When One Door Closes

Sometimes life has a funny way of working itself out. Not always when you want it to, and definitely not always in the way you expected.

The beginning of 2024, my life felt like it had completely turned upside down. My husband had suffered a cardiac arrest and was bedridden. He had always been the breadwinner, while I was a stay-at-home mom, picking up a little graphic design work here and there. I knew I needed to figure out a way to support our family, but honestly, I had no idea what I was going to do.

Then, somehow, little doors started opening.

A friend called and asked me to help her with a boutique, Silly Daisy, she was getting ready to open. I said yes.

A couple of weeks later, another friend found a scholarship for doula training and sent it my way. I signed up.

And then another friend decided she was ready to sell her candle business, Homestead + House, which she had been running for years. I had a feeling there were probably plenty of people interested, but I decided to call her anyway and say, “Hey, I'm interested.”

And just like that, Homestead + House became mine.

Suddenly, I was learning how to run a candle business, working at a boutique, and training to become a doula all at the same time. It was a lot, but it also gave me something to focus on during a very uncertain time.

And then, my husband passed away in the Fall.

Nothing could make that loss easier. But I kept moving forward, one day and one little step at a time.

As Homestead + House grew, I knew I wanted to create something that honored him, too. He loved biking, especially the gravel cycling community. He was loved and respected by so many people in that community, and cycling brought so many wonderful people into his life.

That’s how Moody Cyclist Candles was born, a little piece of Homestead + House inspired by his love of bikes, the Pacific Northwest, and the community he loved so much.

I don't think every bad thing happens for a reason. Sometimes life is just hard, and some losses simply hurt.

But I do believe that when one door closes, another one can open. Sometimes you just don't recognize it right away.

For me, it started with a few unexpected phone calls and a couple of very big “okay, I'll give it a try.”

And somehow, here I am.

Still figuring things out. Still learning. Still making candles with my own two hands.

And pretty grateful for the doors that opened along the way. ❤️