happily UNemployed...

It's official! As of 3:00 this afternoon, I became a full time stay-at-home mom. For those of you that may not know, I have been a nanny for two girls for the past 3 years. Of course, I had Camden with me the whole time, so I still got to be with him...but have spent 90% of my days at their house for the majority of his lifetime. So, I was sort of a stay-at-home mom, but not at my home, and with LOTS of other responsibilities. Now, I will be able to be at my own house, doing my own laundry and cleaning up my own messes. Well, I have been looking forward to this day ever since I told my boss Jodi that I was pregnant, back in March. I gave her my 6 month notice, which seemed like FOREVER away. Camden and the girls (Julianna, almost 6; and Lily, 3) have basically grown up together, considering Camden was 8 months old when we started going there. For the past 3 years of his life, we have been there almost every single day (give or take a week for vacations, etc.). He absolutely loves going to their house to play with them and their toys. They also live across the street from their farm, which includes horses, cows, 2 donkeys, a giant sand box, see-saw, and tire swing. I mean, what child wouldn't love this? I've always enjoyed my job, but had started to get frustrated with the fact that I do all the chores at someone else's house all day, then have to come home and do all the same things at my house, when I'm already exhausted. However, today when we were finally leaving, for good, it hit me that Camden was going to be leaving the place that he loved, the friends that he loved. It was a lot harder on me that I thought it would be. Camden got very upset when we had to leave, which allowed my flood of emotions to let loose. I had to drive home while trying to see through the tears in my eyes! I was not sad to leave, but was terribly sad for Camden. I don't really know if he quite understands the fact that we won't be going there anymore...but it was definitely hard to me to think about my little boy being crushed because of it. When Camden says his prayers at night, we always encourage him to thank God for things that he liked that day. Well, "going to Lily's house" is ALWAYS the very first thing he says. I am sure we will still go visit few weeks, when he starts to miss the girls.
I am very excited to stay home, though I know it will be an adjustment. Camden will have school three days a week, and when Anderson is here I know I will have plenty of things to keep my busy. If anyone needs someone to have a playdate with, you know who to call! :) Staying home with my children has been my dream job as long as I can remember. In school when people asked you what you wanted to be when you grow up, some kids said doctors and veterinarians, and I said "homemaker". No one uses that term anymore! My mom stayed home our whole lives, and I think she did the job perfectly. I had a wonderful role model for what a stay-at-home mother should look like....making time to spend with Jesus, patient, loving, giving, fun, and all the other good things you can imagine. She was there to watch us leave for school, and was there when we got home. Knowing she was going to be there always gave me such comfort. She balanced everything so well. Mom, I want to be like you in so many ways! Thank you for being such a wonderful example to me and fully embracing the role God made you for. If you could just please be praying for us as we start this new phase of our lives, as we go from two incomes to just one, for patience and true contentment with the new role God has placed me in.