I was working full-time as an aquatics director at a YMCA, pouring everything I had into making the pool a successful and welcoming place to be. On September 5, 2012, my husband finally finished putting together our projected five year plan. He had spent hours tweaking numbers--estimating pay raises, contemplating how much he should be adding to his retirement fund, and laying out our future for starting a family. Together we went over our budget and our plan to start a family in 3-5 years. Three days later I found out I was pregnant. Oh, LAWD! So we scratched our plans and jumped on board to God's. I've always had it in my heart to be a stay-at-home mom. There's just something intriguing about Disney movies on repeat, 3am wake-up calls, and enough dirty diapers in one day to knock a skunk off his feet. But how in the world could we afford to let my full-time job go?

Fast forward to today. I stepped down from my YMCA position in May of 2013 without any job leads. We simply trusted that The Lord is good, and He'll drop something in my lap when the time is right. He did just that. And then some. This sweet Etsy shop has financially blessed our little family and allowed me to stay home and raise our babies for five whole years. When I finally decided to exist outside the walls of my home again (SAHM friends, I know you understand this!), I got back into the marketing world. It's a JOY to spend my days creating wall art, helping other Etsy shops crush their goals, and losing to my kids in seven straight games of Uno. Truly, this is everything I have ever wanted, and Etsy has given me a platform to live out my dreams. I feel so lucky to have this cozy spot on their platform, and I'm over-the-moon honored you're here reading this today. Thank you for being here! Thank you for supporting our family! Hugging your neck and sending you sunshine.

To show our gratitude and to give back, we use a portion of proceeds each month to sponsor a little girl through Compassion International. This organization supports her needs in Thailand: education, food and water, disease prevention, and a means for her family to survive. If you're not a part of what Compassion is doing all over the world, I urge you to read their mission. They love the world so well.

Thank you for checking out my shop! If you're reading this and you're a mom, it must be naptime. You may as well shop away before your littles wake up :)