I grew up here.
20 miles down the highway, but here.
I never minded being a small-town girl. I knew that had nothing to do with where I was going or what I was going to do. I will say after some of my life, I was ready to be out of dodge.
That’s “away from here” for you city folks.
But, eventually, the thought of raising my children in a small town really excited me. We moved into this house we built together 6 months after we were married in 2003, and have been here since. We thought this would be a really wonderful neighborhood to raise a family–and while it is (don’t get me wrong, I love it here!), a lot of the kids are older than ours and we just wind up not seeing a lot of our neighbors out and about.
And for work, I’m a computer hobbit. And now we homeschool, so we keep to ourselves a good bit.
We like it that way. We love making time for just our family, and I feel like we fight for that everyday.
But…
One of my favorite parts about opening this shop is feeling the sense of community rising up within me.
We park at the picturesque square every morning, and I drink my coffee while I prop the door open to let the fresh fall air in. I see the 2 shop owners beside me (more on them soon!) most days, Gray and I walk over to the drug store across the street to grab him a grilled cheese for lunch, and I love every second.
People are so friendly, and we usually have a few drop in everyday to look around at our renovation or the new pieces we’re now styling.
Nighttime on the square runs a close second.
For one, I can see the lights we’ve been making come to life.
(P.S. we ordered these beautiful Rattan spheres & simply added light kits to them!)
And the whole square is lit up so beautifully. It’s quiet and peaceful, and I want to be more purposeful to pray during the times the simple beauty strikes me. To mark the moment–or rather, let it make a mark on me.
Our little side will light up soon, but until then I plopped our logo up there so you can get an idea.
Feels like home already.
It always was, I guess.
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**this post was written in a 31 Day series on opening our shop. Find the rest of the posts here.
Wow, I have been following your progress from day 1. It is so exciting to one who lives on the opposite coast from you (Washington State). However, this post touched my heart, as I am a graduate of Troy State (oh so many years ago). I got my Masters degree from Troy State in 1986. I remember this area so well and I am moving to Florida in the next couple of weeks, can’t wait to be back in the SE. I grew up in Washington, but I loved every minute of the 3 years I spent in SE Alabama. I can’t wait to come and visit your store when I am settled.
Thank you for sharing! May the Lord bless this venture.
Sherrie
I know you cannot wait until the Grand Opening.. people seeing your all the
hard work put into action for THEM.. how fun !
I do miss the store I had at one time on a lovely square, much like yours in
a quaint little town. But, what I miss most is the connection- on a day to day
basis to the people. It was nice to know all their names… their children or
Grandchildren.. and understand when they had to rush out to a “Mom” taxi
service or get on home to fix dinner. Just exactly like ME.. and it was a warm
feeling serving the community and giving of myself every day.
I know you are excited, I just wished I lived a lot closer so I could join in the FUN
and hometown charm with you.
Diana
I’m a small town girl from north Alabama(Cullman/Danville area).I’ve read your blog for over a year now and am soo excited about your store!!I love your style-owning an antique store was always one of my dreams.I really want to visit sometime..I’ll put it on my Christmas wish list=).Blessings to you as you work hard the next few weeks!!
It’s so exciting! I grew up a city girl that got to a small town as fast as I could. I’m so grateful to be raising small town kids.
Your shop is going to be amazing….I can’t wait to see it! (sorry about your lost pictures!) Lisa~
I’m so excited for you! I love seeing your progress!
Lovely post!
Shaunna,
I totally gasped when I saw that shot of your place with the name outside. It is so perfect! I had forgotten you were naming the store after your blog. What a perfect name for what you do and sell! I am totally coming to see your shop sometime next year, when both I and my girlfriend in Atlanta have time to drive over and check your place out! Hopefully I will be in Atlanta in June for Haven. How exciting this is.
aww, it looks so beautiful! I love that you are praying in those quiet moments. Your grand opening is the weekend of my birthday, wonder if I can work a trip into the celebration…?
I feel your excitement my friend….enjoy all of it!
Janet xox
The Empty Nest
ooh! the lights are so fun and so beachy! looks like the perfect location too.
How exciting and fun! And I LOVE your light fixtures!
Don’t you just love a town square? I’m lucky enough to live in a town with a great town square (Prescott, AZ). I have loved following your work on your shop and I can’t wait to see ‘opening day’ – I am so living vicariously! lol
I know you and Matt will be successful in this venture. Your sense of style and work ethic and faith ensures it.
I will be in GS and will be popping in this Summer sometimes – I hope you’ll be there when I do – I’d love to meet cha!
You make me want to move here!!! I grew up in a small town in South Carolina and there is so much that I miss about it. We live in a bigger city (still would be a small town to many) and I love aspects of this, but there is something wonderful about a small, quaint downtown. I love that yours is still vibrant, ours kind of died a while ago and it made me so sad because I had always pictured it being something more like you describe here. I must say, I am SOOO excited for your shop adventure!!! I haven’t been behind on reading my favorite blogs for a while now. We just put our house up for sale and have been working around the clock. So, I am so glad to be back in the blog reading game and hear all about your shop adventures. I know it will be so beautiful!!!
So exciting!!! The next time I’m in Auburn and you’re open…I’m coming down there!
Debbie
** sigh ** this looks perfect…
So happy for you, it must be beyond excitement! I’ve seen light fixtures like that, drooled, and moved on when I saw the pricing. Would you consider sharing your source for the spheres?