July Reflections: Gratitude, Family, and Remembering Why

Two hours before the end of July, I am carving out this quiet moment to write this month's blog.

How is it already the end of the month? July disappeared in what felt like the blink of an eye. It was full of work, family, travel, laughter, exhaustion, reflection, and reminders of why I started this journey in the first place.

The month began with one goal on my mind: preparing for the Minnesota State Fair. Every year I tell myself I'll be more prepared than the year before, and every year brings a new lesson.

Working internationally is never easy. For the past five years, I have imported handcrafted products from Nepal, and no two years have looked the same. Shipping delays, changing regulations, rising costs, tariffs, and timing have all tested my patience.

There have been moments when I wanted everything to happen faster.

But these last two months, while working on branding, building better systems, and improving our business processes, I have learned something invaluable: patience.

Sometimes growth isn't about moving faster. Sometimes growth is learning to trust the process.

Midway through July, our house became beautifully full. My sister arrived in Minnesota with her husband, their two daughters, and their four-month-old baby boy from England. Our family suddenly grew, and with it came joyful chaos. There were toys everywhere, laughter echoing through the house, late-night conversations, children running around, shared meals, and precious moments that I know we'll remember for years.

We decided to make the most of our time together and traveled as a family of fourteen.

Our adventures took us to Grand Marais, Duluth, Wisconsin Dells, and finally New York City.

Traveling with fourteen people is certainly an adventure. Every day required planning, flexibility, and lots of understanding. There were moments of pure joy and moments of exhaustion. We laughed until our stomachs hurt, took hundreds of photos, watched the children experience new places with wonder, and created memories that are worth every mile we traveled. And yes...it was tiring.

One lesson I've learned is that making everyone happy all the time is impossible.

Instead of chasing perfection, I learned to appreciate the imperfect moments—the unexpected stops, the changed plans, the spontaneous laughter, and simply being together.

One of my favorite memories this month was celebrating the Fourth of July together. Watching fireworks light up the Minnesota sky surrounded by family reminded me how blessed I am. As an immigrant, Independence Day carries a different meaning for me. It reminds me not only of America's history but also of the opportunities this country has given my family and my business. Freedom is something I never want to take for granted.

The biggest moment of reflection, however, happened in New York. It was my second visit to Ellis Island. As we waited in line to return from the island, I overheard two elderly women having a conversation.

One quietly asked the other,

"Why are people so different today?"

Their conversation stopped me in my tracks.

That simple question stayed with me long after we left.

I found myself asking the same thing.

Why?

As I reflected, the answer that came to my heart was this:

Perhaps we've forgotten to be thankful.

Walking through Ellis Island fills me with emotion every single time. Reading the stories of immigrants who left everything behind in search of hope gives me goosebumps. I cried during my first visit, and I cried again this time.

I thought about my own journey.

Why did I come to this country?

Why did I start Namaste Brows & Boutique?

Where am I going?

More importantly, who do I want to become while building this dream?

Those questions have stayed with me throughout this month.

In this season, God has gently slowed me down. While part of me always wants to keep moving faster, I've been reminded that sometimes we are called to simply be still, to reflect, to listen, and to remember our purpose.

Namaste Brows & Boutique was never just about eyebrows or beautiful handcrafted products.

It has always been about people.

It's about creating confidence.

It's about honoring the incredible artisans in Nepal.

It's about preserving culture.

It's about giving back.

It's about creating opportunities: for my family, for families in Nepal, and for our community here in Minnesota. As I continue dreaming bigger for this business, I never want to lose sight of where it all began.

During this trip, many of my prayers were simple.

Thank You!

Thank You for this country.

Thank You for the opportunities.

Thank You for every customer who has trusted our business.

Thank You for every lesson.

Thank You for every challenge that has helped shape me into a stronger entrepreneur.

As July comes to a close, I choose gratitude. And as August begins, we prepare for another exciting milestone, our third year as a vendor at the Minnesota State Fair. What an incredible honor. From a dream that started with hope, faith, and determination to now sharing our handcrafted products with thousands of fairgoers each year, I am humbled beyond words.

If you're planning to visit the Minnesota State Fair this year, I hope you'll stop by our booth (Grandstand Building, 1st floor), say hello, and support our mission. Every purchase helps us continue sharing Nepal's beautiful craftsmanship while creating opportunities for artisans and supporting education for children in Nepal.

Thank you for being part of this journey. I truly couldn't do this without you.

Here's to another month of growing with gratitude, serving with purpose, and remembering why we started.

With gratitude,

Jeena Gurung Vomhof

Founder, Namaste Brows and Boutique