Ten Years Later: A Journal, a Journey, and a Grateful Heart

Today I found a journal after my grandson had discovered a basket of pictures and books and decided to take a deep dive into our family history. Tucked away in these images was the journal, one I hadn’t opened in years. Its cover brought an instant flood of memories. Ten years ago, my staff gave it to me as a going-away gift when I left my corporate human resources career—a career that had spanned over three decades, with the last twelve years spent at one company I truly loved.

It wasn’t just a notebook. It was a journal of prayers, sermons, conferences with fantastic notes and quotes, all from wise speakers, and it was full of inspiration. 

When I left corporate life, it wasn’t because I didn’t love the people or the work. It was because I felt an undeniable pull to live with more intention—to create a life of purpose that was less about job titles and more about meaning. I wanted to step into my art, to do some consulting, and to start something that would make a difference in my community.

That was the seed that grew into the Mars Hill Art Center and also a fully bloomed floral design business. In those first days, I couldn’t have imagined the way it would grow—the people I would work with, the creativity that would flow, the friendships and collaborations that would form. What started as a leap of faith has grown into a beautiful, messy, colorful, joy-filled creative life.

As I flipped through the journal today, I was reminded of how every chapter of our lives feeds the next, and how God is always at work. Those years in human resources taught me how to connect with people, build relationships, and nurture a community—skills I now use every single day in this creative work.

I am so grateful. Grateful for the people who have walked with me through each season. Grateful for the courage to leave the familiar and step into something unknown. And grateful for the reminder, in the form of a decade-old journal, that every ending is just the beginning of a new story.

And if that reminder wasn’t enough, a local news outlet interviewed me a while back that the story just hit. A cover story at that. A total surprise. But also a strong reminder that God is at work, He is in control, and we must trust His direction. You can find that story here.

Here’s to ten years of living a life of purpose—and to all the pages still waiting to be written.

Lisa