As I drove away from a job I knew for more than 20 years, I was flooded with a myriad of emotion…leaving the children and families was the absolute hardest for me and my heart that has been so attached for so long! I knew deep down in my heart that this call had come from God last November as I celebrated the 7th Anniversary of my husband’s home going to heaven, but little did I know at that time how many roller coaster rides my heart would have to go on to see myself to the end of the ride!

Endings were not NEW for me, but this one had to be a choice I would make to leave my job that I passionately loved, sell my family home of 20 years, and take a leap of faith to move to a brand new state. As one roller coaster led to another, I had faithful family members, and a few close friends who would be brave enough to tell me the truth, hold my heart when the pain was intense, and laugh with me as I looked at an unknown future at my vintage! Texts, phone calls, and holding onto God’s word to “FINISH WELL,” prepared me for each new coaster I boarded. As days and weeks passed, the coaster rides became super scary at times, even though I know “FEAR is NOT OF GOD!” I had to make plans, change plans, sit tight, wait on God, and continue to live my PASSION for the children! In my final weeks the children were BRILLIANT just like the STARS as they shared pictures, writings, and lots of hugs to remind me of ALL they had learned and how much we had GROWN TOGETHER! I would not change a MOMENT except for my personal stress level which went a bit out of control at times, landing me on the coaster of SHINGLES in FEBRUARY! Funny thing about me, I PRESSED ONWARD, bandaging when necessary, covering them with Lidocaine, and PRAYING MY HEART OUT FOR PAIN RELIEF! JESUS had me the entire time, and taught me HOW TO CARE FOR OTHERS even BETTER through the pain of SHINGLES! HE ALWAYS makes a great lesson out of our sufferings, and to not only our benefit, but to the benefit of others. (MY FAVORITE)

Well, with ALL THINGS GOD SAW ME THROUGH to the end of the ride, the house sold, curriculum was created, filmed, projects made top notch level, children continued to SOAR, a new state was chosen, new home purchased, and then the last few days arrived…I was able to be with my favorite twin, THE CRAYOLA/EASTER BUNNY! OH THE JOY OF EASTER for ME…we(my daughter, son-in-law, and dear friend, would end our jobs and head NORTH…to land and settle for rest before GOOD FRIDAY! YES! GOOD FRIDAY…and of course the RESURRECTION, the RISE from the ASHES of the PAST COASTER RIDES is about to happen! In two days, symbolically we will celebrate the RESURRECTION of not only my LORD and SAVIOR, but MY BEST and GREATEST FRIEND…JESUS! I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt I WILL RISE, it may not look like it today, but I WILL! Jesus has NEVER LEFT ME NOR FORSAKEN ME, and HE will not now!

So, what next? KEEP RIDING, as I am a MOVER and a SHAKER, and I BELIEVE NOBODY on this PLANET should HOLD YOU DOWN when you have faced BIG TRUTHS and have followed the HOLY SPIRIT, in FAITH, TRUST, and BIG HOPES for ALL GOD HAS on HIS next RIDE! I want anyone who reads this post to KNOW that JESUS ADORES YOU, and HE will see you through YOUR DARKEST times, and HIS PLANS are for GREATNESS, even when YOU cannot see it for yourself (that’s me) right now! I also cannot express with words the DEPTHS of LOVE, I have for EACH and EVERY ONE of the children and families I have had the privilege to WORK and DO LIFE WITH! YOU ARE TREASURED, and I CARRY YOU IN MY HEART, but hold on tight as I ride a lot of BIG COASTERS these days!

STAY TUNED for the MOVE of GOD in my LIFE…as my prayer is that this post with encourage, empower, and assist you to board the NEW COASTERS HE has for YOU!!! We must not stagnate, but instead LIVE AND LOVE BIG for JESUS!

In LOVE and GRACE,

GLAMA or DanaKae (however you know me is PERFECT!)