by Alisha Watterson | Apr 18, 2023 | Uncategorized
If you’ve met us, you know we love to be outdoors. Hiking is one of our favorite activities, and we try to hit a trail as often as possible. (Even in NE, where there really isn’t any great hiking to speak of, lol!) Whenever we have an opportunity, we will travel to find good hiking. When I took this picture, I was sitting on a small bluff overlooking a beautiful piece of Iowa countryside. I looked down at my boots and realized they have been all over the world! It struck me as kind of a cool thought. The idea of the places we go and what we take with us when we leave, kind of stuck with me, so I thought, why not write about it!?
One of the first places these boots traveled was a mountain peak in Flagstaff, AZ! At just under 13,000 ft elevation, they made it all the way to the top of Mt Humphreys! Incredible! They have hiked all over Sedona’s many breathtaking trails over multiple trips. They have been backpacking in South Dakota’s Badlands twice; covered many miles on multiple trails in Colorado and, most notably, the Annapurna Circuit in the Himalayan Mountains, Nepal! (I will save my adventures in Nepal for a future post). And as I stated earlier, so much exploring of the trails and parks in and around Omaha & western IA. They have faced wild buffalo, big horn sheep, and rattlesnakes! They have given me sure footing on snow and ice and have been my vehicle for countless priceless memories!
I owe a lot to these boots!
In a way, these boots helped to contribute to the birth of Small Escapes. It is because of our love for hiking that we even thought of starting a short-term rental business in the first place. Creating a space in nature for couples to relax and reconnect is what we are all about!
If you’ve ever stood and looked out over a beautiful view, you take the pictures and try to soak it all in as much as you can in that moment because you know that as soon as you walk away, you will never have that moment back. The picture will not do it justice, and in time the beauty of the memory will fade.
However, even though the details will be lost over time, the memory of that moment will stick with you forever! Who you were with, the conversations you had, the laughter, the tears, the blisters, and the sunburn. It all contributes to a moment in time that was yours and no one can take that away. If my boots could talk, they could tell so many stories. So many precious moments that have helped to shape who I am today. We carry our memories with us always, and I am so thankful for the ones I have made while wearing these old boots!
So ya, I owe a lot to these boots, and long after they are unwearable, I will still have what they gave me. Time doing what I love with the people that I love. That is what I take with me when I step off the trail. I can’t wait to lace them up again soon and create another beautiful moment in time, enjoying the beauty of nature and the gift of another memory.
“You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So… get on your way!” ― Dr. Seuss, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”
by Alisha Watterson | Mar 15, 2023 | Uncategorized
Our blog topic for this month is personal growth. I recently listened to a podcast about this topic and thought it would be a great topic for our blog. But first, let me tell you a bit about our son Tyler. Ty is the kid in the picture with the rope. You can probably tell he is in a climbing gym. Ty started climbing for fun a little over a year ago and competitively a few months back. He is a natural-born climber, and since he was tiny, I could barely keep him on the ground. He is pretty talented, and we can’t wait to see how far his climbing “career” goes. The first of this year, he joined his teammates for the lead rope climbing season. This is a totally different type of climbing than he is used to. The main idea is he is harnessed to a rope, and there is a person on the ground belaying him. However, there is no rope at the top of the wall to catch him if he falls. He has to clip himself in periodically as he climbs, so if he falls, the clip will then catch him. At his first lead rope competition a couple of weekends ago, this was only the second time he had climbed this way. He had 4 routes to climb and 3 attempts to “top” (make it to the top w/o falling), each one. We had high hopes as he harnessed up for his first route. He made it maybe 1/4 of the way up before falling. “That’s ok, bud,” we encouraged him. “You’ll get it next time!” But the next time, it was a similar story. After about his 3rd attempt, he was pretty frustrated and wanted to quit & go home. These are those tough moments as a parent when you see the pain and frustration in your kiddo’s eyes and want to just fix it for them. After swallowing down that urge, I gently told him that we weren’t going to leave and encouraged him to try again. His coach came over at about that time and joined in the pep talk. Reminding him that these routes are much harder than what he is used to climbing at our home gym. That this is his very first lead rope competition, and the route setters don’t want him to reach the top. The funny thing is, he wasn’t even using phrases like, “I know you you can top this!” or “Here is how you make it to the top, bud.” He was reminding him of training tips that he knows from practice to get him just one hold higher, just one more clip on that really tough route, just one more foothold on that one where he overextended. He took the pressure of making it to the top out of the equation and reminded him to focus on the moment and his training to just do better next time than the last time. After some coaxing from his coaches and us, he got back up there. And ya know what!? He got higher! He ended up using all 3 attempts on 3 of the 4 routes. He was bruised and even a bit bloody, but by the end, he got progressively higher on each, and in the process, he got his smile and his confidence back too!
