Full disclosure: the is the raw, honest truth of my life as we know it. Our life. You don’t need to know everything, but this is the jist of it…
Lately I’ve been busy.
I know, I’ve said this before.
I started this blog in 2011 in hopes of releasing my voice for all of you to hear. I wanted to share and discuss with you all life has to offer. A few years prior, in 2009, I went to the County Clerk’s office in my hometown and bought a DBA as sweet whimsy designs. I had no idea what, exactly, I would do with it, but I know I had something to offer the world. I had great big visions of a roaring awesome blog / shop. I think it still seems so new, so fresh, so advanced.
I took time to have a few more children, (heh), but all the while I was fondling my brain to think of the next big thing that would help our one-income, middle-class family stay afloat.
I took up knitting. I made stationery. I created…things.
I started teaching a weekly music class for little ones. I love this! This class has added a little more light & joy to my life, which is already pretty bright.
In December of 2012, just last December, I saw some simply-painted peg dolls in pots in a photo of a blogger I follow on Instagram.
Hmmm…
I thought I could paint some more intricate peg dolls for my kids, for Christmas!
You see, the truth is, we were underwater financially last Christmas. Heck, we’ve been financially drowning for several months years now. We’re not going on extravagant trips (or any trips, for that matter), or spending all our cash on nice clothes and shoes (oh no, I assure you I find ways to save money, even get our cool stuff for free), we’re not even in over our heads with a mortgage or brand new cars. We’re simply trying to get by. On one income. A family of five.
Back to my point.
I had to make gifts for my kids so they would have things to open on Christmas morning.
Initially, I got a great response from the peg dolls. Not only from my own kids, but from other kids visiting, from parents, from my family.
I started ‘putting myself out there’, making more peg dolls and other hand-painted wooden things. I knew we had to start getting ourselves out of this mess, but at the same time, I insisted on raising my own children. As well, we have chosen to homeschool. Although I’m sure it can be done, I’m not ready to take on working full-time and homeschooling. I want to be the one raising our kids. End of story.
But this is hard.
In March, my husband lost his job.
*CUE THE REALLY HEAVY-DUTY STRESS*, the kind that makes you unsure whether to yell or scream or laugh or jump off a cliff, all at the same time.
Three kids. No working parents. No house to call our own.
This is when the haziness of life turned into crystal-clear focus.
Our children are healthy. We are healthy. And we are grateful. Soooooo stinkin’ grateful for what we do have. Overall, all things considered, we are all so happy, still happy.
That is the most important point of the story. Everything else will fall into place…with a little hard work, of course. (Remember one of my Coldplay quote, the one I used to remind people about natural childbirth? “Nobody said it was easy. No one ever said it would be this hard.”* Well, it turns out that quote rings true for life as well. Go figure!)
So, since March, I have been working. Painting, networking, ‘putting myself out there’ again. This time, it is paying off, in both the literal and figurative sense.
sweet whimsy designs is taking off. It’s about to soar through the clouds and into the skies, unbound by hesitation or fear. Fear of the unknown can be extremely enlightening if you let it be.
Just let it be.
My little side-biz, created so I could stay at home with my three adorable children, is about to reach new heights.
It’s happening so fast.
Thank you, family, friends, readers and strangers. Thank you for being there for us. We appreciate every comment, every share, every word of encouragement. Please continue to boost sweet whimsy designs / the whimsical sweet to new heights, if you believe in me, if you really believe in us.
It’s time.
Visit my shop on etsy, sweet whimsy designs on Facebook, and on follow me on Instagram…if you’d like 
.
*quote from Coldplay, “The Scientist”
Tags: artist, believe, Children, creative endeavors, Family, family finances, finances, financial trouble, hand-painted, Instagram, life, making it work, money trouble, motivation, music class, painting, peg dolls, stay-at-home mom, work from home
