Don't Wait for Someday: Why I Started Porchlight Chapters

I've had the idea of opening a little shop for years. Not necessarily anything big or fancy, just somewhere I could share some of the things I love. Books, handmade items, cozy little finds, and probably a few things I haven't even thought of yet. I've always enjoyed creating things, and I'm pretty good at coming up with new ideas. Actually following through with all of them? Well, that's another story. Haha.

But for whatever reason, this idea has stuck around.

My husband and I have been married for 24 years, and we've spent most of those years doing what I imagine a lot of families do. Raising our two kids, juggling military life, working, paying bills, taking care of the house, and trying to plan for the future. There's always been something we were working toward, whether it was getting through another move, paying something off, or looking ahead to retirement.

And for a long time, I think we just assumed that once we reached a certain point, we'd finally have more time to do the things we wanted to do.

We've been working hard to pay off our debt before my husband retires from the Air Force, and that's still very much our goal. I love the thought of going into that next chapter without all those payments hanging over our heads. But the closer we get, the more I've started thinking about how much time we've spent waiting for things to be just right.

Because the truth is, there's always something. Just when you think you're getting ahead, the car needs something, something breaks around the house, or life throws another unexpected expense your way. I'm pretty sure our house has a running list of things it would like us to spend money on. Haha.

And over the last few years, we've had some pretty difficult reminders that life doesn't always go the way you expect it to. We've lost people we love, dealt with things we never saw coming, and had more than a few seasons where it felt like we were just trying to get through one thing before the next happened.

I think all of that has changed the way I look at the time we have.

Last year, we took a road trip and visited some of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. There were mountains, wide-open spaces, long drives, and plenty of moments when I just wanted to sit and take it all in. I still think about that trip all the time. And it wasn't because everything at home was finished or because we'd reached some big financial milestone. We just went, and I'm so glad we did.

That's the kind of thing I want us to keep making room for.

Of course, that doesn't mean we're suddenly going to ignore our budget and take off across the country whenever we feel like it. Although there are definitely days when that sounds pretty tempting! We're still working toward our goals, still making extra payments when we can, and still trying to make good decisions for our future. I just don't want us to get so focused on what life is supposed to look like five years from now that we miss the good things happening today.

And honestly, a lot of those good things are pretty simple.

I love getting lost in a good psychological thriller, especially one that keeps me guessing until the end. I love crocheting, even if I have a habit of planning my next project before I've finished the one in my lap. I love camping, wandering through little towns, taking the scenic route, and spending evenings outside by a fire. And I love those quiet days at home when there's nowhere we have to be and nothing particularly exciting going on.

Somewhere in the middle of all of that, Porchlight Chapters started taking shape.

At first, I thought about putting together cozy seasonal boxes. Then I started thinking about individual handmade items, books, little gifts, and things I could create myself. I've gone back and forth more times than I care to admit. One day I'm researching one idea, and the next day I've thought of three more. My husband is probably used to hearing,

"So, I've been thinking..." by now.

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I didn't really want to limit Porchlight Chapters to just one thing.

I wanted a place that felt like the things I enjoy in my own life. A little bit of reading, a little bit of making, some travel and adventure, and those small comforts that make an ordinary day feel special. A shop where I could share things I genuinely like, along with a journal where I could talk about what I'm reading, what I'm working on, where we've been, and whatever else happens along the way.

I also won't pretend that I wouldn't love for this to eventually bring in a little extra income. We're working hard on our debt, and being able to put something extra toward it while doing something I enjoy would be wonderful. But I don't want Porchlight Chapters to become another thing that makes life feel rushed or overwhelming. That would sort of defeat the whole purpose.

So I'm starting small and seeing where it goes. I don't have a warehouse full of products, a perfectly planned collection, or years of business experience telling me exactly what will work. I'll probably make things that nobody wants, change my mind about a few ideas, and learn some lessons the hard way. Hopefully there will be some successes mixed in there, too.

And that's okay. I'm actually looking forward to figuring it out.

If you've found your way here, I'm glad you did. Maybe you love books as much as I do, maybe you're always working on some kind of project, or maybe you just enjoy getting away for a weekend and finding somewhere beautiful to sit for a while. Whatever brought you here, I hope you'll find something you enjoy.

I don't know exactly what Porchlight Chapters will look like a year from now, but I'm excited to find out. And in the meantime, I'll be over here reading, crocheting, planning our next camping trip, trying out new ideas, and probably talking myself out of starting another project before finishing the last one.

Because we're still planning for the future. We're just trying to enjoy the years leading up to it, too.

Read the book. Take the drive. Watch the sunset. Sit by the fire. Don't wait for someday.