When I graduated from Ohio State, with my newly minted teaching degree, some 5000 other people graduated with me. Yet, I got a teaching position right out of college, and taught for ten years with a great deal of success. I believe that it was the path God wanted me on at the time.
Ten years later, I resigned and became - by way of a pair of twin girls - a full time mom. Though insanely busy, I was often restless and wanted something besides mothering and housewifery, so I tried varying things. I painted country wooden stuff and made wonderful cloth dolls, and sold them at craft fairs, but I was never very good at forcing myself to make a bunch of the same thing, so I wasn't all that successful, financially. Then, when the girls were in kindergarten, I got a sub certificate and tried subbing...HATED that. Nothing like being in a room with 25 or 30 kids you don't know, with at least 3/4ths of them trying to drive you nuts. To me, it didn't feel anything like being a real teacher (my apologies to subs - I know there are some really amazing ones out there and you ARE real teachers!) Then a full time position opened up at a local crafts big box store. I LOVED that job, but it was the wrong time - too many hours away from the children I had fought for almost seven years to conceive. Finally, I became a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, and while I love teaching classes, the selling part just isn't my thing. When our girls went to college, I kind of floundered, wondering what was next for me.
Well, what was next was selling on Ebay. I have loved vintage stuff - 40's and 50's mostly - for quite some time, and the day came when I realized that I had too much stuff, but I kept running into fantastic deals! The logical outcome? Sell the stuff! However, I was quite prepared to fail, since I haven't had any appreciable luck in selling in the last 20 years.
What a surprise I was in for! I found a Gay Fad decanter and glasses at Goodwill for around six bucks - and they sold for over $50. Ditto a set of canisters, a tray, and several other items. All of a sudden, it seemed that God had opened the door for me. I believe this is how I am going to be able to help the girls pay for college. I'm sure there are challenges ahead - times when nothing sells - but for now, I enjoy the feeling of success. To everything there is a season...
*The figurine? I bought it for a quarter at a garage sale in Harbor Springs, Michigan, and sold it for over $63 dollars this week. Thank you so much, Lord!
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