I know, I know! This should have been posted in January, but I am a procrastinator :-) A new year has come, and life is just as crazy! Last year a lot happened in my personal and professional life. My husband (who has CNSV) started to get worse, so at the end of December 2014 I quit my job and started my online business Sweet Smells Shoppe! Wow, this has been a fun and challenging year. I love making soap and candles and have had a blast starting up this business. I believe God has given me a heart to be an entreprenuer, and a love for making soap and candles. But most of all, God has given me a heart to help others in any way I can. I prayed all year about this business and what I should do. God even gave me plans for my future store, even adding a tea shop to the plans! I had been so excited, but then It happened. My husband, Jason, had stroke number 16!! My plans started to fall apart at the seams! He was in the hospital for over a month starting in May of 2015. Then he had to go back for even more chemo! Jason hates chemo. I prayed for his recovery and focused my attention on him, letting Sweet Smells go to the wayside. I had kept up my blog, but then in August we had another type of disaster, our water heater exploded. Wow! I begged God for a break, I felt I could not handle anymore. Life was piling up and I couldn't function. But God (don't you love it) was with me and our family through everything. Things that I had prayed for (with no hope of actually recieving) were actually happening! Jason started to recover and I am happy to say can walk without any help! But during this time, I really had to lean on God. He sent provisions that I did not know were even possible! God has taught me a lesson, that I need to rely on him rather than my own understanding. As Proverbs 3:5-6 states "5Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. 6In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight"
So here we are in 2016! I am (still) learning to trust God in everything. He has promised me that we will have a store, I just do no know the details. I am trusting in God to show me this. I am just sitting back and enjoying the ride. I am now working on liquid soap, and loving the creativity. But I am still making my bar soaps because of all the fun ingredients I can add to them (and as always the colors)! I am also making more time for family, and friends. As I have said before, God has given me a love for people, so I am always researching different methods to help other people. So for 2016, I promise to blog about more recipes and alternative ways to help with everyday issues. I also want you to know that I am here to pray for YOU! If you have any prayer requests you can leave a comment in the comments area or email me at sweetsmellsshoppe@gmail.com .
