The very first post on a new blog/site is meant to introduce the author to its readers, but you guys… that just does not feel right for this space I’ve been given. I am not new to blogging and in fact I blogged almost daily for 9 years (2006-2015). I know I’m supposed to say my name (Heidi Sonboul) and tell you what I’m all about (Motherhood, family, crafts, design, losing weight…), but instead I feel compelled to share the last few years of my life and why I pulled away from blogging to take a break.
Feeling Broken
4 years ago I felt broken, lost. I wasn’t sure if I could heal myself (have you ever felt this way?). At that time I was working non stop “trying” to reach my dreams. As a results, I experienced a terrible miscarriage. I was in need of rescue and was unclear where to even start. With an overworked body and crushed spirit I pulled back from everything and I mean everything! I turned down church callings, shut down our family company, stopped blogging, pulled my babies and hubby in close, and moved from the west to the Midwest. With time I taught myself to breathe again. It was hard work. Like… REALLY HARD WORK! I had to confront myself and the things I allowed to hurt me. Business!
Path to healing
I started small and just embraced the fact that I felt broken and lost. I leaned deeply into God and our Savior, trusting that they could heal me and hold me up when I wasn’t able to stand. Worrying about my past mistakes was something I stopped doing. I stopped obsessing about what I couldn’t predict for the future. It was challenging to be in the raw moments. When I finally got my footing, it felt so freeing to embrace the real me. I stopped titling myself, just allowed me to be Heidi and stopped caring about what others thought and “if” I let them down. I became the spirited girl with big hair, who had a huge desire to share God’s love.
If I’m being honest… this post was extremely challenging for me to write, but I know it’s time. I have healed and I’m ready to share what I’ve learned with the world. I am here to testify that just because you feel broken and your family is struggling does not mean that it can’t be repaired and you should quit. God can heal all broken hearts, but you have to trust His timing. He knows you best and can see the best road ahead.
With all that said… what can you expect from this blogging site?
Tips and tricks on how to build a loving family and home. Fun and easy crafts that will actually benefit your life. My journey of becoming a healthy mama (I’m working on losing 100 lbs), budgeting and how we got out of debt, real talk when it comes to parenting, and how to keep your kids close in this challenging world we live in.
Life is such a beautiful messy gift and it can be hard to figure it all out when there isn’t a “How-To” manual. I personally know and look forward to sharing what I’ve learned along my life’s adventures. My wish is that my growing pains will help you when you are in need of something uplifting in your day. Thank you for stopping by and being a friend. It means the world to me.
Love you Heidi! You are a very talented lady, a loving wife and mother, and fun to be around! I enjoy reading your blog (s), and I miss you. Good luck in this new beginning!
First off i just happen to see one of your farmhouse videos this morning for the first time and absolutely fell in love with it. Then proceeded to subscribe you on youtube and watched a few more of your videos. I love everything farmhouse and always looking for new ideas.
Secondly the variety pack staples link to amazon says that they are no longer available on amazon. Is there a staple size you use most often in your farmhouse diy’s? Debating on which size to buy. I hot glue alot of mine and the more used ones tend to start falling apart. I used my boyfriends staple gun but the staple are too long and poke right through my project.
Thank you.
You are so wonderful!!! thank for the inspirations! Gods Blessings Always!
I didn’t follow you before but I’m glad to get to know you now. You’re a real inspiration and a real power go getter and I need more of that in my life (who doesn’t?). Getting to read your thoughts here and watch your life on Youtube are like my favorite things from v/bloggers.
Heidi, It is not easy to put yourself out their and admit you are struggling. I am so pleased with who you are the how the road you have been traveling the last 4 years has helped you become the beautiful woman you are. You are amazing! Heavenly Father has blessed you with so many talents but the most important one is compassion and empathy for others through her own personal experiences. You will touch many lives as you share your experiences on this blog. Love you more than words can express and am so pleased with who you are at this moment.
Hi Heidi I am so glad to read your testimony there is only one you and the road you walked could only be walked by you, however the Lord was always with even when you pulled back from life he never pulled back from you. He was there with you carring you on the days that you couldn’t do it yourself. The Bible tells that he knows us in the womb as he knows you Heidi and as he knows your baby you lost. It tells us he knows the numbers of hair on our head, a Father that loves us that much has plans for us, I am glad you are finding your plan. Continue to uplift and inspire and bring more lost souls to the love of Jesus Christ. Love your Sister in Christ, Cheri
So excited to see a new blog post! I know I enjoy the things that you share! Glad you are in a good place in your life again!
