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A cool little valentine mailbox available in the Blessed 2 Scrapbook store at 505 S. Neil St. (Sam Mullineaux, Buzz photographer)

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Blessed 2 Scrapbook.

That’s right: she’s blessed. And she loves to scrapbook.

Where did she come up with such a unique name for her store?

That one’s easy, too — she prayed about it.

After only being open four months, owner Donna Gonzales is already thankful for the success of her business, the mere opportunity to own it and God’s many blessings in her life.

“Some people think there’s only religious stuff here,” Gonzales said. But, on the contrary, her store is filled with charismatic stickers, colorful borders, pictures of smiling faces and various other vibrant materials that anyone can use for scrapbooking.

Previously, Gonzales sold materials for scrapbooking online. After realizing the potential of her passion and helping a friend open up

a scrapbook store in St. Joe, Illinois, Gonzales said with a laugh “I kind of got the itch then.”

Though there are other scrapbook stores on campus, Gonzales’s store is unique because of its purpose.

“I decided I wanted this to be a ministry,”

she says.

Many customers who come in the store are drawn in by its name and Gonzales’s good-hearted effort to minister to the community via a common hobby. At only 34-years-old, Gonzales says with a smile “I get to do something I love and be my own boss.” “But,” she added, “that’s also the hardest part about running your own business. Many people who want to own businesses don’t realize the behind-the-scenes work that goes into running a store. When you’re making money and producing smiles, you’re in charge. And when something goes wrong, you’re still in charge.”

“Don’t just jump into it. Do some research,” Gonzales says. Gonzales has found that owning your own business is definitely rewarding and worthwhile, but “It’s a huge commitment.”

Blessed 2 Scrapbook is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and closed on Sunday. However, the store is closed from 2:40-3:40 p.m. Monday through Friday. And because you’re nosy, you’re wondering why the store closes from 2:40-3:40 p.m.

Glad you asked.

Gonazales goes to pick her daughters up from school everyday because her family — which, she says, is also

a great blessing — comes first. Her daughters even have their own room in the store to play in after school, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. The business, Gonzales says, has to be centered around her family — not the other way around.

Blessed 2 Scrapbook is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and closed on Sunday. The store is located at 505 S. Neil St., between Springfield and Green in the Royal Plaza. Call 356-3100 or visit blessed2scrapbook.com for more information on Gonzales and her store.