2009 The Year of Change & Challenges

So I have been thinking a lot about our new President and the financial crisis across America. Life has became a lot tougher for all of us to just survive. I am hoping that President Obama can help turn this all around. I feel like I am one of the fortunate ones that have not been affected too much yet by this, but I know I will. I felt a bit of it last fall during the Christmas craft season. I make wooden personalized ornaments and sell them every year at many different craft shows here in San Diego county. I have been doing this for about 20 years now. Last year was probably one of the most challenging for me and my fellow crafters. Although our customers still bought stuff it was smaller less expensive items. I was among the fortunate that have product that is all under $10 and pretty much average of $5.95 so I did ok.

I have noticed a huge change in the buying on ebay. Me and my sister scrapbookers are feeling the pinch from all sides. Our expenses have increased as ebay increases the fees and our supplies have slowly gone up too. Meanwhile it still takes us the same amount of time to create our beautiful pages to sell. Buyers are being cautious and are not spending as much on our pages and I can't really blame them. Times are tough for so many people. It is real!! People are losing their jobs and homes and just don't have money for extras.

Some of us will be forced to quit selling on ebay because it is not worth it anymore but many of us like me will continue because this is our passion and we just can't help ourselves. We have to create :) It is what makes our world go round and round. For me it is not my sole income, I have my full-time accounting job (for now anyways). So I will hang in there and will post many more things on Etsy which has lower fees. I know that I am lucky, while so many families out there are having a hard time just putting food on the table. Let's not forget them. We tend to only give at Christmas time to our local food banks and charities but they are going to need us more this year than ever. So I challenge everyone of you to give, give, give. If you can't donate money then donate your time.

I also ask that all of you pray for President Obama and his family whether or not you voted for him because like it or not he is in the position of controlling our future for the next four years. Pray that he receives the guidance and support of his staff, congress and senate. Pray that he will be able to lead this country out of this Great Depression. And most of all pray for each other, your family, friends and neighbors. For we all know that when all else has failed - prayer will carry us through.

I am not sure where all these words have come from but I have felt compelled this morning to write them instead of keeping them inside.

God Bless You all every day of your lives