Lady Ozma’s blog

Ever feel like Dorothy in the cyclone because your life is just so hectic? Someone told me recently if it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all. Boy does that feel like it!

In the last month my camera *poofed*, putting me into a horrible bind and crippling my passion for pictures. I will say that the benefit to that is all of your kind support. I am amazed by just how many people came out to offer their condolences and make me feel good about my pictures. I love photography very much, but I struggle with feeling as though my pictures are not anything special. I know I've posted about wanting to enter contests and never actually doing it because I cannot find anything I feel will matter. You all tell me how great my pictures are and it gives me such a boost!

I do not have near the money to replace my camera yet. I wish I did for there is a 50 dollar discount this week! *SIGH* 

Then my house flooded and I spent time literally stashing things where ever I could. And a month later, it is all still there.  We lost our carpet, but nothing of real importance. I'm still finding out what's been damaged and needs to get cleared out, but lucky for us it was things like some essays the boys wrote and scrapbook paper (not pages) and that sort.  Welcome to messy disarray. The carpet came out immediately and giant fans went to town and the professionals sprayed anti-mold stuff everywhere. They gave us a month for full drying before our landlady could put in new carpeting. So we left the furniture where it was (most on lifts from the floor dudes, and the stuff stashed where ever and figured the furniture could get moved closer to new floor time.

I immediately flew to Arizona to shoot photos for a wedding and that was one giant whirlwind in and of itself! I'm still editing the over 1000 photos I took there. My plan for this weekend is to make a major push through that. I've currently got about 100 prepared for the couple and probably 700 more to go through.  Weddings are a lot of work, but it is so wonderful to be able to share in someone's happy day and to capture it on film. (For those who still have not seen any, look at some of the portraits on my flickr.  Sir Caliban set up a feed from flickr on LJ you can follow as well to see new posts.)

Flying home, I only had a couple of days and it was Balticon time. I spent the weekend fighting the sinus problem I always get from hotels. I stayed in a hotel one night in Arizona and it was enough to set me off so all of Balticon I hopped myself up on Sudafed and fogged my way through the weekend.

In the space of that little time between arriving home and going to Balticon our central air finally got fixed. Thank goodness. About a year ago my landlady sent someone in to "fix" it and this guy removed the air filter and told me that was my problem. It seemed odd plus with Caramon's week lungs from the cancer I questioned needing this. The tech swore up and down that we did not need it, removed it, and said not to put a new one in.  Very bad. If you have a tech do this, he's a quack. Get a new air filter anyway.  I will say that the AC worked the best it had ever worked.  It still doesn't work that well and this guy supposedly "fixed" it a few weeks ago. I personally think there's something more wrong, and they have yet to admit what it is.  She installed the unit in August/September of 2005 and we still have problems regulating the temperature in the house. With the 105 temps of this past weekend we were lucky to keep our house at 80 when it was set to 71.  Fixed? I don't know. My landlady, however, wants to take the repair fees out of our deposit for "neglect". Honestly I would like to fight her on this but don't have it in me at this time. We will see what happens over the next few months. I am very unhappy.

She came in about two and a half weeks ago to measure for the new flooring and spent the time complaining about how much stuff we had down in the lower level of the home. It is our family room, our storage room, my photo studio, and the boys school room. As we live in a split foyer, the downstairs is not a "basement", but actual living area.  She complained heavily about not knowing if she could put flooring down. I think furniture would take us not long to move with some help from our friends and we could easily move it for the days we got new flooring. I also think it is of no business of hers.

She also complained about the length of our lawn. Again. After she left I went and measured the blades of grass. Four inches. I keep telling this woman that is an acceptable healthy length for grass. This is the the third time she's complained about the length of the grass.  One time was actually involved with the flood.  Why didn't we mow the lawn that weekend was her question.  The six inches of rain that fell was my answer.

Last Tuesday she served us notice that she was going to terminate our lease, with no real reason given. I do not know if she's irate over the grass, how much money she's had to spend on her house, or if she wants to sell it. No idea. She didn't even say in the letter we were horrible tenants or anything. Just that she's terminating the lease.  As we are month to month now, she can do this. So off we go into house hunting lands. And the flooring is not going to come until after we move out. She did cite she felt it would "be to hard with all of your stuff."

