3 Years Ago.....

Three years ago, my life as I knew it changed. That was when Joanne and I opened the doors to our new retail store. It seems like just yesterday, but yet we have come so far and it has changed so many parts of my life, that it feels like so long ago! Don't get me wrong, all the changes have been very positive and the rewards have been many.

Through all the bumpy roads, growing pains and learning curves my friendship with Joanne has grown too. We have had ups and downs, happy times and very sad times, but through it all we have had each other. Without her, I would be one lonely scrapbook friend.

We have also been blessed with many, many new friendships along the way. When Joanne and I chose the name 'Two Scrapbook Friends' for our business, I don't think we realized the emphasis on 'friends'. The scrapbooking community is a very friendly one. On a daily basis our friends come into our store and we have had the pleasure of getting to know them well. Along with that comes moments of joy and also moments of sadness. Our lives become intertwined with theirs and they become family.

My family has been very supportive through this adventure. Before the store, I was a mom to my 3 kids, a wife to my husband, and I had a little part-time job at TD Canada Trust. When the doors to the store opened there were big changes taking place in my house. Now they had to share my time with all my new friends. Everyone's rolls had to change and they all pitched in and helped out.

Family has become really important to me. They are the people that I lean on for support. They give me energy. I have always been very close with my mom and dad and they have always been there to support me as well. My mom comes into the store twice a week (or more) and helps us put together the 1000's of kits that we make. She never complains and always does a great job. She also looks after the store so that Joanne and I can get away once in a while, just to be friends. That is a wonderful gift. I hope she knows how much I appreciate everything she does. My dad is always available when I have questions about the financial side of our business. He has also given me the gift of my outgoing personality. I also hang out with him at the Kitchener Auditorium on Friday nights to watch the Rangers play. That is another great thing I got from him. Thanks dad!

On Thanksgiving we always go for a family walk in the woods near my mom and dad's house. It is a great way for the kids to burn off energy and take some fall photos.

Growing up, I didn't really get to know my grandparents because we always lived so far away from them. I only saw them a few times a year. I love that my kids see their grandparents often. Family is a very important part of my life. Whether is is my immediate family, Joanne and her family (my second family), or my scrapbook friends.....they all play an important role in who I am. I love you all!