I wanted to take the time, today, to share with you where I am on my journey, as a Mompreneur.

You see, when I started this blog, I wanted to create a place where Moms (all women) could gather, find solace, connect with inspiration, and leave prepared for their personal journeys. (Sounds rather lofty doesn’t it? LOL)

However, in all of that I feel it is so important for me to share with you where I am, in my journey and the steps I am taking, my pitfalls (and how you can avoid them), and my triumphs.

So here’s more about me and where I am and where I believe the Lord is leading me…

1. Right now, I am a local Educator. I serve in a Middle School as a curriculum coordinator. Before this I was a high school mathematics teacher for about 6 years.

Though, I’m no longer in the classroom, I get to impact students’ lives and achievements, by working closely with their teachers. This is my first year in this role. It has been quite a challenge, yet quite enjoyable! I’ve learned so much about myself, teaching styles, and other content areas.

My deepest desire to be able to homeschool our children. I do believe there are some PHENOMENAL educators out there who are doing a wonderful job…My hat’s off to them! :)

However, I keep having this inner tug and longing to homeschool our children. There’s so much more that I desire for them. Much of which public or private school education simply and merely cannot provide. 

2. Sometime right after Christmas break (December 2011 – January 2012) I began to feel this overwhelming desire to stay home with our children. Now not to confuse this with the usual I’ve-had-entirely-too-much-fun-during-Christmas-Break feeling, that all of us educators get. (I think it’s worse right after Spring Break! LOL).

This was different…

I couldn’t quite put it into words at the time, but I knew that this feeling and desire I was having, for my children and our home was different.

What I mean by different is this, these desires and feelings were something that I never, ever thought I’d have. It seemed so “unnatural.”

Me? A stay at home Mom?

How so 1950′s…Stepford Wife-ish!

I shared some of my feelings with the Hubs. He’s so gracious, he just let me figure it out. :)

I soon discovered that these desires weren’t going anywhere. I longed for something that was and truly is natural for women.

It’s the way God designed us…

But what to do with the desire and my reality?

 

3. As I’ve mentioned before, my husband is a Chemistry Major at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

Back in April 2009, when I was 5 months pregnant with Prince (Michael, III), he was laid off from his job.

Could you imagine the tailspin?

That same week, I had an appointment with my new Cardiologist. He was an older, refined African-American gentlemen. Kind of reminded me of Harry Belafonte. :)

At this appointment (as with all of them), the Hubs was very inquistive with the medical aspect of things. He asked questions, was very attentive, and desired more knowledge of the check-up. Midway through, the Doctor asked the Hubs,

“Are you in the Medical field?”

The Hubs told him he was not, but that he had a desire to be a doctor all of his life. The Doctor wanted to know why he hadn’t pursued it. The Hubs didn’t have much of a response, so I chimed in…

“Doctor, he thinks he’s too old.”

The Doctor stopped what he was doing and looked my Man square in the eyes and said…

“You’re never, ever too old to do something. If you want to become a Doctor, go for it! Don’t allow your dream, be someone else’s dream for you.”

With that, we moved forward.

He was 33 years old, at the time.

Those words sparked the dying embers, in my Husbands heart. All of a sudden his eyes lit up and his heart began to sing. What should have broken him (a layoff), turned into him being able to pursue a deep passion.

You see, the very first conversation we had, prior to our first date, was the What-Do-You-Want-To-Be-When-You-Grow-Up conversation. Do you know what he said to me?

…A Doctor.

At the time, I told him to go for it! But he reasoned his way out of it because he felt he had too many other responsibilities to take care of that required his time, his resources, his attention.

Initially, he went to school full time while working a part-time job at Wal-Mart. However, the demands of school and the later conflicting course schedules to fit in 3, 4, sometimes 5-hour Labs were entirely too overwhelming.

Instead of him giving up his dream, I made the committment to him and our family that I would work while he finished his degree and went on to Medical School. Our only promise was this…

…That he would try his best and make the most of his opportunity.

This will be his first degree.

This is majorly important to our family.

The wonderful thing is that our children get to see their Dad go to college and work really hard and achieving his calling. It’s making a HUGE impact on their lives!

Now granted, this hasn’t been without some struggles, sacrifices, and growing pains. There have certainly been some lean times.

We’ve had 2 babies in 20 months (for a total of 4 boys). Our last child was in the NICU for 2 weeks fighting for his precious life.

At a time when many couples our age are buying homes, cars, vacationing, traveling, dining out. We’ve had to “trim the fat,” recommit to our lives to God and each other, and really dig in deep…

…way deep.

But through this process, we’ve grown so close and learned what really matters most to us…

…our Faith and our Family :)

The Hubs works, as a Research Assistant, with a few professors on campus. It has been a tremendous blessing to him and our family! In many ways it’s given him a since of pride to know that he’s contributing to our home, while pursuing his dream.

So, in my desire to come home and be a Mom and Wife, I remember my promise to my husband and family and realize the significance of this promise. But what am I to do with my desires?

 

 

4. That brings me to AngelicaKimberly!

This is the place where I’m taking my first step…

The idea of having a home-based business that would allow me to fulfill this deep desire and earn an income that would allow us to maintain a healthy, moderate standard of living, is priceless to me!

I was blessed to work for a female Architect in Greensboro, NC, while in college. Her name is Lolalisa D. King. At the time, she was one of my first college professors and her class kicked our butts and kept us up nights, just trying to get an A. This was a 1-credit hour class – mind you!

She’s one of those professors who leaves such an impression on your life. Of course at the time, we didn’t know it…

She ran her business from her home and was extremely successful! This experience not only exposed me to the possibilities of home-based business ownership, it also let me know that the Lord can allow us women to fulfill those desires and still contribute to our households, if we so desire.

I am forever grateful to her, her openness, her honesty, her life, her business…just everything! I continue to be blessed by those experiences many years ago.

As a result, I am opening my own home-based business!

I am currently working on several products that will be available by Summer’s end. This experience is allowing my creative genius to flow (again) and use my business savvy to create the lifestyle of my dreams!

At the moment, I am in the product development stage. I have a focus group that is reviewing each product, giving honest feedback, and providing additional support to my vision and dreams, for this new business.

I am truly grateful for them!

This is where I am on my journey…

I don’t usually write so long.

(Please forgive me.)

But I felt like you needed to know more about me, why I do what I do, and know that you have a true companion, as you journey through Mompreneurship.  

AngelicaKimberly is for you…and for me.

You get a sneak peek, inside look at my life and how I’m taking my God-given talents and turning them into a beautiful life.

I get the benefit of having a place where I can share, vent, and express myself naturally and freely. 

Plus this becomes a place of accountability.

Because I know you, Ladies, are watching, learning, and growing alongside me. So I have no choice but to be open, honest, and live my life according to the Lord.

We need eachother. :)

I desire success, freedom, and lots of creativity for each of you, Ladies! ♥

So please feel free to reach out.

When you are ready, I’m available to help you along the way.

I pray you find something here that’s inspiring, thought provoking, or impacting for you and/or your business.

If there’s something you’d like to see more of (or less of) please tell me that too, ok?

After all I’ve designed this place for you and me to share, learn, and grow!

Let’s take take this first step together…

So where are you, on your Journey?

Are you just starting out?

Are you a veteran Mompreneur with lots of experience and tips?

Share your story! :)

Please comment below…

Dance with the King!

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