Update, Part 2

I love being a parent.  It is the most rewarding thing I have ever done. 

I have been home with my kids for 12 years now.  I gave up my teaching career to be with them full-time.  It is something I will never regret... or take for granted.  All of the sacrifices were worth it.  (And, that is what I remind myself every time I get into Nurse Boy's old, rusty, and smelly van.)  My husband was the biggest advocate for our decision to live off of one income.  Truly, he was the one who sacrificed the most.

It was a GREAT run...

However, I am now a working woman.  God started to give me a desire to go back to work in the fall of 2011.  I fought it for awhile, but I ended up applying for a paraprofessional position (think Teacher's Aide in the Special Education Department) at Bruiser's and Sweet Pea's school.  Their principal was so supportive and hired me this past summer.  I love that God brought her into our lives.

I taught 3rd grade before Dimples was born.  It is a different world going back as a Para, but I am simply not ready for all of the responsibilities that come with a classroom of students.  My paycheck is much smaller, but so are my responsibilities. I get to take my kids to school, start working when the bell rings and head home with them when the bells signals the end of the day.  The job has many of it's own challenges, but I love that I am tapping into something I am passionate about.  The one-on-one time I get with the students is very rewarding.  Plus, I get "drive-by" hugs from my kids every day.  They love having me in the building and I love that I get to be a part of their school day.  God has great ideas!

Nurse Boy is still in school.  (Yes, it has been 5 years. 5 long years. Thanks for asking.)  He is on the path to be a Clinical Nurse Specialist.  He is still the Nurse Educator in the GI Lab.  It is his passion.  He is currently acting as the Interim Nurse Manager as his boss and mentor is battling cancer.  He is expected to have a full recovery and Nurse Boy is happy to help out during this difficult time.  Next year Nurse Boy will be in school full-time and working full-time.  He is excited to finish his journey, but he still has a rough road ahead of him.  He is such a hard worker and I am his biggest fan.  I am blessed to watch this man be the best husband, father, and nurse that he can be.  God continues to use Nurse Boy in a mighty way.

This last year has been filled with many blessings and some tough moments.  Cancer has attacked 4 of our friends this year.  While 3 of them are strong and fighting the dreadful disease, one of our friends left this home for his eternal home.  He was a man of faith who left behind an amazing family.  He was our age.  We found ourselves heartbroken for his children and his wife.  We still are.  This year has been a humbling one as we are continually reminded that this world is not our eternal home.  Life is short.  We have struggled, not with our faith, but with the harsh realities of this world.

God is still good.  We continue to seek Him in all things.  We are thankful for our health and we are counting our blessings daily.  We desire to glorify Him... nothing else really matters.

Update, Part 1

Oh, how I miss blogging.

I REALLY miss it.

It was such a sweet time in my life.  The kids were young.  God was calling us to make some huge changes in our lives and I found comfort in jotting down my thoughts during the quiet afternoon nap times.

I miss those days.

And, yet, I love this new season of life just as much.

Dimples is now 13 and in the 7th grade.  Yes, we officially have a teenager in the house!  He is a typical teenager in so many ways: he refuses to wear any type of coat or jacket (regardless of the temperature), he lives in hoodies and jeans, he has become a bit of a slob, his first love is soccer, and he is eating us out of house and home.  But, to my surprise, he is a complete joy to be around.  He still chats with us about everything and even share concerns about his friends' poor choices.  I love his convictions.  He is a social guy but still enjoys spending time with his family.  He also has a new love for the theater.  He even had a staring role in the school play this year.  He rocked it, if I do say so myself.  I love that he is exploring things his father and I never experienced.  In turn, he also has a strong faith that guides his decisions.  Dimples is a born leader and I can't wait to see how God continues to mold him into a man of God.

Bruiser is in the 4th grade.  At 10 years old, he is a very sensitive and passionate young man.  Plus, the boy knows how to have fun!  He loves to show off his hip hop dances moves anytime of the day.  If music is playing, Bruiser will most definitely bust out with some dance moves.  He can also rock the soccer field.  And, for an added bonus, most of his goals are followed by a front flip in celebration.  He is quite the entertainer.  This boy also seeks the truth in all things.  He is a black and white thinker.  Thankfully, he always wants to know God's take on everything.  He is a loyal friend and expects the same from others.  He is the middle child and he seems to always compare himself to to his siblings.  I know God is revealing exactly who Bruiser is to him each and every day.  I love watching him discover his God-given gifts, talents, and abilities.

Sweet Pea is quite the young lady as she counts down the days to her 7th birthday.  She is in the first grade.  It is so fun watching her discover a love for learning.  She loves to read and spends most evenings playing school in the kitchen while I cook dinner.  She wants to be a teacher when she grows up.  She talks a mile a minute and tells us every detail of her day.  (And, I do mean EVERY detail.)  She is such an encourager to those around her.  She adores her brothers and thinks Nurse Boy and I are pretty fabulous as well.  She tells me every day that I am the "best mom EVER."  (I had to get that in black and white because we all know she might deny this in the not-so-near future.)  She loves God and often asks us to pray with her for friends and family who are in need.  I am thrilled that I get to watch God mold her tender heart.

The kids are growing up.  Fast.  They bring us joy, while challenging us every step of the way.  I was so tired when they were little.  They needed me 24-7, in a demanding and physical way.  Yes, I was PHYSICALLY exhausted.  Now, I often find myself EMOTIONALLY exhausted.  Big, tough questions are asked often.  I am so thankful they are asking us the hard questions, but sometimes I just want to curl up in a fetal position instead of educating them on the harsh realities of this world.  My prayer is that God uses each one of them to bring beauty to this world.

(To be continued...)