Career Change ...

My life has forever changed today ... I quit my job sitting behind a desk and started my job as a full time mommy! I could not be ANY happier than I am right now.

Let me take you back a couple years, after Peyton was born it was not that hard for me to go back to work. He was just a baby and slept most of the time. It was still hard, but doable. He was with my mother (his Granny) and his cousins all day. We thought we "needed" the money and could not afford for me to stay home.

This time was different ... VERY different. Something was weighing heavily on my heart, a conviction that I did not know what to do with. Step one, talk to my hubby. Ryan was on board right away. He knew there was no way on earth we were putting our kids in daycare, and my mom could not watch them full time anymore. But we still had no idea how we were going to afford to do this ... it was still just an idea.

After going over the budget 100 times and reading the Dave Ramsey books, we still could not make the mortgage without me working. That is when we had to make a HUGE decision ... was it worth it to us to sell our dream home, downsize, and then have me stay home ...? We both decided YES, and the next day our house was on the market. Ryan and I were both in the same place that possessions could not even compare to our children needing their mother at home with them at this time in their lives.

My conviction only grew stronger as I was home with the boys on my maternity leave. I knew there was no way I could go back to my old job. My days would look like me getting the boys up, fed, dressed, and dropped off with someone else. I would work until 6:00 or later, pick my boys up, feed them, and put them to bed. That is not being a mother ... and I can not do that anymore. I was going to miss all of the parenting experiences like potty training my own children, loving my children after being with them all day every day, instilling values in my children, and disciplining my own children.

At this point we sat back and left it all in God's hands. Confused, stressed, but still passionate about this conviction ... we sat and waited. Our home was not selling, we were back in prayer asking God what we could do to make this happen. At about that time we were able to get our budget WAY down using the Envelope System by Dave Ramsey AND Ryan got a raise at work that just barely covered the difference ... I am still standing in aw over how much better God's ideas are then mine!

We were able to keep the house, pay our bills, have NOTHING leftover, but be able to dedicate my days and my love to my two precious little boys. My husband is a genius with the budget also ... SO much better than me. But I am learning how to grocery shop like a pro. By Gods grace, together we are going to make this happen!

Goodbye post it notes and fax machines and hello screaming babies and potty training. Thank you Ryan for taking on all of the financial responsibility for our family, you are A-MAZING! I can truly say I have my dream job for this time in my life =) Sooooo ... back to work ... baby is crying!

(Disclaimer) I am not at all against mommies working, so many moms do it amazingly ... my job was just not one that was conducive of balancing the two. To all of you mommies who have jobs where they can balance the two, that is a HUGE blessing!