16 years ago today we learned of God's compassion through a most difficult situation. Our son, Mark Everett died in utero during the 7th month of my pregnancy. While his earthly body was delivered into this world without life, he was welcomed into our Father's arms in Heaven fully alive! We know we will be reunited with him when we are called home. God brought us peace thoughout this sad time and surrounded us with the love of friends and family. Today we continue our tradition of releasing birthday balloons to remember our son who was taken too soon.
Sadly this day in 2010 has some added pain that also could not have been anticipated. Today we close the doors of our business for good. A chapter closed in our lives. For seven years we have ridden the rollercoaster of self-employment, with it's ups and downs and unpredictabilities. While we would never have imagined the outcome of this venture we can find comfort in the love of family and friends just as we did 16 years ago.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
October and gladly the end is near...
Yes, I know, a strange title for blog, however given the circumstances that have surrounded our lives for the past two years and particularly the past five months, the end is what we gladly welcome.
Mark's job was such a blessing from the Lord and we are so grateful for HIS provision. Mark has proven himself over and over again an excellent hire. So, why the strange title then, you may ask. Well, with Mark's new employment has come some pretty drastic changes in the Hart lifestyle. We have attempted to keep the business going with my taking over the day to day operations, but the long hours of Mark's schedule, combined with my long hours, combined with almost no family time is taking its toll on all of us and it really must end. Sooner or later a white flag must be raised and a surrender declared in order to salvage the sanity of the participants. That time has come.
The decision to close the business has been one that has been at the forefront of our minds for several months now, but its just so hard to let go of something that you have watched your husband work so hard to build. It really took the kind words of a friend who has been by our sides since the beginning to say, "It's okay to say enough, there is no shame when you have given it all you had". Perhaps that was all we needed, someone other than ourselves to give us permission.
And now that the permission has been granted we feel a bit of spring in our step. We look towards the end of the tunnel and actually can see a light. It won't be pretty or neat, the closing of a business that has been in the community for 15+ years, seven of those under our watch. We certainly won't be walking away with cash dangling from our pockets, in fact you will find our pockets turned inside out, the glaring white emptiness symbolic of our own personal surrender flag. But it will bring about the end to this chapter, one that we welcome with eyes turned upward towards the One who wrote the book and has promised a happy ending.
Mark's job was such a blessing from the Lord and we are so grateful for HIS provision. Mark has proven himself over and over again an excellent hire. So, why the strange title then, you may ask. Well, with Mark's new employment has come some pretty drastic changes in the Hart lifestyle. We have attempted to keep the business going with my taking over the day to day operations, but the long hours of Mark's schedule, combined with my long hours, combined with almost no family time is taking its toll on all of us and it really must end. Sooner or later a white flag must be raised and a surrender declared in order to salvage the sanity of the participants. That time has come.
The decision to close the business has been one that has been at the forefront of our minds for several months now, but its just so hard to let go of something that you have watched your husband work so hard to build. It really took the kind words of a friend who has been by our sides since the beginning to say, "It's okay to say enough, there is no shame when you have given it all you had". Perhaps that was all we needed, someone other than ourselves to give us permission.
And now that the permission has been granted we feel a bit of spring in our step. We look towards the end of the tunnel and actually can see a light. It won't be pretty or neat, the closing of a business that has been in the community for 15+ years, seven of those under our watch. We certainly won't be walking away with cash dangling from our pockets, in fact you will find our pockets turned inside out, the glaring white emptiness symbolic of our own personal surrender flag. But it will bring about the end to this chapter, one that we welcome with eyes turned upward towards the One who wrote the book and has promised a happy ending.
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