my life continues

Now that I have introduced my family, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Angela, I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend. I own an interior design studio in downtown Duncan, OK that offers extraordinary custom design pieces, interior finds, and fabulous clothing. I have always loved to decorate and feel like it has always been a part of my spirit. When I went to college, my ambition was to be a clothing designer. After a couple of semesters however I changed my major to nursing. DETOUR!! See, I was at home on Christmas break and a family friend had a premature baby. They brought some home video of the NICU ( Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) stay and I was hooked. I changed my major to nursing the next semester and ended up graduating with a BSN four year later. I worked as a nurse for the next 10 years all the while decorating for friends and family. Although my nursing career was rewarding, and I was good at it, decorating has always been my passion. At the time you are traveling your highway, you never know where it will lead you. That is the really cool part! I never thought I would have this wonderful, rewarding, great, awesome, yet frustrating, overwhelming pit stop I am at right now. To catch you up to the present, I was offered a once in a lifetime opportunity. Ever had one of those??? Well, mine came in a phone call one day in the middle of the afternoon, while I was at home on my day off from the hospital. " Hello....................Angela.......yes...... this is Donna Hunt". HOLY CRAP!!!!! I was sooooooo nervous that THE decorator in our small town of Duncan America was calling me. what could she possibly want from me???? After the "How are you's", she very sweetly said, " I am thinking about selling my business after 28 years and after much consideration, want to talk to you about buying it". ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? This was something I had always wanted, why is it coming at this time in my life? You see, I had been looking for a way out of my nursing career and was introduced to ARBONNE. A health and wellness company, where you could own your own business and in the process have the potential to make a lot of money. I truly believed at that time, that WAS my way out. Little did I know, it would be a SIGN of things to come. While I loved this company and the smart business concept behind it, I did not know at the time that this would be a little speed bump toward getting me where I am today. You see, I said, "While I am greatly appreciative, I feel like God has led my down this road. WHAT???? Am I crazy, did I really just say that???? After all, this was my dream of owning my own business, especially a decorating business. I remember asking her if she could give me some time to think about it and she graciously agreed. Four months went by, when I made the very scary phone call and said, "When can we meet?" After that first meeting and many, many meetings, prayers and tears later, I became the proud new owner of the Loft on January 1, 2007!!!!! The last three years have been the best, hardest and most remarkable time in my life thus far. While I will interject memories, thoughts, feelings and the many wonderful, funny, not so funny and not so wonder moments, I will also introduce you to the many special friends and my family who have been there for me every step of the way; offer decorating tips and answer question. First, however, I want to start by telling you all about the things happening in the here and now:)