This Friday, lifelong best friends, Mitzi Merritt and Kristie Carr, will embark on a journey that has been in the works for the past ten years.

The two, who have been best buddies since they were five years old, will be holding a grand opening today for their Christian gift shop, His Space.

“We feel very blessed,” said Merritt. “This is something that we have prayed about for ten years now.”

For a decade, Merritt and Carr have wanted to open a store but before now things never lined up, the two said.

“It was always not the right time,” said Carr. “It was one thing after another. But this time we know for sure that God has opened the door wide open.”

According to Merritt and Carr, they do not consider the store, which they co-own, a job and call it their ministry.

“We are, primarily, stay at home mothers,” said Merritt. “That is our first priority. But our little ones are getting ready to start school, and we wanted a ministry to do while they are at school.”

According to Carr, opening the store feels like a calling.

“We feel that God has laid this on our hearts,” she said. “We enjoy talking to people and just sharing our love for the Lord. We want to share Jesus with Elizabethton.”

Like their dream to open the store, the name, His Space, is something that was developed ten years ago.

“His space in our hearts,” said Merritt. “We thought we just need a little ‘His Space’ to share Christian gifts and Bibles.”

The store will offer many things such as Bibles, devotionals, books, plaques, and jewelry with biblical inscriptions. Some of the items are handcrafted by Merritt and Carr, such as Christmas ornaments, tissue box holders, picture frames and other items. His Space will also offer a lot of different Christian shirts and apparel.

Carr and Merritt will also be offering gift baskets and bags that will be assembled in store.

“The baskets will have anything from the store for weddings, baby showers, or birthdays,” said Carr. “You can call us up or can by and tell us what you want. We will make it all up and make it pretty. With burlap and a country touch.”

The two have even come up with a new motto for the store — “Burlap and lace, saved by Grace.”

The grand opening will be held today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. His Space is located at 707 East Elk Avenue, Suite 2 in Downtown Elizabethton.