Pivoting - Take Two

We’re using the word “pivot” with increasing regularity in our home and business. Merriam-Webster defines pivot as “the action (especially in basketball) of stepping with one foot while keeping the other foot at its point of contact with the floor.” (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pivot) This resonates with me.

My husband Houston and I have done some pivoting of our own. Eight years ago when we purchased our property, our plan was to create a wedding venue. When doing that was cost-prohibitive, we didn’t abandon that idea altogether. It remained a goal, but while figuring that piece out, we pivoted and began offering glamping as a revenue generator. We have been blessed to provide a space for individuals, friends, families and artists to connect, retreat, celebrate and create. During Covid, Purdon Groves was a safe place for people to congregate. To say we are grateful is a gross understatement. 

But now we pivot! We will continue to provide some of those same opportunities, but instead of glamping, we will allow people to bring their own tents. We’ll also be focusing on renting out the whole property for events - think parties, scout campouts and even possibly acoustic music festivals. We’re excited to see where this next chapter takes us and our guests. 

Hospitality has always been at the forefront of what we’ve done - whether in our home with friends and family or on our farm. This shift in direction allows us to continue offering a warm and welcoming environment to guests while Houston focuses on events and camping at Purdon Groves and I oversee The Patio, our downtown Corsicana venue. 

The older I get, the more I’m learning that life is all about doing the next right thing, putting one foot in front of the other and getting on with what we’re created to do. The challenge is often discerning exactly what that is. I can’t count the number of people who have poured into me in my 63 years. You probably can’t either. As a person of faith, I believe God strategically brings people into our lives who speak into what we’re doing, where we’re going and when it’s time to pivot. It’s those conversations, time alone with the Creator and journaling in the morning that have brought some much needed clarity. 

In a way, I’m proud of us - Houston and me - that we had the courage to say, “This is what we need to do.” I’m not sure what the next right thing will be, but I’m as sure as I am that the sun will rise tomorrow morning, that we’ll have more opportunities to pivot as we navigate the days ahead. 

This piece was first published in the Corsicana Daily Sun on May 31, 2025 in Sherry’s Column - Finding Myself in a Small Town.