Tag: fun

Chronicles of a SAHM, Lavender Fields Creations, Saving Money

Unexpected Surprises

Sonja Hollis

I have been struggling to find the perfect fit when it comes to finding part-time, work from home employment.  For me, it is much easier to find employment in a brick and mortar business and just as easy to find part time, but looking for a flexible, permanent, part-time, work-from-home job – has not proven an easy task for me.

I need flexibility because I invest so much of my time into my children and their activities.  In addition, I have to make accommodations due to my disability.  I can’t lift heavy things or sit/stand for long periods. I also cannot be outside in extreme weather- so yeah – my opportunities are limited.

I have continued to focus on growing my own business during my job search however, by making jewelry, painting, and writing.  It can be so disheartening when the money just doesn’t come in fast enough.  I try not to get discouraged, because I still get a pension check and of course, my husband – but it’s nothing like working to get what you want. Sometimes, I break down and allow myself to cry but then I pick myself right back up and pray and work as hard as I can.  I am researching new ways to “enlarge my territory”  and finding new networking opportunities to increase the traffic to my store, Lfieldscreations.etsy.com.

My husband, having seen me trying as hard as I could for additional employment and working hard every day to create items for my store, did something I was not expecting.  It happened on the day where I was about to break down again but instead prayed and asked the Lord for guidance because I wanted to make sure that what I was doing was what God wanted me to do.  Then, I received an email copy from my husband:

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Cricut Maker -Everything Rose Bundle

It was letting me know that “my” Cricut Maker was on the way!  I cried like a baby! I mean – ugly cried.  To have someone believe in me and support me in the ways that he has shown me – setting up both my business and crafting offices, installing a landline, and now buying a Cricut! I am so grateful and excited! This is confirmation for me.  I have been watching Youtube videos and writing notes preparing myself for the day that I could afford it.  I wanted to be ready to go whenever I got it.  My friend Sarah and I talked about it all the time about what we would do when one of us got one…and now I do.  I can’t wait to start our craft days.

God is so good and His goodness knows no limits. I give Him all the glory.   Love yall.

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Chronicles of a SAHM

Why Can’t We Be Friends?

Sonja Hollis

I was having the conversation at the studio the other day with some of the dance parents about how our kids love to hug each other.  Whenever they see each other, it’s like they haven’t seen each other in years.  They can’t stop hugging, holding hands and giggling but they’ve only known each other for a few months.  One parent told me that hugging isn’t even allowed at her daughter’s school – because touching others is not permitted.

It hit me and the other parents simultaneously.  Why can’t adults do the same thing?  Why can’t we just go up to people who look interesting and ask them to be our friends?  Our kids do it all the time and it works.  We have so many hang ups and prejudices and misconceptions about people we don’t even know. I’m sure we’ve missed out on so many possible friendships by being afraid of the unknown.  When did that end? IMG-7439

My daughter entered preschool two years ago and met the most amazing little girl.  They are “besties” to this day.  Although they now go to separate schools, they keep in touch by phone, Facetime, with play dates and Girl Scouts. The friendship is so pure and innocent. 

I was also blessed with a friend because by our daughters becoming so close, her mom and I have established an amazing friendship.  They’re part of our family. I don’t believe I would have met her otherwise, which is sad. However, I’m thankful to know her and her family. IMG-8087

So now, I plan to be more open to speaking with people in the airport, at the grocery store or at my daughter’s activities because I never know what type of interesting people I may be missing out on.  Now, my quest for you today is to go out and make a new friend. 

The world needs more love.

Chronicles of a SAHM

I Need a Better Hiding Place

Sonja Hollis

Stay-at-Home-Moms (SAHMs) typically look forward to the end of the day, when every one and every thing is quiet. That’s when we go to our hiding place. My hiding place happens to be my bathroom. I can close the door and think, or dream, or beautify, or just sit quietly and meditate.

Recently however, my hiding place has become no longer that. It has been compromised. This is what has been happening lately:

As I’m sitting on my vanity chair, I hear from a distance, “Mommm.” It’s my five year old daughter. She should be sleep, but has decided that finding out my location is a top priority- as I had not received clearance from her to disappear. I know she’s coming, so I sit as still and stay as quiet as I can.

“Mommmm. Dad, where’s mom?” I listen for his response, because of course, he’s got my back – I am he, he is me. We are one. And of course, he knows it’s after her bedtime and he needs to direct her to go back to her room and go to bed. But no. He tells her my exact location. “She’s in the bathroom.”

Snitch.

So, now I hear footsteps coming closer to the door. “Mom, are you in there?”

No response from me…I’m hiding.

“Mom, are you in there?”

“Yes. What do you want?”

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing. What do you want?”

“Are you on the potty?”

“Sure. What do you want?”

“Did you have to boo boo?”

“WHAT DO YOU WANT?”

“Are you mad?”

Face palm. “Omg. What do you want? I’m in the bathroom. I’ll be out in a minute.”

“Can you put on my band-aid?”

“SERIOUSLY? GO ASK YOUR DAD!”

Now, I’m rushing through the shower just so I can place my hands around my husband’s neck. He heard all of this, but didn’t rush to help me (or her for that matter). I love my kids with my entire heart, but I definitely need a new hiding place.

Chronicles of a SAHM

Nostalgia

Sonja Hollis

I was making a hot dog for my daughter, when I turned and looked at this bag with one hot dog bun left in it.  It brought back a wave of nostalgia that I haven’t experienced in a while.  It reminded me of backyard parties and picnics at the local parks with opened pop cans overturned on the table and half eaten hamburgers and potato chips left on a plate.  I remembered my uncle cooking over an open flame charcoal pit with a beer can close by (for seasoning *wink wink*), playing volleyball with a net that had missing strings, kids running around tossing water balloons and screaming loud enough to “raise the dead” my mom would say; bees flying over head and ants crawling on the table looking for an uneaten morsel of food.  Wow. Good times.

But it was just a hot dog bag.