Relief and Answers

Fortunately, I never called that woman back about the rental. I say this because I held off long enough to receive answers from up above. I was unsure of what to do so I prayed about it. Many times and hesitated to sign the lease even though I could. As things started to unfold for one of our children who are in need of surgery I decided that it was best to wait on following my dream until everyone is back at home and everything has gone successfully. This is what mothers do. The plan is resume dream chasing in July so long as there aren't any large medical co-pays pending. 

In the mean-time, I've decided to start up a workshop in a local cottage to be rented by the hour. This workshop will consist of a couple of ladies chatting and laughing and learning a new skill that will be easy enough for a child. The idea of the workshop will be application of the skill and technique but it will be so subtle that the ladies won't even notice. I don't want the workshop to be overwhelming with titles and new concepts so much that women will be intimidated. I want them to be comfortable and relaxed. Meet new friends and fellowship.

Even though I was against renting a facility by the hour, I found the cottage by attending a "Team Building" workshop with my co-workers. I really liked the place because it was small and tidy. It is quaint and lovely. It is old and polished and I kept wondering how I would use it in the future since the rate was so reasonable. I thought about the end of season soccer party, a family reunion, mother's day. All of these events would be appropriate in this small building and then it hit me just as I dropped my tithing check into the USPS mailbox last Friday. It's as if the concept was on hold until I faithfully listened for answers. I did turn to Him with questions but I'd forgotten to listen for answers. 

Wish me luck!

Scared to Make a Move

The landlord of the store finally called me back after a week of at least 1 call a day and a voice mail to follow. Once she returned my call I was shocked that I didn't know what to say. She said she was out of the country and now she's back. I was like, "Okay, cool." I asked her what she needed from me if I were to rent the store and she gave me the run-down and then went on to making suggestions.

"Now, you'll need to get tables and chairs to make your customers comfortable. Have you thought about that? You'll need to put in some nice flooring and paint the store a color that makes your customers want to be there."

I'm like, why is she telling me this? I told her that I would work out a plan with my husband when he returned home that day and we would call her later that evening. That was a week and a half ago. I definitely have cold feet at this point. I really do not know what to do. My colleagues say just to do it because it's my dream and theirs...lol. My heart says their right but lets not be stupid about this, we have some pretty heavy events coming up in June that we are unsure of how much they will cost and I have some pretty strict software delivery deadlines in June and July that I may have to work a lot of overtime if I get behind. It's just easier to not do it. But when have you known me to take the Easy route.

Buisness Owner Without a Shop

It's official. I've registered The Craft Room Cafe LLC with the state of FL so... yay! However, I still cannot get a hold of the owner of the shop that we picked out so... sucks. It's OK though, because everyday that I don't have a shop is one more day that I think about what I will need. Example, I purchased a couple of yards of fabric this week for a cosplay costume from a local fabric shop and the merchandise was put neatly into a pink plastic bag. I DON'T HAVE ANY PINK PLASTIC BAGS. Where will I purchase these? 

I'm on a mission to find plastic bags for purchases in my shop this week and I'm waiting patiently for the building owner to call me back. 

Trying to Sign a Lease

I'm trying to sign a lease for the shop but the lessor won't return my calls! This is the second time this has happened. Except the last time I was ready to sign, the lessor said she already rented the space. What's the deal.

Down & Out - Bounce Back

After last week's super adventure, I'm beginning to recover. Except for the fact that I didn't document a check that went out on Thursday and I can't figure out which facility I sent it to, I am really starting to get back to normal. Things usually happen in 3's but I'm not sure which events of the chaotic events qualify  for a slot in the 3's because for every stroke of bad luck I had last week there was a strike of good luck and I just couldn't keep up. 

Don't worry, I won't bore you with the details of my adventures but I will tell you that it involved, 1 tow truck driver, 1 co-worker, 3 mechanics, and 1 dog with an upset stomach for 3 days. The same 3 days that W happened to be out of town. Many of the events were directly related to incompetence from a service I received and paid a pretty penny for. I'm convinced that there isn't a business out there that will satisfy the customer whether big or small. Something is bound to go wrong or just plain flake out. I cannot count the numerous times we've tried to get an estimate or had service completed regarding the trees in our yard or the roof on our house or work on our vehicles that botched everything else up. I feel like I can't trust anyone. I'm finding myself filling out more and more feedback survey's for downright incompetence. Is it that my expectations are too high. Should I not expect a return call from a business when I leave an inquiry on their voice mail?