Two days later Joram went to play at a friend's house and got bit by a snake. Oh no, he can't get bit by a garden snake. Not him. He got bit by a copperhead so off we go to the ER.  He is fine now, but talk about a crazy adventure. He and I are both seeing doctors to follow up. Him for the snake bite, me for the pain sleeping on the ER caused my already messed up back. This morning we follow up his finger and then I go straight to the chiropractor. Not that we can truly afford either, but we can't afford to NOT go!

So here we are.  I'm in the midst of mass insanity and it doesn't look to get any better any time soon. But, it has pushed me to a conclusion that I need to do something more.  I need to get off my duff.  Moving and new cameras do not pay for themselves.  I know I posted the base cost to replace my camera equipment already. Ouch.  Moving is even more than that! Scary.

Everyone tells me time and time again that I need to sell my photos. That I need to sell my photography skills more.  So I am.  I wish I had time to set up websites and whatnot to promote myself more, but I just don't. Not with having to house hunt and pack in such a short amount of time and attempting to wrap up my other projects.  (I was given till the end of July. Now I've moved in 14 days before so I can do this no problem, but...)

I plan to make available my landscapes. My pictures of DC, VA, and that sort of thing. I'm trying to figure out what I can charge to successfully cover the expense of printing and mailing.  I also have a fund raising idea of setting up at a park and allowing people to come and pay me $10-15 for one post and an 8x10 print. Something that will be of great service to families in need of family portraits as well as put a small amount in my pocket to go towards new camera/moving.

Many of my photographs I can print wonderful 8x10, 10x13, and 16x20's. I will work this weekend to make sure the ones that I think are likeable are on my flickr.  I have my photographs tagged, but I will set up a group of landscapes.  I struggle with the cost of some sites that automatically do this for you.  I wonder if people would really pay that kind of money for my photographs, but it would sure make things easier if I didn't have to do the work. 

So that's my crazy life and my photography scheme to make some fast cash.  Feel free to sound off. :)  (Or claim what photos you want by looking at my flickr.)

For now, think I can go somewhere over the rainbow and hide from life in the Emerald City?

--Lady O

I just wanted to post to say I'm so proud of you, chite!  I'm so proud that you won LJ Idol!  I am proud to know you!  You are a fantastic friend, talented writer, and you totally deserve this win!!!!!!!!!!

YAY!

*CONFETTI*
*STREAMERS*
*NOISEMAKERS*

((HUGS))

--Lady O
(Who's been wrapped up in far more drama than one girl can take which is why she's not around much. For more, check out my twitter to read about us being forced out of our home, the snake bite, and whatever other wrench gets thrown at us!  Chite, I hope that I can make this month even better for both of us... I still haven't heard anything... *SIGH*)

Lady Ozma is in the house!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I opened an email earlier today and learned I apparently made the May newsletter for goodreads.com.  How exciting! 

You may now bow and worship at my awesomeness!! 

Take a look below to see what was included.

--Lady O

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
In Westerfeld's new sci-fi series, everyone becomes "pretty" at 16 — through compulsory plastic surgery. Lady Ozma says, "The author channels George Orwell and Ray Bradbury in a Judy Blume-esque book. Take aspects from a Twilight Zone episode and mix in a little 1984, and you get Uglies."

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to post a "I survived Balticon" entry to let you guys know that I am home and that life will hopefully be getting back to some semblance of normal for a bit.  Here's the scoop:

Hotel Crud is almost all gone.  YAY!  Just still tired and now have a sinus headache.  Feeling much healthier!  Woot!

Balticon was awesome, even if I was very out of it from my Sudafed.  Please feel free to let me know just how stoned I looked.  To quote Tee, "You looked like you were in a fog."  Yeah, I know.  That's what that "non drowsy" stuff does to me. 

Camera situation: Still MIA.  I am coming to terms that I no longer have my wonderful camera.  I am still mourning the loss.  Because of some birthday money and the generosity of a few people to my paypal account, I have scrounged up the starts to a replacement of items fund.  I am 10% of the way to new gear.  My XTi is no longer on the website, so I am basing this off the next XSi model.  I am not sure how long the XTi will still be available in stores and unless someone has access to a money tree, I feel it better to plan on having to put out the extra expense.  I am thinking that it looks like I will be out of full photography commission until December.  Unless someone paying comes along and wants a wedding done.  Then I can use my fees for that to get a new setup and don't think I wouldn't do it.  ROFL.  Thanks again to the support of all of you great people.  You have made this whole situation berable.

