Brandy Jesperson
I’ve been at Paper Crafts for over four years now. I’ve worked as an editor, senior editor and managing editor.
Over the years I’ve helped oversee special issues, regular issues, blogs, writers, copy editors and interns. I’ve sent hundreds of thousands of emails, taught at conventions, attended trade shows and made countless friends.
I’m a lucky girl, and I know it.
Celebrating Paper Crafts’ 5th birthday at CHA.
My luck continued this past February when my husband and I welcomed our first child into the world. Cooper was even featured on this blog – the newest member of the Paper Crafts family. He’s sweet and cuddly and everything a parent could want in a son. He had my heart from the moment he was born.
Our mini Cooper, 15 weeks old.
It’s because of him that I’ve decided to take a break from the world of concept meetings, corporate budgets and submission judgings. This wasn’t a decision I made lightly. I love my job. I love my co-workers. And I love all of you who have allowed me into your homes and in the pages of your magazines.
I have enjoyed meeting many of our talented designers in person. Thanks Ms. Alice Golden for welcoming my family into your home.
Luckily, (for me, at least) you won’t be completely rid of me. My name will still pop up in the pages of your favorite Paper Crafts publications, as I’ll be doing a little writing from home. Between naptimes and bottles, I’ll be oohing and aahing over your beautiful projects and visiting your blogs for inspiration.
I have loved being a part of this fabulous magazine and such a perfect paper family! Thank you to everyone for your friendship and readership.
The Paper Crafts family, minus Holly and Ahtanya.
Farewell…for now,
Brandy
It’s always a hard decision to leave what you love! I wish you the best with your little boy. I’m a stay-at-home mom now too and I’ve loved being with my daughter – that isn’t to say there aren’t frustrations
You will be sorely missed at Paper Crafts, I know… but like so many here have already said, I know you will never regret your decision! I hope you’ll keep us updated with your blog and I’d love for you to come visit again anytime! but this time you have to bring Cooper!!
You will certainly be missed, but those little ones don’t stay that way forever. Enjoy him everyday! Will look forward to your contributions here.
Oh, Brandy, there is NO job that compares to the joy of motherhood … except maybe working at Paper Crafts! Thanks for sharing your talents with us over the years and give that darling little guy a hug from all of us!
I know you’ll find your well-deserved break very fullfulling! These days are the best in the world!! Colton and Dave (and yourself, of course) are now the ones you can give your full attention to. We will be here, waiting for updates (I hope you don’t stop gives us thoughs). Have a wonderful time and good luck! You will be missed Brandy!
I’ll certainly miss seeing your wonderful, sincere smile each month when I open my magazine! Enjoy your time with your Mini-Cooper, and we’ll be looking forward to whatever you write from home! Would LOVE to have you visit me now and then! Hugs, smiles, blessings, and best wishes!
Beautiful baby! It’s been a pleasure to see your lovely face over the years. Best wishes to you and your lovely family!
wow. That is a big announcement. As a mom, I totally and completely understand your decision. I wish you the absolute best with your little mini Cooper! I wouldn’t want to leave such a sweetie for even a minute either! Hugs!!
Aloha, Brandy! Enjoy all the precious moments with your family. Take lots of photos. We’ll look forward to your articles from home and layouts, too.
This is a decision you will NEVER regret. Mommy adventures are priceless. Best wishes on your “promotion!”
13 years ago we made a choice for me to stay at home with the kiddos. Going from two incomes to one (and a teacher’s, at that) was challenging–rough at times. But, I wouldn’t change a thing, and neither would my husband. It was a great gift and blessing for us.
Enjoy! And, as the song goes . . . “Don’t blink.” – Kenny Chesney
You will be glad that you have made the decision to stay home with your little man. You can have many jobs but only 1 chance with your children. Enjoy!
Brandy–I remember actually seeing the moment when my little girl figured out that the big stacking cup couldn’t fit in the smaller one and then she switched it–it was the coolest thing ever. Enjoy each stage–they go fast–my baby is turning 16 this month! Glad you’ll still be around too–you need to use both parts of your brain–the mommy part and the writing part.
