"You're making a difference! Please don't ever stop doing this!" she earnestly said as she walked to her car under the street light...
I stood there, on my side walk, and replied, "Well, I have to now ;)" ...the crickets chirped, she pulled out of the driveway to head home...
You see, I run a small business out of my home. I have been doing this since 2014 - I have learned a LOT over the years, especially the last year...but one thing rang true...this is my calling.
I have been a chef at my church - their food service director - for nearly 5 years. In the last several months, my home business - that has been steadily growing for years now - has grown exponentially in the last few months. I work before sun up to long after sundown - cooking food at the church, or brewing/prepping elderberry. it's been such a big blessing - my kids got their many kinds of checkups, groceries, fun trips, we got a small vacation, etc...all because of my little home business.
Feeling tugged in two directions for some time now, it became evident I needed to pick a path.....I couldn't continue to walk two paths in an evermore uncomfortable straddle...Something was going to break...my mental or physical state most likely....
Which leads me to where I am now...After Spring Break, my five year anniversary, March 18 - First Baptist Church will have a new food service director, and I'll be officially my own boss - completely self employed. I'll still try to be around WNS as much as I can be, Lord willing. But my current schedule as it is right now is completely unmanageable for me.
I have loved my job there...By God's grace, I took Wednesday Night Suppers that were barely over 100 people, and made them into a huge event: over 350 people on a regular basis. They include a full amazing salad bar, 6 homemade delicious dressings, and my guests know they can count on a from-scratch dinner with all the fixings...and not leave hungry. It has broadened and stretched me as a person, my skills as a chef have grown tremendously...it's been a privilege to work there and be their chef. I've loved almost every minute of it...but something has to give...
I need to condense my life a lot...like, a LOT...those of you who know me more intimately know how stressed and overwhelmed I've been lately...Every minute is booked in my week...so I've opened up a few minutes now. I'm trying not to fill them immediately :P I purchased a berry press for my business, as well as a new fridge...trying to make life a little more fun and a little less constant work.
Please pray for me as I transition out of WNS and for their new chef, whomever that may be. Pray for my home business that is continues to thrive and I can hire on someone to help me a day or two a week. Pray for my family as we all adjust to new roles and identity shifts...Pray that if it be prudent, we are able to get a location for a small herbal shop or a house that better suits our needs...I'm quickly outgrowing out cute little home and desperately need more space to store supplies, herbs, etc.
I know I need to keep doing this...I know it is making a difference, and I'm not going to stop. I'm fully embracing all that it is, and going to pursue becoming a professional herbalist. It'll take me years, no doubt...but it's coming for me, like it or not. I covet all of your prayers and happy thoughts
To my WNS guests - thank you for filling a place in my heart I didn't know was empty...truly a blessing, each one of you...
To my None of Your Beeswax clients - thank you for sticking through with every little bump in the road, and the bumps to come...you guys are awesome and encourage me daily and what an honor to be included in your family in this way. Thank YOU!
Onward to new adventures,
Becca H.
