Opening Soon

Dear Harlow + Grace friends, I completely signed off and took the month of January off and I would like to explain a little bit about what has been going on over in the Harlow + Grace world. I found out at the end of November I was pregnant with baby #4. Although we were so excited, we were also initially a little overwhelmed since we hadn’t planned on having our last babies so close together, especially while already in a season of so much heaviness and uncertainty. But those worries faded quickly and we fixed our eyes on being so grateful and thankful the Lord was blessing us with another little precious gift. However, as the shock wore off, new worries and fears quickly took over. The first couple weeks after finding out (we found out at 4 weeks), I felt myself just waiting for the other shoe to drop. What I knew for sure, was that it was a matter of time until the 1st trimester and early pregnancy journey hit me hard. All 3 of my previous pregnancies and 1st trimesters have been the same.. exhausted and super sick. The never-ending cycle of not being able to stomach anything, resulting in feeling even worse. Basically, right up until the 2nd trimester sets in. I knew it was a matter of time, and not the best timing with trying to get all my holiday collection launched and out, as well as everything else that comes with the holidays. My goal was to get everything caught up and completely close shop for the month of January (meaning completely log out of my shops social accounts and email). That way I could completely focus on “just getting through the 1st trimester”. And as expected, it hit. This time the hardest it ever has hit. It hit the hardest it ever has. Sleeping most of the day until my husband had to leave for work. But being hopeful that “next week I will feel so much better and do all the things I need to do/am supposed to do/should be able to do”. I write this, holding back tears, feeling the weight of the past 10 weeks and all I have been holding in. Feeling the shame and guilt. The constant feeling of inadequacy. The frustration that, even now at 14.5 weeks, I still haven’t hit “that week”. The frustration that the week I should have been heading out of the 1st trimester and all the battles it came with.. I ended up passing out and in the ER. That the 2 medications I was on that were supposed to be helping me, failed me, and sent my heart out of rhythm. That I am now 14 weeks and should be feeling so much better, but I can do nothing other than lay down or sleep still before the afternoon, and standing up longer than 10 minutes makes me feel all the early signs that I am about to pass out again. To say I am frustrated and feeling discouraged is an understatement. However, I know there is light in the darkness and hope when I feel hopeless. I know when I am weak, He is strong. I know that when our faith is tested, our endurance is being developed (James 1:2). And I know “there is a season and a time for everything” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). And I believe, even if, He is still good. Even if this entire pregnancy continues to feel like an uphill battle, this baby is worth it all. What does this mean for the shop? For years, this shop has been helping to provide for my family, help take some financial burden off of my husband, and make it possible for me to stay home and raise our babies. But it has been heavy on my heart that this season I need to minimize as much as I can, step back from commitments, take as much off my plate, focus on my health and babies' health, and just rest. I wrestled with this for a long time. I don’t rest or be still well. But every time I go against what I believe He is asking me to do and just rest, I am physically reminded that this season requires one thing of me, to just rest. And I would be lying if I said this isn’t a constant daily wrestling match I have been dealing with. It seems like every time I have a plan right now or expectations to “feeling better”, nothing goes as planned. I WILL reopen at some point. My hope is to reopen in the next couple months with a limited RTS only spring/summer collection. That will limit what I am able to include and produce, but that way, if something happens, I can at least get help with shipping and get everything out. I will likely, then, reopen fully in the fall after a couples of settling into our new normal. This is all a part of our testimony. My personal testimony. Baby Ford’s (yes, we are finally getting a son!) testimony. Our family's testimony. This shop’s testimony. And even when things feel overwhelming and it’s hard to see above the fog, I remain confident that this all apart of such a greater story. If you have any questions, please reach out. It might take me a bit to respond, but I will try to be a little more accessible and present on socials in the next few weeks. The journey might be treacherous, but the destination is so worth it. God Bless, Daylinn