Pursuing Her Passion:: Jessi of Suzie Studios

Today I'm sharing a very special gal with all of you. She's very near and dear to my heart, and I'm blessed to call her one of my closest "in real life" friends. I'm sure you've seen bits of her on my blog throughout our Mommy's Time Out series, or you've found her beautiful shop from my handmade posts. Jessi is an amazing wife, mother, and friend, and I'm so excited to have her contribute to my series this week. My prayer is that you are inspired and encouraged by Jessi's story of pursuing her passion:

"I've heard it said, "If you want to find what makes you come alive, look back to how you played as a child."

When I look back, through my memories and the stories I hear...

I see a little girl all covered in glitter and glue.

I hear a little girl telling stories to anyone who would listen, talking a mile a minute with so much to share.

I remember a little girl concerned about the stuffed animals that were being left out, wanting them all to feel love.

I see a love to create, a deep love for others and a desire to tell stories and share life. I wouldn't have been able to describe it that way when I was young, but that is the little girl I see.

Somewhere along the way I lost sight of that little girl. The voices of the world and a desire to please others took the most simple and innate parts of who I am and pushed them aside. They were always there but something was keeping me from fully tapping into them, from fully understanding who I am.

In many ways my 20's has been a search to find her again, a journey of rediscovering the core of who I am so that I can fully "Pursue my Passion".

I remember rediscovering the little girl covered in glitter.

It was the winter of 2010. I was newly married to an incredible man and living in Denver, Colorado. I had left my home, my family, my friends, my ministry to join my life with his. He had asked me if there was anything I had ever wanted to pursue but was afraid to. If there was, he wanted me to pursue it. So I began a photography business (Suzie Photography) and shortly after I began making jewelry for a friend's boutique (Suzie Couture). I loved it. A part of me came alive when I began to rediscover my passion to create!

I remember rediscovering the little girl who had so many stories to tell.

In the summer of 2006 I was sitting on a beach in New Jersey across from a young girl who was sharing her story of loss and heartache. With my heart aching and tears in my eyes I got to share a story of hope with her. I saw her life change that day, and I saw my heart come alive. I rediscovered my passion for sharing His story, for sharing my story, for sharing life.

I remember rediscovering the little girl with a deep desire to love.

I will never forget October 9, 2011, the first time I saw my baby girl, the day I became a mommy! On one hand I rediscovered my deep desire to love, but it was so much more than that. A new part of me was born that day - an ability to love like I didn't even know was possible. This is a new chapter in my story.

I'm Jessi and this is what it means for me to pursue my passion. Finding those things that make me come alive and chasing after them. I love being a wife and mom- these are the roles that define my life. I love to create- I love being inspired and inspiring others to create beauty in their lives. I love sharing life with others, I want to share the story God has given me to share and I want to invite others to share theirs. I want to see God knit hearts together and know that thru authenticity and vulnerability He will do just that.

Its from this place that I write.

Suzie Studios began as a place for me to share my passion to create. 

It has become a place for me to share life.

Whether it's projects around our home, recipes or stories of how God is at work in my heart or in our lives I love using this platform to share life with you." - Jessi

Thanks so much for sharing your story with us, Jessi!

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