Flood Situation: It really looks like most everything is OK.  It's going to take a while to really figure out if we lost anything, but it doesn't look like we lost much.  Woot.  My house is in mega disarray with stuff literally crammed where ever we could to avoid the floodwaters and move out of way for flooring removal.  Today the landlady came by with a handyman to measure for new flooring.  My house will likely remain in this state for quite some time as we really need to wait for flooring before we can move forward.  I will most likely wait until that time before I truly access anything else.  Feel free to drop in, just please except a mega pigsty.  It's making me nuts, but there's not much I can do about it so I'm trying my best to deal.

Wedding photos: I've edited a handful.  Mostly the brides room and whatnot photos.  Nothing new has been put to my flickr.  I have been away all weekend and just too tired tonight.  I'll definitely twitter when there is more done.  :)  I'm so glad I was able to do this.  It's going to be a fun project to distract me from the chaos of my situation.

Homeschool: Well since the flood has made us completely wreck our home, I don't know what to do.  I have to hunt through things to find what we need so maybe I'll just bag the main lessons until mid summer after the house is semi sort of normal again.  Not happy, but what do you do?  It isn't like the boys aren't still reading loads and doing plenty of other sorts of things.  It just makes me feel guilty.

What else is there?  Oh, writing projects!!  Well, I really have a hard time writing in chaos, but I am planning some serious writing time anyway.  If I can't really clean, can't really school, I might as well do something useful!  So I think I'll get back to my writing after the photos are done.  I'd love to do some sort of writing bootcamp to bang out some more Juan of the Dead.  I spoke with one of my writer friends this weekend about that project actually.  She was very encouraging.  As for Walking With Women, I plan to start that back up as well very soon.  :)

That's the random diary style entry from me!  Much love and hugs to all!  If you happen to find the fabled money tree and would love to share with me, let me know... *SNICKERS*  I'll do the same.  I'm kind of thinking a new camera and a trip to a tropical paradise until my house is fixed up is sounding real good right about now.  What about you guys?  Party in Bora Bora on the money tree's dime?

--Lady O

Mesa, Arizona LDS Temple, originally uploaded by Lady Ozma.

I thought you guys would like to see a picture I got while in Arizona this past week. This is the Temple in Mesa just as the sun hit a beautiful evening position. I love this so much I made it my new desktop background. :)

I took this while shooting the portraits of the bride and groom. There's just a couple of photos posted over at my flickr. (Follow the picture link if you like.)

I took about 1100 photos between everything this day so I have my work cut out for me in editing. I didn't get much opportunity to go shooting desert shots like I wanted. *SIGH* I wish. I really wanted some picturesque desert shots... c'est la vie!

If you are curious about the camera situation... it's still missing. :( No word. At this point I know it has been found and someone has just decided for whatever reason to not get it back to the proper owner. Such a shame. I hope that they enjoy my camera as much as I have. I love that camera.

The Xti has been removed from Ritz Camera's website to make way for the new Xsi. Which of course is about $200 more. Which means all the longer before i can afford to replace it. I have put together a package with the camera, my wonderful lens, a memory card, and the extended service plan and the painful price tag is $1300. Ouch. Double ouch. 1300 ouches in fact. LOL

My sweet husband has been very supportive. He should be granted sainthood for the amount of whining he has had to put up with. He is determined to help me buy a new camera as soon as we can raise the funds for it.

Meanwhile it's back to the old camera for me. Talk about an adjustment. I keep trying to change the lens so I can get in closer to things... ROFL. And low light? Don't even ask. Thankfully I didn't have to use it a whole lot this weekend as my friend graciously loaned me her Xti. Though I was annoying her because I kept putting it in manual and she can't use that mode. Every time she picked it up she was like 'What the heck is it doing????" LOL I was like, "you are gonna be real happy when I leave and you can keep this in portrait mode, aren't you?" LOL.

So that's it for me now. Enjoy this photo. Feel free to watch my flickr for what else I post. I still have a couple more I'd like to post as soon as I get done processing... :)

--Lady O

I just wanted to post to say how thankful I am to all of you for your support and generosity.  The people who have posted and contacted me, you overwhelm and amaze me.  It's easy to lose faith in people given this world we live in, so it's always especially great when I can witness people doing amazing and wonderfully giving things.

I appreciate all the prayers, the kind words, the condolences, everything.  I still remain hopeful that my camera will turn up today just in time for me to retrieve it before heading to Arizona.  It would definitely be a May Miracle. 

