Beautiful Mess Blitz

If anyone knows me at all, I have a very hard time turning down a road trip. I will admit that the new stage and condition of my back does make me hesitate a little, but for the most part I respond with “So, when are we leaving?”

Aletheia’s sister Kara needed to take a trip to Greensboro, NC to look at a graduate program she was interested in. With NC being my old stomping ground a plan immediately formulated in my mind: why not do a paint workshop with friends from my old church while Kara is in Greensboro?

So that is what we did. With a few set backs to overcome (Aletheia’s bum knee, a church event on the same evening, no access to a car while in Durham because Kara still had it) our Beautiful Mess workshop was a great time to catch up and encourage each other.

Spire's First Road Trip

Spire’s first out-of-state gig took us to a place that like a second home for both Aletheia and me: Marion, IN. I have lived in Marion on three separate occasions as an undergrad at Indiana Wesleyan University (IWU) and two other transitional times. Aletheia was a Resident Director at IWU during my third relocation to the area, which is how we originally met.

So with an invitation for Aletheia to speak in chapel at IWU, we packed the car and headed in hopes of reconnecting with old friends, making new ones, and interacting with the idea that God has instilled creativity in all of us.

Our hosts for the week could not have been better as we had the great and wonderful opportunity to stay with the Buddes. My youth pastor from my middle school and high school days had recently took the senior pastor position at Westview Wesleyan Church and with open arms welcomed us into their home.  How heart warming it was to have three of my “worlds” come together in one place. Those moments are always interesting as I felt no time had passed and yet I was constantly reminded, as I remember when both of the Budde children where born and are now both in high school.

Aletheia did a fantastic job overcoming her nerves and sharing what was on her heart. With a talk-back session and time to create with students, it was nice to give back to a place that had given so much to me.

It is All in Who You Know

As they say, “starting your own business is no walk in the park.” This statement I agree with on every level. The learning curve is HUGH. Nor does any young business really bring in all that much revenue. So when someone knocks on your door and says, “Heather I think I found a job for you.” You listen with great anticipation and hope, as you know you bank account can only handle so much.

As they also say, “It is all in who you know.” I always reply, “Yes. It. Is.” Every time I am amazed how much easier things are when you know the right people. When Doreen said, “Heather, I think I found a job for you” what she was really saying was “You have a job if you want it all you have to do is call Gloria and tell her that I told you about the job and she will ask you when would you like to start.”

And with that, and no experience working at a greenhouse whatsoever, I will start my new job at Frey’s Greenhouse in two weeks. Thank you Doreen for passing your faith in me on to someone else. I won’t let you down.

HW Designs is now open for business!

Well, actually I have been doing graphic design sporadically for a while now. Much as been woven into my everyday work duties during previous jobs while other projects I could lump into the freelance category. Whatever the case may be, I now have a website that showcases them all in one place.

www.hwdesigns.info Check it out!