What?! A stay at home mom?! Hard to believe.

Bittersweet:
After working 6 years for the state of TN, the doors have opened for me to be a stay at home mom and quit my job. Seems a bit wierd, because I've seriously worked since I was 18 and haven't quit. From high school I went straight into college working at least 20 hours of week on top of school. My last 2 years of school, I not only was married and had school, I worked a side job and had interns all at the same time :). Basically 3 jobs! From there, I graduated and started my professional career immediately. Any ways, it's wierd thinking I'm no longer working. Wow!

And I know...I'm really not not working, I mean being a stay at home (sahm) is a lot of work in itself with both my girls being under 5 years old. They're active and like to do different things. One can sit and watch a few cartoons, while the other one can't stay doing one thing for no more than 5 minutes at a time. One can stay in her crib and sleep 2-3 hours for a nap, while my 4 year old has the freedom to get up and open doors. This is going to be an adjustment for me as I haven't spent this much time with my girls EVER! Other people knew my children better than myself. Sad when I think about this, but really true. I mean besides the vacations and the weekends and the occassional days off, I've never really spent a whole day with them for long periods of times.

I praise God for the opportunity though. I've honestly prayed for this since Arianna was born. My now 4 year old. So you see, it's all in God's timing. Not mine. There's was a reason for me having to stay working and bringing in my income...4 years ago Robert's job was not income consistent on a montly basis. We never knew how much he was going to come home with that month as a Loan Officer. That was when the market crashed and loans were hard to get! When that happened, he decided to go to school for 2 years to get his masters in Accounting (while then working as an interim-student at a federal job-USDA). Obviously did this not allow for me to be a stay at home, after his graduation, his job expired since it was student based. He decided to take summer off to study for his CPA. He's a smart guy and passed all parts of his CPA the first time around. Any whoodles, because of his passing, he was quickly noticed by a CPA firm which then hired him (in September of last year). This gave us light at the end of the tunnel. Really!!! Good steady job with decent pay.

Things became more apparent at the beginning of this year. Exciting to say the least. We finished our Dave Ramsey class and paid of our credit cards (over $8k that we built up on necessities while he was in school) and well our budget was back to normal and we were able to make it work.

So when I say bittersweet, I mean that in the best way. We'll have to make sacrifices as we aren't bringing in 2 income and honestly, I'm going to miss all the friends I've made over the years, BUT how sweet to be able to stay home now with my girls and enjoy them before they go off to school and grow up!!! I have to praise God for allowing this opportunity. I know it's going to be hard, but I know it's the best decision we've made.

Arianna's prayer last night made me cry...really! I think she really understands that I'm at home with her now. She prayed, 'Thank you God for my mommy not going to work and staying home with me."

They really need me...really! And I have to say, I've really learned to wait on God when I want something so badly. It took 4 years to learn this. However, I'm still learning as I'm not the most patient person still. Thank you God for blessing us!!! Always praise and thank God because He will reward you when you least expect it.