“Closing the store is the brave thing to do.”

-You’ve Got Mail

I love that movie.  Its great to watch when you’re sick (especially that scene when she has a cold, and he brings her daisies, “Don’t you think daisies are the friendliest flower?”) and its a pick-me-up when you’re feeling down.

And its what Tom quoted when we talked a little over a month ago when I was deciding what to do about my “store”.

I have been a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator for seven years.  It really has been a blast.  And I have learned and grown a lot because of it.

Five years ago, I went on one of my “business trips” (though they were always too much fun to really call that).  It was the first time that I was going to fly all alone.  I went to St Louis, MO, and had layovers and everything.  I would meet my friends I was rooming with at the hotel.  I was a little nervous.  But I ended up realizing that I love traveling alone.  And I was grateful for the chance to find that out.

I have made friends, and have a fantastic collection of rubber stamps and supplies thanks to Stampin’ Up!

But things have changed over the last couple of years.  It was once easy to make lots of money, with very little effort.  I didn’t have to try hard to schedule workshops.  It was a fun hobby that supported my “stamping habit”.  Then the economy fell apart.  Most of my best customers were state workers or teachers.  They simply cannot afford to spend on luxury items the way they used to.

Time is also a luxury.  My growing family deserves most of my time.  I’m trying to be a better housekeeper.  And there are so many other “extras” that I want to do!  There just isn’t enought time to do everything! 

Tonight I sent out an email to my customers letting them know that this is my last month as a demonstrator.

I’m a little relieved, and just a little sad.

…           

ps.  I still love Stampin’ Up!

Create

Last month, about a week after I started the blog, Tom reminded me of Chup.

He started cautiously, saying, “I have a suggestion.  Maybe, before you post on your blog, each time you should…  do a scrapbook page first.”

And here I was thinking he was going to say, “make sure we have clean dishes to eat off of, and clothes to wear the next day, and maybe could we see the floor of the room you’re typing away in?”  Ha!

That’s one of the reasons I love my Tom.  He doesn’t only support me in the things I like to do, but really encourages me to spend time on them.  He also likes seeing photos of our cute kids made into artwork.

But I didn’t agree with his request.  As much as I loved that he said it, I’m not committing to it.  Sometimes I’ll feel like spending more time blogging, other times I’ll spend more time scrapbooking.  And I like to make a lot of things other than scrapbook pages, too. 

But soon afterwards, I did make this scrapbook page.  It is of the day we brought Jared home from the hospital.

     

I’ve been creating a lot lately.  And it feels so good!

Mostly cards.  Some other stuff, too.

     

Sunday afternoon was so nice.  I spent the day stamping.  I don’t even remember which project I was working on.  I could hear the kids in the other room watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.  Tom & Esther spent time cleaning and rearranging her bedroom.  Then, Tom made dinner.  In fact, he created a new recipe with chicken, garlic and bell peppers (which turned out great, btw! his best gravy ever).

I love this video with Dieter Uchtdorf.  “The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul…  Creation is your opportunity in this life- and in the life to come.”  Its just beautiful.  It calls to me.

 

Here is the original article, if you’d like to read it: Happiness, Your Heritage. 

     

What will be your next creation?