Hi, I’m Sonja Smith! I was born and raised in the Greater Toronto Area, up north in Canada. Growing up, my incredible parents supported my many extracurricular pursuits including club soccer and various musical and academic activities. My Michigander husband and I are college sweethearts and we got married when we were just babies at 20 and 21. After teaching third grade for a few years while my husband ran his own business, we decided to expand our family and we had three kids in three and a half years. Motherhood is a world where joy meets chaos, but it is my truest calling and I learned that from my own mom who loved her children unconditionally during her short time earthside.

In July 2019, we felt God calling us to pursue some big changes for our family, so we uprooted and planted ourselves in Woodway, Texas. Stepping out on our own away from extended family had its challenges, but we absolutely love being Texans, and Waco definitely feels like home. My husband and I started Modern Haven Design and Builds from the ground up, and we offer interior design, renovations, and custom home builds with an organic modern style. When we aren’t working, you can find us in our backyard fishing on Lake Waco, tending to our chickens, or gardening. Otherwise, we love doing outdoor activities with our kids (7, 8, 10) or cheering (too) loudly at their sports games.

I like to make things from scratch and continually learn new skills, so within the past year I’ve started making homemade sourdough and we jumped into the world of homeschooling. I also love to write, and I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of the Waco Moms contributor team. The life-giving atmosphere of the Waco community is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It is so refreshing living in a small town where churches, business owners, and fellow moms show such love and support for each other. I’m beyond thankful to be able to raise my family in this town of kindred spirits.

My hope is that as my kids grow up, they look past my human failures and see a woman who loves God faithfully, a woman who is her husband’s teammate and supporter, a woman who isn’t afraid to try new or hard things, and a woman who stands up for what she believes in. We only have one life to live, and I want to live mine well.