So, the New Year has rolled in once again, can you believe that? And I’ve got some new and exciting things in store for me this year. I’m officially home again….as in, I quit my job right before Christmas. Yep, that’s right. That wonderful, cushy, good fit for me job is no longer. You see, it seems my dear sweet hubby would much rather have me home again than to have another paycheck, so home is where I’ll be. He values my time at home more than money. At first, I was reluctant (kicking & screaming is more like it!). It was a great job, really decent paycheck, & I enjoyed the people. But, I had to make the decision that was going to be best for my family, so I gave my notice. They were very sorry to see me go and I was a good fit for that position. After all, I had only been there a short time, but all in all, they were very understanding. And now, I’m excited about the new year ahead.
My hubby has been very supportive of me trying to do something at home, using my talents and abilities, so I do very much appreciate him encouraging me with this venture. I know a lot of women are prodded to go out & get jobs by their husbands (I have witnessed that firsthand), & I’m thankful that mine is old-fashioned when it comes to that and he loves me being home and having the time to do what I want to do, as well as being a homemaker. I was momentarily blinded by a nice, steady paycheck & would have probably stayed there several years just to keep that going & give us extra income. My hubby works at home and is very entreprenurial in spirit, whereas I go the safe route. We are an interesting mix, to say the least. It might be time for me to get out of my box. Did I mention that I have worked 30 years in corporate jobs, in large corporations and small companies as an Administrative Assistant? I’ve always done pretty well with it, but he also hated to see me getting up at 5:30 every morning to get to the office by 7:30, just so I could leave at 4:30 & rush to do all I needed to do at home too. And I was too tired to get it all done. I know all of you who work full-time know exactly what I’m talking about. I can’t even imagine how you working moms handle all of this. You girls have my utmost respect.
So, it’s time for a change….again.
I‘m now excited about what the New Year might hold for me. I’ve loved decorating for a long time now and have always wanted to do something with that. So, I think that now might be the time for me to really explore that in more depth and figure out how to launch myself in a decorating business from home. I’m not quite sure how to do that yet. I’m asking lots of questions from other friends who are in this business and starting to do some research, so I’m very excited about the possibilities. I know there are a lot of people out there who love decorating too and it’s not that easy to start a business up from scratch, but that’s where my interests lie and that’s what I’d love to do. I’ll never know if I don’t give it a try. I’m going to look at taking some courses, where that will be online or here at a local college, I’m not sure yet. I will have to do some research on what will be the best course of action for me. I do have 3 months of some good, in-depth training from Ethan Allen when I was a design consultant for them for a few short months back in 2003/04. Retail, I discovered, was not my thing. It was way too much “sales pressure” and way too hard to making a living like that, so I know that is not the direction for me to go. I don’t claim to be an interior designer, I didn’t go to school for that. But, I think I can decorate pretty well, and I think I can help the average woman with putting her home together, so we’ll see where that leads me. I’d like to focus on redesigning & helping women rearrange rooms, using things they have in different ways, color consultations, shopping for something special & maybe even redoing some furniture. I love taking something that is not that great & turning it into a treasure.
I’ve got plenty to keep me busy for awhile at home. I’m looking forward to not having to get up at the crack of dawn, getting to the gym several mornings for workouts (instead of having to fit it in after work in the afternoons), having time to plan & prepare meals, getting my cleaning done during the week, & having some girl time with some of my friends too. I’ve got closets & drawers that need cleaning out & reorganizing…funny, we just moved in here 2 years ago & that already needs doing! I’ve also always wanted to have some time to give to volunteer/ministry opportunities & because of working fulltime, have never been able to do much of that. So, I’m trusting the Lord to lead me in all of this. I know He has a plan & he will take care of us, all I have to do is trust Him. That’s been so hard for me at times over the years, as I tend to jump in & try to control things by doing it MY way. I can figure this out & I will fix it, by golly! Any one else relate to that? That is something that the Lord has been teaching me this past year…to rest in Him. How hard that is sometimes. I think I’m finally learning that one, but it’s taking me long enough.
I‘d love to hear from all of you too! I know many of you work fulltime or part-time. Do you like what you do & if money were no object, would you quit work & stay at home or pursue something else that you love? I’ve heard a lot of women make the comment that they could not stay home, they just feel like they have to work for their own well being & satisfaction. I have never felt that way. I have always worked too & looked enviously at the women I saw who did stay home. For those who do stay at home, do you feel totally fulfilled by being a homemaker and/or mother? I know homemaking is almost a lost art these days, as most couples are struggling to stay afloat & most of the time it means 2 paychecks are needed. Finding that balance is hard sometimes.
