The Woman Behind "Four Praise Songs!"

My most popular post thus far is called "Four Praise Songs" and in it I talk about how I finally got an idea for working out that is actually working for me.  The friend I got this from is Mary Thompson.  This week's blog will highlight a business Mary has developed (one of many) and for any of you who need some help with designing your home, this might also be a good opportunity.  But first I just want to tell you about my friend.

Mary is a single mother of four amazing, although challenging young adults. (I should know, I used to babysit them.)  In the picture she looks calm and professional but the Mary I know dances to praise music in her kitchen (she used to be a professional dancer), she usually has paint splattered somewhere on her person, her house is usually a wreck (but so full of life and love), and she is one of the few women I have ever met who is able to flirt like a crazy person and have it remain completely harmless and boundaried.

Mary and I met about 13 years ago when I visited a 12-step meeting.  Mary was leading that night and telling her story.  I remember being amazed by her and captivated by the atmosphere in the room as she shared about her life.  There was a passion and strength about Mary that stayed with me.  But I didn't go back to the meeting.  I was struggling in a painful marriage at the time and I wasn't sure this meeting was what I needed.  Flash forward a year and I was in enough pain that I came back.  I didn't care if it was where "I fit", I needed a place to talk, to have it remain confidential, and where I wouldn't be judged.  (It would be nice if all our churches were this way, huh?  But I digress...) I felt like I cried in that meeting every week for about a year.  Mary was in that meeting regularly and her shares were a sort of lifeline for me.  She had been through similar circumstances and was alive and vibrant.

Eventually I worked up my nerve to ask her to sponsor me and thus began our more structured relationship.  Because she was my sponsor she got to know me REALLY well.  Over the years Mary has walked with me through everything...my divorce, moves, and getting accepted to grad school at Vanderbilt. (We screamed like 7th grade cheerleaders when I got my acceptance letter).  We did Bible study together, prayed together, sometimes yelled at each other, and eventually I was able to walk with her through a time of horrific pain in her own life.  Our bond is now that of sisters.

You may have picked up that I think a lot of this amazing woman.  I actually think this is the hardest blog I've written so far because I so much want to do justice to who she is and what our relationship has meant to me.  I remember coming to visit her in Nashville after I moved away.  I had not had any sleep the night before and I remember feeling completely lost because I so wanted to talk and spend time together and I could hardly see straight.  I was afraid that she would be angry because I was too tired to really spend time together.  She didn't get angry, she just put me to bed...in her bed.  She has been absolutely and unconditionally loving to me.  Calling me on it when I was being an idiot but never ever faltering in her love for me.  I have absolutely no idea how I got so blessed because when we met I was an absolute mess.  She taught me God's grace and up until the time I finally got it, she was quite fond of telling me I had no idea what it looked like.

Mary had been a stay at home mom most of her married life and at times bartered her design skills for things her family needed.  After her divorce she had a family member tell her she was going to have to get a job at Walmart.  She didn't feel this was God's calling for her and over the last few years I have seen her continually grow as an entrepreneur.  She has many businesses, but for the purposes of this blog we'll focus on her design business.  Mary calls herself a design coach because rather than foisting her own design signature on people she finds out what works for them and helps them put it together.  Please check out her blog at www.mydesigncoach.com.  Mary has agreed to offer an internet special for anyone who contacts her as a result of this blog.

Mary knows that one of the main reasons people struggle with decorating is because they don't always know what they like.  This is the area Mary shines!  For the purposes of this blog, Mary has put together a deal that will allow you to define your style.  This offer is for a phone consult with 3 follow up emails for $89.00.  Please contact her through her website or at mydesigncoach@gmail.com.  If you live in the Nashville area and have a design project she is available for consult as well.

Define Your Style!

Phone Consult

3 Follow Up Emails

$89.00

mydesigncoach@gmail.com

www.mydesigncoach.com