It is so refreshing to see your crafts and to listen to someone who gives our Lord credit for the work He does in our lives if we look to him and trust in Him. Thank you for what you do.
I really admire you for stepping up and telling the truth. I believe it’s one of biggest step to make. You blessed me just listening and ready your Blog. Hang in there, Heidi
Hi Heidi saw your u tube channel the other day and I love just about everything you create! You can tell you really love what your doing.
Your very easy to fallow along with creating your projects! I did see your lovely Valentine’s that you made this afternoon. There were three of them and the Rose heart with pearls is just very pretty and simple to do! I think I’m going to the dollar store tomorrow and make one for my front door. If it comes out good, hopefully I can send you a picture to see. Have a great day🙂 Cindy M.
Hi Sweetie, your story was so dear and sweet. I believe it has and will help others. We all need to share our stories sometimes to help others and to possible give them a little guidance to where they done feel like no one else understands. And that turning to God above all makes sure theres always some one to talk to who lives them and accepts them as they are.
I love your videos. Your enthusiasm. You bright smile and face. I adore your crafts. They are bright and airy which is what my home needs. They are easy to make. I love you showing articles that people may buy at stores and the cost then show how we can have them without out paying the ridiculous price. I do not know about you but i do like to change things around even the placement of furniture. (I have moved my bedroom around 3 times in 4 years.)
Sorry about the length of the message.
I love your videos and the message you send out with everything you do. God Bless.
Heidi hello, I first found you on your craft show and liked what you were putting out there. Your bubbly personality, welcoming smile and talent got me watching another show. The one on your weight lost journey really inspired me to watch more. I too have to stop eating sugar and loose a large amount of weight. It’s been a roller coaster of ups and downs with some health issue throne in the mix. God’s always working through people to help me and I feel drawn to your story. I applaud you for being able to put yourself out there and be so honest. I’ll be watching.
Hey Heidi, it’s Angie Miranda subscribed to your YouTube channel. This is my first time coming over to your webpage. I guess I didn’t even realize you had this being as how you have all of the other social media pages. Sorry, i guess i didn’t pay enough attention. I had no idea about most of the things you talked about above. I knew about your love for crafts of course, and your love for our Savior. Your testimony, i knew nothing about. I never would have known that you had suffered such horrible pain had I not have read this. It just doesn’t show at all, you are always so happy on camera. The Bible says that our Joy comes from the Lord. I’m guessing that’s where, and how you got it back. I just wanted to tell you that I am truly sorry for your loss. I’m happy though that God healed you! I too know that He still heals just as He did when He was here on earth back in the Bible days. He touched my body, and healed me. He has also delivered me as well. He has blessed me abundantly when i didn’t deserve it. Yet I’m very thankful! I won’t keep you, I just read that and wanted to say a little something, let ya know that I stopped by. I admire you for all that you do! I’m proud of you for not giving up 😊. Take care my sweet friend. I will talk to you again soon. Hugs 🤗 💗
I want to Thank you for your wonderful and uplifting testimony. Who would have thought, that beautiful, cheery Heidi had been through so much but is still able to bring so much joy into other people’s lives. GOD is good ❤ I am so greatful that you have been healed and are here teaching others through your words. I feel blessed this morning, as I read this. I needed to hear those words. So thank you ❤ oh, and I love your crafting ideas, continue the amazing work.
I love watching you craft.im disabled, and watching you every day sure makes my time go by faster.im commenting on the cricket hot iron you are giving away.i would love to win it,,because I have never won anything, lol. Thank you so much for getting me through each day.GOD BLESS YOU
The circuit iron..
May our Lord continue to bless you and keep you close. I am so happy you have come through the dark place in your life. God gave you the strength to be who you are today am I am happy for you. Wishing you continued strength, Geraldine Self.
I just came across an almost 3-hour long video of farmhouse diys. I watched the whole thing. I loved every project. I’m so glad to have come across your website. I found a dear sister in Christ.
You are incredibly talented and are an inspiration to others. I pray that you are continuously leaning on God and enjoying your life and family.
thank you for sharing this amazing post
Although I appreciate your desire to decorate and teach decorating on the “cheap”. It isn’t cheap for them. The Dollar Store gets most of its product from China. China dumps its garbage or bilge, all the way here and back times 10,000 in the ocean.