Good for you! I quit my “day job” when my first daughter was born 21 years ago. I stayed home for 12 years with my 2 girls. I continue to this day to work at a school because the schedule works so well with our family. Summers off allow me now to spend time with my college girl as well as my daughter still at home. I wish you the best of luck in all your future endeavors. You won’t regret your decision at all.
As a former stay at home mom of 2 grown boys I know that you will never regret your decision to be a stay at home mom… Remember that childhood only happens once and a career can be restarted. Your talents won’t be lost but rather polished and refined. Enjoy your time with your little one.
Best of luck to you, Brandy! You can always come back to your job but you
can never get back the moments and experiences of your child growing and
becoming. Enjoy your beautiful baby!
Wishing you so much happiness with your beautiful family, Brandy ~we will miss you, but certainly understand your decision to stay at home while Cooper is growing and changing every single day! Enjoy and God Bless!
Brandy your baby is gorgeous and I’m sure this will be the right decision–we will miss you–but your baby is worth it! I took time off with both my babe’s, (they are both in college) and it didn’t hurt my career at all, now I’m back at it to help them through college–of course, everything for my “babies”!
What a wonderful decision you have made! You will not regret it! I am a stay at home mom and I love it! They grow up too fast it’s important to be able to be with them the most when they are small! It must have been hard to give up such a wonderful job but life is full of possibilities and one day when if you are ready to return to work you will be able to find a great job again! A job is a job but a child is forever!
You are a very wise woman to take advantage of this new blessing in your life! I know you’re a valuable part of the PC team, but I completely understand your decision.
Blessings to you and your family!
~Bev Gerard
Farewell and Good Luck! Enjoy this time with your miniCooper – it goes by waayyy too fast! May you be blessed with fortune, love, family and a happy life!
Best wishes Brandy. I wish you much happiness as you spend more time with that beautiful little boy.
I will miss your amazing work and lovely posts.
He is absolutely perfect, such a magical little face he has! I can see how you could make no other choice. There just is no choice, you don’t get the time back, so you take it now while you can.
Congratulations on such a gorgeous little blessing.
Enjoy your stay-at-home-time!! You’ll be missed! All the best to you and your family!
Brandy – Blessings to you and your family as you begin your new adventure of being a stay at home mom! As I am counting down the weeks until I send my first born off to college, I can honestly say that if I could do it over again, I would make the choice to stay home with my boys. When they were babies, it was the era of women in power suits and I was right there on that band wagon. Now as I see my beautiful son ready to step out into the world on his own, I realize how much I missed of his young life and how quickly he became a young man, so take this time to enjoy your beautiful little mini Cooper! He is so precious and believe me, it will seem like an instant and he will be heading off to college.
Brandy, your family comes first. Will sure miss you here and looking forward to the day you come back! For now, enjoy your sweet boy and cherish all those moments. Best wishes & good luck!
Brandy I know that you are doing absolutely the right thing for both you and your child. Enjoy it as it just goes by too fast. I know that we all consider a job at PaperCrafts as awesome, but believe me it can’t compare to full time motherhood and watching your child grow.
Brandy, you will be missed! Enjoy your mommy time!! Being a Canadian, I was blessed to have 6 months at home with my first 2 children, and 12+ months with my third, in addition to changing my work to .5 time. I have loved the time with my kids and continue to work p/t rather than full-time even though all are in school f/t. It helps me to be a better mom and wife; I have the time to look after my home and run errands with out it being a dash every day after work. ENJOY!
Never regret your decision. Make sure to spend every waking moment with Cooper and with his every sleeping moment take time for yourself.
Oh Brandy….I am SO happy for you!!! That is such a great life decision. While I don’t have children I know I’d want to stay home full time if I did. It’s too bad your state has such short maternity leave (or is that all of the USA?). Here in Canada you’d get 1 full year of maternity leave, which alot of mom’s still find is not enough and still choose to stay home afterwards.
Enjoy your mini Cooper, your wonderful life and treasure every moment!!