We could all use a miracle in our lives.  I must admit, I've seen one already just from all of you guys.  Thanks again. 

So many people have contacted me, asking how they can donate to help me get a new camera.  I appreciate your concern and your desire.  I hate to ask for such a thing with all the more pressing needs in the world at large.  I'm glad that some of you believe my photos make that much of a difference.  I love photography so much.  The most rewarding part is when you are able to give an amazing photo to someone.  I love the joy that brings.  When I get my camera back, or get a new camera, I look forward to continuing with that very cause.

I have had difficulty setting up a donation button. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Maybe it's just not meant to be. If anyone really wants to donate, I can figure something out. I just do not have time or the ability to do it now. I don't know why I can't get a paypal donation button to work. Something about an id or something. Several of you know how to contact me off of here and that's who my account is through. Maybe my trouble is because I really don't feel worthy of the donations being offered...

I still remain hopeful that I can get mine back.  I plan to try calling the bus company one more time before I leave for Arizona.  I at least want to thank them for looking and working hard.  The woman at the bus yard has been so kind and wonderful.  She deserves a thank you, even if she doesn't have the good news of my camera being there. 

I keep hoping that my phone will ring and someone will say they have my camera.  It would make my heart cry with joy.  I already have a post written for if my camera is returned.  I worked hard on it because I have tried so hard to keep the faith.  Faith in my fellow man, faith in the power of prayer, faith in the goodness out there in the world like all of you have shown me.

It's only 6:19 AM and I'm awake.  I'm anxious to go to Arizona!!  LOL.  I leave town around 11:30 to head to the airport.  If you could all say a prayer that my travels will be safe and uneventful, that would be great.  I don't know when I'll be able to post again, but I have friends that can post comments to update on the camera front should something happen after I leave my house.  I would suspect I can have internet while in Arizona, but I don't know how busy I will be and whatnot.

So if there are no new blog entries from me, watch the comment section of this post.  

For anyone concerned about my flight arrangements, I fly out of BWI to Atlanta on a Delta flight.  I then pick up another Delta flight to Phoenix.  My flight here leaves at 3:25 and between changeovers and travel time I arrive in Arizona near 10 PM their time.  It's going to be a LONG day!

Love to all
Lady O

*Edited at 10:20 See below*

Another call to bus... nothing. *SIGH*

I still can't figure out the paypal thing. So here's my email. I'm writing it so as to avoid spammers in the usual style. I promise if somehow my camera shows up by some miracle, any and all monies donated will go to further camera needs. After all, I didn't have a flash or any of that sort of stuff.

No one is under any obligation to donate any money. Only do it if you want to. I completely understand being broke. I'm right with you. Or just not wanting to. It's all good.

Much love.
jacalynstanley at gmail dot com

Now, I must away. I have to run two errands and then I'm heading to the airport. Several of you know my phone number if you need to reach me. Rest of you, feel free to leave a comment and ask for someone to get me the message.

Take care.

OK, I'm thinking my camera is probably and most likely gone at this point.  It's so big it has been found and is obviously not being turned in.  I've tried the bad side of this and even looked on ebay and craigslist.  Maybe someone didn't mean to take it out of maliciousness, but the point is, it is gone and each hour makes it less likely to get back.

Please, feel free to keep the prayers going.  I know I will.  Thank you for your love and support.  I appreciate it.

I wish I could go out and replace this camera but I just do not have the finances to do it.  With looking at 1,000 dollars roughly, it's just not likely to happen anytime soon.  Unfortunately this affects me in a bad way because I do use this to garner a little extra money.  Not enough to be able to afford indemnity insurance which I'm wishing for right about now...  *SIGH*

Thanks for passing the story around.  Thanks to all the people who have read the story.  Thanks to the couple of friends offering to donate to "the cause".  I appreciate your love and support.

I will keep you guys posted in the original topic until something major happens.  Watch for edits.

With love,

Lady Ozma

Some of you already know this, but let me sum up the situation real quick for those who don't.

On Saturday I rode in a charter bus up to the DC Temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints.  My wonderful exchange student daughter arose so early to ride with me and sacrificed her entire morning.  Though it was raining and I had not originally planned to, we grabbed my camera to take with us.  Because I was going to be busy, I had not planned to take the camera because I did not like the idea of leaving it on the bus.  I didn't get a lot of sleep either so I was worried about misplacing anything and wanted to go with as little stuff as possible.  The day was bleak and so I figured it wasn't going to be worth taking a camera anyway. However, with my daughter going, I thought we could take a photograph together there to commemorate the trip and/or she could use the camera if she wanted to take photos while I was busy inside.