It isn’t fair to decorate our homes, while we destroy the homes of whales, dolphins and sea turtles…all sentient. Please find a way that uses renewable, US resources…You’re smart and creative. You can do it.
I found your website from your U-tube videos. I just finished you Friday Friends Hop and wanted to know more about you because you were so encouraging to me in what you said about what if next year is no better than this year. I had not thought of that or prepared myself for that possibility. I cam to your website and I just read A New Chapter that you wrote. You are a very good writer! What a beautiful testimony you have shared. You came out of a very dark place that was what I call the “ in-between”. Many of us go through the dark in between in life and if we can trust in God and cling to Jesus during that dark and rough time he brings us through to a more beautiful place. I often think of the children of Israel. They were at the “in-between” when they were in the desert for 40 years. Eventually they got to the Promised Land. I love what you wrote. It was very encouraging to me. I feel like I am in the dark in-between right now in my life. I am trying to trust Gid and cling to his promises. Prayer journaling seems to help me stay focused on God and the blessings I do have in my life. Thanks for sharing your story, A New Chapter, so that I could receive a blessing and encouragement from it today. Joan
Hi Heidi, I think we share our religion and I live in Irvine, CA ( the west) and no matter how hard you try life happens: I have 4 children (and there spouses) and 16 grand children that I in my prayers everyday. My oldest grandchild (20) is severely handicapped, my next one has crones and I worry about the teenagers with lack of socializing in this COVID times. Our youngest daughter suffers from postpartum depression and also had a horrible miscarriage. When I write it, it sounds like a lot but we are a happy and generally healthy family. Your videos are so soothing and you are so talented that you encourage us to work on our talents. I have always quilted, and home sewing, and crafts. Such a good way to share with others. This is a wonderful way to share yourself with us, Best wishes in all you do!
Hi Heidi
I’m so glad that I found your site you are so pleasant to watch and I love all the diy’s you make. This Friday I watches your videos and I just fell in love with the candles you made so now I’m going to try my hand to make them. Thank you so much for all your help keep up the good work.
Wow thanks for sharing. It is amazing how God works in our lives and sends us such beautiful blessings from the least expected places. I have been watching your videos on you tube and never dreamed it would turn out to be one of those blessings. I look forward to what God has in store for your future. God bless.
Heidy, God has helped you, guided you, saved you, loved you, forgive you, he has made you who you are today; because, you are amazing!!! I can see that 😊
He will continue using you, caring for you, and blessing you for all the love and all the faith that you put in him. We all have make mistakes, we all have been down but only God can brings us up. Thanks for sharing your story, now we can learn from you, we can get inspired and even change our lives for ever like you did. We learned that we are humans and we are lost until we find God, and yes, he is our light, our future and savior. We can only successed, be happy and love again if we only believe.
I watch your youtube videos everyday I am obsessed and I love farmhouse style, but what I love the most is that you are doing an amazing job spreading the love of God and what he can do to help our lives. 🙏 God bless you!
Oooh Heidi I’m a quiet person been watching you for a long time and others I’m going to b 60 soon and disabled but I’m on FB and well was in a group and the lady’s were upset not seeing any or much crafting in a site/post for Dollar Tree Crafys so I dropped Your name and well they should be looking you up soon there’s at least 4 or 5…. maybe alot more but I wanted to send this to you Blessing oooh and I told them your a 4th generation of craftyers🧡😊💕 and your 4yr old is getting involved now also so much Love in Crafting, and Life, Stay Healthy and Safe …… From Lisa
Hope you received my message of sending a group of Upset Ladys from FB Your way! In a Dollar Tree Craft Site, post group on FB but More Drama then Actual crafting showing so they should be showing up told them your4th generation and little daughter coming up behind you💕😊🧡
I am very impressed with your dyi’s. You are very good. Great ideals. I worked in a flower shop for 25 years. I have not seen anyone that could hold a candle to you. LOL. Keep up the great work.
I’m wanting to order one of your heart kits but am having a hard time locating where to do this. Please help!!
Heidi, after I watched you for the first time, I was hooked. You are so talented and I can tell that you love what you do. May God continue leading you on your journey. Bless you and your family.
Heidi,
Where are you? Praying you are okay…it’s been a few months since you posted anything on You Tube and I miss you! You have always brought so much light to everyone and there is a definite void without you! Hope all is well with you, your hubby and the family. May the Lord keep you in His tender care now and always. Hugs!