Looking Back on 2017

I am a dreamer and a perfectionist. Which often means I don’t do the best job at looking back on the past and seeing all the positives. That skill does not come naturally to me. I often dwell on what I could have done better and what went wrong.

In an effort to change this habit of mine, I want to implement a yearly blog post all about looking back the year and seeing all the good things that happened. So, without further ado, let’s take a look back on 2017…

The year began with our pregnancy announcement, and I am still so grateful for all the support and congratulations we received. I thought that whenever the time came for us to get pregnant, I would be the most joyful expectant mama. I wasn’t though. Pregnancy was hard for me and I had a hard time finding joy in that season. Now looking back, I wish I had been able to see all the amazing blessings of being pregnant. And I definitely miss that bump.

At the beginning of the year, I made the jump from Etsy and transitioned to my own e-commerce and launched a brand new website, shop, and blog. The new site has been such a blessing and it feels just like home. A huge thanks to Nicole for making it come to life.

This past year also included lots of growth for my business. I launched business resources and hosted three online challenges: #theheartfeltgrid (twice) and the product shop gurus challenge. I also coached business owners, was interviewed on 4 podcasts, spoke at a conference, was published in two print magazines, and taught at two business education online summits.

When I look back and write all of those things down, it’s crazy to think that I was discouraged about this past year and felt like my business didn’t grow. I have been remarkably blessed with incredible opportunities and my audience has been so incredibly supportive.

My husband and I traveled to Kauai for our babymoon and that trip was so restorative for me. Travel is so good for the soul. I had been struggling with my changing body, and our trip was a time for me to find peace and gratitude in pregnancy. We also have a track record of vacations going awry (for various reasons) and this trip went so perfectly. So far, it’s our best trip since being together. And that says a lot!

I hired the first team member of Rachel Allene and she has been such an incredible blessing and life saver for my business. Caitlin came in right before Knox was born and her help and wisdom has helped me be a better business owner and mom. I don’t know what I’d do without her.

On July 17th, 2017 I became a Mama and my life completely changed for the better. I never knew my heart could feel the love I felt on that day. Motherhood has been an incredible journey and I am so grateful that Knox is my son. He has made our life sweeter, richer, and so so precious.

After Knox was born, I didn’t know how much I would be capable of (work-wise), so I had few goals for the second half of the year.

I was pleased to launch my Fall and Christmas products with great success and have my most profitable season to date. I launched two new types of products (water tumblers and travel mugs) and the response was exactly what I was hoping for!

This year was also full of building friendships online and I am so blessed to have met and connected with amazing entrepreneurs and mamas. The digital age we live in is a strange time, but I am definitely thankful for the relationships that have come from the online world.

Two Thousand and Seventeen also included some fun personal joys like our annual summer camping trip with my family (that ended up in a cabin with snow), welcoming my third niece in September, hearing the heartbeat for the first time, finding out we were having a baby BOY, going on my annual trip with my sisters and mom, traveling to and being a bridesmaid in one of my best friends wedding, introducing Knox to our friends and family (he lights up every room!), and watching my husband be the most incredible daddy.

Although 2017 was good to my family, there was a great deal of pain and grief in the world. And I must admit that this year brought some heavy boots. I am grateful for my joy, but I also carry the weight of the sadness in this world. I hope and pray this coming year brings more joy, hope, and peace to a world that is hurting, at war, and in need of reconciliation. I pray this tiny little space of mine on the internet helps to inspire more grace and peace in the coming year.

From my living room to yours, Happy New Year!