She promised to take care of my camera while I was busy.  She's a great girl.  I love her dearly.

When I got on the bus after finishing my work inside, she told me immediately, "I have your camera!"  Then asked after my time. 

Neither of us had a lot of sleep or food and by the time we got home at 3:00 PM we were fairly toasted.  I needed to get some information to a member on the far back of the bus, so I jumped off the bus quickly to let others off and to wait for this person.  She went to the van and sort of spaced out.

About an hour after we got home I asked for my camera. 

We didn't have it.

It is now Tuesday morning and my camera has yet to be found.  This is my good SLR camera.  The good news is that I have one lined up to use in Arizona so I can fulfill my obligation this weekend for the wedding.  More good news is that by going to the friend who owns said camera, it helps the mother of the bride out a little bit.  Even more good news, said friend went overboard and bought a ton of stuff, stuff I have yet been able to afford but may prove very useful for this wedding.  A fact I would never have known so wouldn't have access to otherwise.  So all in all, a lot of good has come.

But now, I need my camera.  It's my camera.  You guys know that this is a major thing for me.  It has photos from my mother's stitchery show I took at the end of last week on it.  It is the camera with which I shoot weddings, portraits, my kids, adventures, etc.  Even without the photos on the card in question, this camera is not going to be easy for me to replace.  I need 1000 dollars to replace the equipment.  These things aren't cheap.

So here's my request, copied from an email I just posted out.  I've waited to post in my blog just because I didn't want my friends with the wedding to have a heart attack... you know?  But now... I really need some prayer.  Please, read the following:

I'm so devastated about my camera.  There is still no word.  I'm going to try to make the round of phone calls this morning once it is 10 AM Eastern.  Waiting for things/places to open up.  It's 7:11 right now.  I'll be watching the clock.  (I'm also anxiously waiting for the arrival of my AC Repair guy!!) 

I so believe in the power of prayer.  The loss of my camera has brought some hidden blessings for which I am grateful.  However, it is now time for me to have it back.  Will each of you please please please say a prayer this morning?  I know if we pray hard enough that the person who found my camera will make sure it gets to someone that I call this morning.  That they will be moved to ensure the safe return of my camera.  That my camera can come out of its hiding space and be found.

Please say a prayer that my camera is waiting for my phone call.  That my camera is safe.  It is somewhere on this great big earth and someone had to have seen it.  Help them to bring it forward.  It's not a small camera that's easy to hide or miss.  It's in a backpack style carrying case.  It's one of those professional SLR cameras.  I had my long lens on it, but the bag also held my regular lens.  It's a CAMERA and there's no bones about it.  It's not one of these tiny pocket sized business card things.  You can see this thing hanging from my neck or sitting at my eye from a mile away.

It has to have been found by now.  Someone found this camera.  You know someone found it.  Please, please, please pray that if the person has not yet come forward that they will.

I believe... I know... there's enough of us.  Our prayers will be heard.

Thank you so much.  My sanity and my poor teenager's heart appreciate it.  She's really worried and upset and feels awful.

**EDITED UPDATE BELOW 11:33 AM Eastern**

I have contacted the bus company. Still not showing up. I contacted the location we went to. Not there either. Both locations are working hard for me but just no luck. I contacted the local police department, nothing. I have checked my town's craigslist under lost/found and items for sale. Now I'm trying Northern VA. Next up is Richmond. Still nothing.

For anyone who is curious as to what I lost here is a link to the item below:
Canon Digital Rebel XTI with additional 75-300 mm lens (that is the lens for portraits)
I also had filters on both lenses, a red and black backpack style camera bag, and CF cards as follows: 4 gigabyte - quantity 2, 2 gigabyte - quantity 1. A folding card that tells you about your camera. The base to my tripod attached to the camera. Two lens cleaning cloths. Some miscellaneous other things such as all the coupons from Ritz where i purchased the camera two December's ago.

As you can see this is a loss of a lot of dang money. 1000 bucks roughly to replace it. Well, a little more because of the accessories... Yikes.

