As I reflect upon some things that have taken place this past month, I think... I need to blog! We had our Open House in June and it was great.  It’s been a busy summer so far, closing of the Vision House men's program; the open house and Vision House celebrating 13 years of service.....VISION HOUSE  a teenager!   I was a little, well not really ...but yea, I was disappointed that more of "my people" didn't attend the open house.  Wow, did I blog that out loud?  Anyway, I often say that whoever is meant to be a part of,  or a supporter of Vision House will be. I always tell my residents that people owe us/them nothing, and I found myself saying that to myself on open house.  I thought about all the churches in Ennis, two in particular, that I just felt like they "owed" it to me to come out to the open house. One because it's my family church...(is there such a  thing anymore?) …the other one because this pastor influenced my life years ago and owes me (at least that’s’ what I was feeling).

I had a young lady that has been in and out of VH 6 times ....yeap 6, those that know me know that is NOT normal for me and or the House.  This young woman -- 20 years old, 4 children and addicted to WET;  molested from the age of 9 by her mother's boyfriends while her mother was drunk and/or high; the mother witnessing these happenings but wouldn't/couldn't???? protect her child. Now that the young woman is 21, her mother still isn't protecting her.  As we talked the night they brought her back to VH for the 6th time, she screamed and cried "she owes me"!!!  At that moment and for the first time in my adult life, I hesitated to say "No she doesn't." This Good Morning Little Pretty Girl wanted to agree with her....   

Yesterday a young lady who, with her 7-year-old daughter and her sister in need of housing, contacted me.  I explained our program and she explained her situation -- not an addict, not a criminal, no criminal history.  Both she and her sister had lost their jobs and were evicted from their previous housing.  They were sleeping in their car... it was 98 degrees in Ennis yesterday!  Sleeping in a car in a town where, my last count, there are 75 churches...ijs.  Anyway, made some calls and they have a place to stay for a few days; if VH has to house them we will....do I owe them that?  This Good Morning Little Pretty Girl asks the question....."Can we ask anyone to pay us for the pain caused; or just to pay us because they have it?" 
    

Will and I are preparing for our vacation time, we will leave after the Diva Fashion Show on July 21, and if you did not make the open house you owe VH to be at the Fashion Show... :)  Let this Good Morning Little Pretty Girl know how you feel about this blog.....

Man the Red Day was awesome! I was just blown away by all the people that came out.  There was like 50 people there.   We cut down trees... planted flowers ate hot dogs and threw water balloons. I was even interviewed and my family members were too... I'll post clips of the video.  Well, after a wonderful day, I had to discharge one of the ladies that had worked hard and participated in the Red Day... Yeap, after doing a good closure rap up group, getting home and settling down, I get a call from my house monitor that one of the divas was displaying a very negative unacceptable attitude.  We offered her  a behavior contract but... it is what it is... I don't like when that happens, but it’s sometimes the nature of the beast.  Just can't have the negativity, its affects the entire house.  I’m just noticing that my older divas are sometimes set in their ways. Then, I received a call from a diva that’s been MIA... but, she did call, not ready to come back home; but as long as Vision House is open she'll have a bed!
Red for me represents confidence and strength and I'm so glad we had Red Day.  This good morning little pretty girl is wondering do you volunteer? Why or why not?

Its early... People are everywhere...  God is sooo good to us!!!!!!!!! I'm so full of joy right now...

If you didn't know, this little pretty girl has gone natural, I've  been in transitioning from a perm for over a year now.   I've figured out why going natural is important to me and how I compare it to the women and men that are in recovery.  My experience is  helping me understand "transitioning" it helps me to understand the ups and downs. I've learned that not all days are  good days, some days I DON'T feel like a pretty little girl with my natural  hair.  Then there are days thats I feel so "fly",  like being natural is the  greatest thing in the world... I see that in the faces of some of the divas in  their transition to recovery and a different way of living, some days they believe it works and somedays they are NOT sure... One day I was wanting to go  buy a perm and I had to call for support, just as a person in recovery does.  Close call "RELAPSE" this little pretty girl doesn't want to relapse in my natural hair journey, and I don't want any of the little pretty girls in their recovery journey  to relapse ....  Is relapse really apart of recovery?  This little pretty girl doesn't believe it is!

I feel great! I've been hanging out with the ladies at the  houses and everyone seems so happy.  I feel the love, I had to let some of my long time divas go, but its ok,  it was in order to allow them to continue their journey and for me to continue  mine as well.  
The Ennis house is going great, there’s 5 women there so far and  they are women with wisdom, they are planting for the young women that will be coming soon.  I've been having some mixed emotions about some decisions I've had to make these last few months, but   I’m so satisfied with all the decisions made. As I looked down the road, I knew this  year would be the year for harvest! I planted and I continue to plant, but last  year I knew that my planting would produce some good harvest. Our son will
graduate after planting... the women’s house in Ennis opened after planting...  the men’s program is developing strong after planting...  marriage  of 20 years still  good, after  planting.  
After planting,  I've met so many positive and supportive people since opening the house in Ennis. As Will and I prepare for our cruise, coming up in July, I smile and look forward to this little pretty girl relaxing! Remember to Save the Dates  from our website of upcoming events!   Does planting really work?       

I was so excited about having a blog.... got so excited, I wrote one time and opended a new house and have been so busy that I haven't taken time to write!  Well, I'm back!!!! It's been an interesting season.  The Ennis (Ellis County Women house) is officially open.... Lisa and Carl has been calling it "Diva Serenity." its awesome.  I've had 4 women there and then down to 2... Next week after bringing some of the Dallas divas down, we will have 5 women.  I've had so much support from the community.  We have a Red Day (volunteer day) on May 10th from 9am-5pm. I'm looking forward to some great things in Ellis county.  Question for today.....Does recovery work for Good Morning Little Pretty Girls?   

WOW...I'm excited about starting my blog.  I want to just blog my journey, I want people to know what I experience on a daily basis.  My blogs won't always be about me, but about the the people that impact my life;  most will be the women that are a part of my daily journey... women in Vision House (VH) and the "adventures" with them and sometime their families.  In the past week I had a resident choose to leave VH after being held accountable for making an inappropriate suggestive request of a male.  I allowed the resident to remain at VH (out of consideration for her mother), but a few days later she decided to move out and convinced another young lady, who has no family support, to leave with her.  Almost immediately upon leaving the house, the young lady without family support relapsed... (not even 24 hours after leaving).  The ironic thing is the resident who acted inappropriately didn't think she had been unfairly held accountable.  However, her sister who came to help her move out  totally blamed me!    The sister told me I was $ hungry and the reason I drive the type of car I drive  is because the ladies residing in VH paid for it!  I totally wanted to scream!!!  After all, the lady who has no family support (the one who left with them) was one of the many women who've moved into VH with NO $!!!  So I guess I wasn't too $ hungry, but I will be if I keep that up -- you know, the in with NO $ thing.   Does recovery work? Do they stay sober? Do they change? Am I wrong for wondering?  Just a thought from the "Good Morning Little Pretty Girl"