It's official. And no, I am NOT pregnant. I have resigned from my position at work. I gave my notice back in March, and while the 12 weeks that I promised to stay and finish up some projects started off at a snails pace, somehow there are now only 21 days to go. If you know me very well, you know that I have been battling with the decision to stay home with our children or stay working for quite some time now...since Aubrey was a baby and that was 3 & a half years ago. I have made this job such a priority and it's been my baby and I am so proud of how I have grown in this position and the accomplishments I have made. It is hard to believe it has been 7 years. Calling my boss that morning and asking if he could come visit me, along with sitting across from him and handing him my letter of resignation was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I have worked with such wonderful people, and have had such a supportive boss, I am forever grateful!
In order to become a single income family, Greg & I have been working out ALL those little details and are confident (and a bit nervous too) with this decision. There will be some cut backs, and we have had to re-prioritize our dreams a little, like vacations and remodeling projects, but when it all comes down to it, our children are only little for a short time, and Lord willing, we will be able to mark off more dreams and goals later on. We are looking forward to what the future holds for us. Greg has been sooooooooo great and supportive, a whole lifetime is not enough to express how lucky I am to have him by my side. Don't laugh at my cheesiness, but all I can think of right now is that quote.....something like "Love does not simply consist of gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction."
Our Molly Bug is 7, and it seems just overnight she is turning into this amazing young lady whom I feel like I hardly see. Aubi is as sassy as ever, and constantly asks why we can't just stay home sometimes in our "p-jommas". You know your life is hectic when even your most active child just wants to slow down. And Sullivan, gasp, is cruising around furniture, waving bye-bye, clapping, and sporting a new pearly white tooth every time we turn around. He has six right now, with two more trying to cut through. We will be celebrating his 1st birthday shortly. (sad momma inserted here!)
Time stands still for no one, and with 3 kiddos it is bound to only get more hectic as they get older. I am just over the moon that I am getting the opportunity to spend more time with them. It feels SO GOOD to be off the fence I've been teetering on, and to feel at peace with a decision that has been in my mind for so long now. You might laugh, or maybe you can relate, but there were some days I would just sit and think about working vs. being at home...and some days I would change my mind eighteen HUNDRED times before I'd even had lunch! I am not even kidding! Now is the time they want me around, and we all know that won't last forever! I know staying home and raising our munchkins won't always be glamorous, but these turkeys are growing too fast and I want to hold on to every second that I possibly can.
My sister in law, who is already a full time mommy of 2, sent me sweet words of encouragement when I told her our decision, saying that we only get our children for a short amount of time, and also how some days are challenging mentally, socially, & financially, but that the blessing of being able to stay home for her family has far outweighed those challenges. She also passed along to me what someone told her when she made the decision to leave her job to raise a family; "God does not care if I work or stay home. What he cares about is whatever decision I make that I keep him first in life and turn to Him for the struggles I will face, because either decision has its struggles." I just loved that.
So, 21 days and counting and then I may just take Aubrey's advice and we might stay in our "p-jomma's" for a day or two.
