I am so thankful to God for His grace. Had to start this post off with that. :)
Leaving Jaden to go back to work was so hard and I say that knowing so many women have had to go through that. After a short weekend...it's just as hard to leave him again the following Monday. He grows everyday...which isn't profound. I hate missing a second of it.
I've been praying since leaving him about being able to stay home with Him. In praying that, I really didn't think it was a rational prayer. Could we do it financially? My work laptop is what I use to do my graphics on...I would no longer have it if I left the company I work for. I don't have the software I need without my company. I don't have the money to buy it. How would I keep up the freelance projects that I do? Several other questions that would need to be answered. It didn't seem possible.
Things began to fall into place over the last couple of weeks. And long story short, August will be my last day at AIMedia. I have to say, I am so thankful to the company I work for. They are very supportive of the ministry opportunities Jeff and I are apart of. My supervisor is very flexible with my family's needs. The president of the company is a Christian and he's helped me in various ways over the years. I am thankful to God for my job and for all that I've learned. When praying to stay home...I often thanked God for my job and for the 9 years of experience I've gained by working there. I don't want to be at all unthankful for it. This August, it will be 9 years at that location...under two different companies. I've made some great friends and have learned a lot about business. I've gained mucho experience when it comes to graphic design and production art. It will definitely be an asset to me in the future when I go back to work. There is a possibility that I can work part time from home for AIM. That would help us financially but at the same time, I don't want it to take away from what I need to do at home.
I'm working on a flexible schedule for our days. I want to give him a sense of stability and consistency. I know it won't always work out...but there's a foundation and something I can base my days on. So far...our summer has been super busy. Not much consistency but he's gone with the flow and I think he's become a very social baby out of the whole experience. He doesn't mind different people holding him. I like that.
Staying home will also benefit Courtney. I'll be able to keep her afternoons after school more structured. She's a kid that needs structure to really succeed at school. I'll be home when she gets off the bus so I can help with homework and get her to complete her chores early so we can have our nights free when possible. I know sometimes homework loads can be heavy.
This is also going to help my house! If every my house needed consistent help! It's impossible to keep up with it when we're on the go and Jeff and I are both working full time and traveling on weekends. Right now...it needs some TLC. I'm ready to get on a cleaning schedule with it, too. I know it won't always work out either...but anything is better than the attention it's been getting.
I've been making Jaden's baby food for the last month or so. I really like doing it and it saves money. Baby food is not cheap. For the amount I buy one pack of baby food...I can make a weeks worth for him. He loves it. He loves fruit...specially peaches. He loves peas...which have always made me gag. :)
I'm praying for God to help me work out everything...establish a home that Jeff and Courtney can come home to and feel good. I'll be able to get involved more at church. I'm very excited about that. :) I'm praying God help us to ease into this financially. We'll be loosing quite a bit of income with me staying home. I'm going to learn to do the whole coupon thing and cook more. I've gotta get my domestic hat on.
