Sometimes dreams DO come true!

It's 12:30 a.m. and here I sit in the new store. I'm cold, hungry, and utterly exhausted! But I couldn't be he happier!

About 20 minutes ago I heard a bang on the window and it was Nat and Beth from Vaporphoxxe coming back from Cafe La Fontana They didn't understand what I was doing here so late. I just said I was catching up on some computer work. I was actually sending out a reminder for the big grand opening for the store this weekend.

How in God's name did we get this place looking like a store in two weeks? It's just a plain miracle! Well, I had the help of a few angels who reminded me the true definition of selflessness. You see, when something becomes part of who you are it becomes effortless. Time seems to disappear.

I've always been in the woods, in the creek, picking up rocks and wondering how the earth was made and how we got here. The Academy of Natural Sciences was my favorite place. I loved the fossils and dinosaurs. Fast forward through the flower child years....about 22 years ago I was given a small bag of polished stones and the rest is history (as they say).

First I collected all the polished stones, then I moved to small crystals and rocks and fossils. Then after a while, it became just a little more intense. OK, so that would be a minor understatement! I looked at it as a challenge, almost like a quest I was on to own just a little piece of every part of the planet!

Well, let me tell you, it's a pretty darn big planet, and it takes a long time to collect these crystals and rocks! Plus, you need a place to store them! So, I kept on collecting and collecting and collecting!

I would make jewelry out of some of the crystals and sell it to friends or at occasional craft shows over the years. My family and friends never really understood the "obsession" though. My kids would say, "oh no another rock!" Yea, it's bad when you are smuggling crystals into your house instead of shoes!

So, one day, my son Jesse said to me, "Mom, since you love crystals so much why don't you open up a store?" I just shrugged it off, but I always dreamed of having a crystal/healing store. At the time I was working as a playground aide in an elementary school. How ironic....telling kids NOT to play with rocks.

About three months later I was at a craft show with my jewelry and the man next to me said, "you should go to 263 marketplace." So I did. But they had too many jewelers. They asked what else can you sell, my mom said, "How 'bout crystals?" PERFECT!!! And within a few weeks I had a small store there with basically part of my collection for sale.

It wasn't easy working seven days a week, but it was my passion. It didn't feel like work. It was fun! I got to talk about crystals and fossils to people all day. What more could I ask for?!

But I had to finally make a choice, the fork in the road moment, be totally burnt out or follow your dreams? I left the school and dedicated my soul and spirit to what truly moves me.

Apparently, crystals and rocks move a lot of people. I then expanded my store and had an Angel card reader and Reiki healer working with me. He showed me a whole other realm of energy healing. We then moved to Hatboro and had our first actual store.

That was a dream come true. It took almost forever to get into that building because it is 200 years old and needed a lot of work. But it was worth every minute. It's almost like your first car, you will never forget it. I might have been small and a little uncomfortable but it will always hold a special place in your heart.

I think over this past year, it's the personal growth that really blows me away. The fact that I can sit down and build a Web site or design a pamphlet on publisher. Or work 60 plus hours, try to stay centered spiritually, MAYBE clean my apartment, and be a good daughter and mom. And catch a concert here and there if I can. 

So, the grand opening for the new store (Rina's Rocks) at 42 South York Road in Hatboro is Saturday. The ribbon cutting is at noon and the food and music will last until 6 p.m.

It's supposed to rain. FABULOUS!! I hope it doesn't but it's out of my hands. Just the fact that we got this store together this quickly and how beautiful it looks is good enough for me.

I like the peace and quiet. The meditation music is playing, the fish tank is on, and it is now 2:55 am. I'm still cold, hungry, and exhausted but I have a certain kind of peaceful serenity that I've never had before....

       Have a Grateful Day!  Rina :-)