New Year, New Hope...

Dear EleStory friends and family,

As I sit here reflecting on this past year 2017, I can’t help but be filled with so much emotion. 

A lot has happened this year both in our business and also in our personal lives. Some amazing and uplifting, but also some very painful, that perhaps I will muster up the courage to share about it here sometime soon. It had been a roller coaster of a year. 

On the upside, EleStory has grown out of our home and garage, and we moved to a little office nearby-this has been a huge blessing, to help separate family life from business. We’ve gained an amazing little team who keeps us going by believing in this little business of ours. We officially became the mommy and me brand and continue to work hard to bring you designs you and your littles will love. 

Personally, even while all these blessings were being poured into our lives, there was an indescribable deep pain and sorrow. I only recently realized that I had harbored so much anger and resentment for this, that for so long now I had just wanted the year to end, and erase it from history.

Yesterday, we visited a church in our little time away and the message cut into my heart, I think to start the healing process. Instead of taking on a posture of gratitude for all the good and bad things that have happened, I let the circumstances take control of me. 

When we praise God for everything with gratitude, we are actually set free.  Our circumstance have no control over us. We can then praise God freely. Imagine a life when we can praise Him regardless of what we’re going through—it may not change the circumstances themselves, but it can definitely change our hearts. And I needed a heart change so badly. I didn't realize I had become such a bitter person.

I wanted to share this with you all because I know so many people who may be hurting and angry, and are without much hope that things can turn around. I believe we have a God who can bring healing even in the midst of our brokenness and open wounds--even the ones so large and ugly that you don’t think can ever heal.

I hope and pray that you look forward to 2018 with newfound hope and encouragement. I hope that you know whatever you went through in 2017, God can redeem and make whole.

Thank you for being our biggest fans this year for EleStory- if you're reading this, we truly are grateful for you. Without your support this dream would have died long ago. But we are growing and look forward to a new fresh year.

In closing, I wanted to share the lyrics to a song that I just learned during worship service yesterday, called Peace Be Still (you can listen to it here) by The Belonging Co.

I don't want to be afraid
Every time I face the waves
I don't want to be afraid
I don't want to be afraid
I don't want to fear the storm
Just because I hear it roar
I don't want to fear the storm
I don't want to fear the storm

[Chorus 1]
Peace be still
Say the word and I will
Set my feet upon the sea
Till I'm dancing in the deep
Oh, peace be still
You are here so it is well
Even when my eyes can't see
I will trust the voice that speaks

[Verse 2]
I'm not gonna be afraid
'Cause these waves are only waves
Oh, I'm not gonna be afraid
I'm not gonna be afraid
I'm not gonna fear the storm
You are greater than its roar
I'm not gonna fear the storm
Oh, I'm not gonna fear at all, yeah

[Chorus 2]
Peace be still
Say the word and I will
Set my feet upon the sea
Till I'm dancing in the deep, oh
Peace be still
You are here so it is well
Even when my eyes can't see
I will trust the voice that speaks
Peace, peace, yes
Over me, yeah
Oh Jesus, let Your peace calm them
Oo-ooh, ooh

[Bridge]
Let faith rise up
Oh heart believe
Let faith rise up in me
Let faith rise up
Oh heart believe
Let faith rise up in me
Let faith rise up
Oh heart believe
Let faith rise up in me, oh-ooh
Let faith rise up
Oh heart believe
Let faith rise up in me, yeah

[Chorus 3]
Peace be still
Say the word and I will
Set my feet upon the sea
Till I'm dancing in the deep, Lord
Peace be still
You are here so it is well
Even when my eyes can't see
I will trust the voice that speaks
Peace, peace, yes
Over me, yes Jesus
Oh, peace, peace, Lord
Over me, yeah, yeah

[Interlude]
Lord Jesus
You're the God of peace, Jesus
Ooh-ooh
You're our [peace in storm?]
You right every wrong, Jesus
Oh yeah, we receive it, we receive it
Oh, let the peace come and wash all over me, yes
Oh-oh
Oh Jesus, You make our heart stay calm
'Cause You increase, the strength of Your children, ooh

xoxo,
Judy, June, and Craig