Christmas Eve!

Most of you probably know that I get just a little bit excited about Christmas. There is just something amazing about this season. A big part of it for me is that I get to give lots of gifts! If you've ever read that book about the love languages, I'm totally a gift-giver. It's one of my favorite things to do. I love picking out just the right gift for people. At Christmas time, I get to give gifts to everybody all at once, and it's so exciting I can hardly stand it! There are a couple of gifts I am especially excited about this year. I would tell you what they are, but I don't want to run the risk of ruining the surprise. The one I'm most excited about is for my Husband... maybe I'll post again in a couple of days and let you know the whole story...

We're looking forward to spending time with lots of family and friends over the next few days. Yesterday was Christmas with the Pritchards. I am blessed to have such wonderful in-laws! Today, we are having lunch with our friends the Daceys, then cruising in Aunty Judy's motor-mansion with my fam to look at Christmas lights, then going to a movie. Tomorrow will be Christmas with my family all day. Wednesday evening is dinner with the Wallaces who are visiting from Nebraska where they moved in August, and Thursday will be dinner with the Redelspergers who are up from Cali.

I'm hoping to make it to Portland soon... I miss my friends!

Merry Christmas everybody!

Finally!

So, I have lots of hair. It's curly and thick and it was getting really long. I mean seriously, really long. It hadn't been this long since high school. It was taking over my life and driving me crazy! So yesterday, I finally got a haircut!!! Hooray!!!

Here's proof:

Before:



And After:




Also? Yesterday I went to pick my niece up from high school because she was sick. I walked into the office and the student who was working in there asked me "oh, are you just getting here, hon?" WHAT?! I said "Actually, I'm 28 years old and I'm here to pick up my niece." Seriously, people-- this happens to me ALL THE TIME! I know, I know, I'll be glad when I'm older and look really young. But the thing is, right now, I want to be treated like a grown up and not a kid! Geez Louise!! :)

Business is Booming!

I know I haven't blogged in forever, but it is what it is. Running a business takes a lot of time!

I have to tell you that working for myself is the most rewarding job I have ever had. It allows Eric and I to have a lot more flexibility with our schedule and it will eventually allow me to stay home when we have kids. I get to do everything exactly the way I want to do it without worrying whether my boss will be pleased with me. Not to mention that I get to make a living doing what I really love!
I had a wedding on Sunday, and it was beautiful! It was at Golden Gardens Park in Seattle, right on the water. I got to use a lot of orchids and lillies. I'll put pictues up when I get some. My niece, Kylie, helped me out with the wedding. She took a floral design class at her high school this year, so I don't really have to train her, which is awesome. Plus, it allows us to spend quite a bit of time together.
I'm also working on booking more weekly accounts. I have 4 businesses I deliver to right now, and my goal is to have about 20. Weddings are the biggest money makers, but weekly accounts provide more steady income, which is really nice.
God has really blessed this season of our life together. Eric really loves his new job. The fact that it's here in Enumclaw just makes it that much better. We are just really enjoying everything that God is blessing us with right now!
That's it for now. Make sure to visit my business web site at www.paisleypetals.com.
Hooray for God for keeping us afloat while I give my dream a whirl!

Big Changes

No! I'm not pregnanat! Stop it! I did, however, turn in my letter of resignation for my job on Monday. And my next job is going to be... (drumroll)... opening my flower business!!! Am I crazy? Possibly. But, I've done over 30 wedding so far-- probably even done the wedding of some of you reading this blog--and I love doing it. I just don't feel fulfilled working for someone else when I have this marketable skill that I can put to work. If the business takes off, it will allow me to stay home when we do have kids (LATER!), which is our goal. I do have an opportunity to work from home part time doing booking for a guy who does assemblies in elementary, middle and high schools, but that isn't steady income, either. So, this is all a little scary. I am meeting today with a few people I know who own their own businesses to get advice. Eric is working on a website, and it should be up soon. I'll be sure and let you all know. We would appreciate all of the prayers we can get as we give this a shot. I'll be at my current job until April 30th. After that... well, we'll just see what God wants to do. Hooray for God for being so awesome and trustworthy and able to take care of us!