Isn't it funny when we think we know how something is going to turn out and it happens in exactly the opposite way we thought it would. It has almost been one whole month since I started my new full time job as a stay at home mom and it has been quite the month!!
About a year ago when Jason and I really began discussing our future (would I reenlist, would we stay in Hawaii, what's next?) and spending a lot of time in prayer about it we both knew that it was my time to get out. I served 12 years, and while I would have loved to have done 20 years and retired I know that God has something bigger for our family that he needs to prepare us for. Besides, have you ever seen how cute my kids are....could you seriously see me leaving them on the pier while I went on a 8-9 month deployment? Yeah, me either! The decision was made and we have never doubted God or His plan for us and today I can honestly say we feel we are right in the middle of exactly where God wants us to be.
As we began to make our plans we also decided that I would not work but would be a stay at home mom. Now, I grew up watching Lassie, Leave it to Beaver, and The Brady Bunch so I knew exactly what to expect once I wasn't working anymore. I knew that my house would be spotless all day everyday. I knew that my kids clothes woul always look so neat and clean. I knew that my kids would wake up in the morning full of smiles and not ever complain because life is good. Every night dinner would be a gourmet meal because I would have all this time in the day to prepare meals. My hair, makeup and clothes would be perfect and we would all be waiting at the door when Jason walked in for work....HA!
Fast forward to my new reality :) I know that all those families aren't real! (If you know me, I hope you could sense my sarcasm in the previous paragraph!) I know that somedays I am cleaning the breakfast dishes off the table just in time to eat lunch. I know that some days when I am getting ready for bed I realize that I forgot to brush my teeth that morning (if I talked to you that day I am sincerely sorry!) I know that somedays we will wear our bathing suits because I have to do laundry. I know that somedays cereal for dinner is exactly what is needed. I know that somedays I will question my sanity and will need to put myself in timeout.
Through it all though, I truly know that I have been blessed with the most rewarding, yet challenging job I have ever had. I know that I am doing exactly what God intended me to do, and that is raise my kids to be on fire for God. I have the amazing opportunity to be with my kids all day and show them God's amazing handiwork all around us. I am able to tell them Bible stories whenever we face a situation throughout the day. I am able to be there when they really need me and that is priceless to me.
So, if you ever tell me that you are coming to visit I can promise you that my house will look exactly like it did in those TV shows. However, if you decide to drop in unnanounced (which is ok too!) I can promise you my house will look like a tornado just rolled through. My children may be running around the house in their underwear or they might be in a super hero or princess costume. There will be dishes in the sink and laundry to be washed. If you caught me on a good day I might have taken a shower :) And if there is a smell it's probably something stinky in Thing 3 or Thing 4's diaper! But you know what, even with all the mess and chaos in the house, you will know that there is a lot of love here. In our home, love is most important. We might not have the best of everything but we give each other the best of ourselves and that's what matters.
This adventure is just beginning and I am glad you have decided to join the ride...
God Bless