How does this relate?
As I contemplated personal growth and how to get my thoughts down, I was reminded of the courage of my little dude. It would have been easier to pack it in for the day. It would have saved a bit of embarrassment in front of all the other climbers (most of which were struggling on these tough routes too) and parents there, not to put himself out there again to fail. But where would that have gotten him? Ty has big dreams for climbing. He would never achieve them if he gave in to the fear and disappointment of the moment. So let me ask you… what are your dreams? Do you have personal and/or professional goals? Have you taken steps to reach them? If so, have you persevered through the falls or given up?
During our process of starting and growing Small Escapes, we have had more roadblocks and setbacks than I can count! Even recently, since setting our sights on South Padre! We have definitely wanted to give up, and definitely questioned our own sanity in continuing to push forward against all odds. But our dream is way too big, ya’ll! (I own a bit of TX now, so I need to start adding ya’ll to my vocabulary, don’t ya think!?) And ya know what? Each time we choose to get back up to the wall after falling, we learn something new to help us on the next route. WE GROW. We change! And change is uncomfy, but that is how we achieve those great big dreams, guys! Others don’t get it and may think we are crazy for trying again. We have bruises and scars, but we keep pushing, we keep climbing, we keep clipping onto the wall, so to speak, because even when we fall, we win! The pastor’s kid in me loves the analogy in this because the devil doesn’t want us to reach our dreams and plans that God has birthed in us for our business, for our marriage, for our family and legacy, just like those route setters didn’t want Ty to reach the top. But we have a support if we choose to use it! We just can’t forget to clip into Jesus and each other for support on the way and we will always be caught on the way down, if we fall!
So… I encourage you to pick up those dreams you’ve set to the side. Dust them off and start climbing. I guarantee you will grow, and those dreams you once thought impossible will start becoming a reality each time you get a bit higher!
Ty getting tips from one of his coaches.
by Alisha Watterson | Feb 17, 2023 | Uncategorized
What’s new???
- SE Bella Vista’s calendar is now open for booking through Oct 2023
- Trip booked in Feb to acquire new property in SPI
Coming Soon
- SPI projected to open for renting in April 2023
- Weekly marriage tip videos on SE social media channels
- Branching out to VRBO as well as Airbnb
How to Contact Us:
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So guess what!?
We have decided to start a monthly newsletter/blog! We are so thankful for all of our faithful supporters and guests and want to keep you updated on all things Small Escapes. So, here goes…
2023 has started out very well! As most of you know, we ended 2022 after recently opening our very first property in beautiful NW Arkansas! It is going so great! We have been pretty solidly booked since we opened and are so thankful! We took a much-needed breather over the holidays and spent November and December with our kids, friend, and family. As 2023 rolled around, we decided it was time to start moving forward again and have set our sights on South Padre Island, TX! SPI is a beautiful island on the Gulf of Mexico, and we absolutely fell in love with it a couple of years ago on a trip down there with some friends! We have been working with a local realtor and are scheduled to head down in mid-February to scout out the best areas and maybe even come home with one new property in the Small Escapes family!
We had so much fun!
