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The Trip of a Lifetime

Friday, January 30, 2015

"Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life"



In all honesty, this is one of my biggest challenges. Good things take time and good things take work. Not that I am putting running a business on a pedestal, but I feel that there is always something that needs to be done. When you run your own business, you take on multiple hats; creator, customer service, secretary, stocker, thinker, organizer... 

And for me, the even bigger challenge is staying on task when your studio is out of your home. I have to work hard to focus and not get distracted during my work day by piles of laundry, dishes, cleaning, cooking. Its hard to balance the "work at home" lifestyle sometimes. I have come a long way, but still have much to learn! 

We will be moving in June, most likely to Galveston, TX. Andrew got into PA School (so proud of him!!) and we are ALMOST 100% sure that we have chosen UTMB for his further schooling. We will have been married for 4 years in April and still have yet to start a family. We wanted to wait until Andrew is almost done with school before we started trying. 

So... before Andrew starts school and before we begin having children. We decided to do something that we have always talked about doing together. 

The Trip of a Lifetime.

It was almost hard for me to agree to at first. I felt guilt. I was nervous about keeping my shop closed for so long. What will people think? Will we look reckless and irresponsible? Can we really afford to be doing this right now? Maybe we should just wait....

But the truth of the matter was, if we didn't do it NOW... there most likely would not be a better time. So after 2014's year end, we looked at our budget and agreed that now was the time. So, Andrew got to planning. And now it's happening. We are 1 month away from our DREAM TRIP. Most days I can't even believe its going to happen.

This year, June, will mark 4 years for my business! I feel that I have worked so hard to get to the place I am at, and my business is such an important part of our life. It will carry us through Andrew's schooling and allow me to be home while Andrew is studying like crazy (we hear the first year of PA School is a tough one!).

In one month we will be traveling for about 34 days with an additional few days tagged on to the front end and back end in Boston to see our families before and after the trip. And we will be going to the following list of places:

Iceland
London
Morocco
Venice
Florence
Rome
Bari
Croatia
Barcelona
Paris
Amsterdam

Even as I type out all of those places...I wonder what things we will see, what adventures we will have and certainly what obstacles may come our way with so many flights, train rides, buses, subways and taxis in our future!! 

I am so excited for this trip and especially excited to go on it with my best friend. I feel super spoiled as I haven't had to plan a thing. Andrew loves planning and is currently working on putting together a printed itinerary for the entire thing so I can carry it with me on our trip. 

As I reflect on the quote, "never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life." I am also reminded of the verse in Proverbs 3:5, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart...". This verse is one that God continues to place on my heart this year. I may feel fear of shutting down the For Such A Time shop for this long, but these are precious memories that I will be making with my husband before we begin a new chapter, him in school and me as I support us both and also before we start a family. 

I trust that just as God has provided for our needs thus far, he will continue to do so and that He will continue to use For Such A Time Designs in our lives and the lives of others as He sees fit. I will continue to work hard, serve my customers to my best ability, and trust that God has a plan for me and for my business and that He will always provide for our needs. 

xo, Aly

8 comments:

  1. This stirs so much faith in my heart! I'm ecstatic for you guys. So many exciting things in your future and this trip will influence your business in a greatly positive way I believe! Have an exceptional time!!!

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    1. This comment just made me teary eyed!! Thank you for your excitement for us and especially for your encouragement for my heart!! :) I am excited and of course will be taking tons of photos WITH special flatware I will bring with me on the trip!

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  2. Wow, Very cool So glad for you & your business! All to see all the photos

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    1. Thanks!!! Cant wait to share all the photos!!! :)

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  3. Wow! That DOES sound like the trip of a lifetime. I think it's fantastic that you all are going! The business will always be there, but the opportunity and availability to do something like this trip won't.

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  4. I am so jealous! That's definitely a trip of a lifetime! And I can't wait to see your photos!

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  5. Just catching up and all I can say is WOW!!! God is SO good!!! You are so right that if you didn't do this now you never will. I am so jealous of you - LOL! Seriously, enjoy the time, the sights, the cultural, God's magnificent work and your best friend. What a time of bonding and closeness you are going to have with him. So many stories to tell your children and to inspire your designs. I am SO excited for you both!!! Will be praying for safety!!!

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