Y’all will be on this journey with me too, so you can hear all the ups & downs as I figure this all out! Thanks for all the support from each and every one of you this year. This time last year, I barely knew what a blog was, much less thought about starting one. Blogging has really opened up a lot of doors for me too and I’m very excited to see what is ahead of me this coming new year. Thanks for tagging along with me and thanks for all the support I’ve felt from this wonderful blogging community. That’s one thing I’m really grateful for this past year. Moving to a new city two years ago was more challenging than I had imagined. Making new friends was difficult at times, but 2007 brought some wonderful new friends into my life, all of you included. Hope y’all have a very Happy New Year! I’m geared up for some decluttering & hopefully some fun projects this year, so I hope you’ll all stick around! 
(signs from Art.com)
Good for you. I will be anxious to watch your journey as I would love to do something similar. As you may remember, I just went back to work after being off for a little while. I probably did not use my time off wisely or I could have already been down another path. My husband is self-employed and the health insurance benefits from my job are really helpful to us.
Good luck and Happy New Year!
Nan
Sounds like a nice supportive husband. I guess you shold hang on to him.
I’m having a little give-away on my blog my self. No gmicks, just my way of celebrating one year of blogging. Please come over and sign up.
http://organizeddoodles.blogspot.com/
Thank you for stopping by my blog! I visited your blog a few days ago, and loved what I saw. This is a very inspirational post. I have been thinking about it for days.
Hey Rhoda! What a great guy that Peter is :o) You think some of that could rub off on my hubby???Nah…I doubt it! @@ Good luck in your new adventure!….I can’t wait to see what you come up with!!!!
~Des
Happy New Year, my friend!
I’m so excited for this new venture you are about to set out on! You will be FABULOUS!
I have to say, I do have an Interior Design degree and it honestly doesn’t matter! You have to have a “knack” for it, and that you have, my friend!
Hmmm…how about “Divine Redesign” ? Or, something else you could do would be to get your “Staging” license. I think it only costs about $400 for the course. You would be fantastic at that.
We have a professional stager that is on staff at our Real Estate Company and she is busy, busy, busy! I could put you in touch with her if you’re interested in finding out more.
Whatever path the Lord leads you down, He will surely bless you!
Much love!
I want to encourage you to go for it! I wanted to do something like that when I was younger and didn’t, now I regret it. I love staying home, I stayed home and raised my two daughters for 21 years, then had to go to work. I worked 16 years at NASA, KSC, in FL. I’m now retired and have been home for ten years, loving it, I never get bored, never have enough time! I do help friends, family with their decorating, but not for pay.
God gave you the talent, and He gave you the desire. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He’ll give you the desires of your heart!
I wish you the very best!
Katherine
P.S. – I enjoyed seeing your sister’s village! Last Friday on Show and Tell I shared my six-piece tea room village, if you would like to see it!
Rhoda: Go for it!!! Even if you’re on your own, with a home office, you will still be working – so it’s the best of both worlds. I love working for myself. I was an office manager for years and years and thought I just could NOT not work! Until I quit. haha!!! You’ll love it. Start slow and go out for word of mouth advertising and before you know it, you’ll be making money and accountable only to yourself. It’s a very, very liberating feeling. It’s not work when you do what you love, it’s passion.
Sure, lots of women enjoy decorating but not many are as talented as you are. Anyone would be lucky to have you in their home, helping to make it beautiful. You have such a lovely style but you also understand people and could make someone else’s vision a reality for them. I can tell that 2008 is going to be an exciting year for you!
Hi there Rhodie…
Happy New Year to you!
I have NO DOUBT that WHATEVER endeavor you decide to pursue you will be a success, and you will be happy as long as you are being true to YOUR SPIRIT AND SOUL. You have the heart and the talent – make your dreams come true.
Love,
Kim
Rhonda, I was excited to read your news! Is it selfish of me to think you will be posting more interior pictures now that you aren’t going to an office every day? 🙂 You are very talented and I know you will do well with a decorating business. I have worked successfully from my home for 19 yrs arranging silk floral designs. I’d be happy to share about my business if you would like. Best wishes for a new beginning!
Donna
Thank you ALL again SO much for the wonderful, positive comments about my new year’s plans! I am just blown away by all the support & confidence you have in me. I hope I can live up to it! I’m really excited about the possibilities that await me & I will be sure to share my progress as I go along. You are all such a special part of my life now & I look forward to sharing so many new things with you all in this coming year!
dd, I would love to hear about your floral design business, but since I can’t get in touch with you, please email me. You can click on my About Me profile & find my email link. Thanks so much for the support!!
