The heart behind Plains + Simple

First things first.

Why Plains + Simple? I was born & raised in the Great Plains. The place where trees have to be planted & the grass has waves like the ocean. The place where you can see the next town over by looking for the water tower on the horizon line. It's a place where things feel a little quieter, where you have time to think & the simple life is just so, so good. Plains + Simple is just that, keeping life simply beautiful for our mind, body + soul.

I graduated Cum Laude from UNK with a Bachelors in Visual Communication & Design. I worked for several design firms across the country, doing exciting projects with exciting clients. I loved being a designer, it was the perfect mixture of creativity, dreaming, and problem solving all mixed up into one. I married a man that God had picked out for me (that’s another story to be shared later). After moving several times for my husband’s career, we eventually left sunny California and headed back to Nebraska. I was 8 months pregnant and soon a new chapter started in our lives. I became a mom.

It is the most wonderful gift in life to be blessed with a child. I loved being a mom so much I quickly declared that we should have at least 4 babies! I kept up both work and full-time motherhood. After our 3rd baby in 4 years came along, I physically couldn't keep up with both anymore. And after a not so subtle wake up call from the Lord (more on this later). I took a huge step back from doing the work I loved and focused 100% on raising my babies. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:” Ecc 3:1 I loved spending every moment with them. Being able to witness every little win and big milestone in their lives. Being the recipient of all the hugs, cuddles, kisses, tears, joys and sorrows that come with the responsibility of motherhood.

This mom is standing in her bright kitchen in front of the sink with 2 gratitude bottles. I'm sure she's smiling because the kitchen is clean.

The gift of motherhood brought wonderful people in my life and a need for Jesus that I never felt before. As my children have grown, I have grown in my faith, I have felt something calling for me. Like Samuel, I felt like the Lord was calling me to use my gifts for the good of His kingdom. I had done plenty of pro-bono design work, but this was different. God used some pivotal people to plant seeds in my heart. Seeds that took years before he brought them to mind again. During good and hard times of motherhood, He pointed me to His word. And very clearly one day, I heard Him and I knew what I was supposed to do. I believe that God has called me to this and it is my responsibility to respond, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."