When a Dream Comes Alive, It Brings Life and Hope

A dream, the one that has been with me for as long as I can remember, is finally taking shape.

Exactly when my heart needs it.

I first dreamed that dream long before the kids were born.

Long before Jon and I were married.
 
Long before we met.

But when we were the age of our oldest kids now, we dreamed and imagined different versions of that dream—a shop we would call our own.

We envisioned and longed to create, design and build some sort of shop where we would encounter patrons and we would serve/meet their needs. We had lots of visions about the different little venues we would own.

Many versions of these dreams are sketched on napkins and little paper tucked inside journals. I am grateful and glad Jon was part of the birth of the shop that continues to grow before our eyes.

I didn’t know it would ever look like this.

It’s true—a few times, I had to start, stop, and then begin again.

But I strongly desired to create and build something burning in my heart—something that would make me come alive…

I started slowly creating, designing, and weaving together that dream with my kids’ gracious and creative help.

At times, doing so may have taken the legs out from under us and caused more frustration and frenzy than necessary, so I had to set it aside when necessary.

It was sometimes hard to juggle while giving Jon the best possible care and life in his last years, months, and days, but it brought me joy and hope to pour into this vision.

It kept stirring in my heart, and ideas swirled and weaved in my mind.

Sometimes, I was confused, mad, tearful, frustrated, reluctant, ready to give up, wondering if it would ever be the right time to pursue such a dream.

Many moments, I questioned why we had to focus on cancer/death rather than on seeing our many dreams come to life. In time, with grace and mercy, I learned to accept caregiving and supporting my spouse as he lived with and died from cancer—this was the cross I was asked to carry. I knew, “There is no greater gift than to lay down one’s life for a friend or husband.”

We tried to build and create more, but we realized that some visions and ideas needed to be saved for the right moment in time. Focusing on what was immediately before us—sacrament of the present moment—was far more necessary. Precious time was slipping away.

Timing is everything and there is a time for everything.

In prayer, God would say, “I will show you when it is time.”

There were moments when I doubted it would ever come to fruition and sometimes I still do. Seeds planted in good soil grow the best fruit. Some grow slowly and then bloom precisely when needed. Waiting on God’s timing allowed the vision to become more clear.

Who could have known this would be exactly what we needed even during dark times—to take a break from cancer, caregiving, grief, loss, and the work of rebuilding.

So, we trusted and believed that God would not let this dream die. It seemed like a small dream to outsiders, but it was huge in my heart. I often reminded myself: “Lord, if this is Your will, guide our steps.” I trusted it was His will and gave my yes, but I was also prepared to let go if it was no longer part of my journey.

We kept discerning, creating, weaving words and bracelets, and sharing. We kept packing and shipping, and we still do. It has been quite a busy month in our humble little growing shop.

When Dreams Come Alive

Months after the veil was torn and Jon left this life, I began to discern and search for ways to bring joy, hope, and a small economy to sustain us as we grieved and moved forward in this shattered life. Jon was always our primary breadwinner, so finding new ways to navigate this life and responsibility became essential. The shop became not only a source of creative expression and healing but also a means to provide a tiny bit of extra financial support.

In so many ways, the shop kept bringing us hope and smiles.

Two years ago, we embarked on gathering a semblance of a shop to bring to a local faith festival, Abbey Fest. Jon stayed home for most of that day except for mass and to see what we pulled together to bring with us that day. He was my greatest cheerleader and co-dreamer encouraging me to do this for myself.

A year ago, only 5 months after Jon’s death, the kids and I decided together the best way to honor his first birthday in Heaven would be to return to a place/event he loved to visit with our growing shop.

We knew it would be hard, but the kids and I and some friends, created, planned and still set up shop. We honored this day by not turning away from what we knew would be hard, but leaned in and found strength in the memories.

We knew going back to Abbey Fest, where we first set up our shop the year before (2022) and many other years before as participants, would be hard on our grieving hearts.

But we dove into it to show ourselves we can do hard things during hard times and all those yeses to and for God keep us going.

He provides and sustains. It was hard to celebrate Jon’s birthday without him here. But we did it for Him just as Jon did many hard things so many times. We even dropped balloons at his resting place to love him well.

We honored his birthday at a favorite venue with Mass, Candlelight Adoration, and Worship Music, where we have many treasured memories. It was a celebration for our growing shop, we knew Jon would be pleased.

Something so beautiful and hopeful growing out of our loss and grief was hard to imagine.

But we pushed through and rested when needed. We dusted ourselves off and began again and again —Nunc Coepi. We made a few mistakes and are learning as we go, but we’re not afraid to try and try again.

And it grew and grew and continues to bear good fruit. 

I fought hard for this. Despite the obstacles, I persevered. I believed in this dream. My kids did, too.

We—my creative team and amazing kiddos—fought with one another and fought back tears. 

Tears often won. But they are healing and cleansing too.

The snake tried/tries to win, too, but that little thief/liar didn’t get a say. He keeps fighting us. But when faith, hope, and love are the foundation and Truth, Beauty, and Goodness, and giving Glory to God is the goal, we know who really is winning.

Keep Going

So we keep going. 

We keep praying, dreaming, creating, designing, building, preparing, and hoping for how God wants to use our humble little (but growing) shop. May it always point to truth, beauty, goodness, faith, hope, and love.

