I’ve received a lot of questions over the past year, but the one that stands out the most is, “Why is your store online only now?” The short answer is that this setup works best for us at the moment. But there’s a much deeper story behind it.
In just a few days, it will mark a year since our lives took a dramatic turn. Around this time last year, one of my son’s friends found himself in need of a place to stay. Sammy and I had been praying about this little boy, so when the opportunity came, we felt called to take him in. We knew this decision would change our household significantly, but we could never have anticipated the emotional journey that lay ahead. Suddenly, we found ourselves navigating the world of foster care, juggling new doctors' appointments, therapy sessions, family visits, sibling visits, and so much more. It was overwhelming, and we are incredibly grateful that our schedules allow for some flexibility, enabling us to adapt to these new demands. What has made this journey even more poignant is that this child has siblings, and we quickly fell in love with each of them. This added another layer of emotional complexity to our lives.
On top of all this, we’ve been helping our son adjust to having another child in the house, trying to ensure both children feel equally loved and supported. It’s been a whirlwind of emotions and experiences, and calling it a life-changing journey feels like an understatement. Throughout the year, our schedules have constantly shifted, affecting the times we can dedicate to the store. We genuinely tried to find employees to help us run the shop, but we faced challenges in finding individuals who were willing to work flexible hours for a suitable wage. It became clear that keeping the shop open while also managing our online business was simply not feasible at this time. After much consideration, we decided to focus on our online operations. We hope to return to a physical store when our schedules allow, but for now, we’re committed to serving our customers online and appreciate your understanding as we navigate this journey.
We soon have a new journey in the coming months as we begin the adoption process of our new son. This, I'm sure, will bring new challenges and we ask for your prayers as we walk this path.