During COVID, we read a book called The 12 Week Year. It has always stuck with us as something we wanted to try, but we never made it a priority. The jist of it is that instead of setting goals for a year as most of us do, you set goals for the next 12 weeks and schedule tasks to achieve those goals. So, we scheduled a planning day. One thing you need to know about us is we like to make everyday events fun! We prioritize our time together and use every opportunity to strengthen our relationship. This was no exception. We made sure we picked a day with no interruptions. We started our planning with brunch, including Bloody Marys, of course! We then got out a giant whiteboard and started dreaming. Listing our goals and narrowing those goals down to what we can reasonably accomplish in the next 12 weeks. We then broke those goals down into achievable tasks, assigned due dates to these tasks, and who would do them. We are now on week 3, and I can’t tell you how good it feels to have a checklist and get stuff done! Now, some of you may be thinking that this doesn’t sound like much fun or relationship-building. But to us, it was one of the most powerful and intimate days we have had in a while! Dreaming together and planning for our future gets us so excited and brings us closer together! We dreamt, we flirted, we had a few adult beverages and good food, we made out, we danced in our home office, and we just honestly had a blast planning for the future of Small Escapes! We are so excited to see what the next 12 Weeks and beyond hold for SE and our future guests! Choosing to make a seemingly mundane, routine task fun & exciting is what we are all about. I can’t wait for Week 13, when we can do it all again! |
by Alisha Watterson | Apr 28, 2022 | Uncategorized
Deciding on a business name is hard!
I can’t tell you how many different ideas we tried out. But first, a little background on why we started Small Escapes. Aaron and I love to be outdoors! Hiking, backpacking, being on a lake, kayaking, and getting lost in nature are all activities we can’t do enough. We are big fans of Airbnb and Vrbo. However, finding a suitable property for only the two of us that was clean and cozy with a hot tub to relax in was very difficult. That is unless we wanted to be in someone’s basement or rent a room in their home and have no privacy and not as many great amenities. So, we decided to solve our problem and start building them ourselves!
The idea behind our business is to create unique tiny houses for couples to rent for a few days. It will be a place where they can relax and reconnect in a location known among outdoor enthusiasts. (But more about that later.) Thus, our baby idea for our business was born! Now for a name. We started sharing our dream with close friends and family. We started telling them we wanted to build tiny homes all over the country for just two to four people, etc. It quickly became clear that they were all imagining tiny houses on wheels like they see on TV. We then received many well-intentioned suggestions and ideas for where we could park the homes and what styles to build. Red flag! We do not want to build homes on wheels! Well, that means any name with Tiny in the title is out. Hmmm?
Ok, there are so many synonyms for tiny! So, how do we convey our properties’ size and that they will be a place to stay and relax? We must have gone through 15 different names. We probably overthought it, but it felt like a lot of pressure! Eventually, through trial and error, we did come to the name Small Escapes, and it just felt right. Many of you might be asking, why small? Why not build a property to sleep 6 – 8 or even 12 plus people? I’ll tell you. Aaron and I love to get away, just the two of us, as I mentioned before. Getting lost in nature is what connects us the most. We love it! The central part of our mission with Small Escapes is for couples to get away to reconnect. Our properties are designed for intimacy, conversation, and adventure! We know that we could have a very successful short-term rental business catering to larger groups and families. However, having both been divorced, we are now passionate about helping to cultivate healthy and strong marriages. We know that many couples are struggling, and perhaps if they had a place to go to find each other again, it would help? Our prayer is that while staying at one of our properties, many couples will find refuge and reignite their passion for one another. Thus, Small Escapes seems like an appropriate name for our new business! We hope you will enjoy escaping with your partner as much as we do!
by Alisha Watterson | Apr 6, 2022 | Small Escapes
“Build a short-term rental property!” we said. “Let’s build it into a brand!” we said. “It’ll be FUN!” we said. …oh boy!
So, you ask. Has it been fun? That is a very loaded question. The answer is that it has been a number of things…
It has been exciting!
Locating and buying our first property was crazy exciting! We were actually doing this! Starting a business together, like we’ve dreamed about!
