Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky., Suzi Bartholomy column: Winning car no surprise to girl

Nov 12, 2008 (Messenger-Inquirer - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- RGCI | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- When Makayla Lowe and her dad, Randy, went to Evansville on Oct. 26 to enter Regent Communications RC Cola contest, she told her dad that they were coming home with the grand prize, a 2008 Nissan Rogue. Makayla's prediction had a one in 30,000 chance of coming true.

Lowe, who is retired from Owensboro Police Department, didn't have the same interest or confidence Makayla had in the RC contest. The only reason he went to Regent's studio was because his daughter was so persistent.

"She really believed we were going to win," Lowe said.

Makayla, 9, had the will, but Randy Lowe had the way. She needed him because the contest was only open to people 18 and older with a valid driver's license.

The contest started in August and to enter, one had to have a gold top RC Cola can and be present at the drawing. Makayla, who is a student at Sorgho Elementary School, had collected three gold top cans.

"We always told her that persistence pays off," said Makayla's mom, Cassondra Lowe. Even though her enthusiasm for the contest was the same as her husband's, she said they had to support their daughter in her quest for the car.

"We try to build her self-esteem, but it's hard at her age," Cassondra Lowe said. While dad was indulging Makayla's premonition, Mom, who is an emergency room nurse, stayed home with their other daughter Madison, 7, to coach her afternoon soccer game.

The contest had more than 1,000 entries. Makayla and her dad had three opportunities to win. Each gold can represented an entry. The contest began by officials drawing 30 names that would compete for the grand prize.

Randy Lowe's name was drawn. The father and daughter got in line for the next segment of the contest, which was to pick a bag with a CD in it that would announce the winner of the car. Makayla told her dad to choose bag number 15.

"While we were waiting our turn, she turned to me and said 'Dad we have the winning CD,'" Randy Lowe said.

When Lowes' CD proclaimed them the winner, Makayla was not surprised.

"I just had this feeling (all along) we were going to win," Makayla said.

The Nissan has become the family car. "When she's 16 and can drive a car well enough, we'll buy her a new one," Randy Lowe said.

Makayla said her dad could use a new truck, so she's encouraging him to go online and enter a contest to win a 2009 F-150 and a chance to meet country star Toby Keith.

"She's more interested in meeting Toby than she is winning the truck," Cassondra Lowe said.

Writer believes God takes care of her

Marilyn Miller talks to God every day, and she encourages others to do the same.

In her book, "Under His Wings, I am Safely Abiding," she suggests to "Keep on praying. He will answer in His time."

Miller had not written anything before attempting "Under His Wings."

"After being retired about five years, I thought maybe I'd like to write a book," Miller said. "I picked up a pencil and wrote a line to two, but it didn't sound right," she said.

"A few weeks later, I went to a writer's conference with a friend who had just written a book," Miller said. "I told her I didn't know how to dot my I's or cross my T's."

Miller's friend told her to start writing and she would edit her copy. The grandmother of seven sent her friend several stories and she wrote back, encouraging her to "keep on writing."

Miller's essays show great faith. Over and over, she states that her life is completely controlled by her Maker.

He even told her not to send her book to the publisher when she finished what she thought was her last story.

Much of her writing is about the struggles she had with her husband, Chick, and his displeasure of her attending church. Just as she was about to mail off her manuscript, she got the message that she was not finished with the book.

Within a short time her former husband died, and she wrote the last chapter of their estranged relationship.

"Under His Wings," is available by calling Miller at 685-1551 or at www.countrypinesprinting.com. Cost is $9.95.

To see more of the Messenger-Inquirer, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.messenger-inquirer.com. Copyright (c) 2008, Messenger-Inquirer, Owensboro, Ky. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

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