Emerging Courageous online Magazine

It is a story as poignant as it is timeless; the simple story of the deep personal loss of two women and how through their Faith they turned that loss into a positive witness to all who know them. Beginning with separate dreams, unknown to each other, Vonna and D.J. planned the realization of their vision. Each included their husbands in those plans. Fate then played a cruel hand, taking each of their husbands, Chuck from Vonna after a long struggle with cancer just days before Christmas of 2001, and A.J. from D.J. from wounds inflicted by the gun of a twisted, bitter man during a domestic dispute in the early days January 2002.

With their faith being tested, each found a solace in God's love when He brought them together in a chance meeting through a mutual friend. The first meeting was magical as each saw in the other the strength and faith that matched her own. D.J. and Vonna firmly believe that their partnership was meant to be, that they were destined to meet and to realize their common dream of a business not only to serve the public but more importantly, help them recover from their feelings of crippling loneliness.

Vonna's dream was to open a bed and breakfast in her hundred year old historic home in Port Royal, SC. D.J.'s dream was to own a tea house; not any tea house, but a serendipitous blend of quality tea, good food, delicious baked delicacies and a unique gift shop. Her only problem was convincing Vonna that this was a viable idea and to talk her into scrapping her B&B plans. Both women knew at this point that God was talking to them, telling them what to do. He just never told them how they could solve their differences and he wasn't making their decision simple. However, he was forcing them to work at coming together for their mutual benefit.

With a flash of genius D.J. persuaded Vonna, after a lot of fancy talking to drive to Columbus, GA and attend a conference about tea and tea houses. After the first hour of talks, Vonna had a complete epiphany and became a believer; they agreed to open a tea house first and expand it to include a bed and breakfast second. The die was cast and long talks followed until they has fleshed out the initial idea.

As a result" A Lil Peace of Heaven Tea House & Gift Shop" was born. Vonna and D.J. are happily welcoming guest to the tea house to relax in the warm fellowship of friends joining together to partake the nectar known as tea.