🌱 When the Seed Was Planted: The Dream That Told Me to Begin

There’s something sacred about the quiet that follows a season of hustle.

I work in a school, so summers have always been a time to breathe. In 2024, my husband and I bought a home, our cozy corner of the world, rich with projects and possibility. And in 2025, I walked across the stage with my second Master’s degree, holding years of growth in my hands.

With space to exhale, I thought maybe I’ll find a flexible little summer job. Tutoring? Dog walking? Retail? I even browsed listings while sipping tea on the back steps. But nothing clicked.

I’ve learned that I need to feel connected to what I do. It’s not just about filling time… it’s about filling it with meaning.

🌧️ Planting Seeds in the Rain

I circled back to something I’d been quietly dancing around: maybe I could grow my Teachers Pay Teachers store. Maybe even… start a blog.

The idea came with a rush of excitement and just as quickly, a downpour of doubt.

Who am I to do this?
I’m not a marketer. I’m not a tech expert.
What could I possibly offer that isn’t already out there?

I told my husband in a hesitant whisper, like saying it too loud might scare it off. He looked at me and simply said, “Think about it.”

No pressure. Just a seed.

And sometimes, that’s all it takes.

🌲 The Dream That Changed Everything

That night, I had a dream. One of those vivid, otherworldly dreams where nothing makes perfect sense, and yet, somehow, it all makes sense.

We were going on a cruise, but first, we had to fly to the ship. The plane? It was departing from my grandparents’ property.

As we packed, I noticed a strange, makeshift staircase winding into the clouds. Each step looked hand-built, just moments before. Wobbly. Improvised. Brave.

We climbed.

From that height, their backyard changed. What had always seemed ordinary, the grass, the bushes, the blooms, suddenly came alive. From above, I could see animals formed from petals. An elephant. A monkey. And more. The entire garden had transformed. But only because I was willing to change how I looked.

A treehouse spiraled into view. Then a full castle made of blossoms and branches. A hidden wonderland. A secret garden no one would have noticed unless they paused, shifted, and looked again.

When I asked who had built it, they told me: Your grandma.

My grandma is quiet. Frail. She’s lived in a motorized wheelchair since her stroke decades ago. She doesn’t build things, not in the traditional sense. But in my dream, she did.

When I asked how, she smiled and said:

“When you set your mind to something and have faith, you are capable of anything.”

🌿 Taking Root

I woke up with clarity in my chest. The kind that buzzes. The kind that says: This is it.

That morning, I sat with my tea and started. I wrote names. Played with phrases. Let instinct guide me… no logic, no strategy.

I told my husband, and he saw it in my eyes. That same day, I secured a domain name (which I had no idea how to do), and Rooted in the Rain was born.

Not because I needed to make money. Not because I had all the answers. But because something inside said: Go now. Build as you go. Trust your gut.

Even if this summer brings in $0, I’ll still be grateful. Because I’m doing something that matters to me. I’m growing outside of my comfort zone and into vulnerability. I’m creating space for stories, reflections, parenting support, dog love, and natural living.

I’m building something rooted, step by step.

🌼 Takeaways from the Heart

If you’re standing on the edge of something new, unsure if you’re “ready” or “qualified,” here’s what I hope you remember:

• 🌿 Sometimes we build as we go. Not every step is planned. Each one becomes part of the path.

• 🌧️ We grow in the rain. Discomfort and doubt don’t mean you’re off track. They mean you're being stretched.

• 🐾 Your energy is wise. If something lights you up, follow it. If it feels heavy or misaligned, you don’t have to force it.

• 🌲 Perspective changes everything. Sometimes the most beautiful parts of life aren’t visible until we pause, breathe, and view them from a new angle.

• ✨ You don’t need the whole staircase to take the first step. Just the faith to keep climbing.

Thank you for being here… from the bottom of my rain-soaked, hope-filled heart.

Let’s keep building this community together, one real and rooted step at a time.

🌿 In the rain, we root. In the wild, we grow.