There are only a few months left in this year, in this decade! Sweet Mercy, what a wonderful decade it has been. As far as business, the past 10 years have brought me so many opportunities which all came from the desire of my heart to build community; to gather women bloggers/influencers, to help them grow as writers, wives, moms, entrepreneurs or wherever they were on their journey, and to connect them all so that we were all leaving each other’s world a better place. I am thankful for the One who placed this desire in me and His continual grace that is abundant in my life. Because girl, I need some grace from time to time, don’t we all?

In all of those things, I was pretty successful. However, in 2018, I knew it was time to slow down. So, The Women Bloggers, the company I built with blood, sweat, love and yes, some tears, joined forces with a great company that I was partnered with from their beginning to implement projects and help build, Soapbox Influence out of Bentonville, Arkansas.  Oh, how I have loved being with and learning from all the amazing women from all over the United States (and some Canadians, shout out!), I am a much better person for it. And, I am not going away completely from the influencer world, just slowing my roll, refocusing my priorities and a new dream for a new season is about to be realized.

As I have looked ahead, dreamed and prayed, I knew I wanted to continue my heart for hospitality, to love on people and do what I could to help make life a bit better for them, but in real, every day, face-to-face life. Most of all, I wanted to make sure all of this is beneficial to my family. I have fought hard over the years while building an influencer business, in the midst of busyness and chaos, to be front and center and present in the lives of our children and to keep my marriage on the forefront. And in this dream, of course, there had to be coffee involved.

It is now a reality.  A place to slow down, to savor moments and create memories is coming to the mountain where we live. We are working hard on Petit Jean Coffeehouse. We completely gutted a house (our boys summer jobs, they loved it, haha) and ALL THE THINGS, whew!

We are hoping to open by the end of the year, but well, contractors. So, maybe we will just have to kick off the new decade with a big bang in January 2020. Stay tuned for progress here on The Park Wife blog and through our social media channels (@PetitJeanCoffeehouse and @TheParkWife).

We hope you will stop in for a cup of coffee at Petit Jean Coffeehouse when we open, offering you a chance to slow down and make memories.

xoxo- Stephanie