The End of the Beginning

This month we celebrate six months being officially in business.  It's been quite a ride so far.  We had our last craft fair for the season this past weekend.  I purposely did not book any shows for December so we could keep up with holiday orders without (completely) losing our sanity and our cheerful holiday dispositions. 

When we began Woodhaven Soaps, I knew there'd be some surprises along the way.  Things are never quite the way you expect or envision them to be.  So I'm surprised that the biggest surprise is that there weren't more surprises.  I knew I'd enjoy visiting with people and helping customers...no surprises there, other than I love it even more than I thought I would.  I figured I'd like doing shows and fairs, and I did.  OK...maybe I was surprised that I was able to get up at an ungodly early hour to prepare for shows (to say I'm not a morning person is an understatement.  OK, family, control yourselves.  Your laughter is hurting my ear drums.).  I expected I wouldn't necessarily love doing paperwork, and I don't, but somehow it gets done, mostly, more or less, usually. 

I was a bit worried about keeping up my energy level once the newness of being in business had worn off.  After all, I'm no spring chicken (I hate that phrase but, sadly, it fits).  But another surprise...every encounter or conversation I have had with you wonderful people out there is so invigorating!  It's easy to become cynical about the state of the human race just watching the news on TV every night.  Getting out there and communicating one-on-one has certainly reassured me that the percentage of the human population falling into the nuts-and-kooks category is pretty darn small.  I thank you all for renewing my spirit!

At this time of year we can't help reflecting on beginnings and endings, the sad and the sweet.  So here we are, at the end of the beginning of Woodhaven Soaps.  Just like everyone else, we've had our ups and down this past year, but the blessings each and every one of you have brought to our lives is a treasure, and we thank you.  We look forward to the coming year, with all its surprises in store.

Wishing all of you a happy and blessed Holiday season!  Let us all give joy to another person and recognize the joy they bring to us.

http://www.woodhavensoaps.com