A Family Affair

Mike and I have a marriage based on a deep commitment to and close friendship with one another. We relish our time together. As God added children to our family, we began including them in the merriment. Our family of five enjoys “playing” together – games, movies, vacations, being silly, and more!

Recently, we undertook a project and began a family business, of sorts. It occurred quite unexpectedly and is likely temporary. Yet our time working together has been both memorable and fun.

Our product? Survival bands! Mike discovered how to make these trendy, yet practical accessories and surprised the boys by making them their very own. Within days, a camouflage with pink trim paracord band was added to my jewelry collection.

As we began wearing our bands, others started asking us about them. Their sporty appearance combined with their unique ability to be untied and used in emergency situations appealed to a wide variety of people. After multiple requests for Mike to make and sell the bands, our family business began.

The boys, eager to help, soon learned the trade from their daddy and also went to work.


With the growing popularity of the bands, we decided to enter the local craft and bake sale at the school where Mike is employed. What fun we had working together as we prepared for the show!

Mike and the boys spent several Saturdays preparing by manufacturing bands in all sorts of colors, styles, and sizes.

Mike burned together the scraps for Zachary, who used them to make less expensive “mixed” bands. Our youngest son also designed pop-tab bands and coffee coasters (made from a weaving loom my mom sent to him) to complete “Zachary’s Corner” of the craft show table.


I worked on flyers, signs, and advertising. Our efforts were truly a family affair!

As we enthusiastically anticipated the show, we also cautioned the boys that the results were not in our hands. While we had sold quite a few bands already, the customers at the show might be uninterested.

We encouraged the boys to recognize the numerous benefits we had already experienced, such as our prior sales. Moreover, we are not dependent on sales from the bands for our own financial survival. While the extra income is certainly helpful, especially with multiple homeschooling expenses and the upcoming Christmas holiday, we know God will always provide for our needs. We trust Him in our successes and our failures.

Our “business” also reminds us to uphold a standard of excellence in our work. We want to produce a product of the finest appearance and quality, and therefore must take our time and do our best for this to happen.

Furthermore, this project has been a family affair! How many families have the opportunity to work together to make and sell a product? We are thankful for God allowing us to pursue this undertaking together which strengthens our familial bonds and builds loyalty, while also creating wonderful memories.

The craft show took place this past Saturday. Filled with eagerness, we set up our table and waited for the doors to open.

The initial 30 minutes were relatively slow, and we began preparing for only a few sells. However, business quickly picked up. For the next six hours, we had almost no breaks and only ate a portion of our lunch.

The craft show was a huge success for us, and during this season of thanksgiving, we count it as one of the many blessings God has given to us. Yes, the additional income has been incredibly helpful in this economy with rising costs and multiple needs. But the gains are much more than financial. This “business” has been a fun family affair and a time that we will always reflect on with much fondness and gratitude.

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation!” Psalm 68:19