Don't Blink

Since August 2024, I've been buzzing with excitement as I wrap up the lavender farm, gear up for the chilly winter months, and dive into the thrilling start of our youngest child's senior year! During my time off for surgery recovery, I enthusiastically dove into researching USA Small Business companies like ours. Eager to find the finest ingredients for our products, I scoured the web with passion and determination!

And just like that, 2024 wrapped up with an incredible bang! The latter half of the year was a whirlwind of excitement with homecomings, thrilling college visits, the rush of college applications, the joy of college acceptances, festive holidays, and memorable birthdays.

So here I am, smack dab in July 2025, scratching my head and wondering if the year pulled a disappearing act. My youngest decided to become the Campus Ministry's MVP during his Senior Year, leaving quite the legacy with the Campus Ministry Team. He strutted across the graduation stage in May with a GPA just a hair's breadth shy of 3.75, and we're bursting with pride! He's off to join the Doctoral Program of Physical Therapy at Rockhurst University this fall. Talk about perfect timing—especially since his dear old mom (yours truly) managed to transform a simple staircase laundry mission into an epic ACL and Lateral Meniscus tear saga back in March. Who knew physical therapy would hit so close to home?

Here I sit, surrounded by lavender like I'm living in a purple paradise. Seriously, it's everywhere! It's on the mantel, stuffed in baskets, and even hanging from my kitchen curtains like some floral curtain fringe. This year, we decided to dry it indoors because, well, crutches and outdoor adventures don't mix. Big shoutout to my youngest and middle kids for being my lavender minions. I stood over them with my crutches, channeling my inner eagle, as they snipped lavender stalks and filled my basket. All this while I supervised like a pro. During my two-week work hiatus, I transformed into a lavender-bundling machine, getting them ready for sale.

I am thrilled and grateful for the amazing florists who bought fresh bundles for sale and for their stunning wedding boutiques! A huge shoutout to my fantastic customers who discovered me on FB Marketplace. Plus, an exciting number of stalks are on their way to Cape Girardeau this weekend for my wonderful sisters of Gamma Phi Beta!