Moms, Want More Time & Money? Here’s How I Built a Business While Raising Two Kids
Faith, Family & Finding My Way
In June 2017, I stood at the altar, hands intertwined with my soon-to-be husband. We were young, hopeful, and ready to step into the adventure of marriage with full hearts and big dreams. What we didn’t know was just how much life would shape us in ways we never expected.
Fast forward a few years, and our story took an unexpected turn. In December 2021, as the world grappled with uncertainty, our family was growing. The start of a new season, both beautiful and challenging, is unfolding before us. Now, four years later, I sit in our home with two of the greatest gifts God has ever given us—our joyful, wide-eyed three-year-old daughter, Gabby (short for Gabriella), and our sweet, adventurous 22-month-old baby boy, Jacob. My husband is away, serving in the Navy, while I navigate the beautiful yet demanding journey of motherhood, balancing the responsibilities of managing multiple businesses with a revenue of $500K and leading a dedicated team of two full-time employees. Through it all, the ever-present pull of my creative dreams remains strong, and I hold fast to the belief that God is shaping this season in ways I cannot yet see—but trust completely.
Some days feel like a whirlwind—full of diapers, deadlines, and deep prayers whispered into the quiet of night. I wonder: How do I raise my children in faith? How do I balance everything without losing myself in the process? Where do I find God’s direction when life feels uncertain?
But then I remember: God has already equipped me for this journey.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” — Proverbs 3:5-6
So I choose to trust. To surrender. To believe that even in the chaos, His divine plan is unfolding.
This blog is where I process it all—the joy, the struggles, the lessons, and the laughter. A place where faith, family, and creativity meet.
When I started my Shopify store in 2019, it wasn’t some grand business plan. I wasn’t thinking, This is my ticket to financial freedom. No—I was thinking, I just want to make some money on the weekends and stop overworking for an ungrateful corporation. The whole process was just a creative outlet—something to distract me from the crushing exhaustion of an 80-hour workweek and the gut-wrenching sight of negative $127 in our bank account.
Night after night, my husband and I came home from our draining 9–10-hour shifts, ate dinner, and worked until 2 or 3 a.m., only to wake up and do it all again the next day. And after all that? A yearly review stamped with a cold “Meets Expectations.” That was it. No real recognition. No appreciation. No breakthrough.
That was the moment I broke.
I decided that this would be the day I stopped being the workaholic employee (more on this in later posts). I freed up my nights and weekends and did something radically different—I started searching YouTube and Google for ways to make an extra $1,000 a month from home.
After many trials—candle making, a T-shirt print shop, an Etsy store, even selling on eBay—I kept searching, kept hoping, kept believing there had to be something more. Each venture taught me something, but none felt like the breakthrough I needed.
And then, I saw it—my way out! And then, I saw it—my way out! Shopify. (No, I’m not an affiliate; I don’t make money from promoting them—please, get that out of your head! You are blocking your own blessing if you think that.)
Is Shopify right for you maybe not…This was just my boat.
Yours could be YouTube, Etsy, or any other online platform. Find your boat! When you have an open mind and a willingness to try, God will guide you.
I promised myself that at some point in the amazing journey, I would find the time, the energy, and the will to share my journey. (I am selling my course, but this is not the place). My hope is that someday, another mom will read my story and realize that “this too can be my future.“
Because the moment you decide to step out in faith, trust God’s guidance, and claim the life He’s calling you to—everything changes.
Because there is nothing more freeing, more faith-filled, or more life-changing than watching the right hand of God elevate your bank account on a daily basis.
Decompress & Reflect
This section is for you—a sacred pause amid the busyness. Life moves fast, and sometimes we don’t even realize how much we’re carrying. So take a deep breath, and let’s reflect together.
Ask yourself:
- What’s been heavy on my heart lately?
- Where do I need to surrender control and lean into God’s guidance?
- What small joy has God given me today?
- Am I walking in faith—or letting fear dictate my steps?
If you feel led, grab a journal, whisper a prayer, or simply breathe in this moment. You are not alone on this journey. We are in this together.
Let’s walk this road together, leaning into grace, embracing the unknown, and remembering that God is always faithful.
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Written by Mary Johnson — for privacy and security, I write under my pen name.
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