Hello.

When Hubs lost in job in September, I was certain the world was ending. Life as I knew it was done. We were poor. Instead, what I discovered is that the world was NOT ending, it was closing in within the four walls of my home. Life wasn't done. It was beginning right in my home. We weren't poor. We had everything we needed. God did that. He provided!

There is so much beauty in my life. So SO much to praise God for.

I decided well into our journey of unemployment that I needed to say "Hello" to new ventures and new opportunities. I needed to look around and greet the everyday things that I once took for granted.


Hello, pretty daughters. 


Hello, all five children sitting, watching a movie, quietly.


Hello, exciting opportunity from Disney!
{more on this later}


Hello, beautiful sunshine!! We've been waiting for you to come out so we can PLAY!


Hello, sweet baby who needs a teething ring. And a drool bib.


Hello, crazy old picture of Hubs and I.
{Thank you, Donna for digging this beauty -from when we chaperoned a youth ski trip- up!}

What will you say Hello to today??

supporting my family one pouch at a time.

it's been two weeks now since hubs got laid off. every day is different. some days we're excited for what the future holds, other days we hang our heads and feel sorry for ourselves. this really is a tough situation to be in. i don't wish it on anyone.

one thing that has been constant in the last two weeks is the amount of sewing i've been doing. i have been sewing night and day...and in to the early morning hours.



for the last eight years i've been sewing for the fun of it. it started as a way to make clothing for my boys. i wanted them to wear clothes unlike every other kid on the playground. when i found that i can make a few extra bucks on ebay i started to sell online. i never made a whole bunch of money. it was only ever enough to buy a few fun things for the kids and it supported my fabric addiction. we've never relied on my sewing money to pay the electric bill or buy groceries. but, now we do.



i love what i do. what i love even more is that i can use my talents to support my family in this super scary time in our lives. what i love even more than that is that you also love what i do...and you support me in my supporting my family. you're pretty amazing.



yesterday i had a sale on instagram for a few of my pouches and some halloween totes. you guys blew me away! BLEW. ME. AWAY. you blessed my heart. you blessed my family. i don't want to sound too dramatic, but truly, because of you i will sleep a little easier tonight knowing that some bills can be paid and we'll also have food in the fridge. God is good, y'all!



my plan is to have an instasale each week. as long as you keep blessing my family i'll keep sewing.

is there something you'd like to see? what can i make for you? i'm thinking christmas stockings will make an appearance. christmas totes? what'd you think? leave me a comment telling me what i can sew for you.

hello friday

although this past week has been one of the very hardest for us it's also been full of blessings. we've been blessed with abundant prayer, kinds words from all over the internet, hugs from close friends and family, and small gifts from those who care. God is in this trying time of our lives, we know it!

this week has also been filled with lots of jonahbonah sales. praise the Lord! i've been sewing, sewing, sewing and you've been buying, buying, buying. THANK YOU! please don't stop. i'll keep sewing as long as you're buying. your purchases are helping us provide for our family. we are so grateful for you!

while it's not fun being without a job, hubs is seeing a little bit of a silver lining. he gets to see the kids more often. and he's getting to see mabry do things as a newborn that he really wasn't home for with the other kids. {we'd obviously still LOVE for him to be working...}

mabry was so alert this week. i'm beginning to see her as more of a baby than a newborn. {does that make sense? LOL}


hubs was searching the net for a job when mabry woke up from her nap. of course, she barely wimpered and he was at her crib side to hold her in his arms. this man, y'all...he loves his kids. and i love him.

this picture was taken as we were sitting together...i was at a loss for words as i was trying to write in my journal, he was snuggling with mabry while looking for a job, the breakfast dishes were still on the table. our life is a beautiful mess right now.


i could watch her sleep all.day.long.


having two daughters...it's so special. i have visions of dressing them alike one day. matching dresses and bows...christmas pictures are going to be so cute this year!


how in the world do i have an eleven-year-old? it seems like yesterday he was as teeny as mabry.


this is often nights the scene in my home. i work, she sleeps.


life with a newborn. some days you shower. some days you don't. some days you have a bajillion things to do. some days you have to put your to-do list to the side and hold your baby girl...because before you know it she'll be eleven and you won't know how in the world that happened.


did i mention this is the scene often nights in our home? {we wrote our blissfully domestic posts just like this monday and wednesday nights.}


a good friend of mine stopped by late wednesday night on her way out of town and dropped by these TOMS flags. want to place an order for a TOMS pouch?? i've got plenty! you can either convo me on etsy or email me.


i listed this cute teddy bear toy tote in my shop last night.


and i listed this yellow and aqua floral wristlet, too.

how was your week? did you do anything exciting? fun? tell me about your week. tell me something great about it!

happy friday!

jeremiah 29:11

one week ago, today, our world was rocked. we received news that blew us away. what happened on that day is every man, husband and dad's greatest fear. my husband lost his job.

for years we've watched as other families struggled to make ends meet, as the bread winner was out of work. we've prayed for them. we've helped them where we could. we've cried with them as they lost their house or their vehicles. we prayed for the needs of their children to be met. and, of course, we thought to ourselves, "i'm so glad that isn't us."

yet, now it is US.

today we pray for our own family as our bread winner is out of work. we pray that we can be blessed with enough money to keep our house. we pray for others to step in and help where they can, even if it's just saying a prayer. we pray for the needs of each of our five children to be met. and, of course, we pray this doesn't happen to anyone else.

this is a tough time. tomorrow is uncertain. however, our God is a GREAT God. He knows our future. He knows the plans He has for us. we aren't afraid. {jeremiah 29:11} i'm not gonna lie...we're terrified. BUT, we truly know that God has a plan.

after the shock of "what the heck are we going to do with no job and no income" kinda wore off last week i contacted a friend of mine on instagram asking her for ideas on how i can make a few extra dollars selling things via social media. boy, oh boy, she and God and many of YOU blew my socks off! within minutes of my sending her that email she sent out a heartfelt instagram post that had responses within seconds. people from all over the country were asking how they can help. they were letting us know that they would be praying. one girl offered to send me girl cloth diapers so that we could eliminate our diaper expenses. {we have a five week old baby} someone else suggested having an auction of donated handmade goods. {i'll be doing that in november. more details to come!}

her post ignited a fire in the hearts of lots of girls truly wanting to help. this post today is to say, "thank you!"

my family appreciates your generosity. without the love and support of so many of you we would surely be hanging our heads and questioning, "why us?" instead we have hope. we know from your stories that you've been there, too. you've told us that it'll be okay and we'll make it through to the other side. thank you!



we've had people ask how they can help beyond sending physical things and gift cards. to be honest, every dollar helps. i am burning the midnight oil and sewing every day and night to create new pouches that i am offering on my instagram feed. i also re-opened my etsy store. i would love for you to go check them out. it's a great time to buy teacher's gifts, christmas gifts, birthday gifts and more...and help me support my family the only way i know how.

from the tippy top to the very bottom of our hearts we say THANK YOU. we are grateful for YOU. without you and God we would be hopeless. but, today we are HOPEFUL!

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.