Anyway, things went OK this weekend as part of the Bounce Back. B had her first soccer game which was unfairly matched. Again, I might be expecting too much but B's team has 5 kids under the age of 10 and the other team had children all 13 years old and older. I am thankful that the 17 y/o from Brazil on the opposing team was careful not to harm any one of our team members when he kicked the ball over everyone's head down into the goal area for the score. We lost 10 to 0 but our guys (and girls) tried really hard. 

The dog is feeling better, miraculously, but not until we went in to an emergency visit to the animal hospital Saturday morning and all of our vehicles are fully operational. I didn't sew anything but I spent some time in the yard with the hubby and kids cleaning and raking. It was productive and uplifting. I also want to casually mention that I received the GREEN LIGHT on the studio so I will be strategically planning this over the next couple of weeks. I've already started the lifestyle change with the kids by telling them NO on a few purchases this weekend and they understood.

I'm hopeful that today will be great and look forward to planning our small business. YAY!

Peering

This verb will represent my state of mind today. Peering over the canyon is what I'm doing. It's a long way down but there are so many adventures there and I'd like to consider myself resourceful so survival is possible...

I'm considering pulling the trigger on the studio even though I am no way near ready. I believe that worry and fear will prevent me from ever being entirely ready anyway. The voices in my head are conflicting and confusing but if I don't try then I will never know if I could or worse, someone else will try and that WILL KILL ME. 

PROS

I am confident that the idea will work.

Good clean fun.

Work that matters.

Opportunity to teach/involve my kids in business concepts, marketing, budgeting, earning.

Community involvement.

Income

CONS

I am not sure how long it will take to work.

I might sabotage my career trying.

The lease aka commitment.

More bills.  (this is the one I fear the most)

Dedicated time.

At least my list of pros is slightly longer. I think with G helps this summer she and I can divvy up responsibilities so the last con could eventually move to the pros. There are so many variables here and this would be the most risk I've ever taken on in my whole life. It didn't start out that way though. It started out as a way for me to craft when ever I wanted with friends and family and it turned into a second job. How do I get back to that simple concept? How do I hold tight to reality (second job) and shed fear by staying naive long enough to take the leap? 

Meet the Packsmans

Our oldest daughter is in a marketing class this year as a freshmen and we are already seeing her power of persuasiveness increase. She delivered a Power Point presentation to us (the parental units) in January that was very compelling. Her objective was a family pet. There were delicately placed daisies an a soft yellow background symbolizing the warmth of the summer sun. Although, the presentation was more focused on a guinea pig, we gave in to a family dog instead. 

Max

A 1 year old rescued mixed Airedale terrier of sorts. He stands about knee high and has been reeking havoc for the last couple of weeks. He's a wild animal but as soft and gentle as a lamb. His beard is always wet but it is a baby beard and is short. He isn't quite house broken but is well on his way. We started training last Saturday and we want everyone in the house to be on the same page when it comes to discipline and praise so 6 of us went. Chaos happened as usual. W kept leaving the training area to answer the mechanics call since we dropped our van off earlier in the day to get the A/C repaired (the Florida heat is on its way and I was getting desperate). Max wanted to sniff everything. My mom took E to do some shopping but not until we were all settled. See, my mom had to give us a ride since we couldn't all fit in the truck. The instructor spoke quickly and there were 7 dogs total which was apparently a large class. Bringing everyone backfired because I think we caused too many distractions and gave him too many treats. He didn't make it out of PetSmart before he vomited a little.

Puppy training isn't the only thing I'm going to complain about this morning... the chewing, the biting, the growling, the sand, sand, SAND in the house. Things are getting better though. He does settle down to cuddle and he is pretty good at playing fetch. I think we are nipping the biting in the butt finally by putting him in the laundry room for a timeout and separating him from his pack. He is the 7th member of our family and we are officially out of seats in the mini van. We are the Packsmans.