Mothering....my best job ever!!!

Yes, even though I have worked in healthcare, in a career I have loved for many years, I can now tell you that being a mother is the best job ever! This photo was just taken on mother's day. I love it. Lilyann has just learned to "smile" for cameras, and this is the face we always get now. It is so funny!

I haven't always felt this way, in fact, six and a half years ago when Miranda was born my husband actually said I could quit my job and become a stay at home mom. My response?? No, way! How could you suggest such a thing, you must be kidding!! I felt that I had worked much too hard for my degree and I was not going to waste it by quitting. God has done a huge work in me, because now, if my husband were to suggest that same thing, my response would be very different. I would see it as the greatest privelege to have the opportunity to spend every day at home with the children God has given me. I work 2 days (20 hrs.) per week. Even this seems like far too much time to be away from them now. My heart is rooted in the home now, where before, I believe it was rooted in my work. I still love helping people, and working with families at such a wonderful place, but my heart is at home.

How do I know this? I love being home...and all that it stands for. I now cherish every moment I have at home with my family. I now understand what it means to be a keeper of the home (Titus 2). I actually love doing housework now, and cooking for my family is something I now look at as an awesome responsibility, as I am always trying to learn more about how to cook healthy delicious meals for them! I try to limit outings and stay home as much as possible. In today's society this is almost impossible, but it is something I strive for all the time. I limit extra curriculur activities to put our children in as well, when most people are running around day and night trying to make it to that next group, practice, or meeting. My goal is to create a simplistic lifestyle, but one where children flourish with natural activities such as gardening, raising animals, and creative activities such as crafts, art, and creating with your hands, (sewing, knitting, baking, etc.). These are all centered in and around the home. Right now we are working on the barn, and on a new outside playhouse. We have tree swings, and lots of outdoor play activities available. Every day we go outside, do some chores, but mostly play.

Most people were shocked when they first heard that my husband and I were both going to work part time. We chose to do this almost 7 yrs ago, (after I refused to quit my job) so that our children would never have to be in childcare. No one around us thought we could do it. Family members even discouraged us to make this shift to be more family centered! There were sacrifices that we made financially, but this is incomparable to the time we have had with our children. It is so worth it. Many people don't realize that this is possible. There may be some major or minor adjustments that you would need to make, but it can be done. Two full time working parents does not have to be the norm. We could never go back to that. If we can make this work, I believe many others can as well.

So there you have it! My best job ever! Mothering!!!