I hope you’ll humor me and imagine we’ve bumped into one another at the sweetest of coffee shops on one of those rare “mom’s out alone” type afternoons— a crisp, but sunny, autumn day— and I’ve had the opportunity to introduce myself to you.

I’m Ashley, wife of Thomas, and mom of two boys, two years and under, Jesse and Todd.

Our first few years of marriage, Thomas and I were both teachers, actually teaching together at the same middle school when I became pregnant with our first little one. The start of that school year, I had just completed my Master’s Degree in what I thought was the field of my dreams, English as a Second Language (and had just started paying for it, too), and that’s when I felt the strongest sense that I was meant to— that I was designed to— hold down the fort at home and raise our children, disciple our children.

But let’s talk practicalities, let’s talk numbers. It didn’t make good financial sense in the least. I was bringing in roughly half our income at that time. Were we to go that route, well, let’s just say those numbers wouldn’t add up. We went through our budget multiple times, canceling services, reducing the “out to eat” category, but we knew we’d be pinching pennies for the foreseeable future.

Regardless, the conviction not only remained, but it grew stronger.

So I did the scary thing and told my principal I wouldn’t be returning the following year and cut off that steady, reliable paycheck without any “work from home” back-up plan other than to pinch those pennies, choosing to believe all the while, “it would all work out because it always does.”

That’s at least what wise, older woman after wise, older woman told me anytime I mentioned this “crazy” idea that I might quit my job.

Long story short, about 1.5 years into my journey on the homefront of motherhood, we were feeling the financial strain. One morning, Thomas was talking to God about our financial struggles, and that afternoon, my pastor reached out and said they were creating a part-time position at our church, work hours only being those when we’d be there already anyways, and they wanted me to consider it before they posted it. The paycheck would be more than enough to cover our need at the time. I wasn’t seeking it, but God knew. It works out; it always does.

Here we are, a year + another kid later, and both had the sense we needed to find an additional stream of income.

Never in 6782 years would I have ever pictured myself owning a business. Well one seemingly random night, normal as can be, Thomas was already drifting off and I was trying to, and God started dropping ideas for t-shirts in my head one at a time. As they formed a mental pile, and I had to get up and grab a stack of sticky notes. Each sticky note became a t-shirt idea. That next morning, he dropped the company name in my head. Marketing ideas, ways to reach moms, one after another, filled my mind. I wasn’t seeking it, but God knew. It works out; it always does.

I never would’ve thought I’d have a passion for “business,” but I’ve always had a passion for *moms,* and for encouraging and inspiring moms, and for helping moms to feel their best, for pointing them to Jesus, and I get to do all of that right here, making pieces that I hope can serve you, mama, in some small way or another.

You’re seen, you’re loved, and you’re empowered by the Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Designer and Instituter of the Family to thrive in your role as wife and mother. Now let’s do this thing together.