I had the coolest experience yesterday on the plane from Destin FL. to Charlotte NC. When I traveled to FL, no one spoke to me on either flight, so I was expecting the same thing when I returned home. When I sat down in my seat a very pretty lady was sitting there and said hello. I figured she was just being polite, I said hello back and then minded my own business. I had two of my shieldmaiden sisters in the seats in front of me and talked to them for a minute. I could see the lady listening to us and I finally asked her how her day was. I found out she lived in NC and was in Destin visiting her granddaughters. Literally as soon as she began to speak, I could feel something between us!

She then inquired about what the other girls and I had been doing in FL and I told her about the program we had just completed! She sat very intently listening. I then went on and explained about going in the ocean as a group on Monday night and how cold it was. The sandbags, and the journey. I told her about going to rehab and my very strong desire to work with first responders, be a speaker and write a book.

Before the flight was over we had exchanged social media information and this morning I received the most amazing message from her. I want to document it because it was so uplifting!

Good morning to you my Sister! I want you to know that you blessed me as well!! I know that I am blessed to now have you in my life. Whatever the purpose, however our journeys in life move, I know that The Lord God Almighty placed you in my heart. When I was choosing my seat for that flight I was mindful of what would be God's design in that flight. And there you come, bringing passion of your experience of the past few days on that beach! You shared your life in simple moments to me. I know how to pray for you! I want to be on the front row cheering you on when you start speaking publicly. May God richly bless your life even more than you have experienced. May you touch lives for HIM and shine your light from a deeper place and be a beacon of life and safety for those that need your "ministry". I told my husband about you and that I felt like I met a woman who could be my sister if I had one. You are a blessing and source of strength, life and encouragement. I thank God for you. 

I seriously was in tears! Receiving those words and feeling like she really understood my calling and where I was coming from was amazing to me. One thing I learned this week from Setema was that most people don't want us to succeed because they want us to stay at their level. I was so blessed by Mary's words and just love how she said she wanted to cheer me on from the sidelines!

I do have a calling and I feel it very strongly! I do want to pursue this coaching thing so that I can use my voice to make changes that need to be made for LE and other First Responders.

I will treasure these words for a very long time, even until I am buried six feet under!