What a Wonderfall thing this is

I never used to get so excited to say goodbye to summer, but over the past few years I get nearly antsy about it.  Fall brings the cool but comfortable weather, the beautiful foliage, and for me, an altogether warming feeling when I think about the holidays around the corner, celebrating my anniversary with Eric, decorating my house for the season, and the smell of spiced pumpkin candles that I light in my house. 

Of course this fall will be different than the rest, since I will be on the path to finding my new self.  I'll be taking my realty classes in preparation for my licensing exam next year, laying out some more groundwork on what I'm calling IdyByt Designs, LLC, and getting caught up on housework:  Painting the office, finishing some furniture pieces, maybe tiling the basement (we'll see...).  This is the time I need to think on what I should be doing in my life.  I have a heart for volunteer work, too, that I haven't had the time to dive into.  Plus, I'm going to revisit learning the guitar, and visit learning how to play a pan flute.  I'm just really excited about what's around the corner!

Immediately around the corner we've got: 
Mike and Katherine's engagement party
Day out with mom - lunch and trail riding
Smith Family Camping
Cox Farms/Fall Frenzy!
BOSTON!! (7 year anniversary :-))
Maddy Birthday
Halloween

Bring it on, fall, bring it on.

It Is Time.

After a heck of a lot of soul searching, earnest prayer, and open communication with select few individuals, I have decided to make a huge change in my life:  pursuing a different career.  It's not that I don't like what I do.  It's just that I don't think I want to do this for the rest of my life.  The key word here is 'think.'  As in, I'm actually not sure whether or not business operations is my calling.  It could very well be.  But there is this deep yearning inside of me that is calling me away from this work, at least for a time.  I want something more interactive, more social.  I want to do something that will bring joy to people! 

But I'm scared.  How do you walk away from something that has been such a vast part of your life for so long (8 years!)?  To try something entirely new and unproven to you, to take that risk?  Imagine wanting to jump off the high-dive for so long, and then you finally muster the courage to climb that everlasting staircase up to it.  When you're on the tip of the board, this is like sucking in your breath before taking the plunge.  Scary, yes . . . but also exciting! 

So, I've drawn that breath . . . and resigned from my current job.  Now I just have to take that plunge and put my own self on the line:  my artwork.  My goal is to  create an LLC to design and paint murals for children.  I am going bigger than just residential -- I will be reaching out to churches, daycares, hospitals, etc -- any place that might have a place for children.  I know the competition in this area is very weak, mostly just focusing on textured wall design as opposed to mural art.  I am currently working on rate structure, and also trying to pin down a name that captures the essence of what I'm trying to do :-)  Naming things is very hard, apparently. 

Well, there you have it.  Wish me luck :-)