it is now february and it is not calming down any more than the holiday season or january.  my guess is that this is just going to be it for now….you know by now i don’t like the word “busy”…because i think we commit ourselves and although busy is appropriate it is chosen….soooo….i say full…scheduled….um whatever….it is just plain busy i guess.

the holiday season was wonderful…basketball, gymnastics, family gatherings….the usual fun….we enjoyed the time off for everybody.  January was a test.

February is better….but seems halfway over already for some reason

Those of you who are personal friends have watched status updates on facebook that might have included….#worstweekever  or perseverence means something totally new after january….or whew!!   It is hard to discern what to share here sometimes and thus my quiet but i blog for two reasons….one because i want to journal my family’s story for my kids and my memories & also because there has to be a way for me to boil down life and get to what the story is….what God is teaching me.    I am certain that there is alot that i miss but i do know in the life of my family and in business God is teaching me to persevere & that is even more evident now than ever.

Whether through training my children, fighting against what the world would like to bring as distractions, or just plain working hard to get through something that requires alot of my personality i am listening most carefully to instruction from the Holy Spirit.

Work has been a challenge ….with new web pieces in place (not working well at first)- threatening my sanity to be honest….and my drive….there has been two times in my life now that i wasn’t quite sure that anything was worth it….for two different reasons thankfully…but i am talking hard….the hardest of times.    Our team was thankfully determined and faithful not to let Satan have the foothold.

i reevaluated often during the month of january-  asking God to remind me of his purpose for my life and constantly asking if he had changed his mind.  Someone else would surely be better at some of the pieces involved…..but the answer has not changed.  i have peace still and my heart has been taught.  and so i write….

our pastor said this morning “faith is believing you are not alone” when speaking in reference to Matthew 8…the miracles that Jesus performed.  I am so grateful for the word spoken there….God is always able to make things easy, he has conquered the root of all bad things already…sin, but when he does not choose to let it be easy i wish i trusted much more quickly that He is hard at work teaching my heart.  It is simply how we handle whatever he allows that gives him the glory which is the very purpose for everything…..

to God be the glory for all things HE has done….

Oh God let there be lack of pride, a double dose of humility and the spirit of Christ evident in my daily actions….in all of us…in response to an incredible Savoir who doesn’t leave me alone…ever…what a blessing.

it is kindof a delicate balance though with teaching your kids this same concept….try your hardest, persevere, and work hard- it’s ok if you aren’t the best at everything….you don’t always get to win… in their spiritual lives- to learn that their work is not enough…to understand grace…God’s mercy on us when there is nothing in us that merits his love….oh what a concept!!

be back soon…

all of my love to my people….

i never blog from work….always at home simply because it is something that i can do remotely….it is nice to have work divided of sorts….email is just plain nice…. iphone…making work not so “work-like”- so playing music in between phone calls… ordering fabric  while stuck in traffic, handing out snacks to the little people passengers no matter the number during carpool  while debating on button size with a vendor….huh…multi-tasking

but at work…blogging is nice too….better than spreadsheets, details (yuck), and moving boxes (glory…there are some trash and boxes in this workspace)….there is a first time for everything right?  only good firsts though….i hope….

as i write my ears are plugged with dr. dre headphones playing praise music to ward away my anxiety and fears…..keeping stress as bay with all moving parts surrounding business and family, holiday gymnastic schedules, my child’s yesterday Birthday….Christmas & the New Year.   My DH knows quite well that asking permission to talk about stressful topics is best…saving stressful things only for times when there is either a solution near or a period of time in which to diffuse the topics that we bring up.

details are surrounding these next few months as designing decisions are being made….colors have been chosen…measurements are being checked…and orders confirmed….timelines made or blown…

**details not quite yet….on between…just fun snippets….

there is no way around it….with new things brings alot to do and with the unknown brings my fears that come up quite often…putting yourself and thoughts/ideas out there is just plain hard…

i am grateful in the same breath for coworkers who are confident…for manufacturers who are precise….and for timelines being relentless and persistent….no turning back now…..moving forward is just best…

so if you can’t tell this post is just to journal my thoughts and solidify God’s truths- i’m really sorry if that is selfish but i am just thinking that this is meant for entertainment anyway right?

i will meditate on God as new things come and the fact that Jesus’ Birthday is approaching and surpasses all things in importance…

that alone gives me great comfort….the importance of anything on my list is just not to be compared…..

I am grateful as all kinds of “get -out” over the excitement that you all have offered in the way of be{tween}-you are precious to offer your support and i can’t wait to show you more….there are so many details coming – i am waiting on the next set of samples – ETA 2 weeks ….then photography, marketing, website, and hostess plans…..

all of my love…..especially to Sam and Bebek as we pray for continued stability in health!!!!

you have been patient to be sure…..you have asked in person and i have gotten several texts asking what the surprise is….

i have finally finally made the decision…along with my family and support system of friends and colleagues…..the deposit has been given….the design work has been done…..i have prayed for peace and direction….and my soul is calm….

to back up….

