Introductions

Life is full of new beginnings. From the moment we are born, and our lungs expand with that first sharp intake of breath, this journey of life begins. While we might like to see rapid growth and progress in our lives, growing, learning, and developing, all takes time.

Where am I going with this…?

I first opened my Etsy shop in January 2021. I had a handful of cards, printed on 300gsm white cardstock purchased from Amazon. Scoring them was quite a learning curve! The first time I tried to simply fold them in half, and they just frayed in the middle, looking rather messy! Then I researched and discovered a boning tool. I took a ruler and pencil, carefully measuring the mid point of the top, middle and bottom of each card, and then, using the boning tool and a ruler, I scored the card, and then rubbed out all the pencil markings. It worked… kind of! Several months later, a friend told me about a scoring tool I could use which would dramatically help – the Scor buddy. This transformed the process! It took time to learn the best way I could perform each step of the process, and over time, I invested in new equipment (a better printer – I use a Canon Pixma TS705), researched suppliers of quality FSC approved cardstock, added in coloured envelopes, and increased the range of products I sold. In November 2024, I reached my goal of achieving 2000 sales. Almost three years of growing my range of products, and building connection with customers, to get to this point.

As well as my Drawing Closer Etsy Shop, the other side of Drawing Closer is my social media – Instagram and Facebook – where, as well as sharing some of my new products from the shop, I have focused on sharing encouraging Bible verse based Reels, and Devotional posts. I always had in mind that if one person saw a post that encouraged them, then that was enough. For me it’s about sharing my love of the Word – the Bible – and sharing ways to Draw Closer to God. I love to share the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

Draw near to God,
and he will draw near to you. 

James 4 : 8

2024 was a challenging year for me in many ways. I have a number of health conditions that affect my daily life – Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Functional Neurological Disorder – but the one thing that caused me the most trouble was severe Osteoarthritis in both knees, which had caused a fixed flexion deformity, and left me barely able to walk from one room into the other. In January, and then in May, I had my knees replaced with prosthetic knee joints by Total Knee Replacement Surgery. Painful recovery, lots of hard work with physiotherapy, and a knee infection that needed two further surgical procedures, have got me now to a place where I have no pain. Praise the Lord!

Being able to work from home with my small business is a blessing. I am now in a season where I have more time on my hands, and I became a Nana to my precious granddaughter in January 2024, who is an absolute gift and blessing! She has brought me so much joy! I love to spend time reading the Bible, and studying God’s Word, and I enjoy sharing what I have learned with others.

A couple of years ago I had in mind to start a blog/website, but it never seemed quite the right time, and I lacked confidence in myself. I am fortunate to have gone through some excellent Christian coaching, and Spiritual Direction, and I have become increasingly more confident, as I have learned to understand and appreciate my God-given identity, design and purpose.

So here I am. Here is my website. It’s just beginning. But I have taken that first step of faith, and let’s see what we will achieve together, with the grace of God.

So if you find me here, drop me a comment. Where are you in your faith journey? Where do you need to take a step of faith?

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”

– Martin Luther King Jr.