Tree making and such...

I thought about putting this post on my craft blog because it's more related to that... but I kind of like having this alternate life over there where I pretend like life is pretty all the time and I don't talk about my cancer. So I'm putting this over here instead...




So I've been busy making trees the last little while. I'm really loving it. It makes me so happy when someone wants me to make them a tree, to represent their family, something that matters the most in my opinion. I was making a tree the other day and I started thinking about how I got to this point and thought it was interesting and wanted to write it down.



Ever since I became pregnant with Tru I've tried to think of a way that I could make a little business from home to keep me sane as a stay at home mom. It didn't necessarily have to bring in lots of money, a little play money that was all mine would be fun, but it was more about doing something that was just me... not having my whole identity be of a wife and mom. It was about a year ago that I got this great idea to make a tree for Tru's room, with his initials and birth date on it. I spent most of my time last December trying out different designs and fabrics and making trees for my family and friends for Christmas. In January I decided that this was it, the big idea that I've been waiting for and decided to open up a little shop. So I worked hard getting all my samples made, taking pictures, setting up shop.



A week after I opened my shop I was put on bed rest...



So that was that for a while... I didn't pursue it at all... and I'm glad that nobody bought a tree from me (except my loyal supporter Mindy). I needed to focus on other things...



So then I lost the baby, and had a slow recovery... finally in August I felt like I could do this again, give me something to focus on other than wanting a baby. So I opened up shop again...



A few weeks later, was diagnosed with cancer... crap!



I honestly started to think that maybe this whole "business" idea was bad bad luck. I was jinxing myself or something. Once again, I did not pursue it, and nobody bought anything so I didn't have to worry about it either...



The night before I started chemo I went online to close down my shop, I don't need this kind of bad luck... and somebody bought something! A set of leg warmers! And I had a request for a custom job! This was exciting! I didn't know how it was going to get done because the unknown world of chemo was my next appointment, but I really wanted to do it.



I found that I really really love doing this. I decided that I'm not going to let life get in the way of doing what I want to do. It's been so nice this last little while to have something to do that is just ME!!! That is in no way shape or form related to my cancer, or dishes, or laundry, or diapers, or my other life responsibilities... it's just me making trees and sending them to people.



It's been a huge blessing to me. It's something that I love to do, I love to sew, I love how personal it is, I love packaging them up and sending them on their way. I love it.



Funny how a year ago I thought that I just had this great idea to make a little money. Not that in a year this would be my saving grace... the one thing that would make me feel like myself still (because we all know that the hairstyle I'm sporting isn't doing it)... the one thing that I do because I love it.



Anyway, I think that Heavenly Father sends us little tender mercies and I feel like these trees have been mine lately. As nutty as this sounds, it reminds me that I'm still me. And I'm grateful that I've felt well enough to do it...