In the life of business many times before God has laid different decisions on my heart… the Holy Spirit seems to have been kind in introducing ideas slowly so that i can warm to the circumstances and even pray about real answers.  I know that i am prompted through my prayer life and circumstances to think about new ideas and even pursue them only to obtain total peace or sometimes a closed door.  I am so incredibly grateful and humbled that i get to do my job…i am sustained by God alone….the clothing line is from God alone…and all ideas are His.

with that said….i am certain that God has laid the new endeavor on my heart….He named this company….audibly.  I had mentioned to my husband that the idea was swirling in my mind…and I was introduced to it’s name (much like the other two brands) in a very solid, audible, no-question-about-it way.   I know that because i heard His voice….loud and clear.

friends…there is a hole in the market in the area of our sweet girls (and boys) between the ages of 7-12 in the way of clothing….

there is a major need for contemporary, progressive, yet sweet and Christ honoring, layered and versatile, budget friendly yet quality clothing….that we can build upon with every wave.

Our children need something to wear when they earnestly ask for the end of ruffles.  I am hoping that this plan will offer a choice for exactly all of the things i have mentioned.  My heart’s song is to meet this need as my little one is approaching this awkward yet very impressionable age.  Just think….there are few choices and whether expensive or not- like it or not….clothes can be tied to one’s spirit. I am hoping that the unfolding of the excitement on my end meets the needs that i hear so much about…

i will begin to share slowly where this company is going….samples are here and they are better than my wildest dreams.  The cotton is divine, the prices are well-put, the designs are what you think of them, the fabrics are completely designed by me.

I am so very excited to introduce to you…

More details….and there are lots of them….coming soon….

but for now….in summary, in case you are not a “read every word” blog reader….

Teen Line

Our “famous” pima cotton

Sizes 7-14

details coming…..

all of my love to my people…..

]]> http://www.eilerandcompany.com/finally-introducing/feed/ 7 http://www.eilerandcompany.com/a-little-change/ http://www.eilerandcompany.com/a-little-change/#comments Sat, 26 Nov 2011 14:40:47 +0000 Ashley http://www.eilerandcompany.com/?p=3301 a little catching up to do here PLU’s…

everybody needs a little change and we made a drastic one…and so glad…

she was so excited and still is…the key…still excited…

her two tiny ponytails are precious too…more to come…

remember….i am putting a pretty exciting surprise together…it will take awhile but read often…this should be fun!

all of my love…

Hello PLU’s…

i took a hint from Paige K….but it took awhile to get there….

i sent her an email that looked a little like this…

“hey…

is there a faster way to blog?  this takes forever……..xoxoxoxox”

(yeah i know maybe if i didn’t use so many dots then it would go much faster, right?)

her response:

basically – paraphrasing  “nope” or “what do you mean? xoxoxo”

ok so this (c-r-a-p) blogging stuff takes forever…really it does…salute whomever blogs often with a comment or two because rest assured while we all blog because we love it, it is done for an audience for whatever reason for most….and it is an act of congress and love….that is the first time i have ever complained truly so please offer grace….

BUT….i took a hint from Paige today….even though she didn’t tell me then…she confessed….she has drafts…lots of ‘em….in her blogger dashboard thingy!!  AHHHHHAAAA!!!  perfect….stock up for when i don’t have time and publish whenever…hmmm

so this makes 3- different topics different blog posts….aha!!  i’m going to try this for awhile…or a day….

would welcome any suggestions for quicker….

anyway….

THE PROJECT!!

CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS FOUND ON PINTEREST WITH MY OWN TWIST FOR THE STORE…

i am a “enjoy the turkey, don’t decorate early kindof girl”, but retail bucks that idea i have gathered….hmmm and once again my rebellious spirit kicks up some well-thought-out reasons why i should decorate whenever but it really boils down to i had better start early if i was going to make them…plus all this work better yield more than 3 weeks in one of our 16 windows….they at least have to be up long enough to glow until i forget what a pain they were…what is it with me and building trees anyway?  BBTN girls don’t laugh…i’m over it now…no more trees!!

so….follow…here are the steps to certain insanity!!

1.  take your youngest to lowe’s while in a great mood with a huge bag of highly processed cheesy popcorn- and make sure that you don’t wash their hair if they have pink polka-dots in it from the school fair because you will certainly see everyone you know

2.  tell her we get to pick out heavy objects and paint

3. leave her in the isle because you can’t drive the cart

4. take pictures because if you weren’t crazy …you are now (“sitting” like that was her idea…i SO understand that child)

5. get your 5 YO to measure (even though she doesn’t read super well yet)…because they will certainly be straight (she probably did better than i would have….truth be told..

6. use a circular saw without your husband there…for the first time

7. fail to take a hint, that if your daughter hides when you turn the saw on…it might not be safe

8. if you buy the cheapest wood they have at lowe’s …it might destroy a few drill bits while trying to make a hole so a NAIL will go through it….

#hardestwoodeverrrrrrrr (the saw didn’t like it either)

9.  it takes 10 pieces of wood to make 4 trees….nice

10. it takes a REALLY long time to make 4 trees that are almost 5 feet tall each

11. it takes a REALLY long time to spray paint 4 trees that are almost 5 feet tall each

12.  i don’t want to do this project again…it makes me tired typing about it…

13.  so 14 strands of lights, 10 pieces of wood, 2 cans of spray paint, my sanity, and 4 boxes of glitter ornaments later we are decorated….for Christmas…please come over….and help clean up….

THE END…of me

all of my love….if i had any left at all……….

xoxoxo