Thanks again

--Lady O

FYI, I've been struggling with a power issue with my laptop for a few weeks now.  I've finally got HP sending me a replacement cord.  Where it plugs into the laptop, the cord is really loose in there.  So I can't seem to get power.  It's hard.  It's gotten really bad and this weekend I can barely get it to "connect" at all.  With no laptop power, this drastically limits my ability to do things such as photo editing, email, blogging, writing.  Mainly... accessing the outside world.

Frustrated?  Yes.  New power cord is due by Thursday.  Meanwhile if I can get my laptop to accept power, fantastic.  I'll get on.  And try to finish my writing.

So I have half of three blog entries done, including walking with women.  but the screen dimming is annoying.  That's fine if it's dark, but not so good if it's light all around.  *SIGH*

Sorry to vent my frustrations and write like this, but urgh.  I'm just so frustrated.  I have been trying for 20 minutes to get my laptop to accept power.  I am now at 76% battery life.  So I'm gonna go.  Oh well.  I have reading I wanted to do anyway. 

Thoughts and whatnot with ya!  I'll check my email on the pocket pc and whatnot, but other than that, I'm gonna lay off the blogosphere and photo editing this week.  Unless I get lucky.  I'll be fiddling here and there with it.  WHenever i get power I'll be on!

It works.  Just only about 10% of the time.  HA!  That's helpful!  Worse was i had it working great after fiddling for 20 minutes earlier and then the dog jumped on me and the laptop moved and poof... there went my power.  That was the last time I had power.  I love you Nephi, but STAY OFF THE COMPUTER!  HAHAHA

--Lady O

Priscilla

Priscilla only shows up sprinkled here and there throughout the New Testament, and I admit to not noticing her a whole lot until now. What a shame, for she seems pretty unforgettable now that I look into her life a bit more.

Now that I am studying, looking for these women in the Bible, I find them standing out. Waving their hands, calling me to come for a visit. How could I miss so many in my previous readings?

We first meet Priscilla, along with her husband, when Paul of Tarsus arrived in Corrinth. Priscilla worked with her husband making tents, a trade shared with Paul. Between their lives as Christians and a common ground for work, the three formed a friendship that led them on many adventures throughout the ancient world.

Priscilla's story begins before that fateful meeting with Paul, however. She married Aquilla and the two worked together in their business. She had me at "working with my husband". I love my husband very much, but boy am I thankful that he goes off to his job during the day while I attend to my various work here at home! I have no doubt if someone forced us to work together it would not end well. He and I work in completely different ways which makes it good that we have entirely different duties.

The patience one learns when working alongside their spouse is nothing short of amazing. You learn a level of compassion and love as well. It binds you together in other ways since you know so much about the goings on of the other's day. Learning to separate the worklife and the homelife from each other becomes even more necessary.

In more traditional seeming couples, however, the spouses attend to their various obligations away from one another. Absence can make the heart grow fonder, but also spouses can lose sight of one another's daytime lives. Men, in their oh so talkative way, forget to mention things going on in the office or think a wife may not care. Women, in their oh so silent way, prattle on about the latest glue project of the kids, the new drapes, the state of the larder, and the price of tea in China.

Men and women are quite different beings. God made us differently, gave us each our own strengths and weaknesses. We never truly realize this until we live with someone of the opposite sex.

Paul learned his skill in a province known for their high quality of cloth. Perhaps he taught Priscilla and Aquilla some of what he knew regarding textiles. They, too, could teach him their knowledge of tent making from their travels. The three could improve their secular skills as they conversed over their common work.

Tent-making was not the only appeal that Priscilla and Aquilla held for Paul. Upon meeting them, he noticed at once their spiritualiy. Born Jews, they converted to Christ and became fellow ministers in the Gospel. Paul, so taken with the two, included them on his journey from Corrinth to Syria.

Paul did not just invite Aquilla, he invited Aquilla and Priscilla. A note that some might not think much of in this day and age where couple missionaries travel the globe. In this time, the dangers associated with travel meant that often women stayed home. They easily could say to Priscilla to stay and manage the tent business in Corrinth. Instead, Paul wanted her along.

Priscilla worked alongside her husband in ministering to people. Paul compliments her devotion and her willingness to serve God. Once more, we see a woman working to further the Lord's Kingdom.

A working woman.

The ideal for many Chrisitan women today is to find a way to remain at home. To not need to work outside the home for the benefit of the family. We find ourselves longing for a more traditional life where we raise children and tend to the house, but that is not attainable to every woman for a variety of reasons.

