A Refreshed Memory!

Today I am feeling quite refreshed as I begin to jar my mind and think back on this past season of working at the Barn. I went in to work yesterday to do showings with perspective brides and felt that same rush of excitement that I had had only months earlier just after beginning my employment! What a thrill to be infused with such a natural high! My mind raced as I gave an honest sales pitch to all who came out to check out the venue that could potentially become the place to host their upcoming nuptials! So many thoughts pulsed through my mind that I could barely contain myself! All in all, it was a very successful day! We secured bookings and, I feel better prepared as I am going to continue sharing the accounts from this past season as ....The Blue Dress Blogger!

Stepping through the doors at The Blue Dress Barn

Reporting for work on that first Friday in the month of May was quite a feat all in itself! Amy asked me to come to the barn on the afternoon of May 4 th which was the very first scheduled wedding of the season ! Little did she or myself know that I would be arriving on that day,tired and worn out after coming straight from the hospital having just visiting with our daughter Mandy whom had just delivered our second grandchild, Zoe Adyson Fox! Every blurry moment etched in my mind sailed with me as I arrived at the barn for the evening. Witnessing the miracle of new life would be a tough act to follow! I mean , come on, this was , for sure the highlight of my day! Nevertheless, I pulled in the parking lot and began to get feelings of expected nervousness as well as much anticipated enthusiasm as to what the night had in store for me! Walking up the long stairs, with excitement building, I thought to myself....here we go...the very first wedding at The Blue Dress Barn that I would be a part of! Let the magic begin!

Let the Wedding season begin at The Blue Dress Barn

In January of 2012 I decided to end my job at the school and waited until mid February to contact the owner of The Blue Dress Barn. On March 14th I received an email asking to come for an interview. March 14th is the date of my birthday and so of course I took this as a good sign and happily agreed to interview. Looking back, it's easy to recognize how my steps in life were ordered and now it's crystal clear that on that very day that my life path was about to steer in a new and very exciting direction! Somewhat nervous and anticipatory I drove to that interview just with a gut feeling that I would take the job if the offer was extended to me. I remember pulling up to the owners home and as I stepped out of my car a gust of wind blew the papers and pictures that were tucked in to my portfolio all over. Papers blowing everywhere, I scrambled to catch them and reassembled as I proceeded to the door. As I walked up to the screened in porch of a stately older home it was as though I began to become a part of something right out of a scripted story! On the porch was a younger gal who was painting ,complete with brush in hand and easel set before her! I inquired if she was Amy, and before she could answer I heard Amy beckoning me from another room to come in. As I entered through the porch, I was greeted by an old yellow dog . Amy stepped forward and upon introducing herself she told me that the gal painting was a friend and mom who regularly sought solitude by using the porch to craft her painting skills. We continued through to a dining room area and sat down for the interview. After chatting briefly I just knew that working for Amy at The Blue Dress Barn would be exciting and something that I would love to do! So.....after offering to give me a tour of the barn and show me the property the rest is history... I got the job! I accepted the invitation to work at The Blue Dress Barn, a highly sought after wedding destination venue!

Getting the position at The Blue Dress Barn

I answered an add that was posted inquiring for an event manager at the barn in the month of August last year. The response was not what I was hoping for. Since the summer wedding season was half over the owner responded asking for me to get back with her the following spring. So , I continued with my job at school , but constantly thought and dreamed about making a course correction towards pursuing something that had been on my bucket list for some time. As a mother of four my life has been navigated around my husband and children for many years. No regret.....just thankfulness to be able to keep my priorities centered around what I believe has been a God honoring life without remiss. I owned a hair salon and worked successfully for several years as a hairdresser and then making the decision to focus solely on being at home full time for several more years while the kids were little.After a big move from Seattle Washington back to Michigan , where both my husband and myself had grown up, I settled in to the role as full time homemaker( I like to think of my role as " keeper of the flame")! After several seasons of this I began working part time at the local elementary as a para pro working with targeted delay readers. And..... fast forward ....this had been my work experience to date....until now. So, I said all that , to say all this..... the things that I have been busy " doing" all of these years have led me on a road of discovery! I understand alot about who I am and how God has gifted me, and how my life's journey has rewarded me with invaluable tools to equip me for this new venture as a manager at this marvelous wedding venue called The Blue Dress Barn! My passions have been poured in to our family, guiding young lives along a path of self discovery! Decoded, that means that a common goal of both my husband and myself has encompassed teaching and nurturing our children through many of lifes challenges that hopefully will be a beacon of support to them on their own journey through life. What I have learned along the way is that I love showing hospitality to others, am able to empathize with others, accurately read people, able to efficiently handle tasks set before me, laugh .....a lot and, put others before myself. God has a plan for my life ,of this I am most sure ,and He has given great grace to me with a lot of assurance that for this new season in my life I can move forward and continue to bless others and learn still even more about myself! So, here we go!

The Blue Dress blogger

Today, with excitement and great fear ,marks my first day as a blogger! Christmas day 2012! I am 50 and just successfully completed another family Christmas! Years of gathering with my family and celebrating our faith and treasured memories of this Blessed holiday! All of our children ,ages 26, 25, 22, and 19 arrived home safely to celebrate. Our married daughter and son in law escorted our precious grandbabies to the best Christmas morning gathering ever!  All of us have always heard that the "do -overs" with the grandchildren are really great well.... Today was one of those times!  Wrapping paper everywhere.... Who cares?  Ripping open gifts, and moving on to the ripping open of others gifts.... Who cares?   Just plain fun!   Well, moving on... Today marks a beginning of a new adventure for me!  As mentioned I am 50 years old and have decided to blog about life, my life!  This past year has brought many new changes for me!  Our children are all moved out, away at school, starting new careers, married and living in their own homes with their families. So....... I decided to quit my job with the public school system and pursue a passion of mine.  I accepted a position as The Event Manager for a wedding venue, The Blue Dress Barn!  The Blue Dress Barn is ...well, more than just a place to hold weddings and receptions....it's magical!  You see,I have just completed my first wedding season . I have successfully survived being a part of weddings held at the barn every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday each weekend in May , June, July, August, September and October!  The Blue Dress Barn is a venue that is so popular that it has received a lot of publicity and well...I plan on reminiscing on this blog to shed even more applause on this awesome wedding site!   So get ready.....I have much to say( well ,write actually) about my first season at the barn!  I  am so excited to relive the moments with you all! I promise to not disappoint! So join me as I figure out how to blog, complete with pictures and ideas on how to have your dream wedding!  Ok, I may have gone a little too far with the dream wedding comment, but still, just come along on this written adventure with me!  I really don't even know if I can add pictures as I blog but I have a ton of simply gorgeous pictures from memorable weddings !  So here we go.......