It has been eye-opening. We jumped feet first into a business in which neither of us has any experience. To say that our eyes were opened to a whole new world that we didn’t expect is an understatement.
It has been a learning experience. We have learned so freaking much about the world of construction, city and property owners associations, and county politics. We could write a book just about that!
It has been frustrating! My last point, repeated seven times over! We learned so much as our eyes were opened, but learning isn’t always easy. In fact, it can be downright maddening! It can leave you feeling helpless and angry, questioning why we even took the leap in the first place!
Waiting
It has been a lesson in patience and waiting. Do you enjoy waiting? And waiting? And then waiting some more? Only to find out that what you’ve been waiting for this whole time could have been avoided? Or to be so close to your goal and then get so excited that finally; after months and months of waiting, and prayer, and sacrifice, you get to take like two steps forward and then riding high on that momentum, you get the news that you have to take a step or two backward again & wait some more? Well, we have! And then some! So…..? Fun??? Abso-freaking-lutely! Know why? Because we are living our dream people! My husband is my best friend! We are one of those weird couples that enjoy spending every waking moment together.
Launching the New Adventure
When covid struck, we racked our brains trying to figure out a business venture that we could undertake together. We talked and prayed and tried out a few ideas, but in the end, we knew that God was guiding us to launch Small Escapes, and we never looked back! Have we doubted? Sure. Felt like giving up? Here and there. But ultimately, when those seeds of doubt were planted and tried to take root, it was almost funny! Like, “no way devil! Not today!” We firmly believe that this is the legacy that has been chosen for us! That is was chosen for ourselves and our nomadic, adventure-seeking lifestyle, to leave for our five children and future grandchildren, for ministry opportunities, and blessing others with a retreat to unwind and get away. With that in mind, there is no way that a POA board or a septic system delay or bricklayer or rain or snow is gonna get in the way of this!
Here’s an example: One of our latest setbacks was that our mason, who we’ve had on retainer, if you will, since October, backed out one week before he was set to bring his crew to build our foundation. I got the news when I was on a little road trip with my family to Texas. This was kind of a low point for me in all of this as this was the last in a LONG line of setbacks, and I was angry! Aaron and I pray together every night before bed, and this night, as we were FaceTiming and talking about it, it was my turn to pray, and I kind of chewed God out! I told Him that I was angry at Him, angry at the mason, the city of Bella Vista, the concrete with which to build it, the sun, the moon, the stars and everyone under the sun involved in this build, and their dogs thank you very much!
After said prayer, Aaron gently reminded me to look at my new tattoo. (Which I had just gotten a little over a week prior with my girlfriends. Pictured)
I was not in a very receptive mood however, so we said goodnight, and that was that. The next morning I woke up still angry. I decided to have some Jesus time and journal about it. I again got it all out on paper. All my anger. The frustrating fact is that after 10 months of waiting, and kissing ass, and trying to get this going, our entire build rests on this one dude! We literally cannot build a house without a foundation. And then it hit me… We can’t build a house without a foundation! My tattoo that Aaron referenced says He won’t. This is from a song titled Firm Foundation by Maverick City Music. These are the lyrics, “Christ is my firm foundation. The rock on which I stand. When everything around me is shaken, I’ve never been more glad, that I put my faith in Jesus. ‘Cause He’s never let me down. He’s faithful through generations! So why would He fail now? HE WON’T!” Wow!
“Ok God, I’m listening!” I decided to go for a run and played the song on repeat. What I took away from it in the end is that while I’ve been trusting the vision and the plan for this business that He gave to us, I haven’t been trusting His timing. Ouch. The bridge of this song says, “Rain came, wind blew, but my house was built on You. I’m safe with you; I’m gonna make it through.” We are safe with Him. Our business and this build are safe with Him. So step back and trust that He’s got this! Come rain or wind or masons, or permits, etc. HE is the foundation on which we are building this business, and HE WON’T fail!
“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him. He alone is my rock & my salvation, my fortress.” Psalms 62:5-8
