Sewing For Pleasure and Not For Profit.

 For the last few weeks, I have struggled to sew for my scrunchy and scrunchy barrette business. Hubby and I have had a few rough weeks with some health issues, but even on the days when I had the time and energy to sew, I avoided it. Then finally this Saturday morning, I was trying to build a website to sell my scrunches and scrunchy barrettes. I was feeling stressed. Hubby came and asked me a question, and I lost it. I yelled a few unnecessary things. Bless my husband, I think I married a saint. After apologizing, it occurred to me that I had no desire to run a business. I don't want to worry about inventory and everything else. I just want to sew, so that's what I'm going to do. Yes, you could make the argument that I could hire someone to take care of the business side of things, and I could enjoy sewing, but I don't want to do that nor could I afford it.

I don't need or want to work more than 40 hours a week. I want to come home from work and enjoy my family and my hobbies. I'm learning to stop trying to take my hobbies that could be used for profit (sewing and photography) and simply enjoy them and if the opportunity arises, make a few bucks and bless others with them.

I made the decision around lunchtime on Saturday and since then have done more sewing than I did for weeks. I made two pillowcases for hubby and me on Saturday evening. We needed new pillows and pillowcases but Walmart didn't have any pillowcases in the right colours we wanted. So I bought a twin-size flat sheet and made pillowcases. I also made a pen holder for my journal but it didn't turn out, so I made a new one to replace it on Sunday and then made an additional one on Monday. I also made myself another scrunchy, because why not, and because I have cute fabric. Lastly, on Monday, I made a protective sleeve for my book when it rides in my purse. I also have a list of other things that I want to sew over the next little bit.

Since making my decision on Saturday, I looked at my hubby several times and said how happy I was, and am about my decision to no longer sell scrunchies, scrunchie barrette clips and other homemade goods. It was fun in the beginning and I did make a few dollars of profit, but now it's time to sew for pleasure and not for profit. Thank you to my customers for supporting my little business. You are a blessing.

Not everything is about money. God blesses us with skills and talents. Some of which will be used to provide for your family's needs and others will be for your pleasure and to bless those around you. For me, sewing will be for my pleasure and to bless others. I'm going to maintain my social media pages because it's fun to post about my latest sewing projects and encourage others. A friend of mine posted about their sewing project a year ago and it was part of my inspiration to get back into sewing. So I too will post about mine for pleasure and inspiration.

God Bless

~Hannah

It's Okay To Not Have Or Want Children.

    The topic of children has been a sensitive topic in our home since day one. We have flip-flopped between wanting and not wanting them. We have always known that logistically we are not ready to have children. We have also known for years that we were not mature enough to have them. Hubby is now mature enough, but I still have some growth to tackle.

    We brought Blessing home five years ago and love being her parents. In many ways, she is our kid and has helped show us what our parenting styles will be when we have children. I've wanted to be a mother since I was a little girl, and Blessing has done a beautiful job of playing the role of my little girl.

    Recently, hubby and I have had a few opportunities to go out for a day or afternoon and enjoy time together simply as a married couple and not as a family/parents to Blessing. It has been a blessing to go out with just the two of us and enjoy being husband and wife, for the first number of years of our marriage things were rough. We were young and had lots of growing up to do, so we didn't enjoy our marriage. Fast forward a few years, we both grew up and worked through some therapy and here we are now. I am heading back into therapy this fall and will continue working on my problems, including more growing up. We are now more in love than ever and enjoying our marriage. Yes, like every couple, we still have our bad days.

    One of our recent hesitations in having children has been the coming of the end times. Mark 13:17 "How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant woman and nursing mothers!" In Mark chapter 13, Jesus is talking to his disciples about the end times and what will happen. Hubby and I believe the end times are on their way and thus are hesitant to have children. It will still be a few years before we have them anyway because hubby is returning to school next year and I will continue working while he is in school, so kids do not make sense.

    Last Sunday on our drive to church I told hubby that I was not ready to have kids. I'm the one who has done the most pushing on this topic from day one. And like I mentioned earlier, I've wanted to be a mom since I was five. So for me to say that I'm not ready is a big deal. Hubby breathed a sigh of relief when I told him. Because even though he now wants kids, he doesn't feel that it's right to have them in the end times but didn't want to get my hopes up and then knock them back down again. My reasoning for not wanting them at this time is that we have been enjoying our time together as husband and wife and I don't want to add to that. By no means am I saying that children are a burden or anything. They are a blessing and a gift from God. But they are still not for everyone.

    The reason why I am sharing this is to encourage young women and maybe a few young men (based on my knowledge of who reads my blog) that it's okay to not want children. Society puts a lot of pressure on young people and women especially to have children. As soon as you get married you are expected to have children. And if God has put that desire on your heart that is wonderful. But if He hasn't. God bless you too. Or if you want them but you know it's not the right time, that's cool too. But it's okay to get married and enjoy your life together. Whether that be for a few years or forever. There is no guilt or shame in not having children. Or in not wanting them. I used to be the woman who would get jealous and cry whenever a woman announced a pregnancy. I have since grown in that area and now get excited and sometimes shed a tear of joy for that woman when she announces her pregnancy.

    Anyways, ladies. I want to encourage you that it's okay to either not want children now or maybe even ever. You are not alone. Also, when people ask you when you are going to start your family, tell them you did, on your wedding day. Children don't make you a family, your marriage license and covenant with God makes you a family. Children are simply adding to the family. I love you and am praying for you.

I pray this message encourages and blesses you today friend.

God Bless

~Hannah