Love to you all,
Rhoda
Rhoda
I have been a sahm, a part time sahm, a full time worker, a full time singer mother of 2 worker, and now I have been a working gramma and a stay at home gramma! LOL! Gosh I have done a lot in 44 years! I can say that staying and home and being able to put my family first is the GREATEST thing I have ever done. Right now I stay home and sale on ebay but my little grandson has to go to daycare. I just can’t work with him home. I did feel guilty about sending him at first but he loves it now so everything is good. God will bless you and your family for making this decision. I can guarantee you that!
xoxo
Rhoda
Hi Rhoda…….What a fun business decorating will be since you are home now! There are so many new things to do I know you won’t be bored. I do LOVE my part-time job……have been there 8 yrs. We have no sales pressure (never sold anything before in my life until this job fell in my lap) & bonuses which I usually get one of those too once a month also. I get things at cost plus alittle extra on great furniture, flooring, rugs, etc. My schedule is so flexible, it is easy to get off whenever I want…..my boss brings me donut holes to eat , can surf the internet between customers, etc. I would be a nut to quit. I do love it! I have time to get house work done since it is p/t and appointments scheduled. I would hate working fulltime I think…the times I tried DD was too busy & we were thawing hamburger out in the microwave at 8:30 at night trying to eat after all her activities. I think what ever makes you happy & Peter too is the right decision for you & I think you will find plenty to do. I can’t wait to get back to art class if my instuctor gets back to us in the Spring….I love painting too. Have fun with your free time ! Enjoy the decorating classes.. Happy New Year, Rhoda! Bonnie
Rhoda, congratulations on your new “stay-at-home/work from home endeavor.”
I’ll send you an e-mail when I get a moment telling you “my story” too.
Blessings,
Sher
Rhoda, one of my New Year’s Resolutions is to try to read more of the GI gal blogs, so here I am! Let me just say that every woman has to find her authentic course. I would never presume to know what yours is. But I get concerned when I hear about you being pulled “kicking and screaming” from a job you love. I have no doubt you can succeed in ANYTHING you endeavor…just make sure you’re embarking on YOUR dream, not someone else’s. You have my wholehearted support, prayers and good blonde-chica vibes for success and prosperty in whatever you choose to do. As for me, I love being a wife and mother, but I’ve always enjoyed having a little “sumthin” on the side. I feel like I’ve found the perfect balance between work and home…serving as an Air Force Reserve officer and my consulting work (after 8 years of being a sole proprietor, I created an LLC and formalized some things last year…it was fun!) Most days, I’m home and I’m able to take my kids to school and pick them up, take care of our home, etc. What works for me would not work for a lot of other people…but it’s not their lives…it’s mine. I am grateful that my husband’s #1 goal is for me to be happy…so he goes with whatever flow I want to follow (within reason, of course.) You are embarking on a new chapter…my best advice is to stay true to your authentic self, no matter what! Good luck!
Rhoda, belated Happy New Year! I wish you God’s very best in your new venture. I know He will guide you well and use your decorating talents to benefit other women! I remember two women in South Carolina who had a ‘rearranging’ decorating business. I thought it was a great idea. That could be a great way to start. Word of mouth is always the best advertising, too. How about contacting the paper that did the two features on you, too? Best of luck (providence)!
Hugs,
Lallee
I wanted to let you know that I just discovered your blog and I am really enjoying it. I think I’ve went back and read every post! I am in a similar situation as you. I was a vice president at a large bank when I met my second husband. After we were married he wanted me to run the business side of his plumbing/remodeling company. I jumped at the chance because I would be able to work from home. I love it! I can do the things I love such as decorating, cooking and working in the yard while still running our business. However, there is still a need for more of a creative outlet. I fulfill that by helping others decorate their homes. I’m also getting ready to volunteer for dress for success, which helps battered and homeless women get back into the workplace by assisting them in finding the perfect interview outfit, all of which are donated. I’m also looking for ways of volunteering at church. After reading your blog and looking at your lovely home I know for certain that you will be successful at whatever you attempt. I’m looking forward to reading about your next adventure. Blessings….~Robin~
A nice fat extra check is awesome but there is nothing like being home,and especially working from home. Illness drove me home from office management in which I had worked for many years. At first I hated it. But after a while, I grew to enjoy it. For a very short time, I did return part-time, but I hated it and so did my family. So home I’ve been now for over twenty years and I love it more each day. I wish you the best success ever with a home decorating business and know you will soar with it. May all info you need come your way in abundance!! Looking forward to taking this trip with you Rhoda by way of your awesome blog entries. xoxo