Dearest Charlie,
So… this one’s probably gonna be a long one because I’ve been thinking about a lot lately.
As you know, I’ve been trying to get into safety work and away from massage therapy.
For almost 28 years, my main job was being a wife and mama. Taking care of you, the girls, the house, all the moving parts of life. Then you died and suddenly I was left alone trying to figure out how to raise two teenage daughters and survive financially at the same time. So I went to massage school.
I did what I had to do. It paid the bills, gave me flexibility, and let me still be there for the girls while they were growing up.
But now, they’ve grown up, graduated, started building lives of their own. And here I am. Alone. At least physically anyway, since you’re not here. This wasn’t exactly how I pictured life turning out, but here we are.
Anyway, about two years ago, I started seriously praying about changing careers and getting into safety. I took the classes, got certifications, sent out hundreds of emails and resumes.
October 2025, I finally landed that first firewatch job at Shintech.
I sent out more resumes - including one to Barnhart. Shortly after that, I got an email back from Matt Tabor saying they weren’t hiring at the moment but would keep me in mind. My response to that was basically, “Oh sure you will.” And then I deleted the email and went on with life. I went back to doing massage in December and January before putting in my notice so I could go work the DOW turnaround. That lasted about six weeks before I got laid off.
So there I was… sitting around, twiddling my thumbs, wondering what my next move was going to be. Then out of nowhere, Brittany from Barnhart called me and asked if I was still interested in the position. Of course I said yes, but honestly, I still didn’t think anything would come of it.
Then about a week later, Matt Tabor himself calls me. The same man who emailed me months earlier saying they weren’t hiring. He interviewed me over the phone, and at the end of the conversation he asked, “When can you start?”
I answered, “When do you want me there?”
He laughed and said, “As soon as you can get here.”
Then Brittany called back with the details.
That’s when I learned the pay, the location… and that this was a travel position. A travel position, Charlie. You know how long I’ve talked about wanting to travel. So I packed up and headed north to New York.
When I got here, I had to go through orientation. Usually that kind of thing happens at the Safety Council back home, but this one was onsite. And honestly, I was nervous. I kept thinking, “What if they figure out I’m not what they wanted?”
Then orientation started. Barnhart welcomed me to the team, started talking about the company, and then they put the company purpose up on the screen:
“To glorify God…”
Charlie… my jaw about hit the floor. I don’t even remember the rest of the statement because that part hit me so hard. Then later, the guy doing orientation closed us out in prayer.
The next week, Tabor came onsite and after a safety meeting, he prayed over the whole crew too. At that point I was sitting there thinking, “Okay Lord… I hear You.”
Then came the housing situation. Originally, before I even got here, I had arranged to rent a little cottage from a couple named Chantelle and Brent for $2,000 a month.
Two thousand dollars.
I thought that was insane, especially with my goal of trying to get out of debt this year, but housing up here is hard to find because this is basically a resort area.
I started searching Facebook Marketplace trying to find something cheaper and messaged a lady named Mary Claire about a furnished three-bedroom apartment for $1,000 a month. She messaged back saying it had already been rented.
So for the first couple of weeks up here, I bounced around staying in a cheap old hotel for about fifty dollars a night. Then a coworker told me about a little apartment out in the country about twenty minutes from work for $1,200 a month. I agreed to take it. The landlord, Joan, told me no deposit was needed, just show up. Only catch was I’d have to leave for a few days in July because she already had prior guests booked. I remember thinking, “Well… that’s inconvenient, but okay.”
Then about three days later…
Mary Claire messages me out of nowhere and says the other arrangement fell through and asks if I’m still interested in the apartment. Of course I was. So with $2,500, I moved into a furnished three-bedroom apartment right in town. Now how’s that for coincidence?
And then the last thing…
I had booked a massage at a place called “A New Beginning.” The therapist there, Amanda, invited me to visit her church called “Healing Reign.” I kept putting it off. Then Alex came to visit. Before church this morning, he went walking around town and saw the sign for A New Beginning spa. Took a picture of it because he thought it looked interesting.
Later, he asked me where I’d gone for my massage, and when I told him, he just stared at me and said,
“Do you realize that’s the name of my church?” And no… I hadn’t even connected the two. Maybe that’s small to some people. But it wasn’t to me.
So between Barnhart, this apartment, the church connection, and several other little things along the way…
I just can’t call it coincidence anymore. I really believe I’m supposed to be here. I still don’t fully understand why. Maybe there’s some bigger purpose.
Or maybe… maybe the purpose right now is simply for me to rest in His presence for a while and let things unfold however they’re meant to. Maybe purpose doesn’t always arrive as a lightning bolt. Maybe sometimes it unfolds one unlikely connection at a time.
I don’t know.
But for the first time in a long time…For the first time in years, I feel less like I’m running for survival and more like I’m being led somewhere.
I feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be. I sure do wish you were here to see it all.
I miss you.
Love always,
Me
