^“There is an appointed time for everything.
And there is a time for every event under heaven:
A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

Today marks both an end, and a beginning, for The Sweet Truth.
Two years ago, I opened my in-home store.
It proved to be a blessing in such beautiful ways …
visits from old friends …
making new friends …
time spent sharing, listening, praying, and sometimes crying.
It is an honor to have someone tell me about a special person in their life …
a parent, a child, a friend,
a newborn baby, a loved one who has died,
an infant baptized into a new life in Christ, a child receiving the Blessed Sacrament …
then ask me to create something just for them!

I’ll miss those moments.
But I’m elated thinking about the new opportunities to come with this change.
Since the beginning, I’ve longed for more time to spend creating new designs, expanding my blog and online store, and building up an inventory of ready-to-purchase items.

God is THE reason for the existence of this venture.
He deserves all of the glory, and it is His to use for His benefit.
Second to Him is my husband and two daughters.
I want The Sweet Truth to enhance our lives, not harm them;
I serve God, and I serve my family.
But I do not serve a business.
All changes and new directions are made with these purposes in mind.
My in-home store allowed these lines to be blurred.
It was a constant, inescapable presence.
A revolving door that never seemed to close.

Growing up, I was blessed with a stay-at-home mother
But although she was at home, she wasn’t always available.
To provide for our family, and to send three children through college, my mother operated a hair salon from our home.
My gratitude to my mother extends far beyond mere words.
Her and my father physically exhausted themselves every single day in order to provide my siblings and I with a life of opportunities to which they themselves weren’t given.
But I sometimes resented that my mother’s business, and her customers, had more of her time than I did.
Constant phone calls, late night appointments.
It was all for one reason – for our family.
But I still didn’t like sharing my mom.
I know my daughters understand why I created The Sweet Truth.
And I know they benefit from all of its goodness.
But I don’t ever want them to think they take second place.
I don’t want to ask them to retreat quietly to their rooms when customers are present.
I don’t want to ask them to be silent when the phone rings.

I thank you from the depths of my heart for persevering through this change.
I’m working so very hard to make online ordering easy, if not pleasant.
To help me with this, I invite you to provide me your comments, ideas and suggestions ALWAYS.
The Sweet Truth exists FOR Him … and BECAUSE of you!

I can be found at various events throughout the year, and I will continue to have Open Houses each Spring and Fall.
Please drop by for a visit!

Peace,

Sheila

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