Looking Back and Moving Forward

Over the last three years, many changes have come through our family as I left teaching.  I have been so blessed to experience working with great friends within network marketing, an industry I never imagined being a part of, but now am SO grateful that we took that leap of faith.  I learned so much about myself and my strengths through the experiences provided for me by being a part of a fantastic network marketing team.  Working along side Peter in our concrete business has also been, and continues to be, so rewarding personally and professionally.  I've learned that I cherish being able to set my own schedule, that it's okay to put my family first, and that when you work from a place of wanting to bless others, it's amazing what comes your way.  What once was a giant three ring circus of a life that felt out of control with a schedule there's no way we could have managed has been refined and reduced.  Where Peter and I spoke mostly by text message and a brief conversation here and there, has turned into getting to spend time together without feeling guilty I should be doing something else.  We also are better able to set priorities and intentionally parent our girls with me working from home.  (Don't get me wrong - it's still a daily circus around here most of the time!)  As much as I loved being a part of so many other families' lives and teaching their children, I found my own children, my husband, and my health were put last on the list.  Making the shift for me to work from home has been one of the best decisions we made as a family and I will forever be grateful for the opportunities provided because of my time with It Works! and everyone involved in the company with me.

The past year has been a whirlwind.  To think that one year ago we were in a tiny apartment and really all up in each other's personal space.  It's crazy to us how fast the time went, and yet how slow the day to day seemed at the time.  I knew we would get to this point and feel like, hey, we did it with no problem! (Believe me - there were problems - HaHa!)  It has definitely been a fun few months welcoming friends and family into our new home.  After selling the home we lived in for 10 years, and moving to an apartment the week of Sophie's birthday, which was the same week Ella was in the hospital for epilepsy testing in the med center 45 minutes away, and moving to another apartment 6 months later in a completely different town from where we were building and where the girls go to school (Can you say CRAZY TOWN?!  Thank the good Lord for my Mother!), we are finally really feeling settled in our new house.  It brings me so much happiness to have been able to create a space that people love to spend time in.  Peter and I have always wanted a home that could be filled with the people that mean the most to us as often as possible.  After dreaming of this home for almost 15 years, we took two full years to design and think through how to make this house a home that can be enjoyed by more than just our little family of four.  We learned so much through this process and truly found joy in creating this inviting place to spend our time.

The process of designing and decorating this house has made me realize just how much  I have always loved making our home warm and special.  Most of you know I also love a good deal.  As friends and family have started asking for my help to decorate their spaces, and after some time spent in prayer and discussion with Peter, I am excited to launch a new adventure and begin helping other families have a home they love to come back to at the end of the day, while getting a good value for their money and helping them stretch their decorating dollar.  I already have my first three clients lined up and am beginning to plan their spaces.  It's another one of those pinch me moments of do I really get to do this for a living and serve others in this way?!  Looking back, it's been quite a journey.  Looking ahead, I can't wait for the adventure to come. 

I know I've been terrible about posting here on this blog.  I find myself with several ideas of what I want to share and it just doesn't happen.  I tend to want to make everything perfect and happen at once and I am learning to take things one step at a time.  Moving forward, my goal is to move to a new platform and bring you fresh new content once a week.  As I have been reading and studying how other business owners use blogs, some insist on daily posts.  I just simply don't have time for that in the circus of our daily lives and know it just won't happen.  I'm working on content now and I hope you are looking forward to what's ahead!

Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive in the launch of this new endeavor!  We are truly blessed with fantastic friends and the most wonderful family!

Until next week....
XOXO
Laura