Day 3: Good Problems to Have

Today ended up looking a little different than I expected.

Chris had his procedure this morning to have his stent removed, and thankfully it was about as smooth as we could have hoped. We arrived an hour and a half early because that's what they told us to do... only to be told to go have lunch! So we ran a couple of errands, came back, met with the doctors, and before we knew it, the procedure was over.

The best part?

He's doing great.

He's home resting now, although he insists he feels good enough to go work at the house. If you know Chris, that probably doesn't surprise you. If you know me, it also won't surprise you that I'm telling him absolutely not. The house will still be there tomorrow. Right now, I just want him to heal.

While he was in his procedure, I had this grand plan that I was going to power through emails and get caught up on all the business stuff.

That... didn't exactly happen.

The procedure was so quick that before I really got into a rhythm, it was already time to head home.

Now I'm sitting here knee-deep in messages, booking requests, emails, Facebook comments, website inquiries... and honestly?

These are exactly the kinds of problems I've been praying for.

It's overwhelming but it's the best kind of overwhelming.

The response to Outcrop has been incredible, and I'm working as fast as I can to get back to everyone. If you've reached out and I haven't responded yet, I promise I'm getting there.

One thing this has made crystal clear is that we need our online booking and payment system sooner rather than later. Right now, we're piecing everything together manually, and it's becoming obvious that we need something much more streamlined.

Fortunately, that's Chris's department.

Unfortunately... he's supposed to be resting.

So I'm giving him a little grace before I start reminding him every five minutes that I need it.

The next few days are going to be busy.

Tomorrow we're back at the house.

Saturday we're back at the house again, welcoming many of you who are coming to take a look, while contractors continue working through their own projects.

Then Sunday...

Sunday is my birthday Celebration.

It's also the World Cup Final.

Anyone who knows our family knows that's a pretty big deal around here. We have lots of family and friends from Argentina, so we'll definitely be cheering them on. As much as I'd love to spend my birthday cleaning at Outcrop, I think my family has earned a day together.

...Although don't be surprised if I somehow convince everyone to stop by the house anyway.

One thing I've noticed these past few days is that many of you have probably received voice messages or voice-to-text replies from me.

I keep thinking to myself, "Melissa, this feels so unprofessional."

Then I remind myself that the alternative is trying to type long responses while running from appointment to appointment, or worse, while driving, and that's definitely not happening.

So for now, thank you for giving me grace.

These are growing pains.

We're building something brand new, and with every booking and every conversation, I'm learning how to make this business better.

As exciting as the bookings are, something else has been on my mind a lot.

Every time I walk through this house, I keep asking myself the same question:

What do you need?

Not what I want.

Not what looks pretty.

What do you need?

Whether you're a scrapbooker, quilter, sewist, card maker, or another type of crafter, I want this place to work for you.

When I think about the bedrooms, I'm not just thinking about how many beds fit in a room. I'm thinking about how well you'll sleep. I'm thinking about comfortable mattresses, soft pillows, cozy blankets, good lighting, enough outlets, and creating spaces where you actually want to relax after a long day of crafting.

Hospitality matters to me.

I want every woman who walks through the doors to feel welcomed, comfortable, and cared for.

Will I be able to meet every request? Probably not.

There are some limitations that come with any house.

But if there's something that can make your retreat better, and it's something we can reasonably do...

I promise you, we're going to try.

So don't be afraid to tell me what matters to you.

What makes a retreat unforgettable?

What little detail makes you smile?

What have you seen somewhere else that made you think, "I wish every retreat house did this."

Those ideas matter.

Because while Outcrop may have started as my dream...

I'm building it for all of us.