Applicant #12: Lois DeHart

Lois DeHart is a mom from Olympia.

My video application:

Find me online:

+ Twitter

A bit about me:

I am a lifetime resident of Washington, currently residing in Olympia with my husband of 20 years and two daughters ages 12 and 14. I hold degrees in art and special education. I am currently the 'go to mom' in the neighborhood. That means I provide lots of rides, cups of sugar, and a helping hand to all. I am also investigating the many ways I can use the internet to benefit my family, and not the other way around. In other words, I am looking for creative ways to add income to the household without sacrificing our strong family values. It has been an awesome learning experience to apply for the Verity Mom job!!

My blog post:

Can I share something with you? Can I dream?

No really, can I dare to dream?

Now that I have been a mom for almost 14 years, and I am hearing myself tell my two girls how talented they are and how many different places their skills can take them, do I dare to do the same for myself?

For one reason or another, I don't have the skill. Between moving out of my parents house, going to college, getting married, teaching, and having kids, I guess I've been so busy 'getting the jobs done', that I haven't looked beyond the 'jobs' to really examine what I REALLY want to do.

Being a mom takes me face to face with what makes me feel really high one minute and really low the next, and now I have an audience. How can I tell my girls to dream big, if I am not willing to do the same?

I was raised in a household where we didn't have much, but we did amazing things with what we did have. I am constantly looking at material and dreaming how I can use my hands to transform it into something beautiful, useful and different. This is one thing I love about what I inherited from my family. Every day it is a challenge for me to use my experiences to create a better environment around me. My latest idea is to make and sell marshmallows. Again, I have an audience.

Yes, I know, just a simple marshmallow. But if you think about all the wonderful memories we have with the little bundle of soft, squishy goodness... it is all happy.

My dream is to be Marshmallow Mom to all of you. I want to create the perfect combinations of flavors and sweet memories that it can't help but make you happy when you take a bite. The challenge for me is getting past the fear of what it means to start a business in this economy, and with no prior business experience. All I have is my passion to put a smile on your face. Now, I really have an audience!

To be honest, my real satisfaction comes from being creative with and for my girls. For my daughters birthday, I got creative without using the credit card (my husband is doing a happy dance). I am speechless for the joy that it was to watch her open her gifts that came from my heart to hers. The looks we exchanged are priceless to me. Certainly, I have an audience.

The truth is: We all have fears, the courageous ones admit it!

Marshmallows to you,

Lois