So I had been going to college earning a degree in accounting because I had always worked with money and was currently working as a bookkeeper at a local grocery store. But I really ended up hating accounting however continued and finished my time there until graduating the year Alex and I married.

While we were dating, Alex’s father needed to find someone to help in the office. Alex suggested me so Phil called me in for an interview. I was so excited. I would get to see Alex everyday if everything worked out.

I will tell you that Phil made me nervous. He was so serious and straight forward. I was intimidated to say the least. I sat down in his office as he stared back at me behind his huge desk. He listed everything that he needed in an employee which really didn’t require any major skills. Everything I needed to learn would be learned on the job.

This was the very last thing that he told me before he agreed to hiring me, “Now, I know you and Alex are dating. If anything was to happen between the two of you, then you know who will need to go, right?”

I shook my head yes. I have to hand it to Phil, he always told you like it was; no question about it. That’s why I loved him so much.

Phil and his mom were the best employers. They took me under their wings. I started by addressing envelopes, doing odd and ends, learning to card wedding negatives, greeting clients, and learning to properly answer the phone. Later on, he would send me for training to learn retouching and artist skills.

I began to really fall in love with working in this fun, family business. I felt purpose in my life and took pride in learning everything they sent my way. It was a passion I never had in other jobs I had worked at.

It’s one thing to be a hard worker but it’s something totally different when you start to care and begin taking ownership of your position. Phil gave me the freedom and opportunities to grow as a person and employee. I will forever be thankful to him. I grew up and matured a lot in those earlier years.

Remember when he said that if anything was to happen between Alex and I that I was the one who would need to go? Several years later (after we were married), we all were sitting at the table eating lunch. Phil looked at me and said, “if anything was to happen between you and Alex, well, Alex would just have to go!!!” We have laughed about that for many years.

To this day, I am so thankful for all that I’ve learned and it’s my passion to be a part of our family business. It’s given me the chance to meet so many people and the opportunities to travel to places I never thought I would.

I absolutely love what I do!!! Plus, I get to be with and share everything with Alex.

The old saying by Confucius is so true in my life: “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”