Okay, I’m clearly not super woman, but I kind of felt like it last week.

Despite my best intentions and the best intentions of the people I’m working with on Yoga-urt #2, the holidays did sadly hold us up for a few weeks. I really tried to make that not happen, but it did.

I met with the health department on Dec. 24th, yes that’s right, Christmas Eve and they had a change that needed to be addressed. And of course the company I needed to address the change was shut down until after New Years. What a bummer!

So that was that. But you better believe as soon as New Year’s Day was over, I contacted them as quickly as possible.

The changes were ready for the health department last Monday and I was able to get an appointment with the health department last Tuesday! Thankfully, it went well!

But there were several other steps needed to get us back on track. I knew if I left it to others, it would take weeks so my mission last week was to do everything in my power to get where we needed to be.

I went to the city like 3 times in 2 days. I met with waste management. I met with milk & dairy. Every step along the way had a curveball and it felt like there would be more delays, but I found a solution for every single one.

While at the city, I met with our city plan checker who said the first available day he could meet with me was January 17th – a week and a half away. I was so bummed to hear this and pleaded to be seen earlier. Luckily, he said if I came towards the end of the day, he would try to see me but no promises.

So I did just that and he met with me. Of course, there was another curveball but it was resolved quickly and I got everything I needed.

It was 2 full days of running around and meetings, but it was such a relief!

So we are back on track now for Yoga-urt #2. My hope is that we can catch up for the lost time in construction, but it’s too early to tell.

And the good news is I now personally know the inspectors, plan checkers, etc. and they have seen my passion for this so that should hopefully make things easier all around.

I’m so proud of myself for turning everything around in 2 days and I’m grateful I had the time to do it. With Yoga-urt #1, I was still working my full-time day job and this would’ve been impossible to do so quickly.

At the end of each year, I try to summarize it with one word as I have done the last few years.

For 2015, the word was INTENSE. For 2016, the word was GROWTH. For 2017, the word was PROMISE.

And for 2018, the word is GRATITUDE.

Boy, did you all show up for us this year! This year was our best year yet and that’s because of our customers. We are so grateful to each and every one of you for loving Yoga-urt like you do.

Yoga-urt is a lot of work, takes a lot of money, and the challenges that come up can be very stressful and disheartening at times. But it’s all worth it because of our customers.

So many times this year, people would thank me for Yoga-urt. And I thank them right back. It means the world to me, and this journey feels very lonely at times, so when I can connect with our customers it feels good.

I am grateful that you all embraced our pie slices, popsicles, & ice cream sandwiches. I am grateful that our sales grew even with a competing business right next door. I am grateful that you loved our new flavors. I am grateful for all the kind words.

Most of all, I am so grateful that I was able to get a loan and move forward with Yoga-urt #2. And I’m so grateful that you all are as excited about Yoga-urt #2 as I am.

Lots to feel grateful for.

We were open again on Christmas Day although this time I didn’t work it alone. Another team member worked too which was great because we were very busy! And, of course, we brought out the hot chocolate again which we do just a few times a year.

On the flip side, personally, these last few months have been very hard on me. My mother’s 17 years with Parkinson’s Disease has taken a toll on me and my family. It became so painfully clear with the holidays in December how much things have changed. It’s so hard.

This year has been quite a big transition for me as I went from working a full-time job in addition to Yoga-urt, to now just focusing on Yoga-urt. It makes things so much easier for me in some ways, but harder in some others. I’m now “all in” with Yoga-urt.

All in with Yoga-urt sounds pretty good. There has been so much risk on this journey, but I continue to listen to my gut and pursue my calling.

I’m so excited for what 2019 will bring Yoga-urt.