I've Never Been to Vegas, but My Luggage Has: Mishaps and Miracles on the Road to Happily Ever After Read online

  Praise for I’ve Never Been to Vegas, but My Luggage Has

  You love Mandy from page one. It’s rare to be this sweet, compelling, and funny all the way through while also being this insightful about life. We are in love, Mandy Hale—but we’re seeing someone at the moment.

  —GREG BEHRENDT, NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, HE’S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU AND IT’S CALLED A BREAKUP BECAUSE IT’S BROKEN AND FORMER SCRIPT CONSULTANT FOR SEX & THE CITY; AND AMIIRA RUOTOLA-BEHRENDT, CO-AUTHOR, IT’S CALLED A BREAKUP BECAUSE IT’S BROKEN (AND FABULOUS WIFE TO GREG)

  Your story is such a Romans 8:28 story—“And we know all things work together for the good of them that love the Lord.” He took your pain and used it to inspire, encourage, and lead others to walk in their purposes, as you are walking in yours!

  —SHERRI SHEPHERD, ACTRESS, COMEDIAN, AND HOST, ABC’S THE VIEW

  Move over Carrie Bradshaw. Here comes Mandy Hale! I’ve Never Been to Vegas, but My Luggage Has is a wonderfully-crafted “coming of singleness story” that will entertain and inspire all seekers of true love and faith.

  —DANIEL GODDARD, ACTOR, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS

  The Single Woman message has been a blessing! Mandy lets you know that it’s okay to be single and to work on YOU! Empowering! Encouraging!

  —MICHELLE WILLIAMS, SINGER/SONGWRITER, PRODUCER, ACTRESS, AND MEMBER OF GRAMMY-WINNING DESTINY’S CHILD

  Mandy Hale’s wit and southern-girl charm will disarm you, but don’t let it fool you! She’s got a mean left hook of depth and substance that will quickly get your attention. She is a fresh and relevant voice whose message to her generation is beautifully woven throughout the pages of her own life, a product of her own adventures, triumphs, failures, fresh starts, false starts, tears, and laughs.”

  —JON ACUFF, NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF START AND QUITTER

  The Single Woman message isn’t just about being solo and loving it. It’s about being a better human all around—something we should all aspire to!

  —ESTELLE, GRAMMY-WINNING SINGER/SONGWRITER, RAPPER, AND PRODUCER

  Reading Mandy Hale’s story feels like riding shotgun with a close girlfriend who is on the ride of her life, discovering and growing from the purpose in every twist, turn, and bump in the road. I love the vulnerability Mandy shares from her own life. The journey truly is the destination.

  —NATALIE GRANT, GRAMMY-NOMINATED SINGER/SONGWRITER AND FOUNDER OF ABOLITION INTERNATIONAL

  With this book, Mandy gives the most amazing perspective on the ups and downs of life. And in an often hilarious way, she lets us know we are not on this journey alone. This is, hands down, on my short list of favorite books!

  —MELINDA DOOLITTLE, RECORDING ARTIST, AUTHOR, AND FINALIST ON SEASON 6 OF AMERICAN IDOL

  As a pastor of a church with a lot of singles, I can say that Mandy Hale is a brilliant storyteller who adds a fresh and energetic voice to the needs and wants of single women. When you read this book, you will laugh, be encouraged, and learn that God’s love is woven into the tapestry of every great story, including yours and mine.

  —PETE WILSON, SENIOR PASTOR, CROSS POINT CHURCH, AND AUTHOR, PLAN B AND LET HOPE IN

  It is such a great adventure and pleasure to be part of Mandy Hale’s world. Her book provides comfort and hope that in the midst life’s ups and downs there are giggles and redemption. A memoir that is also a great self-help book for anyone who needs uplifting!

  —DODINSKY, NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR, IN THE GARDEN OF THOUGHTS

  If you’re ready for an adventure into your own heart and soul and if you’re ready to be challenged, become more courageous, and realize that the journey—not the destination—is the best part of life, you need to read Mandy Hale’s I’ve Never Been to Vegas, but My Luggage Has. Simply put, this is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time.

