was frustrated beyond belief. I gave her about 30 minutes to come back, then reluctantly began putting things away, starting with the lotions so I could concentrate later on the 150+ tiny pieces of makeup. That’s when she returned—with her parents. Her dad chuckled and explained everything. She was headed to Camp Waldemar in Hunt—a very well-to-do girls camp about 30 minutes away. She wanted to bring matching gifts for her friends from the previous year. Her parents hadn’t set any parameters, so she simply pulled everything she thought would work and waited to show them when they arrived. And here’s the kicker—they bought every single thing she had picked. All but the lotions I had already put back. The total? Just over $800. On items averaging $5 each—between 150 and 170 products.

🪞 Opening Thought We all hit moments where prayer feels hard. The words don’t come. Our hearts feel numb. Or honestly—we just don’t want to.The good news? God knows that too. He doesn’t condemn us for the struggle—He invites us closer. 📖 Key Scriptures - Romans 8:26 – “The Spirit helps us in our weakness… the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” - Psalm 34:18 – “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” - James 4:8 – “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” 💡 Practical Steps 1. Pray HonestlyTell God exactly how you feel: “God, I don’t feel like praying today.”Honesty is still prayer. 2. Pray SmallOne sentence is enough.Example: “Jesus, I need You.” 3. Pray with ScriptureOpen Psalms or the Lord’s Prayer and pray the words that are already written. 4. Pray with Others’ VoicesListen to a recorded prayer or let someone else’s words carry you. 5. Pray with Worship 🎶Turn on a worship song and start singing along.Let the lyrics become your prayer when you have none of your own.✨ Song Suggestions: 6. Pray with SilenceJust sit in His presence. Sometimes prayer is listening, not speaking. 🌿 Reflection Question for Skool Comments - Have you ever had a season where prayer felt hard? - What helped you through it? ✨ Wrap Up Prayer isn’t about performance—it’s about relationship. Even when you don’t feel like praying, showing up with even the smallest whisper—or even a song—keeps your heart connected to Him.