Lorryn Shares her "Hope of Heart" - South African Mom Blogs

Today we meet South African mom blogger Lorryn, who blogs at Hope of Heart. Lorryn was also the winner of last year’s Best Inspirational post in the Ackermans BabyYumYum.co.za SA Parenting Blog Awards, now open for entries until the end of August.

1)What do you normally get up to on an average day? (Give us a brief description about yourself)

I am a wife, mom and qualified teacher who loves to write! I spend my mornings doing what I love and loving what I do, as part of the teaching team for The Neema Foundation, an organisation whose heart is to bring hope through education. Before and after my teaching mornings, I am doing the school drop off and pick up runs, overseeing homework, playing card games, sweating it out at a ladies bootcamp class twice a week, or on the road in a jog. Folding laundry and maintaining a clean home keep my hands busy during the week too! I also value my relationship with Jesus and so time with Him is a priority in my day. I enjoy a weak cup of tea, catching up with friends and hiding behind a good book. I love people, biltong, camping, games nights, the mountains, fresh air and blue skies, organising stuff, the Bible and my family. I am just an ordinary girl, serving an extraordinary God and grateful that, through my blog, I get to share of the living hope which has captivated my heart and transformed my world.

2) How do you feel about motherhood – what are your struggles and joys?

Motherhood is a very special gift for me, and it is also one of life’s greatest learning curves. As the mom of an only child (not by choice) I have learnt from the beginning that things don’t always go as planned and in those moments, I get to choose my response. Do I collapse under the weight of disappointment, or do I find ways to make the most of the opportunity before me? After coming to terms with the reality that we would only have one child, I remember jumping online to look for the benefits of an only child. One idea I found and have adopted was that my only child can be my favourite everything….my favourite child, my favourite dancer, my favourite little girl, my favourite chocolate eater….my favourite everything. I don’t need to be careful about calling her my favourite and she has the privilege of knowing she is our COMPLETE FAVOURITE. A struggle of an only child mom and parent is that there are no sibling playmates on hand. This sometimes looks like weekends at home juggling rest time, and chores with being the playmate. It is of course so much fun playing board games and hide and seek (including our precious fur baby too), but there are times when I have wished to send the children outside to play swing ball with each other so I could put my feet up. I have so appreciated the friendships formed through being a mom. Some of my closest friends today began with our children. I could also never do it alone and am very grateful for my phenomenal husband who has never left my side through all we have been through.

3) Tell us about your kid(s)

Our miracle daughter Cianna Hope (age 12) is a treasure. She was born at 33 weeks, as I was suffering from heart disease. She has been a determined, persevering young lady ever since. She is beautiful and her beauty radiates from deep within her. She is empathy on two feet and has a heart for those around her like I have never seen in a child. She cares, she loves, she gives, she is so kind and thoughtful and lives life to the full. She is also a mean monopoly player and thrashes her father and I every time!

4) How did you start blogging?

I started my blog in 2013 as a place to share my thoughts and experiences after enduring an emergency caesar and emergency open-heart surgery in the same week. It was a platform for me to pen my thinking and perspectives as I navigated my “new normal” with a new-born baby and a prosthetic heart valve. Blogging has been part of my journey to restoration, and I really enjoy sharing thoughts of hope as I live and walk along this challenging adventure called life.

5) Share with us a valuable blogging tip you’ve learnt. (or more)

Tags and categories are not the same thing. Hahaha! I learnt this on an online workshop I attended and now know the difference 😊

Comparison is a thief of joy. I have often found myself comparing the writing of others to my own, and it literally saps me of the joy I experience when writing. I’m happiest when I’m myself, being who I am and writing my own story.

6) If you make money from your blog, give us a breakdown on how you do it. Give us some of your methods on how to get started on this, or any tips or advice.

I don’t make money from my blog – Might be something to look into in future!