  —WENDY GRIFFITH, CO-HOST, THE 700 CLUB

  What I love about The Single Woman message is it empowers single sisters (such as myself) to embrace, appreciate, and grow during our single times. Mandy’s wisdom and sense of humor make her nuggets of truth both lifechanging and easy to digest! I am so thankful for the role she has played in my life!

  —MANDISA, GRAMMY-NOMINATED CHRISTIAN RECORDING ARTIST

  If you’ve ever felt too flawed, too weak, or too inadequate to be used by God, Mandy’s story is for you. Her journey is proof that you don’t have to be perfect—you just have to be available. A wonderful reminder for any single woman (or man) that there is more than one way to Happily Ever After, and if you are willing to hand the pen over to God, He’ll write an infinitely more beautiful story for your life than you could ever imagine.

  —LISA OSTEEN COMES, AUTHOR, YOU ARE MADE FOR MORE!

  Strong, grounded, on point and real! A must-read for every sister who wants to walk this walk victoriously!

  —MICHELLE MCKINNEY-HAMMOND, EMMY AWARD–WINNING TALK SHOW HOST AND BEST-SELLING AUTHOR

  I love The Single Woman message because it gives you permission to feel okay about being single. And not just okay—confident! Mandy inspires me to take care of me, to not settle, and to expect the best from love and life. As a single woman, it’s vital to embrace and love yourself, and Mandy’s books inspire you and challenge you to do just that!

  —LISA VALASTRO, REALITY STAR, TLC’S CAKE BOSS

  I started out reading Mandy’s memoir feeling like I was looking through a window, watching her every move, and empathizing with her. It didn’t take long before that window somehow turned into a mirror, and then it felt like I was reading about myself. Mandy’s truth is hers, but I think everyone will find a piece of themselves in it as well. Heartfelt, honest, and entertaining.

  —CAROLYN DAWN JOHNSON, AWARD-WINNING COUNTRY MUSIC SINGER/SONGWRITER AND PRODUCER

  As a professional matchmaker, a key ingredient to building a successful partnership is starting with two whole, complete, healthy people. Mandy’s message is all about empowering and motivating single women to become all that they’re meant to become, independent from a relationship so that they invite love into their lives to complement rather than complete them. This book gives women permission to enjoy the journey to Happily Ever After, even as they look forward to the destination. Perfect for the woman (or man) who needs a reminder that happy single life helps create the foundation of a happy married life.

  —PAUL CARRICK BRUNSON, COHOST, OWN’S LOVE TOWN AND PROFESSIONAL MATCHMAKER

  I’ve Never Been to Vegas, but My Luggage Has is an inspiring story about growth, self-acceptance, faith, and redemption that’s relatable to women of all walks and stages of life. Anyone who reads it will come away with a better understanding of where she’s been, comfort for where she’s going, and contentment in knowing she’s where God wants her to be. You’ll want to give this book to every woman you love!

  —NIKKI WOODS, SENIOR PRODUCER, TOM JOYNER MORNING SHOW AND CEO, NIKKI WOODS MEDIA

  Mandy’s real-life story of her stumbles, disappointments, and mountaintop moments are beautifully transparent and filled with hope and humor. Combine the warm coffee talk of Friends with the zany moments of I Love Lucy, all laced with non-judgmental, godly wisdom, and you have Mandy’s new book. I was so caught up in her story; I began reading it during stop lights! When I finished, I felt encouraged that I was not the only one still struggling to “get it right,” and that God does indeed have endless grace for His children!

  —ELISA JONES, MANAGER OF PHILANTHROPY, EAST
ERN TERRITORIES—K-LOVE RADIO

  © 2014 by Amanda Hale

  All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Nelson Books, an imprint of Thomas Nelson. Nelson Books and Thomas Nelson are registered trademarks of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.

  Thomas Nelson, Inc., titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail [email protected].

  Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

  Scripture quotations marked ESV are taken from the ENGLISH STANDARD VERSION. © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

  Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

  Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®. © The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission.

  Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the NEW KING JAMES VERSION. © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

  Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from Holy Bible, New Living Translation. © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

  The names and identifying characteristics of some individuals have been changed to protect their privacy.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Hale, Mandy, 1978-

  I've never been to Vegas, but my luggage has : mishaps and miracles on the road to happily ever after / Mandy Hale.

  pages cm

  Includes bibliographical references.

  ISBN 978-1-4002-0525-7

  1. Hale, Mandy, 1978- 2. Christian converts--United States--Biography. 3. Single women--Religious life. I. Title.

  BV4935.H235A3 2014

  270.092--dc23

  [B]

  2013029838

  ISBN: 978-1-40020-525-7

  ISBN: 978-1-40020-526-4 (eBook)

  To the current love of my life, my precious Lord Jesus, thank You for taking my colorful, funny, imperfect, and wildly unexpected journey and turning it into something beautiful. I once heard it said that a perfect life makes a boring book. If that’s the case, this should be the most entertaining book to hit shelves in years! For loving me, for redeeming me, for carrying me, for guiding me, for making sure I always get where I’m meant to be in life (even if my luggage doesn’t), and for so many other reasons: thank You. This book is my humble offering to You.

  And to the future love of my life—whoever and wherever he may be—may the stories contained in this book be merely a prologue to the epic love story we will write together.

  Contents

  Chapter 1: Once Upon a Flight

  Chapter 2: Love Is in the Air

  Chapter 3: Long-Distance Love

  Chapter 4: A New Copilot

  Chapter 5: A Few False Starts

  Chapter 6: Earning My Wings

  Chapter 7: A Crash Landing

  Chapter 8: With a Broken Wing

  Chapter 9: Flying High

  Chapter 10: A Destination—or a Stop Along the Way?

  Chapter 11: Highs and Lows

  Chapter 12: Turbulence

  Chapter 13: Grounded in God

  Chapter 14: New Attitude, New Adventures

  Chapter 15: A Stop Along the Way—or a Destination?

  Chapter 16: Walking on Air

  Chapter 17: Finding My Own Way

  Chapter 18: Flying Solo, Flying Free

  Chapter 19: Destination: New York City

  Chapter 20: Destination: Me

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  Once Upon a Flight

  I’ve never been to Vegas, but my luggage has.

  Allow me to explain.

  Eight years ago I was living the dream. Working as an associate producer in Country Music Television’s news department, I had been bumped up from production assistant in a record three months without having to step on anyone to get there. For the first couple of months, the producers tossed me menial tasks like transcribing tapes and running errands, but I caught my big break one September day when one of the senior staff members called in sick, leaving us short-staffed. With an up-and-coming country music singer due in the CMT studios later that day to record a piece about his workout habits, and no one available to do the interview, I was assigned to the task at the last minute. Nervous and shaky but feigning confidence, I completed the interview with ease and even managed to vibe with the country cutie. Having proven my ability to rise to the occasion, I found that my responsibilities continued to increase, and a few months later I was handed the plum assignment of interviewing the stars on the red carpet at the CMT Music Awards! I could barely contain my excitement. Dierks and Kenny and Keith—oh my! After a mildly unpleasant run-in with an older actor who seemed exceedingly grouchy for someone at an awards show (let’s just say he must have been on leave from the Starship Enterprise and wasn’t happy about it), I looked up to see a vision in brown making his way toward me. Keith Urban, in all his still-single, pre–Nicole Kidman glory, was standing in front of my microphone with an expectant look on his face. I managed to snap to attention and point the microphone at Keith, ready to get down to the business of talking clothes.

  “So, Keith,” I said brightly, pretending I was chatting with an average Joe, “tell me about your outfit!”

  Keith looked at me with a bit of hesitation. In the midst of the awkward pause, with me shifting around nervously, he reached over to grab the hand of the woman standing beside him. Much to my mortification, the hand just happened to be attached to Ms. Loretta Lynn—one of country music’s biggest legends, decked out in a gigantic ball gown that rivaled Cinderella’s—and I had completely overlooked her. The associate producer there to talk about fashion—me—had slighted a country music icon who also happened to be wearing possibly the most ornate, sparkly, and grand outfit of the entire evening.