“Use the gifts you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.”

St. Therese of Lisieux

Saturday, while texting my longtime, incredibly supportive friend,  I sent a picture of a mug with our shop logo on it that had just come in the mail. With the pic, I wrote, “I’m literally in awe of what is coming together with the shop—­like how could this be? 😭 😭 I’m grateful beyond words for all of it right now.” 

She wrote back, “Because you believed!!! You had a vision of what could be and set out to make it happen and channel some of your grief into creating ways to honor Him.”  

I guess she’s right, I believed that God would help find ways to redeem this broken heart and build something worth fighting for, creating, being grateful for, and believing in while beginning again each day—Nunc Coepi. Giving Glory to God amid the most painful, sometimes desolate days, He still allows seeds planted long ago to grow and bear fruit, bring beauty, and weave words that are a matter of the heart.

Maybe I just didn’t know our dream would come to life now, in the middle of the most challenging year and months of my life and in the wake of a devastating loss.

God’s generosity is never outdone.

I am grateful beyond words.

Begin with Gratitude

I am grateful to the Creator of all beautiful and sacred gifts and talents, who never leaves me but shows me the way and provides so I can keep creating, producing, packing, shipping and serving others through our stories and our shop.

I’m deeply grateful for the overwhelming support we’ve received for the shop. What a testament to the power of community and support in a time of need.

I am grateful for the gifts bestowed upon me and the resources that keep finding their way to keep this dream alive and watch it emerge into something unexpected and more significant than I could have ever imagined. 

I am grateful I can work and accomplish this with my kids and use their entrepreneurial spirit and creative gifts.

I am grateful for all the ways God keeps gently saying:

“Keep going, keep using your gifts, weaving the words and the beads, putting on paper what I put on your heart, designing and creating, dreaming and believing. Keep showing up, and I will show you how to help you create something that has long been in your heart. Though you will continue to grieve, you will slowly heal broken places and find hope in the joy that it brings.”

“Whatever skills I have acquired, whatever gifts I have been given, I place them at Your service.”

St. Augustine

I look forward to sharing more of what is to come—fun new stuff in the shop, a few road trips and hometown holiday events are in the works.

Seeds of Hope, Bloom into Creating Beauty

There is something quite breathtaking about creating beauty in the space of grief and loss. It can heal and bring hope, joy, and meaning to our lives in the face of profound loss. 

While I love sharing the deep gratitude and sheer excitement about all that is coming together with the House of Love and Laughter Shop, the more important message I hope becomes clear is that we can journey through hard things while holding onto a dream through faith, perseverance, and the extraordinary power of believing in God’s plan.

If there is a dream that you have long been holding in your heart, whether it’s opening a shop, pursuing a degree, taking a trip, changing careers, or going for the gold, I encourage you to pursue that dream..

The seeds have been planted; you just have to sow them.

It may take some resilience and dedication.

If you stumble, get back up and begin again—Nunc Coepi

You might be surprised to see your dream come to life and bear beautiful fruit at the most unexpected time.

“The kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls.When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”

Matthew 13:44-46

Author’s Note

The last few weeks while tending to so many things in this life that keeps just moving along, I have been finding incredible peace, ease, and joy in weaving bracelets (oh so many bracelets), filling orders, designing and prepping inventory for future local shop events and the holiday season. We are taking the show on the road again a few times in the coming months and we will have a few open houses locally.

While focusing on all things shop, I am also preparing my heart, our home and my kids to launch another kiddo into the college world while another college kiddo is preparing to finish his final year with an undergraduate degree.

There has been so much joy coming out of the gift of this shop. Packing orders, writing notes and creating new things out of the stories we are living are where healing is ever-so-slowly taking place. I am grateful for it all, even the parts that we learn don’t make sense. I am grateful for the way this shop brings glimpses of hope, joy and peace to my life. I hear Jon whisper often, “Keep going, I am so proud of you for Keeping this Dream Alive.”

Speaking of Dreams Coming to Life

Check out the inspiring work, dreams unfolding for two of my favorite young entrepreneurs.

Sophia has been building and creating her own business since she started college several years ago.

Check out her working in the element.

Sophia Lebano Creative is a website design and marketing company for Christian and Catholic Creatives. Let your brand’s story reflect your faith. Sophia specializes in designing and refreshing websites for Catholic creatives, guiding them to express their faith with authenticity and clarity, empowering their visions to reflect God’s grace.

CoCreators Collective is a mastermind community for faith-based creatives. The mastermind is designed for entrepreneurs who are ready to deepen their faith and take their business to new heights. Inside you’ll find a dynamic community of Kingdom entrepreneurs, expert-led group coaching sessions infused with faith-based principles, and valuable mastermind discussions that will elevate your business and propel you towards your goals.

You can support Sophia by subscribing to and listening to the Hear and Now Podcast, which she and I co-host, and also sharing her work.

My son, Ian, the young man about to start his final year in college has always had a child-like, free-spirited heart and is a creative in so many ways. I am pleased to share Ian’s clever little side gig – the adorable Unlikely Friends Apparel Shop. These designs have been flying out the door. Take time to read what inspired this new little business of Ian’s. I would be honored if you would share and support his endeavor.

Check out this great Unlikely Friends Reel on Instagram showcasing some of the sweatshirts.

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