How I Rank being a Stay-at-Home-Mom

Driving home from working in my garden, my husband asked me
to tell him what are the top 10 things I am most thankful for.
Without hesitation I started rattling off the obvious.

I'm thankful...
For YOU (my husband).
Our kids.
That we are believers.
The garden.
Our health.
Your job.

And then I was caught somewhere between my heart exploding and bursting
into tears as I shared that I am beyond thankful that I can be a stay-at-home-mom.

"That's everything to me," I said.



For ME (emphasis on the "me"), the joy and thankfulness that is in my heart for EVERYTHING
in my life is due in large part to the fact that my husband is willing, eager, and happy to go out
and face the world so that I can be the HEART of the home... freeing me to express my
femininity in mothering, building community, working in ministry, pursuing my passions,
cooking, gardening, creating...

I told you, I want to be Laura Ingalls or Anne of Green Gables. Either one.

I stopped and started laughing at how ridiculous that would sound to a "woman-of-the-world."
She'd be quick to call my paradise a domestic ball and chain. I don't even know what to say
to that. I understand that "paradise" doesn't look the same to every person. So I'll raise my glass
to finding God's will. Because that's ultimately what makes us happy.
Anything outside of that is treading water with blue jeans on. Not fun.

Even now I can hear the ramblings of those I meet at the grocery store, library, doctor's office...

"You stay home with your kids?! You're a saint."
Yes. Not really.

"Well, if that's how you want to use your degree... that's cool."
Why yes, it is. Thank you. I apparently have a brain and I'm trying
really hard not to wield all kinds of CRAZY at you right now.

"I would DIE if I had to stay home with my kids every single day."
Good thing you don't then.

My personal fave: "If I stayed home with my kids, I would be soooooo bored."
Bored? I don't know what profession you'd need to be in to sew up a busted chin,
chase a 3 year old through Target, stop the baby from killing the pet fish, or race
through the grocery store to pick up necessities (chocolate and wine, heeeello!) like
you're on a domestic version of SURVIVOR! Yea, I don't know. Boring.

I do believe I am digressing...



And then there's the garden - tending an extension of my heart, home, and family.
Growing our own food is like walking the streets of heaven and filling ourselves with
whatever God has prepared (like I've walked the streets of heaven before!?).
He has touched the earth and brought forth life... we have touched the fruit
and lovingly prepared it, consumed it, or stored it away for the winter months.



Again, being a stay-at-home mom has given me tons of time to work in the garden and harvest
what is given. I could go on and on and on... aren't you glad this is a blog and you aren't
sitting in front of me?! You might never be able to leave!

But alas this post must come to an end...
Enjoy the weekend, loves!!!