  “Why don’t we talk about Ms. Loretta’s outfit first?” Keith said in his adorable Aussie twang, showing me incredible amounts of grace, considering I had basically just snubbed one of country music’s most beloved divas.

  Wanting very much to crawl under the red carpet and disappear, I turned to Loretta Lynn, who gazed compassionately back at this completely clueless and inexperienced twenty-five-year-old associate producer who was just trying to make her way in a world that Ms. Lynn had long ago taken by storm. Not an ounce of indignation or attitude or impatience on her face, the beautiful, graceful woman answered all my questions humbly and kindly, not at all ruffled by the fact that a punk kid had completely disregarded her in order to drool over the much younger, and at the time much less established, Keith Urban. I was taught something about true humility and grace that night—in a much gentler way than I probably deserved and by a woman who was lighting fires and blazing trails through the world before I was even a gleam in my daddy’s eye.

  That gigantic snafu aside, the rest of the evening went by in a flash of sparkly belt buckles, gleaming white teeth, and shiny cowboy boots. And the news package I put together about the colorful and boisterous fashion of the 2004 CMT Music Awards went over so well, I was given even more responsibility at work. Before I knew it, I was chosen to be a part of the team that flew to Las Vegas for the Academy of Country Music Awards in April 2005, where I would once again be producing the fashion piece of the show. I was, obviously, ecstatic and
overjoyed, and I felt like, at the tender age of twenty-five, I had arrived. My career was on the fast track! I was flying high for weeks, until one day the sober realization hit me—I don’t like to fly high. Actually, I don’t like to fly at all. Nothing appealed to me about climbing into a long metal cylinder and skyrocketing thousands of feet off the ground, putting my life into the hands of pilots whom I didn’t know; and though I had flown three times before, the last time I had become so unglued, I had screeched, “I want off!” at the top of my lungs just as the jet started taxiing full steam ahead down the runway. (I did, however, somehow manage to suck it up and hold it together for the duration of that flight.) But that flight had been pre-9/11. In the post-9/11 world of uncertainty, orange flags, and raised threat levels, I wanted no part of flying the seemingly not-so-friendly skies. But how to explain that to my bosses? And how could I turn down a hotly sought-after assignment that was guaranteed to solidify my status as a valued member of the team, possibly even nabbing myself a “producer” title instead of AP? I decided I would just have to look at it as mind over matter, get over myself, and make that flight, come hail or high water.

  On the day of departure, I couldn’t eat all morning. I had barely slept the night before and was a gigantic ball of nerves. I’m fairly certain I was also wild-eyed and disheveled looking as a result of my overall terror and lack of sleep. Basically, I looked like Nick Nolte in that very memorable mug shot. When I showed up at the airport, my boss looked sincerely concerned. As I fumbled to get my shoes off and go through security, the security guards peered at me a little suspiciously. I somehow managed to make it onto the plane and into my seat without passing out, noticing as I filed back to coach that the members of one of country music’s biggest bands were seated with their wives in first class.

  Once in my seat, I pulled out People magazine to distract myself. It didn’t work. I went for the Us Weekly. Nope, that didn’t work either. The girl in the seat to my left looked increasingly alarmed as I continued to dig through my purse as if I were digging my way off of this plane and to China. I took two very mild anxiety pills that my doctor had prescribed, praying that they would transport me to my happy place—or even just a slightly tolerable place. No such luck. I took several deep, calming breaths and tried to close my eyes tight to shut out the world. All around me, I could hear plane sounds, fellow passengers, and overhead luggage compartment doors slamming. Somewhere in the midst of all this, I leapt to my feet, bashing my head into the plane ceiling so hard I saw stars—and not of the country music variety. So much adrenaline was coursing through my veins from the rising panic in my stomach, I barely even registered the pain. I frantically made my way to the front of the plane, well aware that the other passengers were staring at me curiously, wondering who the Nick Nolte look-alike with the shaky hands was and if they should start trying to call 9-1-1 from their in-flight phones.