Asking for a sign...

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As most of my MyLot friends already know, my home and business burned down on October 2 2017. I lost everything I owned, from the roof over my head, my clothing, my furry babies, my car and my business of designing and making teddy bears. After a loss so tragic as that (I was the one to find the remains of a few of my furry babies in the charred debris of what was once my home) it was hard to even think of keeping going. I spent 30 years building my bear making business and the reputation of making quality bears, it was gone in a flash of sparks and flames. I instantly went into shock and into PTSD. I still suffer from the pain of loosing my business. I love making and designing teddy bears, even though I can't do the shows like I usually do due to physical limitations. So, this past week I decided that unless there was some sign that I should continue I would shut down the business. There wouldn't be that much loss as I haven't invested the money in replacement supplies like I had when the house burned down. The first temptation was a beautiful lace fabric that was beaded and perfect for wedding dresses. It was at JoAnne's fabrics in Gilroy where we had been staying for a few days. I fell in love with the fabric and would have bought it on the spot but it was $40 a yard! I could see the finished dress on a mohair teddy bear, but the sale price would be horrible...how many people would spend $300 to $400 on a teddy bear? I passed on the fabric, disappointed but with $40+ dollars still in my pocket. Temptation number two was a beautiful fur vest at the thrift shop. It was only $9.99 but I'd only get one bear out of it. I still might spend the money for the vest, it's local and maybe.... Third was a beautiful cedar chest at the shop where I work. It was reduced from $239 to $99! Oh the temptation! It would be perfect for storage, but I don't have a home and there isn't enough room in the place I'm staying for it. It's another item I'm going to consider, but it will probably be gone by next Wednesday when I work again. We got home Thursday night and the first sign that I was to continue making teddy bears was sitting in my mail box. It was a 24" cube of presumably mohair and imported fake fur from a friend who also was a bear maker. I cradled the box in my lap the 8 miles to our home. I decided to leave the grand opening until today when I could sit and enjoy the contents and watch the Lone Ranger series that dates from the '50s and '60s. I was waking up slowly savoring the thought of opening the box when there was a knock at the door. Little did I know when I groaned that it would be sign number 2 showing me that I was to continue to make bears. A wonderful neighbor lady friend and her husband had gone to a yard sale on their way into their weekend home (I live in a recreational community that has mostly weekend and vacation homes in it. There are 3 full time residents here). She was staggering down the driveway with bags, big bags of all kinds of fur in it. She and her husband bought the whole works for me to use to get back on my feet as a bear artist. As I stood there dumbfounded and in awe, I knew I was to continue in my creative endeavors. It was a wonderful message from two wonderful friends that what I am doing does have some meaning and that they are behind me 100% and are there to help me out! I came back in the house with tears running down my face. While I still am suffering from the PTSD and the depression of losing my home, furry family and everything I own, I still have the most valuable part of my life around me like a soft, fuzzy, warm blanket. I have friends who care. With them helping me I am bound to continue and make it back to some semblance or normalcy in my life.