Working Women--Connie Wolfe Piano Studio--Connie Wolfe

Knowing Connie Wolfe as I do (she’s my mom!), it is evident that she is a gifted teacher. Her piano studio is a product of her God-given ability to teach students, young and old, how to play. And the story behind the studio is a product of her obedience to God’s will for her life, and His faithfulness to his people.

As a young girl, Connie “played school” and always loved teaching, but she never thought of herself as a teacher. Not then. She wanted to be a nurse. In high school she worked at Bergan Mercy hospital in Omaha as an aide. Things changed suddenly, however, when her dad had a heart attack when she was a junior and was hospitalized at Bergan for several months. She became friends with many of his caregivers during that time. When he died suddenly the next year, it was too hard for her to return to that hospital.

She went off to college prepared to set the nursing dream aside--majoring in music, something that she loved, but after only a year, she went back to her dream. In 1984 Connie graduated from Methodist School of Nursing as an RN, and began working in the oncology unit. During her time as a nurse, she enjoyed all the teaching she was able to do as she cared for her patients, their families, and eventually her sweet mother who died from lung cancer.

For four years, Connie worked the hard hours of a nurse. Every other weekend, holidays, and 12 hours shifts. When she started having children, she realized those hours were not something she wanted to keep up. “The first day that my child was asleep before I left for work and asleep when I got home, I just cried. I missed a whole day of her life!” Connie said, “the hours required of a hospital nurse did not work for me.” 

She decided it was time to stay home with her kids.

“My husband was a youth pastor and we lived off of very low income for years. In order to stay at home and still help financially, I began teaching piano lessons.”

She opened up Connie Wolfe Piano Studio to help provide for her family, and taught lessons out of her home. Connie has often thanked God for the gift of music in her life and for her mom for taking her to lessons. She had no idea it would provide her with so much. 

Because of her piano studio she was able to have the time and flexibility to help her husband with his ministry--eventually planting a church together in their town. And later on, she was asked to play for the choirs at the middle and high school which stretched her as a musician and allowed her to be at the schools when her children were attending.

Running her own business has had its challenges, and she has learned valuable lessons along the way. She’s learned how to best organize her time, how to effectively collect payments, and how to choose correct level of music for each student.

Connie’s first love is her family and home. She cherished the time she had with her kids, and realizes that God provided her with a way to do it. She has seen God working through it all. She has been an encouragement to not only her own children, but the hundreds of students she has taught as well. She has given these students skills and confidence, not just as musicians, but as human beings.

“I am so thankful. Working out of our home has been such a blessing.” She has been able to meet people from her community she never would have met without her studio, and she has had the time to help her husband and be with her kids.

I asked Connie what encouragement she could offer young women who might find themselves in a similar situation, and her response is something that has been on my heart as well. 

She said, “I would encourage women to ask God to show them what they could do while they stayed home with their children to help provide income. The few years you have with them go so fast and you never get those moments back. I don’t regret the smaller income, the “doing without” was so worth it. Sometimes hard, but never regrettable.”

I love this! Here's a picture of me, my mom, and my brother after the musical "Little Women" that we did while I was in high school. 

And here we are 10 years later! 

Not every woman will feel called to be a stay at home mom, but I am deeply grateful for the sacrifice my mom made in order to be at home with us. 

God provides for our needs in so many ways-- if it's your desire to stay home with your children, I encourage you to pray! Ask Him to provide. Ask Him to show you how you can help out financially. God has used my mom's musical talents and her gift of teaching in so many ways--it's pretty incredible to see.

My parents are currently traveling around the world together while they enjoy a three month sabbatical. As I type, my mom and dad are touring Israel--the very places where Jesus did his work on earth. Walking where He walked. My mom might not see this post right away, but if you were one of Connie's students (either lessons or in choir at the schools), I'd love for you to comment here or on my Facebook post or Instagram. Tell her hello and maybe something you remember from your time with her!

grace & peace
Mairin