"My store is closing this week" Kathleen Kelly, You've Got Mail

It's time. A new chapter and new beginning for me. But first, I have to say goodbye to something I have loved so dearly. I can't believe how these years have flown by and all of the memories that are packed into one little place. It was a dream to own my own scrapbook store and for that I will always be thankful. My dream came to be because of Rhonda and Linda. I learned so much from them and I will never forget meeting with them and talking about passing the store on to me, "sending their baby off with their baby," they said. But dreams change.....you know? When I was a little girl, all I wanted to be was a mommy. And when MMU came into my life, my dreams changed. I married my Hoss (the store closed for my wedding, by the way!) and we planned for children after 3-5 years.....Well, I grew to love the store and having a career so much, that I said, wait....wait....Now, 9 years later, we will have Levi.

God's perfect timing. He prepared my heart to let go of the store and move on to a new chapter. Just as God prepared Queen Esther to be brave and take the throne to save her people, I am brave!! Maybe I can't compare to Queen Esther, but I often think of

Esther 4:14b, as it was a special verse to me during a bible study I did....

"And who knows that you should come to royal position for such a time as this?"

I often recall this verse and hope you will too. Because no matter what we are all going through, God has a perfect plan and He knows why I have come to close a dream and open a new one at such a time as this!!! Praise God!

Watch this clip from my beloved, "You've Got Mail." I won't tell you the estimate on how many times I have watched this movie but I can tell you I will be watching again and again....always.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fnlj6uihknI

And now, let me tell you how I ruined a perfect birthday gift this year. (it was last sunday)

On the night that Hoss and I made the final decision to close the store, he left our bedroom and came back with "You've Got Mail" in his hand. Ya, he is so tender and sweet to me, always doing things like that. So, we watch the movie, again. And during this scene, where she takes the bell off the door and looks back at her store one last time, with tears in my eyes, I blurt out, "At least I don't have a bell to take down from the door and walk away all alone depressed like that."

Oops! A Bell was coming my way with a quote, "Closing the store is the brave thing to do!"

Thank you, MMU friends for all of the kind words and warm memories.

I invite you to come share and be at MMU one last time on Wednesday, August 31st from 6-8. We will have a farewell reception and share hugs and memories. (as long as Levi doesn't come!) It will be the last time our doors are open. xo