About
About Me
Born and raised in El Cajon, California on a ranch confirms that I am a country girl at heart. Riding a horse before I was two years old was not abnormal in my father’s household. Leo Reed, as the first breeder of Appaloosa horses in Southern California, made sure each of us three girls became expert riders. We rode in parades, Rosey and I each had our stint the Tournement of Roses Parade, and many other local San Diego parades. We girls showed all over the county in horse shows and I became a local champion and was honored on Sun-Up San Diego, a San Diego television show. I quit showing at 13 as I had won everything there was to win at the time, capturing a prestigious blue ribbon at the Del Mar National Horse Show, which in the 1960’s was considered the largest horse show in the world, having exhibitors from many different countries. I came home with the Open Western Pleasure award beating out all the professional trainers from all over California. It was a huge deal and a packed class of more than 60 dignified riders, and I was just 13.
Years later an airline became so popular it captured the attention of the nation, even becoming the front page of Parade Magazine. The World’s Friendliest Airline”…Pacific Southwest Airlines. PSA was the airplane with a smile painted on the nose of the airplane. Beautiful and bright in pink and orange strips. But most of all, PSA held a standard for their stewardesses that no other airline did…they only hired pretty girls with bubbly personalities with a weight zone ensuring the girls were all perfect. I wanted to be hired! It was definately a dream for a country girl whose mom had put her into Patricia Steven’s Modeling School because she was such a “tom boy”. I was hired at 18 and soon became Stewardess of the Month, a standard they held, and later, Miss PSA Legs, a fun contest held by the pilots.
I started showing again in 1979, at the urging of my sister Rosey, and won most of the Southern California championships in my breed division. At the famous Cow Palace National Horse Show in San Francisco I won my division there too. All of these wins entitled me to an invitation to participate at the World Playoffs where I was a winner in my division. My other horse won his class ridden by my famous sister, Rosey Reed, who at the time was the head trainer at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, and she was known as the “Trainer to the Stars”.
Divorced with two children, Brandon Perry and Brittany Bailey-McIntosh, I eventually advanced into the lucrative automobile industry where I became a very successful F & I Manager and later Finance Director of a large Ford Dealership. But my dream had always been to own a restaurant. When my employer advised me he was selling the dealership due to health reasons I made a crazy decision in some people’s eyes.
I decided to make my dream come true. Small, charming coffee shops tucked in out-of-the-way places was my preference, but I wanted to stay in my quaint little town and nothing was for sale. So I picked the cafe I wanted and began to pray. And one day I just went and said I’d like to buy your restaurant, He said yes. Praying, and allowing God to guide my steps is what I do.
A very successful ten years with my restaurant, Annie Oakley’s, winning awards for Best Breakfast House by Sign-On San Diego and television appearances with Rod luck and Mayor Roger Hedgecock and Coffee Meet & Greets with County Supervisor Diane Jacob all made for wonderful memories of that season of my life. When the lease I had taken over from the previous owner was not renewed by the new owner of the property, I was put out of business. This broke my heart and ruined me financially.
All I could do was allow my tears and pain to give me another notch in my belt to advance onward and upward. I went back into the car business for a while as I contemplated my next dream…a ministry for suicidal soldiers. The worst of the worst that nobody had gotten to. The ones who refused help and were considered hopeless. The ones who had lost legs and arms in the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. The ones whose wives had picked up and left because “he was not the same”. The ones who couldn’t stand to hear another word about how we all cared when we all were actually too busy to really care and listen.
I have not as yet been able to find the financial aid I need…but my heart is still there if it comes.
Nothing stops me from doing what needs to be done to make a living and to be able to help others. Previously having a Real Estate License in my younger years, I thought about returning to that. Instead I was offered an opportunity in the Insurance business. I sold Life Insurance for a while and then one day I was offered another opportunity. My friend was selling health insurance and I was doing Life and I said let’s get an office together. She said better yet…come work with me selling Aflac. Of course I had seen all the commercials with that duck but I had no idea what it would offer my clients. I was impressed enough to become an Aflac representative and I think it’s a wonderful supplemental insurance.
But my heart was still empty…devoid of who I am…a Minister at heart. I have been a Christian for 53 years now. It saved my life…literally. There isn’t one service that I offer that I haven’t experienced, fully and at length, and therefore I know what I’m talking about.
Almost 16 years ago, my Pastor came to me and asked if I would serve with him as a Minister at our church. It was an honor to be asked, I was not seeking. I accepted because I had heard the call in my heart…not then…but many years prior. I have always been a “minister” to people you might say. Even in high school, I was known as “the counselor”. The person to talk to if you were hurting or needed solid advice.
I still do that today, but now I have turned professional by becoming a Certified Life Coach. I feel as a Certified Life Coach along with being an Ordained Minister, my clients are receiving the best of both worlds. My concepts are based on a Biblical foundation because that is where my heart lies. That is where I have obtained the wonderful victories assisting my clients to achieve their goals, overcome their obstacles and become a better version of themselves.
As a young kid who raced the fields on my horse to the tune of my inner song, my sunburned face shining and my blonde hair blowing in the wind… to success after success in the marketplace, and yet pain and hurt from childhood situations leading to abusive relationships and personal failures adding each year until I set about figuring it all out, all the while keeping my smile intact so no one knew.
I can help you in uncovering your inner strengths, recognizing your value, and framing your goals in a safe place.
My best advice is let’s talk and let me see if I can help you…because I think if you do…You’ll never be the same!
