Open for Business

My friend Zoe and I have opened a new business together. She is the Columbia, SC shop and I'm the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill shop.

The Well Wrapped Gift (www.thewellwrappedgift.com) is a custom gift wrapping service with the corporate/business client in mind. We are not opposed to a "high" end client (the country club social Mrs.), but that is not our target.

For Zoe, its a perfect income for a-stay-at-home-full-time-home-schooling-swim-coaching-mom of 4 and wife (WHEW!). It will give her the flexibility to do the labor at "odd" hours. Although she will still need to make contacts, connections, and network in her community, I am the web designer, gift wrapping designer (and trainer), and administrative person behind the business.

In the Raleigh area, I am hoping to hire my labor -- a certain first year (poor) college student at UNC. It will be a seasonal business and we recognize that in today's economy, starting a new business might be tough.

We are hoping that as we trust God, He'll use this business in ways that go beyond just the potential income it would bring in.

I would love to use it to bless residents at the Raleigh Rescue Mission or partner up with other not-for-profit organizations/charities for children in the hospital during the holidays.

In any case, the up front investment and cost is safe. I would also love to add other "locations." For instance, say I have another friend in a similar lifestyle situation as Zoe and they need a home business too, I could add them to the site.

All very exciting and cool stuff, but all a very specific seasonal niche. Anyway, please send ideas, suggestions, contacts, leads, etc. if you have any.

Here's the website: www.thewellwrappedgift.com

The Art of Observation of Truth and Subjectivity

I am 3 weeks now into my docent training at the North Carolina Museum of Art. And to say I am enjoying it is an understatement. The "art cup" of my soul runneth over. Every Tuesday for two wonderful hours, we meet with two museum educators in the main galleries. We start with discussing business items, then some educational methodology and theory. After that, we are taken on a tour, but one that is trying to teach us a specific skill or tool. We just happen to learn about art as we do it. These skills are useful and could very well be applied in any other area of life for teaching/communicating or trying to engage and draw a listener/visitor in.

The class is primarily 25 students all over the age of 60. There are probably 3 other women about my age. The demographic is all white, except me and another Jackie who is from the Dominican Republic. We are all women except for two men who are retired college professors. One of them has a lovely Scottish accent too. Some are former teachers, retired IBM execs. Its an interesting varied group.

I love love love love love this experience. Right now it feels like its too much fun. I don't know what it is about art that makes me light up, but it is really one of the things I love most in this world. I'm grateful God wired me that way. And I confess, there's something so familiarly comforting about wearing a museum badge again....

One of the skills we are learning is the skill of observation. What things are obvious about looking at art? What things are not? Take time to LOOK. Take time to SEE. Don't take for granted that just because you know about something, you might not miss something there.

Interestingly enough, that is also the skill I am learning in my Bible study "Living By the Book: The Art and Science of Reading the Bible" by Howard Hendricks. I did this study 3 years ago with Sue at her church when I first moved to Raleigh. Back then it was done in 1 semester. It is a pretty intensive study and so now they have it as a two semester class.

This study is one of the single most important classes I've taken in learning skills on how to independently read and understand scripture. Its like a mini-seminary class that is much more practical and hands on for the average Joe, or Jackie in my case. The class is taught by the same lady as before and she is not only gifted at teaching, she knows her Bible. There is significant homework and its not the fill in the blank kinda stuff. I have and continue to recommend this to any one I know. My hope is that God will prepare me to be able to teach this to other women. It has made me excited about God's Word in the same way I am excited about art. My "learning how to learn about God's Word" cup runneth over!

One of the unexpected blessings of this class has been the other women. Okay, so I confess, I usually have a strong aversion (read: bad and judgemental attitude) about women's Bible study gatherings. They are usually women I have little in common with, older, and all like pretty dainty bad pastel fashion. There. I've confessed my horrific heart. Are you shocked?

There are total of 12 of us in the class. ALL grandmothers, except 1 mom of high schoolers and 1 young mom (late 20's/early 30's) and of course me. All white (with white hair too). I have never been more grateful for a group of women in my life. Each week I am thrilled to sit among these disciples of Jesus who know Him in ways with their lives, I have yet to understand. There is so much wisdom and humility and kindness and hospitality and silliness and I can't drink up their fellowship enough. Good, good stuff.

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the (wo)man who takes refuge in him." Psalm 34:8

A LaHoma Visit

Many of you might remember, that years ago when I first bought my house in Burke, VA, I had a roomate. We both worked at the Freer/Sackler together and ate lunch everyday and commuted together, that it seemed like a good fit for her to rent a room from me and me to take her cash!

LaHoma became family to Lauren and I and the three of us had some good times, just hanging, eating and talking. After a couple of years living with us, she moved back to the West coast where is from and got married (so she claims -- I have yet to meet the "husband"). She was actually in Raleigh last week for a work trip and it was great to see her again.....and EAT :)

She is allergic to cats and for some reason when she lived with us, she was able to endure Bitty. It was hilarious when she was here and saw the Bitty: "Ahhh. We meet again for the first last time."