Sometimes the husband cannot work, or the family needs the additional income that the wife working brings in. Perhaps a woman has not yet married or finds herself, for whatever reason, single once more. Some women just enjoy what working gives them. For whatever reason, we see many women in the workforce this day, and many of those women are strong, Christian women.

Entering the workforce carries a stigma from The Mommy Wars that I just do not want to get into. I highly respect any woman working, especially working mothers.

I look at the work that Priscilla accomplished by working that she would not otherwise complete. Especially for a Christian woman, getting out of the home means they can contact more people. By seeing the good, Christ-like example, others can learn of the Savior.

Did Priscilla talk to anyone during the day? Staying home with those she knew might not lead her to near as many missionary opportunities. The people she met and taught probably think of her fondly with heartfelt gratitude for sharing the story of Christ with them. How many lives are touched each and every day to turn towards God just because of someone they know at work? I doubt we can even fathom the number.

What should we do in our work, then? We should look toward Priscilla. She obviously worked diligently, letting herself be known by good products. We know this by the respect people held for her. Always do your best, in whatever the task. My children are sick and tired of hearing me say it, but the most true statement will always be: A job worth doing is worth doing well.

We should not hide our beliefs, our love of the Savior, our faith. We do not need to mention God every other word, but we also do not need to hide. Perhaps it is the cross you wear around your neck, or the fact that your desk holds a scripture a day calendar, or the story you tell about your child's confirmation. You don't know what small or large thing will matter to people, but remember that people watch each other. Your life teaches others what they need to know. Some people may never open a Bible, but they do see you.

Perhaps Priscilla hummed while she worked, maybe she offered a prayer over her lunch, or she conversed with customers over their order. Each thing she did, she let testify of her Christianity. We should do the same.

We also learn that Priscilla's home, so filled with the Spirit of God, became a refuge for people. Referred to as a place of worship, Priscilla and her husband welcomed fellow believers with open arms and hearts. I long for people to consider my home as safe haven and a spiritual refuge! Oh how beautiful would my home be then, with the Spirit filling the rooms? A place where the Lord felt welcome, and His followers, too.

Before long, the two came across another minister, a highly educated man named Apollos. Though he studied hard and learned much, he came to them needing further guidance to truly understand Christ's ministry. This hard working couple took Apollos under their wing and helped him further his spiritual journey that led him to become exceedingly influential in the early Church.

We do not always see the ways the Lord works through us. We do not see the things we do as special. It seems like nothing to hand someone a Bible. While we enjoy sharing the Savior with others, we may not realize the importance of that person. Who knows when our loving encouragement and help could bring someone to God that He uses to do utterly amazing things?

We should remember that we each have our own ministries. Some are more personal in nature while others are more public. When we are doing the things the Lord commands, our lives will reach a level of peace and fulfillment we can only dream about.

Never doubt the Lord's plan. If he leads us to people to minister to, there is a good reason. Imagine if Priscilla said to the Lord she just didn't want to deal with Apollos? Would he learn the things the Lord needed him to know?

Several times we see Priscilla and Aquilla praised for their faith. We also hear reference to them risking their lives for Paul. Just what did they do? Did they indeed lose their lives for their faith and for protecting Paul of Tarsus? At that occasion or another?

Priscilla must possess a courage beyond measure. Today, living in America, it is not so hard to be a Christian. No one really questions it, no one tries to take your life, things are pretty easy. Because of their heritage and faith, Priscilla and Aquilla had no choice in moving, the government forced them out of their home. When asked by Paul, once more she packed their bags and traveled long and dangerous roads. Threatened with bodily harm and death, she stood firm in her faith and alongside her husband and friend.

Can I meet such obstacles with such bravery? Can you? I pray we can. If ever you meet an obstacle, know I walk beside you as well as Priscilla. We bring with us many wonderful, strong women as well as the Lord.

I wish more of their story lasted to this day, but we find plenty to learn from this early saint and her husband.

Her love and devotion to the Lord and Aquilla are nothing short of beautiful.

--Lady O

*Author's Note* I'm sorry for the unexpected break.  I just really needed to regroup.  We've had a lot on our plate from work, to new furniture, to all sorts of things.  FYI: There will be no WWW on Sunday, April 27th due to my being involved with an event that weekend.  Likewise Sunday, May 11th is my birthday/Mother's Day and Sunday, May 18th I'm going on vacation to Arizona.  I forsee those Sunday's to also be skipped as well.  Wanted to give you guys a heads up!  I will remind you later!