Reminiscing...

Hello friends!

Korin here today with a different kind of blog post to share... 

I will be celebrating my 38th birthday this coming Tuesday so I have been doing a lot of reminiscing these past few days about how blessed I am to be where I am today. I don't typically get too personal in these blog posts, but I thought I would take some time to share some things that are on my heart as my birthday approaches. I hope you'll enjoy this little glimpse into my heart and life.

For those of you who may not know, I started Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps over 8 years ago, in November of 2007. My youngest son was getting ready to celebrate HIS birthday (5th to be exact) and I wanted to make him some special birthday party invitations. I was a stamper, after all. ;)

He was VERY much into knights, swords, & dragons back in those days so that was my theme plan for his 5th birthday party, but finding stamps that would work for that theme was proving to be impossible. At the time I was a Close To My Heart consultant (yes, that's how I came to fall in love with clear stamps) so I had plenty of connections and resources for stamps, but still could not find anything that suited a 5 year old's birthday party invitations. So I did something CRAZY. I sat down and drew an image...the image that started it all...

Hahaha! I look at this image (and card) and I just have to laugh! You know how we grow and learn and improve as we continue doing something, right? Well, I am almost embarrassed to share this card with you because I think it's AWFUL!! At least, it is to me NOW.

Back then, I thought it was pretty cute, and quite frankly so did many others because it was the star of our very first stamp set! I can tell you, I did NOT draw this cute little guy with the intention of creating and selling stamps of him, but that is exactly what happened! I shared this card and image on my blog (which has since gone by the wayside) and couldn't believe the comments and COMPLIMENTS I received. "You should make him into a stamp!" "He's so cute! I would buy him!" One after the other suggesting I turn this guy into a stamp. So I did what any other entrepreneurial-minded person would do and I started doing some research.

Google was my  BFF as I tried to find out just how in the world you have stamps made in the first place. I was fortunate enough to find a woman, who I am not sure is even still doing it, who made stamps in her home. I thought, wow, maybe I COULD make this guy into a stamp. So I started looking for reassurance from those original enablers ;) ...would they REALLY buy him if I made him into a stamp? The response was a resounding YES, so I resigned from Close To My Heart so as not to go against their policy, drew some more images to compliment this little guy and created my very first stamp set. Little did I know that small (yet BIG) step would lead to where I am today. God is SO GOOD!

Now there are tons of other stories I could tell you about things that happened along this journey as a stamp company owner, but all of them would point to one very powerful truth. GOD IS GOOD. He was with me when I had NO IDEA what on earth I was doing starting a stamp company...selling homemade stamp sets on my personal blog. He was with me when I made poor choices and mistakes that brought me to my knees. He was with me in the celebrations and successes. He was with me as I learned and grew and met some of the most amazing people in the world! He was with me as those acquaintances turned into amazing, life-long friendships. He was with me as I struggled to make the right choices for my family and my business/ministry, which was actually His. He was even with me as my family struggled through some very rough times on a personal level, times when we often questioned whether He WAS there. But He was. He is SO GOOD.

Now let me back up a little more...bear with me...

As a child I grew up wondering if God really WAS there. And IF He was, I wondered if He really loved me...if He really cared. How could He to let so many bad things happen in my life? Divorced parents and all the hardship that goes with that, being basically rejected by our church, the loss of our home, depression that led to attempted suicide, hospitalization, two miscarriages by age of 19 and the list goes on... Ya know what? God WAS with me. Every step of the way. Just like He was with me during these past 8 years of business. He allowed those hard times to help be become the person I am today and I THANK Him for them.

As I look back over these past 38 years, all the heartache AND all the blessing, I cannot help but see how He carried me through and protected me!! From more trials, worse trials, consequences of my choices, and even DEATH! I am overwhelmed by His love for me! OVERWHELMED.

So as I prepare to celebrate 38 years on this earth, I thank my precious Savior for every breath I have been allowed to take, every undeserved blessing He has bestowed upon me, every mistake I have made, and every life I have had the amazing privilege of touching for His glory. I pray that He will use the next 38 years of my life (if He grants them to me) to bring good to others and glory to His name.

Thank you for spending this special time with me today. I hope in some way you were blessed by my story, but more than anything, I pray you join me in glorifying our Lord & Savior for Who HE is and how much He loves me and YOU!

Much love,
Korin