One Door Closed

Most of you have been around these parts for a long time and know I started sharing here around the time I was pregnant with my first born. That was nearly 9 years ago. You've been with me through pregnancies, shop sales, gardening, recipes, design randomness, hardships and dreaming big.

And now here you are for another milestone. I recently closed my Etsy shop.

If you feel like you missed the closing announcement, you didn't. It's been a long time coming and something I fought myself and God about and finally said, yes, I trust you and will do this. On one hand it was easy. Now that we're in year 2 of homeschooling and 3 kids under 9, I just don't have the time to run my shop, create new designs, package orders, ship, etc. It is hard and bittersweet. I never intended on starting my own business, I just wanted a way to express myself creatively as I stepped away from my career. Little did I know how much you guys would support my art, my shop and my family.

I made your Christmas cards. Kid's birthday party invitations. Adoption announcements. Prints, cards postcards and buttons. It was a good run. I am so thankful, so blessed that you trusted me with your life events. Thank you for buying prints for your home, your friends and family. You helped my family financially and brought us through some hard times one print order at a time and I am forever grateful for each and every purchase you made. For the friendships made.

Some of you asked why I didn't have a close-out sale or inventory clean out sale. I thought about it but you guys are such rock stars and buy so much I end up drowning in fulfilling orders and I just couldn't muster the strength for one last sale. I hope you understand.

Closing shop was not only hard because I was letting go of a one-time dream but also because my shop has always been financial support for our family of five. I'm a stay at home mom that is homeschooling. My husband is our sole bread-winner and I didn't want to create more stress or pressure to provide but also, I like contributing. I like feeling like what I do matters and makes a difference. Obviously, I know raising kids is super important but you know what I mean?

In the end I just felt God asking me if I trusted him. Do I trust him to meet our needs? And it sounds silly. He always has. And he promises he will. It's not always easy. It's often not easy. It's hard saying no to something that means so much. Like our land. That was hard. But I knew it was what we were supposed to do. And what did he do? Took my little step of obedience and blessed us more than I could imagine. So I closed my shop.

You guys, I can't even begin to tell you the amount of crazy that has happened since closing my shop but it's been such a blessing. A big exciting opportunity was placed in my lap and all I can think is God's looking out, nodding his head and saying, I've got you. Trust me.

See, the other day, I went to order some essential oils we were out of, we took a year + off "extra" expenses as we had zero income for several months so ordering oils was not in the budget and my account deactivated. Anyway, we're more financially stable now so I told my friend, Madison, I needed to reactivate my account and get my oils back. Y'all, I was so excited to get my new kit. My diffuser broke a while back and I've been missing my Thieves something fierce so I was just so thrilled to get back to making sure my family was surrounded by goodness.

Then my friend asked me if I'd be interested in the biz side of oils. Maybe, I said. Somewhat familiar with the business but no clue what she really meant. I mean, if I'd maybe be able to pay for my oils, I'm in! And considering I closed my etsy shop, that maybe little bit of extra income would be amazing. There is SO much more to this story but the timing was all God. She has taken me under her wing and blessed me with a business that has nearly doubled what I was making monthly with my etsy shop in the first month! It's been a crazy ride and I'm so excited to see where it will go.

Not only that, I get to do it with my mom and sister and my closest friends right beside me! I never imagined I'd be on a team of women I admire and respect so much and just feel like pinching myself all the time. I pray this new venture will be an avenue to not only provide for my family but bless the socks off of other people. I have some big goals and big dreams and I'm just so excited! If you would like to know more behind the story, leave me a comment or shoot me an email. I'd love to chat.

Also, it's my birthday week! 

I gifted myself a Premium Starter Kit for my birthday because I want to keep us healthy as sick season approaches and would love to bless others that are interested in joining the journey to wellness for their family or maybe even joining my team of rock stars and dipping their toes into the oily biz so I'm offering $25 off any Premium Kit PLUS I'll send you our member exclusive Handbook for all things Young Living and wellness when you order this week! Click the link to sign up then email me your confirmation and I'll send you a $25 paypal gift card! The kit is usually $160 ($300 value) and you'll get it for $135 plus the handbook for free!

PSK includes: 11 oils, a diffuser, Thieves cleaner and Ningxia Red samples

You guys. I don't know why God works the way he does because goodness knows I do not deserve the blessings he's been heaping on me lately and I'm just so thankful. For some time now, like 5 years or so, I've been praying some of the same prayers - not getting a yes, not getting a no. Just nothing. It has been SO frustrating. At times I've given up. But then I'll see something, hear something and remember I should probably keep praying. Anyway, all that to say SO many of those prayers are being answered and I'm just so thankful and feeling beyond blessed.

So if you're out there, feeling alone, unseen and unheard - I've been there. Keep praying. Keep trusting. You never know what's around the corner.

I'll leave with a quote I read today. It's a quote I've read many times before but it is SO FITTING for this season in my and my husband's lives.

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." - Hellen Keller