When Business is Slow and Faith Feels Hard
I just feel like crawling up on my couch and crying, doing nothing for days. I come to my beautiful showroom with my darling son to be open for the day and hours and hours go by, and no one stops, no call, no text week after week this summer. It's so discouraging.
They tell me it's God’s plan to give me the summer with the flexibility I need with the kids home, it's just a season you’ll be so busy you’ll be complaining before you know it. I’ve maintained my same level of presence online and in advertising I’ve been here for my hours- plus some- nothing matters. I see competition popping up here and there, competition I’ve never had to worry about before. Is it even competition, I’m not sure…
Then I try to remind myself I’ve been in business for 18 years this summer. I’ve built this up to what I have now alone. I was so excited about those first sales. Those first years I could pay more than the minimum on my bills; I could go grocery shopping without counting every penny and stopping at $37 (I was single at the time…). I praise the Lord every time I’m in the grocery store that I can buy us what we need- if we need it there will be enough. But Lord this summer is rough! I’ve had one window treatment sale in months and they haven’t paid me yet. I’ve sold one chicken coop all summer but I’ve been here with my lights on and my phone near but nothing happens. 18 years, 1 new person in town can’t shut me down, one poor season can’t shut me down- right?!? Lord help me.
I finished my down time projects- I know there will be some lull but it's been weeks and I’m still bored here at work. Struggling to entertain an almost 2 year old. I painted the giant plywood box we keep in the garage for cardboard recycling purple like the bench I have in the garage! I also built a work bench for the basement where I sort my parts.
My garage
Meant for receiving & loading packages and taking care of recycling quickly I’m proud of my cute purple garage.
I started refinishing furniture again - something to do, something I have everything for, something I enjoy- listed a few items on FB Marketplace. A gorgeous round oak table and a cute little round side table. Haven’t even gotten a ‘Is this available?’ accidental send…
On I go about my day- dreaming that I could just crawl up and hide for weeks. But I know as soon as I get comfortable my sweet boy will want something. Then the rest of the family will want supper.
We’ve got pork tenderloins set out tonight. I like to make them in the air fryer, breaded. Then we have mashed potatoes and country gravy on it all. I prefer peas as something colorful for this meal but I think we’re out so green beans or broccoli tonight from the freezer.
Since I burnt my belly 4 summers ago with boiling water while freezing green beans I’ve barely been able to eat them but my mother in law keeps growing them for us, so I keep freezing them. 2nd degree burn on your core in the summer heat pretty much ruins a couple of weeks.
I don’t really want to work that hard making all that food but hubby said he’ll be home so I probably should make it instead of grilled cheese sandwiches.
Schools back in session in a week and a half. The older 2 will be back on schedule again, the little guy will miss them, the house will be the way I left in the morning and still in the afternoon. I’m ready for it! The older 2 are too even though O doesn’t admit it…
Showroom Play Area
I found that table and chair on the curb! We cleaned it up and gave it a fresh coat of paint!
We’ve got freshly butchered chickens to process tonight too. I like to marinate them right away so that they thaw and marinate at the same time ready for the grill or oven! Any favorite marinades I should try?
