03/05/2026
I started Sweet Olive Bakery officially while on maternity leave with my baby in the fall of 2022. I had been baking for years for family and friends and it felt like God was putting me on that path. I never imagined I would have the success that I did. I still have a full time job out of the home as an accountant. Therefore, most of my baking is done in the evenings. It got to a point where I was baking every single night. Staying up until midnight (or sometimes 1 or 2 am) baking to then get up at 5 or 6 to continue on before work. This helped teach me boundaries. Eventually, I ended up limiting my orders much more because it was not sustainable.
Over the past few years, I have had this internal struggle, feeling like I should be baking full time, that it is what God is calling me to do. But I haven’t been able to make that happen.
6 months ago, we sold our house and moved in with my parents with the intention of building our dream house. In this time, I have not baked much at all because I simply can’t at the volume I was before. During this time, I have reflected a lot and have learned a few things:
** Time is fleeting. I have two little boys and for the past 6 months I haven’t been stressing about fitting in all the activities of the week with baking but have been able to be present. We have had a Friday night movie night every week when before, that is prime baking night for Saturday pickups. No more nights with my boys asking “do you have to bake tonight?”
** God works all things together for good. He knows the desires of your heart. And should be glorified whether you think you are where you’re “meant to be” or not.
** God can change the desires of our heart
At some point in the past year, what was once my labor of love turned into just labor. I believe that God has changed the desires of my heart to make this easier to walk away from.
The amount of people I have gotten to meet through doing this has been the biggest blessing. I will never take for granted the celebrations, big and small, that I was trusted with and able to be a part of. I can’t thank you all enough for the support.
While my boys are young, I have made the decision to be present for them. Being a working mom is hard. Being a working mom who comes home to work on her small business when her heart isn’t in it anymore is even harder.
So for now, I am choosing this time with my boys. It isn’t goodbye, just see you later. ❤️
